City snapshot - 3/17/2021

• Crista Munro, executive director of Sisters Folk Festival, and Roger Dwight, vice president of Sisters Rodeo Association, will participate in a statewide public-events meeting with Governor Kate Brown on March 31 to help establish guidance for public events with the changing circumstances regarding COVID-19. Organizations have been hopeful that the guidance would be available by April 1 to enable planning of public events which require months of lead time.

• Banners honoring this year’s graduating high school seniors will again adorn Cascade Avenue. A parent group is working with the high school yearbook teacher to establish a GoFundMe account to help offset the cost of the banners. Contact Sisters High School for more information.

• Lt. Chad Davis of the Sisters Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) substation reported that Deputy Mike Hudson is back on duty in Sisters following his leave for military training.

Davis also announced that body cameras will be worn by officers starting in May.

There has been a big increase in traffic stops, with stops doubling this month over last. Sgt. Paul Garrison announced that Sisters will again have officers on mountain bikes for the summer. He said the bike patrol is another way to reach the community and promote more citizen/officer interactions.

• The City code regarding parking regulations is currently being reviewed by City staff, City legal, Lt. Chad Davis, and the City Council to include additional vehicular parking restrictions and regulations. Staff initiated this effort after receiving several complaints from citizens regarding the storage of vehicles, trailers, boats, and RVs within the public rights-of-way. The primary focus was to provide local law enforcement with clear and enforceable language to be able to work with the citizens on this storage issue, as well as other parking issues that occur throughout the year.

RV parking has been an issue that staff has dealt with over the years and, without consistent and clear policy, it has been difficult to enforce. The proposed language does allow for property owners to obtain up to four permits per year, if they can meet the conditions to park and use the RV for accommodations for up to 72 hours to help property owners and their visitors to be able to attend public events when camping space is at a premium.

The draft amendments will be reviewed one more time at a Council workshop before a final vote is taken.

• Unidentified parties have been meeting regarding establishing of an urgent-care center in Sisters. An announcement is expected soon.