Residents raise recycling, traffic-safety and leaf-blowing concerns; Love Inc. reports grant-driven client assistance

At the start of its June 23 meeting the Tualatin City Council heard public comment on parks recycling and traffic safety at Ibach Park and received a special report from Love Inc., a local nonprofit that told the council a recent grant helped the organization continue client services.

Patricia Parsons, who identified herself during public comment, asked the council to consider installing recycling bins in city parks, saying she had observed overflowing trash cans at Ibach Park and no adjacent recycling receptacles. Parsons said she contacted the police chief's office website about a separate safety concern: a four-way stop at Ibach and 103rd where drivers sometimes "plow through" intersections and create danger for children walking to the park. Parsons suggested a flashing crosswalk and noted that Chief Pickering had advised using the department's online request form.

Council members asked staff to follow up. A councilor asked Parsons to follow up with Parks staff (the transcript records a request to follow up with "Ross" from Parks) and staff said recycling was provided for special events and rentals but not installed at every park because of maintenance and separation burdens for Parks crews.

In another public comment, Ramsey Coleshaw, a Tualatin resident and transit driver, urged residents and businesses to change leaf-cleanup practices. Coleshaw said widespread use of leaf blowers pushes organic matter into streets and waterways, reduces habitat for native predators that control aphids, and has worsened aphid-related honeydew on cars this spring. He recommended using brooms and rakes where safe, while noting walkways must remain safe in wet conditions.

Separately, the council heard a special report from Ken Karen, identified as executive director of Love in the Name of Christ (Love Inc.) for Tualatin and Sherwood. Karen described how a city grant helped the small nonprofit keep its doors open in 2024 and allowed volunteers to provide direct assistance such as rent or utility help, hygiene supplies, clothing and weekly visits to clients. He shared two case examples: a blended family helped with diapers and rent support through church-partner grants, and a long-term client with cancer who received clothing, snacks and volunteer companionship during hospice. Karen emphasized the organization's work to "walk alongside" clients and said the city's grant funding made that possible.

Councilors thanked the presenter and volunteers and said small grants can be impactful. Councilor Brooks noted the value of modest amounts of funding to small nonprofits.

Speakers in public comment and the special report were identified in the meeting record as Patricia Parsons (public commenter), Ramsey Coleshaw (resident/transit driver), and Ken Karen (executive director, Love Inc.).