Monthly Report ~ December 2016

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Senior Center (Nancy Ream Enabnit)
December began with a family tradition that has lasted 29 years, Breakfast with Santa. The Center raised $3,266 in breakfast sales, raffle tickets and cash donations to help support the Sandy/Boring meals-on-wheels program. Volunteers and staff decorate the center, solicit prizes, prepare and serve the meal, greet attendees, take & develop photos and clean up. Local businesses once again donated merchandise for the raffle or money to directly support the fundraiser. Breakfast with Santa is a wonderful reminder of the special community in which we live.

Parks
Work continues to inch along on the restoration project in Meinig Park. Additional survey work is currently underway to provide accurate information to ensure appropriate slope percentages to meet ADA requirements. A tree survey will also assist in path and dog park location.

Recreation (Sarah Richardson)
Final detail for the Winter/Spring Recreation & Leisure Guide was completed. The Guide went live on the first day after Christmas break. New programs included the science-based Little Medical and Little Veterinarian School.  These programs introduce 6-11 year-olds to the fields of medicine and veterinary practices through hands-on activities, games, and projects. Classes take place after school and on weekends.

The department is in ongoing talks to expand the partnership with Camp Namanu. They will be offering a spring break camp and meetings are planned to look at bringing after-school programs to Sandy.

Dog training classes have returned to the Community Center. They include Puppy Kindergarten, Basic Manners and more. Recreation staff has received frequent requests to bring back dog training programs, and we are looking forward to offering more as interest grows.

Mountain Storm Youth Basketball was off to an early start this year, but Mother Nature had other ideas. Participation continues to grow and the program is already utilizing increased access to Cedar Ridge to meet the need for more practices and games. Programs for K-2 have been expanded to include an intermediate fundamentals class for 1st and 2nd graders at Cedar Ridge on Saturdays.

Transit (Andi Howell)
Total ridership this month was 9,043.  Overall ridership decreased by 5.4%.  The SAM-Gresham ridership decreased by 4.6%.  This route was negatively impacted due to the snow and ice in December.  Although the route was never completely canceled, there were delays, canceled runs and often hourly headways rather than half-hour.

SAM-Estacada ridership decreased by 42%.  Staff made significant changes to the Estacada line, including the route itself. The new route was particularly impacted by the snow and ice, and several runs were canceled.  This was unanticipated and future steps will be taken to address the inaccessibility of the in-town portion of this route in bad road conditions.

STAR ridership did not experience a significant increase or decrease.  Elderly and Disabled ridership on STAR remained at 67%.  The Elderly and Disabled program (out-of-town medical rides) experienced a 45.5% increase in ridership as compared to December 2015.  Both STAR and ED were impacted by the snow and ice and several trips were canceled.

The new Shopper Shuttle was successful in the first month of operation, especially given the weather.  This route was canceled one day and was driven by an SUV rather than a bus several days in December due to road conditions.  The route provided 120 rides in the first month.

Due to a delay in the grant agreement process for the Shopper Shuttle, 5 planned months of operations were not possible.  At the request of Sandy staff, ODOT agreed to allow Sandy to reallocate those operations funds to the capital component of the grant.  These increased funds will allow the City to purchase a “trolley style” bus.  It will be a low floor bus with a ramp and 2 wheelchair locations, which will provide accessibility for everyone, with the added charm of a trolley.  The procurement process will occur in January and the “trolley bus” is expected by June 2017.

The Mount Hood Express (MHX) service experienced increased ridership last month due to the weather conditions on the mountain.  This increase in ridership has changed the boarding patterns of MHX riders, leading to an increase of riders utilizing the Sandy Operations Center as a park-and-ride location.  MHX buses depart the Sandy Operations Center so riders who board in Sandy have the first access to seats.  Sandy staff debriefed with the operations crew to better plan for the increased traffic, staff time, riders and garbage in the parking lot.  The bus stop was moved to an improved location, a new sign was posted and a garbage can will be installed.  Sandy staff have also begun conversations with Clackamas County to encourage passengers to ride SAM from the Gresham Transit Center, lessening traffic on Hwy 26 and the impact on staff time at this facility.  It is very encouraging to see MHX and Sandy Transit staff successfully collaborate with Clackamas County for the betterment of both systems.

