Senior Center (Nancy Ream Enabnit)
July saw the end of an era and the beginning of a new chapter. After 30+ years of operating the Pie booth at Sandy Mountain Festival, the Senior Center chose to conduct direct pie sales. For a first-year venture, sales were brisk with 110 pies sold and nearly $2,000 net profit. Nearly all the fruit was donated and many volunteers pitched in to mix, roll, fill, bake and bag. Proceeds benefit the local Meals-on-wheels program.

Parks
Signs have been ordered for all parks. So far the Dog Park and Community Garden are sporting the new signage and the rest will be installed as the Parks crew has time.

Recreation (Sarah Richardson)
Mountain Festival Kids’ events were well attended, even with a little rain during the Kids’ Parade. Thank you to the OTSD for allowing us to use the Play Shed very last minute for the entertainment portion of the parade.

Both sessions of Camp Namanu sold out. The Recreation Department is already working with Camp Namanu to expand the program next summer. Very rewarding to see a partnership succeed in providing new opportunities and experiences for local children and support for their families.

Thanks to Carol Cohen’s promotional talents field trips have also been full this summer. Oaks Park is the final Field Trip on August 18th.

Adult Coed Softball was in high gear in July. Lots of games and a fun, family-friendly, recreational atmosphere. The final tournament is Saturday, August 13th. Due to the High School maintenance schedule, the tournament will be held at the Clackamas Hoodview Softball Complex.

Planning is underway for the Fall Recreation Guide, Mountain Storm Youth Basketball, and Dogs Day Out which will be held in conjunction with the September Corn Cross Cyclocross event.

Transit (Andi Howell)
Total ridership this month was 9927. Overall ridership decreased by 9%; the SAM-Gresham route decreased by 7.5%. SAM-Estacada ridership decreased by 10%. STAR rides decreased by 20%. Overall ridership decreased by 8% from 136,271 in FY 2015 to 125,403 in FY 2016. STAR rides decreased by 9.3% from 17,048 in FY 2015 to 15,463 in FY 2016. ED rides increased by 43.6% to 1,024 rides in FY 2016 from 713 in FY 2015.

The Elderly and Disabled program saw another large increase in ridership of 59.2% from last July. The percentage of elderly and/or disabled riders on STAR was 71%. In FY 2015, the E&D population were 62% of the STAR dial-a-ride program, by FY 2016 this rose to 67%. SAM is responding to the changing needs of its ridership by adding a shopping shuttle to assist the dial-a-ride program and technological improvements to both fixed route and dial-a-ride vehicles. The technological improvements will benefit the rider through real time bus arrivals, updated web capabilities and automated stop announcements. Staff will benefit from the expedited data collection and entry and the collection of information regarding ridership patterns and trip generators.

Two replacement vehicles have been added to the City of Sandy fleet. A 16 passenger cutaway and a 5 passenger MV1. Both vehicles are STF funded and replace vehicles that passed their useful life in miles and/or years. Both are equipped with ramps for ease of access to meet the growing demand of elderly and disabled passengers.

SAM provided free rides during the Sandy Mountain Festival and decorated a bus for the parade. The theme was “Blazing the Trail”; SAM is blazing a new trail with the shuttle so the new route was highlighted with our parade entry. SAM won the first place ribbon for civic entries.

SAM staff met with other Clackamas County transportation providers and social service workers to address the unmet transportation needs of domestic violence survivors in Clackamas County. Staff also continue to attend the Metro Regional Transportation Plan meetings and participate on the transit technical work group for the new regional plan.

Senior Center (Nancy Ream Enabnit)
The Center offers many opportunities to stay active each month: Tai Chi, Flex & Stretch, hikes and other trips. June saw the start of a Wii Bowling League in the auditorium. It began with five participants and is sure to grow over the months.

