Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Cornelius public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
13 issues in public safety
Washington County Police Services Contract Costs
Chief Coley reported steady crime numbers for the first four months of 2026 — 761 traffic stops, 1,213 public-demand calls, 260 arrests — and credited the sheriff's office for 400 hours of investigative help after last year's tragedy. DHS reports dropped 20% countywide.
Quarterly Police Report
Police Chief Mitch Coley will present the quarterly report on crime trends and department activity.
E-bike and mini-bike safety rules in the works
Police Chief Cole is drafting a municipal code covering e-bikes, e-scooters, and mini bikes, coordinated with Hillsboro and Forest Grove so rules match along the Council Creek Trail. New state age limits drop to 14 on January 1, 2027.
Family Peace Center services and survivor support
The Family Peace Center served 3,479 people in its first eight months in its new Hillsboro building, including 109 Cornelius residents — a 137% increase. The biggest gaps are permanent housing for survivors and dedicated elder abuse services. Cornelius residents can walk in 8:30–4 weekdays or call the 24-hour line.
Sanctuary law compliance and immigration enforcement
Council members spoke emotionally about ICE arrests in the community and elsewhere, urging residents to stay safe, use the city's resource website, consider signing up with Equity Corps of Oregon, and call 988 in a mental health crisis.
County public safety levy, jail expansion and courthouse replacement
Commissioner Jerry Willey previewed three big county projects: a 2027 public safety levy for unincorporated Washington County, a jail expansion (the county has the smallest per-capita jail in Oregon), and a courthouse replacement that could cost around $1 billion by the 2030s.
Natural hazard mitigation planning cost share
Cornelius adopted its first standalone emergency playbook, replacing the plan it once shared with Forest Grove, clarifying who does what during floods, wildfires, and other disasters.
Geographic equity of homeless services in Washington County
Mayor Dalin pressed county officials on why western Washington County — Cornelius, Hillsboro, eastern Forest Grove — hosts a dense cluster of homeless services while affluent areas like Bethany and Cedar Hills have none. He asked what Cornelius's 'fair share' is and floated restructuring a future supportive housing measure to distribute funds directly to cities.
Youth gun violence and community violence reduction
The sheriff's community violence reduction team pulled over 210 guns off county streets in a year, including 11 from juveniles, with adults arming kids to dodge harsher penalties. Councilors asked how the city can partner, including e-bike safety outreach and school-based youth services officers.
Supportive Housing Services Funding Model Debate
Mayor Dalin described regional debate over the metro supportive housing services tax, with cities arguing money should flow directly to cities rather than through counties. He noted street counts haven't improved since pre-COVID despite billions spent, and cited the shelter sited next to Walmart without city collaboration.
Wildland fire deployment agreement
The renewed ODF agreement lets city personnel, including Fire Chief Morris, deploy with the state's Type 1 incident management team on wildfires and other major incidents — with the state reimbursing 100% of payroll and vehicle costs.
Traffic and Pedestrian Safety in Construction Zones
With bulb-out construction and heavy pedestrian activity, council members urged drivers to slow down — the corridor past Coastal is 35 mph, not 55 — after several recent accidents.
911 Connectivity Failure Concern
A resident said police are minimally staffed and Forest Grove Fire often answers Cornelius calls, and 230 more homes will strain both. Staff noted the city's public facility plan is outdated and will be revisited in the comprehensive plan update.