City Council Regular Session 12/17/2024

The City Council of Milwaukie, Oregon, held a regular session on December 17, 2024, which included discussions on several community and policy issues. A significant portion of the meeting focused on the potential implementation of an open container policy in the downtown area to support local businesses and revitalize the community. Council members and public speakers discussed the benefits and concerns related to public safety, insurance liability, enforcement, and the scope of such a policy, with an emphasis on starting with event-specific trials before considering broader applications. The council agreed to continue exploring this policy with further data collection and stakeholder engagement, aiming for a follow-up discussion in early 2025. Additionally, the council reviewed proposed amendments to the city’s tree code and discussed goals for the Sparrow site affordable housing project, including preferences for homeownership models and affordability levels. The council planned to issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Sparrow site in early 2025, contingent on funding outcomes. No formal votes on procurement were taken, but action items include further study and future RFP issuance related to affordable housing development.