 

 

Monthly Report ~ November 2016

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Senior Center (Nancy Ream Enabnit)
Dan Pribeagu, a nurse practitioner student from Gonzaga University, concluded his internship with the Senior Center by offering a 3-week Brain Health class. He offered tips on how to increase memory, lifestyle changes to improve mental awareness and foods that help increase brain health.  The series concluded with a Brain Healthy lunch on the 17th.

Parks
The Park Board was sad to say goodbye to members Melissa Filich and Christina Frasl who resigned due to school, work and home life conflicts. Their invaluable contributions will certainly be missed. Tanya Richardson has attended two meetings and has shown interest in serving on the Board. More information on Tanya’s qualifications to follow.

Recreation (Sarah Richardson & Carol Cohen)
November was a busy month for youth basketball and planning for Winter and Spring recreation activities.

29 teams have formed for the 2017 Mountain Storm Basketball season. The program has grown and the Recreation Dept. is working with the school district to use the Cedar Ridge gym on Saturdays to accommodate the expanded program. Opportunities for open gyms, team practices, fundamentals classes, and adult programs will be planned.

The Camp Namanu partnership is also expanding. A new Spring Break Camp and other day camps are in the works. The summer program will grow to 4 or more weeks and it will include programs for middle school aged campers.

The Little Medical School program is coming to Sandy. Look for programs that introduce to children the fields of medicine and veterinary care. After-school programs incorporate fun and creative activities to help kids learn about healthy lifestyles for the whole family.

New Dog Training classes are also on the schedule.  Several options will be available to choose from including Puppy Manners and the Canine Good Citizen program.

Corn Cross II, the OBRA State Cyclocross Championship was held at Liepold Farms. Over 500 participants enjoyed riding the outstanding course under mostly clear skies. The partnership between the City of Sandy, Liepolds & Sellwood Cycles is a successful model that will likely expand into new events in 2017.

Transit (Andi Howell)
Total ridership this month was 9,506.  Overall ridership decreased by 3%.  The SAM-Gresham route showed no significant change in ridership; the route increased by 7 rides over November 2015.  This is the first time in 4 years that SAM Gresham ridership has not experienced a decrease.  This is very promising news for the new fare structure changes that took effect just last month.

SAM-Estacada ridership decreased by 35%.  Staff made significant changes to the Estacada route and times last month.  It was also discovered that a driver was counting incorrectly on this route, but this was corrected within 1 day.  We expect Estacada ridership to rebound soon as riders get used to the changes.

STAR rides decreased by 3.5%.  STAR has experienced some decreases due to the cancellation of same-day scheduling.  By January, STAR should be able to return to same-day scheduling as the Shopping Shuttle will begin operations December 1.  The percentage of elderly and/or disabled riders on STAR was 67%.

The Elderly and Disabled program (out-of-town medical rides) remained unchanged with 69 rides, the same as November 2015.

The Special Transportation Fund Advisory Committee began frequent meetings in November.  The STF grant process will begin in December with grants due in January.  Andi Howell is the rural transit representative on this committee and will attend meetings frequently through February.  Additionally, Caren Topliff was appointed to the committee as a representative from Clackamas County.  She is a wonderful addition to the committee and has a long history of advocating for disabled and senior transportation in the State.  It was an honor to introduce her to the committee and nominate her for the position.

The Mount Hood Express (MHX) service surveyed ridership in October and found that 25% of their ridership reported transferring from a SAM service.  Sandy and the MHX service operated by Clackamas County continue to have a strong commitment to work together at the benefit of the systems and the riders.  This relationship was once again recognized by the Federal Highway grant program (FLAP) and both Sandy and Clackamas County were awarded funding for 4 more years.  The FLAP funding allows Sandy Transit to operate the expanded Saturday morning hours, from 5:30-9:30 AM, and 8 runs throughout Sunday.  This grant was not intended as a stable source of funding, and both Sandy and Clackamas County are thrilled to receive continued support.

