City Council Work Session 11/18/2025

The City Council Work Session for the City of Milwaukie, Oregon, held on November 18, 2025, focused primarily on parks and green space initiatives, community choice energy projects, and land banking strategies related to housing and park development. Key procurement-related discussions included the development of grant agreements and funding strategies for community-initiated projects, such as the Community Choice program funded by Metro, which involves matching grants and partnerships with nonprofit organizations. The council discussed the challenges of managing multiple projects, prioritizing feasible ones based on available matching funds, and coordinating with Metro and other partners. Additionally, the council explored land banking policies, including potential right of first refusal approaches for targeted properties, funding mechanisms such as CCT and URA funds, and partnerships with nonprofits to acquire and manage land for affordable housing and parks. The session also covered ongoing negotiations and project management efforts for Milwaukee Bay Park and Kellogg projects, emphasizing the need for clear funding strategies and contractor engagement. No formal votes or contract awards were recorded during this session, but several action items were identified for future work on funding strategies, grant applications, and policy development.