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The mayors also described the assets of their communities, including existing space for development and the infrastructure and local services that are available to serve employers and make the Westside a desirable place to do business.

Click to view Mayor Tom Hughes' presentation.

Click to view Mayor Charlotte Lehan's presentation.

Click to view Mayor Lou Ogden's presentation.

February 22: The state of the County

The construction of the Washington County Commuter Rail project, opening of the Stub Stewart State Park, voter-approved renewals of the Public Safety and Countywide Cooperative Library Levies, and arrival of Genentech, were some of the significant achievements of 2006 highlighted by Washington County Board of Commissioners Chairman Tom Brian, at the annual "State of the County."

"These achievements, and many others, reflect far more than the work of the Board of Commissioners and a dedicated staff," said Brian. "They reflect our community and the core values we embrace."

Washington County is expected to add 400,000 residents in the next 23 years--a growth of 80 to 100 percent, Chair Brian explained.

"If current patterns hold, our county unincorporated areas alone would have more residents by the year 2030 than any city in the northwest, except Seattle and Portland," said Brian. "With the prospect of continuing population growth, Washington County--with all of its citizens and partners--must decide on strategies to accommodate this growth."

This means putting in place realistic, achievable plans to manage this growth, to manage congestion and to retain a high quality of life.

"Collectively, our achievements are significant," said Brian. "But the challenges are formidable."

Click to view a copy of Chairman Tom Brian's presentation.

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A Cost of Congestion study found that Oregon not improving Oregon’s transportation system will cost the state $1.7 billion in lost income and 16,000 lost jobs by the year 2025. A coalition of business interests and public agencies, including the Westside Economic Alliance (WEA) funded the study, which examined the impact of traffic congestion on Oregon’s economy. These findings were presented at WEA’s March 22 breakfast forum.

“The study provides us with better information regarding the link between investments in transportation, the state’s quality of life and economic vitality,” said Steve Clark, WEA board member and one of the study’s business sponsors.

Board member Frank Angelo moderated a panel of Westside business leaders made up of Jonathan Williams of Intel Oregon, Maureen Wheeler from the Beaverton School District and Dana White from Providence Health Systems. Each experiences unique challenges as it relates to traffic congestion. Intel has more than 16,000 employees in the metro region that must commute between home and work. The Beaverton School District has 260 buses that transport 37,000 students to and from school daily. In addition to this, Providence receives thousands of patients annually who need emergency medical care.

WEA staff has made presentations to the Oregon Transportation Commission, ODOT, the Columbia River Crossing Task Force, Metro’s Regional Freight and Goods Mobility Task Force. The study has also been provided to Senator Smith, Senator Wyden, Congressman DeFazio and Congressman Wu’s offices.

“Armed with the findings of this study, a diverse group of Oregon business and community leaders can now advocate during legislative session for additional investment in the state’s roads and highways,” said Jonathan Schlueter, WEA Executive Director.

The full study and executive summary can be found at www.oregonbusinessplan.org.

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April 26, 2007: Westside employment posts record gains

The business climate in Washington County continues to improve as our local population grows, the local economy gains strength and the number of people working and jobs available reach record highs.

Mary Lee Wright, the Oregon Employment Department’s workforce analyst for Washington County, shared the latest good news about jobs and employment trends at the recent Westside Economic Alliance breakfast forum.

Some of the notable facts Wright shared with WEA members and guests last week: Among Oregon’s 36 counties, Washington County ranks number two in population and number two in total jobs. In recent months, Washington County has also posted the lowest unemployment rate in the state, surpassing the state’s long-time leader Benton County earlier this year.

“It is remarkable to consider that the number of new jobs created in Washington County last year was identical to the population growth of our county,” said WEA President Ed Trompke. “Wright estimated that job growth had topped 4.6 percent in 2006, with 10,800 jobs being added to the local payrolls, while the resident population of the county increased by the same number—averaging 900 new residents per month.”

