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09/21/2017 - Summary City of Tigard Tigard Levy and Bond Advisory Task Force Meeting #3 Summary MEETING DATE/TIME: Thursday, September 21, 2017 6:00-8:30 p.m. MEETING LOCATION: Town Hall Room (Council Chambers), City Hall 13125 SW Hall Blvd., Tigard OR 97223 Attendees Task Force Council and Staff Angela Anastasakis Councilor Snyder Darlene Dick Margaret Barnes Mitch Friedman Sharon Gavin Melody Graeber Jared Isaksen Holly Koontz Toby LaFrance Chris Middaugh Nic Westendorf Alan Miles Marty Wine Kate Rogers Kent Wyatt Clifford Rone Eric Zimmerman Erin Scheller Christopher Staggs Consultant Support Carl Switzer Libby Barg Robert Van Vlack Casey Hagerman Noah Siegel Meeting # 2 Recap: Service and Funding Scenarios & Values to Guide Decisions The Task Force ranked values to guide decisions generated at Meeting #2. A number of Task Force members said their input at Meeting#2 focused on what they value about Tigard, not what values should be used to guide decisions and asked that the values be fleshed out so they could be better understood. Everyone agreed to poll and top tier values on a scale of 1 (not important) to 7 (very important) included: Additional funding should provide for essential services 6.4 The funding strategy should be sustainable for the long-term 6.3 Solutions need to be affordable for community members 6.0 Results of additional funding should be tangible 6.0 Funds should be spent in a balanced and targeted manner 6.0 The city should provide education to residents about the issues and solutions to 6.0 funding services The remaining values scored well—from 4.0-5.9: Focus on infrastructure improvements, access to services and livability improvements (parks, art, recreation, library), jobs, public safety, reinvesting and continuing to create a diverse community. Tigard Levy and Bond Advisory Task Force—Meeting#3 Summary 1 Background Information The committee was presented information about Tigard's demographics and the results of recent public opinion research related to service priorities. Questions and comments from the committee included: • How does poverty in Tigard compare to Oregon? (12% Tigard / 16% Oregon) • Do we know the demographics of the survey respondents? (Yes, they match Tigard's demographics) • What is the legal requirement for passing a levy? (A majority of those who vote must support it.) • It is interesting that walkability scores as such an important need. • Some older schools were built in neighborhoods that don't have sidewalks. It is hard for children to walk to school. • Looks like quality of life issues have a high priority. Police and public safety=quality of life. Task Force Discussion: A Look at General Fund Improved Services For discussion, the Task Force was presented information about services that could be provided under the Get Better funding scenario. Service improvements that were viewed as important and tangible include: ✓ Grow small businesses and jobs in urban renewal districts ✓ Resilient networks and infrastructure ✓ New sidewalks ✓ Improve park maintenance ✓ More neighborhood parks ✓ Reserve Officer Program ✓ Expanded traffic enforcement ✓ Improve online access to library services ✓ Reduce red tape and permit wait times Worksheet notes follow: Tigard Levy and Bond Advisory Task Force—Meeting#3 Summary 2 Improve Infrastructure and the Economy — Attract high-end jobs — Grow small businesses and jobs in urban renewal districts — 21St Century technology and communications (5G network) — Resilient networks and infrastructure — Responsive emergency/disaster management What do you like about this example? Attract high-end jobs • Higher paying jobs • Attract high-end jobs - no • Important to keep up with technology and communications, not attract high-end jobs • Competing with other places that already hosts high-end like Intel. • Less important for me because I feel we cannot compete with other places that promote tech and high tech but growing small business is important. High tech a 3. Small biz a 6 Grow small businesses and jobs in urban renewal districts • Like: grow small business • Work from home (increasing) • Grow small businesses and jobs in urban renewal districts - yes • Small businesses and job in urban renewal districts • Grow small businesses and jobs in urban renewal districts —but don't think we need technology/comms investments. • People will be working from home more in the future • Smaller businesses are the most important to the economy • Very important to encourage small business 21st Century technology and communications (5G network) • Being ahead of the curve,i.e., proactive —putting Tigard ahead of other towns in being ready and able and attract the kind of businesses that will allow people to both live and work in Tigard. • Testimonials • Business testimonials of what they require to locate in a city. Interview businesses • 21 st century networks that are resilient and provide disaster management may attract high-end jobs (even WFH opportunities). Doesn't necessarily bring those in; need to create more specific "how" for voters—why does infrastructure bring in high-end jobs, etc. Resilient networks and infrastructure • Resilient Networks/Infrastructure with the ability to attract companies to gain higher- end jobs —sustainable wage for families • Strength of infrastructure forms the basis/foundation for future • Agree that infrastructure is critical to maintaining quality of life. If residents of Tigard are not forced to look outside the city for jobs/services/amenities that will grow small businesses, but may not attract high-end jobs. Tigard Levy and Bond Advisory Task Force—Meeting#3 Summary 3 • The most important to me is a strong minimal maintenance infrastructure! Infrastructure drives the quality of life • Having a network and infrastructure will bring business Responsive emergency/disaster management • Quick response to emergencies. • Like: emergency management • Responsive emergency/disaster management—yes • This is a state level initiative • Emergency/disaster management is more than just the