2022 Public Survey: Capital Infrastructure Funding Projects
results:
The results of the City’s Capital Infrastructure Funding Survey are in! The survey closed on June 10 with 1,586 responses received.
Download the full report, or check out our brief interactive visualization here (tap or hover cursor over sections for details).
Trends show significant community support to fund the I-205 Abernethy Bridge water line replacement as well as other needed upgrades to the City’s aging water system. The survey showed lack of support for a bond measure for a new indoor recreation center or Public Works Operations center, and respondents were also relatively less supportive of the City funding replacement of street trees damaged from the 2021 ice storm.
This preliminary survey provided very little detailed information on these projects and was just intended as a broad first touch to gauge citizen awareness and position on these issues. To participate in future surveys, subscribe at https://polco.us/westlinn
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Background:
The West Linn City Council would like to hear your thoughts on several major projects that will be underway or under consideration within the next 1-5 years. Because these are currently unfunded, the City is conducting a public survey beginning on May 14th to help Council identify which projects are budgetary priorities for the public.
You may be invited to participate either through a link on this webpage (or social media), or through a postcard in the mail with a unique link. Your input is valued and appreciated, but please limit responses to one per person to help us gather the most accurate data. Your responses are confidential and will be reported in groups rather than individually. After you submit the survey, you will have the option to subscribe to participate in future surveys from the City.
For most of these projects, the exact funding source and budgets have not yet been finalized, but we can provide ballpark costs. We are interested in your initial thoughts for each of these projects to help us prioritize and plan. More details will be shared and more input will be sought as they are further framed out.
[Survey is now closed--thank you for participating!]
Major Unfunded Capital Needs Projects:
Abernethy (I-205) Bridge Water Line Replacement
West Linn receives its entire water supply via a pipe under the I-205 Bridge. This pipe must be replaced at West Linn’s expense when the State replaces the bridge (expected to begin in 2022). The City will seek funding assistance from the State and Federal Government for this project; however, West Linn’s cost could be as much as $14 million. West Linn voters will likely see a bond measure in November 2022 for this expense. If the measure does not pass, the money will come from deferring water maintenance activities on West Linn’s water system. This could lead to increased problems with breaks and leaks as our system ages. The cost of a $14 million bond would be approximately $84/year for the owner of a home of average assessed value.
Ice Storm-Damaged Tree Replacement
Over 1,600 street trees were lost in the February 2021 ice storm, and the cost to grind out stumps and plant new trees is estimated to total approximately $2 million. Property owners are currently responsible for these costs, but the City Council is considering a citywide funding measure to assist these owners in recognition of the scope of the damage and to ensure a coordinated, cost-effective approach. The cost of a $2 million bond would be approximately $12/year for the owner of a home of average assessed value. Read more about this issue here, or watch a relevant Council meeting here.
Citywide Water System Repairs/Line Replacements
A new water system master plan is being completed, including an assessment of the aging infrastructure. It is expected that significant repairs and replacements will be needed to ensure a safe, reliable drinking water network across the City. The master plan will be competed in 2023, but initial estimates suggest that $10-$20 million will be needed to address the highest priority drinking water system repairs and upgrades (about $60-$120/year for the owner of a home of average assessed value).
City Public Works & Parks Operations Facility
West Linn’s Operations facility is currently located in a residential area on Norfolk Street in the Sunset Neighborhood. The facility could be relocated to a site along Highway 205 on land acquired from the Oregon Department of Transportation. A new facility would be better placed, adequately sized, seismically resilient, and allow for updated amenities to help staff better serve the community. It would also remove the conflicts with surrounding neighborhood residents. The initial estimate for a project several years in the future is $15 million, and about half of the funding has been identified. A $7.5 million bond for the remainder would cost approximately $45/year for the owner of a home of average assessed value.
Indoor Community Recreation Center
The City currently has a mix of buildings for indoor recreational activities. Two are managed by the City (Adult Community Center and Sunset Fire Hall) while two are operated by local non-profits (McLean House and Robinwood Station). None of these facilities provide large flexible spaces, as are available in some traditional recreation centers. An indoor recreation center could be built on City-owned property, potentially on Parker Road adjacent to Tanner Creek Park. Similar projects in other cities have ranged from $20 to $40 million or more. The current estimate for a West Linn Indoor Community Recreation Center is $25 million or approximately $150/year for the owner of a home of average assessed value.