Wright cited recent WorkSource Oregon estimates that there are now 245,900 jobs in Washington County. These latest figures are double the number of jobs available in Washington County just twenty years ago, and quadruple the number posted in 1975.

Wright also observed that over half of the residents are able to live and work in Washington County. In addition, the county supplies private sector employment for more than 100,000 residents of surrounding counties, including nearly 15,000 workers who reside out of state--primarily in Washington’s Clark, Skamania and Lewis counties.

According to Wright, the local industries that appear to offer the best opportunity for future expansion and growth include professional and business services; trade, transportation and utilities; education and health; leisure and hospitality; government; financial services; construction and manufacturing.

“The outlook for continued growth is very strong,” noted Wright. “We’ve already exceeded many of the projections we set in our last ten-year forecast.” For more information about the current workforce stats and employment trends in Washington County, contact Mary Lee Wright at WorkSource Oregon in Beaverton, (503) 884-3274. Copies of her PowerPoint presentation are also available by calling (503) 968-3100.

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Mary Lee Wright

May 24: Garrett urges Alliance support for transportation investment

Oregon Department of Transportation Director Matt Garrett’s message to the Alliance membership was simple: the time is now.

As the featured speaker at the May Breakfast Forum, Garrett reinforced the connection between a healthy transportation system and a healthy economy. For example, he said, 96 percent of the funds targeted for bridge construction projects go to Oregon companies and Oregon jobs. And right now, the agency has $1.3 billion of active construction projects on the ground. But, he warned, our transportation appetite is insatiable so the agency can’t rest on its laurels.

Garrett began with an overview of the agency’s recent transportation investments and accomplishments, and where ODOT is headed. In recounting recent construction activity in Washington County, Garrett focused on the Jackson School interchange project, part of the OTIA I and II packages, which greatly improved traffic flow and safety at a critical intersection. “Success breeds success,” he said. “Our job is to demonstrate to Oregonians how we’re using their money, that we’re making progress in a timely manner, and achieving results that benefit the community.”

Garrett has two current priorities: Passage of Connect Oregon 2, a $100 million statewide package for rail, marine, aviation and transit projects, and increased investment in the highway portfolio.  “Our need for transportation funding outstrips our revenue,” he continued, “but the need is now. Disinvestment makes it worse and compromises the productivity and efficiency of our economy.”

He asked the Alliance to continue to participate in the transportation discussion, and urged members to underscore the importance of investment with legislators.  Just maintaining and preserving our system won’t solve our problems today or in the future.

“The clock is ticking,” he repeated, “and we need your help. The time is now to invest.” For more information on Connect Oregon 2 and ODOT projects, visit www.oregon.gov.

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Matt Garrett

June 28, 2007: Three years after ballot Measure 37: Do Oregonians still support it?

At WEA’s June 28 Breakfast Forum, State Representative Greg Macpherson and Oregonians in Action’s Dave Hunnicutt squared off on the subject of Oregon’s land use legislation. 

The spirited discussion focused on what is now Measure 49, a rewrite of Measure 37, which Oregon voters passed three years ago. 

Under Measure 37, land owners were given the opportunity to apply for waivers or monetary compensation from local jurisdictions for reductions in property value caused by land use regulations. 

There are currently more than 7,000 claims statewide, which Hunnicutt says represents 1% of the land in Oregon. 

The biggest blocks of land under Measure 37 claims in Washington County belongs to Stimson Lumber Company, which are scattered across the coast range west of Forest Grove and Hagg Lake. 

Hunnicutt said Stimson finds the land unsuitable for forestry, so they want to preserve their option to sell these properties in 20 acre parcels with the possibility of putting single homes on each parcel. 

According to Hunnicutt this kind of development would not change the landscape. 

Hunnicutt said it takes about a year or two to make it through the claims process, plus the costs of appraisals and attorney’s fees. 

“Even if you’re granted the right to build, you’ll still need to go through all the land use regulations to get a home actually built,” Hunnicutt said. 

He stated that for some seniors they may not see the process completed during their life time because it’s too lengthy. 

