I would like to thank the City of Sandy, Sandy City Council, and the community for the opportunity to serve as City Manager these last 4+ years.

It has been a tremendous privilege to work with an incredibly talented team of staff and engaged City Council. Like all organizations, we face our own set of challenges but this community, Council, and staff does not back away from them. As I reflect back on these past several years, I am proud of how much progress this City has made to address some significant infrastructure challenges, plan for the future, and level up the organization. And, I can’t forget our staff’s resiliency and adaptability during the COVID-19 health emergency.

We’ve made huge strides to fix and expand the wastewater system, secure a long term resilient water supply, build a major new road connection, and begin improvements at the community campus property. With all the growth and development, staff in almost every department have participated in helping the city plan for the future. The planning work included: Transit Master Plan, Wastewater Facilities Plan, Water Master Plan, Transportation System Plan, Parks & Trails Master Plan, Economic Development Strategic Plan, and the Comprehensive Plan. With all these projects and plans we’ve deployed new ways to engage and communicate with the community, and in the post pandemic world, our newly formed Parks & Recreation Department and our beloved Library rapidly expanded the events, programs, and recreational opportunities to meet the demand for our public.

The Public Works, Transit, SandyNet, and Police staff take to heart their critical roles as essential staff to keep the community safe and moving. We had multiple events and situations beyond the ordinary that takes a lot of work that the public rarely sees. From ice storms to sinkholes to wildfire and smoke, we had numerous natural hazards that needed response and management from these departments.

We’ve seen a lot of changes but the City is in good hands with its dedicated team of public employees who care deeply about the community and take pride in their work, day or night. By it’s very nature, government work is hard, complex, and often comes with competing values and interests. But despite the difficulty, the work that we do is incredibly rewarding and fulfilling. I’m confident that Sandy is prepared to face the challenges of today and tomorrow with the staff, volunteers, and elected leaders that passionately serve this community.

Sincerely,
Jordan

Fall has finally arrived after a late arriving but long lasting summer. I hope everyone had a wonderful summer. It was a busy and eventful season of fun and it was so great to see our community come out in large numbers really for the first time in a few years. From the Longest Day Parkway where we get to meet and greet with the folks that we serve, to the concerts, movies, fireworks, and Mt. Festival, I think we saw a record numbers of participants. Thanks to our Parks & Rec team, Public Works crew, and all our staff that participated and helped organize these great events. 

We also have a few new faces that have joined the staff team this fall. Please welcome Ryan Schneider (Public Works), AJ Thorne (Public Works), Gavin Yates (SandyNet), Caroleana Smallwood (Parks & Recreation), Tristan Hardesty (Parks & Rec), Brandon Shaffer (Parks & Rec), Kristi Granberg (Library), Brianna Latham (Library), and Amie Krueger (Library). We’re thrilled you’re here!

Looking ahead to the holiday season, I’m really excited about a new special program that our Parks & Recreation and Public Works teams have been working hard on, the Holiday Lights in Meinig Park! The park will be lit up at night starting with the annual tree lighting ceremony and there will be 5 distinct events throughout the month of December. 

City Updates

• Last month the City Council adopted a temporary moratorium on new development applications in the City of Sandy. The moratorium was necessary to slow the amount of new connections to our wastewater system while we construct the needed improvements in our sewage collection system and treatment plant and identify the best long-term expansion option. The pause will be in effect until at least the spring when an evaluation of the plant will be completed that will identify its treatment capacity. Staff and our consultants and contractors have been working really hard to improve our system and treatment plant. The City’s growth and aging infrastructure and our limitations on where we discharge our treated wastewater has resulted in permit compliance issues with the Oregon DEQ. Over the last few years we have been working with the DEQ, and US DOJ and EPA to bring the city into compliance with the Clean Water Act.
• While development applications may be paused, the planning staff are busy managing several important long range planning projects. The Comprehensive Plan is being wholly updated with the Envision Sandy 2050 project. The Community Visions were recently unveiled after months of public engagement and input. 
• The construction of 362nd Ave and Bell Street is halfway there with final paving and opening of the street targeted for around the end of next summer. Staff have been working with planning and urban design consultants to sketch some conceptual ideas on how that area could develop. The sketches will be brought to a future Council meeting for their input and reaction and direction on next steps for planning that area.
• The Council recently adopted a major update to our Parks Systems Development Charges (the one-time fees developers pay at the time of development that creates additional demand on our park facilities). The increased fee will generate additional funds for future park capital improvements that were identified in our new Parks & Trails Master Plan. 
• And speaking of future parks, a request for proposals closed this week for the design and engineering work for the Community Campus Park Improvements. This project would be focused on building new park amenities and features on the north end of the property.
• Wastewater is not the only utility that will be undergoing significant investment. Sandy’s water supply infrastructure is also due for major improvements. The City is embarking on a large and necessary project to upgrade our Alder Creek treatment plant, reservoirs, and intakes as well as a pipeline extension to Portland’s proposed new Bull Run filtration facility. Like Portland, Sandy is required to be in compliance with treatment of the Bull Run water source, which is our supplemental and backup water supply for the majority of the city.
• With all the ongoing projects, we have some really creative and talented staff that have been using their skills to take and edit videos for communicating updates to the public. You can check these out on the City’s YouTube channel or postings on the City’s Facebook page. Kudos to Matt Degner, Shelley Denison, and Thomas Fisher for putting these videos together. 

