A new library? Reducing speed limits? What does the Lake Oswego government have in store for 2024?

With the Lake Oswego City Council Goal Setting Session taking place this past weekend, Mayor Joe Buck shed light on what the council has planned for the coming year during an interview.

The council’s agenda includes strategizing a new library location, reducing residential speed limits and more.

Council wants new library location

Though the local government had looked into various ideas for how to bolster library services in town, including adding an auxiliary library or expanding the current facility, Buck said the council has zeroed in on replacing the current library with a new one in an area that’s more accessible.

Buck said that expansion at the current library would be challenging and that it is difficult to access for many residents. Therefore the city wants to move it to a location that’s more convenient to a greater portion of the community.

“We are going to work with partners this year to identify a new location and a funding strategy,” he said.

Reducing the speed limit

One of the council’s biggest priorities since Buck became mayor has been increasing pedestrian safety. The council passed a street maintenance fee increase last year so that it can more quickly tackle the dozens of projects it has planned. This year, the council aims to reduce the speed limit of residential roads from 25 mph to 20.

“While we don't have a lot of accidents that take place — pedestrian and car accidents — there’s a lot of people who don't feel safe. We’re trying to create a safer environment that’s accessible to road users of all types,” Buck said.

Shepherding existing projects

Ushering in the continuance and completion of existing projects — like the Lake Oswego Recreation and Aquatic Center, finding a new partner for a new wastewater treatment plant, completing Rassekh Park and finalizing the North Anchor hotel and mixed-use development project — are among the council’s top initiatives.

“LORAC, it’s a big project for the city — not just the size and significance of bringing that big of a facility online but also increasing staff. It’s a huge change for the parks department. They’re adding a chunk of folks to run that facility and so, even culturally in the department, there’s going to be a lot taking place. It will be important for that to stay as a primary focus,” Buck said.

Further, the city will continue planning work to complete its Housing Production Strategy — the goal being to have enough new units planned in the next 20 years to meet expected growth — and its Urban Community Forest Plan that will establish ways to protect the natural environment and possibly update the tree code.

“The goal is for us to set targeted approaches for the tree code based on information from the community forest plan. We’re waiting for that to be complete before having that discussion,” Buck said.

Leaf blowers

In preparation for goal setting, the city received many comments about gas-powered leaf blowers. Buck said that though the council did not create a goal around this issue, it is something the city is closely monitoring. He added that the city will pay close attention to how Portland addresses the topic.

“We’re continuing work on how we engage and educate residents on renewable energy sources,” Buck added.

Finances and other matters

After prices for infrastructure projects skyrocketed in recent years and bond funding dried up, the council plans to oversee a comprehensive look at revenues and expenditures this year.

Buck also noted that the city has worked more closely with the Lake Oswego Chamber of Commerce, and will continue to do so with the hope of providing a more stable funding source for businesses in need of relief.

“It’s important we take care of the many businesses we currently have,” he said.

Buck said the council did not talk much about policy issues related to the storm or revisiting the Chapter X charter amendment that limited development at local parks.

The city government will bring forth about 20 goals for the council to finalize at a subsequent meeting.

“The council continues to operate in a very collaborative manner. The councilors reflected on that yesterday at the end of goal setting: the way we work together is one of ways we can be so effective moving forward. It is a huge thanks and credit to both the staff and the city who do an outstanding job. The level of competence is through the roof. The care and integrity is just excellent,” Buck said.