If voters pass Measure 49 this November, those who have filed Measure 37 claims will have to refile their claims and essentially start over.   

Macpherson said Measure 49 is a scaled down Measure 37.  “It’s an improved version that will protect Oregon’s landscape,” he said.

“When we look at Measure 37, it had no funding provision.  It was an empty promise,” Macpherson said, “There’s no compensation being paid.  It’s all about waivers.”

Measure 49 offers to allow land owners the ability to build up to three homes on a parcel and as many as 10 where the available water supply is adequate. 

It will also allow development rights to be transferred to the next owners, something land owners, even family members, do not have under Measure 37. 

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David Hunnicutt answers questions during WEA's June 28 Breakfast Forum.

State Representative Greg Macpherson speaks at WEA's Forum on Measure 37.

August 23, 2007: Paying for future growth by investing in our communities today

In the next 30 years, regional officials expect the population of the Portland metro area will increase by approximately one million more people, including 400,000 new residents in Washington County.

At WEA’s August forum, four elected officials discussed how local governments are planning to accommodate and serve this growth.

In order to serve this many people, Washington County Chairman Tom Brian said there will have to be a significant expansion of the Urban Growth Boundary.

According to Brian, the County is anticipating the UGB to be expanded by hundreds, possibly thousands of acres. 

This would allow planners to develop what he called “communities of distinction” where  an entire town or community would be plotted out from an undeveloped area. 

“On one hand, it presents a tremendous opportunity we’ve never had before,” said Brian, “We have an opportunity to go from the ground up and plan it so that it’s a quality area, minimizing the impact on existing neighborhoods that are adjacent.” 

However, he cautioned, “With that opportunity, you see your infrastructure costs - streets, sewer, water all at once.  Some of these are hard to face.”

In the past, the burden of paying for new infrastructure fell largely on developers. 

But if that tradition holds, Brian warned developers could be faced with paying  $100,000 or more per lot for these new systems, which would increase local housing prices significantly. 

During his 30 years living in Tigard, Mayor Craig Dirksen said he has seen the population of his city nearly quadruple, impacting traffic congestion on the city’s main thoroughfare.

He said despite highway 99W being a state highway, Tigard’s residents wanted something done locally to improve its traffic flow. 

Tigard’s answer was a local $.03 gas tax to be used for improvements at the highway 99W and Hall Boulevard intersection.
 
Dirksen said “Though we have succeeded in putting this tax in place and plan on using it for good benefit, this is not a good solution to our long term transportation concerns. This is a stop gap measure.”

According to Mayor Bill Bash of Cornelius, his city’s residents travel farther to work than any other Washington County community because of a lack of space for industry.

Bash said the city recently requested and received approval from Metro to request an expansion of the Urban Growth Boundary for industrial land on Cornelius' north side. 

In the near future, Bash is expecting Cornelius to have a 60-acre “shovel ready” industrial site available .

Forum speakers agreed it takes a collaborative effort to fund today’s needs and the anticipated growth of tomorrow.

State Senator Ryan Deckert said he hopes to change Washington County’s image at the legislative level as a prosperous one that does need help.

He said, “One in six dollars that we’re allocating at the state level is coming from this county.  You’ve got to keep that economic engine humming.”

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September 27, 2007: Current market trends in commercial real estate on the Westside

A panel of commercial real estate professionals offered some encouraging news about local property values and business trends during WEA’s monthly breakfast forum series last month.

John Medak, associate vice president with Norris Beggs & Simpson reported that vacancy rates are at a five-year low in the commercial office buildings along the South I-5 and Kruse Way areas when he spoke to WEA members and guests on September 27 at the Kingstad Center in Beaverton.

Medak said he expects to see continued growth along I-5 thanks to the recent development of Bridgeport Village and improved access being made around the Nyberg Road interchange in Tualatin.

As occupancy and lease rates climb in these premium locations, Tim Parker of Melvin Mark Companies and Eric Haskins from Grubb and Ellis agreed that some businesses will be looking to move their offices and facilities further west along the Highway 217 / Beaverton or the Tanasbourne / Sunset corridors, hoping to find better lease rates.

