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Welcome to Oak Lodge
The Oak Lodge Governance Project (OLGP) exists to explore the future of local governance for the unincorporated, urban communities of Oak Grove and Jennings Lodge, Oregon (located between the cities of Milwaukie and Gladstone). Currently, the only elected officials charged with comprehensive planning for the area are the five Clackamas County commissioners, who are elected at large from across a county larger than the state of Rhode Island. We question whether this is enough direct representation to effectively govern our area. The OLGP steering committee believes that discussions about our area’s future need to be grounded in facts and data. We have created a foundation for those conversations by commissioning a research study on economics and governance options conducted by ECONorthwest, which you can read here.
How we got here
In spring 2020, members of the Oak Lodge Governance Project Steering Committee submitted a grant to Metro Regional Government outlining the following desires for the future of our community:
Sustainable prosperity: To create a community that works for every member of our area requires holistic thinking regarding the interrelationship between land use, transportation, employment, and self governance. Antiquated zoning regulations currently inhibit the creation of needed housing and employment opportunities, and thwarts the maximum benefit from transportation options. Updates are needed to respond to both current realities and anticipated future requirements. Stewardship of the area’s natural environment increases the quality of life and protects property values. Diversifying and supporting the local economy boosts current area businesses and encourages the creation of new businesses. Self governance will provide the detailed knowledge, focus, and attention required to balance the area’s unique needs to ensure for the well-being and long term resilience for the entire community.
Equity: For too long, too many in our community have been left out of the decision making processes that determine the day to day qualities of our community. The time has come to do better and to deliberately design and update our systems to support those who have historically been marginalized. This requires thinking beyond the status quo and showing up in our community for racial justice, economic justice, and the sustainability of our natural environment allowing for more equitable distribution of resources and prosperity for all.
Community engagement: Community engagement is the foundation of all community building and the way to develop pride and identity for the area. Any decisions regarding the future of Oak Lodge can only be made with the input of the broader community. Any change in governance for the area will only take place with extensive and comprehensive communication involving residents, businesses, and property owners. Different parts of Oak Lodge may seek different solutions to the unique issues each area faces. Part of the area might desire to annex into an adjoining city, another part may seek to incorporate, or perhaps have no change to local governance and remain as is, as part of unincorporated Clackamas County. Robust, inclusive community engagement is the way forward.
Where we hope to go
We value bringing community together, grounded in factual information, to have robust discussions through broad engagement as to whether or not our current government structure is the best path forward. We believe it is critical to empower the community to make decisions about its own future, especially as our society begins to more equitably manage the needs of the population influx projected for the next two decades.
The EcoNorthwest research study provides an analysis of three models of governance: annexation of the entire area into Milwaukie, incorporating the entire area into a new city, and maintaining the current, unincorporated status quo. The research data produced allows for a granular examination and exploration of the pros and cons of the economic realities of each of the three scenarios.
While these three scenarios are not exclusively the only path forward (the outcome of our discussions may result in a combination of all three), they are a starting place to evaluate options.
While we expect this report to provide answers, we also expect it to raise questions. It may even raise more questions than it answers, and we will need to cycle through an additional process to seek additional answers. Frankly, this may need to be done a few times before our community can be ready to make a collective decision. We don’t know what we don’t know, and we need to start somewhere. So, we’re starting here, with this first study, as a big step towards earnest, factually-supported conversations about how we, all of us, collectively design the future of Oak Lodge.
Our Achievements
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Our Pricing
$200Per / Year
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$250Per / Year
Standard
Provide Written Statements
Assist in Case Development
Testify at a Deposition and/or Trial
Prepare Demonstrative Evidence
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$300Per / Year
Premium
Provide Written Statements
Assist in Case Development
Testify at a Deposition and/or Trial
Prepare Demonstrative Evidence
Obtain Other Expert Witnesses
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