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Tigard council narrows priorities to bond, opportunity and safety after citywide goal review
Summary
Councilors reviewed staff‑compiled options and signaled consensus around three overarching goals — a bond measure, an "opportunity" (growth/economic) bucket and a safety/livability bucket — while directing staff to consolidate language and return with measurable outcomes and implementation steps.
Tigard City Councilors on Monday reviewed a staff summary of currently proposed council goals and signaled early consensus for three overarching priorities: pass and implement a facilities bond, create an “opportunity” bucket to cover growth and economic development, and focus on safety and livability.
Consultant Jill (facilitator) opened the conversation by listing the council’s four existing goals and the themes captured from one‑on‑one premeetings: “The current goals are to reduce houselessness, address climate change, modernize and improve city services, and to enhance community safety and access,” she said. She reported councilors had suggested combining or streamlining some goals and adding emphasis on economic and business development.
The discussion centered on how to organize several topics — houselessness/affordable housing, climate resilience, modernization (including the city’s Tyler software project) and community safety — into fewer, clearer goals. Councilor Schlack said he favored “maybe 3 goals, 1 with a bond and 1 focused on growth and 1 on safety,” adding that growth should include responsible development, economic development, affordable housing and modernization. Council President Wolff urged outcome‑focused language and emphasized affordable housing broadly citywide rather than focusing narrowly on a single development.
Councilors debated specific wording. Several members, including Councilor Robbins and Councilor Shaw, said they preferred the word “opportunity” as a framing term that would cover growth, economic development and maintaining quality for existing residents. Youth Councilor Manini and Councilor Hoot urged an explicit housing outcome that addresses both immediate needs for people experiencing homelessness and longer‑term affordable housing supply. Several councilors said climate considerations should be embedded in decisions rather than always listed as a stand‑alone goal.
Councillors also discussed whether the bond measure should be a separate council goal or nested under growth/opportunity. Several members, including Councilor Schlack and Council President Wolff, argued the bond is a major near‑term lift and should be called out as its own priority; others preferred to treat it as a top priority within an overall opportunity/livability framework. Assistant City Manager Trich and other staff listened and confirmed they would draft alternate wordings.
Councilors requested staff translate the discussion into clearer aspirational goals plus measurable subgoals or “SMART” targets for the coming two years. Staff said they would prepare revised language, metrics and proposed implementation steps, noting the council had already begun related capital and program work (for example facility planning and the Tyler conversion) and that those projects would be reflected in any bond proposal.
Councilors also directed staff to keep equity in view as goals are consolidated; councilors and staff noted that some work (for example safety and affordable‑housing partnerships) will require coordination with regional partners and nonprofit providers.
The council planned to reconvene with written drafts and suggested metrics after staff retooled the draft goals based on the discussion.
