The Philomath City Council will consider releasing an updated request for proposals for the city-owned property at 14th and Main streets and receive an update on the 20th Street affordable housing project when it meets at 7 p.m. Monday at Philomath City Hall.
City Manager Chris Workman is recommending that the council shift to a design-build delivery method for the 14th Street mixed-use development and release an open RFP to attract a team capable of handling both design and construction. The city had previously identified two qualified teams through an earlier RFQ/RFP process, but neither firm is currently in a position to submit a proposal or commit to the project.
Workman said that process nonetheless helped the city sharpen its vision for the property, which now calls for a mixed-use building with dedicated commercial space on the first floor and two to three upper stories combining long-term apartment rentals with a short-term boutique hotel. Under the proposed timeline, the updated RFP would go out this month with development team proposals due by mid-November.
On the affordable housing front, Daniel DiFrancesco of Commonwealth Development Corporation is scheduled to update the council on funding and the state grant cycle for the 20th Street project at 1917 Main St. The city entered into an exclusive negotiating agreement with Commonwealth in September 2025 and Workman has twice extended that agreement while a purchase-sale agreement is negotiated. According to agenda documents, the delay largely reflects the long wait for state funding tied to the proposed low-income housing development, and a final draft of the purchase-sale agreement and its restrictive covenant is expected to come before the council next month.
The council will also hold a public hearing on renaming Bullback Street to Head Rig Street, with a first reading of the renaming ordinance to follow.
Councilors are set to issue a proclamation recognizing health equity, a topic that has taken on a personal dimension at City Hall this fall — Councilor Rich Saalsaa has been taking part in Walk USA for Health Equity, a roughly 760-mile walk from Bozeman, Montana, to Seattle that runs through Sept. 24.
In other business, the council will consider appointing one of four applicants — Spencer Adams, Carly Fredericks, Ahren Harris or Lingy Koch — to fill a vacancy on the Planning Commission left by Van Hunsaker’s July 31 resignation.
The meeting agenda also shows items related to the PhiloMAX Council Chambers Gallery project, adoption of the city’s Public Art Program plan, adoption of a vision statement for the city’s Transportation Safety Action Plan, recognition of a longtime employee and various other topics.
Preceding the regular meeting at 6:30 p.m., councilors are scheduled to meet in executive session to discuss real property negotiations with designated staff, as allowed by law under state statute. Executive sessions are closed to the public.
The city provides a livestream of the meeting on the city’s YouTube channel.