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Forest Grove council finalizes top five priorities for League of Oregon Cities ballot
Summary
Councilors reached consensus to submit five legislative priorities to the League of Oregon Cities, prioritizing transportation and infrastructure funding, land availability and land-use streamlining, clarity in public meeting laws, and full funding/streamlining for housing production; the city manager will certify the list to the League by the late‑September deadline.
Mayor Wenzel convened a July work session focused on the League of Oregon Cities (LOC) member ballot and staff recommendations for the city’s top five legislative priorities. City Manager Jesse Vanderzanden told councilors the LOC process asks each member city to submit its five highest priorities and that the League will certify its advocacy agenda after tallying member votes.
Jesse Vanderzanden, City Manager, said staff had provided a member voter guide and summarized director input: “Once council reaches consensus, then as the city manager, I will submit to the League of Oregon Cities on a ballot what the top 5 priorities are, and then it gets certified by LOC.” The staff‑recommended list included a transportation package/infrastructure funding item, land availability and land‑use streamlining, clarity in public meeting laws, and municipal cybersecurity as the fifth priority.
Councilors debated whether to retain the municipal cybersecurity item or replace it with a housing‑production priority that councilors argued more directly aligns with local plans. Councilor Schimmel and others pressed for housing: “I’m persuaded to change from the cybersecurity to the housing production for the 5th one,” he said during the discussion. Several councilors noted the housing items tie directly to the city’s 2040 action plan objectives and would produce visible local outcomes.
With two councilors absent from earlier consultations, members agreed they had enough information to act. The council settled on transportation package/infrastructure funding; land availability and land‑use streamlining; public meeting law clarity; and full funding and streamlining for housing production among the top five priorities staff will submit to LOC.
Why it matters: The League of Oregon Cities aggregates member priorities and advocates in Salem. Cities’ top‑five submissions influence the League’s policy agenda heading into the 2027–28 legislative session; Forest Grove’s priorities reflect infrastructure and housing needs the council identified as likely to produce tangible results for residents.
Next steps: Jesse Vanderzanden will record Forest Grove’s top five in the LOC member ballot for certification by LOC in late September and will bring any follow‑up items back to council if additional direction is needed.