Looking Ahead – 2023

With the ringing in of the new year, we will be entering an odd-numbered year, which means City Council goal setting and developing the budget for the 2023-25 biennium. But first we will start the year with the swearing in of our new City Councilor, current Planning Commissioner Chris Mayton. Chris was elected for the position to replace Jeremy Pietzold who is stepping down after 16 years of incredible service to the community. Jeremy is going to be terribly missed but we’re looking forward to working with Councilor elect Mayton.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

I hope everyone’s spring is off to a good start, although I’m sure we are all ready for a little more warmth and sun! We’re staying busy with lots of upcoming events and projects coming up this summer. With the return of the Longest Day Parkway, Mt. Festival, Music Faire and Feast, and 4th of July Fireworks, it might just finally feel a little more like a pre-COVID summer in beautiful Sandy.

• #Sandystaffatwork. For the Facebook fans out there, there is a fun new regular post using the hashtag https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/sandystaffatwork, that highlights our city staff hard at work.
• New Team Members: Speaking of staff, we’ve welcomed several new employees to our team already this year. We’re thrilled you’re here!
  • Johnny Vollendroff, Development Services
  • Jenny Coker, Public Works
  • Quentin Carter, Police
  • Ryan Anderson, Police
  • John Wallace, Parks & Recreation
  • Chelsea Jarvis, Parks & Recreation
  • Marc Young, Parks & Recreation
  • Jacob Williams, Parks & Recreation

We have a few more positions that are currently under recruitment too. We’ve seen more interest and applicants in our positions which might be a sign that the labor market is improving.

• 362nd and Bell Street Extension. The City Council awarded the construction contract for the extension of Bell Street and 362nd Ave to Sandy’s own Konell Construction. This long-awaited project will take roughly 16-18 months to complete and will be the first major new roadway project for the city since the construction of Dubarko Road. Not only will it create a new connection between highway 26 and the Bluff neighborhood/Sandy High School, but it will also help support new commercial development for more jobs and services for our community.
• Sandy Community Campus. The City Council continues to work on a plan for a future aquatic and recreation facility and community park at the Community Campus property. Staff will be issuing an RFP for hiring an architect to work with staff and the community on designing a new park at the campus and a concept for the aquatic/recreation facility. The City Council recently accepted the Pool Exploratory Task Force’s recommendation to not reopen or repair the existing pool and instead focus on constructing a new aquatic facility. 
• Comprehensive Plan. The Comprehensive Plan update, Envision Sandy 2050, is underway. A city’s comprehensive Plan is the blueprint for our community and guides our growth and development through creating a vision and a foundation for policies, regulations, and zoning to implement that vision. Check out SandySpeaks to learn more about this important project and how we will be engaging the community and staff in the process.
• Wastewater/Sandy Clean Water. We continue to make progress on the repairs and upgrades to our sewer pipes and wastewater treatment plant. The current phase of the project is scheduled to conclude at the end of the year and will reflect a total investment of nearly $20 million into the system over the last two years.  This spring and summer work will be continuing at the wastewater treatment plant and the pipe rehabilitation improvements will be happening in the downtown area.
• Summer Events. With COVID restrictions and staffing challenges hopefully behind us, we’ve welcomed back in person programming and events at the Library and Community Center. Thanks to the Library staff and Parks & Recreation staff for all their work in putting together a slate of fun events and activities this summer. The Longest Day Parkway returns June 23rd which will be at the Cascadia Village neighborhood this year. Summer concerts, movies in the park and fourth of July fireworks are all in the works too. The Mt. Festival and Music Faire and Feast returns to town this year too during the weekend July 7-10. 

After two years to the day since Oregon recorded its first confirmed case of COVID-19. The mask requirement for schools and indoor public spaces will be lifted on March 12. That means that staff and visitors will no longer be required to wear a mask when in city facilities after March 11 regardless of vaccination status. Mask requirements for public transit (SAM), healthcare settings, and other special circumstances will still remain in place for now.
Though we will no longer require all employees to wear masks while working in most work locations, employees who prefer to continue to wear a mask are encouraged to do so. The City will continue to provide masks to employees and visitors who need or request one.

The city and its staff continue to exceptionally busy and 2022 started with a similar theme – doing our best to manage through periods of coronavirus disruptions and absences. But with the plummeting case numbers as Omicron wanes and the lifting mask mandates, we are hopeful for a return to normalcy! But hold on to those masks, just in case.

