Citizen Involvement Committee - November 2, 2026

The City of Oregon City Citizen Involvement Committee met November 2, 2026. The main presentation was by Destination Oregon City/Travel Oregon City on its community-based tourism work and two-year pilot as a standalone DMO. The organization is funded through the city’s transient lodging tax; state law requires at least 50% of that tax to be reinvested in tourism or hospitality, while the remaining share may support other local services. The presenter described limited programming funds after administrative costs and discussed potential future investments and development needs, including lodging, short-term rental rules, visitor services, and parking. No contract awards, bids, or procurement votes were reported.

The committee also heard that the DMO is developing tourism partnerships and workshops and may pursue grant-supported river tourism projects; a cemetery group noted that city annexation could help it qualify for grants. A commissioner reported that the city is preparing to review its code before allowing data-center applications to proceed, and provided updates on preliminary visioning for an aquatic and recreation center and the End of the Oregon Trail, plus fundraising and a potential national grant for work with the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde. These were updates and prospective funding or planning matters, not procurement approvals.