City Manager's Message:

King City is working with Tigard, Washington County, and Clean Water Services to develop a funding and intersection plan for Beef Bend. The work is a cooperative effort led by King City & Tigard in cooperation with Washington County, and Clean Water Services. The objectives are to consider intersection spacing & design, stormwater design and potential cross-sections of the corridor. This preliminary work is essential to coordinating efforts on the Beef Bend corridor.  

King City was recently awarded a $200,000 Regional Flex Fund Assistance Grant to develop plans and complete engineering designs for the Westside Trail Segment 1, which is the section of the regional trail system that runs along the Bonneville & PGE Powerlines from the Tualatin River to Beef Bend Road. Working closely with our planning and engineering teams the city has finalized the full scope of work and we are now working on the contracting elements required to put the project out for proposals (RFP Process). The calendar of events surrounding this project should see the city release the RFP in mid to late summer, and community work to begin in early fall or winter of 2023. Hopefully through this process we can develop a design for some river access at the King City Community Park. The city is also interested in and researching the strategic possibility of providing and acquiring river access at the end of 131^st Avenue. These access points should make our river more accessible to our residents and provide amazing recreational opportunities in the future.

The Kingston Terrace Master Plan and Associated Comprehensive Plan Amendments are in full swing and rapidly approaching the final stages leading up to their potential adoption. A Final draft of the Master Plan and Comp. Plan Amendments were recently released and the public hearing before the City Council is scheduled for June 21, 2023. The latest drafts of the Master Plan and associated documents can be found in the project library at: https://www.kingcitymasterplan.com/project-library or by typing www.kingcitymasterplan.com in your internet search bar. They are additionally located on the King City website with “TownCloud” linked through the agenda for the June 21, 2023, Public Hearing.

In addition to the Kingston Terrace Master Plan, King City has developed a series of draft code amendments and system develop charges to support the projected growth and development of the Kingston Terrace Planning Area. The code amendments will also address some of the administrative issues that have been discovered over the years within the King City Municipal Code. With these amendments, the city is hoping to clarify procedures and administrative actions, adding flexibility along with streamlining the land use application permitting process. Along with these code amendments King City has also addressed the latest Camping Requirements that have arisen from a Federal judicial case out of Boise. To address Time, Place, and Manner for camping authorizations the city has identified an area adjacent to City Hall on the East Side boarding 99W. This area is consistently patrolled by our police force and will allow our agency to keep a close eye out for any nefarious activity. The ordinance also limits the Time and Manner for Camping and prohibits Camping in Parks and Natural Areas or in areas not formally authorized by the city.   

Over the course of the past year the Council has suggested that the city take a hard look at our City Charter and develop recommendations to bring our Charter up to date. Staff in coordination with City Council will likely need to select a Charter Committee to review and provide input and direction on potential modification to be brought to the public for amendment. You may see the recommended Charter amendments on future ballots. 

In the State Legislature King City is coordinating with Representative Courtney Neron to ask for legislative assistance to improve our Park trail and hopefully install public restrooms onsite at the King City Community Park. Additionally, the city in partnership with Clean Water Service is seeking additional funding to match our contributions to extend the Recycled Water Line from the King City Golf Course through the Highlands, down 131^st Avenue, to the Bonneville Power Lines and finally to King City Community Park. The project is a cooperative effort to improve irrigation and help promote a healthy ecosystem surrounding the Tualatin River. An added bonus is that it may help reduce the costs of irrigation for our local homeowners’ associations and the city.

The city is still working with its staff and legal team to prepare for the impacts of the last round of ballot measures and legislative actions like Measure 114, the Climate Friendly & Equitable Communities, 3^rd Party Building Codes, & a couple other legislative items that are currently being held up in Salem. We hope our proactive efforts will ensure the city is equipped and ready to address any potential outcomes or needs. 

I wish everyone out there the very best! Please be respectful of your neighbors and have a safe 4^th of July with your friends, families and loved ones! Finally, don’t forget to join the 4^th of July Parade and Festivities down at the King City Community Park!!

Kind Regards,

Michael J Weston

Michael Weston
City Manager