Council Corner
Council Corner
Looking Forward in the New Year
In November, Bond Measure 3-626 to fund the construction of a community center in Happy Valley failed to pass. As City Council it is our responsibility to determine how we move forward.
During our December City Council work session, we met to discuss the various options and provide direction on next steps. Over the course of the next several months, City staff will focus on three opportunities:
Finalize the design for a new community park
One of the top requested amenities in Happy Valley has been another large Community Park. The City has received this feedback multiple times via surveys and public engagement efforts over the last several years. More specifically, residents have asked for a new park that includes all-weather turf fields, pickleball courts, tennis courts, basketball courts, playgrounds, picnic shelters, and an amphitheater to host the City’s ever-growing events. In response, the City purchased 40 acres of property east of the roundabout at Scouters Mountain Road and 172nd Avenue. The original plan called for a phased approach, with phase one focused on the construction of the Happy Valley Community Center and phase two focused on the building out of the community park. While the bond measure for the community center failed to pass, the City can still move forward with finalizing the design for the park with the goal of breaking ground in the summer of 2027. Funding will come from existing City resources and no additional tax measures are planned to fund the community park.
Explore potential public-private partnerships to build a community center type facility
As many longtime residents know, prior City led outreach also indicated that building a community center was a top priority, along with the community park. Although the bond measure to fund the community center failed to pass, we will continue to explore whether there is an opportunity to partner with private entities to build a facility. City staff have been in talks with various organizations over the years but will renew those efforts and if there is interest, they will potentially put out a Request for Qualifications to ensure there is an open and competitive process for selecting a private partner.
Seek feedback from residents about why Bond Measure 3-626 failed
Lastly, we would like to learn more from residents about why the bond measure to construct the Happy Valley Community Center failed. City staff will be developing a plan and conducting community outreach focused on gathering that information. Stay tuned for more information on how you can participate.