Parks
Last minute planning took place up until go time for the Longest Day Parkway. The first-ever active transportation event was a huge success with the entire City Council, the City Manager & Department Directors and many, many City Staff on hand to ensure a good (and safe–we love Sandy PD!) time was had by all. Thanks to the Library staff for their expert accounting method clocking between 250 & 300 participants for the evening. Families turned out in force to travel the route and pick up information and freebies from each City Department.

The 11th annual Noah’s Quest 5/10k Walk & Run took place on June 25th. Around 150 people joined in the morning’s activities at Sandy Bluff Park.

Recreation (Sarah Richardson)
Preparation for the Mountain Festival kids’ events was in full swing and summer programs launched. Field trips are offered most Thursdays and include excursions to Bullwinkles and Oaks Park.

Adult Softball kicked off mid-month with 10 enthusiastic teams. They are excited to play on the top-notch Sandy High School varsity & jv fields.

Transit (Andi Howell)
Total ridership this month was 10,005.  SAM continues to see a decrease in ridership with the exception of E&D rides.  Overall ridership decreased by 11.4%; the SAM-Gresham route decreased by 11.9%.  STAR rides decreased by 10.7%.  SAM-Estacada ridership decreased by 12%.  The Elderly and Disabled program saw another large increase in ridership of 42.7%.

An analysis of ridership trends and the rise in E & D riders led SAM to apply for and obtain funding for a new deviated route.  This route has been funded through the STF discretionary program to provide a circulator route.  It is designed as an augment to the STAR dial-a-ride program and will serve as a feeder service into the main fixed route in the commercial corridor.  In June, SAM staff and the Transit Advisory Committee (TAC) tested and compared low floor bus options for the route, discussed roll out timelines, route destinations, times, schedules and outreach material.

Ridership and bus replacements are top priorities for SAM.  SAM has procured a 35’ transit bus to replace a 2008 that has surpassed its useful life.  The transit manager met with bus personnel at the factory for a 2-day pre-production meeting.  Touring the facility was insightful and lead to a few small changes in the final design request.  The vehicle is scheduled for production in January of 2017 and SAM is anxious to receive it.  SAM continues to explore funding options for 3 more heavy duty transit vehicles.

SAM and MHX applied for a continuation of funds through a Federal Highway Administration Program, referred to as FLAP (Federal Land Access Program).  Funding approval would maintain SAM’s current early Saturday morning and all day Sunday service.  These runs serve as vital connector links between the Mount Hood Express system and the greater metro region.  The additional service has seen a steady growth in ridership since implementation. The FLAP grant is also the primary funding source for Mount Hood Express.

Senior Center (Nancy Ream Enabnit)
Passport to Wellness was held on May 17th. The Lions Club Screening Van was on hand to offer free diabetes testing, glaucoma screening, visions checks and blood pressure tests. Free hair cuts and massage therapy were offered as well as several exercise demonstrations. Participants received a punch card and once completed earned a prize–a pedometer and some personal care products.

An AARP Smart Driver course was held towards the end of the month. The 6-hour class provides invaluable information on defensive driving and suggests behind-the-wheel tips for adjusting to some of the changes that may come with age.

Parks
The Park Board took its annual tour in May. As always, the group was proud of the beautifully maintained variety of facilities so many of Sandy’s citizens and visitors enjoy each day.

Thanks to David Snider for moving along the process of developing an updated Bike Map for the area. Using suggestions gleaned from a 2015 meeting of cycling enthusiasts, new routes (including detailed descriptions, distances and elevations) are presented. The brochure was funded through a Clackamas County Tourism Grant and highlights local support services as well. In addition to the printed piece, David has updated the “Cycling in Sandy” portion of the City’s website including tabs for more info on road and mountain bike riding.

Recreation (Sarah Richardson)
The Summer Recreation & Leisure Guide was published in early May. The partnership with Camp Namanu is a highlight. Girls and boys, grades 1-5, are transported from the Community Center to enjoy a day at Camp Namanu. Outdoor adventure is the theme, and kids get the full camp experience of songs, arts & crafts, camp food, and water sports.

