HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/20/2026 - Minutes
7/20/26, 5-6PM, Tigard Public Library
Present: Millie Williams, Jett Switzer, Kailani Rue, Ayla Leniger
Absent: Kim Vargas, Chelsy Vicente Xiloj, Asher Hellhake, Zoey Godfrey, Grant Grodum
City Team Present: Alex Richardson, Team Liaison; Trinity Miller, Housing Planner, Community
Development
Meeting Start: Called to order 5:06pm
Youth Councilor Report and Staff Updates
Staff Liaison Richardson: Millie will be missing 8/17 meeting as well as Jett Switzer. No meeting 8/31.
Officer elections will be on 8/17/
Presentation on Tigard Housing Plan – Trinity Miller, Housing Planner
Housing Planning 101 presentation
Planning is a part of Community Development Department. Multiple pathways to become a planner. No
one way to become a planner. Trinity’s duties are to lead the Housing Plan and manage grants,
programs & incentives, and assist developers though the permitting process.
Nonprofits tend to be the affordable housing planners. Trinity’s job is to help developments meet code
especially when they don’t have a lot of experience.
What is Planning?
Define community goals & path to achieving them; develop a long-term vision; zoning & development
review; work with elected officials and community members; maximize health, safety, and economic
wellbeing. They get input from public and communicate that to Council.
Local government’s role – our City Council had creating housing as a goal. They study housing needs,
create a vision and policies. 18-month process for creating a Tigard Housing Plan – 6-year plan with
dashboard. They will conduct a survey and many other outreach methods. Also coordinate policy with
Tigard HOME and River Terrace 2.0. Tigard has a Homeownership program using a Community L and
Trust model and a loan fund for middle housing developers.
Policy issues: more housing, affordability, location, variety, housing needs, financial incentives, track
legislation. Things we have done: reduced system development charges, and no SDCs for ADUs, adopted
a construction excise tax, reducing that for middle housing, created the middle housing revolving loan.
Middle housing: smaller units that were once common, sometimes grouped together, walkable
neighborhood, duplex/triplex/fourplex, cottage housing, single family small lot , ADUs, courtyard
apartments, demand from retirees and younger homeowners.
What is easiest way to communicate with people about what kind of housing they want – go to where
they are – go to events where people already are, go to community group meetings.
Tips to plan for future homebuying – take a first-time homebuying class, take advantage of programs for
first-time homebuyers, be willing to settle for not necessarily for your forever home.
Why is it so hard to buy a house now? Partly because corporates buy houses to keep as investments or
as rentals and that drives prices up. 21st Century Road to Housing Act just passed – prevents
corporations from buying large tracts of homes. Wages haven’t kept pace with inflation, college is more
expensive, massive student loan balances – all contributing factors.
Adjournment
Meeting ended at 6:00pm