 

Monthly Report ~ October 2016

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Senior Center (Nancy Ream Enabnit)
The 2016 world premier Halloween skit opened (and closed) to outstanding reviews. Staff took their costumes and performances to a whole new level with caricatures of the Kardashians, Sonny & Cher, Heart, Kenny Rogers, and Dolly Parton. Even Santa Claus made an appearance. Not to be outdone, dozens of Center participants came decked out in Halloween garb and earned prizes in the costume contest. Everyone’s a winner!

Parks
Sandy City Council approved Ordinance 2016-09 designating Parks and Centennial Plaza smoke, tobacco and vape-free. The ordinance will take effect in November with the intended results of a cleaner environment in which to enjoy outdoor recreational activities.

The Ant Farm Trail Crew donated a day of labor in Sandy River Park. Kathleen Walker volunteered her time to supervise the workers as they repaired a few mountain beaver holes in one section of the Jim Slagle Loop Trail and install remaining signs.

Recreation (Sarah Richardson)
Fall classes and Mountain Storm Youth Basketball geared up in October. Friday afternoons the Community Center was host to Shakespeare Theater as a group of young people participated in a new program. A Midsummer Night’s Dream was the script and everyone seemed to have a wonderful time learning and performing.

The youth basketball program is once again on pace for a busy year. Numbers are strong and the kids are benefiting from healthy activity and the experience of team sports.

Regular ongoing classes have strong numbers and families are enjoying soccer, Kinderdance, horsemanship and more.

Indoor Playgroup resumed and as attendance grew an additional time slot was added.

Transit (Andi Howell)
Total ridership this month was 9,940.  Overall ridership decreased by 15.4%; the SAM-Gresham route decreased by 12%.  SAM-Estacada ridership decreased by 43.6%.  STAR rides decreased by 21.6%.  The percentage of elderly and/or disabled riders on STAR was 66%.  The Elderly and Disabled program (out-of-town medical rides) increased by 11.9%.

Sandy Transit began posting notices regarding significant changes to the Estacada route scheduled to go into effect November 1; this could explain the drop in ridership on the Estacada route in October.  STAR ridership has been declining due to the lack of ability to schedule same day rides; that capability will be restored by January 1, 2017.

In October, the City Council approved a resolution to create a fare structure change for Sandy Transit.  Fixed route services (SAM Gresham and SAM Estacada) in Sandy city limits will be fareless.  This change is expected to boost in-town ridership, support local businesses and provide more accessible transportation for Sandy residents.

Much of October was spent preparing for many changes that will begin to take effect November 1.  In addition to planning a new route for Estacada and changing the times of the runs, Sandy Transit will begin a shopping shuttle on December 1, 2016.  This shopper is intended to alleviate the scheduling difficulties for STAR, returning that service to same-day scheduling.  Although it seems like a luxury to be able to schedule same-day service, in reality it is a necessity for some.  Unplanned events, such as a trip to medical facility or to pick up a prescription cannot always be planned in advance.

Staff continue to serve on the Oregon Transportation Association board which met frequently in October in an effort to prepare legislative material for the upcoming legislative session.  Staff are encouraged that, through OTA as well as other efforts, transit throughout the state will be included in a 2017 Transportation Package should one be successful.

Sandy staff remain involved in the Mount Hood Transportation Alliance that meets regularly regarding transportation in the Mount Hood communities.  Mount Hood Express and the Villages Shuttle surveyed in October to gauge customer service and obtain feedback regarding schedule changes on the mountain service.  Mount Hood Express and Sandy Transit once again partnered in an application for continued FLAP funding and expect information regarding the success of the grant proposal in November.

Monthly Report ~ September 2016

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Senior Center (Nancy Ream Enabnit)
Staff received notice of a $10,000 grant from Clackamas County to be used to fund home-delivered meals to qualified individuals under 60 years old. The money will be available to all 10 Senior Centers in the County.

