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.

Senior Center (Nancy Ream Enabnit)
Round-up Fever hit the Center as Iris White took a group of members east to enjoy the Pendleton Round-up. Added features of the trip included the Happy Canyon Pageant, Underground Tour and annual parade.

Bernice Jordan has taken over coordination of the Meals-on-wheels drivers following retirement of volunteer Grace Reich. There are 16 drivers required per week to cover four routes on Mon, Tues, Wed & Fri.

Parks
With the extended period of nice weather, local parks saw a lot of use. Meinig Park, home of Music, Movies and so many other special events; Jonsrud Viewpoint; Sandy Bluff with special events and the off-leash dog area; Bornstedt Park splash pad and community garden; and Tickle Creek Trail are popular destinations. The following link describes How Cities Use Parks to Improve Public Health:
https://www.planning.org/cityparks/briefingpapers/physicalactivity.htm

Recreation (Sarah Richardson)
Sarah & Nancy attended the 50th Annual National Recreation & Parks Association Conference in Las Vegas. They attended a variety of sessions on building community recreation centers, modernizing senior centers, marketing, and social media (to name a few). They even checked out some new play equipment in the exhibit hall. Watch out, because there are some new ideas coming your way.

The Fall Recreation & Leisure Guide was launched the first week of September, and fall classes are off to a good start. New programs sometimes take awhile to catch on, but use of the electronic reader board, email blasts and newsletters are good avenues for communication and promotion.

Mountain Storm is in the planning stages for winter 2016. Registrations are open now and practices will begin in December. The Mountain Storm Board made a decision to change the format to 3-on-3 basketball for the 3rd and 4th-grade players. Many youth programs are going this direction providing the young players with more opportunities to handle the ball, make plays and be more active. The game becomes the teacher. Plus it is a really fun format for the kids and their fans.

The Recreation Department is looking for ideas to connect the generations and is reaching out to the Ant Farm for ways to collaborate. Ideas in the works are computer labs provided by Ant Farm Teens, cooking classes, and outdoor trips.

Transit (Andi Howell)
Total ridership this month was 10,823.  This is a decrease in ridership by 5% from September 2014.  SAM-Gresham ridership decreased by 6%; SAM-Estacada ridership showed no significant increase or decline; STAR decreased this month by nearly 6%; and ED ridership increased significantly by 68%.

Sandy Transit has been a part of the Mt. Hood Transportation Alliance for a few years.  This group meets monthly in an effort to identify a sustainable operations plan for the Mount Hood Transit Service (Mt. Hood Express and the Villages Shuttle).  A consulting firm was hired to identify a sustainable operations structure.  In September the firm, LSC, released a draft of the Mt. Hood Service and Sustainable Operations Plan.  Plan implementation is scheduled to begin in January or February of 2016.  To date, it appears the system will remain within the County’s Human Services Department and continue to pull funding from a combination of available grants and private contributions from partners on the mountain.  Sandy Transit has a vested interest in the success of the Mt. Hood Service as the two systems (SAM and MHX) interline as much as possible to provide connectivity from the mountain communities.  The two systems also utilize cost savings by operating from the same facility and employing the same contractor and drivers.

Senior Center (Nancy Ream Enabnit)
The Annual Volunteer Recognition Picnic took place on August 26th. The Senior Center has, by far, the largest number of dedication volunteers. After 31 years of coordinating drivers for Meals-on-Wheels, one such volunteer, Grace Reich, has decided to retire from her position. Grace is a Sandy native and a 1937 graduate of Sandy High School. She has lent her assistance to the Sandy Historical Society, Immanuel Lutheran Church and many other organizations around town. To honor her service to the Senior Center, a reception is planned for her on Thursday, October 15th at 12:30pm. Everyone is welcome to stop by and thank Grace for all she has done to ensure over 32,000 meals have been delivered over her stellar years of service.

Parks
Another successful year of Sandy Summer Sounds & Starlight Cinema took place in Meinig Park. Rain fell on one concert and one movie necessitating a move to the Community/Senior Center. It is obvious the outside venue is a big draw since the audience significantly dwindles with the move indoors. Thanks to Katie Murphy for rounding up some old favorites and special new bands to celebrate the 20th year of Sandy Summer Sounds.

Recreation (Sarah Richardson)
Summer Adult Softball finished the season with a tournament August 15th. Mt. Hood Athletic Club continues their winning streak.

Sandy Transit conducted on-board surveys this month to better understand ridership during the Federal Lands Access Program (FLAP) extended hours. Sandy added early Saturday morning and Sunday service using FLAP funding to provide connectivity between the Metro area and Mt Hood. Ridership during these hours continues to increase. Similar to other surveys conducted by Sandy Transit, riders during the FLAP hours are highly dependent on public transportation (77% ride at least 3-4 times and week; 78% do not have a vehicle they could have used for their trip). They are very pleased with Sandy services and the most requested improvements were more Sunday service and later service.

Sandy continues to reach out to riders and non-riders alike to provide the best service possible. Recent survey and marketing efforts give Sandy Transit a good base for understanding the needs of the community and reaching out to those who to riders and non-riders alike.

Sandy staff conducted interviews for the Transit Assistant this month. There were many qualified candidates; it was difficult to narrow the field to eight interviewees. One interviewee stood out among the rest however and Sandy Transit welcomed her on board August 25^th. Muna Rustam is the new Transit Assistant. Muna has spent the last 12 years working for Sunrise Valley Water Authority and is currently finishing a Bachelor’s degree in Business and Psychology. Sandy City staff are very excited to have her on our team.

Many friends and colleagues attended a retirement celebration on August 19th in honor of Julie Stephens. Julie was an effective manager with a great passion for public transit. She often gave her time, knowledge and effort to support rural transit in Oregon and will be missed both in Sandy and across the State.