The Truth About the Boat Ramp Project (Hint, there is no expansion)
Just recently I started noticing some yard signs for the other candidates stating that they are now for repairing the boat dock. This is after years and years of being opposed to repairing the boat dock and wanting to limit or shut it down.
Why the change of tune now?
Why the flip-flopping?
Is this a desperate attempt to attract voters now that they understand what it means to the voters?
What are they telling voters to have them believe they will actually support meaningful and timely boat ramp repairs?
Rivergrove residents deserve a straight answer about the Stark boat ramp, and most of the answer is in the public record. The city council packet from December 9, 2024, lays out the details of the grant.
The project is a repair. Nothing beyond that.
Critics and litigants against the project have said or insinuated that this project will expand the current footprint of the boat ramp. This is false as the engineering drawings in the council packet clearly show the city removing part of the existing concrete ramp and rebuilding it with a cast-in-place section and precast planks.
Another thing that some opponents are saying is the that the city wants to expand the ramp into the river. This is also false. The ramp will go into the river 10 ft because THAT IS ORIGINALLY WHAT IT WAS PERMITTED FOR before it started going into disrepair over the years. In fact, the original permit allowed the ramp to be permitted to go further but the city only asked for a permit for 10 ft into the river.
Funding is from Metro. Secured by the City Manager. Voted for approval unanimously (including SILBER)
The money is a $229,789 allocation from Metro's 2019 Parks and Nature Bond Local Share program, a voter-approved regional bond. This is a bond that Rivergrove residents pay into – these are our tax dollars. The agreement limits those funds to capital costs on the approved project list. The city cannot use funds to acquire any land.
There is no viable alternative site for the Boat Ramp.
The opponents and CCR PAC have claimed that there is an alternative site for the boat ramp. This is false. The city had the Oregon Marine Board evaluate Heritage Park and it found the site unusable for a boat ramp. The current location is the only viable location for access to the Tualatin River for over 150+ Rivergrove households.
Condition of the Boat Ramp Creates More Potential Liability for the City and its Residents
The ramp's condition is also a safety question. Its surface has deteriorated to the point where the bottom lip of the ramp is buckled up and it's hard to safely launch anything but a kayak or paddleboard. A public facility in that condition creates liability for the city, and any settlement would be paid with public money. Leaving the ramp as it is does not keep anyone safe. It leaves the risk in place.
Some of the opposition has come from people who once backed this project. Silber, who voted to approve the grant as a councilor, later came out against the ramp. People can change their minds on issues, but they should explain what changed.
The fact that the Concerned Citizens of Rivergrove (CCR) PAC now have signs saying they support repairing the ramp is dubious as well. These are the same people who knowingly bought a house and live next to the boat ramp. So, I find it hard to believe that after all these years of fighting to have it shut down that they would suddenly have a change of heart. Readers can compare their current stance with CCR's earlier statements and actions and judge for themselves. What may have changed is that they now realize how important of an issue is for voters. This is hypocrisy and political pandering at its greatest.
Repairing a ramp the city already owns, with money residents approved through a regional bond that Rivergrove residents paid into, is common sense. The question for voters is whether the work gets done. I will work with anyone to ensure this boat ramp is repaired.
Brett Egusa
