Foothills Article Draws Significant Public Comment

To All COLA LO Members,


A recent article published by the LO Review promotes the Foothills Redevelopment project.   It claims that the project will provide a very significant return to the city and the developers over time.   The article describes the project and its merits.

However public comment online is strongly against the project and challenges the author and the claims made by the article. Most of the comment asks why if it was such a good project why private developers would not do it on their own without public financing.  

It provides for interesting reading:   Foothills District - Public Questions the project online

Many seem to believe the project is not economic and that if it was private developers would use their own funds to develop the area.   Others are concerned that the streetcar is a requirement to ensure the project is economic.   Some even worry that the area will become like Portland's south waterfront with many developments under sever financial strain.

The continuing use of public funds and funding sources remains a constant concern in most of the comments and competing articles regarding the project.  

Does the City plan to allow Public Access to the Lake through the new Comp plan and Redevelopment?

To All COLA LO Members,

A recent blog post on Jack Bog's site including its link to another forum suggests that plans are being considered to allow public access to Lake Oswego for all.   The references suggest its all a part of an integrated plan through the planning process including code changes under the new comprehensive plan.

The article suggests that the higher density, streetcar, and parks development are all part of a long term plan to bring visitors into the city and allow them access to the lake.   It makes for an interesting concept and a strong debate over property rights as can be seen in comments on the blog.   The blog link can be found at: Lake for everyone?

This week a member of the LO Planning commission strongly suggests in his article that this is the case and the intent over time.    That may not sit well with existing land owners that have access to the lake.  

The article by the planning commission member can be found at:  What's the future access to Oswego Lake?

The author's implied suggestion is that Sundleaf park now represents an investment by the city to allow for public access to the lake, once foothills and the streetcar projects are completed.   Its an interesting point of view and no wonder Sundleaf cost $8.3 million of taxpayer dollars.   

Mayor Hoffman Challenges Article By Board Member

To All Cola LO Members,

Last week Mayor Hoffman submitted a letter to the editor in the Review challenging the accuracy of a claim made in an article by Board member Dave Luck.    He denied any conflict of interest between his firm and the foothills project developer.   

Citizens weighed in on the details in their comment on the LOR blog for the article.    The details can be found at:

Mayor Hoffman denies conflict of interest

The original article published in the review can be found at the following link: Project costs hard on seniors


Details of a settlement on a previous conflict of interest issue involving the West End Building (WEB) and disclosure can be found at:  Prior Settlement Agreement.

Please notify all members, contacts, and friends. 

Clackamas County Commisioner Linninger Article Draws Comments from Angered Residents

To All COLA LO Members,

County Commissioner Linninger published another article last week regarding the upcoming ballot measures on Urban Renewal Districts and citizen approval through a vote.    The county commission recently drafted a quick ballot measure to oppose a citizen driven initiative to require a vote for all new urban renewal districts.  

Generally its interpreted that the county commission opposes voter approval of urban renewal districts.   The voter driven initiative would require a voter to approve or substantially modify any district.   These districts are a popular method for elected officials to obtain funding for projects like light rail without any voter approval.  

Commissioner Linninger supports this approach and has drawn the ire of LO residents in the comments on her article on this and one supporting the streetcar to LO.   It appears that she supports the standard party line of elected officials in bypassing voter approval. 

Her article can be found at:   Local Vote or Spin?

Please notify all contacts members and friends. 

Oregonian Article Blasts LO Appointment Selections Process

To All COLA LO Members,

An article released in the Oregonian over the weekend describes the vigorous debate over recent appointments to the Budget Committee.   There was a heated debate over the appointments at the council meeting this month with assertive discourse over the process. 

The Oregonian article can be found at: LO Budget Committee Article

or at:  LO Council Clash on Budget Process

 In a final vote the council approved the appointments with a 4-3 vote despite strong reservations by three city councilors who indicated the appointments were politically motivated by the Mayor with the assistance of other council members. 

 One applicant was not interviewed and was told their application had been lost.   A formal complaint was made by the applicant.  

The former vice chair of the committee was not reappointed as has been the tradition which was noted by one of the councilors.    That vice Chair has run for city council in 2010 and is rumored to be planning to run again in 2012.

During the discussion Councilor Jordan and Councilor Olson clashed with Donna Jordan claiming that "Lake Oswego was not marysville".   The debate can be observed online at the TVCTV link to all council proceedings.

9/20/11 Council Meeting

Please notify all members contacts and friends.   

Councilor Gudman Discusses Maintenance

To All COLA LO Members,

City Councilor Jeff Gudman published his opinion on key maintenance issues last week in two articles.   In the articles he discusses some of the current needs within the city and how maintenance is suffering due to the city's expenditures on other projects.  

The articles can be found at:

Focus on More Maintenance  and Maintenance Matters

In the articles Councilor Gudman lists specific projects that have suffered because of the focus of the council on visionary projects and studies like Foothills and Streetcar but there are many more examples.  

The articles provide for interesting reading and establish some priorities. 

Please notify all members, contacts, and friends.  

COLA LO Board Member Challenges Water Bills

To all COLA LO Members,

Last week Board Member Dave Luck published an article in the LO Review challenging the cost of the largest capital project in LO's history,  the LO-Tigard water partnership.   In the article he claims that the cost of the project and current water bills is a an unfair burden on our senior citizens.  Essentially a regressive tax without a vote of the residents.  


The current projected cost of the project is approximately $230 million with a 30% possible increase and LO share is at approximately 50%.  This would require another $155 million + in debt be issued by the city which would be added to our water bills. 

The article can be found at:  Project costs prove a burden to our Seniors

This project which is the largest capital project in the city's history was never voted on by the residents of Lake Oswego similar to the WEB building and other projects.   Most citizens do not realize it even exists or that the potential costs will hit them in future years.   The council has consistently insisted that no vote on this project is necessary and approved expenditures without a vote.  

Former mayoral candidate John Surrett also wrote about this project in 2010 in an article in the LO review.  The article can be found at:   Take another look

The details of the project can be found at LO Tigard Water Partnership