Economic Development items:
Econ Devl – Strategic Plan metrics:
Note for May 2024: You will see a slight decrease in all SandyNet numbers for April. This is due to a couple of different issues: SandyNet staff was cleaning up some old records in March and likely eliminated some old accounts that were in our system but should not have been, and they also located some errors they were having in the nightly upload which have now been corrected.
Econ Devl – Strategic Plan progress:
Action 6.1.2 – Retail market analysis: The Economic Development Advisory Board will hear their first and likely only update on the progress of this report at their regular meeting on May 1st. This project should be completed in June.
Action 5.3.3 – Meinig Memorial Park: New wayfinding signage for Meinig Park and the Pioneer Parking lot is on order from Ambrosini Design and should arrive and be installed prior to the next department report.
Action 1.1.1 – Urgent Care clinic discussion: Discussions continue with Lindsey Sawyer of Utopia Management about the possibilities of siting a 24/7 urgent care clinic in the Shuler Building at some point in the future. Initial research shows that Lindsey’s clients (clinic owners in Astoria) would be eligible for rural health clinic status in this location, which would make them able to accept Medicare patients, which in turn makes the project pencil out. Clients are interested in further researching this idea.
Econ Devl – Commercial Properties (vacancies, new businesses, reports, etc.):
23-002 TI Sandy Underground (VFW) project: This project is now well underway. The interior of the building is currently dismantled as the business owners finish installing new plumbing, plumbing fixtures (including a new, oversized grease interceptor) and a new bar. They have also secured a commercial garbage dumpster outside the front door for remodel waste which is permitted and properly marked. As a courtesy to these new business owners, staff has asked the AntFarm Downtown Maintenance crew to clean up the planter strip outside the front entrance and the weed infested area behind the building so as to allow the restaurant to continue focusing on getting the interior work completed in as timely a manner as possible. Tentative completion date: Fall 2024.
21-010FAC Tollgate Inn Covered Structure: Work continues on this project – primary post supports are now complete pending construction of the actual structure. The project appears to remain on-target for a tentative completion date of July 2024.
Sandy Marketplace – major improvements: Staff continues to work on getting this commercial complex into full compliance with the Sandy Municipal Code. The last remaining items to be completed include fixing the panel lighting in the monument sign for the complex, removing and replacing about a half dozen landscaping plants, removing the old Pho Viet wall sign and repairing or replacing the visibly damaged Dotty’s wall sign.
Finally, the painted metal siding above the front façade of the Dollar Tree store is also very visibly peeling from the surface. Complex owners have been asserting for some time that the entire complex will receive a tri-tone paint job soon which would alleviate this issue, but they have thus far been unwilling to give us a date that this maintenance work is scheduled to occur. Development Services staff has sent a code compliance letter to be sent to the complex owners during the first week of May which is intended to provide a deadline for action with regard to all of the above-mentioned items.
Econ Devl – Downtown Events:
The Sandy Senior Center celebrated it’s 50th Anniversary on the 18th of April from 2-4 PM. A good time was had by all.
Econ Devl – Internal Projects:
Cedar Park: Demolition of Bignall Pool and Cedar Ridge middle school building and the associated grading work is complete. Focus has now turned to construction of the park. Estimated completion date: January 2025.
Sandy Comprehensive Plan/EOA:
After two years of visioning sessions, public outreach, citizen involvement and incorporating the hard work of city staff, 3J Consulting of Beaverton has delivered a first draft of the 2050 Sandy Comprehensive Plan for review and comment. Staff is currently assisting 3J with a final content review of the draft document before a final version of the plan is prepared for City Council review. Further versions after amendments and our approval schedule have not yet been confirmed.
Econ Devl – Economic Development Advisory Board:
There were no EDAB meetings in the month of April. Next meeting: May 1st, 2024, at 6:30 PM in Council Chambers.
Econ Devl – Conferences/training/events:
There were no Economic Development related conferences or trainings in the month of April. Next scheduled event: Mount Hood Community College 2024 Business Fair (June 21st, 2024 @ MHCC campus)