West Linn council adopts local stormwater manual authority, opens public review for full manual

The West Linn City Council on March 17 approved Ordinance 17‑58, giving the city authority to adopt and enforce a local surface‑water (stormwater) management manual and initiating a 30‑day public comment period on the draft manual. Mayor Bilos Dostoevsky opened the legislative item and staff described the measure as the first step in a two‑step process: authority tonight and adoption of the detailed manual after public review.

"This ordinance gives us the authority to adopt a stormwater manual that suits our own needs," engineering staff Clark Eyde told the council, noting the city previously relied on Portland’s manual and has worked with consultant Brown and Caldwell for about eight months to develop a West Linn‑specific draft. Staff said the draft manual is posted online starting today and commenters will have 30 days to submit input; the city expects to return with an ordinance to adopt the manual after the public review period.

Councilors asked staff to follow the procedural steps for opening a legislative hearing, allowing public comment if submitted and then closing the hearing before deliberations. With no public commenters present on the item, the council approved first and second readings and adopted the ordinance by roll call; staff said the ordinance will take effect in 30 days. The council also thanked engineering and legal staff for preparing the documents and encouraged interested residents and development professionals to review the several‑hundred‑page draft.

The council’s action is procedural authority rather than the final manual text; the draft manual itself will return for final consideration after the public comment window closes.