Barb's Stuff
I was elected to the Troutdale City Council in 2002, re-elected in 2006. The position is a volunteer (not for pay) job
requiring a large time commitment by each member of the Council. Individual council member positions on
issues are not always the same. That's the beauty of 7 minds coming together with different backgrounds and
opinions to reach a mutual agreement. (We don't always agree on issues, but the majority rules).
As your city councilor, responsiveness to my neighbors is my first and foremost responsibility (listening to
comments, complaints or suggestions, discerning truth from special interest, and helping to provide information
and resources when you need them. The council monitors city spending in our budget process, and we are all
keen on good customer service.
Our location along a major highway and at the edge of a large region makes balancing livability, jobs and safe
transportation thought our neighborhoods a challenge. My initial concern is primarily my neighbors, then the
region. I approach city council issues with thoughtful consideration and study. Communication and information
sharing with councilors from nearby jurisdictions helps me understand issues beyond the home front.
I'm an avid supporter of private property rights. I'm not a supporter of high density/small lots. Troutdale exceeded
the metro density requirements, many years early. At my urging, a council workshop was held in October, 2006,
for education and information on current density and policies. It is my hope that neighbors and visitors will not
come to think of Troutdale as "houses made of ticky-tacky and they all look just the same." (You may recall the
song). More houses, smaller spaces mean more public services (police and fire) at increasing cost to the city's
general fund, and that means more taxes paid by us.
I'm concerned about what our area will look like in the future. What are we leaving our children?
I also work for what I feel is important to all of you (the same is important to me): Livability, living wage jobs,
regional cooperation, our pocket books (yours and mine), listening to you and encouraging your involvement in
making decisions for the future of our area.
Watch your Council on TV 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month usually on Channel 30, but sometimes 11, 21 or 22
If you are curious about council agendas, they are available to the public at the city's website.
My "grin" moments:
- Voted no to "taking" land from private property owner for green space (City Council authorized property
purchase) - Neighborhood Ordinance
- 3 Cities Fire Committee - 2005 - to current
- Comment Box on City Web Site 2006
- City email for councilors 2007
- Density Workshop to determined that Troutdale has exceeded Metro requirements, council will consider
ways to slow down that trend while working within state law 10/2006 and ongoing - Larch Mt. Artisans recognized as Community Event 2004
- Work Trucks off public streets and onto private parking areas 2004
- Police Officer of the Year, Tradition of Annual Gift Certificate from Council, 2004
- Retention of the 242nd connector, important for the future of regional transportation.
- Supported our "Gateway" to the gorge, a new monument to be placed on the east side of 257th & East
Historic Columbia River Hwy. Please support the Troutdale Historical Society's fund raising efforts. - Sunrise Park opposed road through the park.
- Buxton Road: removed widening for more traffic from master transportation plan.
- Cascade River District Economic Development Study: supported (Partnership with the Port of Portland and
other area cities to determine best jobs, identify development obstacles, water and sewer lines, zoning for
the Reynolds/Alcoa Property). - Economic Development Position for local area. Proposal from West Columbia Gorge Chamber of
Commerce. Council agreed to budget funds to be used for this position, ONLY when funds are approved
from all of several other sources. - Sedona Park/Tyson Condo Development. A plan approved by Planning Commission for 19 condos was
appealed by Sedona Park residents: the plan granted ingress/egress through the "one-way-in/one-way-
out" Sedona neighborhood which has narrow streets, small lots, and no play area for children. City Council
did not deny the condo development, but did add a condition of access only to/from 257th. I supported this
decision, and worked closely with the Sedona Park residents to understand their concerns. Builder of
Tyson condos appealed to LUBA, settlement resulted in access through Sedona, 9 single family homes,
plus the City had to give $300,000 to Builder for the smaller density housing. - Alcohol ban in city parks 2006
- Approved Annexation of Reynolds/Alcoa Property
- Access negotiations through the Outlet Mall are still underway. I'm hoping for a 2007 Christmas present: a
signed access agreement. - Enterprise Zone July 2007. An council training session of enterprise zones was planned at the time Fed-
Ex announced their plan to apply purchase property from The Port, and their interest in an approved
enterprise zone. Several of us on the city councilor were unaware of interest by Fed-Ex, apparently our
Mayor knew early on of the interest. The majority of the council approved an enterprise zone only on the
Reynolds/Alcoa property NOT all pieces of industrial land in the city, as presented and requested in the city
proposal. My thinking: When The Port of Portland completes its purchase of the Reynolds/Alcoa property,
tax stops coming to Troutdale's general fund. That's right, The Port does not pay property taxes. Fed-Ex will
purchase the property from The Port, there will be a 3 year tax abatement as they build and start up (that
means taxes will be coming into the general fund in 3 years from Fed-Ex). It is uncertain when, or if, The
Port's development will bring taxes to the City's General Fund.
I had my concerns with:
- Urban renewal: The property subject to re-development is landlocked and behind the old sewer treatment
plant. All council members agreed to the redevelopment, we just didn't agree on the plans. Two plans
were considered, I supported a clearer plan, less expensive for taxpayers. The majority of the council
members disagreed with my choice of plans, but we all agreed to let the voters decide. - Morgan Meadows (high density development across from Reynolds High School). I did not support this
density while sitting on the Planning Commission. An appeal to the "then seated Council" gave a green
light to this development. - Mayor's "stipend". Councilors know when we seek this office, it is a volunteer position. We all can,
however, have our expenses reimbursed. I voted "no" for a Mayor's stipend, based on theory not a personal
statement regarding the value of our Mayor. - Intermodal Rail/Union Pacific: Early in discussions I spoke with a representative from Union Pacific that
engineers intermodal sites around the country. He told me Union Pacific wanted a North/South NOT
East/West Intermodal location, so I put little energy into this issue. However, the subject did provide some
campaign rhetoric and grandstanding for some of the Mayorial candidates during the 2004 campaign. - NASCAR: Many area supporters loved the idea of such a huge tourist attraction in our area. NASCAR
would have required taxpayer dollars for development. No NASCAR presentations or appearances before
the city council. No information about traffic, jobs, or sound impacts was provided. I felt we had fan based
support, not local support, no serious interest from the folks sponsoring NASCAR. Similar to the
Intermodal Rail/Union Pacific issue: I didn't waste time on an issue without a serious interest for
development.
Other City Volunteer Activity. I proudly welcome guests to our area, but I love to see my neighbors enjoying the
benefits of living at the edge of the Columbia Gorge. A working knowledge of helping out with local events has
been helpful in updating park fees, rules for management of area events, and excluding alcohol usage in local
parks. Involvement:
- 2005 SummerFest "Celebrate Community" Committee Chairman
- 2006 Troutdale Bite & Bluegrass (helped organize, webmaster, volunteer)
- 2007 Troutdale Bite & Bluegrass: volunteer, webmaster, vendor coordinator
- 1997-2007 - Troutdale Chamber of Commerce now West Columbia Gorge Chamber of Commerce
- 2008-09 - Board President, West Columbia Gorge Chamber of Commerce
- East Metro Economic Alliance (excellent forum for understanding of many local issues)
- Monthly Intergovernmental informal meetings with area councilors from 5 cities (Wood Village, Fairview,
Damascus, Gresham, Troutdale)
Previous City Service:
- Troutdale Planning Commission
- Troutdale Budget Committee
Revised 9/9/07
| Barbara Kyle Troutdale City Councilor Personal Remarks - ongoing |
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