I am a very proud resident of King City, a city that is safe, quiet, and well-maintained.  Most residents truly appreciate the living conditions that we are so fortunate to have. The 2020 Census results indicate that we have grown by 67% since 2010 to a population of 5184.

Now we have an opportunity to continue responsible growth and provide more opportunity for others to enjoy this wonderful and desirable Metro location. 

I understand that change can be very uncomfortable for most of us.  That is why growth must be carefully planned.  I want to take some time to explain our planning process.

The desired outcome for the 500 acre expansion area now known as Kingston Terrace is to be a Master Planned Community.

 A Master Planned Community is one that has:

1. Easy access to a wide range of amenities and services;
2. A high degree of safety and security; and,
3. Stabilized property values supported by mixed-use development that integrates with residential, commercial, and cultural sites making for effective land use that will influence increased property values throughout the city.

What is the planning process for Kingston Terrace?

1. Expert consultants helped the King City residents, Staff, Planning Commission and City Council develop a concept plan that led to Metro approving our expansion request in December of 2018.
2. In 2019, the King City Council and Staff hired expert consultants to develop a Transportation System Plan (TSP) and Master Plan.
3. The consultants are responsible for proposing roadway design, developing infrastructure, cost, feasibility, and overall community design that includes parks, business sites and residential communities.
4. The Pandemic slowed progress, but we are still hopeful that our consultants will have a sustainable and exciting proposal developed by December of 2021.
5. Once the Planning Commission is satisfied with the plan presented by the consultants, they will forward a recommendation to the city council for review,
6. Planning Commission and City Council reviews will include public hearings before the final decision. (It is important to note that future development is most likely 5 to 10 years away and could span 20 to 30 years to reach complete buildout).

I have given you a very brief overview of a very complex planning process that has many unanswered questions, but rest assured your King City Staff, Council and Planning Commission are diligently working to create the best possible outcome.

We have not made any final decisions!

Look, I know there are those opposed to the possibility of Fischer Road being extended from the Bonneville powerline west to Roy Rogers Road, but opposition must be based on truth. 

I just want to highlight a few things that have been stated that are misleading or simply not true:

1. It is not true that there is a plan to widen existing Fischer Road.
2. There is no data whatsoever that supports the claim that there will be increased crime if Fischer Road is extended. In fact, this was the same claim that was made by those who were in opposition to the Edgewater development in the early 2000’s.  This is clearly a scare tactic.
3. No homes will be lost if Fischer Road is extended: The truth is that a potential Fischer Road extension has the least amount of impact to existing homes out of all the options being considered.
4. It is not true that we have ever discussed or would allow Fischer Road to become an expressway or thoroughfare.

Our Community Must Demand the Truth

Change comes with opposition, but opposition must be based on truth—not scare tactics and misinformation. 

Your City Staff, Council, Planning Commission, and I are committed to telling you the truth about what we are doing today and for the future of King City.  You—King City residents, deserve truth and nothing less.

Sincerely,

Mayor Ken Gibson

Listen to Mayor Gibson discuss the effect of the pandemic, policing issues, growth plans, and more!

https://insidewashco.org/inside-washington-county-with-mayor-ken-gibson/

Go to your Podcast subscription provider.

Black Lives Matter.

Violence has no place in civic engagement and protest.

Throughout 2020, and in too many years prior, we have born witness to instances of racial injustice, police brutality and the rise of white supremacist rhetoric throughout our country, and right here at home. Even now we are experiencing unhelpful and inflammatory comments and acts, from many quarters, including the highest office in the land. The overwhelming majority of our community who have risen to protest for social justice and against racial inequities have done so peacefully, in keeping with public health guidelines and within the bounds protected by our state and federal constitutions.

Unfortunately, there are some individuals who have chosen violence over peaceful protest, violence towards other protestors, violence towards police officers and even an instance of deadly violence experienced recently in downtown Portland. While we recognize the outrage toward racial injustice is the foundation for the past 100+ days of protest, we call on everyone in our community seeking to confront racial injustice and to demand police accountability to forgo the path of violence. 

We invite every member of our respective communities to continue to engage with our governments, to hold us accountable and to contribute to and facilitate a transformation away from racist systems and towards a more equitable, just community.

Similarly, we ask those who may want to demonstrate to do so peacefully and safely. The challenging work of our law enforcement agencies is only made more so when protests turn violent. We must speak up against violence, all violence.

We have zero tolerance for outside provocateurs bringing hate into our communities.

We acknowledge Oregon’s long and difficult history with racism. And we commit to continuing to do the work to dismantle these systems. Our communities have a proud history of supporting the right to free expression, of recognizing a wide array of political viewpoints and of understanding the role dissent and debate play in our democracy.

What we ask now is that each of us fully embrace non-violence in the pursuit of these principles.

Thank you.

Produce by MACC TVCTV on June 4, 2019.

On March 9^th, 2020, Mayor Gibson appeared on KOIN 6 Edition of Mayor Monday and talked Emily about the evolution of King City.

On June 7, 2017, Mayor Gibson appeared on City Talk, a MACC TVCTV program.

Mayor Gibson becomes King City's new Mayor on March 2, 2016.

Article by Regal Courier
https://pamplinmedia.com/rc/62-news/299946-176522-ken-gibson-becomes-new-king-city-mayor