HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Minutes - 03/17/2026 eCity of Tigard
it7 City Council Workshop Meeting Minutes
• CITY OF
Tigard March 17, 2026
1. Executive Session
At 5:18 p.m. Mayor Hu announced that the Tigard City Council was entering into Executive
Session called under ORS 192.660(2) (i) for performance review of public officers or
employees. The session ended at 6:18 p.m. and Mayor Hu called a recess until 6:30 p.m.
2. Workshop Meeting
A. Call to order—At 6:30 p.m. Mayor Hu called the Tigard City Council meeting to order.
B. Roll Call — Deputy City Recorder Bartholomew called the roll.
Present Absent
Councilor Schlack ✓
Councilor Shaw ✓
Council President Wolf ✓
Councilor Anderson ✓
Councilor Ghoddusi (virtual) ✓
Youth Councilor Hellhake ✓
Mayor Hu ✓
Councilor Robbins ✓
C. Pledge of Allegiance—Mayor Hu asked everyone to join him in the Pledge of Allegiance.
D. Call to Council and Staff for Non-Agenda Items—None
3. Public Comment
A. Public Comment—Written: None
B. Public Comment— In Person: None
C. Public Comment— Phone-In: None
Tigard City Council Meeting Minutes — March 17, 2026
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4. City Manager Report
Acting City Manager Tritsch shared that Tigard Recreation is celebrating 10 years of serving our
community and over the past decade has continued to increase the number of community
events and recreation programing.
We are also celebrating 25 years as a Tree City USA community, which is a national recognition
from the Arbor Day Foundation that honors cities committed to strong urban forestry
programs and investment in the care and celebration of trees.
5. Community Updates
A. Tigard High School Theater Department
Theatre Director Tori Lee Scoles and Thespian Board President Vera Hardy shared that
March is national Theater in Our Schools (TIOS) month and shared some of their
accomplishments from the year.The Tigard High School Theater Department is a
National Honors Society, a four-time tech champion in Oregon, had two international
competitors who won superiors, designed and hosted a haunted house, and held a
variety of fundraisers for canned food and feminine hygiene products this year.They
recently closed their musical 9 to 5, and the next show will be James and the Giant
Peach. They expressed interest in working on more connection with the city.
B. Tigard High School Envoy
Envoy Khosravani reported that it has been a wonderful month at Tigard High School.
Seniors are gearing up for graduation, by ordering apparel and registering for the
graduation party. All other students are transitioning into course selection and
forecasting for the next school year. For athletics, the dance team is at state, the tennis
team won their invitational, the lacrosse team had their first tournament, and track and
field will have their first meet this week. The president and vice president for next year
have been elected and will join a future council meeting.
C. Tigard Police Department Report
Commander Sitton highlighted the increase in dispatch calls and self-initiated calls from
February 2025 to February 2026. The increase in both types of calls shows that the
officers are responding to dispatch calls and being proactive with self-initiated calls
during downtime. Comparing February 2025 to February 2026, even with an increase in
calls, response time to calls has decreased, especially the response time for priority 4
calls, which has decreased by 22.52%. Priority 4 calls are lower priority calls such as
animal calls, abandoned vehicles, and cold theft reports.
Mayor Hu shared that he had heard concerns, and he has seen more personal items
taking up sidewalk space in front of the Public Works lawn and asked about the
Tigard City Council Meeting Minutes — March 17, 2026
City of Tigard 113125 SW Hall Blvd., Tigard, OR 97223 I www.tigard-or.gov I Page 2 of 5
challenges city staff are facing while enforcing Time Place and Manner (TPM) regulations.
Commander Sitton shared that in general people want to follow the rules and since it is a
revolving door of different people on the lawn,there can be a delay in compliance
because it takes time to educate new people on the rules. About the sidewalk, he shared
that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires 48 inches of unobstructed width
for passage and a typical sidewalk is 60 inches, but the sidewalk in front of the lawn is 96
inches wide which allows for half of the sidewalk to be obstructed.
D. Council Board and Committee Liaison Reports
Councilors reported on their city board and committee and regional liaison assignment
meetings.
6. TriMet Board Member Report to Council
TriMet representatives explained their budget constraints and upcoming changes to services in
Tigard. In July 2025,TriMet announced a $300 million annual budget gap. Inflation led to
increases in almost all the costs related to running the transit system and their revenue is
down. TriMet engaged the community and more than 8,000 people provided feedback that
was considered in the changes, including feedback from Tigard community members.
Mayor Hu expressed concerns with the changes to Line 45, removing SW 121st Ave and SW
Walnut St.
7. Pilot Seasonal Park Ranger Program
Parks and Recreation Manager Gruen introduced Ranger Jordan Porter and shared the data
they collected from the Park Ranger Program.Tigard piloted the city's first Park Ranger
program in the summer of 2025 by bringing on a seasonal employee. The pilot program was in
response to concerns received from community members about public safety in Tigard parks
and on public trails. Staff observations and public feedback received indicate that the Park
Ranger provides a positive presence, helps educate park users about park and trail rules, and
serves as a liaison between the Public Works Parks and Recreation Division and the Police
Department.The pilot Ranger Program was a tremendous success and well received by the
public.
Councilor Robbins asked if the 4.23 miles of newly mapped unofficial/social trails are causing
damage and what the city is doing about this type of trail. Ranger Porter confirmed that the
trails do cause damage to the natural areas and shared that his current goal is to map where
this type of trail is and share the information with our Police Department to help them find
campsites more easily. Parks and Recreation Manager Gruen added that Ranger Porter does
not have any enforcement capabilities at this time.
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Mayor Hu asked which months Ranger Porter works for the city. Parks and Recreation
Manager Gruen shared that as a seasonal employee, after his hours are exhausted, we have to
have a 13-week separation. Ranger Porter left us in December 2025 and will be back in April
2026.
Council President Wolf and Mayor Hu expressed interest in continuing the program, but in
consideration of budget constrictions want to know what the budget tradeoffs would be.
8. Park and Recreation Advisory Board (PRAB)Annual Update
Parks and Recreation Manager Gruen and PRAB Chair Ellen Brown provided an update on the
past year's accomplishments for PRAB, shared issues of concern, and asked for direction on
concept planning to reimagine the use of the Lasich property as an Urban Agriculture and
Natural Resource Education Center. They briefly discussed budget and funding challenges, and
the need for the upcoming discussion on Parks and Recreation funding.
Council President Wolf asked if the two ball fields are being removed permanently. Parks and
Recreation Manager Gruen clarified that the Tigard Tualatin School District will be
permanently losing a football field and baseball field at Fowler middle school, because the new
school will be partially built on the field.
Mayor Hu and all present council members expressed interest in continuing to work on the
plan for the Lasich property and asked for more information about long term costs.
Mayor Hu asked why PRAB does not recommend a levy as a future funding source. PRAB Chair
Ellen Brown expressed concerns with the uncertainty of levy funding for this core service.
Mayor Hu agrees that park and recreation is very important and expressed discomfort with
council increasing the Parks and Recreation Fee (PARF) without voter input and that increasing
System Development Charges (SDC) increases the cost of new housing. Councilor Schlack
added that park funding has reached a point where the council, as elected policy makers, need
to provide a solution on behalf of their constituents.
9. Non-Agenda Items—None
10. Executive Session—None
11. Adjournment
Mayor Hu announced the meeting adjourned at 8:37 p.m.
Tigard City Council Meeting Minutes— March 17, 2026
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Lindsay Deputy City Recorder
Attest:
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Yi-Ka Hu, yor
Date: 02e iyouo
Tigard City Council Meeting Minutes — March 17, 2026
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