Outlaws grad serves as city intern

Marcus Arends is getting some hands-on experience in his academic field this summer. The University of Oregon junior is working as a paid intern for the City of Sisters planning department.

Arends, who was born and raised in Sisters, is a Planning and Public Policy & Management major at U of O. His experience of Sisters helped lead him onto that path.

"Being around to see community change happening - it was something that really interested me," he said.

As often happens, a particularly passionate teacher fanned the flames: Professor Marc Schlossberg in Intro to City Planning.

Coming home for the summer, Arends sought out possibilities for work in his field.

"I reached out to Pauline (Hardie, Sisters community development director)," Arends said. "There wasn't anything posted."

But there was plenty to do.

Planning is the focus of intense scrutiny in Sisters, and Arends was immediately tasked with legwork on a couple of issues of high interest in the community. He contacted cities throughout Oregon to find out how they handle temporary-use permits (or if they don't) and he's now gathering data on users of the Creekside overnight use park.

He's collecting data on the RV and tent campers that use each site so that the City can incorporate that data into a master plan for Creekside Park. That work is his primary focus through the summer. He returns to university in late September.

"I think I'll come back with more (understanding) of what being a planner is," he said. "You can only learn so much in a classroom."

Arends said the City staff welcomed him "with open arms" and he is very appreciative of the substantial work he's been given under the supervision of Hardie and planner Eric Porter.

"They're awesome planners - they're people I'd want to learn from," he said. "It's great to have mentors like that."

Arends is considering entering the Peace Corps with a focus on community and economic development, so that he can travel and continue to build experience in his chosen field.

Author Bio

Jim Cornelius, Editor in Chief

Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.

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