City manager, public works, police week, special election and more! Building a Better Beaverton

Council to Choose Permanent City Manager

Beaverton voters approved a new city charter in the May 2020 election that changed the city’s form of government from a strong mayor to a council manager structure. The Beaverton Charter of 2021 became operational on Jan. 1.

The city appointed Kurt Wilson interim city manager as of Jan. 1. The interim city manager supports the transition to the new city charter and the recruitment, selection and early onboarding of a long-term city manager. A public survey to help City Council choose the best person for Beaverton was conducted earlier this spring. The permanent city manager application period ended Apr. 11. A public social hour for the community to meet city manager candidates is planned for Thursday, May 13. A decision by City Council is expected to be announced in early summer, followed by onboarding of the new city manager.

The Office of City Manager is the administrative head of the city government.

The city manager is responsible to the City Council for the proper administration of all city business. The city manager is the administrative head of the city who:

• Is appointed by, reports to, and serves at the pleasure of the City Council and provides administrative direction and leadership to all city departments.
• The city manager effectively advises department and division heads on a full range of organizational, management, administrative, budget, and financial policies and related issues.

MEET THE FINALISTS!

• 6 p.m. Thursday, May 13 on Zoom
• BeavertonOregon.gov/citymanager

Downtown Welcomes Changes on 5th Street

Beaverton is welcoming exciting changes as the community’s vision for a dynamic downtown remains a key priority. In Old Town, the Library Fountain renovation is underway to further enhance vibrancy in our city center. When complete later this year, the fountain will include structural upgrades and programmable jets, lights and sound to enrich community enjoyment in and around City Park.

A new Senior Affordable Housing Project on Southwest 5th Street also is in development. The community project, funded with the Metro Affordable Housing Bond, will add new high-quality affordable housing units to Beaverton. Located at the site of the existing community center, the space will include deeply affordable units next to established amenities, public transportation and social services.

The city thrives as an ethnically diverse, welcoming city, where all its residents are an essential part of the Beaverton community but many existing residents increasingly struggle to remain in Beaverton. The city’s affordable housing activities focus on helping households experiencing homelessness; increasing quality affordable rental housing; providing homeownership opportunities, and developing policies geared toward ensuring Black, Indigenous and Communities of Color have access to these opportunities.

“During public engagement and outreach, more senior affordable housing was identified as critically important to our community members,” said Community Development Division Manager Cadence Petros. “We explored a number of locations and the community center site remained the best positioned for a community of this kind. It also will complement future development considered for the area.”

A town hall with a question-and-answer period was held in April. To view the town hall, find out more details and provide feedback about these projects, visit www.BeavertonOregon.gov/5thstreetprojects.

National Public Works Week is May 16-22

In coordination with the American Public Works Association, the city is celebrating National Public Works Week Sunday, May 16 through Saturday, May 22. Please take a moment during this week to thank the frontline workers who operate and maintain the city’s storm, sewer, and water systems, traffic and street lights, pavement and sidewalks, trees and landscaping, and the entire city fleet.

The Public Works Department also includes a division of engineers, surveyors, and technicians tasked with managing Capital Improvement Projects aimed at creating safer, more efficient streets and utility systems. The next time you see a public works employee in your neighborhood, feel free to wave and say a safely distanced hello!

Find out more about Public Works at www.BeavertonOregon.gov/publicworks.

Police Week is May 9-15

In 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation, which designated May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week in which that date falls as Police Week, to honor of the federal, state, and municipal officers who have been killed or disabled in the line of duty.

Every 57 hours a police officer will be killed in the line of duty somewhere in the United States. To honor all those in public safety who have sacrificed their lives to protect their communities, the Beaverton Police Department officers will wear mourning bands over their badges from Sunday, May 9 through Saturday, May 15.

Visit www.BeavertonPolice.org to find out more about the Beaverton Police Department.

Upcoming Special Election on May 18

With the election of Mayor Lacey Beaty, Beaverton City Council Position 1 became vacant effective Jan. 1. In January, the City Council adopted a resolution to fill the position through a special election to be held on May 18. This position is elected at-large to fill a partial term of office that expires Dec. 31, 2022.

The candidates running for City Council Position 1 are Andy J. Garcia, Ashley Hartmeier-Prigg and Jerome Sibayan.

To provide the community an opportunity to learn about the candidates, the Beaverton Committee for Community Involvement hosted a Virtual Voters’ Forum on Apr. 29. View it online at www.BeavertonOregon.gov/VotersForum.

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.

For more city news, visit www.BeavertonOregon.gov.