Senior Center (Nancy Ream Enabnit)
A beautiful new Sandy-style sign now welcomes visitors to the Community/Senior Center. Workers from TubeArt Designs installed the sign in late January, and Scott Brown from IT got the reader board up and running. Staff attended a webinar to learn a few tricks on programming, keeping in mind the municipal code parameters, of course. In conjunction with sign installation was a relocation of the mailbox. Personnel from Sandy Post Office, Sandy Fire Department and Public Works weighed in on the optimal location for the mailbox, and the contractor moved it at no additional cost.

Save the date! The Senior Center will celebrate its 40th Anniversary on April 24th.

Parks
Footings were poured for the Bornstedt playground and the first load of bark chips was spread. Joe Preston coordinated this portion of the project and got a little help from Ant Farm personnel. Dan from Valley View Landscape donated the use of a dingo (motorized wheelbarrow) and one of his employees to operate it. Special thanks to Steve Gillis and Joe Preston for braving wind, sleet and snow to facilitate delivery of the second load of bark chips. A work party to get the rest of the chips distributed will take place soon.

Recreation (Sarah Richardson)
The Recreation Department continues to utilize creative ways of marketing classes and programs. The database of newsletter subscribers grows weekly. The new electronic sign is boosting the effort to communicate with residents about the diverse recreational and leisure opportunities available in the community.

Mountain Storm Youth Basketball for 3^rd-6^th graders kicked off the game season in January. A total of 188 kids are currently playing in the league.

Transit (Julie Stephens)
Total ridership this month was 12,696, a decrease of 34% from the same period last year. SAM-Gresham decreased 35.6%; SAM-Estacada had the greatest drop in use, 44.5%; STAR had a modest decrease, 6.5% this month; and ED ridership increased by 60%.

After reviewing the stats for October & November, we discovered uncounted ridership, and the corrections reflect slightly improved numbers for those months. However, for just the second time in the fourteen-year history of services, annual ridership fell from the previous year, largely due to the implementation of fares in October. The total ridership, 217,210, was a decrease of 16% from the previous year. The greatest loss, 16.6%, was seen on the SAM-Gresham route; SAM-Estacada fell by 14%; STAR lost 8.7%; yet ED increased almost 17%.

Once again the expanded Mt. Hood Express ridership hit a new high in January at 3606, almost doubling previous averages.  Ridership on the new weekend SAM-Gresham Saturday & Sunday service continues to experience slight increases.

The Clackamas County C4 committee added a rural transit staff representative, and Julie Stephens, Sandy Transit Manager, was appointed to the position.

Senior Center (Nancy Ream Enabnit)
The 26th annual Breakfast With Santa brought in nearly $3,000. Money raised benefits the Sandy/Boring meals-on-wheels program. Dedicated volunteers drive four separate routes each day to make sure the 45 recipients receive a hot, home-delivered meal four days each week. Thanks again to the local merchants and the many volunteers who donated goods and time to make this holiday fundraiser a success.

Save the date! The Senior Center will celebrate its 40th Anniversary on April 24th.

Parks
From park land purchase to completion of Bornstedt Park was a mere 8-1/2 years. There are a few finishing touches left to be done on the playground, but landscaping, splash pad, paths, plaza, community garden, benches, irrigation, drinking fountain, and a stunning half-street improvement are done at last! A formal ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held in March.

Recreation (Sarah Richardson)
Mountain Storm is in full swing with 22 teams. Grades 3-6 were combined into one season this year, so the calendar is very busy.

The 2^nd edition of the electronic Recreation & Leisure Guide was produced in December for the Winter & Spring 2014 season. Overall registration has been better than expected for the fall considering the transition to paperless guide, and registrations are expected to grow over the next few sessions as residents get more accustomed to the change in the delivery of information.

From a financial point of view, we are way ahead considering the cost of producing and mailing the printed guide is no longer a factor. Department staff is able to use more current trends in communicating with residents including email marketing, Facebook, targeted email blasts and more. The database for email marketing grows daily.

The guide has live link capabilities and staff is developing ways to assist area businesses that offer education/recreation/leisure opportunities. An advertising fee structure for including links to these businesses in the guide is being developed.

Transit (Julie Stephens)
Total ridership this month was 11,368, a decrease of 37.3% from the same period last year. SAM-Gresham decreased 40%; SAM-Estacada had the greatest drop in use, 48.5%; STAR had a most modest increase, 2.4% this month; and ED ridership increased by 42.4%.

