City Council Minutes - 03/20/2018 n City ofTigard
Tigard Business / Workshop Meeting Minutes
r March 20, 2018
1. WORKSHOP MEETING
A. At 6:33 p.m. Mayor Cook called the meeting to order.
B. Deputy City Recorder Burgoyne called the roll.
Name Present Absent
Mayor Cook
Councilor Goodhouse
Council President Snider
Councilor Woodard
Councilor Anderson
C. Mayor Cook asked everyone to stand and join him in the Pledge of Allegiance.
D. Call to Council and Staff for Non Agenda Items—There was none.
2. SOUTHWEST CORRIDOR UPDATE AND DISCUSSION
Community Development Director Asher(Project Director),Assistant City Engineer McMillan
(Transportation and Infrastructure Team),Senior Planner Shanks (Land Use and Permitting Team),Project
Planner Pagenstecher(Urban Design Team),Redevelopment Project Manager Farrelly(Equity and Housing
Team),Economic Development Coordinator Bemis (Public Involvement Team),Community Engagement
Coordinator Scott(Public Involvement Team Leader),and Consultant Michelle Poyourow presented this
item and gave a PowerPoint presentation.
Mr.Asher provided council with an overview of the project,initial route proposal(IRP),said the purpose of
the light rail project is to connect Tualatin,Downton Tigard and SW Portland and to help these communities
achieve their land use vision. He explained the acronyms associated with the project and went over the
project schedule,environmental review,advanced design and engineering elements.Mr.Asher explained
financing would come from a variety of sources and provided with a timeline of when this could happen.He
explained the path of the initial route proposal from North to South and following tracks down to Bridge
Port Village,orange call-outs,segments of alignment from what the draft environmental impact statement
(DEIS) alignments showed and said that two would be in the Tigard Triangle and one in downtown Tigard.
Senior Planner Shanks discussed the permitting framework,levels of government and local agencies included
in the framework,Trimet being the agency overseeing the project and Metro as the Regional Land-use
Authority. Ms. Shanks explained the final land-use order would come from the local jurisdiction;however,
the city is able to adhere to its own design standards and local land-use process. She said that as the project
moves forward Tigard's local land-use policy would guide staff's interaction in the project and would be
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bringing forward recommendations on how to update change the city's local development,design standards
or procedures,so that staff can do their best to get the regional improvements in order to further the city's
local land-use vision. She said that as staff interacts with the project they are making sure to include things
that are important to Tigard. Things like,maintaining downtown as the city's primary transient center,focus
employment and high density housing in the Tigard Triangle and downtown,ensure that downtown is not
dominated by park and ride activity,and finally to promote the efficient utilization of industrial lands. Ms.
Shanks explained that for the rest of the presentation each person on the team would be discussing a topic as
it relates to the project(land-use,business impact,urban design,equity and housing,traffic,transportation
and infrastructure and community engagement).
Land-use: Ms. Shanks said the initial route proposal is going in a promising direction. It provides improved
circulation and access within the Tigard Triangle,minimizes park and ride impacts in the Tigard Triangle and
minimizes industrial impact in South downtown. She said there are questions and concerns about how the
downtown station can support the city's land-use vision,if this location can help the city unlock employment
potential and if this will require an entire new land-use vision in order to accommodate light rail.
Council President Snider asked what staff's conclusions are with these questions. Ms.Shanks replied they do
not currently have recommendations at this point,but are concerned so they are studying the project and
telling the project team about their concerns. She said the project mission is to help mobility through this
quarter and to help local communities meet their land-use visions.
Council President Snider said the project is not truly located in the city's downtown area and they do not have
voter authority to place it there. Ms. Shanks said that is a very good question and can be part of their
discussion. She said council has caught on to one of staff s concerns about the location of the downtown
station. She explained staff pushed very hard to get two stations in the Triangle area and are comfortable
with how that is going,but staff is less comfortable with the downtown location.
Ms. Shanks discussed the location access areas and said there are challenges in downtown;there is a lot of
land and not enough streets and discussed the redevelopment potentials. She talked about the station being
proposed in the industrial core area in Hunziker and trying to figure out ways to unlock employment density
and to see how this plays out with light rail.
