Bull Mountain resists city control — again

By Christina Cooke

The Times, Apr 9, 2009, Updated Oct 30, 2009 (6 Reader comments)

The dispute over how to accommodate the population growth expected in Washington County over the next few decades rages on.

Bull Mountain residents involved in the Citizen Participation Organization presented a resolution to Washington County commissioners in late March that opposes an agreement the county’s Urbanization Forum passed in December. The agreement, currently in draft form, would give cities control over all future additions to the Urban Growth Boundary, or the line separating urban from rural land.

The CPO resolution states the agreement “sets a dangerous precedent that is potentially detrimental to all residents and property owners in the unincorporated areas.”

Julie Russell, a resident of unincorporated Bull Mountain and chairperson of the CPO, said she’s not convinced cities are the best providers of urban services.

“They’re more expensive, and they add a layer of government bureaucracy to something we may not be interested in,” she said.

Russell said she’s happy with the service the county sheriff’s department currently provides her neighborhood, and she’s not interested in paying more to be served by the Tigard Police Department.

City leaders contend, however, that cities are indeed the best providers of services.

“Counties are not set up to provide urban services,” said Tigard City Manager Craig Prosser. “It’s not their function.”

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