Ridership stats for October & November are under review for accuracy.  Procedural changes in the recording system caused confusion for some operators and passenger counts were a bit low.  Next month data will be provided for the end of the year ridership review.

The Mt. Hood Express ridership almost doubled in December with 3137 rides!  The projected use for recreation and employment in the Mt Hood area is materializing.  Calls come in daily from people all over the Portland area and beyond asking about the service.  Hikers from the Pacific Crest Trail have come into Sandy on the bus for supplies and a taste of civilization.  The service will be operating seven express runs daily, seven days a week, through March along with the two Villages shuttle runs.  In April the service frequency drops, but service continues seven days a week.

The Mt. Hood Express grand opening event at Timberline Lodge, held on December 16^th, was a well-attended, successful celebration of the expanded service provided by the public/private partnership between Clackamas County, City of Sandy, US Forest Service, Timberline Lodge, Ski Bowl, the Resort on the Mountain and the RV Village.

The Transit Advisory Committee convened on December 18^th.  The service and fare changes were discussed as well as increased state funding for Special Transportation Services for elderly and people with disabilities.  It was agreed we will be submitting grant applications for the next STAR bus to be a “low-floor” and for some supplemental operating funds.

Bernice Powell and Andi Howell lead a popular Transit Adventure to Timberline for a tour of the lodge and lunch.  The trip was capped at nineteen participants and was so popular, with many on the waitlist, that they will do a snowshoe trip to Ski Bowl in March.

Fare collections continue to be on target for projected revenue, and ridership on STAR in-town has seemingly returned to normal.

Senior Center (Nancy Ream Enabnit)
Sandy Golden Age Club, formed many years ago to help establish the Sandy Senior Center, held a bake sale in November. Money raised will go directly into the Center’s Dollars for Dilemmas program. The fund offers one-time financial assistance to those in need for items such as furnace and other home repair, co-pay for medication or dental care, or pet expenses.

The Center hosted an AARP Defensive Driving Class. 15 people took advantage of the 6-hour training to brush up on their vehicle operation skills.

Preparation was underway for the 26th annual Breakfast With Santa. Local merchants were especially generous this year with hundreds of raffle prize donations. The drawing alone brought in $750.

Parks
Progress on Bornstedt Park includes the fencing around the Community Garden area and the completion of landscaping.

Two grants were awarded from Clackamas County Tourism for financial support for the 2014 Sandy/Boring Corn Cross and improvements to Meinig Park to enhance the Summer Sounds and Starlight Cinema. County money will be used to improve stage lighting, install park lighting in the seating area along the hillside north of the main stage, and erect entrance and way-finding signs throughout Meinig Park.

Recreation (Sarah Richardson)
Mountain Storm Basketball for grades 3-6 kicked off in November. A total of 22 teams will enjoy league play beginning in January. In the meantime they are practicing in schools throughout the Sandy and Welches area. Thank you to OTSD for the use of facilities and to all the volunteers who make the league possible. Great to see kids active and learning important life skills through team sports.  Mountain Storm also provides a number of youth with referee jobs. For many this is their first paid job.

The Healthy Start playgroup continues to grow. The program provides indoor playtime for children birth-5 years and creates a support group for parents. The program is free and runs most Wednesdays 10:00-11:30am at the Community Center.

Other classes with good turn-out this fall include basketball fundamentals for grades 1 & 2, Pee Wee Soccer,  Tae Kwon Do, Transit Trips, Zumba, Tai Chi,  and Kinderdance/gym.

Transit (Julie Stephens)
Total ridership this month was 11,458, a decrease of 43% from the same period last year. SAM-Gresham decreased 45.5%; SAM-Estacada had the greatest drop in use, 52.7%; STAR had the most modest drop, 3.8% this month; and ED ridership was exactly the same and finally flat.

A number of factors have contributed to the approximately 20% ridership decline trend since the first of the year. They are: the SAM route change to the Transit Center at the Plaza; the new location of the high school, which is no longer on the route; and decreased fuel prices. The further decline in ridership is due to the fare initiation and significant changes to the Mountain Express schedule that had impacts for transfers between systems.  Ridership loss from fares is expected to recover over time.  Route adjustments between systems will be reviewed after several months. The use of the new Saturday morning service and 5 Sunday runs between Sandy and Gresham was similar to October use.  Saturday mornings averaged 3.6 rides per hour and Sunday use is at about 10 rides per hour.

