City Council Work Session 09/02/2025

The City Council Work Session for the City of Milwaukie, Oregon, held on September 2, 2025, focused primarily on utility and housing-related updates and upcoming projects. Key procurement-related discussions included the ongoing utility cost of service rate design study for water and wastewater, with potential funding from the Safe Drinking Water Revolving Loan program, which offers low-interest loans and forgivable components. The council also discussed the recent launch of an RFP for the Sparrow affordable housing development project, with plans to return to council by year-end for developer selection and contract negotiations. Additionally, the council reviewed proposed code changes related to utility billing efficiency and tenant screening fees, including exploring third-party tenant screening vendors to standardize and cap screening costs. Budget and rate-setting updates were provided, with upcoming work sessions planned to finalize capital improvement plans and rate adjustments. The meeting also touched on policy considerations for rental registration and utility assistance program expansions to improve affordability and enrollment. No formal votes were recorded during this session, but several action items were identified for staff follow-up and future council consideration.