Milwaukie council authorizes IGAs with North Clackamas Parks and Recreation District to advance Milwaukee Bay Park

The Milwaukie City Council voted unanimously to authorize the city manager to sign intergovernmental agreements (IGAs) with the North Clackamas Parks and Recreation District (NCPRD) intended to transfer control and advance the Milwaukee Bay Park project.

City staff and the council said the agreements clarify operational roles, transfer existing design contracts to the city, and set financial commitments aimed at positioning the project for competitive grant funding. Assistant City Manager Joseph Willio summarized the financial picture, saying the city would take on roughly $11,000,000 in fundraising and ongoing maintenance responsibilities over the next five years while NCPRD’s contribution totals about $4,860,000 “including 3,100,000 in Zone 1 SDCs along with accrued SDCs … up to $200,000” and proportional Metro and trolley‑trail resources.

Councilor Massey urged quick action to reduce grant‑window uncertainty, saying, “we have almost $5,000,000, but that's not gonna cover, you know, the the cost of the park,” and pressed for a timetable that would improve grant competitiveness. Staff told council that the city would assume design and construction management, receive transferred contracts from NCPRD, and be responsible for maintenance upon construction commitment or 24 months from signing—whichever occurs first—while requiring substantial progress within 24 months.

The resolution approved by the council authorizes the city manager to sign the IGAs only if NCPRD adopts parallel agreements so that signings occur simultaneously. Mayor Lisa Beatty and councilors said they hoped a joint signing would help repair relations and move the project forward after lengthy negotiations that began in January 2025.

The council’s action was procedural: it authorized signing contingent on the district’s adoption and did not finalize construction or bonding. Staff previewed a press release about the agreement and said they would not sign the documents until a concurrent adoption by NCPRD was arranged.

What happens next: staff will coordinate with NCPRD to arrange concurrent signings and pursue grant opportunities; the city’s obligations and timelines in the IGAs will guide design, procurement and grant applications moving forward.