Additional marketing is on the horizon with a Sandy Area Chamber of Commerce E-Blast in conjunction with the Mt. Hood Express and a Sandy Cinema ad during the holidays and January.

The Mt. Hood Express picked up ridership in November with 1853 rides and exceeded the same month last year.  They will be operating seven express runs daily, seven days a week through March along with the two Villages shuttle runs.

A grand opening event led by Clackamas County will be held at Timberline Lodge on December 16^th to kick off the expanded service provided by the public/private partnership of Clackamas County, City of Sandy, US Forest Service, Timberline Lodge, Ski Bowl, the Resort at the Mountain and the RV Village.

Bernice Powell led a popular Transit Adventure to OMSI with eight participants.

Fare collections appear to be on target for projected revenue.

Senior Center (Nancy Ream Enabnit)
Each month Center members enjoy a variety of excursions. Over 20 seniors attended the October 26th graduation ceremony at Guide Dogs for the Blind on Kelso Road in Boring. The emotional ceremony was followed up by a tour of the impressive facility.

With the cooler weather comes a demand for assistance with heating bills. Client Services Coordinator Cami Henderson is working with community volunteer Pat Cavatio to offer intake services for low-income individuals who require help filling out the Clackamas County Energy Assistance application form. To date they have completed documents for over 140 households.

Rounding out the month was the world premier of Captain Long Johns. This year’s staff Halloween skit (photo evidence below) was performed with enthusiasm to a packed audience, many of whom declared it “the best skit ever” (as they do every year).

Parks
Bornstedt Park is inching along towards completion. The splash pad is in and plaza area poured. 13 hearty souls (Councilor Lois Coleman, Stephanie Craven & Craig Gaare from the park board, community volunteer Jeff Reis, consultant Ralph Henderson [not on the clock], and city staff including: Mike Walker, Ryan Wood, Joe Knapp, Joe Preston, Steve Gillis, Julie Stephens, Seth Atkinson and yours truly) braved a little rain and a lot of mud to erect the play structure under the watchful eyes of the professional installers from Precision Recreation.

Recreation (Sarah Richardson)
Classes are hitting their stride this month and residents are getting used to new ways of acquiring information about programs.

Mountain Storm Youth Basketball has adopted a new schedule this year and is starting later. October grade school numbers reflect this change. Grades 3-6 will run concurrently and kick off in November instead of October.

The Indoor Park play group has grown into a very busy and successful program thanks to Healthy Start and a wonderful group of volunteers. It is a free play group for children under 5 and their parents. They meet Wednesdays from 10:00-11:30 at the Community Center.

Additional staff time was spent preparing for the first ever Sandy/Boring Corn Cross. The event attracted 258 adult participants and an estimated 50 children.

Transit (Julie Stephens)
Total ridership this month was 14,606, a decrease of 36.8% from the same period last year. SAM-Gresham decreased 38%; SAM-Estacada decreased by 42%; STAR use decreased by 16% this month; and ED ridership increased 60%.

Two marker events happened in transit this month; we began collecting fares for all services and increased operations to 7 days a week.  The use of the new Saturday morning service and 5 Sunday runs between Sandy and Gresham are building ridership as the awareness grows.  Saturday mornings are averaging 5 rides per hour and Sunday use is at almost 11 rides per hour.

As a point of reference, the Mt. Hood Express, with 2 daily shuttle runs to the Villages at Mt. Hood and 5 express runs to Timberline, carried over 1500 riders in October (its first month of expanded operations).  That is down about 25% from previous averages.  Often when services change, the public’s uncertainty presents a temporary barrier to use.

Fare collections are on target for projections, exceeding $12,000 and the process is going smoothly.  Ridership loss is also close to projections and will hopefully return slowly as potential riders adjust to the changes.

We had a great team attend the Oregon Public Transit Conference in Bend in early October.  However, the many new demands on operations kept the Contractor and their staff from attending. Julie, Andi, and three members of the Transit Advisory Committee, Heather Michet, Joseph Lowe and Roxy Tolva, went to the conference.  The team enjoyed many presentations that illustrated the growing need for public and alternative transportation options.  The diverse workshops met the various interests of our group, such as marketing, city planning, funding options, accessibility, and the very popular session on how to find happiness at work.

