Sisters selected for U of O project

The City of Sisters has been presented with an opportunity to participate in a cutting-edge pilot project conducted by the University of Oregon's award-winning Sustainable City Initiative, utilizing UO students and faculty.

Over the past six years, the Sustainable City Year Program (SCYP) has collaborated with one large Oregon city each year. Students worked on city-identified, real-world projects that furthered already identified city goals.

"With the traditional model, cities partner with SCYP for an academic year. Cities benefit from between 40,000 and 80,000 hours of work by UO students and faculty members from a variety of disciplines, working to advance priority city projects. Past city projects have included over 500 students from planning, architecture, business, law, public policy, landscape architecture, economics, journalism, product design, and others," explained Megan Banks, SCYP program director in her presentation to the City Council.

Typically, projects are already in the city's work plan and classes focus on specific, tangible, and beneficial outcomes and products.

"SCYP encourages cities to choose projects that already have a dedicated funding source to minimize budget impacts," Banks explained.

For the 2016-17 school year, the university is reaching out to several smaller cities, which often have many of the same goals and concerns as larger cities, but fewer staff and less money to address them. Proposals have been made to Sisters and La Pine, being both geographically close to each other and not too far from Eugene, enabling the program logistically to work with both cities.

SCYP is a proven model, and Council heard about its past success working with Gresham, Salem, Springfield, Medford, and currently with Redmond.

Redmond Mayor George Endicott shared his enthusiasm for the program.

"The SCYP program has been an excellent collaboration between the City of Redmond and the University of Oregon professors and students. The quality of work contributed and the enthusiasm shown has led to some outstanding results... The money invested by Redmond is what I consider funds well spent, and I would do it again."

Banks estimated the City's share of the cost would be in the neighborhood of $50,000 for a 10-week term, including both hard dollars and in-kind services by City staff.

"In order to move SCYP into those cities that need it most, UO has engaged the Ford Family Foundation, who is very interested in moving forward with a pilot program that focuses on La Pine and Sisters for the 2016-17 school year. Discussions with the Ford Family Foundation are underway, and the UO has asked them to match the city contribution. UO will submit an application on behalf of, but in collaboration with, the pilot cities," said Banks.

Sisters benefits in a multitude of ways from participating in the project. Besides the manpower and expertise made available, City projects that may have become "stuck" will receive creative attention with new energy and a fresh perspective.

Pre-consultant work by the students makes eventual efforts on a project more efficient and cost-effective. With participation in the project, resources can be leveraged by streamlining staff efficiency, identifying areas for cost savings, and connecting with partners (private and public) to identify and address gaps and overlaps.

Community Development Director Patrick Davenport presented Council with a draft list of 15 possible projects that staff thought might be suitable for the program. The list ranged from affordable and workforce housing policy analysis to a way-finding/information kiosks and public art plan to a bike and pedestrian plan for the Transportation System Plan update.

Councilors agreed that the opportunity to partner with UO and Ford Family Foundation to accomplish items already identified as goals or tasks is a definite positive to be considered. They will review the staff list with the intention of prioritizing and narrowing it down.

The conversation will continue between Banks and the City and, if Council gives their approval, this summer there will be an open house in Sisters to introduce the program to the citizens. Starting in September, UO students and faculty will begin working on their 10-week class projects according to what City goals match course offerings.

The SCYP is a win-win for everyone involved. Students receive practical experience in real-world settings dealing with actual city projects. The City gets the benefit of cutting-edge ideas and best practices creating results above what might have been if not participating in the

program.