Citizens to shape couplet plan

Six Sisters citizens will help shape plans for a one-way couplet through town.

The Sisters City Council named the six to the Couplet Advisory Committee on Thursday, October 9. The committee, which will be comprised of about 12 people, will work with the city and a consulting firm to refine plans to turn Hood Avenue and Main Avenue into one-way streets, creating a couplet.

The city is forming the committee in response to concerns expressed by the Oregon Department of Transportation over heavy traffic back-ups on Cascade Avenue during busy weekends. Traffic counts are expected to increase along with the city's rapidly growing population.

While an eastbound Hood Avenue and a westbound Main Avenue will ease traffic, businesses along Cascade Avenue are worried about losing customer counts.

The committee will work to help mitigate these concerns as well as refine road designs and address other environmental impacts.

City staff recommended that the other half of the committee include one representative from various groups including ODOT, the Sisters School District, Deschutes Public Library District, the Forest Service and the Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce. Councilor John Rahm will also sit on the committee.

The six citizens selected among 11 applicants are: Jack Boatwright, a retired ODOT engineer in Bend; Rosie Horton, a business owner and 17-year resident; Jean Wells Keenan, a business owner and 29-year resident; Brad Smith, business owner and Bend resident; Steve Wilson, business and downtown property owner and former mayor of Sisters; and Gil Zaccaro, Black Butte Ranch Police Chief.

Council members John Rahm and Judy Trego said they tried to select members who appeared to be objective.

"I eliminated those that seemed to have an ax to grind," Rahm said. "I eliminated those who have more of an agenda than they actually seem to want to participate in the process."

Mayor David Elliott said he looked for fresh perspectives.

"I looked for new faces, new ideas, not people with a deep-seated feeling one way or the other," he said. "I personally know some of them. I don't think their minds are made up, but they do have an opinion."

Several applicants wrote in their applications their desire to see the business vitality protected on Cascade Avenue.

"If the plan does go forward, (be sure that) the businesses that front Cascade are not left out," wrote Horton. "These businesses have been a fixture to Sisters for decades and visitors see Sisters as a town with Cascade being the main focus."

Keenan urged the city to configure a solution that is different from nearby towns. She said traffic is only congested during peak times like summer months.

"The community must be a priority, not just ODOT's view of traffic flow from Salem to Bend," Keenan wrote. "We need to find the best solution for Sisters and be creative in the process. I don't want downtown Sisters to end up like Redmond and Madras.

"I think we have enough visionary people in Sisters that we can come up with a unique solution that doesn't jeopardize the essence of Sisters."

The Couplet Advisory Committee should be fully formed and ready to begin meetings by November 7, according to city reports.