City staff outlines early progress on 2025–27 goals, from DEI and facility planning to homelessness, parking and broadband

City staff used the Oct. 7 work session to provide a three‑month check‑in on the city commission’s adopted 2025–27 goals, describing initial actions across a broad set of priorities including DEI, facilities planning, homelessness response, downtown impacts from the courthouse disposition, broadband, parks and other capital projects.

Staff framed the presentation as an update on implementation steps rather than a request for immediate policy votes. Highlights and staff comments included:

DEI and workforce training: Staff said the city will issue a request for proposals to identify a facilitator for organization‑wide diversity, equity and inclusion work, to support the internal DEI employee work group and design staff leadership training. Patrick (staff) said the internal employee DEI group has not met in recent months and that staff intends to reconvene the group once a facilitator is under contract. Commissioners emphasized a desire to reduce long‑term reliance on outside consultants and to build internal capacity over time.

Oregon City Pool and End of the Oregon Trail (EOT) Museum planning: Staff reported that the city issued an RFP for consultants to develop community‑supported development plans for the pool and the museum; staff said they received six or seven proposals and were beginning reference checks and contract negotiations. Staff noted they intend to run the EOT and pool planning processes as separate public engagement efforts even if one consultant is hired for both projects. Parks Director Scott Archer told the commission the pool reaches its 60th anniversary in 2026; staff said a public anniversary event is planned in January as part of outreach.

Procurement and buy‑local outreach: Staff described exploring a small‑business vendor list and outreach to make local businesses aware of procurement opportunities; commissioners said Oregon’s procurement laws limit preferential weighting by location and asked staff to review other jurisdictions’ practices for legal-compliant models that increase local participation without violating state rules.

Homelessness response and community court: Staff recapped grants that fund a homeless‑outreach specialist (a pass‑through contract with a nonprofit partner described in the meeting as "Loved 1") and the establishment of a community court intended to focus on social‑service pathways. Staff said the community court will begin with limited sessions and be held at a community space rather than the formal municipal courtroom; the first sessions were expected to start on Oct. 15 and future hearings were scheduled for the second and fourth Monday of each month from 3 to 5 p.m. Staff noted the outreach specialist is not a city employee but is funded through grants managed by the city and works closely with police officers and behavioral-health staff.

Downtown courthouse disposition and parking: Staff said the county’s draft disposition and development agreement (DDA) contemplates demolition and redevelopment of the county courthouse site; early drafts contemplated a lot line change to carve out Liberty Plaza for the city. Staff said limited county outreach had occurred to date and committed to continued coordination. Commissioners asked staff to monitor and report on downtown private‑lot and meter revenue — staff said private monthly parking passes downtown are roughly 50% higher than the city’s monthly parking pass rate, leaving private lots underused while public curb space remains congested; the commission asked staff to return with updated revenue figures and cost estimates for a proposed change from two‑hour to three‑hour on‑street parking in certain areas.

Broadband and Ziply installation concerns: Staff reported on a completed feasibility study that highlighted high costs for “last‑mile” residential connections and noted private providers are working with the city through permitting. Commissioners raised constituent complaints about Ziply’s construction activity; staff said the company is using public‑utility easements in some neighborhoods and staff have asked the carrier for more neighbor outreach (door hangers and advance notices) during construction.

Parks, Clackamas Park boat ramp and Clackamas Park master plan: Parks staff said a draft parks capital improvement plan is being prepared, with a list of funded and unfunded projects and potential funding sources. On Clackamas Park boat‑ramp work, staff noted prior engineering recommended relocation or reconstruction because the existing ramp is being undermined; staff said additional study and coordination with state partners will be needed because some earlier funding agreements could carry payback obligations if the ramp is discontinued.

Other items: Staff provided updates on enterprise‑zone and adaptive‑reuse tax programs, Thimble Creek employment lands convening, and efforts to identify grants for tree‑canopy assessment and pollinator habitat commitments (Bee City USA consideration).

Next steps: Staff will return with: a draft DEI‑facilitator RFP and budget recommendations; consultant contracts and timelines for pool and EOT planning; updated parking revenue and cost estimates for any parking changes; and clarified information about the courthouse DDA as county plans mature. Several items will also require follow‑up legal review or intergovernmental coordination.

Why it matters: The check‑in showed early implementation activity on many of the city’s priorities and identified follow‑up items where the commission will be asked to make policy choices or consider program funding in future meetings.