New programs include soccer and multi-sport camps offered through Challenger Sports. Returning favorites include Peewee sports, tennis classes, Tai Chi and Yoga.

Transit (Andi Howell)
Total ridership this month was 10,159.  SAM continues to see a decrease in ridership, with the exception of the Estacada route and E&D rides.  Overall ridership decreased by 10.7%; the SAM-Gresham route decreased by 12.2%.  STAR rides decreased by 13.8%.  SAM-Estacada ridership increased again this month however by 12.2%.  The Elderly and Disabled program also saw another increase in ridership of 22.9%.

SAM drivers participated in the Community Transportation Association of America Roadeo competition in May.  Both drivers were competitive among the other local and national contenders and one SAM driver won the highest written test score among Oregon entries.

Sandy Transit staff, as well as 4 employees from RoJoy Services, also attended the CTAA Expo and Conference: Innovation in Action.  The workshops were well-rounded and informative, including network mapping, asset management, driver training, and procurement.

SAM partnered with Compassion Sandy in May.  Compassion Sandy is a group of churches and volunteers that puts together medical and dental services as well as clothing donations in a one-day event for low income families and individuals.  SAM provided free rides all day to ensure there were no barriers for people to access the needed goods and services.

Sandy staff learned that a grant request for a new 35 foot low-floor bus was not awarded through the 5339 program.  The Federal bus replacement program received an overwhelming number of requests and Sandy Transit did not make the cut.  Staff have located another possible funding source and will apply for a grant again in the fall.  One large transit bus has been purchased and is scheduled for production in January 2017.

Senior Center (Nancy Ream Enabnit)
AARP Tax Assistance was once-again hosted at the Center. The service has been offered here for over 30 years, and each season every appointment slot is filled. Our incredible volunteers, Joanne Anderson and Virginia Frasier, scheduled extra days to accommodate the overflow. 115 individuals sought help in 2016 and received assistance completing state and federal tax forms.

Parks
Solv-it in Sandy enjoyed another fantastic turnout of volunteers. 150 adults and children fanned out to 18 sites around town collecting 600 pounds of trash, removing invasive species and mulching around new plants. Once again the free paper shredding proved popular with 3 tons of material processed.

Recreation (Sarah Richardson)
April was “get out the guide” month. Work on the Summer Recreation & Leisure Guide was in full swing. Some new camps and old favorites are back to help residents of all ages plan for summer fun. 37 pages contain a wide variety of options to choose a summer adventure, class, or local event.

Back for a 2nd year are the Camp Namanu Day Camps. Campers are dropped off and picked up at the Community Center for a full day of outdoor adventure on the 500+ acres along the Sandy River. A premier summer camp right in our backyard!

Lots of sports camps to choose from including soccer, British sports, tennis, and basketball. New this summer is a theater camp lead by the Sandy High School Drama Dept. Campers will create their own production and perform it at the end of the 6-day camp.

For those looking to explore more healthy living options, there is a full page of cooking and nutrition classes, and two new fitness classes. Adult Coed Softball is also getting started with a few new teams to add to the regular mix. Teams are forming now and games begin in late June.

Supporting the Surgeon General’s call to action, the guide encourages residents to get out and explore local parks and walk, walk, walk.

Transit (Andi Howell)
Total ridership this month was 10,367.  This is a decrease in ridership (9.9%) from April 2015.  The SAM-Gresham ridership decreased by 11.0% with a total of  9360 rides in 2015 compared to 8331 in 2016; SAM-Estacada ridership increased by 3.4%; STAR dial-a-ride decreased by 8.7%; and ED ridership remained relatively stable at 838 rides (843 in 2015).  The pattern of increased E&D rides on the STAR program continues with 69% E&D in 2016 compared to 63% E&D in 2015.

