City of West Linn Will Not Pursue New Bond Measure to Purchase Oppenlander Property, Will Evaluate Public-Private Partnership

WEST LINN, OR – February 25, 2025 – After careful consideration and extensive discussion, including public meetings on February 18 and February 25 which followed years of dialogue between City Council and community stakeholders, the City Council has decided not to pursue a new bond measure this May to cover the increased cost of purchasing the Oppenlander Property from the West Linn-Wilsonville School District. This unanimous decision comes after a serious consideration of the City’s present realities, including an uncertain economic climate, the very short timeline requested by the School District, and the increased asking price of $7.875 million—all of which must be responsibly weighed against the City’s many existing budget and Council priorities. Instead of a new bond measure, the City will actively pursue a compromise in the form of a public-private partnership (such as purchasing a portion of the property to remain a park rather than all ten acres).

Each member of Council spoke frankly—and at times, emotionally—to the community, emphasizing the difficulty of this decision. Many had their own personal or familial connections to the field. Councilor Leo Groner set the tone with his opening statement: “Everybody on this Council wants to keep Oppenlander. The question is how to do it thoughtfully.”

“This does not signal the end of our attempts to purchase Oppenlander,” Councilor Kevin Bonnington insisted. “This does not need to be the only answer.”

Mayor Rory Bialostosky expressed concern about previous bond measures for critical services that failed, such as the Abernethy Bridge pipeline from the 2022 ballot. “As mayor, I need to have reasonable confidence that the community would support a bond measure before putting it on the ballot, and I don’t have that confidence.”

Councilor Bryck echoed the concerns about needed repairs to other basic infrastructure in West Linn: “Oppenlander would not mean as much if we don’t have water in our faucets.”

Council President Mary Baumgardner said, “We care about this property, and we care about all of you.” She added, “It’s not fair to ask taxpayers to pay developer prices. This is a conversation about wants, needs, and means.”

 The City will not pursue an increased bond measure in May due to several key considerations:

• Budget Constraints: The City’s budget is already allocated to critical basic services and infrastructure, but many capital needs are currently unfunded. Tens of millions of dollars are needed for drinking water lines, construction of sidewalks and safe crossings near schools, and replacement of existing aging park infrastructure.
• Capital Improvements: The improvements necessary to make the Oppenlander property ADA accessible and usable (such as restrooms, parking, play structures, and pathways), could cost over $2.5 million. Time is too short to have a real community conversation about what type of improvements are desired and how to fund them.
• Fiscal Sustainability: Annual maintenance and operation expenses of the property could cost over $110,000, with no identified funding source. This does not align with the City’s commitment to long-term fiscal sustainability. This would place a strain on future budgets and require the Parks Department to reduce maintenance and upkeep on existing parks.

The City recognizes the value of the Oppenlander Property stretches well beyond recreation; it has a special place in the community’s heart. This is why the City will thoroughly investigate public-private partnerships and any other creative idea that would keep at least some of this property in public ownership while keeping City costs limited to the already-approved $3.5 million.

The City has a duty to responsible stewardship of taxpayers’ resources and strives to make careful, informed, and at times difficult decisions, to ensure West Linn remains a vibrant and thriving community for generations to come.

For more information about the history of the Oppenlander property case, visit our website. Please direct questions and comments to Community Relations Coordinator Danielle Choi at dchoi@westlinnoregon.gov or 971-303-1236.