Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Cornelius public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
33 issues with medium priority
Proposed Purchase and Sale Agreement (Resolution No. 2026-04)
The urban renewal agency is considering buying or selling property under Resolution No. 2026-04. Urban renewal spending affects tax increment funds that would otherwise flow to schools, fire, and other taxing districts — so this purchase matters to every Cornelius taxpayer.
Public Records Request Policy and Fees
First update since 2008: new tiered fees ($50/$75/$100 per hour), 30 free minutes, and a required request form that filters out mass data-mining requests from big companies while keeping local access easy.
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.
Water Reservoir Assessment
The city manager will share an informational memo on the condition of the city's water reservoirs — key infrastructure for drinking water and fire protection.
Public Records Request Policy & Fees
The council will hold a public hearing and consider a new policy on how the city handles public records requests and what it charges. Fees and response rules affect anyone seeking city documents.
Pavement Management Update
The council gets a work-session briefing on street conditions and repaving priorities — a preview of which roads may get fixed and when.
Quarterly Police Report
Police Chief Mitch Coley will present the quarterly report on crime trends and department activity.
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.
League of Oregon Cities legislative priorities
The council weighed in on which five of 27 state legislative priorities the League should pursue, favoring local right-of-way control, land-use streamlining, prevailing wage reform, the 2027 transportation package — and, after discussion, swapping infrastructure funding for administrative rules reform.
Comcast cable franchise renewal
After a roughly four-year renewal process, the city locked in a new 10-year Comcast cable franchise through June 2036, covering public education and government TV channels and network services.
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.
Library Piping and HVAC Problems at Newest Building
The library, the city's newest building, has leak issues traced to a type of piping known for failures, plus an HVAC system the consultant says tends to fail before its expected life. The building is still under a ten-year warranty and the city is coordinating with its HOA on an investigation.
Civic Leadership Academy Findings on Community Engagement
Applications are open for the second cohort of the city's Civic Leadership Academy, running in April with a June presentation to council. Councilor Nunez-Barragan, a graduate of the first class, urged residents to apply.
Metro Local Share Nature Grant for Community Projects
The city is applying to Bee City USA, a $200-a-year program committing Cornelius to pollinator-friendly planting, pesticide reduction, and education, overseen by the Public Infrastructure Advisory Board.
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.
Enterprise zone expiring — Forest Grove partnership decision ahead
Mayor Dalin reported that mayors pushed back on Metro's move into economic development, saying constrained industrial land is costing the region big employers. He argued the region needs large sites and economic diversity to keep family-wage jobs.
Public Health Petition
Neighbors in Cornelius are petitioning the city over lead paint hazards near a daycare and playground. It’s a kid-safety issue, and the city could be pushed to step in with inspections or cleanup. If you live nearby or have kids there, this is worth watching.
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.
Comprehensive Plan Rewrite with PSU
The city will partner with Portland State University students and faculty to help update the Comprehensive Plan using an $85,000 state grant — a low-cost way to tackle a big planning job.
Recycling Contamination Reduction IGA
The state's new program makes producers pay to reduce recycling contamination. Cornelius gets $43,470, split between county education staff and Evergreen Disposal for labels, multilingual materials, and multifamily outreach.
Regional accessory dwelling unit (ADU) education partnership
The city is teaming up with Forest Grove and other neighbors to run workshops helping homeowners build ADUs — safe extra housing on existing property. First workshop is in Forest Grove in May, then Cornelius in June.
Drake Learning Center Access
The library's hands-on maker lab with 3D printers and laser cutters has been paused since February over liability and air-quality worries. Staff updated waivers, training, and safety protocols, and the lab should reopen by mid-April with better staffing thanks to county library funding.
FY 2025 City Audit Results
The city got a clean audit, but spending ran over budget in two places — about $32,000 in the general fund and $44,000 in the urban renewal agency. No state action is required.
New low-income utility and solid waste relief programs
Qualifying households can now get utility bill relief verified through either Centro Cultural or Salvation Army, and a new program cuts solid waste rates 50% for two years for households at 185% of the federal poverty level.
Discretionary community contributions policy
The city spends roughly $60,000 a year on memberships, grants, and galas with no written criteria. Councilors want value breakdowns, tiered funding, and performance measures like event attendance and leveraged donations, with a future Budget Committee discussion.
Vacating South 29th Boulevard for housing and a future school
Vacating the never-built 29th right-of-way returns about five acres to development, including a quarter of the site planned for a new Hillsboro School District school. Councilor Vaughn flagged making sure streets are sized for school buses.
School district surplus land and school capacity
Hillsboro School District decided it doesn't need all this land for schools and is selling part to a homebuilder, planning an elementary rather than the high school many residents wanted. Testifiers said Glencoe and Evergreen are already overcrowded.
19th & Davis roundabout crash data
Deputy Brian Appel reported that crashes near the 19th and Davis roundabout haven't increased since it was built, even with the busy new plaza nearby. Once considered one of the city's most dangerous intersections, it appears safer now.
Urban Renewal Agency first annual report
The urban renewal fund produced about $634,000 in 2025 and the city has bought properties like the former gas station and Grande Foods site. The fund is now mature enough to borrow against for new projects — that money shapes what gets built downtown.
Urban Planning Area Agreement with Washington County
The council replaced a 1988 agreement with Washington County governing how the city and county plan land inside the urban growth boundary, coordinate on projects, and handle annexations and street standards.
City Councilor Controversy
A Cornelius city councilor who’s also a local teacher is under fire for celebrating Charlie Kirk’s death online. The backlash has turned into a real question about whether they can—or should—keep serving on the council.
Council Member Controversy
A Cornelius city council member is under fire for social media posts celebrating Charlie Kirk’s death. The backlash could lead to formal council action or a censure vote, so it’s worth watching if you care about local politics and public conduct.