The Oregon City Commission voted May 16 to approve a 25‑year lease with the Oregon Department of Transportation that will allow the city to use property beneath the I‑205 Abernathy Bridge as part of the John Storm Park parking plan.

City staff presented the lease as a critical piece of the John Storm Park master plan that avoids placing parking in limited city‑owned space. Mr. Archer, the staff presenter, said the lease "is an arrangement that had been previously worked out with ODOT" and that the city is moving into construction and bid documents for the project.

Staff described the financial terms in the presentation: "The lease fee that the city will pay is $365.5 a month or $43.86 for the first year. Annually thereafter, it will be adjusted by a consumer price index type of an inflationary factor," Archer said in the staff report to the commission. The lease runs for 25 years with two 5‑year renewal options; staff said the lease payments will be paid from park SDCs and park development funds tied to John Storm Park.

Commissioners asked whether ODOT could reclaim the space for highway work if needed; staff said the lease contains provisions that allow ODOT limited rights for its work with notice to the city, but that staff does not anticipate such use being frequent. The commission approved the lease 5–0.

Speakers quoted: Mr. Archer (staff presenter).

Why this matters: Securing ODOT property for park parking supports the city's long‑planned John Storm Park construction and reduces constraints on municipal park design; committing to a long‑term lease ties a capital project to a recurring lease obligation paid from system development charges.

Ending: Staff will proceed with finalizing lease paperwork and incorporate the site into the John Storm Park construction schedule.

Topic primary: parks