Sandy staff participated in several interesting opportunities in April.  Staff met with a Clackamas County social service worker to explore transportation options and/or collaborations to provide transportation for domestic violence survivors.  Funding sources, funding options for transportation and driver training were all explored.  Sandy Transit also attended a meeting with TriMet, ODOT and other rural transit agencies to discuss the new efare (Hop Fastpass) program that TriMet is implementing.  The new efare system lets riders tap a prepaid card to pay for a ride.  It will also accept Apple Pay, Google Wallet and contactless bank cards.  Sandy has agreed to take part in a scope of work study to better understand the ease of incorporating Sandy into the efare program.  This is an exciting research opportunity that is being funded by the Oregon Department of Transportation Rail and Public Transit division.

Transit received permission from the City Council to purchase 2 replacement vehicles.  Both vehicles are 5310 funded.  An MV1 was purchased from Schetky Bus Sales for the ED program.  The MV1 is a vehicle that seats 5 and is made specifically for persons with a disability.  The MV1 has an automatic lift stored in the floor of the vehicle for ease of loading and unloading.  There is no passenger seat in the MV1 as this is where a person in a wheelchair is secured.  An Arboc was purchased from Creative Bus Sales.  The Arboc is much larger than an MV1 and seats up to 16.  The Arboc will be used in the STAR dial-a-ride program.  It comes equipped with an automatic ramp rather than a lift.  Again, this eases loading and unloading of elderly individuals and persons with disabilities.  The STAR program continues to see increases in the Elderly and Disabled population, now at 69% of the ridership so these vehicles are a welcome addition to the fleet.

Senior Center (Nancy Ream Enabnit)
The Center received grant funding to purchase a “right-sized” vehicle for daily pick-ups, weekly shopping trips, etc. Staff is working with non-profit Ride Connection to develop the RFP. A transit van with features similar to the MV-1 is a more appropriate vehicle than the larger cut-away for much of the long-distance driving on rural roads, up narrow driveways that is required by Dena Isbell, the center’s driver.

Parks
The nice weather motivated gardeners to get busy in March. Raised beds at the Bornstedt Community Garden opened for rent, and 66 out of 67 beds have been claimed for the 2016 growing season. The shed houses a nice selection of tools and construction of a compost bin is on the horizon.

Recreation (Sarah Richardson)
Mountain Storm wrapped up the youth basketball season with two Jamborees. The tournament for 3rd & 4th graders was held on March 5th, and the 5th & 6th grade league took to the Sandy High School gym on March 12th. Feedback on the season was solicited via survey.

Transit (Andi Howell)
Total ridership this month was 10,883.  This is a slight decrease in ridership (2.7%) from March 2015.  The SAM-Gresham ridership decreased by 2.8% with a total of  8671 rides in 2015 compared to 8918 in 2016; SAM-Estacada ridership increased by 5.3%; STAR dial-a-ride decreased by 10.6%; and ED ridership increased by 114%.

Sandy staff conducted a Transit Advisory Committee meeting in March.  This meeting provided an overview of Sandy Transit today and asked for nominations for the Chair and Co-chair positions of the committee.  Two people stepped forward for these positions.

Two RFQ’s were released for replacement vehicles.  Both vehicles are 5310 funded.  A minivan and a cut-away in the Sandy fleet have reached the end of their useful life.  The minivan is used for the E&D program, providing out-of-town medical rides to frail elderly and disabled individuals.  The cut-away will be used to provide rides through the STAR dial-a-ride program.  This program is open to the general public, however the E&D population makes up approximately 65% of dial-a-ride passengers.  Sandy Transit is excited to replace these vehicles and will seek council approval of the bids at the first April meeting.

