<\/p>\n
General notes:\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>A quick update on the City Christmas tree in Centennial Plaza\u2026.we have been preparing for the Tree Lighting Ceremony on December 5th<\/sup> (6-8pm) for several weeks now, and this year has been a tremendous headache to all involved.\u00a0 Due to the number of wind and severe weather events we have had over the last 12 months, we had less than 5% of the lights on the tree turn on when we plugged them in for the first time at the beginning of November.\u00a0 Trying to repair this situation has proven much more difficult than anyone had anticipated.<\/p>\n First, we called PGE to see if they were planning on sending out personnel to help us again this year, as the bucket trucks and linesmen they sent out last year were a complete surprise to Main Street.\u00a0 We were told by a PGE customer service rep that this was \u201cabsolutely not going to happen\u201d, so we started to look at other arrangements.\u00a0 Two days later and much to my surprise, Jeff Ulmen from PGE called to let me know when his crew was going to arrive, although he didn\u2019t sound very enthusiastic about the job itself.\u00a0 Then we found that the equipment PGE had reserved for the job was so big that it would have required blocking off Hoffmann Street for the duration of the job, which was understandably not possible because it would have caused us to have to re-route the entire transit system for half a day.\u00a0 There was no other equipment available due to the ice storm that was taking down power lines throughout the region, so we had to bid PGE adieu.<\/p>\n I then called Konell Construction, and Andy was able to scrape together a two man crew and a 50\u2019 lift for us, and even offered to comp the labor (god bless him!)\u00a0 The Konell crew was professional and quick, and managed to get the bottom 2\/3 of the tree lights repaired and operational \u2013 the problem was that they couldn\u2019t reach the top 1\/3 of the lights due to the limitations of their equipment.\u00a0 I then called in Rich\u2019s Tree Service, and he was able to bring a 70\u2019 lift and a climber out on Sunday 11\/30, albeit for a substantial price.\u00a0 Unfortunately the sun was shining bright on Sunday morning making it virtually impossible for either of us to tell what was working and what wasn\u2019t.\u00a0 Fortunately he was able to get half of the remaining lights lit – unfortunately the top of the tree is still dark.<\/p>\n I am still trying to find a solution to this problem, but everyone I have called thus far that has the equipment to do the job seems to be booked out through at least mid-January.\u00a0 If we do have to go forward on Friday as is, it will probably be OK \u2013 things look pretty good.\u00a0 However, I\u2019m still holding out hope for perfect.\u00a0 We\u2019ll see\u2026<\/p>\n Update (12\/3):<\/strong>\u00a0 We have achieved ‘perfect’. \u00a0Andy Webber from Konell came through for us again on short notice, acquiring a 75\u2019 lift and sending his 2-man crew back to Centennial Plaza on the afternoon of Dec. 2nd<\/sup> to complete the job.\u00a0 They were able to repair all unlit lights on the tree.\u00a0 I am extremely grateful for his dedication to this project, and have thanked him on behalf of the City almost to the point of harassing him.\u00a0 If you happen to run into him at the ceremony, please pat him on the back for me\u2026 \u00a0 [please god, no wind between now and Friday!!!]<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Commercial Properties (vacancies, new businesses, etc.):<\/strong><\/p>\n One World Chinese Buffet:\u00a0 The Chinese buffet has officially changed hands.\u00a0 They are open for business pending a final building inspection. \u00a0Our primary challenge with this new business so far has been language issues \u2013 the new owner does not speak any English, and his wife speaks very limited English.\u00a0 However, I think we have overcome that barrier and we do not anticipate any problems associated with the final inspection (most issues have to do with getting their fire suppression system tested and approved).\u00a0 Very eager to see if the quality level of the food will improve here\u2026.watch this space.<\/p>\n O\u2019Reilly\u2019s Auto Parts:\u00a0 This project continues to progress normally \u2013 although the vast majority of the work on this property is complete, the primary building permit has not yet received final approval pending Terre\u2019s final inspection.\u00a0 All other permits are complete, and the store has been approved for stocking and training activities but not public access.\u00a0 They have not yet applied for a business license, but we are anticipating that we will receive that application shortly.\u00a0 In other words, we are exactly where we should be with this process, and this business should be operating very soon.<\/p>\n Jody Argue property:\u00a0 We seem to have hit our stride with Ms. Argue recently\u2026.the remodeling project continues with a bump in the road here and there, but I have interacted with her on several occasions over the last couple of weeks, and she seems genuinely happy with how things are going. \u00a0She has not had the building permit issued yet as she has applied for fa\u00e7ade grant funding \u2013 that application is currently in-process \u2013 but otherwise all is well. \u00a0I have also introduced Jody to Sean Drinkwine (owner of Whitney Signs in Estacada) and have hopefully started a discussion between the two of them about Whitney Signs potentially moving into this building.\u00a0 He is in the planning stages right now, but he has some level of interest in either opening a second store here in Sandy or just moving the business here outright.\u00a0 I will drop in on him when this project is close to completion to reassess his interest.<\/p>\n All Ways Towing:\u00a0 This company has submitted plans for its new facility over by Fred Meyer and has gone through design review.\u00a0 Our planning director gave them 6 action items that we are requiring to be completed prior to approval, and these are to be included in a new updated building permit.\u00a0 We are now waiting for the submittal of this new building permit.<\/p>\n Beaverbrooke Dental:\u00a0 Seth, Kelly and I will be meeting with Beaverbrooke Dental on Dec. 9th<\/sup> to discuss their concerns with the new parking district (see previous departmental report for October).\u00a0 We have already outlined half a dozen potential options for satisfying their concerns, most of which involve free market solutions that will not require the City to make any substantial changes to the new district.\u00a0 Several of these solutions involve renting existing spaces from other business\/building owners who have an excess of parking spaces at their disposal.\u00a0 Watch this space.<\/p>\n Two Bros. Mexican Restaurant:\u00a0 This restaurant has not closed \u2013 their projecting sign simply fell off of its perch during the last wind storm.\u00a0 They are having another one made as I type this.<\/p>\n Tillson Law LLC:\u00a0 Kevin Tillson Esq. has moved into this office formerly occupied by Jeffery Crook Esq.\u00a0 Different lawyer, same office.\u00a0 Nothing out of the ordinary here.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sandy Main Street: \u00a0<\/strong>We are diligently working on the tree lighting ceremony right now (see above), and that remains our number one priority.\u00a0 We have also added our collective elbow grease as an organization to the Kiwanis Gift Basket program and are currently helping to gather canned food for the effort, so please remember to bring a few cans to the ceremony on Friday, or drop it off in our collection boxes around the downtown area (City Hall lobby, Beer Den, Chariteas, etc.).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony will be the last Sandy Main Street event held until April of 2015.\u00a0 If you would like an update on what Sandy Main Street is planning for the next 6 months, give me a call.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Project work:\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n Nothing at the moment<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Conferences\/training:\u00a0 <\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0Nothing between now and the end of the calendar year.\u00a0 We will be focusing our efforts on the tree lighting\/food drive for the remainder of 2014.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" General notes:\u00a0 \u00a0A quick update on the City Christmas tree in Centennial Plaza\u2026.we have been preparing for the Tree Lighting Ceremony on December 5th (6-8pm) for several weeks now, and this year has been a tremendous headache to all … Continue reading