Community Development presents quarterly update: River Terrace II outreach, electronic permits and economic plan work

Community Development Director Sambo Kirkman briefed the Tigard City Council on the department’s quarterly work on May 20, highlighting River Terrace II outreach, the rollout of electronic permitting, and planning work for economic and transient‑lodging tax strategies.

Kirkman said customized annexation letters and maps for the River Terrace II project are near completion and will be mailed to property owners by the end of the month. The department is preparing council and planning commission updates, with June hearings focused on housing and July briefings addressing transportation.

The city is implementing a new electronic permit and licensing module (Community Development Hub) to consolidate applications, payments and inspection scheduling; staff said the module is scheduled to go live this summer and a council demonstration is tentatively planned for June. Kirkman also said the city received an additional $35,000 from Metro to support community engagement on the Tigard Home project and that Safe Routes to School work continued with a large bike‑bus turnout on May 7.

On economic development, staff said council added an economic‑development goal and the department will develop a strategic plan and stakeholder outreach process this year. Kirkman said the transient‑lodging‑tax strategic plan is also under consideration, with the intent to propose objectives and potential fund uses in the fall.

Councilors praised recent public engagement on River Terrace II and stressed that new strategic plans be coordinated with the citywide strategic planning process and the incoming city manager. Kirkman said department staff will return with proposed work plans and priorities after stakeholder consultations.