Senior Center (Nancy Ream Enabnit)
The Senior Center was involved in a fall-prevention study, sponsored by OHSU, that offered free Tai Chi classes twice a week for adults 60+. The class proved quite popular and, as a result, Tai Chi: Moving for Better Balance is now being offered on Monday mornings. Although there is a charge for the class, it has a loyal following of participants who realize the benefits of this form of exercise.

Guest speakers for the month included Julie Stephens and Andi Howell from Sandy Transit. They held an after-lunch information session on Sept. 19th regarding the October bus system changes. On Monday the 23rd, Becky Galbreth of Priority Footwear spoke on the topic of Diabetes and Your Feet.

Despite an increase in prices, excursions for the month were full to capacity. The “new” center van got some snazzy graphics, thanks to the guidance of Julie Stephens.

Staff time was spent on the RFP process for a new monument sign on the north side (street side) of the Center. Two proposals were received, and the work should be completed before year’s end.

Parks
Clackamas River Basin Watershed Council is currently doing a “Shade Our Streams” project in Sandy Bluff Park. Personnel removed invasive species along a 10-foot wide corridor following the stream as it flows into and out of the pond. Once the area was cleared, native species were planted to encourage natural cooling of the waterway.

Recreation (Sarah Richardson)
The Fall Recreation Guide was distributed solely electronically for the first time. A flip book style program was used to post the guide making it simpler to navigate and search for activities. The new format allows for more pages with no additional cost, and full pages can be used to promote events etc.

New email marketing/social media strategies are being used to help share information about classes, programs and events. Flyers with upcoming activities have been distributed to the schools. As the transition develops, sign-ups are improving but were initially slower than normal. This is to be expected as residents get used to finding information in new ways.

A new monument sign with electronic reader board will be added to the Community Center this fall. It will provide a more dynamic means of sharing program information.

Transit (Julie Stephens)
Total ridership this month was 17,126, a decrease of 14% from the same period last year. SAM-Gresham decreased 16%; SAM-Estacada decreased by 4.5%; STAR use decreased by 3.7% this month; and though ED ridership increased substantially– by 82.8%, due to efficiencies gained through shared rides, the actual costs increased only 20%.

The Transit Advisory Committee convened again on September 18th to provide a venue for public meetings and feedback about the service changes and new fares.

Staff and Contractor continued to prepare for the October 1st start of extended weekend service on SAM-Gresham and Mountain Express to Timberline as well as the introduction of fares.  Reduced fare passes were available at several city locations during the end of the month.  Early sales and ridership are on target with projections.  You’ll see more about that next month.

We continue to experience success with transit tax collection efforts.  Of the 12 businesses that received pre-citation letters, 10 became compliant without citations, one paid after the citation was issued and the other failed to appear in court after saying they would be in to pay back taxes to become compliant.

Senior Center (Nancy Ream Enabnit)
Beginning with the new fiscal year, the Sandy Senior Scene newsletter has gone to a bi-monthly format.  Costs for excursions increased to more accurately reflect gas prices, staff costs and miscellaneous expenses.  Response from participants has been reassuring as people understand the tides of change.

Parks
Sarah Richardson has been intimately involved with the planning of the Oregon Parks & Recreation Association’s (ORPA) annual conference. Camp ORPA will be held at the Resort at the Mountain in mid-September, and the venue is sold out.  City staff is leading activities including paddle-boarding at Trillium Lake, mountain biking at Sandy Ridge and run/walks at Salmon River and Tickle Creek Trails. Staff is also hosting informational sessions on-site at Meinig & Bornstedt Parks.

Recreation (Sarah Richardson)
The Fall 2013 Recreation & Leisure Guide was finalized and posted online. The guide is now exclusively delivered electronically. Hard copies can be obtained at the Community Center, Library and City Hall.

With the change the Recreation Department is utilizing Facebook, email blasts, newsletters, more frequent individual class flyers, etc. to schools to help promote community classes and programs.

Joining the regular returning classes on the schedule are new offerings including: Sewing for ages 5-9; Stained Glass; additional day and time for Kinderdance (Thursday at 4:00pm); Crescendo Dance Class; Toddler Jams; Basketball Grades 1-2; Fall Hikes; Lunch Series in The Park; additional day and time for Tai Chi (Monday at 11am); and Easy Computer 1 for Windows 8.

Mountain Storm Youth Basketball has a new schedule and format this season.  Flyers will be in schools in early October with all grades playing concurrently. Grades 3-6 will begin practicing in November and playing in December.

