As I write December’s mayor’s corner, we are in week one of Governor Brown’s freeze. Nov. 19 marked the highest number of cases and deaths reported in a single day in Oregon since the beginning of the pandemic. OHA reported 1,225 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases and 20 new deaths. I know residents and businesses are feeling the impact of this freeze both in terms of continued anxiety and financial uncertainty. COVID fatigue is hitting us all. COVID fatigue causes us to get sloppy about the precautions we know we should take (washing hands, wearing masks, maintaining physical distance). With the holidays upon us we must protect ourselves and loved ones by limiting gatherings and curbing contact with others outside your household. We must drive down the infection rate. If we remain on the path we are on now with increasing daily COVID-19 cases, hospitals in Oregon could reach capacity by mid-December. My sincere gratitude goes out to health care professionals and first responders during this second surge of COVID.
Please continue to support our local businesses during the holidays. The decision to close bars and restaurants except for takeout and delivery will put increased economic stress on our restaurants and bars. The city and our local Business Resource Center (BRC) in the Tualatin Chamber of Commerce will continue to offer assistance to small businesses via various grant programs and information sharing.
While in-person celebrations are limited to two households, there are still ways to celebrate the holidays with your loved ones. Help keep friends and family safe by choosing lower-risk activities. Here are some ideas on how to celebrate differently this year:
Going on a walk to see holiday decorations with the people who live with you.
Preparing traditional family recipes for family and neighbors, especially for those who are most likely to get very sick from COVID-19. Deliver without having contact with others.
A virtual dinner night and sharing recipes with friends and family.
A virtual movie night with family and friends.
A virtual holiday craft night with family and friends.
I’d like to thank outgoing Councilors Robert Kellogg and Paul Morrison for their service to the Tualatin community. Robert was very active with transportation issues while Paul was a strong advocate for our parks. I welcome Cyndy Hillier and Christen Sacco to the Council in January. The new council will be very unique as six of the seven councilors will be women. I learned at a National League of Cities conference that as more women are elected to office, there is a corollary increase in policymaking that emphasizes quality of life and reflects the priorities of families, women, and ethnic and racial minorities. All of these priorities are important to Tualatin residents.
I want to wish each and every one of you a very Merry Christmas, a happy Hanukkah, and a joyful Kwanzaa, whichever event is celebrated by you and yours. Do not forget about your neighbor who might be alone this holiday season. Check in on them and make sure they have food and medical supplies on hand. As we enter the new year, the city’s top priority is the safety of our residents, our staff, and our businesses. I am very optimistic that 2021 will be a much better year than 2020. Here’s to a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year!
As the pandemic shut down businesses, home-based businesses (or cottage industries) opened in profusion. While most of these were wholesome, a few were wholesale scams. One example is that some lawyers cooped up at home started sending scads of copyright violation notices to small business owners who had used photos from Google Images on their websites or social media. The demand was for $700-800 per image! The scam? Often, these lawyers did not represent the photographer or have copyright to the images they were claiming to defend!
How can you protect yourself? Three options:
Buy images from Shutterstock or a similar service. Save your receipts. If you get a demand letter, your receipts prove you have the right to use the image.
Take your own photos. If you do, add a watermark across the photo so that it is harder for a malcontent to use your photos. You may want to apply online for copyright at the U.S. Copyright Office.
Use a free stock image site such as Pexels.com. When you are writing the content for your website or social media, copy and paste the image and its URL into your document. (You do not need to copy the URL into your website or social media post.)
2020 has been a lot of things but the one thing I keep circling back around to is my deeper and greater appreciation for all I was taking for granted in the past from clean air to face to face conversations with friends and colleagues. It has reminded me on a daily basis to be more grateful for the every day. As much as I love the “warm and fuzzy,” I also love science and research. There’s extensive research on gratitude, showing a multitude of benefits not only for our mental health but physical well being. When something so simple can have such profound benefits, we should all be paying more attention. Studies have shown a regular gratitude practice can:
Increase happiness and decrease depression
Improve relationships with friends and family especially during times of stress (Hello 2020, looking at you!)
