Senior Center (Nancy Ream Enabnit)
Due to popular demand, the number of hikes has been increased to two each month. A local destination is offered (Wildwood, Tickle Creek, SHS, Cazadero) as well as a longer trip to trails including Steigerwald Wildlife Refuge, Strawberry Island and Lacamas Lake.

Parks
Despite a bit of drizzle, the Sandy Bluff Dog Park Leash-Cutting grand opening ceremony was enjoyed by many four-legged friends and their owners. Top Dog sponsors, represented by Stephanie Craven (Craven Family) and Shan Hill (Barlow Trail Veterinary) assisted Mayor Bill King with the festivities. Collapsible dog bowls were handed out and Hayden Homes sponsored snacks for the evening.

Recreation (Sarah Richardson)
Summer Recreation classes are off and running. Safety classes have proved popular including CPR/1st Aid, Safe Sitter and Chief Yamashita’s Self-Defense for Women.

The Co-ed Adult Softball League is underway. Teams enjoy playing on the SHS turf fields, and the only rain-outs were due to the added excitement of lightning/thunder storms.

Noah’s Quest took place, for the 9th year, on June 28th. Participation was the highest ever in the 1k Kiddie Run and 5k/10k run/walk. Brief Encounters support group worked with the City to sell bricks and install a beautiful memorial walkway, continuing the path on the west side of the playground in Sandy Bluff Park.

Transit (Julie Stephens)
Total ridership this month was 11,288 a decrease of 40% from the same period last year. SAM-Gresham decreased 42%; again this month, SAM-Estacada had the greatest drop in use, 50%; STAR had a modest decrease, 16% this month; and ED ridership continued the sharp decline with 62% fewer trips this month.  ED ridership can vary greatly with only a couple of passenger changes.  Total ridership for the FY14 was 170,734 down 30% from the previous year.

The expanded Mt. Hood Express ridership was 2235 in June.  Summer activities at Ski Bowl, the 7:00am opening of the Palmer run at Timberline and their many summer visitors will keep the buses hopping this summer.

Andi Howell attended the Community Transportation Association of America Conference (CTAA) in Minneapolis/St. Paul.  She completed the three-day transit manager certification training program.  This training will be helpful as she assists the department in more areas, such as taking the lead on the recently updated Title VI Program.

The Transit Advisory Committee convened with a full agenda on June 18^th.  Hollis MacLean-Wenzel was welcomed back on the committee as a business owner.  She had previously served during her tenure as executive director for the Sandy Area Chamber of Commerce.

Once again, SAM will join the Sandy Mountain Festival Parade in July.  Andi is the creative force in that effort.

Senior Center (Nancy Ream Enabnit)
The month began with a May Day Spring Tea & Dessert sponsored by Sandy’s Helping Hands. Center members enjoyed delicious treats and refreshing iced tea–just right for a warm afternoon.

Once again the Lion’s Club Health Van was onsite for the annual Health Fair. Hearing, vision and blood sugar testing was offered. A variety of fitness class demonstrations took place as well.

Parks
After years of anticipation and fundraising, work began on the Sandy Bluff Off-Leash Dog Park. The Leash-Cutting grand opening ceremony is scheduled for Tuesday, June 17th at 6:00pm. Four-legged friends and their two-legged companions are invited to attend.

City Council and Park Board members held a joint workshop to discuss the future of trails in Sandy. Kathleen Walker, Park Board Chair, provided information on the current trail system and the vision of future trail development. Discussion centered around developing trail connections using current city rights-of-way in the immediate future and planning for long-term connections as properties annex and construction proceeds.

Recreation (Sarah Richardson)
The Summer Recreation Guide was completed and posted online in May. The electronic data base continues to grow and the new sign board is a great boost to programs. Exciting summer camps and field trips were added to provide a variety of summer options. New this session are drum lessons and cooking classes.

Summer Adult softball teams formed in May and teams are looking forward to another season on the new High School fields.

Transit (Julie Stephens)
Total ridership this month was 12,630 a decrease of 39% from the same period last year. SAM-Gresham decreased 40%; again this month, SAM-Estacada had the greatest drop in use, 49%; STAR had a modest decrease, 15% this month; and ED ridership had a sharp decrease of 54%.  ED ridership can vary greatly with only a couple of passenger changes.