Staff submitted two grant applications at the end of March.  One was submitted to the 5339 Vehicle Replacement Grant program.  If funded, this grant will replace one large transit vehicle that operates Sandy’s main fixed/commuter route, SAM – Gresham.  The vehicle to be replaced will reach the end of its useful life in less than 1 year.  The lead production time for a large transit bus is approximately 2 years.  The other application was submitted to the Transit Network Discretionary Grant program.  This application is a partnership between Sandy and Clackamas County Social Services to install Intelligent Transit Systems (ITS) on Sandy and Clackamas County vehicles.  These systems would improve 3 commuter routes in the Eastern region of Clackamas County; SAM – Gresham, SAM – Estacada and Mount Hood Express (MHX).  ITS equipment provides many useful features such as real time bus arrival prediction, 24/7 website maintenance, electronic data collection, automated bus stop announcements for ADA compliance and much more.  This would be a wonderful step toward the future for both systems and provide vast improvements for riders and providers.

Senior Center (Nancy Ream Enabnit)
Once again the Center is hosting two AARP Tax Aide volunteers. Every Wednesday from February 3rd through April 13th, the volunteers help moderate to low-income individuals with basic tax returns. Over 100 people take advantage of this valuable service.

Members put on their glitzy best to “Walk the Red Carpet” at the annual Oscar Party on Sunday, February 28th. In addition to the photo op area, attendees made predictions on Academy Award winners, sipped bubbly and snacked on treats, including tuxedo strawberries.

Parks
The Park Board recognized its 20th Anniversary in February. We convened at La Bamba and celebrated the many accomplishments achieved over the past two decades. One of the first goals of the Board was to create a Parks Master Plan. That plan has guided the methodical development of the truly remarkable park system in Sandy. Many, many thanks to the dedicated group of volunteers who has unselfishly given of their time over the years.

Recreation (Sarah Richardson)
The Safe Sitter Babysitting program continues to be popular. The February class was full and there is a second session scheduled for May.

Coming up on the cooking class menu – Tasty Thai Cuisine, Family Cooking, & Chinese Soup – One Pot Wonders.

Indoor Playgroup is at capacity on Wednesday mornings, and there is discussion about possibly adding a second day. Other consistent favorites offered include Kinderdance,  Pee Wee Soccer, Horsemanship, and Tae Kwon Do.

Transit (Andi Howell)
Total ridership this month was 9125.  This is a slight decrease in ridership of 1% from February 2015.  The SAM-Gresham ridership decreased by 2% with a total of 8267 rides in 2016 compared to 8434 in 2015; SAM-Estacada ridership increased by 30%; STAR decreased by 13.5%; and ED ridership increased by 105%.

Sandy Transit staff have been analyzing ridership trends.  Sandy’s STAR dial-a-ride system has seen a steady increase in the percentage of Elderly and Disabled utilizing the service. In 2013 the percentage of E&D riders on STAR was 57%.  Just two years later the percentage increased to 65%.  Due to this increase, STAR passengers have seen longer boarding times and scheduling has become more difficult.  To alleviate the strain on riders and schedulers, STAR can no longer offer same day service on the dial-a-ride system.  Staff are looking into ways to augment the STAR dial-a-ride system with the expectation of returning to same-day service as soon as possible.  One possible solution may be a weekday shopping shuttle in the south section of Sandy.  The main shopping centers in town, such as Fred Meyer, Safeway and Bi-mart/Grocery Outlet, are large trip generators for STAR riders who do not drive and live too far from the main bus line.  A deviated bus route could accommodate these users, provide trips for shopping, as well as access to the main bus route, the Post Office, the medical clinics and the Senior Center.

The Transit website became functional with an embedded trip planner, updated photographs, links and interactive maps.  The maps allow passengers to identify all stops available and are much easier to understand, especially on a mobile device, than the pdf route map.  The route map is still available for those who may like to print the full schedule.

The STFAC committee, of which staff and TAC members participate, is working diligently to update the regional coordinated plan for the elderly and people with disabilities.  This process will continue until May.

Transit staff are also involved with the Community Transportation of America Association’s (CTAA) steering committee for the 2016 national conference that is to be held in Portland in May.  This is an annual conference held in various locations throughout the United States; the fact that it is in Portland is a wonderful opportunity for Oregon transit professionals. Workshop planning is well underway and the schedule of classes and presentations is impressive.  Sandy staff will attend and the transit manager will participate on a panel of Oregon providers as the rural transit representative.

