Resolution No. 18-56 CITY OF TIGARD, OREGON
TIGARD CITY COUNCIL
RESOLUTION NO. 18-5-4c>
A RESOLUTION THANKING MAYOR JOHN L. COOK FOR HIS OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO
THE CITY OF TIGARD
WHEREAS,John L. Cook has served as Tigard's Mayor since January 1, 2013 through December
31, 2018; and
WHEREAS, over the course of Mayor Cook's terms, the city faced many challenges on the path to
recovery from the 2008 nationwide recession; and
WHEREAS, Mayor Cook enlisted aid from Congresswoman Bonamici and Senator Merkley to
successfully lobby the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Agency to gain
$2.1 million in federal funding for the Hunziker Industrial Core project, a $1.5 million grant from
the State of Oregon, contributions from Metro and private developers for the same project which
will bring an estimated $36 million in private sector investments, as many as 600 new jobs and
generate $140 million in economic output; and
WHEREAS, his advocacy and ability to build profitable partnerships brought an infusion of
private capital the likes of which Tigard had never seen, along with desperately needed market-rate
housing and opportunities to businesses up and down Main Street. His lobbying helped secure a
coveted $75,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to support public art for the
Tigard Outdoor Museum along the Tigard Street Heritage Trail in a revitalized downtown; and
WHEREAS, Mayor Cook pursued completion of a Main Street Green Street Project to retrofit the
southern half of Main Street to full green street standards and provide a multi-modal corridor to
serve the downtown area. These changes helped create a more distinctive town center for Tigard,
which attracted construction of a new$30 million Burnham and Ash Street mixed-use
development; and
WHEREAS, Mayor Cook and the City Council drove economic investment by pursing the Tigard
Street Trail as a path to employment by converting three-quarters of a mile of unused rail spur into
a dedicated off-street walk/bike path to connect Tigard's residential workforce to centers of
employment locally and regionally. This active transportation route connects to a downtown
commercial core of 260 employers and 33 industrial zoned properties; and
WHEREAS, in partnership with Business Oregon, Mayor Cook helped create the state's newest
Enterprise Zone as an economic development tool that encourages local businesses to grow by
investing in new facilities and new employees; and
WHEREAS, Mayor Cook successfully petitioned Governor Brown and the U.S. Department of
the Treasury to include two Tigard low-income community census tracts in Oregon's list of
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Opportunity Zones, to encourage long-term investment in low-income communities; and
WHEREAS, Mayor Cook represented Tigard in the successful construction and activation of the
city's massive water infrastructure project with Lake Oswego for a state-of-the-art water system
that delivers a clean, safe, long-term water source to over 100,000 Tigard Water Service Area
customers in Durham, King City, Tigard and unincorporated Washington County; and
WHEREAS, Mayor Cook's advocacy for community involvement, relationship building and
strengthening neighborhood partnerships fostered new and popular ways to connect with Tigard
citizens and businesses, including partnerships with YouthSource to connect the city, school
district and local businesses with internships and employment opportunities for at-risk and
underprivileged young adults; recognizing and empowering youth volunteers by revitalizing the
Tigard Youth Advisory Council and involving them in his annual State of the City address; and
WHEREAS, Mayor Cook's active membership in the United States Conference of Mayors,
Oregon Dept. of Transportation Region 1 Area Commission on Transportation,Westside
Economic Alliance Board, Tigard Chamber of Commerce Government Relations Committee,
Southwest Corridor Steering Committee, Mayors' Institute on City Design - a leadership initiative
of the National Endowment for the Arts, Washington County Coordinating Committee,
Metropolitan Mayors Consortium, Oregon Mayors Association, Greater Portland Inc. Small Cities
Consortium and many more leadership roles led to successful partnerships, urban design solutions
and long-term opportunities that position Tigard as an important partner in the region.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council that:
SECTION 1: The Tigard City Council, residents and city staff, in grateful appreciation for
his contributions to the community, hereby commend Mayor Cook for his
meritorious service to the city.
SECTION 2: This resolution is effective immediately upon passage.
PASSED: This J day of blAe n k.W-r 2018.
Jas o . Snider, Council President
Ci of Tigard
ATTEST:
Kelly Burgo e, Deputy ity Aecorder
RESOLUTION NO. 18-j<_7,:,,
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