Increase likelihood of regular exercise
Improve sleep quality
Decrease stress
Improve self-esteem and increase mental resilience, (aka your ability to deal with difficult things)
Decrease blood pressure
Decrease cellular inflammation and increase release of dopamine (one of the essential, feel-good neurotransmitters)
Improve overall physical health
And in the ultimate pay it forward, not only does a gratitude practice increase empathy and compassion for others but also creates a positive ripple effect for those around us and beyond.
Like most things in life, there’s not a “one size fits all” on how to express gratitude. Here are several options so you can find what works well for you:
A daily gratitude journal. This is where you write about things, people and situations you’re grateful for. This can be free-form but there are also lots of pre-made journals to help guide you along if that’s easier for you.
Meditate on gratitude. This is a double bonus option of combining the benefits of mediation AND a gratitude practice.
Write thank-you notes and/or a weekly gratitude letter to someone
Look for and think about things and reasons to be grateful on a daily basis. This can be as simple as your morning cup of coffee and as profound as help received from others.
A Gratitude Jar. This option is a great family activity. Have pre-cut slips of paper and everyone regularly writes something and adds it to the jar. Read the jar’s contents together at the end of the month and then start all over again.
Pay attention to your 5 senses and how much they enhance the quality of your life every day
Smile! The act of smiling increases a positive mindset which in turns increases your gratitude.
Say thank you on a regular basis in a thoughtful, meaningful way
I think most of us aren’t going to be sad to see the close of this year, but let’s end it with optimism and gratitude which will make us all happier and healthier. The doctors of True Health Medicine, PC wish the very best for each and every one of you!
At the end of 2019, the Tualatin Chamber of Commerce’s Excellence in Business Awards Committee began planning a celebration for April 2020 to honor the membership leaders in our business community. The theme for this annual event was to be ‘Roaring into 2020.” The Roaring 20’s was a decade of economic prosperity, driven by recovery from WW1, recovery from a global flu pandemic, deferred spending, a boom in construction and rapid consumer goods growth. It seemed like the perfect theme until 2020 brought a global pandemic, raging wild fires and social unrest. We ended up moving the event 3 times and finally held a virtual event in November, “Roaring Out of 2020.”
There are six awards given each year with three nominees in each category, plus two individual awards, acknowledging just a few of the many businesses, organizations and individuals who make Tualatin such a wonderful place to live and do business. The 20 nominees and 8 winners represent countless hours of volunteerism, charitable contributions, community activism, scholarships and youth programs, special events and tourism and business development and growth. 2020 has been a rough year but our membership stood together and we wish all could be honored. We say thank you to our businesses, sponsors and volunteers who joined together to continue to support each other and Tualatin. We are Business and Community Working Together.
The Chamber 2019 Excellence in Business Awards were presented to:
Stuart Cregger.
Ambassador of the Year is presented to a member of the Chamber Ambassador Team for their outstanding service representing the Chamber in the community, welcoming and supporting new members and hosting events that showcase the membership. The award was presented to Stuart Cregger, Complete Threat Preparedness.
Bill Cohen.
Volunteer of the Year is presented to the individual who has demonstrated over and over a willingness to give countless volunteer hours to the Chamber and has embraced the spirit of business and community working together. The award was presented to Bill Cohen, Cohen Caregiving Support Consultants.
Charles Cook.
New Business of the Year goes to the new Tualatin business that not only opened their doors in 2019 but also became a true member of the community, supporting local organizations and the Chamber. The award was presented to Workonomy at Office Depot/Charles Cook.
Sue Raxter.
Spirit of Tualatin-Individual is given in recognition is given in recognition of their contributions to the community in 2019; whose dedication to community and civic projects has made Tualatin a better place to live and has inspired others to exceed their limitations and accomplish more than they thought possible. The award was presented to Sue Raxter, Paws & Tails Pet Sitter.
Brent Schafer.
Spirit of Tualatin-Business is given to a service club, non-profit organization or business in recognition of their leadership, dedication and contributions to the community and civic projects has made Tualatin a better place to live. The award was presented to Todd Construction/Brent Schafer.
Cheryl Laird.
Business Leader of the Year reflects someone within the Tualatin Chamber who has made specific, significant and lasting contributions to the Tualatin community. This individual has demonstrated leadership and cooperation while benefiting the community and civic enterprises. The award was presented to Cheryl Laird, Lam Research.
