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Poll shows higher support for Town Center development district after explanation; council debates whether to use 'development district' or 'urban renewal' in a
Summary
Pollsters told Wilsonville council that a 400‑likely‑voter survey found 45% initial support for a drafted measure but 52% support after a short explanation of what an urban renewal/district would fund; councilors and public commenters debated whether staff used the poll to mold ballot language and whether the ballot title should include the words 'urban renewal.'
Consultants presented a community poll on Tuesday showing how wording and explanation influence voter support for a proposed Town Center financing measure, and the council debated whether to use poll‑tested wording or the more legally familiar phrase “urban renewal” in the ballot title.
Wright Public Affairs and Potinquent Research Strategies described the telephone survey of 400 likely November 2026 voters (fielded June 16–18, 2026) with a reported margin of error of ±4.9 percentage points. Pollsters said plain ballot language produced 45% support for a drafted urban renewal measure, 36% opposed and 20% undecided. When pollsters explained how an urban renewal district could fund infrastructure and public improvements “without raising local property tax rates,” support rose to 52% with 27% opposed.
“Knowing this, do you support or oppose using this type of district to pay for improvements in the city of Wilsonville without raising taxes?” pollster Maggie Simic told the council; she summarized that a short plain‑English explanation increased measured support by roughly ten points.
Staff and the city attorney also presented a draft ballot title and a timeline for a proposed ordinance (Ordinance 905) that would, if referred and approved by voters, adopt a Town Center development district plan and report. City attorney Amanda Hinman noted the council must present a proposed ordinance to the electorate under a recent charter amendment, and that the ballot title (caption, question and a 175‑word summary) must accompany the measure.
Councilors were split over whether to use the polling‑preferred label "Town Center Development District" (which poll respondents most frequently selected when asked which name resonated) or to include the phrase "urban renewal," a legally recognized term in Oregon. “It’s not to stay away from the words urban renewal,” Hinman said; she told council staff will consider ways to add explanatory material (including a web page with the ordinance and plan) so voters can see the full context before voting.
Public commenters questioned the use of a city‑commissioned poll to shape ballot language. Eric Winters told council the city used tax dollars to test messaging and argued the ballot title should describe the ordinance text rather than be mapped to what polls say voters prefer. “This was not a survey of what all the residents think…The city paid for a political poll,” Winters said. Elizabeth Peters and others asked how much public money was spent on the polling and urged staff to be transparent about ordinance text and costs.
Councilors and staff agreed the packet’s draft title could be revised and that a fuller ordinance, plan and report will be presented at a special work session late in July along with a web link to supporting materials the council can require be published for voter review.