We are thrilled to be ramping up our programming and events to help bring the community back together in celebration and entertainment. In addition to the reopening and return of indoor programing at the Community/Senior Center and Library, the Parks & Recreation team is busy planning a host of events for this spring and summer. Egg hunt, Longest Day Parkway, Fireworks, Concerts, Movies in the Park, camps, and programs. We’re also excited to see the return of the Mt. Festival this year.

Project Updates

This year promises to be another stretch of incredible progress on important infrastructure projects and long term plans to help us manage our growth and strategically invest in our community.

• Sandy Clean Waters. We are in the middle of our first phase of our wastewater systems improvements project Sandy Clean Waters. By the end of the year, we will have invested nearly $20 million in fixing our old sewer pipes and expanding the capacity of our wastewater treatment plant.
• Envision Sandy 2050. This month we kicked off the start of Comprehensive Plan Update, Envision Sandy 2050. Check out the upcoming activities and public involvement opportunities for the vision process on the city’s new public engagement platform, Sandy Speaks.
• 362nd and Bell Street Extension. After years of planning and preparation, our highest priority transportation project will be going out to bid this month for construction to start this summer. The new road will extend 362nd across Highway 26 and connect to Bell Street near Sandy High School. The project will create a new key connection between the City’s northern neighborhoods and schools and help facilitate the development of those commercial properties.
• Sandy Community Campus Planning. Since July 2021, a citizen committee, the Pool Exploratory Task Force, worked to assess the City’s current and future aquatic program needs and envision the most cost effective and functional facility to meet those needs. Options were explored to address the physical and program deficiencies of the outdated Olin Y. Bignall Aquatic Center by either repairing and reopening the facility, or by pursuing one of the following options: 1) renovating the existing natatorium, 2) renovating the natatorium and constructing an addition, or 3) constructing a new aquatic facility. 
  • The PETF determined that repairing and reopening the aquatic center as currently configured is not feasible.  Substantial funds would be required to address critical needs related to pool infrastructure and building systems before the public could be served.  The current facility also does not provide a dedicated recreation pool.  Certain aspects of the building’s architecture make a comprehensive renovation of the structure difficult and expensive.
  • The PETF instead recommends constructing a new aquatic center elsewhere on the Campus property.  The report includes details on desired facility features, as well as rough estimates of capital and operations costs.
  • The City Council is now working to move forward with designing a concept and preliminary design for a new aquatic and recreation facility and park improvements at the community campus. This will include further working with the public through focus groups, Advisory Boards, and a technical advisory committee to help determine the facility, space, and amenity needs.

Congratulations to Mike Walker

This month we wished Public Works Director Mike Walker a happy retirement. Mike has retired after 36+ years with the City! 

It’s hard to overstate the impact a Public Works Director has on a city, especially after almost four decades of service during a time of rapid growth (Sandy was about 3,000 people when he started!). During his tenure Mike managed an incredible portfolio of responsibilities and infrastructure projects that are so critical and important, but are often buried, hidden, or taken for granted. For example, expanding our water treatment plant, building a pipeline to connect to the Bull Run Water Source, constructing Dubarko Road and the PW Operations Center, reviewing countless private development projects, and managing utility studies and master plans. In the last few years Mike has been managing the two largest infrastructure projects in the city’s history – the wastewater system improvements and the 362nd and Bell Street extension project. Mike leaves an impressive legacy that will be felt by the Sandy community for generations. 

Mike is also a long term resident of the city and his passion for the community runs deep as evidenced by his volunteerism and his approach to his work that always had the city’s best interests in mind. Within the corridors of City Hall, his dry wit and sense of humor will be as equally missed as his vast institutional knowledge.

and Welcome Jenny Coker!

We are thrilled to have our new Public Works Director, Jenny Coker, on board and ready to take the helm of the department which has so many important projects and activities in the works. Jenny is a highly qualified civil engineer with both public and private sector experience.  Most recently, she served as a senior engineer and program manager at the City of Portland’s Bureau of Environmental Services (BES).  In that role she managed BES’ Rehabilitation, Repair, and Modifications program, managing large and complex wastewater infrastructure projects. She also has high level management experience at Kennedy Jenks and Carollo Engineers.

We are thrilled to have Jenny join our team and lead our Public Works Department during this critical time. Her background, experience, and enthusiasm are just what Sandy needs to advance our important infrastructure projects and keep the department moving forward.

I hope everyone had a fantastic summer and fall. It has certainly been a rollercoaster ride this year as we continue to navigate a stubborn pandemic with masks, vaccinations and boosters, (re)openings and closings, and thankfully as the Delta surge retreats, a return to somewhat of a normal world as we head back into the holidays.

