HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/18/2026 - Minutes1
MEETING DATE/TIME: Wednesday, Feb 18, 2026, 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
MEETING LOCATION: Tigard City Hall, Town Hall
Members Present
Stacey Ghoddusi
Stephanie Godfrey Ali Haddadi- Vice Chair Jeremy Hajdu-Paulen
Shaila Kotadia
Caitlin McKinley -Chair Sunshine Navarro Shively Connie Ramaekers Maria Rue
Not Present
Marinda Bottesi
Israel Jacquez
City Team Present
Halsted Bernard, Director of Library Services Courtney Furman, Principal Engineer
Nicole Hendrix, Team Liaison
Jamey McDonald, Chief of Police Meeting start: 6:00 pm
Member Updates, “What Are Your Celebrations, Concerns, or Curiosities Regarding
the City?” (All)
Celebrations: STUDD group event featuring admin shooting baskets with impaired goggles
and it really hit home with the kids, Ali & Shaila speaking at Leadership Tigard, Express
Library, McDonald Street 1st talks with property owners, son’s birthday, Connie and all the
work she does.
Curiosity: Future of CCE, McDonald street project, snow predictions
Liaison Update Announcements & Meeting Recap (Nicole Hendrix)
Nicole shared that City Councilors have begun producing short monthly videos on topics
of community interest. The most recent video featured CP Wolf discussing the Bond and Facility
Project. A prior video highlighted Councilor Robbins speaking about the TPM ordinance and
City of Tigard
Committee for Community Engagement Minutes
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related public works enforcement. Nicole encouraged committee members to share any ideas or
topics of curiosity, noting she can relay suggestions to Council.
Nicole reported that she attended a recent Council meeting to discuss Board and Committee bylaw
work and the idea of standardizing bylaws across committees. She provided additional clarity on
Council’s initial conversations about potentially rescoping and evaluating new committee structures. Two areas discussed that are particularly relevant to CCE are equity work and special events. Council expressed support for CCE taking a lead role in these areas. Nicole noted that CCE would maintain its current structure, but this direction could provide clearer focus. This was an initial discussion, and staff will return to Council in April with draft standardized bylaws and more clearly defined concepts. Nicole clarified that creating new committees is only one option under consideration and that staff capacity and workload will be key factors in any decisions. Nicole provided updates on upcoming community events, including Cocoa with a Cop, the Black History Month Market, the Police Department Community Academy (members were invited to connect with Nicole if interested in learning more), and State of Our City, where youth performers are currently being sought. Nicole also shared that CCE member Rachel Roundy will be relocating to the Bay Area and has resigned from the committee. At this time, there are no plans to conduct interviews to fill
committee vacancies, pending further direction following Council’s bylaw discussions.
Nicole concluded with a recap of the January meeting and action items. Chief will be joining this
evening’s meeting. A resource list of available community spaces was distributed. The committee
will continue amplifying Building a Better Tigard messaging; however, as the measure has been
referred to the ballot, communications will shift to neutral language. She closed with a preview of
the next meeting topics, including Library Operations, Budget, and continued conversations on
equity and special events.
Library Operations (Halsted Bernard)
Halsted Bernard provided an update on the temporary closure of the Tigard Public Library building
and the launch of express services. She shared photos and video of the large HVAC equipment and
cranes currently onsite, explaining why the building must remain closed to the public. A project
timeline graphic indicated the project is approximately 19% complete, with a hoped-for reopening
in May 2026. Library staff have been temporarily relocated to various City facilities, including the
Niche buildings and City Hall.
Halsted reviewed the services currently available through express operations. These include story
time programming, limited collections for checkout, assistance with book and information
searches, free Wi-Fi, public computers and printing, tax forms, technology help, access to social
services support, and a basic needs bookshelf. Account and reference services remain available by
phone and email seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and the team continues monitoring
social media. At other Washington County Cooperative Library Services locations, patrons may
return materials, pick up holds, access interlibrary loans, and check out Library of Things items,
which are not currently available at express services.