The Senior Center is fortunate to have the services of an intern in the Gonzaga Nurse Practitioner program. Daniel Pribeagu will be focusing on a Brain Health curriculum complete with weekly Brain Games sessions, and a 4-week class in November.

Parks
Permanent signs for the Jim Slagle Loop Trail in Sandy River Park were installed. After a year of use, the trail still looks fantastic and is seeing lots of use.

The Parks Board discussed the merits of designating Sandy Parks Tobacco/Vape/Smoke Free and voted to forward the recommendation to City Council.

Work continues on the refinement of plans for restoration of Meinig Park. The 90% construction plans have been reviewed and the consultants at Mackenzie received input from Planning, Public Works & IT.

Recreation (Sarah Richardson)
The Fall Recreation & Leisure Guide was launched in early September and fall classes are off and running. The Recreation Dept. is soliciting new ideas for programming. Please spread the word and send any ideas to recreation@cityofsandy.com.

The first annual Dogs Day Out was held on September 11th in conjunction with the Corn Cross event at Liepold Farms. Pairing these events was a successful formula and the turnout was great. The cyclists attending Corn Cross commented how great it was to be able to bring their dogs, and they loved the family friendly atmosphere of the event as a whole. They added value to the event and many participated in the Doggie Cross race.

Fences for Fido, our partners in the Dogs Day Out event, was very happy with the results. So much so that they want to return for the November event on the 19th. Fences for Fido has a very large following with more than 30,000 members on Facebook and a 10,000 plus email database. Partnering with them helped to bring people from Portland and the surrounding areas out to the event, supporting visits to the area and new connections for our local vendors. Local Sandy families also enjoyed the event and won several of the raffle baskets. Funds raised will support the goal of building a shelter at the Sandy Bluff Dog Park, and future events will support added amenities and maintenance at local dog parks.

Mountain Storm Youth Basketball is open for registration earlier this year. The goal is to have teams begin practicing in December. Finding gym space continues to be a challenge because of increasing pressure on area facilities.  The prospect of City-owned recreation complex is exciting.

Transit (Andi Howell)
Total ridership this month was 10,053.  Overall ridership decreased by 7.1%; the SAM-Gresham route decreased by 4.8%.  SAM-Estacada ridership decreased by 27.7%.  STAR rides decreased by 8.7%.  The percentage of elderly and/or disabled riders on STAR was 72%.  The Elderly and Disabled program (out-of-town medical rides) saw another large increase in ridership of 72.5% compared to September 2015.

In September, the TAC committee voted on and approved a fare structure change for SAM fixed and deviated routes.  An analysis of ridership patterns and survey data illustrated that SAM fixed and deviated routes had become primarily commuter routes with very little in-town ridership.  Surveys were collected on the SAM FLAP funded service hours (weekend hours) as well as the Estacada route (runs M-F).  Less than 4% of the riders surveyed were taking an in-town trip.  On the Estacada route, not a single ride was an in-town trip.  A rider also commented on the fare structure, citing the $1.00 fare per ride as a barrier for residents trying to make multiple shopping trips in Sandy; 2 destinations and the rider would be paying $4.00.  In an effort to show support to Sandy local businesses, that help funding with payroll tax, Sandy Transit decided to remove the financial barrier for in-town service and retain the $1.00 fare on all inter-city service.

Additionally, many comments submitted on these and other recent surveys expressed a need for more Estacada service, especially during the weekends.  In an effort to meet these needs and better serve the growing development in the City, Sandy staff implemented changes to the Estacada route.  Beginning November 1, the route will travel along Highway 211, through South Sandy.  The route will continue to terminate at the Sandy Transit Center and connect to the SAM Gresham fixed route, but will serve the South section of the City rather than doubling the SAM efforts along Hwy 26.  This new route allows better City coverage to many of the newer neighborhoods and retains connectivity to the SAM Gresham route and the shopping shuttle, which is scheduled to begin December 1, 2016.

Finally, the last run on the Estacada route Monday through Friday will be eliminated.  Those service hours will be reprogrammed into a Saturday route that will mirror the Monday through Friday schedule.

