City staff reviews nine council priorities; transportation funding, rec center and water projects highlighted

West Linn — City staff used the April 7 work session to brief the City Council on progress across nine adopted council priorities, highlighting transportation funding work in Salem, potential partnership options for a community recreation center, drinking-water capital needs, waterfront and Highway 43 planning, environmental strategies and the operations facility design.

The update, presented by a senior city staff member, recapped recent activity and next steps for each priority and identified potential funding and staffing gaps the city expects to raise during the 2025 budget process.

The transportation item noted a recently released state transportation‑funding framework that, according to staff, focuses on maintenance and appears not to include tolling as a proposed revenue source. Staff also reported success getting several West Linn projects placed on a legislative project list for potential funding, and reminded the council that discussions continue about local priorities such as jurisdictional transfer of Hwy. 43 and local road maintenance funding.

On recreation, staff said the city is exploring a partnership with the YMCA to reduce capital and operating costs if West Linn pursues an indoor community or recreation center. "If we could get [the YMCA] involved and interested in our project, I think that would be a big win for us," the staff member said, noting the YMCA's experience running pools and community rec programs in other communities.

Drinking-water priorities included an update that the city has begun drawing from a reserve fund set aside for work related to the Abernathy Bridge water line; staff also confirmed the city had projects on a state list under consideration for $5 million in state funding and that a prior congressionally directed spending allocation of $1,250,000 remains slated but could face transfer complications depending on federal budget actions.

Planning items included progress on the waterfront vision plan (consultants drafting the vision and zoning analysis, a finance plan in development, and anticipated public open houses and adoption hearings in fall 2025) and on Highway 43 work (draft mixed‑use zoning code, transportation analysis and a corridor master plan with an anticipated public open house in June and further hearings later in the year). Staff reiterated the difference between land‑use policy (what is allowed) and project review (reviewing a specific application under current code), noting recent local debate over a commercial application at the former McDonald’s site illustrated that distinction.

Environmental and sustainability work led by staff liaisons and consultants includes a short list of priority strategies the Sustainability Advisory Board is reviewing: examples cited included municipal fleet policy changes, LED and HVAC upgrades across city facilities, and support for private‑sector EV charging. Staff also described ongoing municipal tree‑program work and a May 5 work session planned to review sustainability elements of the new operations facility design.

On internal priorities, staff said an employee engagement/DEIB work program is being reconstituted and a draft work program for 2025 is in development; the city also plans inclusive‑leadership training for supervisors. Regarding the operations facility: the design by Scott Edwards Architects is nearing completion, an owner's representative is on board, and a competitive construction manager/general contractor procurement was open with submittals due April 24.

Councilors and staff traded questions on sequencing and funding. Council President Baumgartner thanked staff for highlighting risks to federal victim‑service funding elsewhere in the agenda and urged continued advocacy on behalf of vulnerable residents. Councilor Groener asked about sequencing for a possible rec‑center funding measure; staff said no decision to pursue a November bond had been made and that the goal was to reduce cost to the public before any ballot measure.

City staff also reminded the council of near‑term calendar items: a joint meeting with the Transportation Advisory Board on April 21, staff work sessions and outreach on the waterfront and Highway 43 efforts, and an updated schedule of community engagement and budget hearings in May.

Agenda housekeeping: at the start of the meeting the council approved the April 7 work‑session agenda with a change to move the county Stafford Road update to follow public comment. The motion passed on a roll call vote (ayes recorded for Councilor Bonington, Councilor Bridal, Council President Baumgartner, Councilor Groener and Mayor Bielostoski).

Staff told the council they are assembling a list of unmet staffing and capital needs for council consideration during the budget process; items mentioned included additional patrol officers and code‑enforcement resources, a second facilities manager, communications/outreach staff, additional parks maintenance and natural‑areas management capacity, and a prioritized pedestrian and traffic safety capital list. Staff said they will present cost estimates and prioritization ahead of budget deliberations.

No binding decisions were taken on budget additions during the session; staff framed the presentation as a status update to inform council priorities and forthcoming budget discussions.