Robert Murchison

This document outlines the City Council's goals for 2025-2026, focusing on creating housing opportunities, elevating economic prospects, cultivating Tigard as a desirable place to live, work, and play, and delivering resilient, sustainable, and well-maintained city facilities. Key strategic pillars include developing an inclusive housing strategy, attracting and retaining a diverse economic base, enhancing community well-being through recreational facilities and improved transportation, and building a foundation for future police and public works facilities.

The City Council meeting included a proclamation for National Police Week to honor the service and sacrifice of law enforcement. A public comment session addressed concerns regarding city ordinances and truancy. Additionally, the Tiger Youth Advisory Council provided their annual report, highlighting their work on feedback and advocacy projects, professional development activities, community events including clothing drives and movie nights, and their collaboration with other youth councils.

The committee meeting addressed the appointment of a new budget committee chair and reviewed feedback regarding public comment protocols for committee sessions. A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to public testimony concerning proposed budget reductions for the Tigard Public Library, with several residents and youth speakers expressing concerns about the impact of these cuts on community services, particularly for teenagers. Additionally, the Tigard Police Officers Association addressed the committee regarding the police department's budget and operational constraints.

The committee convened to discuss and deliberate on the proposed city budget for the 2027 fiscal year. Key business included the election of a new budget committee chair and introductions of committee members and city staff. The meeting addressed public comments, which primarily focused on concerns regarding proposed funding reductions to the library's backyard habitat program, general library services, and community events, as well as the potential elimination of the social services coordinator position at the library.

The council discussed the intergovernmental agreement with Washington County regarding library services and finance models, highlighting the transition toward a new funding and governance structure. Additionally, the session covered the River Terrace 2.0 project, addressing the finance strategy, the extension of the project timeline, and proposed street designs. Council members expressed concerns regarding potential maintenance cost shortfalls, equity in park accessibility, and the impacts of infrastructure designs on housing affordability.