Susan Noack.
Lifetime Achievement is given to a business or individual who has consistently given back to the community time and again over the years and whose example encourages others to take action. The award was presented to Susan Noack, Meals on Wheels People.
Sherilyn Lombos.
Business and Community Champion is a new award this year to honor a business, organization or individual who went above and beyond to support, contribute and promote our community. This year’s first recipient is Sherilyn Lombos, Tualatin City Manager, who thought of a way to support local restaurants by having citizens buy their gift cards and donate them to local families in need. Through a Chamber partnership, Gift Cards for Good was created, and it generated $5,000 in gift cards that were distributed to 197 families by the Tualatin Food Pantry.
As CEO of the Tualatin Chamber for the last 12 years, I have had the pleasure of meeting and working with so many people that make Tualatin special. Much of what makes that possible is the dedication of our citizens and business owners who volunteer and contribute to the overall well-being of this town.
It’s that time of year again. When the leaves begin to change color, pumpkins come fresh off the patch and Halloween is right around the corner. So bust out those festive costumes and prepare to go door-to-door expecting sugary goodness, right? Well, not quite.
This year, to avoid the possible spread of COVID-19, the federal Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) are urging the public to avoid traditional door-to-door trick-or-treating, “Trunk or Treating” and other possibly crowded Halloween events.
“This year, it’s more important than ever to put safety first because COVID-19 cases have risen recently and holiday gatherings on Memorial Day, July 4th and Labor Day led to increased case counts,” OHA wrote in an Oct. 1 statement.
So, maybe costume parties and haunted houses won’t be a possibility this year. But there are still other possible alternatives that will allow you to enjoy the holiday.
Low Risk:
Carving or decorating pumpkins outside with members of your household, or at a safe distance with neighbors or friends
Decorating your living space
Halloween scavenger hunt-style trick-or-treat search around your home
Halloween movie night with members of your household
Moderate Risk:
One-way trick-or-treating where individually wrapped goodie bags are laid outside
Outdoor costume party, where distancing can be maintained and cloth masks worn
Going to an open-air, one-way walk-through haunted forest
Visiting pumpkin patches or orchards while maintaining distance
Many Tualatin community members have ideas of their own.
“We’re skipping [trick-or-treating], in part, because we feel many houses may not be handing out candy and that would be tough for kids,” one commenter on the Tualatin Life Facebook page wrote. “We’ll dress up, hide candy in the house or outside depending on weather, hand the kids flashlights and let them have a scavenger hunt.”
Another Facebook page commenter decided to flip the tradition on its head. “Reverse trick-or-treating. [We’re] making goodie bags for the kids to drop off on porches in costumes especially to our senior friends!”
Lee Farms, a popular Tualatin berry farm and pumpkin patch, has remained open for guests, but with some modifications.
They have asked guests to pre-order tickets online at their website to reduce lines and manage capacity. In addition, the farm requires masks when distance cannot be maintained, and on all activities such as the hayrides, U-pick Corn Field, play areas and animal viewing pens.
General admission is 10 dollars and provides access to many of the activities as well as the pumpkin patch filled with over two dozen pumpkin varieties. You can learn more at www.leefarmsoregon.com.
In a typical year, the Tualatin area holds several Halloween-themed events such as the nationally renowned West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta in Tualatin or Pumpkins and Pints.
This Halloween, however, the Pumpkin Regatta, which normally hosts giant pumpkin races, food vendors, a 5K run and pumpkin-themed games, has been cancelled, but will be back next year.
You may not be able to paddle in a giant pumpkin through the Tualatin Commons this year, but, the Terminator Weigh-Off, the giant vegetable-weighing contest, is still proceeding as planned for contestants.
The organizer, Pacific Giant Vegetable Growers, said that competitors with the largest pumpkins and other huge vegetables will weigh-off for a chance to win from a $3,500 prize pool. The format will be a drive-through and pre-registration is required at www.pgvg.org.