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Halsted shared photos of the Town Hall configurations used to support story times and social
services. In the first week, 60 children and caregivers attended story time, a Ducks of the Northwest
program was well attended, 66 social service connections were made, and 270 visitors utilized
express services. Community accolades were shared, along with challenges related to returns and
differentiating between City Hall and library service days.
Halsted emphasized how CCE can help by identifying communication gaps and serving as ambassadors to ensure neighbors understand that library services remain available. In response to questions, she noted that the social services coordinator typically sees over 100 individuals per month, making 66 interactions in one week significant, likely due to intentional outreach. She confirmed that materials can be returned to any WCCLS library. Nicole thanked Halsted for providing an FAQ to assist City staff in responding to community inquiries. In response to a question about awareness of social services at the library, Halsted suggested inviting the social
services coordinator to a future meeting for additional discussion.
McDonald Street Project (Courtney Furman)
Courtney Furman presented on improvements planned for McDonald Street in alignment with
Tigard’s Complete Streets Policy and Safe Streets Action Plan. Community concerns include vehicle
speeds, safety for pedestrians and cyclists, queuing, and traffic operations.
In addition to transportation improvements, Courtney discussed critical infrastructure needs,
including four water lines running beneath McDonald Street, the largest measuring two feet in
diameter. The project will evaluate replacing these lines and exploring opportunities to
underground overhead utilities.
Courtney outlined project goals, including creating a safer route for walking and biking, reducing
vehicle speeds, improving traffic operations, and minimizing impacts to approximately 100
residential properties along the corridor
Next, Courtney shared the Project Schedule showing the project is nearing completion of the Phase
1, the predesign phase, currently at approximately 10% design, with June marking the anticipated
conclusion of this phase. The right-of-way process may take up to nine months. Construction is
tentatively planned for spring 2028 and will likely span two summer seasons, requiring complex
phasing to maintain corridor access.
Courtney also reviewed a Stakeholder Mapping Workshop that incorporated equity-centered
engagement strategies. The work session included City staff, consultants, school district
representatives, and a school parent. Public involvement strategies emphasized meeting
community members where they are, partnering with local organizations, and utilizing multiple
communication channels.
Five public engagement events were held in fall 2025 to gather feedback on four design
alternatives. Survey results indicated Alternative 2, a shared-use path, was most preferred, with
Alternative 3 (a separated cycle track and sidewalk) also receiving strong support, particularly from
families. Alternative 2 was selected as the preferred design due to its narrower footprint,
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minimizing right-of-way impacts. A community open house drew approximately 75 attendees and
included interactive, to-scale corridor maps for public comment.
Upcoming spring 2026 engagement includes a March 11 open house and one-on-one meetings
with 30 property owners along the corridor.
During committee discussion, members emphasized the importance of transparent
communication, particularly regarding alternate routes and impacts to families during construction.
Courtney confirmed that construction coordination and school partnerships are priorities. In
response to questions about property owner outreach, she shared that 70 of the 100 properties
may experience some level of impact, largely temporary. Letters were sent to all 70 property
owners, and 30 have opted to participate thus far. Committee members raised considerations
around language access and accommodations for marginalized populations. Courtney
acknowledged anticipated traffic impacts and affirmed the City’s commitment to minimizing
disruptions and maintaining clear communication throughout construction.
Special Events (Alex Richardson) Management Analyst, Alex Richardson shared an overview of the City’s major special events,
including Juneteenth, Pride Parade & Fest, El Tigre Fest, and Fourth of July. She noted that the City
partners with TTSD for both Juneteenth and Pride. Pride has been moved approximately one
month earlier, with the new date set for May 23.
Alex provided details on event locations, upcoming dates, and shared the webpages for each
event. She encouraged committee members to share community contacts who may be interested
in vending or performing at Pride and/or El Tigre Fest.
