City Council Regular Session and Redevelopment Commission 12/02/2025

The City of Milwaukie, Oregon held its 438th City Council Regular Session and Redevelopment Commission meeting on December 2, 2025. A significant portion of the meeting focused on affordable housing initiatives, particularly the discussion around adopting an ordinance to participate in the state's MIRL program, which aims to support affordable homeownership by reducing development costs. Multiple community members and stakeholders testified in favor of the ordinance, emphasizing the urgent need for affordable housing and the potential benefits of the program. Council members expressed concerns about the program's implementation details, city staffing requirements, and financial risks, leading to a call for further clarity before final adoption. Additionally, the meeting addressed updates to the city's tree ordinance, including new fee structures for tree removal and protections for rare and threatened tree species, aiming to better preserve the urban forest amid development pressures. The Redevelopment Commission considered a consolidated business grant application totaling $400,000 for a catalytic redevelopment project converting a building into eight commercial suites, with staff recommending approval due to its economic development potential and alignment with program goals. The meeting included budget updates and discussions on regional cooperation for infrastructure funding, but no final votes on the MIRL ordinance were recorded during this session.