 

 

 

 

 

Monthly Report ~ August 2016

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Senior Center (Nancy Ream Enabnit)
Staff time was spent developing a grant on behalf of the 10 Senior Centers of Clackamas County. If funded, the money will support meals-on-wheels delivery to those in need who are under 60 years of age. No dedicated funding source exists to reimburse for meal service to those who are 59 and younger and are experience physical or mental challenges threatening proper nutrition. If awarded, each center will be eligible for partial reimbursement on a per-meal basis.

Parks
The park maintenance staff installed signs in all Sandy parks to help inform visitors of guidelines so all can enjoy the City’s beautiful facilities.

Sandy Summer Sounds & Starlight Cinema concluded another successful season. Mother Nature was kind, and the rains held off until the day after the Volunteer Recognition Picnic.

Recreation (Sarah Richardson)
August was a busy month with summer programs wrapping up, the Adult Softball tournament, preparations for the Dogs Day Out fundraiser, the Fall Recreation & Leisure Guide and planning for Mountain Storm youth basketball.

The partnership with Camp Namanu was a summer highlight. We are already talking about ways to expand the program for next summer. Such a great resource in Sandy’s backyard.

The Recreation Department is always looking for new partnerships, like the one with Camp Namanu, to create opportunities for area residents. Collaborative efforts allow us to offer more diverse programs, and to keep costs low by sharing resources, facilities etc.

 The Adult Co-ed Softball league attracted more teams this year. Games were scheduled at Sandy High School for most of the season and a fun end-of-season tournament was played at the Hoodview Sports Complex in Happy Valley as the SHS fields underwent maintenance.

Transit (Andi Howell)
Total ridership this month was 10,577.  Overall ridership decreased by 4.2%; the SAM-Gresham route decreased by 2.9%.  SAM-Estacada ridership decreased by 16.7%.  STAR rides decreased by 9%.  69% of riders on the STAR service are elderly and/or disabled. The Elderly and Disabled program saw another large increase in ridership of 101.8% from last August.

In August, SAM collected surveys on the FLAP (Federal Lands Access Program) funded service hours.  These hours are early Saturday morning and all day Sunday on the SAM- Gresham route.  Most of the results of this survey are reflective of past surveys conducted during all hours of service.  Overall, those surveyed are highly transit dependent. Half of the participants began their trip in Sandy.  Of those who began their trip outside of Sandy, 39.4% began in Portland or Gresham. 47% of the respondents use transit almost every day.  The top reasons for their weekend trip was recreation and/or social at 48% and commuting to work at 42%.  78% of the respondents report not owning a vehicle they could have used for that trip and 34% earned less than $10,000 a year.  49% are under 30 years of age.

The most requested improvement was more Sunday service with 70% responding “very important” followed by later service as “very important” (61%).  Several respondents elaborated in comments by requesting more service and weekend service in Estacada.  Sandy staff have been aware of the need for more service between Sandy and Estacada, especially on the weekends.  Staff is currently analyzing possible changes to the Estacada route to meet those needs.

In addition to survey responses, staff tracked in-town trips versus commute/express trips and elderly and/or disabled riders.  The percentage of elderly and/or disabled was slightly higher at 17% than the previously predicted 14%.  Additionally, during the weekend survey, only 4.2% of the trips were in-town trips.

Staff will conduct surveys in September during other times and routes for the sake of comparison. Especially important is feedback from riders on the Estacada route regarding service improvement.

 

Monthly Report ~ July 2016

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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.

 

Monthly Report ~ June 2016

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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.

Monthly Report ~ May 2016

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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.

Monthly Report ~ April 2016

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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.

Monthly Report ~ March 2016

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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.

Summer planning is in full swing. Camp Namanu will be back with a new format and two weeks of theme-based Day Camps to choose from for grades 1-5.

Challenger Sports will be offering both soccer and a multi-sports British themed camp. Several other new camps are in the development stages included a theater camp led by the Sandy High School Drama coach.

Adult Softball is in the planning stages and the phone calls have started to roll in. Lots of enthusiasm for summer 2016.

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.