The expanded Mt. Hood Express ridership was 2101 in May.  Summer activities at Ski Bowl, the 7:00am opening of the Palmer run at Timberline and their many summer visitors should keep the buses hopping.  Ridership on the new weekend SAM-Gresham Saturday & Sunday service continues to experience slight increases.  A “return to fareless” promotion in July will hopefully encourage riders to ride during the new weekend service hours—Saturday between 5:30-9:30am and all day Sunday and holidays (4^th of July).

Clackamas County successfully applied for a planning grant to explore the best structure for long term governance and operation of transportation services in the Mt. Hood area inclusive of Clackamas, Hood River and Warm Springs.

Bernice Powell led a Transit Adventure group of 12 to Goose Hollow for a walking tour and lunch at the Goose Hollow Inn where Bud Clark may have been sighted.

Once again, SAM will join the Sandy Mountain Festival Parade in July.

Senior Center (Nancy Ream Enabnit)
Over 100 people attended the Senior Center’s 40th Anniversary celebration. Folks enjoyed delicious food, fun music, cool cups, cake and fellowship. The first director of the Senior Center, Dick Halvorson, attended with his wife, Nancy. He spoke of the early days and the importance of the involvement of passionate volunteers to get the Center up and running. Staff put together a video retrospective taken from the pages of 40 years of scrapbooks. The Center has been a home-away-from-home to so many over the years.

An AARP Safe Driver course attracted 20 individuals. The two-day, six-hour training covered defensive driving techniques and adjustments to make as one ages.

Parks
SOLV-It in Sandy was a huge success with 121 volunteers cleaning up parks and public spaces around town. The Skate Park, Tickle Creek Trail, Sandy Bluff Park, Sandy River Park, Fir Hill Cemetery and downtown sidewalks were among the many areas receiving a face lift. Over a ton of garbage was collected and 7200# of paper went through the commercial shredder.

Recreation (Sarah Richardson)
Spring classes are winding down and preparations for the summer season have begun. The Summer Recreation Guide will be online the week of May 19^th.

The summer schedule includes field trips on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays and a wide variety of Mad Science camps. New classes include cooking, drumming, self-defense and First Aid/CPR.

Transit (Julie Stephens)
Total ridership this month was 12,933 a decrease of 38% from the same period last year. SAM-Gresham decreased 38.6%; again this month, SAM-Estacada had the greatest drop in use, 53%; STAR had the most modest decrease, 17% this month; and ED ridership increased by 26%.

The expanded Mt. Hood Express ridership slowed significantly in April to 2073.  Ski Bowl is closed for a short period before they resume with summer sports.  Ridership on the new weekend SAM-Gresham Saturday & Sunday service continues to experience slight increases.

The Clackamas County C4 Committee invited all transit systems to a presentation on transit service in the County.  Julie will represent rural transit in the newly created non-voting position on C4.

Senior Center (Nancy Ream Enabnit)
Over 50 people attended a Brain Healthy Lunch on March 27th. Staff prepared and served a meal designed to enhance brain function, health and memory. As an added bonus, folks seemed to genuinely enjoy the food. Cami Henderson lined up guest speaker Bobby Heagerty from the OHSU Brain Institute. Ms. Heagerty provided valuable information on maintaining brain health and reported that the most important thing one can do to stay mentally alert is to be physically active.

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

Parks
Bornstedt Park ribbon cutting happened just in time for spring. Sandy’s newest park will go a long way towards enhancing the neighborhood and the community at large.

Save the date! Solv-It in Sandy & free paper shredding are scheduled for April 26th.

Recreation (Sarah Richardson)
The Mountain Storm Youth Basketball season finished up for grades 3-6 with separate Jamborees for the 3rd/4th league on Saturday, the 8th, and the 5th/6th graders the following Saturday.  Numbers for participation were up for 2013-14 by about 10%.

The transition in production of the Recreation & Leisure Guide from paper to electronic is going well. Registration numbers are holding steady. Some classes started off a little slower in the fall but by winter session numbers were strong. As an example, Kinderdance programs had 41 participants in winter sessions in 2013, and 46 participants in winter sessions in 2014.

The database for email marketing is growing almost daily and the new electronic sign is a great way to provide information about upcoming classes, events etc.

Transit (Julie Stephens)
Total ridership this month was 12,098, a decrease of 39% from the same period last year. SAM-Gresham decreased 39.9%; again this month, SAM-Estacada had the greatest drop in use, 51%; STAR had the most modest decrease, 21.6% this month; and ED ridership increased by 28.6%.

Continued cold, rainy weather kept many indoors, while the sunny days brought noticeably more people out for activities and transit use.

