Tualatin city manager outlines 2026 priorities: sidewalks contract, housing code work, climate and parks initiatives

City Manager Cheryl Lamos reviewed the citys seven priority areas for 2026 and described near-term actions across neighborhood engagement, housing, economic development, transportation, environment, parks and culture/identity.

On neighborhood infrastructure, Lamos told council the agenda included an award for a sidewalk backlog contract estimated between $1.3 million and $1.4 million for a two-year program to bring curb, sidewalk and street-tree maintenance up to standard. She said staff will pursue a follow-on sidewalk/street-tree maintenance policy that may include homeowner cost-sharing after the backlog work is completed.

On housing, staff are responding to recent state legislation and preparing code updates (including clear-and-objective standards) and continued work on supportive housing services; Lamos noted a state grant was received for related work and that the next update on that grant will be June 22.

Economic development updates included an economic landscape analysis for industrial and job areas, ongoing urban renewal updates for the Korna and Basalt Creek districts, and continued downtown revitalization efforts tied to the Sustainable City program.

Transportation remains a priority: Lamos said staff are advancing the Transportation System Plan prioritization and highlighted the 12th & Sherwood/Boones Ferry railroad-crossing study presented earlier in the meeting. The budget includes funds in 2026-27 to scope a consultant-led study to advocate for improved transit services, following community concern about recent TriMet service changes.

On environment and resilience, staff proposed extending the climate-action implementation plan from two to five years and discussed programmatic projects such as a micro-hydro turbine, an "in-pipe" energy project, recycled-water (purple pipe) coordination with Clean Water Services, seismic-valve projects and county hazard-mitigation collaboration. Council asked whether backyard-habitat participants could be studied for water-use reductions to inform a potential tiered-rate structure; staff said finance and public works will evaluate how to measure and incorporate such data.

Parks work includes a planned recreation supervisor to expand programming, continued work on a parks utility-fee analysis, a partnership with the school district on athletic fields, Riverfront Park community engagement in the concept/design phase this fall and ongoing maintenance improvements (bridge deck replacement, playground resurfacing). Lamos also noted a recent social media post about a "napping nutria" that drew large public attention.

Lamos concluded with brief items on culture and communications, including plans for trauma-informed training for council, a new city website launch (imminent) and the start of a comprehensive planning scoping and grant pursuit. Several council members raised scheduling and outreach questions and asked staff to bring committee recommendations and the supportive-housing/grant update to the June 22 meeting.