Sherwood City Council Recap | November 18
The Sherwood City Council discusses opioid funds and speeding technology
SHERWOOD, Ore. — There was no regular Sherwood City Council meeting on Tuesday, November 18, but council members did meet for a work session.
This week's work session includes discussions on opioid money as well as an update from the Sherwood Police Department on social media policy and speeding enforcement.
The next city council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 2.
Watch the full work session here.
Opioid settlement funds
David Bodway, finance director with the City of Sherwood, gave the report to the board on the opioid settlement funds.
This comes after a national lawsuit between the State of Oregon and four companies — McKesson, Cardinal Health, AmerisourceBergen, and Johnson & Johnson — for their role in the opioid crisis was settled in July 2021. The results hold prescription opioid manufacturers, distributors, and retailers accountable for fueling the opioid epidemic.
“To date as of a few days ago, we’ve received almost $173,000 in settlement funds, and spent almost $110,000 … since roughly about 2022,” Bodway said.
The funds can be used for a variety of opioid prevention, treatment, and recovery strategies.
Bodway said Sherwood bought a drug detection machine that helps keep police officers safe when they’re trying to determine what’s in a package. The city can also spend the funds on FDA-approved drugs like Naloxone to reverse opioid overdoses; prevention programs to prevent misuse of opioids; supporting people in treatment and recovery; and leadership, planning, and coordination for data system development.
“Being a city, it’s sometimes really hard to get into some of these areas that are eligible because we don’t offer the services (compared to) a county or other facilities, and support people in treatment and recovery,” Bodway said.
The funds must be spent or allocated within five years of being received, unless they are going toward a large capital project like buildings or equipment, which has a seven-year limit.
Bodway said the city is spending nearly $25,000 on its Mental Health Response Team (MHRT), and is considering using the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration's public video campaign “One Pill Can Kill.”
“There’s always a mental health component that comes with the use of narcotics … it’s all in how we’re addressing them,” Bodway said. “There’s always the opportunity for us to have that continuing education."
The council discussed using the funds to give a stipend to mental health officers, a 5% premium pay increase to officers working MHRT, and set aside money to contribute to the Family Justice Center of Washington County.
Speeding enforcement
Sherwood Police Chief Ty Hanlon gave the board a presentation on expanding vehicle speeding enforcement.
“We’re pretty limited on personnel resources, and probably the number one complaint in the city is speeding,” Hanlon said. “School zones are obviously the big issue that we want to talk about.”
The council discussed the possibility of pursuing mobile speed enforcement as well as exploring a legislative path to adjust the threshold for giving citations.
Mobile speed enforcement refers to using red light and speed photo enforcement technology. Currently, the city contracts with Verra Mobility on its red light cameras and speeding technology.
“We just can’t be in all places at all times,” Hanlon said. “This gives us the opportunity for these mobile speed devices to work 24/7, 365. They don’t have to take lunch breaks; we don’t have to pay them overtime; they’re just out there doing their thing. The operational benefit is huge.”
Hanlon said the goal is to address the complaints the department sees on a weekly basis, as well as enhance public safety.
One possible location for the city’s next speeding technology placement is Oregon Street.
“We would have the ability to place these around the city in school zones, in neighborhoods, in high traffic areas where we believe there’s a speeding problem,” Hanlon said. “With the current vendor, we would have the ability to move these around every 30 days if we choose.”
Bibliography
Work session agenda: https://www.sherwoodoregon.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/11.18.2025-City-Council-Mtg-Agenda-WS-ONLY.pdf
DEA opioid campaign: https://www.dea.gov/onepill
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