We’re proud that we have been able to balance the concern with our employees’ and public’s health with being continuing to serve and provide as many services as possible to our community.

I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season and that Santa’s workshop is not disrupted by supply chain or shipping issues.

Sandy Parks & Recreation Department

The Community Services Department has officially been reorganized as the Sandy Parks & Recreation Department. We’re thrilled to have Rochelle Anderholm Parsch as our new Director to lead this new department that includes Senior Services, Parks Maintenance, Recreation, and Special Events. Rochelle’s first day was November 8 and she is taking the helm at such a great moment for the city in terms of the future of our parks, trails, and recreation programs for the city of Sandy. In addition to the community campus project, the department is overseeing initiatives such as the implementation of the newly adopted Parks & Trails Master Plan and reopening of the Sandy Community Center.

Wastewater System Improvements Project

Our largest capital project in the City’s history continues to progress. The project includes repairs to our aging sewer pipes, improvements to our existing wastewater treatment facility, the siting and construction of a state-of-the-art water reclamation facility, and a new treated water discharge. This summer and fall contractors have been replacing sewer pipes in two of the areas of town with the oldest and leakiest pipes and constructing improvements at the treatment plant to help it better meet regulatory compliance. We are also working with a consultant to study the proposed discharge of treated water to the Sandy River, prepare a permit for that discharge, and study discharge and temperature mitigation alternatives.

On the funding side, the Council approved a 15% rate increase that went into effect in July. While on one hand a 15% increase is no small amount, the original projected rate increases have been greatly reduced because of the Council and City’s actions on securing funding support. This month we submitted an application for a generous federal loan program with low interest rates and beneficial terms. The city was also successful in receiving a $14.7 million grant from the State of Oregon to help fund the project. The balance of the funding is coming from a low interest State Revolving Loan Fund from DEQ.

Community Campus Status

The Pool Exploratory Taskforce and the Council Subcommittee are making great progress on planning the future of an aquatics and recreational facility at the community campus. The Council recently received an update on the taskforce’s efforts and what the subcommittee has been exploring in terms of how a future facility could be configured at the campus. The Pool Exploratory Taskforce will be submitting the recommendation to the City Council in January.

362nd and Bell Street Extension Project

Despite some delays with the property appraisals and right of way process, the project is at 60% design and still scheduled for going out to bid in February or March of next year.

Urban Renewal Project Prioritization

We have been working with consultants on developing a financial plan for the Sandy Urban Renewal Agency (SURA) and aligning a project prioritization effort to the financial plan. This work centers around the remaining projects in the SURA Urban Renewal Plan and the districts remaining debt capacity to fund those projects and when. The SURA Board will be involved in the prioritization and developing the capital plan, which could include projects such as the community campus, Pleasant Street, public parking, beautification, and other property redevelopments.

Comprehensive Plan and Other Plan Updates

Staff have been working with the selected consultant on a scope of work and contract to present to the City Council for approval. This multi-year planning effort will involve numerous studies and analyses, public outreach, policy development, and ultimately drafting a new growth management plan for the City of Sandy.

Concurrently, we are working on finishing or starting other important master plans and strategies for our utilities and programs. The Transportation System Plan is underway and seeking community input on transportation priorities, the Water Master Plan is under development, and we are exploring options for creating an Economic Development Strategy.

Thank you!

As always in our ambitious and vibrant town, we have lots going on! All these projects and services can’t be delivered without the dedication and hard work of our employees and from the guidance and leadership of our elected officials and advisory board volunteers. Thanks for all you do to make Sandy a unique and exceptional community.

It’s now been over one year since the coronavirus pandemic began. It was March 17 that we closed city facilities to the public and on March 23, 2020 the Governor issued the statewide stay at home order. Now, after a long, difficult, and distressing year, we now have more than 1 million Oregonians with at least one dose of the vaccine. That number includes several City of Sandy staff members and we look forward to our frontline government employees becoming eligible early next month.

This month the Sandy Library welcomed patrons back with limited browsing hours. Curbside service continues to be a hit.

Next month, we will be reopening City Hall to the public on April 5. Throughout the pandemic we have been conducting our regular business via phone, virtual meetings, and appointments. But with the declining case numbers and rising vaccinations and protection measures in place, we feel we can safely conduct transactions in person with the public. Although many staff will continue to telework and most meetings will continue to be virtual for the time being, we’re pleased to be moving in the direction of a return to more normal operations.

This month we received notice that Sandy’s share of funding for local governments in the American Rescue Plan will be approximately $2.3 million. This is outstanding news and we’re anxiously waiting for the detailed criteria to be developed on how the funds can be used. So far we know it can be used for replacing revenue loss and expenses incurred due to the pandemic, and for water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure. The first half of the funds are to be received this fiscal year. The are other funding opportunities with the Plan that we are tracking as well.