Business Impact: Economic Development Coordinator Bemis discussed the potential business impacts for
increased employment density through redevelopment in underutilized land. He explained there are currently
over 400 acres of land in the Tigard Triangle and approximately 250 acres or about fifty-percent has high
development potential. Looking at the Hunziker core there is 138 acres and around 96 acres has high
development potential. He said light rail is known to help with development along the route,which can
increase employment density through developing high employment clusters around light rail. In terms of
business impacts,there are questions and concerns regarding potential results and impacts to approximately
thirty-six existing businesses along the route.
Mayor Cook asked if the impact is less in the current route vs the other proposed routes. Mr.Bemis replied it
is and said this is a conservative estimate.
Mr.Bemis explained the second concern staff has is to the potential loss of industrial land.
Councilor Goodhouse asked if there is a dollar figure to what the city could lose with the loss of industrial
land. Mr.Bemis replied this is staff's third concern,which is a tax base loss from industrial land. He said the
potential loss of land would cost around$29 million,which is around$73,000 annually. Mr.Bemis explained
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the last concern is the potential to jeopardize the city's infrastructure strategy,which is the citywide effort
encouraging citywide development,business growth and increased employment density.
Transit Service: Consultant Michelle Poyourow explained the initial route proposal would affect transit
access to and from Tigard,speed and frequency. She said the initial route proposal(IRP) factors that affect
transit access to Tigard include: fast and direct lines,station locations and the farther the station is from the
largest number of people,the more time they will spend getting to the station and changes to bus lines. She
said Tigard is special because people here can access opportunities into Washington County,Portland and the
Lloyd District and then to the South. She explained that as the stations are set,it can cause changes to the
way bus lines run,which could mean that Tigard residents would spend more time traveling. She said that as
Tigard moves forward,to keep an eye on station location and how travel time for riders could be affected and
how much time people would need to spend transferring. She is happy about the IRP and said it is going in a
promising direction,and there is no branching which means better rider frequency and the IRP includes a
stop in downtown.
Mayor Cook asked if they had looked at other light rail services and how bus lines were affected. Ms.
Poyourow explained that if a light rail line comes into a specific area in Tigard,then Trimet would not send a
bus in that particular area. The downfall is that people would have to get off a bus and then get onto light
rail.
Urban Design: Project Planner Pagenstecher said the road patterns in Tigard create obstacles and
downtown has a more skeletal framework,while the Hunziker area does not. He explained there are
challenges ahead regarding urban design and components of transit-oriented development for pedestrian
walkability. Having a train station near town center,a public square fronting station and a regional node
containing mixture of uses are areas of concern. He said location for a station is a big consideration,as well
as financial funding for structures,station area development near downtown,and questions about transit
experiences for people who are considering downtown as a future residence or business location.
Council President Snider commented about the proposed downtown station location and asked staff if the
proposed location is in the wrong spot. Mr.Pagenstecher replied yes.
Equity and Housing Concerns: Redevelopment Project Manager Farrelly said the initial route proposal
would not create opportunity for developing protected affordable housing. He said staff has been working
with community organizations to promote outreach events in order to get the word out to the affordable
housing community. He said a station outside of the downtown core area could result in less transit oriented
housing development and transit dependent housing and there would not be affordable housing near the
center of Tigard.
Engineering Concerns: Assistant City Engineer McMillan talked about engineering concerns and said she
had been attending the technical committee meetings for the last year. She explained the station at the
Northern end would be at Highway 99W near 68th Avenue and would shorten the alignment coming from 1-5
and would allow for approximately 400 park and ride spaces. It would then head south crossing Red Rock
Creek. She explained this area is elevated as it goes over Dartmouth and said staff would like to have them
include bike and pedestrian connections over this area to make it safer. The route would then go to Elmhurst
and include a station and then at grade crossing at 72nd Avenue;impacting 72nd and Dartmouth and 72nd and
Beveland so that the signal lights would need to be adjusted. Staff is excited about the route going over
Highway 217 and hope there would be a bike/pedestrian connection between downtown and the Triangle.
