City of Sisters is in good shape

On January 8, a new city council will be seated in the City of Sisters, and my term as Mayor will come to an end. The Nugget has graciously given me this space to reflect on the changes of the past few years and thank some of the people who have moved the City forward.

When I ran for City Council, my biggest concern was identifying a transportation plan that would serve us well as the city grows. For the first time in over 25 years we now have a Transportation System Plan (TSP) that is supported by both the community and ODOT. We have found a workable solution to our traffic problems that will maintain and enhance the uniqueness of Sisters' downtown by giving large trucks and through traffic an opportunity to bypass downtown during congested weekends.

This change will create a more shopper-friendly and vibrant downtown core.

As Mayor, I was committed to improving basic city services, and we have made great strides in that direction. All city staff have signed a pledge to efficient, timely, and respectful customer service. And it has never been easier for the public to be heard at city hall, thanks to regular Mayoral office hours and a Committee for Citizen Involvement

I am especially proud of the staff we currently have. Eileen Stein has done an exceptional job of recruiting and training a talented and experienced group of department heads to handle the challenges that change and growth bring to Sisters.

For the first time in the city's history we have a fully staffed Planning Department. Eric Porter, Pauline Hardie, Laura Lehman and Carol Jenkins bring a level of experience, professionalism and customer service that we have never had before.

In Finance, Lisa Young, Lynne Fujita-Conrads and Liz Majury are adopting best practices and policies while ensuring the city is compliant with state law.

In Public Works we are lucky to have Brad Grimm, Paul Bertagna, Andy Duran and his crew - Robin, Joe, Conrad, Doug and Josh. They are revolutionizing the way things get done, with the whole crew cross-trained to cover each other's jobs. All vehicles and equipment are on a regular maintenance schedule. Efficiency and productivity have never been at a higher level.

Kathy Nelson, our City Recorder, does a fabulous job working behind the scenes to take care of all the public meeting law requirements, minute-taking and so much more.

As the new council members take their oath of office, I wish them the best in achieving their stated goals of the campaign season: bringing more family wage jobs to Sisters, implementing the Sisters Vision, and building the TSP improvements. They have pledged to do this without expanding the urban growth boundary, whose current borders give us room to grow for another 30 years. They pledge to do all of this while being fiscally conservative and keeping the city in the exceptional economic health that I have left it in.

It's a lot to promise, especially in these uncertain economic times. As someone who has been there, I can appreciate their challenge more than most. They will find, as I did, that every good idea has a price tag, that funding one idea may threaten the funding for basic services. They will find, as I did, that our citizens have strong opinions on these issues, and they will want to be shown the costs along with the benefits of any new program.

They will find, as I did, that public service requires a commitment to study and a lot of time.

But most of all, public service has been a rewarding experience.

So as I leave the Council, I would like to thank the residents of Sisters for the privilege of serving them. It has been an honor to serve as your Mayor. Thank you.