Click here to viewa copy of John Medak's presentations

Click here to view a copy of Eric Haskins' presentation

Click here to view a copy of Tim Parker'spresentation

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John Medak, Eric Haskins and Tim Parker answer questions at the September 27 Forum.

October 23, 2007: Water supply: no ducking the issue

WEA’s October 25 Breakfast Forum offered different views about the current uses and future demands for water in the Tualatin River Basin. 

Currently, much of Washington County’s water supply flows from both Hagg Lake, which is part of the Tualatin River Watershed and the Barney Reservoir, which pulls from the Trask River. 

Planning Director Larry Pederson from the city of Hillsboro said this makes the water supply unique and diverse as both of these originate in the Coast Range. 

Although the system relies heavily on stored water, there is concern about being able to consistently store enough water with a shifting climate. 

There are also competing needs for water, including residential, business, agriculture, and the environment.

Pederson shared his perspective on the influence water supply plays in our economic climate, saying it’s a zero to one game.  “Either one, you’ve got it or zero, you don’t,” said Pederson. 

He said the water supply is critical when recruiting new companies to locate in an area. “If you get a one in water supply, and a one means just not availability but cost and quality, then you stay on the list.  Water supply was one of the criteria for Genentech deciding to locate in Hillsboro,” said Pederson. 

Westside not only has a good source of water, according to Pederson, but it also has the infrastructure to deliver it. 

“Moving forward I think water becomes not only a critical issue, but it becomes a competitive advantage for Washington County and the Westside as we look at economic development opportunities,” Pederson said.

Jim Love, Chair of the Tualatin Valley Irrigation District and a 5th generation farmer, who lives near Forest Grove, offered an interesting historical perspective about agriculture in the Tualatin River Watershed.

Love described a photo in his office of Henry Hagg standing in the Tualatin River in the 1950s.   The flow was so low back then that a person could step over it in October, according to Love.  “You could put the whole entire Tualatin down a four inch pipe,” he said. 

Scoggins Dam, south of Forest Grove, was initiated to provide a more reliable source of water for 6,000 acres of irrigated farmland in Washington County.  In 1978, the Scoggins Dam was complete and able to supplement the river’s flow, but limiting it to 17,000 acres of irrigation.

Today Love said, “We have the most efficient water system for agriculture of any of the irrigation districts in the state.

However, Love said, “There is no incentive out there for agriculture right now to conserve water because we’re limited to the acres.  If we conserve water, we can’t irrigate any more acres.” 

He said like other industries, agriculture changes and as it does, the demands for water change as well. 

Grass seed was one example he mentioned, saying it did not require the water that the up and coming nursery industry does.

“Things change.  What’s going to be changing in the future?” Love asked. 

He said it’s difficult to know what is going to be the leading crops in the future, but it’s important to plan for these water needs today.

Ron Garst of the Tualatin Riverkeepers said the environmental health of the Tualatin is stressed. 

He said the river has low flow months where as much as 70-percent of the water in the river is coming from treatment plants, and some of the tributary creeks flowing into it run dry in the summer and/or fall months.  

With limited stream flow, there is concern with oxygen, temperature, and sediments in the river.  He said the overall sustainability of biological life has been reduced.

Garst said, “Within the context of asking ourselves, how do we get more out of the system?  Keep going to the well.  Does anybody ever ask, well, how much can this provide? And at what point do we ask ourselves what we have to give back?”

He pointed to Oregon’s Sustainability Act and noted, ”It looks to the future and says you should consider what you’re doing today in terms of the future needs.”

“It’s a balancing act.  It assumes that using, developing and protecting resources occurs with joint consideration in environmental, economic and community needs,” said Garst.

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Hillsboro City Planning Director
Larry Pederson

Chair of the Tualatin Valley Water Irrigation District Jim Love and Ron Garst of the Tualatin Riverkeepers

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