City of Tigard's responsibility Comments • Worry about gentrification • Need to quantify return on investment? • Tell this story in a compelling way • Look toward the future. Ask people to think ahead and outside the daily grind. But need something tangible for voters to relate to. • I think this example is so important if Tigard wants to move forward. These situations or ideas are vital if a city wants to grow into sustainability. Fix Transportation Issues — New sidewalks — Improve traffic congestion — SW Corridor Plan What do you like about this example? New sidewalks • Sidewalks are very important. They are tangible to the community and doable (unlike improving traffic congestion.) • Continuing sidewalks that link to existing sidewalks to shopping/libraries/parks • Everyone can relate to traffic issues and sparse availability of sidewalks. If Tigard became a place with better paying jobs and people who work here and live hear traffic will improve if walkability/biking to work became easier. • New sidewalks: meaningful to many: safety, speaks to Tigard mission • Sidewalks • Sidewalks would be very tangible. • City vision of being walkable • Sidewalks are doable given the size of the budget. • New sidewalks tangible • This I feel is the number 1 issue. Maybe mass transit and addressing congestion isn't realistic but adding sidewalks is realistic and we would see tangible results. • Sidewalks and walkability. Add: bus network (transportation in Tigard) • Sidewalks are tangible to voters. Buke routes would be another. • Sidewalks are very important. Tigard Levy and Bond Advisory Task Force—Meeting#3 Summary 4 Improve traffic congestion • To me infrastructure– meaning roadways more than sidewalks –is the first time that should be addressed. Improve the waste of time people spend on roads, making for more efficiency in business and at home. • Ease of transportation is huge– for quality of life, to encourage job opportunities, to draw more people to the city. Safety for kids, e.g., sidewalks also a huge value to voter families! • Need to find ways to improve and relieve congestion. Light sequencing–include ADA work • Add bike routes • Number of people commuting into and out of Tigard • Improve traffic congestion - yes • Didn't realize light sequencing was so expensive • More bike routes • Infrastructure • Buses? Network? SW Corridor Plan • Corridor plan would improve congestion. Easier commutes open opportunities for trade and growth. • SW Corridor Plan–Increase crime? Not sure • SW Corridor Plan: primarily federal and state funds • Not enough money to address traffic congestion • Not a fan of the SW corridor plan. Comments • Projects need to be compelling—need to tell the story. • Need to provide more specifics of how much and what the benefits really are. • Easily understood • How many people in Tigard commute in/out and to where? • These are all tangible; things people can see, not directly impacts them. Enhance Parks and Recreation Experiences – More neighborhood parks – Improve park maintenance – Enhance recreation opportunities and events for all ages – Develop open spaces into parks What do you like about this example? Improve park maintenance • Maintain current parks and open spaces are more important than adding parks. Take care of what we have now. • Huge backlog. Bond allowed adding parks but no funding for maintenance. • Park maintenance is huge issue–big backlog • Improve park maintenance so people will use what we have. Tigard Levy and Bond Advisory Task Force—Meeting#3 Summary 5 • Improve park maintenance: critical but less tangible • Improve park maintenance could be compelling if things were otherwise shut down • Enhance what we have—it is a safety issue. • There is land to develop parks, but no budget to accomplish that. Maintaining the parks that we have would be a better investment. Adding recreation opps to those parks is easier than spreading them to more parks. • Huge backlog, added parks but not maintenance staff • Not as interested in more parks or open spaces or enhancing recreational opportunities but we should improve park maintenance. More Neighborhood Parks • Parks are an important component of quality of life,we have less parks than other cities of our size. Example: non-profit basketball association • The one fact that stood out to me when I moved to Tigard was there is not a park within walking distance from my home. Parks make for safety, makes for recreation, makes for viable living. Attracts more affluent families more money into the city. • The land is there, but there isn't any money to develop parks or maintain them. • It is a waste that we have land that isn't developed into parks • This is a great value to improve quality of life, but difficult to make tangible for voters to care about (sadly). Green space/parks to balance the huge building boom in Tigard could be compelling. • Need more neighborhood parks and rec. programs. • More neighborhood parks: this could be very valued as we are adding so many new developments—give specific examples people can care about • We have neighborhoods without parks • Small parks, 3-4 acres Comments • Livability • Keep open spaces. • Connection to small business, after school programs • We already have a park levy and wasn't done/taken care of. No more money. • Park improvement: Not tangible/hard to see • Appeals to a wide segment of residents. However, not all the land now available for parks can be developed as existing resources. • Parks need to be maintained but not a high priority for me. Tigard Levy and Bond Advisory Task Force—Meeting#3 Summary 6 Sustain and Enhance Public Safety Programs — Community policing — Reserve Officer Program — Expanded traffic enforcement — Poised for Tigard's growth — Sex offender compliance program What do you like about this example? Reserve Officer Program • Reserve officers/community Tigard growth and expanded traffic enforcement • Tell the story— they are at your sports events, etc. • Resource officers • School resource officers • School resource officers • Add school resource officer • School resource officer Expanded