City changing course on campground plan

In the face of some vehement opposition to its renovation plans for Sisters' municipal overnight campground, the city council changed course Thursday night, cutting the project back to only its first phase and kicking the proposal over to the Sisters Planning Commission for review.

The city's plan for the park originally included a two-phase upgrade of spaces to full hookups, increasing the rates overall, and removing a number of trees to accommodate larger RVs.

At the outset of the meeting, Director of Public Works Paul Bertagna withdrew the $285,000 second phase of the project from consideration. Mayor Brad Boyd announced at the beginning of "visitors communications" that, instead of being decided on administrative approval, the matter will be heard by the planning commission. Boyd told the assembled public that to have their commentary on the record, they would need to speak at the planning commission meeting on March 20.

"We would like to hear your concerns," said Mayor Brad Boyd. "We are slowing this process down. We are bringing it back to planning commission."

The change of course did not mollify the opposition. Those opposing the renovation base their objections in part on an apparent change of "culture" in the park - concerns that non-RV travelers will be priced out; the reduction of tent and bike sites; and the removal of a number of trees. City staff has noted that tent and car camping will not be precluded and will be available at reasonable rates.

Sisters resident Jack Nagel presented the council with a petition containing 200 signatures opposing the upgrade. Many of the signatures were collected at a booth that was stationed in the middle school lobby during the city's recent economic forum.

Boyd told Nagel that the petition should be submitted at the planning commission meeting on March 20. Boyd welcomed anyone that wanted to address the council to come forward and make their statement, but he firmly suggested that they would be better served by addressing the planning commission first.

Former planning commission member Ed Protas raised strong objections to moving public testimony on this project to the planning commission.

Protas said, "If people show up to the planning commission, which is a land-use action (board), and voice their opinions to the planning commissioners, it is not the same as voicing their concerns to their elected representatives (the council)."

For the sake of the audience, Boyd clarified with legal counsel that protocol requires that none of the councilors attend the planning commission meeting.

Protas asked how then the councilors would be made aware of the public's concerns. Boyd said the councilors would listen to the planning commission recordings.

The city's "process" has also been sharply called into question. Concerns include the fact that the project was submitted for planning approval in advance of a February 20 workshop, and it was approved by staff the following day. There has also been notification on the city website for some time stating that the Creekside RV Park is closed for renovations and will reopen in the spring.

Boyd has acknowledged that the city has been moving along at speed on the project and reiterated that Thursday's change of course was intended to slow things down and allow for more input. Boyd has also noted that staff will evaluate the uses of the park after Phase I to determine what the most common uses are and where and when demand is greatest, before going ahead with a Phase II.

Mayor Boyd stated on several occasions that those gathering petition signatures, those sending e-mails and those speaking at the meeting appeared to be operating with mistaken or false information, misrepresenting what the city was actually intending to do. Opponents counter that they were using the information as it was presented in city documentation and that the information that Phase II was distant and contingent had not been articulated when opponents circulated their information.

Boyd indicated that he is looking to the planning commission hearing to clarify the actual facts about the project.

Another bone of contention is that the renovation is not included in the city's master plan for parks and that the funds could be used elsewhere.

Once the planning commission makes their recommendations, the renovation plan still needs to come before the council for a vote on funding construction. The cost of Phase I is $297,000. Phase I includes removing 18 non-hookup sites and replacing them with 26 full-hookup sites, for a total of 76 sites. Four "significant trees" (eight or more inches in diameter at 4.5 feet above ground) are to be cut in Phase I and city staff says they will plant 10 trees along Locust Street and 15 trees along Tyee. There is to be no tree removal from the "buffer zone" along

Highway 20.

The $285,000 Phase II is currently off the table.