City briefs county on projects

Sisters has a lot of irons in the fire: A pending annexation of an airport; a major road construction project; construction of a new school-based health clinic; a new community park; a proposed amphitheater.

City Manager Andrew Gorayeb and his staff shared a major project status report with county commissioners Tammy Baney, Tony DeBone, and Alan Unger during a city council workshop on Thursday.

The city manager kicked off the discussion with an update on the airport annexation negotiations with the airport sponsor Benny Benson.

"For all intents and purposes we are at an agreement with the airport sponsor," said Gorayeb. "The city is investing dollars into the project. I think it was necessary for the city to do that, and it was critical for the airport sponsor. For free they (Benson) allowed the community garden to relocate, and they created a really nice version of a community garden. In exchange for a 10-year commitment (to the garden) we are going to pay for the road that leads to it and for the parking.

"We are doing everything we reasonably can to support the annexation," continued Gorayeb. "It was a long and protracted negotiation, but I think we are there."

Approval of the annexation agreement is on the agenda for the January 9 city council meeting.

Linda Webb, clinical program supervisor for the Deschutes County Health Department confirmed that the permanent school-based health clinic building is fully funded after a contribution by the county commissioners. Construction will begin this month on property just east of Sisters High School. The building is scheduled to be completed by July. St. Charles Medical Center has signed on as the medical sponsor.

Webb also reported grant funding for a half-time mental-health therapist at the clinic.

Commissioner Baney said, "Our overarching goal is to make sure that we are not duplicating services within the community. We want to make sure that we're enhancing the services that are available and adding services that are currently not in the community."

Public Works Director Paul Bertagna shared a brief update on the Cascade Avenue improvement project: "We had a very successful fall construction season, basically getting the re-route ready for the detour in March. Most of the work was done at night."

Gorayeb said: "Lessons learned so far - having the ODOT community liaison has been huge, and I would give Knife River an "A" at this point. They did their work at night, working for every minute they were allotted. They are doing good work."

Bertagna noted that ODOT was in the process of installing the temporary signal light at Barclay Avenue and Highway 20. The signal light will be "bagged" until it is turned on at the start of the Cascade Avenue construction in early March to control the detour.

Gorayeb and Community Development Director Pauline Hardie reported that the Urban Renewal Agency (URA) signage grant program had received seven applications from local merchants and all seven had been funded. These funds will be used to help offset the façade and signage costs associated with the Cascade Avenue upgrade project. Six other businesses that were directly affected by significant sidewalk changes involving their façade will also be assisted by URA funding.

"Everybody is nervous about the Barclay Drive re-route," said Gorayeb. "Obviously the concern is how to keep commerce traffic flowing through downtown Sisters. We are putting signage at every logical point that we can think of to redirect traffic downtown."

This discussion led directly to the subject of the roundabout at Barclay and Highway 20, and the pressure that will put on finding a solution for the intersection at Locust Street and Highway 20.

"We are still high on the STIP (Statewide Transportation Improvement Program) list for the roundabout at Barclay and Highway 20," said Gorayeb. "The big challenge is freight traffic making a left back on to Highway 20. It is not a Sisters problem, it is a county problem and it is a state problem on a major freight route."

Gorayeb complimented ODOT's Gary Farnsworth for being proactive in launching an initial design for the Locust intersection. Gorayeb noted that the school district owns the property that can virtually solve the entire intersection challenge. He wants to take advantage of the excellent relationship between the city and the school district at the moment to enter into an agreement to acquire the property needed for the roundabout, but first he will have to have a preliminary design to know what to ask for.

Commissioner Baney, also a member of the Governor's Transportation committee, suggested that Commissioner Unger and city councilor Wendy Holzman raise the issue with COACT (Central Oregon Area Commission on Transportation) so that when the issue gets to the state level COACT has already taken a position of support for the roundabout solution.

Staff noted that the Fir Street splash park design is done and out to bid. The budget was $413,000. A grant from the Oregon Department of Parks kicked in $206,000. The city will be the general contractor on the project with six suppliers and four trades doing the work. The splash park is scheduled to be ready on or before the Rodeo Weekend, shortly after Cascade Avenue reopens.

Gorayeb indicated that the preliminary design work and model of the proposed amphitheater was completed earlier in the day (see related story page 1). He will be meeting with foundations and local funding groups to raise money for the project.

"Most foundations require a significant local contribution before they step up and fund it," said Gorayeb. "It (the amphitheater) can and will be a huge asset for Sisters. What (the Britt Festival and amphitheater) does for Jacksonville is amazing. They brought in 60,000 people last year right into the center of downtown."

The city believes it can mitigate impacts.

Mayor Brad Boyd noted that "the technology is there for sound abatement. They have real-time microphones outside the venue that appear right on the sound board and also on a website for remote monitoring and adjustment."