Traffic Enforcement • Expanded traffic enforcement is very important to livability. • There is an emotional appeal to public safety. • Compelling/tangible • Need more traffic enforcement officers! Poised for Tigard's growth • More people equals higher need for more police officers. Response time will be an issue with higher density. • Hard to discuss safety without some scare tactics. Effective policing and having a reserve to be able to keep pace with more territory and population is critical. Sex offender compliance program • Compelling/tangible • Sex offender compliance should not even be on this list. It should be a not-cut program whatever happens. Public safety is vital and needs to be kept in top condition. Comments • Emotional appeal. But, tell the story why some of these are important to the "community" • Talk about what's lost if not invested in • Quantify effects to response time • Add data on response time for police • There is some tangible "care abouts" in this list. Clear examples of what could be lost if we don't invest which will affect quality of life. • One of the key value points from survey • Facilities? • Code enforcement Tigard Levy and Bond Advisory Task Force—Meeting#3 Summary 7 • No —where is ticket $ going?Why don't other cities Sherwood, Beaverton assist with River Terrace—not just Tigard's responsibility. No —we have enough police sitting around city, talking— often see cops sitting. Expand Library Services — Improve online access to library services — Services for all ages: early childhood development, youth reading, senior community programs — Increase diversity of the collection — Restore morning hours What do you like about this example? Improve online access to library services • More specific as to what "improving online access" means and what it means to increase diversity of the collection? • Hours were expanded recently. Existing programs are pretty good. Computers are heavily used— could use more capacity • Expand and update computers. Lots of people don't have personal computers or internet. • Technology/computers accessible to everyone, especially important to lower income residents, early childhood development is key • Co-op is great. Computers are all used and maybe we should improve the availability of computers. • Improve online access to library services: is this access for low income/homeless? This could be compelling • Quality of life helping the people who don't have online access —kids doing work, etc. • Is there justification to restoring morning hours? It was mentioned that Tigard has the highest circulation. Better online access would be more efficient as well as diversifying the collection. • The computer access at the library should be expanded. It is highly used. Services for all ages: early childhood development, youth reading, senior community programs • Yes—people (voters) did not like library being closed. Programs important. Restore morning hours • Early childhood development restoring morning hours—low income family help to nurture young minds • Don't want to lose days the library is open, but it doesn't need to be open more days. Comments • I think sustainability of what we have is first and then expansion is next. I feel we can create more community volunteer services that would help with library services. • It's important to my family, but tough to create compelling message. Closures of the library is very tangible. Those w/o kids don't necessarily care about expansions. • Should be phrased as "quality of life" issue for segments of our population. There are many who have no access to the things at library provides if there isn't a robust system. • Increase diversity Tigard Levy and Bond Advisory Task Force—Meeting#3 Summary 8 • Libraries are important but I do not use it myself. Increase Community Development Opportunities — Reduce red tape and permit wait times — One-on-one service — Affordable housing strategy — Safe Routes to Schools What do you like about this example? Reduce red tape and permit wait times • Less steps/continuity when requesting info on projects/processes —mixed use spaces! New development/re-development of existing • Streamline protects community values • Encourage more density in strategic locations; streamline planning approval process • Reducing red tape is smart and low cost. • Reducing red tape is a huge part of creating a vibrant city. Make is simpler for community development to happen. • Reducing red tape is how we create affordable housing and safe routes to schools and good development. • Meh. Make it interesting to avg. voters Safe Routes to Schools • Planning routes • Safe routes are important. • All this is important to the community and what we should be talking about. It just seems we have to prioritize to make the money spent effective. Safe routes to schools, important. • Safe Routes to schools. Need to maintain community development opportunities that we already have. Affordable housing strategy • Enable affordable housing! Rent control. • This is helpful but doesn't equate to jobs here— or so people will think • Affordable housing strategy: Safe Routes to Schools: This seems out of place here—but definitely part of infrastructure (roads, sidewalks, etc.). • A levy would be counterproductive to affordable housing. • As to affordable housing and SRS, there is a great need. However more residential growth absent more jobs doesn't pay in the long run. Comments • Enables Land use, code enforcement • Should add code enforcement • Code enforcement • Code enforcement • Improve core enforcement • This isn't tangible to people but talk about how community development enables Tigard Levy and Bond Advisory Task Force—Meeting#3 Summary 9 affordable housing and routes to school • More mixed use and higher density development • Less tangible but very important because it enables other areas. • One-on-one service: Meh. Average voter won't care— tell what it means for businesses and jobs to city • Developers could pay more for services. • Development services are not tangible. Tigard Levy and Bond Advisory Task Force—Meeting#3 Summary 10