The expanded Mt. Hood Express ridership slowed a bit in March to 3381.  Ridership on the new weekend SAM-Gresham Saturday & Sunday service continues to experience slight increases.

We celebrated International Bus Driver Appreciation Day by putting flyers in buses and bus shelters along with cards for passengers to give to their bus driver.  Back at the office we had sub sandwiches and sodas for lunch with a hand written card and treat for each driver & dispatcher.  Their consistent good customer service and attention to safety makes them critical contributors to the success of our transit system.

The Transit Advisory Committee convened for its quarterly meeting on March 19^th.  We had a great discussion which included a report by Joseph Lowe who chairs the Disabled Council of Clackamas County and worked on behalf of the Campaign for Seniors & People with Disabilities advocating for the state legislature to recommit funding cut during the economic downturn.  An additional $26 million was recommitted in support of those populations, of which $4 million was added to the Special Transportation Fund for seniors and people with disabilities, bringing the state transportation funding back to the 2009 level.

Senior Center (Nancy Ream Enabnit & Camilla Henderson)
As a support group facilitator for the Alzheimer’s Association, Cami Henderson, Client Services Coordinator, was invited to participate in the Alzheimer’s Advocacy Day on Tuesday, February 11^th at the State Capitol. She and others met with their individual legislators, including Senator Chuck Thomsen, to discuss pertinent issues before them. These included Senate Bill 1577, which would create a statewide Silver Alert system (similar to the current Amber Alert) and notify law enforcement in the case of a senior with Alzheimer’s who wanders.  Fully two-thirds of such patients are at risk of doing so, and Oregon currently has over 76,000 people with an Alzheimer’s diagnosis.  The bill would also provide training statewide for law enforcement on how to deal with persons with dementia who wander.

Another discussion with legislators focused on the importance of passing Senate Bill 1553, which would create a state office of the Oregon Guardian and Conservator. The bill would provide financial and other services for persons unable to make decisions about their own safety and health, and who do not have available financial resources, family or friends to assist them.

The critical need to fund services for family caregivers was emphasized as caregiving is an intense responsibility that often ripples through the entire family. Of the top 10 diseases in the US, Alzheimer’s alone currently has no effective treatment.

Additional discussion centered on the need to further address the problem of people diagnosed with memory loss who continue to drive, despite having had their license revoked by the DMV.  Cami suggested examining laws in other states to see how they have dealt with the issue. Overall, it was a very successful day.

Note: At last report SB 1577 has been referred to the Governor for his signature, and SB 1553 has passed both the House and Senate.

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

Parks
The Park Board held its first meeting in February, 1996, and each year the momentous occasion is marked by a Board dinner at La Bamba. In its 18 years, Park Board members have overseen the development of a Parks Master Plan (currently in the process of updating the 1997 document); advised on the addition of 10 parks totaling 150+ acres; worked tirelessly for completion of the 1.75-mile Tickle Creek Trail; crafted park policy for Council approval; and donated thousands of hours attending meetings and completing numerous hands-on tasks. Thanks to all current and past Park Board volunteers!

Bornstedt Park Ribbon Cutting ~ Friday, March 14th at 6:00 PM

Recreation (Sarah Richardson)
Planning for summer 2014 is in the beginning stages. A shift in the focus of the summer camp schedule is in the works. Theme based camps will replace the traditional day camp format.

New Zumba classes are proving very popular, and staples like pee wee basketball, soccer, and Tae-Kwon-Do continue to draw strong registration.

Thank you to the Oregon Trail School District for its continued support of Mountain Storm Basketball. Gym use has been in high demand and the youth league has been allocated a great deal of time at the district gyms.

Transit (Julie Stephens)
Total ridership this month was 10,831 a decrease of 43% from the same period last year. SAM-Gresham decreased 44.7%; again this month, SAM-Estacada had the greatest drop in use, 54%; STAR had the most modest decrease, 15.5% this month; and ED ridership increased by 17.4%.

Snow and ice in early February challenged transit operations. Service continued as long as it was safe, and only the last run on Friday, a couple of late night runs Saturday and all day Sunday were eliminated. Excellent communications between operations and administrative staff kept current information before the public through the media, website and Facebook. Twitter will be added to future outreach efforts.

Once again the expanded Mt. Hood Express ridership hit a new high in February, 3796.  Ridership on the new weekend SAM-Gresham Saturday & Sunday service continues to experience slight increases.

The Special Transportation Fund grant process is underway.  Sandy Transit should see approximately $90,000 more in the next biennium due to additional funds made available from the state for elderly and disabled transportation services.

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.