City is working toward Sisters' future

Recently two issues have generated a lot of attention locally.

I am talking about the possible relocation of Gutenberg College and the concerns of a few developers with the performance of the city's planning department.

Before I tackle these issues, let me share with you some of my thoughts on the role of city government.

As mayor I am tasked with upholding the constitution (both state and federal), all applicable state and federal laws, the city charter and local laws. Within this context the council represents the will of Sisters residents. With their concerns in mind, we address today's problems while leading the city toward a livable future.

In pursuing these objectives, I strive to represent all of the residents of Sisters equally: whether property owners or renters, business owners or consumers. I also strive to support the Sisters Vision, developed by a large group of Sisters area residents last year.

How does this relate to the Gutenberg College issue? Some citizens are in favor of such a move and some are opposed. But as a city government, we should not play favorites based on whether or not we like a particular business.

The city will apply our zoning and code requirements equally and fairly to all applicants. Given these requirements, each business that considers moving to Sisters must determine whether it makes sense for their organization to locate here. We should not change the rules just to make it work for a particular case. We can certainly change the rules when they are no longer appropriate.

What does all of this mean in the area of planning? The vision states that "we create our future through a strong planning process that protects the town character." This means we must establish regulations that support this goal and examine all applications carefully, to be sure that they meet these regulations. To create a livable future for Sisters, our planning process must insure that applications are complete and that we take the time to review them thoroughly. The impact of a planning decision will be felt for 30 to 50 years, so we owe it to our citizens to take the care and time required to make the right call.

Our obligation to serve all citizens equally directs us to require every land use applicant to play by the same rules. Whether we are dealing with a familiar face or a new arrival or a small landowner or a large developer, we must apply the same scrutiny and the same standards.

Sisters is growing fast, though not as fast as our current population forecast has indicated.

In a small, sleepy town, perhaps we could afford to be fairly informal in our approach to settle issues with a handshake between friends.

It is very clear that those days are long over.

Today, we must have published regulations, set processes and clear standards for all to obey.

We must review every application carefully, weighing it against our code requirements, our comprehensive plan and our goals for the future.

This may seem burdensome to those who have done business here for a long time, but it is a necessary step as we transition from the small town we were to the larger town that we are rapidly becoming.

Through our planning processes, I intend to safeguard the town character and the stunning natural world that the Sisters Vision celebrates, the very qualities that make Sisters special. These qualities are what sustain our economy. This is not a small task, and I do not take it lightly.

Can we improve our current performance? Yes, we can, and we welcome thoughtful input on how we can do better.

In planning, we have moved forward by hiring a new senior planner with 20 years of experience. In addition, we have already received a number of qualified applications for a Community Development Director. We will be interviewing to fill this position very soon and rebuilding the planning department like it has never been before. With the help of the planning commission and the city council, they will help guide us through the challenges of growth toward a future that will make us proud.