City Council Regular Session 03/17/2026

The City Council of Milwaukie, Oregon, held its regular session on March 17, 2026. The meeting included a recognition of a local high school student for academic and community achievements, followed by community comments and a detailed discussion on the potential adoption of the Middle Income Revolving Loan (MERL) program to support affordable housing development. Council members debated the administrative challenges, compliance monitoring, and financial implications of implementing the MERL program locally, including coordination with Clackamas County and concerns about tax increment financing and long-term affordability covenants. No final decision was made; instead, the council agreed to compile questions and direct staff to further explore the program's feasibility, with plans for a study session and future ordinance consideration. Additionally, the council discussed scheduling for board and committee interviews and received updates on tourism and capital improvement projects, but no contract awards or procurement decisions were made during this session.