1) APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED/UNDER REVIEW – APRIL 2012
a) Commercial-Industrial Code revisions Public Hearing – under Council review.
b) St. Michael’s Church addition (approved)
c) Sandy High School pole building and greenhouses design review (approved)
d) Sandy High School tennis court cover design review (withdrawn)

2) BUILDING DIVISION ACTIVITY – APRIL 2012
a) Total value for the month is $1,189,312.
b) 2 permits for single family dwellings with a value of $380.015.
c) 2 permits for additions to single-family dwellings with a value of $8,536.
d) 15 commercial permits with a value of $800,761.
e) 0 other permits.

3) MAIN STREET (from Jason McNeil, Main Street Manager)  A logo, a Vision Plan, a new Executive Committee, and a busier than ever First Friday were all part of this month’s excitement with Sandy Main Street.   The committees continued work on many of the ongoing Main Street projects this past month:

1. Steering Committee: The Steering Committee is still heavily focused on downtown property and business owner outreach, which will be gearing up in early May.  We hope to get word the word out on how Main Street can help all downtown stakeholders and property owners as we look at new ways of expanding and improving the program. A new Executive Committee of the Steering Committee officers began meeting in early May to focus on some important administrative tasks, including incorporating Sandy Main Street as a non-profit with the IRS and improved data collection on downtown properties, businesses, volunteers and events. The committee also approved the new Sandy Main Street logo this month. The logo will be used on event banners, posters and flyers, brochures, marketing materials and the like.
2. Promotion Committee: The committee continues to focus on expanding First Friday events and having Sandy Main Street merchandise made to be sold at downtown retailers. A local photographer has taken some photos to be used on greeting cards and postcards that will be used to promote Sandy Main Street and will also be a small (but hopefully growing) source of revenue for the Promotion Committee.  First Friday participation is increasing each month, with 24 participants in May. The committee hopes to include more service businesses in the future and also to partner with businesses located outside of the downtown district that want to set up at a downtown business for First Friday. We want to be able to include as many Sandy businesses as we can in the event, while also keeping the focus on the downtown area.
3. Economic Restructuring Committee: This month the committee began the work of utilizing data in the Downtown Sandy Market Analysis to develop a Vision Plan for downtown. The idea is to identify potential clusters and other opportunity areas that could strengthen the business climate for the downtown district. The committee is also still working with business and property owners to see how we can help support their enterprises in downtown Sandy.

1) APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED/UNDER REVIEW – MARCH  2012
a) Commercial-Industrial Code revisions Public Hearing – met with ODOT.
b) Sandy River Park, Meinig Park, Bornstedt Park Master Plans adoption process  – April 2012 CC hearing
c) Sandy High School pole building and greenhouses design review (under review)
d) Sandy High School tennis court cover design review (under review)

2) BUILDING DIVISION ACTIVITY – MARCH 2012
a) Total value for the month is $799,175.
b) 3 permits for single family dwellings with a value of $729,645.
c) 4 permits for additions to single-family dwellings with a value of $58,993.
d) 1 commercial permit with a value of $6,087.
e) 1 other permit with a value of $4,450.

3) MAIN STREET (from Jason McNeil, Main Street Manager)  Things came together this month to make for a great First Friday in April, with warm and dry weather, more daylight, and a growing number of participants. There were lots of people out strolling the streets to check out some of our long-standing participants, newer additions such as the Lori Ryland Art Gallery, or the recently remodeled library. We’re looking forward to spring and summer to really bring people out to see what Downtown Sandy has to offer.

The Sandy Main Street committees continued work on many of the ongoing Main Street projects this past month:

1. Steering Committee: The Steering Committee is gearing up for some downtown property owner outreach to get word the word out on how Main Street can help all downtown stakeholders and to get feedback on other ways we can support property owners. In preparation, the committee has been hard at work developing a viable and sustainable work program to carry out. The committee is also poised to approve the new Sandy Main Street logo that will help us continue moving ahead with the branding of Downtown Sandy. Committee Chair George Hoyt just returned from the National Main Street Conference in Baltimore and will be sharing all the great ideas he picked up at the conference at the upcoming committee meeting.
2. Promotion Committee: The committee was very pleased with this month’s First Friday turnout, and is still working on ways to improve the monthly event and increase participation. With mixed success getting student artists and musicians involved, the committee is exploring other avenues to get more life on the street during the event. The committee is also looking to have new event banners made for businesses to hang out during Main Street events to let passers-by know that something is happening. These will feature the new Sandy Main Street logo. Finally, we are looking into selling Sandy Main Street merchandise that can be used to help raise funding for Promotion Committee projects. A local photographer has taken some photos that we are hoping to use in local greeting cards and postcards to be sold by downtown merchants. In the future we hope to expand to coffee mugs, tote bags, and other merchandise.
3. Economic Restructuring Committee: The ERC committee continues to work on ongoing projects such as the Market Analysis update and review, business outreach and support, and business clustering. Once the new logo is finalized and approved, we will be finishing up marketing materials that can be used to promote Downtown Sandy to new business prospects.

1) APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED/UNDER REVIEW – FEBRUARY. 2012
a) Commercial-Industrial Code revisions Public Hearing – met with ODOT.
b) Sandy River Park, Meinig Park, Bornstedt Park Master Plans adoption process  – March 2012 PC hearing
c) Sandy High School pole building and greenhouses design review (under review)
d) Sandy High School tennis court cover design review (under review)

2) BUILDING DIVISION ACTIVITY – FEBRUARY 2012
a) Total value for the month is $346,031.
b) 0 permits for single family dwellings.
c) 6 permits for additions to single-family dwellings with a value of $144,793.
d) 6 commercial permits with a value of $195,225.
e) 2 other permits with a value of $5,995.

3) MAIN STREET (from Jason McNeil, Main Street Manager)

1. All-Committee Meeting: On February 28, the three Sandy Main Street committees had their first formal meeting together. Steering Committee Chair George Hoyt led the meeting and gave an account of the work the Steering Committee has been doing to set the foundation for the program and move Sandy Main Street into the future. The Promotion and Economic Restructuring Committees each had an opportunity to report what they’ve been working on and share concerns related to downtown and Main Street projects. Quarterly All-Committee meetings will be held to keep everyone better informed and on the same page.
2. Steering Committee: With the Sandy Main Street mission set, the Steering Committee is hard at work identifying the specific benefits that a functioning Main Street program can offer to business and property owners and the services we can offer. The committee will also be working with the City’s Downtown Parking Advisory Committee to implement solutions to the parking issues identified in the downtown core.
3. Promotion Committee: The weather was a little better for the March First Friday event, and featured 21 participating businesses and live music from Sandy High School students outside of Clackamas County Bank. The committee is determined to have new banners and signage to advertise First Fridays and other Main Street events ready this spring. The next First Friday will be held April 6 from 5-8 p.m.
4. Economic Restructuring Committee: The ERC committee work plan is ambitious for this year and includes working with existing businesses, exploring business opportunities for some key vacant sites in town, and working with the Chamber to offer more business trainings and classes. The 2009 Market Analysis is still being updated, and market materials will be completed once we have a finalized logo.
5. National Main Street Conference: Steering Committee Chair George Hoyt will be attending the Main Street Conference in Baltimore March 31 to the April 4. Hopefully he will pick up lots of great ideas for us here in downtown Sandy!

1) PLANNING DEPARTMENT APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED/UNDER REVIEW – JAN. 2012
a) Commercial-Industrial Code revisions Public Hearing – working on traffic analysis.
b) Parks and Open Space Zoning District – February 2012 PC hearing
c) Cedar Park Gardens Apartments remodel (approved)
d) Firwood Village Apartments remodel (approved)
e) Fresenius Dialysis Clinic (approved)
d) Fred Meyer Electric Vehicle Charging Station (incomplete)

2) BUILDING DIVISION ACTIVITY – JANUARY 2012
a) Total value for the month is $489,876.
b) 2 permits for single family dwellings with a value of $406,269.
c) 3 permits for additions to single-family dwellings with a value of $30,007.
d) 8 commercial permits with a value of $47,100.
e) 1 other permit with a value of $6,500.

3) MAIN STREET (from Jason McNeil, Main Street Manager)

Things have are moving along with Sandy Main Street. The addition of a Steering Committee has been very helpful in focusing the group’s efforts. The highlights for this month include:

1. All-Committee Meeting: A meeting for all three Sandy Main Street committees will be held at the Sandy Historical Society on February 28 at 5:30 p.m. The meeting will be the first time all of the committees have met together since the Steering Committee formed last October. The meeting will provide an opportunity for the committees to report on recent accomplishments and work plans for the coming year and also to share ideas for keeping Sandy Main Street moving forward in its efforts to revitalize downtown.
2. Steering Committee: The wordsmiths on the Steering Committee crafted a Mission Statement that succinctly captures the aim of Sandy Main Street:

         “Sandy Main Street creates a viable and unique downtown experience that       attracts people and promotes community pride.”