Carol Cohen has been working on a new event: Sandy/Boring Corn Cross.  The Cyclocross race is scheduled for November 2nd at Liepold Farms.  The effort got a tremendous boost through a $1500 grant from Clackamas County Tourism.

Transit (Julie Stephens)
Total ridership this month was 20,341, a decrease of 15% from the same period last year. SAM-Gresham decreased 16%; SAM-Estacada decreased by 12.8%; STAR use decreased by 7% this month; and ED use increased by 15.4%.

Staff and Contractor continue to prepare for the October 1^st start of extended weekend service on SAM-Gresham and Mountain Express to Timberline.  New drivers are in training for the service expansions.  Fare media is in production and should be ready for sale by mid-September.  Partnership and public meetings continue with marketing efforts taking the forefront.

Hood-to-Coast went off without the issues of past years.  The exchange point at Safeway is much better for transit.

The Transit Advisory Committee convened again this month on August 21^st and will meet on September 18^th from 6-7pm to provide a venue for public meetings about the service changes and new fares.  Both will be implemented in October 2013.

We continue to experience success with transit tax collection efforts.  Our presentation with the Windermere Realtors seemed well received.  We also had our first court case which again resulted in better understanding and an effective outcome.

The August Transit Adventure attracted 10 participants to access Clackamette Park in Oregon City via public transportation. A hike and picnic preceded the return trip.

Senior Center (Nancy Ream Enabnit)
July means pies at the Sandy Senior Center.  Many folks pitched in to mix, roll, fill and bake 240 pies to sell at Sandy Mountain Festival.  Over 1000 cookies were baked and sold as well.  Profits from the annual fundraiser (around $3,000) benefit the Sandy/Boring meals-on-wheels.

Julie Stephens has taken the lead on developing a graphics package for the new senior center van.  She developed a general concept, solicited quotes, and is following through on selection of a provider and finalizing the design.  Thanks Julie!

Parks
Construction on Bornstedt Park continues as paths and sidewalks go in.  Much of the grading is complete, the irrigation system is in, and the playground perimeter is being formed.  Splash pad construction will begin soon.  It’s exciting!

Once again Katie Murphy has come up with a fabulous line-up of artists for Sandy Summer Sounds.  Wine in the Woods kicked off the acoustic series and Brewgrass led the way for the main stage series.  The first two weeks of Sandy Cinema have been popular for families from Sandy and surrounding area.

Recreation (Sarah Richardson)
July was busy as usual with Mountain Festival events, Adult Softball and a variety of camps and classes.

Mountain Festival Kids’ activities were very well attended. The pet show, bike derby and kids’ parade filled the week with fun, family-friendly events.

There was a decline in adult softball participation due in large part to the increase in facility use fees.  In order to cover costs the recreation department had to double participation fees.  However, 8 teams played from June through August with a tournament ending the season on August 10^th. Teams really enjoyed playing on the new High School fields and it is expected participation will be back up next season. Fees were thoroughly researched, are in line with other metro area programs, and did completely cover the cost of the program.

A new format for summer camps was introduced this summer, but overall participation was down. A thorough review of the summer camp program will be completed and a revised summer program which meets the needs of residents, while covering the cost of providing the program, will be implemented.

A new Recreation Focus group is forming to help guide the direction of future programs.

Despite the changes this summer and a decline in some programs, overall participation in recreation programs and events increased.

Transit (Julie Stephens)
Total ridership this month was 20,203, a decrease of 7% from the same period last year. The SAM-Estacada route showed an increase of 6.3%.  SAM-Gresham decreased 8.7%; STAR use decreased by 1.9% this month.  ED use decreased by 12.1%.

Total ridership for FY13 was 245,966, down 3.9% from FY12.  Most of the loss was seen in the last half of the fiscal year (Jan-Jun).  A service change in January to the new Plaza Transit Center and more moderate gas prices seem to be factors in the reduction of use.

Transit moved from the Transit Center during the Chamber’s Music, Fair and Feast event.  It was a bit bumpy coordinating the timing and preliminary arrangements.  We had significant issues with signage and compliance for bus parking, transfer and layover space in front of City Hall, including one minor accident.  The final evening a bus clipped a parked vehicle in the bus loading space.  Next year we will adjust the transfer spot to Proctor Blvd in front of the eastern most gas station.

