Building a Better Beaverton: City Manager | Election | Beaverton Night Market | Shelter
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Beaverton Hires Jen Haruyama as City Manager
The City Council has appointed Jen Haruyama as the city’s new city manager. Haruyama will report to the City Council and provide administrative leadership to departments as part of Beaverton’s transition to a council-manager form of government.
Haruyama most recently served as the city manager of Tracy, California, since 2019. Her local government leadership career began in 2000 as the assistant finance director of the Town of Los Gatos, California She then transitioned to the City of Tracy as the administrative services director and the interim assistant city manager.
Subsequently, she served as the assistant city manager of Livermore, California, and then the city manager of Scotts Valley, California. Haruyama received her Master of Public Administration degree from California State University, East Bay and her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree from San Jose State University.
Hiring of a city manager comes with implementation of Beaverton’s new city charter that was approved by voters and became operational in January. Beaverton’s new charter changes the city’s structure to a council-manager form of government. The new charter also expands the existing City Council by giving the mayor a vote and adding another part-time city councilor, establishes term limits, and updates gender language references. For more information about the new charter, visit www.BeavertonOregon.gov/charter.
The city manager appointment follows a rigorous recruitment process that included community input and was facilitated with support from an external search firm.
“It truly is an honor and privilege to have been selected to serve as Beaverton’s first city manager,” said Haruyama. “Beaverton is such a remarkable and welcoming community — I continue to be impressed by its commitment to diversity and inclusion, transformational work in downtown, outstanding park and trail system, and epic food choices to name a few. I’m looking forward to getting to know the community and working with the mayor and council to accomplish great things, and ensure Beaverton remains an extraordinary place to live, work, and play.”
Jen Haruyama is expected to begin work in Beaverton on Monday, 8/23.
Run-off Election for City Council is Sep. 21
On June 15, 2021, the Beaverton City Council adopted Resolution 4729, stating the official results of the May 18, 2021, Special Election to fill vacant City Councilor Position 1. The vacancy was created when Councilor Lacey Beaty was elected to the office of mayor and resigned from City Council. On January 12, 2021, the Council declared that seat vacant and called for a Special Election on May 18, 2021, to fill Position 1 through the unexpired term ending December 31, 2022.
Five candidates filed to run for the office (The total number of votes cast was 13,534) and the results of the election were:
- Ashley Hartmeier-Prigg 6,639
- Brandon Culbertson 459
- Jerome Sibayan 5,226
- Christian Salgado 804
- Andy J. Garcia 366
- Write-Ins 40
No candidate received a majority of the total number of votes cast for Council Position 1. Per Beaverton Charter of 2021, Article 5.9(c), if no candidate receives a majority of the total number of votes cast for all candidates for the position, then a run-off election between the two candidates receiving the highest number of votes must be held at the election that is next available pursuant to state law. Per the official election results of the May 18 Special Election and the requirements of the Beaverton Charter of 2021, the names of council candidates Ashley Hartmeier-Prigg and Jerome Sibayan will be placed on the ballot for a run-off election at the Special Election of September 21, 2021.The last day to register to vote in the September election is August 31, 2021.
Ballot Drop-off Info: There is now a drive-up ballot drop box on Hall Boulevard across the street from the main library for 24/7 ballot returns. For ballot drop sites at other locations, including the Murray Scholls branch library, visit www.co.washington.or.us/AssessmentTaxation/Elections/CurrentElection/current-ballot-drop-sites.cfm.
Beaverton Night Market Moves to New Location in Downtown
The Beaverton Night Market will be back in person this summer in a new location! The market will take shape this year on the streets of downtown Beaverton at Southwest 1st Street and Southwest Tucker Avenue on two back-to-back days, Friday, Aug. 13 and Saturday, Aug. 14. In addition to vendors, performers and designated food courts, this year’s Beaverton Night Market features an exciting collaboration with the La Strada dei Pastelli Chalk Art Festival. Two of the festival’s sites will be within the market area and feature live artists and performers during the hours of the market so attendees can experience both events when they visit.
The event is free to attend but entry will be limited based on pandemic guidelines at the time of the event. Walk-ins will be welcome but wait times may vary. To guarantee your entry time, reservations for 90-minute slots will be available free online in advance of the event. Additional pandemic protocols will also be in place to make this a safe and vibrant event for attendees and participants.
For more information, visit www.BeavertonOregon.gov/nightmarket.
Permanent Shelter in Beaverton on Its Way to Becoming a Reality
The Beaverton Severe Weather Shelter closed on Sunday, May 30, after being open for 196 days in a row, 24/7. While this is the longest shelter season thus far, there is still a critical gap in our community — shelter during the nonwinter months. After months of shelter, it has become clearer than ever that a vision for permanent shelter will increase the stability provided to individuals experiencing homelessness and provide a critical link for transition to housing.
That vision is now on its way to becoming a reality thanks to Mayor Lacey Beaty’s collaboration with state representatives and senators.
“It’s rad to partner with people like Senator Kate Lieber and Representatives Wlnsvey Campos and Sheri Schouten,” said Mayor Beaty. “Through our conversations, these elected partners became convinced of this critical need in our area and committed to investing a portion of their American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) allocations to establish a permanent shelter right here in Beaverton.”
The city expects to receive $2 million in APRA funding to create a year-round homeless shelter.
This is an incredible opportunity to respond to the homelessness crisis and the community’s long-term call for permanent shelter through the Community Vision and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Plan. The permanent shelter will also respond to one of the critical priorities identified by the Washington County Local Implementation Plan for the Metro Supportive Housing Services bond. Specifically, it will create the first year-round congregate shelter for chronically homeless individuals in the county.
The next steps for creating the permanent shelter in Beaverton will include changes to Beaverton code to reflect a new state law that allows for year-round shelter in Beaverton, securing a location, and working with partners and service providers to develop a model for the shelter. This model responds to the needs of those most impacted by homelessness, which data show are disproportionately Black, Indigenous and people of color, as well as people with disabilities, seniors, immigrants and those who identify as LGBTQ+.
For more information and updates on the project, visit www.BeavertonOregon.gov/shelter.