How do you quantify generosity? Kindness? Selflessness? Tough questions, I know…but then I met restaurateur Allen Song, a man with a larger-than-life personality, and an even bigger heart, owner of Izumi Steakhouse, located near the end of Nyberg St., steps away from Tualatin Lake, and I had my answer. Allen greeted us with a healthy “Hello,” and then excused himself, “I didn’t think that we would be this busy,” as the “Teppan” tables filled up and more guests queued at the door, all awaiting their dinner and culinary show – an amazing sight to see amid the Pandemic and the Wildfires, still raging mere miles away.
The dining room is inviting and thoughtful- appropriately lit and adorned with subtle traditional Nippon décor amid streaming white curtains rippling against the floor-to-ceiling windows, apropos with it’s namesake, as Izumi means “fountain” or “spring” in Japanese. The menu provides an excellent celebration of Japanese products- with over 100 Sakes in house (the entrance, alone, is a Sake lover’s dream) a healthy serving of unique Japanese beers (befitting nearly every style and flavor profiles imaginable) and an extensive list of Japanese Whiskeys (that literally made me blush with excitement and anticipation).
Allen returned with a plate of Izumi Tots- “I created these,” he announced, “They’re a play on ‘Octopus Balls’ (Takoyaki), but with something more fun…tater tots.” And, fun they were…oh, and delicious- cramming a balance all of the taste receptors- sweet, savory, spicy, umami- into every little, perfectly fried potato nugget. “Do you like spicy?” Alan inquired, to which Kristen (my wife, eternal dining partner, ride-or-die) immediately perked up. “I started making my own hot sauce,” he remarked as he laid the dark-red concoction before us. “We make all of our sauces here, but this, I’m working on bottling it. Heat with flavor- we wanted something that enhanced the flavor of the food, instead of drowning it.” And, there it was, the perfect kick of heat to make the unique tots, dare I say, even better.
“Do you like Gin?” asked our effusive host, to which my eyes widened- and just like that– an Izumi emblazoned “adult sippy-cup” appeared. “We make our own Pineapple infused Gin, Dang, with fresh pineapple, thus the yellowish color.” The cocktail also employs a house-made pineapple jelly, which together with the gin, makes a deliciously refreshing accompaniment to Allen’s hot sauce, as well as the Street Fighter Roll (crab and cucumber topped with spicy tuna) from Izumi’s small, rotating Sushi Menu.
Hitachino Nest Japanese Classic Ale before the show.
“How about Sake?” Allen surveyed, “We do a Watermelon infused Sake cocktail that you’ll love”…and we did. Suggestion after suggestion- offering upon offering- it was then that I truly realized what and who Allen Song is. Yes, of course, Allen is the consummate restaurant owner and host, proud of his product, his staff, his creations and his family. And, yes, of course, Mr. Song is a “giver,” as generous as the day is long, who bends over backwards for guests and employees, alike. But, beyond all that, Alan Song is a man who cannot say “no.” “It’s gotten to the point,” Allen explained as he sat down with us, taking a moment away from the bustle of the busy Thursday night, “where people- friends, business owners, you name it- have stopped asking me things- for favors, for things for the community, because they know I’ll say ‘Yes.’ When? Where? Done.”
And, that statement becomes glaringly true when you hear that Allen doesn’t take a day off, even with a toddler at home, and when you begin to fathom everything he does for Tualatin and Washington and Clackamas counties. Honored over the years by the Tualatin Chamber of Commerce, Community Police Foundation, Historical Society, Rotary, and countless others for his overwhelming generosity and altruism. However, it’s his most recent volunteering efforts that shine brightly in Oregon’s desperate time of need: feeding firefighters (and their families) dealing with the relentless wildfires destroying the Pacific Northwest. The meals provided for the firefighters on the frontlines in Estacada, Molalla, Bald Peak and Beachie Creek tally into the thousands, even finding loopholes and workarounds to deliver the meals when the government attempted to place restrictions on getting hot meals to those risking their lives to save homes, businesses, forests and more. “Politics aside,” Song admitted, “firefighters just want hot food…and they love my Teriyaki Chicken Bowls.” And, when asked how much money it took to get all of these meals to all of the brave people, especially at a time when restaurant business and revenue is down due to the COVID-19 restrictions, Allen simple shrugged, plaintively, “Sometimes money comes before a lot of things these days. I don’t let it. I’m just providing food.”
