City Council Adopts Transportation System Plan Amendments, Approves Discontinuation of SMART’s Charbonneau Shuttle Service
November 3, 2020 — At the November 2, 2020, meeting of the Wilsonville City Council, the City Council adopted amendments to the City’s Transportation System Plan. This update incorporates new projects from the adopted 2019 Wilsonville Town Center Plan, including upgrades of arterial streets and the development of infrastructure to support cyclists and pedestrians.
The Council also adopted a resolution to discontinue SMART’s Charbonneau Shuttle after a two-year pilot program because of low ridership. Once the shuttle is discontinued in early December, SMART is able to serve the Charbonneau neighborhood more efficiently through its Dial-a-Ride service and other transportation options.
Additionally, the Council continued, to Nov. 16, consideration of Development Review Board resolution No. 382, which authorizes the construction of a six-unit townhome in Old Town.
During Communications, the City’s recycling and waste franchise hauler, Republic Services, presented an annual report that detailed 2019 operations and 2020 COVID-era operational adjustments. The presentation summarized the hauler’s rollout of new services, detailed 2019 revenues and broke down monthly waste removal costs on a per-customer basis.
Representatives from private developer TLM LLC presented details of a proposal to build an office park/hanger development on land adjacent to the Aurora Airport. A zone change has been granted by Marion County that could accommodate the project, although no specific project has yet been approved. City staff had presented testimony at the Marion County hearing raising concerns about traffic, farm land conservation and urban development in rural areas. While the City of Aurora has asked Wilsonville to join them in a formal appeal of the Marion County decision, TLM asked that the City not appeal. No decision was made at the meeting.
With the City’s annual public remembrance ceremony on Veterans Day canceled due to COVID-19, Mayor Tim Knapp read a proclamation recognizing the upcoming Nov. 11 holiday and encouraging residents “to honor the valor and sacrifice of our veterans with your thoughts, prayers, solemn contemplation, the display of the United States flag or another appropriate expression.”
At the work session prior to the meeting, Economic Development staff and the Wilsonville Chamber of Commerce discussed strategies that the Council might consider adopting to aide local businesses in the wake of COVID-19. These include the establishment of a Business Recovery Center (BRC) in Wilsonville to work with local businesses to provide complementary assistance services and a grant program that would help restaurants expand outdoor dining options.
Staff also shared the results of a readiness assessment of the future Coffee Creek Industrial Area, a roadmap of recommended innovations and best practices designed to hasten development in Coffee Creek. Upon completion, the area is designed to support up to 1,500 family-wage industrial jobs with an annual payroll of over $98 million.
The next City Council meeting is scheduled to be held on Monday, Nov. 16, at 7 pm; a pre-meeting work session is scheduled at 5 pm.
Community members can watch all City Council meetings on cable (Xfinity Ch. 30, Ziply Ch. 32) or on the City’s YouTube channel: ci.wilsonville.or.us/WilsonvilleTV.
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