Essential Services are continuing with limited volunteers and staff delivering meals on wheels, providing client services, shopping shuttles, and food box delivery. Background checks for new volunteers are taking 10-12 weeks. Over 1,700 hot meals and 1,120 frozen meals were provided this month. In addition, 32 food boxes were delivered and 31 shopping rides were provided.
Over the last months, the City of Sandy has experienced several changes due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic. The City of Sandy is following Governor Brown’s direction and Oregon Health Authority guidance during this public health emergency. For instance: The City has closed the Community Center since March 23, 2020 and has cancelled the majority of all programs associated with the Center in response to recommendations and guidance from state and local officials.
These actions have resulted in decreased workload due to the closures and are continuing to have a financial impact to the City. The City has explored a number of options. Unfortunately, it is necessary to reduce the workforce by implementing a layoff and a reduction of hours of staff within the Community Center. These changes began on Dec. 1st.
Senior Services
During the week of Thanksgiving, each of the Meals on Wheels clients were treated with a lovely gift back from Avamere. All the clients were so appreciative of the very thoughtful gift.
The seniors have appreciated the drive thru events Community Services has provided over the last month. This month’s drive thru included a homemade bowl of soup and corn muffin. Safeway donated most of the soup for about 30 seniors came thru. They were excited to see staff and gave rave reviews on the soup and muffins.
Parks & Trails Advisory Board
The Parks and Trails Advisory Board met on November 12th and discussed the “Bull Run” and “The Views” Developments with regard to parks and open spaces. Recommendations were forwarded to the Planning Commission and to Council. The Technical Advisory Representatives provided an update on the Parks and Trails Master Plan. It is getting close to being completed and the board is very excited to see it approved.
Come December 31st, 2020 the board will have 4 open seats. Preparations for the interview process took shape in November. Staff and the Parks and Trails Advisory Board Chair are working on orientation materials for new board members.
Parks Master Plan Update
Two meetings were held on December 1st to present results of public input gathered to date and get direction going forward on next steps of the Parks & Trails Master Plan (PTMP). The first was with relevant City Staff members, and the second was with the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC).
Tracy Johnson from ESA provided a project status update to City employees in virtual attendance. One topic of discussion focused on the amount of staffing needed to maintain current and future park facilities. Funding for proposed capital projects was discussed, as was acquisition of future park properties. The need for coordination with staff on other planning efforts, including the updated Transportation System Plan (TSP), and requirements such as Sandy Style in parks were explored. Proposed park concepts were reviewed as well as next steps going forward.
Once the PTMP has been adopted, City staff will want to maximize use of the Parks & Trails SDC’s as well as the Parks Fee-in-Lieu of Land. Both funds have healthy balances that will greatly benefit implementation of future system improvements. Towards that end, the City has amended a current contract with FCS, the firm hired to advise on all matters SDC.
The main focus of the TAC meeting was to hear from Doug Gabbard of FCS regarding the potential for use of SDC’s in seeing adopted PTMP goals through to completion. He presented information on the best way to structure the Plan for optimal use of existing and future funds. Going forward he will work directly with ESA staff to shore up the necessary wording and formulas.
A draft PTMP should be ready for review in early 2021. There will be ample opportunity for input prior to presentation of the final copy to the Parks & Trails Advisory Board, Planning Commission and ultimately the City Council for adoption.