The Transit Advisory Committee convened on July 17^th and will meet on August 21st and September 18^th from 6-7pm to provide a venue for public meetings about the service changes and new fares.  Both will be implemented in October 2013.

We are busy with meetings and coordination efforts in the development of the new service for the Federal Lands grant and the development of fare media.

Transit tax collection efforts are meeting with a good amount of success.

Twelve people participated in the July Transit Adventure to attend a concert in downtown Portland’s Pioneer Square followed by lunch in NW Portland.

Senior Center (Nancy Ream Enabnit)
Cami Henderson, Client Services Coordinator, finished out 2012-13 with record-breaking numbers.  The 65+ age group is the fastest growing demographic in the United States, so the need for assistance with transportation, in-home support, selecting health insurance, financial advice and nutrition services will continue to grow.

Parks
The Park Board enjoyed its annual park tour.  One highlight was a stop by the Bornstedt Park construction site.  Members had fun imagining the completed park full of happy families.

As Bornstedt Park construction proceeds, a special shout-out goes to Mike Walker and his public works staff.  They have spent countless hours reviewing technical plans, locating utilities and working with Paul Brothers and other contractors.

Another special mention goes to Kelly O’Neill for coordinating construction of the Tupper/Scales path connection. A passionate group of volunteers donated hours and equipment to get the job done.  Neighbors were using the packed-gravel path before it was even completed.

Recreation (Sarah Richardson)
Adult Coed Softball kicked off in June with teams playing for the first time on the new High School fields.  With the increase in fees there are fewer teams but the players are enjoying the better fields and playing close to home. It is expected team numbers will be back up next summer as players adjust to the new fee structure.

New format for the summer camp is in the early weeks with participation lighter than last summer but with expected growth after Mtn. Festival.

Specialty soccer camps are in session and enjoying the outdoor venue at Bluff Park.

Horsemanship classes offered by Iris White continue to be popular for all age groups.

Another successful and meaningful Noah’s Quest was held on June 29th.  This year’s 5k/10k run/walk saw record-breaking attendance with 196 entrants.  Sandy Bluff Park has become the permanent home of the event, and the Cohen-Mallon Family, in conjunction with Brief Encounters Support Group, bought a bench and marker to offer a permanent point of reflection for those coping with the loss of a child.

Transit (Julie Stephens)
Total ridership this month was 19,065, a decrease of 14.7% from the same period last year. The SAM-Estacada route showed a decrease in ridership of 12%.  SAM-Gresham decreased 15.7%; STAR use decreased by 8% this month.  ED use increased by 13.3%.

Andi and Julie attended the Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA) conference in Albuquerque.  It was a great learning and networking opportunity with over 600 in attendance.  One of the highlights was the special guest speaker, Lt. General Russel Honore, discussing the vital importance of community and public transit in emergency preparedness response.  He came into New Orleans post-Katrina to manage the aftermath of the disaster.  He told people to “put those guns down”, handed twin babies to his soldiers to help an overwhelmed mother and led with humanity to “get the job done”.   I felt like I did after seeing Star Wars the first time—I knew the Force was with me.

As a side-note to the CTAA Conference, Andi Howell won the grand prize in the raffle drawing–$200 cash.  In an extremely ethical and generous gesture, Andi donated the money to the recent Bark for the Park fundraiser.

I was invited to speak about the transit system at the Oregon Trail Democrats June meeting.  The group was quite knowledgeable and we had a very engaging discussion.

In a bittersweet turn, the ten-year relationship with OHAS/Wheels came to an end as RoJoy Services took over the reins for operating the transit service.

Transit tax collection audits continued as efforts moved forward on advanced tax collection methods for those accounts which have not come into compliance by the routine procedures.

We received good news about the joint application submitted by the Forest Service, Clackamas County and Sandy for additional service to Timberline and the Mt Hood National Forest.  Funding for a two-year project was awarded by the Federal Lands Access Program (FLAP) which will include new service hours between Sandy and Gresham on Saturday mornings and throughout the day on Sunday.  The Mountain Express route will connect with SAM in Sandy and go to Welches, Rhododendron, Ski Bowl and Timberline.  Service will begin in October.

Senior Center (Nancy Ream Enabnit)
The annual Health Fair was held in May featuring the Lions Mobile Screening Unit.  Over 50 individuals received a variety of free health and wellness services.  In conjunction, Clackamas County sponsored two days of free dental care.  32 seniors and low-income individuals received exams and teeth cleaning at no charge.