2021-23 City Council Goals

In January we welcomed 3 new City Councilors that were elected in November: Don Hokanson, Kathleen Walker, and Rich Sheldon. The Council held 3 goal setting sessions in January and February and set goals for the next two years: https://www.ci.sandy.or.us/citycouncil/page/2021-23-city-council-goals.

The goals are ambitious and diverse and represent the range of important work we have in front us to keep moving the community forward: Addressing infrastructure needs; managing and planning for growth; fostering economic recovery and growth; maintaining financial strength; addressing homelessness; engaging and celebrating with the community; and expanding recreational opportunities. A lot of the implementation actions will require community involvement, cross department collaboration, and strategic use of staff resources to accomplish. But I know we are capable of delivering.

The Council also worked on developing a vision for the city which they will refine over the coming months.

Updates

We continue to make steady progress on a number of important projects and initiatives. The first phase of the Wastewater System Improvements Project is nearing construction with work beginning this spring on the collection system and at the treatment plant. In April we will be discussing with City Council the updated funding plan and rate adjustments needed to fund the project. Earlier this year we received notice that we have been invited to submit for the attractive federal loan program that can save ratepayers millions of dollars over the life of the loan.

The design on the 362nd and Bell Street extension project is nearing completion with land use review and right of way acquisition coming up next month. Construction on at least a portion of the road could be started as soon as this summer.

The long awaited Highway 26 sidewalk project between Vista and Ten Eyck is still under design by ODOT and scheduled to go out to bid in October 2021. Speaking of Highway 26, the state is also working on a number of ADA ramp improvements along the highway that will be under construction this summer.

In December, the City Council and Sandy Urban Renewal Board established a new grant program for businesses to build covered patios. This will allow them to increase outdoor seating capacity during the coronavirus pandemic, while also helping revitalize and enhance the experience of dining out in our downtown and commercial areas. The covered patios will be Sandy Style and the first, at Ria’s Bar will be under construction very soon. Other grantees that are being assisted include Le Happy, Sandlandia, Red Shed, and Tollgate.

The transportation system plan update is finally underway while the Parks & Trails Master Plan Update has been drafted and is under review by the staff, Parks Board, and Technical Advisory Committee. The Plan is slated for adoption by the Council this summer. A new Water Master Plan is also underdevelopment and planning staff have also started initial work on the update of the City’s Comprehensive Plan.

Internally, I’m looking forward to the interactive diversity, equity, and inclusion trainings scheduled for April 6 and 7. The trainings are a first step in this important work for us and to continue the conversation about the actions we can take as a local government to ensure our organization and community is welcoming, supportive, and inclusive to all.

We are also deep into the BN 2021-23 budget development process. Departments have submitted their proposed budgets and staff have started assembling the proposed biennial budget. The first budget committee meeting is April 26.

As we head into the holiday season, I’d like to recognize what a challenging and unique year this has been for the city and staff. The Sandy community and the city organization have done such an amazing job of coming together to support each other and forge ahead despite these challenges that have tested us all.

COVID-19

Since March we have been living and working through the first truly global pandemic in 100 years. In addition to directly affecting millions of Americans and thousands of Oregonians, the novel coronavirus has impacted the way we work, shop, eat, gather and socialize. And unfortunately the number of new cases and hospitalizations in our state and country have risen to new highs. As of November 18, the Governor has issued a statewide “freeze”, again closing our beloved restaurants, bars, and gyms, in order to help slow the spread of the deadly virus.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, the city has followed the guidance and requirements of our public health authorities to keep staff and the public safe. This means many staff members are working from home, adjusting to new policies and practices such as wearing masks and keeping our distance from each other, and taking extra precautions to ensure we help slow the spread of the virus.

Our police officers and staff, Public Works and SandyNet employees, bus drivers, and essential staff have been coming into the office and working on the front lines keeping people safe, mobile, and connected. That means they’ve been working with new precautions and protocols and equipment while delivering services.

Even though most of our facilities remain closed to the public, the city has remained open for business and we continue to deliver services in many other ways.

Regarding the future, our plan has been to reopen several of our facilities to the public when Clackamas County is approved to move into Phase 2 of the governor’s reopening plans.

If a global pandemic wasn’t enough, this year has also brought us windstorms, wildfires, local demonstrations, and a presidential election season.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Following the murder of George Floyd in May, worldwide protests and racial justice movements brought into focus the systemic racism that exist in our society and the call to act. In June, the City Council convened a community listening session with the leaders of the Sandy Stand Up Movement and they adopted a resolution condemning racism and a commitment to equity.

As outlined in their resolution, the city and council are committed to protecting the civil and human rights of all Sandy community members and investing in training for our staff members and Council. 

This fall city staff will begin the first of these trainings which will be online and virtual based programs. At the same time, our administration team is looking at what other cities have been successful with in terms of internal programs and external efforts to be more culturally conscious and inclusive in how we engage and involve our public.