Alex specifically sought feedback regarding Juneteenth, sharing that Council has directed staff to
reduce event budgets. Attendance metrics were reviewed, and Juneteenth has historically had
lower audience numbers compared to other events. Alex asked for input on how to better capture
event impact beyond attendance figures. Committee members encouraged her to consider the
broader story being told, noting that these events foster belonging and that qualitative stories may
better demonstrate their community impact.
A question was raised about the timing of Pride and the decision to move the event indoors. Alex
explained that June staff capacity is often stretched, limiting the attention the event can receive.
Additionally, Pride had previously been scheduled near high school graduation weekend, resulting
in lower-than-desired student participation. Moving the event to spring addresses both concerns.
Regarding the indoor location, Alex shared that the decision was driven by safety, flow,
accessibility, and logistical considerations with the current venue setup.
Committee members were encouraged to help communicate these changes and the reasoning
behind them to the community. Some members noted that the changes made sense and asked
about the possibility of incorporating an adjacent outdoor field in the future.
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ICE Interactions and TPM Enforcement (Chief Jamey McDonald)
Ali introduced Chief Jamey McDonald to provide updates in follow-up to the previous meeting,
where committee members had raised questions about local interactions with ICE as well as
inquiries regarding Time, Place, and Manner enforcement.
Chief Jamey McDonald shared that it is generally standard practice for outside law enforcement
agencies to notify the local on-duty supervisor when operating in another jurisdiction for officer
safety and coordination. However, he stated this rarely occurs with ICE. Because Oregon has been a
sanctuary state for decades, federal immigration officials understand that local law enforcement
cannot assist with immigration enforcement and typically do not notify Tigard Police to avoid
placing the department in a position of declining involvement.
The Chief noted that while advance notice is always preferred, recent immigration enforcement
activity—both nationally and locally—has occurred without communication. While Tigard Police
does not weigh in on federal enforcement decisions, the lack of coordination creates challenges.
He emphasized that his primary responsibility is ensuring people feel safe in Tigard. When
enforcement actions generate fear or uncertainty, it can create division and make it harder to build
trust within the community.
He shared that there have been a couple of concerning incidents in Tigard believed to involve
immigration officials, though the department was unable to definitively confirm federal
involvement. He contrasted this with Tigard Police’s standard practice of proactively notifying
partner agencies when operating in another jurisdiction, particularly in situations involving use of
force. That level of communication has not occurred in these instances.
Committee members discussed the importance of distinguishing local police from federal
immigration officials and continuing to build trust, particularly with communities of color. The Chief
reaffirmed that profiling is contrary to law enforcement training and values, and that Tigard Police
remains committed to strengthening community trust. He explained that while the department
cannot intervene in federal immigration enforcement, officers can document incidents and report
information through established protocols, depending on the circumstances.
Discussion continued about whether community members should report suspected ICE activity so
the department has greater awareness. The Chief reiterated, “If you see something, say something,”
and encouraged residents to call if something does not look right. In response to a question about
calling 911, he explained that dispatch can quickly assess and route information appropriately and
again encouraged residents to call 911 in suspicious situations.
The conversation then shifted to Time, Place, and Manner (TPM) enforcement related to
unsanctioned camping. Community members asked how rules are enforced when concerns are
reported. The Chief acknowledged the complexity of the issue, noting that sanctioned camping
areas operate under specific parameters, and officers work to hold individuals accountable when
camping occurs outside those areas. He highlighted the challenges of consistently addressing
unsanctioned sites, as individuals may move locations or choose not to follow established rules.
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The Chief also shared that the past year has been the busiest on record for dispatch calls. Coupled
with increasing social service needs and behavioral health challenges, he emphasized the
complexity of the situation. Drawing on his experience serving on the board of New Narrative, he
noted that the acuity of clients continues to increase, underscoring the need for broader, system-
level solutions to meaningfully address these issues.
Meeting Minute Review & Action, January Minutes (Chair, All)
Caitlin called to approve the minutes, and the January minutes were unanimously approved as
written.
Adjournment
Meeting ended at 7:50 pm