Steak and Scallops with grilled vegetables.
Understandably, the Teppanyaki experience has changed in this time of social distancing, but I am happy and proud to say that at Izumi, the spirit, the excitement and the showmanship are still there. Our grill-master, Dalley, was one part juggler, one part magician, one part comedian, but more importantly, perfectly adept to create an amazingly succulent meal. Succulent scallops and steak with tender mushrooms and veg, sweetly spicy noodles, rich fried rice, and even a shrimp or two flying at my face (I promise to get better at catching them, I swear). But, despite all that, I couldn’t shake the question: “Who is this man?” as I glanced over at Allen, enjoying the cooking show with us- who bends over backwards to be the superlative host, volunteer and provider for guests, employees, community and family (many of whom still work at the family run restaurant). “When your heart is in the right place,” he justified, “you just want to do the right thing. And, sometimes that involves doing things that are bigger than yourself.” So, as a new found fan of Izumi Japanese Steakhouse and the man who runs it, I say do the right thing…Eat Here and help support the man who cannot stop himself from supporting this community and beyond.
Izumi is open Sunday-Thursday 4:30 – 9 p.m., Friday-Saturday 4:30 – 9:30p.m. Please visit and donate to the GoFundMe page devoted to the support of those affected by the Oregon Wildfires established by Allen Song at gf.me/u/yx5gn2
Mashita Teriyaki
All it took was a warm “smize” and a wave from Charles Bahng, owner of Mashita’s Teriyaki, located on SW Boones Ferry, to realize this is a family joint- a great one, and has been since 2001.
Despite being playfully decorated with over 100 Chicken figurines, statues and dolls from a variety of cultures and in a variety of materials, don’t fret- Mashita’s is no “chicken” when it comes to flavor! In fact, it is the perfect lunchtime fare for anyone and everyone who enjoys a fast, tasty meal of Teriyaki Chicken, Pork, Beef…or any combination thereof.
The pot stickers are perfectly crisp, yet tender and ultimately satisfying, especially considering how quickly they disappeared from my plate. Both Charles and his wife, Sunhee, stroll the dining room, to ensure that everyone is enjoying their meal, offering a little “parent-ly” advice- as overheard at a nearby table, “You make sure you eat all of your veggies.” However, the Bahngs’ concern goes well beyond nutrition, and it’s apparent in their décor, devoting walls upon walls of the quaint restaurant to photos of all of the local Tualatin H.S. teams as well as evidence of their commitment, sponsorship and support of the community.
Teriyaki Beef with pot stickers.
Frankly, if you are in the mood for a local eatery, with quick, great food, where they remember your name, remind you to “clean your plates,” all in a friendly environment, then Mashita’s is second to none.
Mashita Teriyaki is open Monday-Saturday 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. Call ahead and they’ll have your order ready: 503-885-7661 • 18810 SW Boones Ferry Rd.
Six years after Oregon voters legalized the recreational sale and use of cannabis, cities around the state continue to tinker with various aspects of their local regulations.
In Tualatin, the City Council has directed City staff to draw up amendments to the City’s development code loosening aspects of the City’s regulations surrounding where cannabis-related businesses are allowed to operate. The move came after a wide-ranging discussion at a Sept. 28 Council workshop, as well as an online session held Sept. 16 to hear public opinion.
“I did stop in on the webinar, and honestly the questions I heard, too, were from people wondering why we were limiting it,” Councilor Bridget Brooks said at the Council workshop.
Currently, there are no cannabis businesses of any kind located inside city limits, in part because zoning regulations limit such businesses to a narrow section of industrial land on the western edge of the city.
“This is generally in the area of Ancestry Brewing,” City Community Development Director Aquilla Hurd-Ravich said during the Sept. 16 public session. “Currently we do not have any marijuana businesses. Current regulations only allow marijuana businesses in a slice of industrial space on the west side of the city, and what this map doesn’t show is the requirement requiring any type of cannabis business to be at least 2,000 feet apart.”
That is just one city regulation that has served to prevent these types of businesses from opening in Tualatin. Others require cannabis businesses to remain at least 3,000 feet away from any schools, libraries, parks or residentially zoned land.