With the local demonstrations, it was also clear that our Police Department is strongly supported by our community and City Council which reflects the community focused policing the men and women of our police department exemplify every day. Thank you to our brave officers and police staff who have been working in difficult circumstances and overcoming obstacles this year. I know this has not been easy, but your service and commitment to excellence and continuous improvement is appreciated here in Sandy.

Wildfires and Smoke

Then at the end of summer mother nature had another trick in store for us as the heat and wind brought storm damage and unprecedented wildfires to western Oregon.

It started with heat, wind, and warnings. Our public works and SandyNet crews cleaned up debris, they were keeping our treatment plants operational after the power and outages, and repairing our internet connections brought down by the storm. 
Then the Riverside Fire burned and spread and our neighbors south of us were evacuated. Several city employees were evacuated from their homes as well.

Under a level 2 evacuation notice in Sandy, our Police officers worked around the clock to help with the evacuations and preparations and communicate critical information to the public. We sent employees home to prepare for evacuating while many others stayed to help prepare the city to ensure we had a continuity of operations and that our citizens were safe and taken care of.

Responding to these emergencies is one of the core services that we, as government, do for our public and it cannot be done without the dedication of our public safety and essential employees.

As the fire settled down and the smoke blew in, our facilities, already mostly emptied by COVID-19 protocols, had to stay vacated due to the smoke intrusion. Again, many of our employees put on n-95 masks to continue cleaning up the storm and to keep our critical services functioning while we waited for the smoke to clear. 

Major Projects and Updates

Despite all these historic challenges, we have accomplished some important work and made progress on a number of large projects.

• Community Campus — On the community campus, it was a year and a half ago that the City council made the difficult decision to close the pool due to the city not having the funding or financial resources to operate it. 
  Since then we’ve been working with the City Council to develop options and a plan for the future of the campus, including exploring a new special district and getting public input on the park priorities at the campus so that we can move forward with improvements. We will have an upcoming work session with the council to discuss the park improvements and options for the remaining buildings at the property.
  
• Wastewater — The largest utility project in the city’s history is in the planning and design phase with construction on the pipes and our current treatment plant starting this next year. We have consultants under contract for the collection system and existing wastewater treatment plant improvements, and we are studying the feasibility of constructing wetlands at the former site of Roslyn Lake. The projected cost of this multi-phased project is $65 million. We have applied for a low interest, favorable term, WIFIA loan from the federal government.
• 362nd and Bell Street Extension. We are also working on another vital project, the extension of 362nd Ave to connect it to Bell street. That project is also under design with the intent to start construction next year.
• Master Plans. Progress continues on a lot of important planning work. These plans are critical for us to properly understand the needs of our utilities as the city grows and matures, so we can appropriately plan and budget for the future. Those plans include the Transportation System Plan, HWY 26 Bypass Study, the Transit Master Plan, the Parks & Trails Master Plan, and the Water Master Plan.
• Communications. With these major projects and issues going on, another area we are focusing on is improving our communications with the public. The electronic newsletter so far has been a big success and a new city website is currently in the works that is looking very nice. 
• Communications. With these major projects and issues going on, another area we are focusing on is improving communications with the public. The electronic newsletter so far has been a big success and a new city website is currently in the works that is looking very nice. 

Be sure to check out our webpage with information about our major projects that are currently going on. These are just the highlights of the items that make the news or Council Goals, but the real heart of the city are the core functions that our community depends on. And Sandy does a lot of those.  Public works, police, planning and building permits, public transportation, court, library, fiber internet, parks, senior services and meals on wheels, just to name a few. During times of crisis, those services are more important than ever. Thanks to all our staff for everything they are doing to serve the community despite the difficult circumstances. 

City Council Elections

Finally, the 2021 will bring new faces to the City Council and to several of our Boards and Commissions. We are excited to welcome Richard Sheldon, Kathleen Walker, and Don Hokanson to the City Council and we look forward to their swearing in ceremony on January 4. Many special thanks to outgoing Councilors John Hamblin, Jan Lee, and Bethany Shultz for their dedicated service and many hours of volunteer work on Council during this busy stretch for the city.

Despite the fact that many of us are working from home, working odd schedules, and juggling multiple responsibilities, the city continues to move forward at a blazing speed thanks to a dedicated staff and engaged City Council. This has been an incredibly busy year but I hope we can take a moment and recognize what we have accomplished recently and what we are working on despite our challenges.