With the mission set, the Steering Committee has set to work on developing an appropriate work program that carries out that mission while serving the needs of all downtown businesses and property owners. The committee has also been hard at work on a fundraising proposal and finalizing the Sandy Main Street logo.

     3.  Promotion Committee: First Fridays started up early this year, with the first of the monthly events occurring on February 3. Quite a few folks braved the cold and wind that night to check out the offerings at downtown businesses. The next First Friday will be held March 2 from 5-8 p.m.  The committee is taking a closer look at the annual holiday event to plan for the best one yet this coming year. The committee is also exploring merchandising options to help promote downtown and raise funds for Sandy Main Street.

    4.Economic Restructuring Committee: A new Market Analysis Subcommittee began meeting this past month to review the 2009 study, identify areas that need updating, and develop strategies to better put the information to use. The committee as a whole is continuing efforts to support downtown businesses and has identified several specific projects on which to focus in.

4)  FACADE ENHANCEMENT

Staff has been working with the City Architect to develop projects for the 2012 construction season.

For my first report of the year I like to provide the City Council with an overview of Planning and Building related development activity for the past year.

2011 Summary

• 41 land use applications were submitted and reviewed or are currently under review (35 in 2010 and 32 in 2009).
• The most notable projects in 2011 included: Meinig Park stormwater facility, Johnson RV paint booth, Arco AM-PM design review, and the Clackamas Federal Credit Union building remodel.
• 32 single family building permits were issued (45 permits in 2010 and 46 in 2009) with a value of $7,137,102.  This number represents the fewest number of permits since 1997.
• 22 single family addition permits were issued (13 in 2010 and 18 in 2009) with a value of $241,978.
• 65 commercial permits were issued (44 permits in 2010 and 32 permits in 2009) with a value of $46,535,892.
• Total value of all permits equaled was $53,977,601 (2010 value = $41,305,292 and 2009 value = $14,091,921).

1) PLANNING DEPARTMENT APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED/UNDER REVIEW – DEC. 2011
a) Commercial-Industrial Code revisions Public Hearing – working on traffic analysis.
b) Parks and Open Space Zoning District – January 2012 PC hearing
c) Cedar Park Gardens Apartments remodel
d) Firwood Village Apartments remodel
e) Fresenius Dialysis Clinic (near athletic club)

2) BUILDING DIVISION ACTIVITY – DECEMBER 2011
a) Total value for the month is $522,738.
b) 2 permits for single family dwellings with a value of $479,967.
c) 4 permits for additions to single-family dwellings with a value of $16,421.
d) 2 commercial permits with a value of $25,000.
e) 3 other permits with a value of $1,350.

3) MAIN STREET (From Jason McNeil, Main Street Manager)

Following an eventful fall, things slowed down a bit for Sandy Main Street after the Christmas on the Boulevards event in early December. The committees are gearing up for an action-packed New Year:

Steering Committee: The Steering Committee is busy developing a mission statement and goals for the Steering Committee and the Main Street program as a whole. The committee feels that a clear mission and goals are key for Sandy Main Street to rest on a solid foundation, particularly in light of potential changes to the organizational structure and operations. The Steering Committee elected to meet twice monthly for the time being as there is a lot of work to be done to set this foundation.

1. Promotion Committee: Following a very busy fall that culminated with the Christmas on the Boulevards events at the beginning of last month, the Promotion Committee took the rest of December off. The committee will begin meeting again in January to begin planning for First Fridays, which will start up on February 4 this year. The committee is looking to collaborate with Sandy High School to have student street performers during First Fridays this year. A representative from the High School will be in attendance at the next committee meeting.
2. Economic Restructuring Committee: The ERC will be meeting in January to hone a work plan for 2012 that helps them to focus their energies in the New Year. One item on that work plan will be to revisit the Market Analysis conducted in 2009 and find better ways to put that information to good use.

4)  Urban Renewal – Facade Enhancement Program – The 2011 project were finished and staff is now working on developing projects for the 2012 construction season.