Council approves funding plan to finish Wamtt River Greenway trail, reallocates local‑share funds from Lusher Farm

The Lake Oswego City Council voted March 31 to adopt a $1.76 million funding plan to build an 870‑foot missing link on the Wamtt River Greenway, a project staff said will create more than 2 miles of continuous riverfront trail when complete.

Parks Director Jeff Monroe told council the estimate of about $1.76 million includes soft costs and a construction estimate of roughly $1.4 million with a 20% contingency and an additional $50,000 contingency for market volatility. "Our project team has estimated that this project will cost about 1.76 million," Monroe said during the presentation.

Under the plan, funding would come from a mix of sources: $240,000 already allocated in the parks general fund, a proposed $300,000 from parks system development charges, an $80,000 grant from Mount Hood Territories, and a $1.14 million request to Metro’s local‑share program. Monroe said the city’s direct cash contribution would total about $540,000, or roughly 30% of the project cost.

To meet Metro’s timeline for signing an initial intergovernmental agreement, staff recommended reallocating $500,000 of local‑share capacity that had been tentatively earmarked for improvements at Lusher Farm and keeping $500,000 reserved for Lusher Farm. Kier Hagert, the project manager, explained the decision as a response to Metro’s goal of executing a first IGA by June. "Since that time, we have learned a lot more about the complexity and the likely cost of the Lusher Farm Driveway project," Hagert said, adding that the Lusher work would require additional land‑use steps with Clackamas County.

The reallocation prompted public comment from Stephanie Hock, president of the Friends of Lusher Farm board, who told council she was disappointed that funds originally intended for Lusher Farm driveway and parking upgrades would be redirected. "We are of course disappointed that once again Lusher Farm improvements will take a backseat to other funding priorities," Hock said during the public‑comment period.

Council members acknowledged the disappointment but cited the practical constraint of Metro’s timeline and the relative readiness of the greenway project. Mayor Buck noted the city had previously acquired property to enable the trail and said it was important to move projects toward construction after long planning phases. Staff said the project has land‑use approval and plans to go to bid in mid‑April, award a construction contract in mid‑May and begin construction in early June with substantial completion targeted for Halloween and full wrap‑up by Thanksgiving.

Council approved the funding plan by voice vote ("Motion passes 6" on the record). Staff said they will finalize an IGA with Metro for the requested local‑share amount, solicit bids, and return with a construction contract for council signature.

The council and staff emphasized continued commitment to Lusher Farm: staff said work on land‑use steps and future physical improvements will continue and that the city will preserve $500,000 toward Lusher once the timing and permitting allow. The council asked staff to follow up with Friends of Lusher Farm on next steps and community engagement.

Next steps: finalize the Metro IGA, solicit bids, return to council to award a construction contract and begin construction in early June.