I have added a “City Manager’s Report” for your ease in gaining information, particularly updates on all of the current projects. Your input is always welcome.

So let’s talk about January!

We conducted council retreat on January 7th.Council was able to have a great goal setting and update session. Those changes are now on the City Website for your review. Committee appointments were also refreshed and some new committee’s were added.  Some new committee’s are being formed this year, first is the Outdoor Art Installation Committee.  This committee will be to encourage artists to install large outdoor art in the community.  The other committee (still to be named) will focus on improving relationships and making us more “Business Friendly”.

Cedar Ridge/Community Center/Aquatic Center – We really need a shorter name for this project. We have decided on a bank placement bond for financing. The financing which is both for this project and for part of the Fire Department construction project will fund on March 7, 2017. The total loan amount is 10 million dollars. Of that total, 3.5 million is for the Fire Department, 3.0 million goes for the purchase of the Cedar Ridge property (from Oregon Trail School District) and the remaining balance of 3.5 million will get us started on our project. First steps after the financing is sending out a Request for Proposal (RFP) asking for qualified firms to help us get community input, and design a Master Plan and then conceptual drawings.

The Community Services Director position was advertised and interviews are scheduled for February 2nd.  The process will consist of a long afternoon for the candidates as they face three separate interviews, two of which will be done in panel format.  We will be interviewing six candidates in this initial round.  Three of the candidates are internal and three external.

We are in full “Budget Mode” here at City Hall; making the initial preparations for getting a proposed budget ready. The Finance Department, led by Lisa  Young, is doing the heavy lifting with all departments working together to meet goals and deadlines.

The transfer of Hwy 211 from ODOT to the City is moving forward.  The most recent changes to the proposed agreement are being evaluated.  It is worth noting that the amount we receive from ODOT for the transfer should take care of the cost of maintaining the roadway for the next 8-10 years so budgetary impact will be neutral.