• The city council adopted the Wastewater System Facilities Plan and implemented the necessary utility rate increases to begin funding the needed improvements to the wastewater system. 
• A public safety fee was established to fund the hiring of two additional police officers and shore up the Police Department’s budget.
• With the pool closure and the Council’s work on a community campus vision, we conducted two community surveys to gather information about what the community wants at the cedar ridge property and the level of interest in funding options for the pool. A voter poll to gauge interest in a new special district to fund aquatics and recreation services was unfortunately conducted right as the pandemic started and support was low. We’re continuing to move forward with developing a plan for park improvements at the property which could potentially include the bunker building. 
• Our Community Services department has been busy sprucing up the community center during the COVID-19 closure, managing the update to our Parks and Trails Master Plan, providing critical meals to our vulnerable community members, helping our senior population access services and resources, and develop options for recreating in a pandemic environment. 
• It was a very active year for development projects which continued during the pandemic. Planning and building staff were busy with applications such as the contentious 100 lot subdivision in the SW corner of town and numerous other proposed developments and applications. We’ve also seen new commercial activity such as the Dutch Bros and Tractor Supply.  Also involved with all this activity are reviews and inspections by building, public works, and SandyNet staff. A new Economic Development Committee began meeting and staff and Council created a special emergency grant program to try to help our local businesses during the coronavirus closures.
• As a byproduct of the sewer rate increases, our public works crews have been busy responding to calls regarding potential leaks while staying on top of the constant flow of work repairing leaks, fixing signs, and patching streets. A new program was established this year to reduce the amount of fats, oils, and greases that infiltrate our wastewater system from businesses in town.  
• We started the ambitious and critical road project to connect 362nd Ave from Highway 26 to Bell Street. The design and engineering work is well underway with a preliminary alignment for the new road being completed soon.
• Other public works projects will begin this summer including the retrofitting of streetlights to more energy efficient LEDs, installing smart water meters throughout town, and replacing dozens of ADA ramps with funding from community development block grants.
• Our transit department has had an incredible year with the construction of a new bus barn, celebrating the 20th anniversary of SAM and the arrival of new buses, hiring drivers as temporary staff and then hiring a new operations contractor, and adopting the transit master plan. Whew!
• The Library was one of the first to offer a curbside service for our patrons during the pandemic. Staff have done a great job of keeping the collection clean, providing services such as story-times virtually, and keeping our patrons apprised through a weekly newsletter during the pandemic.
• The City Facilities Assessment and Space Needs Analysis was completed which will help guide our future decisions regarding our maintenance priorities and programming for city buildings.
• A pay equity and compensation study was completed for all non-represented staff for the City of Sandy. The City Council will consider an implementation plan at their July 20th City Council meeting.
• The Jonsrud Viewpoint is being updated with new signage and a new viewfinder!
• Finally, we are making huge strides with city communications. A team of staff are currently working on a much needed upgrade to our city website that will help citizens and staff better share and access information. A new electronic newsletter, the Sandy Source, is produced monthly and has been very successful in helping us share our story about what we are doing and how the city works.

There is so much more to celebrate and acknowledge so you have my apologies for not including it all!

I hope you have the opportunity to safety take a break this summer!

It has been over a month since Governor Brown’s stay at home order and over two months since the first reported case of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, first appeared in Oregon. The city’s and community’s response to this pandemic has been extraordinary. This is an unprecedented challenge, but elected leaders, city employees, local non-profits, businesses, and residents have displayed that pioneer spirit more than ever to help support one another and forge ahead through this crisis. Thank you for everything you are doing to help us get through this truly surreal time.

As a smaller organization, we have the ability to be nimble and adaptive to this crisis despite not having the resources that other larger cities may have. It has been impressive to see our departments rise to the occasion to find ways to support our community and continue to provide services through this pandemic. Some examples:

• Offering Library curbside pick up services for holds
• Providing 25 emergency grants to local small businesses impacted by the coronavirus
• Waiving utility bill late fees and water shutoffs during this emergency
• Moving all meetings to virtual teleconferencing to allow the Council and citizen advisory boards and commissions to meet and conduct important business and receive public participation
• Partnering with local non-profits to provide meals, groceries, and essential items to our most vulnerable citizens. Expanding meals on wheels service
• Working with other local governments to expand internet service to under-served areas

Sandy employees have done an amazing job adapting to this new environment. In many cases that means working from home while taking care of their children or other loved ones. Many others are taking on new responsibilities or projects, or donning masks and gloves to keep our buses moving or protecting and serving our public.

As the number of cases peak in Oregon and we learn more about the disease, we begin to think about what comes next and when life will return to normal. What we know is that COVID-19 is going to be with us for a while. The message from the federal, state, and county public health authorities is that the return to normal will take time and we should be prepared for continued containment measures. Locally, we will continue to stay connected to our public health agencies and respond accordingly as we learn more about the virus and how to effectively protect our citizens. We will be prepared for when we can safely reopen our facilities to the public with the appropriate protections and protocols in place.

Our COVID-19 information page on our website continues to be the best source of information for updates on the city’s response to the pandemic.

Other Updates

Despite the unprecedented disruption caused by this crisis, we are doing our best to forward on a number of important initiatives to keep our utility infrastructure sound and our community flourishing.

