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OREGON CITY, Or. — The North Clackamas Parks and Recreation District (NCPRD) Board of Directors approved two intergovernmental agreements Thursday between the District and the City of Milwaukie.
For the last 18 months, the NCPRD Board and staff have been in discussions with the City of Milwaukie Council and staff to update the 2008 Cooperative IGA that governs the relationship between the two parties and finalize an IGA for $4.8 million to fund construction of Milwaukie Bay Park – Phase III and transfer operations and maintenance responsibility of the park to Milwaukie.
Chair Craig Roberts expressed his appreciation for the District Advisory Committee and its work, providing recommendations and feedback the NCPRD board could incorporate into the agreement. He also recognized the emotions involved between the two agencies during negotiations, and hopes the City of Milwaukie will agree to the terms of the IGA.
"I want to apologize to the Milwaukie City Council that this has taken so long," he said. "Most importantly, I want the Milwaukie City Council to know that we want to continue to work with the City, no matter what direction they want to pursue. Last week, the City Council chose to pursue separation from the District. I was really sad over that – that we’re really at this particular crossroad. I believe we’re really close with these IGAs … we’re closer than we’ve ever been. I’m a firm believer in sitting down to meet so we can get this over the finish line."
NCPRD Director Diana Helm echoed Roberts' sentiments about the negotiations being emotional.
"The people in Milwaukie want Milwaukie Bay Park," she said. "I get it. It’s beautiful now, and it can be even more stunning when it’s done. But at the same time, I recognized the scales were tipped in the favor of Milwaukie, and I was trying to balance those scales for the rest of the district, so that we can get some parks in the rest of NCPRD. I feel we’re getting there, and I feel this is movement forward so that they can get their park."
The cooperative agreement was "long overdue for an update," said NCPRD Director Paul Savas.
“This is really a matter of trying to make sure that the District is not compromised," he said. "The history of advancing projects in one part of the District at the detriment of the majority of the District, I think that’s been the historic concern.”
NCPRD Director Martha Schrader looked to the future, advocating for the District to come together and move forward.
"I think it’s time for the unincorporated area to get the parks that it needs," she said. “I also believe that this is not going to exclude the city of Milwaukie, long-term, getting the park it wants, as well. As one of the longer-serving commissioners on this board, I remember all the times we were building parks for the whole area ... I really do believe this parks district is better joined together - building parks for all the children and constituents in this area, because this is just an artificial boundary. Every park that we build in the unincorporated area and in the City of Milwaukie serves all the residents.”