City snapshot

• The Sisters Planning Commission will be deliberating on the McKenzie Meadows Village land-use application and Master Plan from Hayden Homes on Thursday, March 21, 5:30 p.m., at City Hall. No more public testimony will be taken.

• The Sisters Public Works crew continues to remove large piles of snow from streets throughout the city, especially any that are covering storm drains to ensure proper drainage for melting snow. Public Works Director Paul Bertagna wants city residents to know that in future heavy snow events, if there is a medical emergency and the medics can’t reach the patient due to snow blockage to call the City Public Works Department and ask for assistance.

• Site plans have been received at the City for a small hotel/restaurant/bar on the old Ski Inn property on East Cascade Avenue, a new bus barn and transportation center on school district property directly behind the Sisters Park & Recreation District building, and from Sisters Rental for additional storage buildings and outside storage.

• At the annual City Council goal-setting workshop on February 12, councilors identified six main goal areas: livability and growth; public safety; economic development; essential infrastructure; good governance; and community vision. Staff will now align suggested project ideas from the councilors with the correct goal, add action items, and bring the document back to Council for further review and input.

• City business licenses have been issued to Lyft, the vehicle-for-hire business, and Fika, the new coffee shop located at 201 E. Sun Ranch Dr. in the business park north of West Barclay Drive.

• A contract has been awarded to Mountain Sky Landscaping for the Barclay/McKinney Butte/US 20 roundabout landscape and art project. Work could begin as soon as weather permits.

• City Council has authorized staff to apply for a matching grant from the state to replace the Village Green play structure, with a total project cost of $193,750. The City would be required to provide 62 percent of the cost, or $120,125 to match the state’s $73,625, which is considered a small grant and may have a better chance of being funded than a request for a larger grant. The City portion of the expense could come from Parks System Development Charges, the general fund, and possibly Urban Renewal funds.

• Former City Councilor David Asson has been appointed to the Budget Committee that will meet this spring to set the City’s 2019-2020 budget that begins in July.