Week of 6/22/20
Board approves FY 2020-21 Road Maintenance Program
The FY 2020-21 Road Maintenance Program was approved by the Washington County Board of Commissioners during its regular meeting on June 16.

The program outlines the Department of Land Use & Transportation (LUT) road maintenance activities. Highlights include:

  • 17.3 miles of contracted paving
  • 1.6 miles of contracted shoulder widening
  • 17.9 miles of contracted slurry seal
  • 15 bridges for contracted deck maintenance 
  • 13.4 miles of chip seal
  • 11 roads for machine patch paving
  • 7 major contracted culvert replacements
  • 28.6 miles of contracted surface stabilization

The focus of the program is preventative maintenance. These treatments extend the lives of roads and save tax dollars. Over time, it is less expensive to maintain pavement than reconstruct it when it fails. Work will be performed by private contractors, as well as county crews.

“We take great pride in maintaining reliable and safe roadways for all travelers,” said Todd Watkins, LUT Operations and Maintenance Division Manager. “The Road Maintenance Program enables us to thoughtfully address specific projects and activities this upcoming fiscal year.”
LUT fee changes effective July 1
LUT is implementing changes to building permit and development fees effective July 1, 2020. The changes involve phased fee increases and assessment of “convenience fees” charged by major credit card companies for online payments.

Unlike many area jurisdictions, both LUT Building Services and Current Planning operate on a cost-recovery basis – meaning that these work groups’ activities are supported entirely by fees for service. These cost-recovery fee changes are necessary to maintain operations. The Board of County Commissioners opted to phase in the fee increases to help mitigate the financial impact on our customers. For a complete list of LUT fee increases, visit the Washington County Fiscal Year 2020-21 Fee Schedule (pages 13-31).

Building Services fees
Most Building Services fees will increase 2.5% effective July 1; and an additional 2.5% effective Jan. 1, 2021.

Current Planning fees
Current Planning fee increases vary. While most are increasing a minimum of 2.5% on July 1 and an additional 2.5% effective Jan. 1, other targeted increases are also being implemented to achieve cost recovery. These increases are also being phased in—half effective July 1 and half on Jan. 1.

Changes to online payments
Effective July 1, 2020, online payments will include assessment of “convenience fees” charged by major credit card companies, as follows:

  • Online credit card payments (VISA, MasterCard, Discover): Average 2.45% of costs (minimum $1.50) 
  • Electronic bank checks: Flat service fee of 95¢ (Customer’s bank must allow electronic checks; routing and account numbers must be correct, or a return check charge may be applied by the bank.)
  • Paper checks submitted via U.S. Mail: No fee
Save the date: July 9 Get Moving 2020 Listening Session
A virtual listening session on the proposed Get Moving 2020 regional transportation funding measure is scheduled for Washington County at 5:30 p.m. July 9.

Metro Council members are hosting listening sessions to hear from the community before they decide to put the proposed measure on the November ballot. Additional listening sessions are scheduled in Clackamas County, East Multnomah County and Multnomah County/Portland.

Listening sessions will be accessible by phone and video conference, and interpretation will be available. The agenda, log-in information and sign-up instructions to provide comments will be available here.

The Get Moving 2020 package calls for comprehensive improvements to address traffic and safety on 16 of the Portland area’s most dangerous and congested corridors. It creates dedicated funding for programs to make ongoing investments across the region.  More information
PROPOSED LAND USE ORDINANCES
Comment on the proposed Ordinance No. 864: Breweries and Cideries. The second public hearing is 10 a.m. July 21 before the Washington County Board of Commissioners.

Official communications on ordinances must be received in writing or provided at a hearing. Written testimony must include the author(s)' name, address and phone number and may submitted via email, fax, during a hearing or by U.S. Mail: Washington County Long Range Planning, 155 N First Ave., Suite 350, MS14, Hillsboro, OR 97124-3072. Learn more
OPEN HOUSE
WC-ROADS HIGHLIGHTS
Road closures
  • 74th Avenue, between Landau Street and Taylors Ferry Road, through June 30 for for installation of the Tualatin Valley Water District Metzger North South Transmission Main.
  • Blanton Street, between 193rd and 196th avenues, through July 21 for pipeline installation.
  • Elwert/Kruger Road and Sunset Boulevard, between Elwert and Kruger roads and Hwy 99W, closed through June 30, for construction of the Elwert/Kruger roundabout project. Access closed between Elwert/Kruger roads and Highway 99W. Elwert and Kruger roads will remain open to traffic with lane closures. Detour map
  • Grabhorn Road, between SW Tile Flat Road and Stonecreek Drive, through June 29, for installation of the Willamette Water Supply System Scholls Area Pipeline. Detour
  • West Union Road, between Jackson School and Glecoe roads, through June 26, for road construction.
Lane closures
  • First Avenue (OR-219), between Baseline Street (OR-8) and Oak Street (OR-8), through summer. Lane closures all hours; two-lane closure 10 p.m.-5 a.m. weekdays. Traffic may be stopped for up to 20 minutes. Intersection improvements by Oregon Department of Transportation. Map
  • 198th Avenue, between Farmington Road and Tualatin Valley Highway, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. weekdays intermittently through Dec. 31. Map
  • 209th Avenue, at Butternut Creek Parkway/Parker Court, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. weekdays intermittently through July 17. Map
  • Barnes Road, between Valeria View Drive and SW Lois Lane, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. through June 26, for construction related to Peterkort parking lot. Map
  • Glencoe Road, between NE Lenox and NE Cory streets, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. through Aug. 14, for road improvements by MEI Moore Excavation Map
  • Jenkins Road, between 158th Avenue and Murray Boulevard, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. weekdays through Dec. 31. Map
  • Johnson Street, between Jasmine Place and 178th Avenue, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. weekdays through Sept. 8. Map
  • Kaiser Road, between Brugger Road and Ridgeline Street, intermittent daytime lane closures, through June 30, for construction related to development project. Map
  • Roy Rogers Road, between Scholls Ferry and Bull Mountain roads, daytime traffic signal shutdowns and speed reductions. through Dec. 31, 2021. Map
  • Scholls Ferry Road, between Strobel Road and 175th Avenue, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. through June 26 (extended), for utility work by NEI. Map
  • Scotch Church Road over McKay Creek, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. intermittent, weekdays through June 30, for construction. Map
NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS
Neighborhood meetings, required for many Washington County development applications, can be held online temporarily as per the new COVID-19 Virtual Neighborhood Meeting Supplement. The temporary supplemental policy is in effect for the duration of Gov. Kate Brown's "Stay Home. Save Lives" executive order..
July 1 - Proposed 2-parcel partition
At 6 p.m. held virtually ( instructions available here). The property is 0.35 acre in the R-6 District (Residential 5-6 units per acre) and is located at 2280 NW 111th Avenue. Contact Mathew Newman at 503-601-4401 or mattn@nw-eng.com.

CPO 1; District 2
Cindy Remy | Senior Communication Specialist//PIO

Washington County Department of Land Use & Transportation

1400 SW Walnut St., MS 51 | Hillsboro, OR 97123

503-846-7696 direct | 971-329-5827 mobile