Senior Center (Nancy Ream Enabnit)
The Center opened late on January 21st to allow Sandy’s finest to conduct a Run, Hide, Fight training for Community Services staff. Chief Kim Yamashita and officers Armando Olmos and William Weatherbee provided invaluable instruction in what to do if faced with an active shooter situation.

Popular trips for the month included a hike on the Trolley Trail in Gladstone, the World of Speed Museum in Wilsonville, and the annual favorite St. Aidan’s Crab & Shrimp Feast. A tour of several area nurseries got folks excited to get busy in their gardens.

Parks
Crews from Mosaic Ecology began removing invasive species, primarily from the western end of the Tickle Creek Corridor. The effort is part of a consent agreement between the City and DEQ. Work will take place over several months and consists of initial removal, spraying and follow-up treatment. Native species will be planted once clean-up work is completed.

Talks began with consultants Mackenzie to finalize plans for the Meinig Park improvement project. When completed the park will sport a new off-leash dog area, upgraded lighting, No Name Creek riparian restoration and realignment of some pathways to provide enhanced accessibility.

Recreation (Sarah Richardson)
Mountain Storm is in high gear with 28 teams of girls & boys, grades 3-6. Games and practices fill the area gyms most nights of the week.

Zumba returned to the Community Center with great success, and more adult fitness classes are being developed.

New Cooking classes, with an amazing selection of topics and savory menus, have also had early success. Check them out and look for more options this summer.

Summer camps and programs are in the planning stages. Already on the calendar for summer 2016 are Challenger Sports Camps and the return of Camp Namanu Day Camps. The Recreation Department is also looking to develop art and theater camps by partnering with teachers who are available during the summer. Stay tuned. Field trips, special events and Mountain Festival activities will round out summer programming.

Senior Center (Nancy Ream Enabnit)
December began with the annual family tradition, Breakfast with Santa. Not only does the event provide a time for people to come together and celebrate the season, but money is raised to help support the Sandy/Boring meals-on-wheels program. Hundreds of hours of volunteer time go into decorating the center, soliciting prizes, preparing and serving the meal, greeting attendees, taking/developing photos and cleaning up. Local businesses exhibit their generosity by donating merchandise to the very successful raffle or money to directly support the fundraiser. Breakfast with Santa is a wonderful reminder of the special community in which we live.

Parks
The Parks Board, led by Chairwoman Kathleen Walker, presented the concept of purchasing trail corridors along the west and south sides of the Sandy High School property. The goal is to provide an unrestricted off-road connection between the north Sandy Bluff neighborhood and the commercial core of Sandy as well as Sandy River Park. With City Council support, staff is working with Oregon Trail School District personnel to further this shared goal.

Recreation (Sarah Richardson)
December was a busy month with the final stages of the Winter/Spring Recreation Guide in development and the organization of Mountain Storm.

Mountain Storm Youth Basketball is experiencing record numbers with 28 teams between grades 3-6. Gyms are very tight and scheduling practices and games are proving to be challenging, but it is great to see so many kids doing something active and positive.

Sandy Transit began a new, innovative program to increase awareness of the services available to residents recently relocated to the City. Based on water bill accounts, approximately 15 welcome packets are sent to new residents each month. In the past, the Transit brochure/schedule was included. Currently, along with the schedule, a free monthly bus pass is included. The drivers have reported the passes are being used, and a new tracking system to capture usage data is in the works.

January passes and Sandy Anniversary bags were adorned with an ornament and given out to families who attended the December “story time and read along” at the Sandy Library.  Additionally, Sandy Transit partnered with the Sandy Area Chamber of Commerce to include a January pass to local families in need. The families were selected by the Chamber.

Sandy staff are currently working on the STIP proposal that was submitted in November and an STF Discretionary grant that will be due in January.  Additionally, staff are busy with exciting website updates that should be in place by next month.

