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Residents debate proposed referendum that would require voter approval for Wilsonville urban renewal plans
Summary
Speakers at the May 19 meeting clashed over a citizen-led referendum to require citywide votes and blackout periods for new or revised urban renewal plans; proponents warned of delay and paralysis, opponents argue for public oversight.
Wilsonville residents used the May 19 public comment period to debate a proposed initiative that would require citywide votes for any new urban renewal plan or major revision and would create blackout periods that could delay council action.
"That minor change, approved in January, sits in limbo for 11 months," said Christy Mayer, describing how a seemingly routine urban renewal update could be frozen by the proposal’s petition and disclosure timelines.
Opponents of the initiative argued it would hand veto power over urban renewal to small groups and could prevent the council from acting on long-term planning. Lee Barkman said a successful referendum would "strip the city council of power to initiate public financing," delay projects and shift control to private developers if urban renewal tools become politically risky.
Supporters of greater public input have circulated the petition to require voter approval. At the meeting, speakers on both sides urged clarity and called on the council to provide more information about the proposal’s long-term consequences.
Council members did not take formal action on the initiative at the meeting. Several councilors urged residents to read the petition text closely, discuss concerns with staff and consider legal guidance. Christy Mayer asked the council to seek the city attorney’s and staff’s analysis to explain how the measure would operate in practice.