She said the downtown stations needs to avoid impacts to Ash Avenue and Hall Boulevard. There would
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need to be a signal and good pedestrian crossings. Staff anticipates impact to Hunziker and engineering staff
is pushing for a realignment of this intersection and would include a park and ride station. Ms.McMillan said
another important point for council is that the initial route proposal does not necessitate the realignment of
Scoffing,but it also does not affect the Ash Avenue crossing and this would need to be a Tigard funded and
designed project. She said as the route leaves downtown,it follows the rail corridor with fewer impacts to
Bonita and there will be an elevated station and a small park and ride and crosses 72nd Avenue again at grade.
She said city staff and Washington County staff are concerned about the crossing over Boones Ferry Road.
The route would then head towards Bridgeport Village in Tualatin,but the access points are located in Tigard
so staff is looking at this connection. She summarized by saying this is going in a promising direction,but
staff is looking at the areas that are of concern.
Council President Snider commented on the Boones Ferry connection and said that as structured now,that
anything at grade would be a mess. Ms. McMillan said that city staff and Washington County staff agree and
that is why they are studying this connection more.
Mayor Cook said the walkshed is interesting and important for either buses or vehicles accessing the park and
ride,and keeping the main parking area outside the Triangle will help with flow and have better access. Ms.
McMillan said the walkshed maps cover more than just the two stations and is exciting.
Community Engagement: Community Engagement Coordinator Scott said public involvement started in
February of last year and staff started with a kick-off party that was held at the library. They invited people to
come and learn about the alignment options. Since then,staff has concentrated on community engagement,
business,and property owner outreach. Over the last year staff and including an employee from Metro and
Trimet,have spent a lot of time reaching out to business and property owners,and in May of last year staff
sent out letters to all property owners and businesses located within one-fourth mile of all the proposed
alignments and asked them come and speak with staff The goal for staff was that no one be surprised about
an alignment in their neighborhood and to make sure the draft environmental impact statement(DEIS)is
easy to understand. Ms. Scott said that from this,staff began having one-on-one and group conversations.
She said throughout the process staff has outreached to almost everyone in the alignment areas and with the
initial route proposal, (IRP) staff is starring the process again,because there are,new people who were not
included in the other alignments but now are. She explained during the steering committee meeting last
March,staff sent out letters to everyone in all the potential mitigation sites that could be impacted. Ms.Scott
talked about staff's efforts with community engagement over the last year and said that Metro staff have gone
to all Tigard community events over the summer. She explained that beginning in April or May,city staff
would start doing public outreach again. Metro and Trimet will be hosting two events in Tigard,one on June
6 and the other will be located at St.Anthony's Church and will focus more on affordable housing.
Councilor Woodard asked Ms. Scott if staff has had a chance to get a feeling from people in the Hunziker
area. Ms. Scott said they sent a letter to the entire area and staff will have a meeting with them on Thursday.
Councilor Woodard asked how many firms could be affected in this area. Mr.Bemis said he contacted a
number of some industrial businesses on Hall Boulevard and most did not have many concerns with the light
rail going down Hall Boulevard and there was one firm that expressed concerns about access to the area.Ms.
Scott explained staff cast a wide net that included almost everyone in this area and others on the other side of
Hunziker.
Councilor Woodard asked if staff has a better recommendation for affordable housing. Mr.Asher said that
compared to five years ago,where they are in this project is a little disappointing. He said considers the
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downtown area to be the most important connection and there is no true station proposed for downtown,
however,if you were to pick the starting point of this project later than 2010 when costs started coming in
and it became evident that the fastest cheapest route is down the I-5 Corridor,then this looks good. He said
staff is going to use all the tools they have to get the best locations,and they want council to know where the
project is weak,but they do agree that this is the best draft alignment at this point.
Mayor Cook said the initial route proposal(IRP)is already trying to mitigate what the draft environmental
impact statement(DEIS)will provide and equity and housing is the main one. They are more worried about
the equity and housing issues than industrial issues and about going through apartment complexes then they
are going through industrial areas.
Councilor Woodard said he is blinded by the mitigation cost and who is going to pay for it in the Hunziker
area. Mr.Asher said there is a strategy for development in the industrial core through infrastructure
investments similar to what they did on Wall Street,with the hopes of getting more density.
Councilor Woodard asked if the termination of the Hunziker core infrastructure project was overwhelming.