Our partner, Mount Hood Express, has altered their equipment for the ski season.  With the return of snow on the Mountain, Mount Hood Express has seen their ridership swell and were forced to add 3 routes for a 2-week period.  The Operations Center became a very busy place during the month of December both for the purchase of Mount Hood Express tickets, Day “fusion” Passes, and as a park and ride.

Senior Center (Nancy Ream Enabnit)
As the weather turns cold, activities are scheduled closer to home. On November 12th Chief Yamashita offered a class in Senior Self-Defense & Identity Theft Prevention. She led participants through age-specific self-defense options and taught techniques for recognizing and preventing identity theft.

The Center sponsored the AARP Smart Driver course on November 23rd. The 6-hour class focused on refining existing skills and developing defensive driving techniques. Several center members as well as two center employees successfully completed the course.

Parks
At the November meeting, Craig Gaare resigned from the Park Board to free up time to spend with his family and travel. Craig provided valuable insight to park board discussions and helped out with the Park Master Plan update process. Craig’s wife, Christine, offered her consulting services free of charge as the board developed, distributed and analyzed survey results that will shape the Master Plan going forward. Many thanks to Craig & Christine Gaare for their dedicated service to the City of Sandy parks system.

Recreation (Sarah Richardson)
The Mountain Storm basketball program is experiencing a record number of registrations. Teams are forming and open gyms are keeping the kids active leading up to the school break.  Finding adequate gym space continues to be a challenge, but Recreation Department staff is working closely with the Oregon Trail School District to manage the increased demand.

Work is underway for the Winter/Spring Recreation guide. Fun cooking classes and “pop-up” cooking events along with some additional fitness classes are among the new programs.

The City was the main sponsor of the Oregon Bike Racing Association’s State Championship Cyclocross Race on November 21st. The race course at Liepold Farm drew rave reviews, and the weather was clear and cool for the big event. Over 400 participants took to the main course, and there was a Kiddie Cross course set up for kids 10 & Under as well. Other sponsors of the race included Clackamas County Tourism and Sellwood Cycle Repair.

Transit (Andi Howell)
Total ridership this month was 9809.  This is a very slight decrease in ridership by 1.3% from November 2014.  The SAM-Gresham ridership decreased by 3.3% with a total of 7754 rides; SAM-Estacada ridership increased by 12.4%; STAR increased this month by 3.8%; and ED ridership increased by 30%.  While ridership continues to be lower than it was in 2014, the ridership trend of 2015 is holding steady.

Another trend that SAM will begin watching is the use of bicycles on the SAM system.  An analysis of bike use on SAM services from October 2014 to October 2015 showed an increase of 90%.  The very popular use of bikes on the Mount Hood Express system seems to be influencing riders on the SAM system as well.  Bicyclists have learned that they can use the bus to ride mountain trails and forgo the park and ride.

Our partner, Mount Hood Express, has altered their equipment for the ski season.  The much used bike trailers have been replaced with ski boxes.  New day passes were designed for the partnership between SAM and MHX.  These $5.00 passes allow passengers to use both systems unlimited for an entire day.  Day pass sales continue to rise slowly, especially on weekends.

In November, SAM entered a proposal into the STIP Enhance grant process.  If accepted, this grant would cover the cost of replacement for 2 of 3 large, heavy-duty buses that will surpass their “useful life” in the near future.  SAM will need to replace 11 buses, 3 of which are the large buses previously mentioned, by 2020.  The large, heavy-duty buses, referred to as the “work horses” of our operations, require a large capital outlay that is difficult for a small, rural system to fund locally.  The buses to be replaced provide the critical connectivity necessary between the Villages at Mount Hood to the East, Estacada, Eagle Creek and Oregon City to the South, and Gresham and Portland to the West.  They operate continuously 15 hours a day on the often over-crowded Hwy 26.  The newer vehicles will preserve the current design of the transit system and provide better fuel efficiency, cleaner emissions and lower maintenance costs.

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.