Parks
Demolition of the “bunkhouse” on the Bornstedt property was completed.  Several individuals claimed many of the household items and removed construction materials to recycle for personal use.  Konell Construction donated time and equipment to demolish the structure and haul away the refuse.

Recreation (Sarah Richardson)
The Summer Recreation Guide was completed and mailed in May.

Summer Adult softball teams formed in May with more than 100 adults looking forward to playing on the new High School fields beginning in June.

The first ever Bark for the Park was a huge success with sponsors, vendors and participants. Funds raised will help fence the two designated off-leash areas.  84 dogs attended (with at least one human attached at the end of the leash), as well as 12 dogs working the agility and obedience demonstrations.

Transit (Julie Stephens)
Total ridership this month was 20,850, a decrease of 13.3% from the same period last year. The SAM-Estacada route showed a decrease in ridership of 10.7%, the first reduction in well over a year; SAM-Gresham decreased 13.7%; STAR use decreased by 14.5% this month.  ED use had a significant increase of 36%.

Julie and two OHAS/Wheels employees took an FTA Drug & Alcohol one-day training which included Supervisor training for suspicion of drug and/or alcohol use by employees.

Staff worked on the operations contract agreement language for the new contract period.

Following further research, a fare policy including rates was presented for Council review and approval.

Several levels of transit tax collection audits were performed in an effort to move forward on advanced tax collection methods for those accounts which have not come into compliance by the routine procedures.

Senior Center (Nancy Ream Enabnit)
Once again the Center hosted the AARP Tax Aide program.  Long-time volunteers, Joanne Anderson and Virginia Frasier, assisted 110 people complete state and federal tax forms.  This year it was an entirely paperless process.

Last year at this time the new drinking fountain/water bottle filler was installed in the center dining room.  One year later the counter indicates the equivalent of 6300 water bottles filled–that’s 525 per month.

Parks
The bid for construction of Bornstedt Park was awarded to Paul Brothers of Boring.  They have developed parks all over, including the Boring Station Trailhead.  Paul Bros is especially happy to be working so close to home.

Preliminary results are in for the 585 park surveys returned.  The findings will be presented to Council at a future workshop.

Recreation (Sarah Richardson)
A great deal of staff time was spent in coordination of the May 18th Bark for the Park.  Local sponsorship and support has been overwhelming.

The Summer Recreation & Leisure Guide was assembled and edited.  It is the final paper version.  Classes are available for all ages and range from camps to computers to canoeing to antiques to crochet to yoga.  Popular return offerings include horsemanship, hiking and transit trips.

Transit (Julie Stephens)
Total ridership this month was 20,871, a decrease of 6.8% from the same period last year. The SAM-Estacada route showed an increase of 14.4%; SAM-Gresham decreased 8.6%; STAR use decreased by 7.8% this month.  ED use was up about 14%.

We took seven participants to Transit Day at the Capitol on April 10th.  The group included staff, members of the Transit Advisory Committee, transit constituents, business owners and a SACC representative.  We had very good meetings with Representative Mark Johnson, Senator Chuck Thomsen, Representative Bill Kennemer and a special treat when Secretary of State, Kate Brown, came to see a member of our group, Laurie Chilcote.

Transit staff presented the fare policy recommendation put forth from the Transit Advisory Committee at the Council workshop this month.  After a comprehensive discussion and public comment, Council gave staff direction to further develop the policy based on the principles presented.  Staff will bring a resolution to Council on June 3, 2013.

We received two bids in response to the 2013 RFP for Transit Operations.  MV Transportation and RoJoy were the bidders.  RoJoy is a new company formed by Joyce LeDoux, the current Operations Supervisor for OHAS.  OHAS opted not to bid on the contract as their direction has moved away from transportation.  The selection committee ranked RoJoy as the top bidder, so staff will work toward finalizing a contract with her.

Julie Stephens was invited to fill the Oregon Delegate seat for the Community Transportation Association of America.  The seat was vacated by Elaine Wells of Ride Connection (CTAA) when she was nominated to the Board of Directors.  Andi Howell and Julie will attend the annual CTAA conference in Albuquerque in June.

Julie and Andi developed Transit Tax Instruction Guidelines for Real Estate Agents.  It was mailed to all realtors in Sandy.  We offered to speak with each of the four real estate offices in Sandy.  NW Prudential invited us to a meeting with all their agents; the questions were tough, but the information was well-received.