Senior Center (Nancy Ream Enabnit)
Requests for client service coordination ramped up in October. Cami Henderson was kept hopping providing information on and coordinating applications for Energy Assistance, Medicare Open Enrollment, transportation and Meals-on-wheels in-home assessments.The world premiere of “El Diablo” was presented after lunch on Oct. 30th. Staff donned western garb and performed this year’s Halloween skit in a make-shift saloon. We had a great time, and the enthusiastic audience deemed it “the best performance yet” (as they do every year).
Parks
Ribbon cutting for the new trail extension in Sandy River Park took place on October 10th. Kathleen Walker served as project manager (on a volunteer basis) and directed the progress of an Ant Farm trail crew. The event was well attended with over 50 people including many City Councilors, Park Board Members, City Staff and general public. The trail was named for Jim Slagle, trail designer. Jim was surprised at the honor, and the Jim Slagle Loop Trail was the last project of his wonderful career. Many folks walked the trail after the ribbon cutting, and all agreed the nearly one-mile extension is quite a treasure.
Recreation (Sarah Richardson)
Planning for the 2016 Winter/Spring Guide is in full swing. Staff is working towards more collaboration with Camp Namanu and the Ant Farm for future programs. Ideas include after-school options, computer labs and cooking classes.
Mountain Storm registration is underway for Grades 3-6. New this year is a format change for grades 3 & 4. Participants will play 3-on-3 providing the kids more opportunity to handle the ball, make plays on their own and have more fun. Emphasis is on fundamental skill development, healthy activity, sportsmanship, and being part of a team.
Permanent signage for the Sandy Bluff Dog Park is nearing completion, and preliminary planning for a shelter at the park is in the works.
Transit (Andi Howell)
Total ridership this month was 11,744. This is a decrease in ridership by 8% from October 2014. The SAM-Gresham ridership decreased by 8% with a total of 10,198 rides; SAM-Estacada ridership declined by 5%; STAR decreased this month by 8%; and ED ridership decreased by 18%. While ridership continues to be lower than it was in 2014, the ridership trend of 2015 is holding steady. Examining ridership between January and October, ridership remains steady with an average of 11,196 rides a month, no significant jumps or falls. Ridership last month saw the largest bump and was the highest of the year, but this is fairly common in the month of October.
In an effort to build community input and participation, particularly with local youth, SAM reached out to AntFarm. AntFarm is a local non-profit that works with youth in the surrounding area. Some great ideas have already been generated as to how best serve the youth of this community. Most importantly, a young man who is a supervisor with AntFarm has agreed to serve on the Transit Advisory Committee for one year. The next TAC meeting will also be held at AntFarm on December 16, 2015.
In October, Sandy staff Andi Howell and Muna Rustam attended the Oregon Public Transportation Conference in Eugene, OR with TAC members Joseph Lowe, Heather Michet, and Roxy Tolva. SAM operations contractors Joyce LeDoux and Janice Johnson also attended. It was an informative and motivational conference focused on the future of public transit throughout the state. The first Bus Roadeo in nearly 20 years was held in conjunction with the conference. Drivers participated in several competitions that included safety standards, wheelchair securement, precision driving and more. Andi Howell was a safety judge. The CTAA National Roadeo Representative was heard to say it was the best Roadeo he has seen at the state level. During the conference, it was also announced that Andi Howell has been elected to serve on the Board of Directors for the Oregon Transportation Association (OTA) as a rural transit representative.
The Mount Hood Express transit system operated by Clackamas County Social Services had some sudden personnel changes in the administrative analyst position. Sandy Transit works closely with the Mount Hood Express system and Jacques Livingston was a good asset to the Mount Hood Express team. SAM looks forward to working with his replacement Margaret McNamara who also brings several years of program management experience.