• Wastewater System Improvements. The wastewater system improvement project is currently in the preliminary design phase for the phase one collection system improvements (pipes) and the repairs to the existing wastewater treatment facility. At the same time, consultants are working on the discharge alternatives study to explore sustainable options for treating and recycling the high quality water from the proposed new treatment facility that would eventually be discharged to the Sandy River.
• Community Campus/Special District. The voter poll that was conducted in early March had the unfortunate timing of being completed at the same time the coronavirus arrived. The results were presented to the City Council and the council will be discussing the next steps for the special district concept and moving forward with improvements to the campus.
• Transit Master Plan and Transit Operations Service Contract: The Transit Master Plan was adopted by the City Council last month after over a year of work aided by expert community volunteers and highly qualified staff and consultant team. The Transit department is also currently working on negotiations with a private contractor to assume operations of the transit service. About six months ago the city and former transit service contractor mutually parted ways.
• 362nd and Bell Street Extension Project. The city is moving forward on the design and engineering on this high priority road infrastructure project. The city has contracted with HHPR to complete this work and the engineering surveys and environmental studies are underway.
• Other Master Plan Updates. During this pandemic, other master plan update projects, such as the Parks and Trails Master Plan and the Transportation System Plan, have slowed down but the city will continue to work with our consultants and public on these important plans. The project delivery methods may change, such as virtual or physically distanced public outreach and stakeholder meetings.

I hope your 2020 is off to a great start. Our flurry of activity continues with the many major projects and important plans now in the works! In January, the City Council held the mid-biennium goal setting session and received a progress report on their goals. The Council added a few new goals and actions related to childcare services, affordable housing, community resiliency planning, economic development, and communications.

What’s next with the Community Campus and what is this Special District Proposal?

In November last year, the city commissioned a community survey to gauge interest and priorities for the aquatic center and community campus. The survey also included a question about the city developing a concept to establish a new government (such as a a parks and recreation district) that would have its own boundaries, tax rate, and board of elected officials. The new district could then be the source of funding for operating and maintaining the pool, running recreation programs, and building and maintaining parks throughout a larger territory in the greater Sandy area. The district would have to be approved by a majority vote of residents within the proposed boundaries of the district. Examples of these types of governments include the Tualatin Hills Parks & Rec District, the Bend Parks & Rec District, or the Tualatin Tigard Aquatic District.

The survey showed that there was majority support for keeping or expanding the pool and developing a district concept to put in front of voters. You can view the results here: https://www.ci.sandy.or.us/media/Community%20Campus/2019%20Community%20Survey%20Results%20Presentation.pdf

After reviewing the survey results, the Council directed staff to move forward with studying the formation of a new district for parks and recreation services in the greater Sandy area and target the November 2020 election for placing the measure on the ballot. Over the next few months we will be busy gathering information, developing boundary and budget/tax proposals, sharing information with the public and holding public meetings, and discussing getting the measure on the ballot with Clackamas County officials.

The potential district would provide a stable funding source for aquatics, recreation, and parks services in the greater Sandy area including a potential recreation facility at the community campus. The district boundary will likely follow that of the Sandy Library District’s with some exceptions. This idea emerged as a solution to funding the pool and community campus and improving existing parks and recreation services for area residents. Following the closing of the pool last year due to the budget constraints, the Council committed to developing a plan for the future of the campus and aquatic center that would include getting input from the community.

The immediate next steps is to finalize the boundaries, proposed budgets, and tax rates and test the concept with voters via a telephone poll.

Wastewater System Improvements Update

The city’s wastewater rate increases went into effect this month with the December – January billing cycle. The increase in the rates will immediately support the project by rising the amount of revenue the city’s wastewater utility receives in order to pay back the loans and bonds that are needed for the major capital project. The city has already secured a $6 million loan from the state for the work that will be done this construction season at the wastewater treatment plant and throughout the entire collection system. Meanwhile the Sandy River discharge alternatives (green alternatives) analysis will be kick off later this month. That work is being paid for by a direction allocation of state budget earmarks. The project webpage has more information about the rate increases and the project purpose:
https://www.ci.sandy.or.us/projects/www.ci.sandy.or.us/wastewater-system-improvements

362nd and Bell Street Extension Update

Responses to the request for qualifications from interested consulting engineering firms to provide survey, design, right-of-way, environmental and associated services for the project are due February 6. The proposed project would extend Bell St. approximately 2,800 feet west from its terminus near Sandy High School and extend SE 362^nd Ave. from US 26 approximately 900 feet north to an intersection with Bell St. This is a long awaited and much needed transportation project that many are looking forward to seeing started.

Pay Equity Study and Compensation Analysis

We have the first draft of the compensation and pay equity study complete with reviews underway. Thank you to all the staff that filled out the lengthy questionnaire and participated in the pay equity analysis. In the next few weeks we will be reviewing the data and developing next steps.