Tualatin council weighs utility franchise fee and permit surcharges to fund Climate Action Plan implementation

Tualatin city staff and consultant Echo Northwest presented the City Council on Feb. 24 with options to fund a dedicated staff position and initial implementation of the municipality’s Climate Action Plan, including a recommendation that the council consider modest increases to existing utility franchise (right‑of‑way) fees and a permit surcharge to create a recurring revenue stream.

City Manager Sherilyn Lambos said she moved responsibility for the Climate Action Plan into the city manager’s office after adoption “last May” to give the work greater visibility and to highlight the cross‑departmental nature of implementation. She told council the city lacks ongoing funding and a dedicated staff member who would “have overall responsibility for implementing the climate action plan and would work closely with various city departments, public leaders, regional partners and of course the community.”

Echo Northwest project director Becky Steckler reviewed short‑ and long‑term revenue tools and an evaluation framework that weighed adequacy, administrative ease, flexibility, stability and equity. For short‑term funding she highlighted two near‑term options: a 0.5 percent increase in the…