Mr.Asher said Councilor Woodard is hitting on something important. Staff had an idea that this area would
become a place of employment density,jobs,infrastructure improvements,better utilities and better frontage
for the sake of Tigard's economic development program. He said this has been on hold while they figure out
what they are doing about economic development,however,staff does not need numbers to know that if the
light rail were to get built here,then this area will not be what was described. Staff could be looking at
rezoning or re-visioning the downtown area in this direction. Councilor Woodard said this is probably as
good as it can get,his questions are concerns that he feels the public will come to him with,and he would like
to be able to answer those.
Council President Snider said it would be hard to accept the currently proposed downtown station location
and questions whether it is actually permissible and he stated that this troubles him.
Councilor Anderson said he is happy with the Triangle area,but is concerned with the downtown station.
Councilor Goodhouse said the Tigard voters voted on a ballot measure regarding having a downtown stop
and said this proposal is not a true downtown stop. They have one shot at getting this right and this and
Tigard should take a stand on this. If this were to come before him in the summer,he would vote no,unless
there were to be a proper stop in downtown.
Councilor Woodard said he was in favor of the downtown line,but after thinking about it,it might have to be
done at a different time. He thinks it could destroy downtown businesses,is concerned about the dollar
amount and displacing several businesses.
Mayor Cook commented on the transit station and said it would move to where ever the light rail station
would be,however,the WES station would stay where it is and the bus station would relocate as it is
currently proposed.
Council President Snider asked if Councilor Woodard is concerned about moving the bus station out of
downtown. Councilor Woodard said no,because it is more of a transition place and the city needs more
parking.
Ms.Poyourow said the highest ridership bus lines run North and South and cross Main Street no matter
what.
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Mayor Cook asked staff to explain Councilor Woodard's question about Tigard's cost,what that share could
be and how citizens would or would not pay. Mr.Asher said the Charter protects Tigard citizens from being
taxed or having a fee imposed upon them by the city for the light rail project. He explained that a Regional
Bond would likely be raised by Metro and everyone in the region would have a vote,including Tigard voters,
but would include voters from all three County's. He said the transportation improvements package has yet
to be determined,but it would likely include this project. If the regional vote passes,regardless of how
Tigard citizens vote,Tigard citizens would pay its share of the property tax increase.
Councilor Woodard stated that the regional vote would probably pass and Tigard would have to pay whatever
its share is,and he want's people to understand this.
Mr.Asher said the land-use authority will happen very quickly and the regional tax package will include
multiple projects and it is impossible to predict what that amount will be.
Council President Snider said the alternative is that a large suite of items goes out to a regional vote and for
some reason Tigard decides it does not want this project,recognize that Tigard will be paying their share of
that Bond anyway to help fund things not in Tigard. So,assuming the Bond were to pass,Tigard's option is
to either get something from it or not. Councilor Woodard agreed and said this is what he wants people to
understand.
Mr.Asher said it would be hard to circle back after the fact and if they stay on the current schedule,they are
still nine years out. He said it is important to know that the City of Tigard will have a minimal role in what
the size of the Bond would be and what is included in the Bond. He said to Council President Snider's point,
Tigard could be a beneficiary of that Bond if it passes,because a large portion of that funding is intended to
come here to build this project. In terms of how much it will be and what other projects are included
Tigard's role is minimal.
Mayor Cook said he has people come up to him all the time and ask when the vote will be in Tigard so that
they can fund their share. The intention of how this is planned is that Tigard will know up front what their
share will be. Mr.Asher said there is no plan to have a Tigard only vote to fund this plan.
3. NON AGENDA ITEMS—There was none.
4. EXECUTIVE SESSION—Mayor Cook announced that the Tigard Town Center Development
Agency would go into Executive Session to discuss real property transaction negotiations,under
ORS 192.660(2)(e),and would adjourn the meeting from the Red Rock Conference room after the
executive session.
5. ADJOURNMENT
At 9:24 p.m. Councilor Goodhouse moved to adjourn the meeting from the Red Rock Conference
room and Council President Snider seconded the motion. Motion passed by a unanimous vote.
Name Yes No
Mayor Cook
Councilor Goodhouse
Council President Snider
Councilor Woodard
Councilor Anderson
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&)LAC
Kelly Burgoynd Deputy City eco der
Attest:
John L. Co ,Mayor
a
Date:
` a d
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