Planning Department items:

20-032 DCA code changes associated with House Bill 2001 related to duplexes and ADUs: Planning staff held a PC work session regarding HB 2001 on October 26^th.  The PC hearing is scheduled for the January PC meeting.

Hood Street Daycare (20-039 DCA/ADJ):  The final order for this request to construct a new building for a daycare at 38422 Hood Street was issued on December 1^st.

Rogue Fabrication zone change (20-041 ZC):  This request to change zoning designation from I-1 to I-2 for Rogue Fabrication’s new facility at the corner of Champion Way and Industrial Way has now been deemed complete and is currently under review.

Pleasant Street Master Plan (18-022 CPA):  Staff continues with re-evaluating what is left to complete with this project.  This has been temporarily put on hold due to staff attention required for the Bull Run Terrace and The Views projects.

Bull Run Terrace (19-050 CPA/ZC/SUB):  This project was heard at the City Council meeting on November 30^th and given a first reading.  Second reading for this project will occur at the next Council meeting on December 7^th.

18350 Ross Ave Accessory Structure Setback Adjustment (20-044 ADJ):  The final order for this project was issued on November 6^th.

Les Schwab façade design review (20-048): This project to upgrade the façade for the Sandy Les Schwab is currently under review.

The Views Planned Development (20-028):  This project went before the Planning Commission on November 23rd, at which point they granted a continuance.  PC will pick up their discussion on it at their next meeting on December 16^th.

Sandy High School Field House (20-040 DR/VAR):  This proposal to construct a new indoor athletic field at 36525 Industrial Way has now been deemed complete.  Staff is anticipating this project to be reviewed at the PC meeting in January.

38471 Maple Street (20-046 ADJ):  Request to reduce side yard setbacks is currently being reviewed by staff.

38463 Maple Street (20-047 ADJ):  Request to reduce side yard setbacks is currently being reviewed by staff. 

Kelly’s Kudos:

I would like to offer my sincere thanks to our two outgoing Sandy Planning Commissioners, John Logan and Todd Mobley.  Their service on the Planning Commission fulfilled an important role for the City of Sandy and I want to recognize their volunteer efforts.  Commissioner Logan has served since March 2015 and was active in numerous planning projects, including the UGB Expansion, numerous code changes, the first iteration of the Pleasant Street Master Plan and many land use applications.  Commissioner Mobley has served since January 2018 and was instrumental in helping solidify our first clear and objective code changes related to traffic analysis.  He was also involved in many land use applications and other code changes.  I want to wish Mr. Logan and Mr. Mobley all the best in their future endeavors.

Internal projects: 

• Emergency Small Business Assistance grant program, Round 2: 
  • Staff has completed review of the applications for this program and will be officially informing applicants of their status (and hopefully delivering checks) next week.
  • There were 33 applicants for this round of the program.  After review, 29 of the 33 applicants were deemed eligible grants, so every eligible applicant will be receiving a grant award. 
  • Any remaining funds other than the 1% set aside for program expenses will be split up equally between the 29 recipients and added to their $3,000 award.  Final awards should be right around $3,400.
  • Of the four applicants deemed ineligible:
    • One was a home business based outside of city limits, so doubly ineligible.
    • One was a business owner with two eligible businesses operating under the same federal business registration number (EIN) even though they properly have two separate Sandy business licenses (i.e. one business entity with two DBAs).  As these businesses are considered to be the same business by the federal government, we can only issue one award.  (The business owner fully understands and tells me that any award money received will be going 100% to keep her employees on the payroll)
    • Two had past due transit tax payments.
  • Special thanks to the review committee (Councilors Lee, Exner and Pietzold, Ms. Jones and Mr. McKnight of the City of Sandy Economic Development Committee) and our Finance Director for their work on this program and to the Sandy City Council for making these funds directly available to our local business community. 
• Staff is currently soliciting bids for the replacement of the plumbing system at City Hall.   Project will install new copper pipe for all potable water in the building and a new, energy efficient water heater.  Bids are due December 11.
• Staff is also soliciting responses to an RFQ posted in early November for a consulting firm to prepare the south building of the old Cedar Ridge Middle School for demolition.  Selected bidder will manage the process of disconnecting and/or rerouting of existing utility service lines and generally preparing the grounds for building demolition.
• New lighting for the front of the Community Center is now complete and properly highlighting our recently restored mural.  Courtesy of Bull Run Electric.

Economic Development items:

Econ Devl – Commercial Properties (vacancies, new businesses, etc.):

• Façade project – Mtn Moka Building:  This project is now mostly complete – the three largest components (siding, stonework, paint) have been completed and the two smaller remaining components (lighting, garbage enclosure refresh) are waiting on contractor availability. 
• Façade project – Old Church on Pioneer Blvd:  This project seems to be about halfway done.  Windows are installed, and contractor is in the midst of replacing the worn siding.  Structural repairs at building entrance seem to be mostly complete.
• 2020 Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony: The Economic Development department would like to congratulate the staff of the Sandy Public Library for pulling off a great ceremony under the most difficult of circumstances. Looking forward to watching this event grow under Library management in the coming years.
• Building update – Masonic Building:  The Masons are giving their building an external refresh.  New siding, trim and paint and general maintenance items.  They were offered a Façade grant and considered the offer but ultimately decided to proceed on their own.

Econ Devl – Internal Projects:

Downtown maintenance:

• AntFarm downtown maintenance crew:  Maintenance work in the C-1 district seems to be in the best condition it has been in some time.  Many thanks to Nunpa and the AntFarm crew for their assistance in 2020, including weeding our planter strips, keeping our flower baskets maintained (during the fires, no less!) and removing downed trees in Sandy’s parks.  Looking forward to working with the crew again in the spring.  And as always, if you notice any of our streetscape areas looking shoddy downtown, please send an email to Economic Development and inform us so we can get it taken care of.  A clean, well maintained downtown helps to encourage and promote new development!
• Holiday street tree lighting:  Installed and operating.  Two circuits outside of Mt. Hood Cleaners were discovered to be inoperable and were quickly repaired by the Parks Department.  Hat tip to Mr. Preston.
  
  

Econ Devl – Economic Development Committee:

The December meeting of the Economic Development reason was cancelled to give the membership time to celebrate the holidays (and a welcome break from yet another Zoom meeting, which all of our membership seems to have a few too many of right now).  The committee will reconvene in January 2021.

Econ Devl – Conferences/training:

There were no significant trainings or conferences attended by Economic Development staff in November.