Now, possible changes to city code could open additional industrial land and certain commercial areas adjacent to Interstate 5 near Bridgeport Village to cannabis businesses. The new regulations, if ultimately approved by the Council, would align city code with state law and allow cannabis businesses to locate no more than 1,000 feet away from schools, libraries, parks or residential areas, as well as no more than 1,000 feet away from other cannabis businesses.
The proposed changes would not allow cannabis businesses in the City’s Central Commercial district. At the same time, state laws prevent cannabis businesses from locating in this area anyway, because of the nearby Tualatin Library and Tualatin Commons park.
“The required minimum distance between libraries and parks, by our code, is being considered at 1,000 feet,” City Planner Erin Engman said during the online session. “And with the proposed buffer reduction, between Tualatin Commons and the Tualatin Library, that would exclude much of the downtown core area.”
Maps showing areas where marijuana facilities are currently allowed under the City of Tualatin’s 3,000-foot buffer from libraries, parks, schools and residential districts (top) vs the State’s mandates of 1,000 feet (bottom).
Tualatin Community Development Director Aquilla Hurd-Ravich told councilors there has been interest from cannabis businesses over potentially locating in Tualatin ever since voters approved legalization.
“Since 2015, which is when our regulations are adopted, we have heard from interested dispensaries wondering where they can locate,” Hurd-Ravich said. “How much we’ve heard, I couldn’t say. It’s not an overwhelming amount, but we do get some interest.”
Written feedback received by the city seems largely against changing existing regulations. But councilors noted this is an incomplete view of public opinion.
“When these ordinances were first drafted, we had a phone survey,” noted Mayor Frank Bubenik. “And the majority of residents were in favor of having cannabis facilities in the city. They were not against it; they were for it. That survey is still out there. We’re not passing anything right now; all we’re doing is asking staff to draft ordinance changes to take to the planning commission and then send them back to us.”
Councilor Robert Kellogg also asked for elimination of the current 3,000 square foot limit on the size of cannabis businesses required by city code.
“My mindset on this the entire time has been on the industrial uses,” Kellogg said. “I don’t see any particularly policy reason why a facility couldn’t exceed 3,000 square feet. I think that will exclude industrial uses that would be good tenants in the industrial areas that wouldn’t be public facing.”
Councilors Paul Morrison and Nancy Grimes expressed concern over the proposed changes, Morrison out of longstanding opposition to legalization and Grimes out of a wish to reflect the wishes of residents who are also opposed to the move. The latter also noted, however, that she is not entirely against the idea of amending city code.
“The voters have spoken, they’ve legalized recreational as well as medical cannabis,” she said. “But I also feel like we can’t not listen to all of the people who have written, come to council meetings, who have opinions as well.”
At the same time, Grimes said she doesn’t have a problem with city code mirroring what’s allowable under state law.
“I don’t have a problem with that,” she said. “But I’d like to keep the zoning so that the acceptable areas are down around the industrial area, the “neck of the moose.” [see maps – if you visualize the shape of Tualatin as a “moose head,”the neck area should be apparent]. I don’t support, at all, opening up areas around Bridgeport.”
Getting between towns in Washington and Clackamas counties can be a big challenge if you don’t own a vehicle.
That’s why Clackamas County is currently looking into the possibility of creating a new public shuttle service that would link Tualatin with West Linn and Oregon City via a new shuttle service that uses Borland Road. The shuttle plan is part of a larger Clackamas County Transit Development Plan, which is currently in the works to help prioritize and fund major transit improvements. These would target areas of the county that are not currently served by TriMet and other public transit agencies. Funding for the project would come from Oregon’s massive $5.3 billion House Bill 2017, dubbed the Keep Oregon Moving Bill, which was approved by the state legislature three years ago.
Right now, County officials are asking the public what they want to see in those gap areas between current service districts. In Tualatin, at least, the results have provided at least one path to follow.
“In our initial survey findings, about 43 percent of the people wanted that commuter route, but 39 percent wanted a route on Borland Road,” Christina Babcock, Transit Coordinator for Clackamas County, told the Tualatin City Council at a Sept. 14 meeting. “If we don’t address this we aren’t serving the needs of Tualatin. It’s definitely a mad scramble at this point to get that application in for discretionary funds. It would be in place for a couple of years and then permanent funding would be needed.”
