City Council Minutes - 04/30/2013 a
City of Tigrard
Tigard City Council Town Hall Meeting Notes
April 30, 20135 6:30 — 8:30 p.m.
• Mayor Cook convened the Town Hall Meeting at 6.30 p in Approximately 40 people attended
the Town Hall.
• Mayor Cook welcomed everyone and asked the City Council members and attending officials to
introduce themselves.
City Council attendance-
Name Present Absent
Mayor Cook ✓
Council President Henderson ✓
Councilor Buehner ✓
Councilor Snider ✓
Councilor Woodard ✓
Staff Present: City Manager Wine,Assistant City Manager Newton,Senior Transportation Planner
Gray,City Recorder Wheatley,Deputy City Recorder Krager.
Also present- Metro Councilor Craig Dirksen,State Representative Margaret Doherty.
SW Corridor Studv
• Mayor Cook described the scope, tumehne and status of the SW Corridor Study. Current
phase of this project is devoted to receiving citizen input. No decisions have been made.
Mayor Cook referred to the process followed for the City of Tigard. He referred to the
Citizens Advisory Committee and the city's Comprehensive Plan. The Comnnttee was asked
to respond to the questions: What areas do you want to see grow? What areas to you want
to see change? He identified the areas the Comnuttee reviewed for possible changes or to
remain the same.
TIGARD CITY COUNCIL TOWN HALL MEETING NOTES— APRIL 30, 2013
City of Tigard 113125 SW Hall Blvd,Tigard,OR 97223 1503-63941711 www tigard-or gov I Page I of 4
• The SW Corridor plan is unique from previous plans in that the project began with a land
use vision (identifying areas that have grown or have potential to grow) and determining
how to get high capacity transit (HCT) where it is needed. Existing transportation
infrastructure was identified and thought was given to developing connections Previous
transportation planning projects have focused more on the route and its construction rather
than developing the land use plan and then creating the transportation infrastructure to best
sunt the needs of the types of uses.
• The type of high capacity transit (e g., bus rapid transit or light rail) has not been determined.
• After the public input process, an environmental impact statement will be prepared and
funding opportunities explored
• Discussion followed on the pros/cons listed through the public process with regard to bus
rapid transit (BRT) versus light rail when looking at up-front costs compared to long-term
benefits.
• Comments from the audience and government officials during the discussion included•
o Concern with getting transportation modes to jobs and services.
o Concern that dollars spent on light rail would be wasteful — high costs, lack of
flexibility, comparative low ridership.
o Concerns about HCT corridors on existing neighborhoods
o Response to concerns about HCT impacts included a comment that experience has
shown that the percentage of HCT ridership increases over a period of time
o There is a need to plan ahead and set aside right of way for a HCT corridor
o BRT or light rail each attracts a different type of riders
o Experiences on 99W were reviewed. Past studies show 50,000 vehicles per day travel
on 99W
o Concerns expressed about the relationship between the City of Tigard and TriMet
with speaker noting distrust of a viable future for TriMet citing recent financial
difficulties.
o Concerns with regard to the commuter rail, WES. Speaker noted TriMet is losing
$50,000 per month operating the WES system.
o Question was asked, "Do we have to do HCT?" Could this money be better used
on streets and trails?
o Discussion held on leveraging funding with coordination among all levels of
government agencies.
o Notation made that HCT would fund system-wide improvements in and around the
selected corridor to provide infrastructure for access to HCT and to mitigate impacts
to neighborhoods
o Reference was made to our aging population and that increasing numbers of people
need more transportation options. Current emphasis for future planning is to create
a sustainable infrastructure in communities.
o A member of the audience disputed that the older generation would want to ride
light rail The speaker referred to ramifications to neighborhoods and quality of life
(including impacts on the school system). The Tigard community does not want to
become more like Portland
o Representatives in opposition to light rail supported letting voters determine whether
light rail should be pursued.
TIGARD CITY COUNCIL TOWN HALL MEETING NOTES— APRIL 30,2013
City of Tigard 113125 SW Hall Blvd,Tigard,OR 97223 1 503-639-4171 1 www tigard-or gov I Page 2 of 4
o A member of the audience commented on the discussion held so far and suggested
that decisions should be based on data rather than anecdotal references to elicit
support for one transportation mode over another
o A member of the audience disputed the comment that primary users of HCT were
low income The speaker, who indicated she did not fall in the low-income
demographic, said she and others find HCT especially attractive to travel to cultural
events offered in the metro area to avoid traffic congestion and problems with
finding a place to park.
o A speaker noted that Tigard is a suburban community; suburban environments do
not support a light rail system.
o Metro's density requirements were discussed whereby areas within the urban growth
boundary are to designate higher density areas and plan infrastructure improvements
accordingly.
o Discussion followed on the disagreement whether Tigard-area citizens want the
community to be reshaped from a suburban to an urban environment.
o A speaker spoke of concern about gas tax funding and how it is spent on projects
other than for Tigard roads.
o There was a call from a speaker for officials to reject high density and to let voters
decide what the city will look like
Open Forum Discussion
• Walmart project in Tigard (comments offered are summarized below)
o Officials were presented with a petition signed by people opposed to the Tigard
Walmart project (A copy of the petition is on file with the official copy of the
meeting materials)
o Speaker outlined adverse impacts on local businesses and referred to the problems
that would be caused with additional traffic congestion
o Discussion followed on whether citizens should have an opportunity to vote on
approval of projects such as Walmart Response from officials was that if a
development, such as Walmart, complies with approval requirements, then there is
nothing to present to the voters for consideration.
o Discussion followed on the history of the parcel now being developed by the
Walmart organization The approved application was originally for a Target store
Target withdrew and Walmart stepped in to use the approved development
application
o Discussion followed about potential options that might be available to address
concerns with the Walmart project at this time
o Opposition representatives cited concerns with outdated traffic studies and
unknown impacts to the surrounding areas The public process followed was
questioned with frustration expressed about the lack of opportunity to weigh-m on
this particular project.
o After chscussion about what options might be available to address some of the
concerns voiced, the mayor and council members entertained the idea of holding a
study session dialogue with citizens to review options (with legal counsel input) the
city might choose to pursue.
TIGARD CITY COUNCIL TOWN HALL MEETING NOTES— APRIL 30,2013
City of Tigard 113125 SW Hall Blvd,Tigard,OR 972231503-63941711 www tigard-or gov I Page 3 of 4
Closing Comments
• Mayor Cook invited citizens to attend his Fireside Chat meetings held on the second
Thursday of each month.
• The next Town Hall meeting will be on October 29,2013.
UD
Catherine Wheatley,City Recorder
Attest:
Mayor,City Tigard
Date: I O
1:\adm\cathy\ccm\2013\final minutes\04 april\131430 town hall.docx
TIGARD CITY COUNCIL TOWN HALL MEETING NOTES— APRIL 30,2013
City of Tigard 113125 SW Hall Blvd.,Tigard,OR 972231503-63941711 www.tigard-or.gov I Page 4 of 4