Boyd wins four-year term in council coin toss

City Attorney Steve Bryant tosses a tie-breaking coin to determine council terms. Brad Boyd won the toss. photo by Jim Mitchell Several important city issues were overshadowed by the McDonald's decision at the Sisters City Council meeting on Thursday, December 23.

City Attorney Steve Bryant used a commemorative coin in a toss to decide the council terms of Dave Elliott and Brad Boyd. Under the Sisters City Charter, because the two tied in votes in the November election, a coin-flip decided who was to receive a four-year term. The other term is two years.

Bryant flipped, Elliott called "heads," it came down tails -- Boyd four years, Elliott two years.

The oath of office for new Councilor Brad Boyd will be administered at the January 13 city council meeting. Accordingly, Mayor Elliott made out-going Councilor John Rahm's new position on the city planning commission effective the same date.

The city council authorized City Manager Eileen Stein to enter into a personal services agreement with Berry, Elsner, and Hammond for legal services in the amount of $10,000 to $15,000. The short-term services were requested by the planning department for assistance in updating the Comprehensive Plan and proceeding with Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) planning.

Bruce Berryhill presented a proposal to the city council to use Cliff Clemens Park for a community garden. He assured the council that the garden "will not use all of the park and will not be ugly."

The public works department reported the purchase, at a surplus sale, of two electronic readerboards and a 1992 Dodge truck with tool boxes.

New population signs are up listing a population of 1,490.

Seven miles of sewer have recently been cleaned and flushed with the new Vector truck.

The planning department reported 53 building permits issued in 2004.

No breakdown as to commercial versus residential was immediately available. Planning is currently working on a "Buildable Lands Inventory" as part of the planning needed for UGB expansion.

Because of legal considerations, the council approved an amendment to a lease agreement with the Central Oregon Council on Aging (COCOA) for a new 2005 Ford Aerotech van.

The vehicle, paid for by a federal grant, will be leased to COCOA for $1 per year. Under the new lease agreement, the City of Sisters will provide maintenance, fuel, etc. and COCOA will insure the vehicle.

The van, according to the agreement, "is equipped with a wheelchair lift to be used to provide special transportation services within the Sisters community to eligible participants."

The next meeting of the city council will be a joint workshop with the Deschutes County Commissioners on January 6.