County planning officials have been studying transit options across the county since last spring. They hope to bring a Transit Development Plan draft to county commissioners this fall for possible adoption later this winter.
In Tualatin, the main priority is the establishment of transit connections with major employment areas in the tri-county metro area.
“There are few direct connections from major employment areas in Gresham, Washington County and Wilsonville, and the Clackamas County Industrial area is another area that really needs to be served,” Karen Buehrig, Long Range Planning Manager for Clackamas County, said at the Sept. 14 council meeting.
The Tualatin-West Linn-Oregon City shuttle is one of four similar routes being considered across the county, and it’s one that City of Tualatin leaders strongly favor.
“This is a long-needed connection,” said Councilor Valerie Pratt. “It really seems like you put a lot of thought into the needs of the riders and the connections that are necessary to make this successful.”
“I think the dearth of public transportation in Tualatin has been well documented,” added Councilor Nancy Grimes. “I would reiterate the need for the Borland Loop.”
Some $3 million in House Bill 2017 funding is set to initially fund shuttle services, but once that money dries up, new funding would be needed. The proposed route from Tualatin would use the city’s existing Ride Connection service to connect with Wilsonville’s South Metro Area Regional Transport line at Stafford Road. From there, the SMART shuttle would head to West Linn, Oregon City and end at Clackamas Town Center.
The new service would connect Ride Connection’s Red Loop with Meridian Park Hospital before heading east on Borland Road to meet SMART at Stafford Road.
“We would need to rework routing the Red Loop and provide access to Bridgeport,” Babcock said.
In the near future, the County plans to hire a consultant to lead an evaluation of possible routes between Tualatin and Oregon City. The study is intended to identify specific costs, and a formal process to establish the proposed shuttle. But first, the need for the service must be established.
“The more support we can get the better off we are,” Babcock said. “The application is due in November, and funds are awarded in June of 2021. If we were successful in our application, June of ‘21 is when work would really start. But don’t hold me to that date, please, it will take a while.”
Council Approves Domestic Violence Awareness Resolution
The Tualatin City Council and Tualatin Police Chief Bill Steele proclaimed October 2020 as Domestic Violence Awareness Month at the Council’s Sept. 28 meeting.
Domestic violence has always been a serious issue, and both law enforcement and the city council chose this month to emphasize the matter and show support for victim advocates, service organizations and crisis hotline staff.
Steele said the Police Department is planning to highlight the issue during the month of October.
“I don’t really have anything for the Council,” Steele said. “But October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, so we’ll be doing a few things to promote that during the month.”
Meanwhile, the City Council is putting its money where its mouth is by giving $2,000 to the Domestic Violence Resource Center, a Washington County nonprofit organization advocating for and assisting female victims of domestic violence. The grant is just part of $40,000 in money awarded by the City to various nonprofit groups this year.
Tualatin Police Department Named a ‘Top Workplace’
The Tualatin Police Department was recently recognized for its workplace culture by being given a 2020 Top Workplace award by The Oregonian newspaper.
The Top Workplace awards are based on employee feedback gathered by Energage, LLC, a private technology company that focuses on workplace culture, employer branding and employee engagement.
There were 95 companies across Oregon recognized in this year’s awards. Forty-five are small employers with between 35 and 99 employees, including the Tualatin Police Department. Forty-two fell in the midsize category, with 100 to 499 employees, and eight more are in the large category, with more than 500 employees.
“I believe we were the only government entity in the total of 95 on that list, and definitely the only police department,” Tualatin Police Chief Bill Steele said. “We got a nice little award to go with it, and we’re pretty pleased with that.”
The award was announced at the Tualatin City Council’s Sept. 28 meeting.
“It’s an outstanding award and an outstanding contribution from your staff and great leader-ship in the police department,” Councilor Paul Morrison said. “I think that’s reflected throughout the community.”
Mayor Frank Bubenik agreed and said he was “pretty pumped” upon hearing the news.
“It’s a great reflection on you and your leadership and the officers,” he told Steele. “If the people enjoy doing the work and enjoy working with each other, it’s going to reflect on the community when they’re happy with their jobs and happy serving the community.”
