City snapshot — paving, housing, DMO work

- The Sisters City Council approved the awarding of a public improvement contract to Knife River Corporation -Northwest in an amount not to exceed $304,986.60 for the 2022 pavement maintenance project. Due to their level of pavement degradation and age, the following streets will receive a 1.5-inch overlay: West Main Avenue from North Locust Street to North Pine Street, Pine Meadow Street, South Rope Street, East Timber Pine Drive, West Jefferson Avenue, and South Birch Street. The work will be done by June 30, 2022, with the Main Avenue grind and inlay occurring at night due to traffic and safety concerns.

- City staff accountant Kim Keeton has again been recognized by the state for the accuracy and timeliness of her semimonthly PERS reports to the state. She prepares those reports and turns them in semimonthly, or 24 times in a year. In June of this year, she will be celebrating 10 years of working at the City.

- While Community Development Director Scott Woodford was giving City Council an update on the current Housing Plan and Efficiency Measures work at last week’s Council workshop, the question was raised of whether an increase in housing density will create greater danger from wildfire threats. Or, if the Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) is expanded, will that put housing closer to the wildland urban interface and increase the danger from wildfire? Those are questions that will be considered as the work continues.

- City Recorder Kerry Prosser presented to Council upcoming dates to be aware of.

- April 29: Arbor Day Celebration at City Hall, 10 a.m.

- April 29: Ballot box in front of City Hall opens for depositing ballots.

- May 5: Well #4 ribbon cutting, mid-afternoon.

- May 24: Budget meetings at City Hall, 9 a.m. (If needed, follow-up on May 25).

- June 16: Joint City Council/Planning Commission meeting.

- June 21 or 23: City/Vision Team public celebration, Creekside Park, 4 to 6 p.m.

- City staff is conducting initial work on establishment of a Destination Management Organization (DMO), including reading and research of best practices and budgets, drafting a purpose, bylaws, and composition of the board. Once those initial steps are completed, the board can assume their duties, making decisions about partnerships, an executive director, new programs, etc. The City legal firm is currently reviewing the proposed bylaws.

- Two sets of camp hosts for Creekside Campground have been secured, one of them repeating and one of them new. They will be on duty as of May 1.

- City Manager Cory Misley said that by the end of May, four electric charging stations will be installed near the library and City Hall.

- Community Development Director Scott Woodford told Council he will be presenting proposed Development Code amendments to the Planning Commission at their next meeting. His department is receiving and reviewing development applications, including for food cart lots and the Three Peaks Industrial Park. He is also studying dark-skies ordinances and outdoor lighting requirements.

- Public Works Director Paul Bertagna reported on projects his department is working on. Paving on North Pine Street is taking place this week. The Creekside playground is now ready for use. Requests for Proposals (RFP) for the Master Plan of the East Portal mobility hub have been released. All the materials have arrived for the solar project to be installed at the Public Works yard at the end of South Locust Street. The budget for installation of a multi-use path on Elm Street is estimated to be less than $300,000, including installation of a pedestrian bridge over Whychus Creek but no lighting.

- The lobby of the Sisters Ranger District is again open to the public, following two years of closure due to COVID-19.