Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (March 27, 2017)
3A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • MONDAY, MARCH 27, 2017 Draft plan released to reform ODOT Bend residents protest apartment proposal in wake of $1 million evaluation By MARINA STARLEAF RIKER The Bulletin A legislative committee will have its own set of recommendations By PARIS ACHEN Capital Bureau SALEM — The state’s administrative agency has laid out a draft plan for reform- ing weaknesses at the Oregon Department of Transportation, but deadlines for the reforms lag behind legislators’ sched- ule for approving a transporta- tion package. The draft recommenda- tions by the Department of Administrative Services are based on the findings of an independent consultant’s man- agement review of the agency finalized in February. The state paid New York- based McKinsey & Co. $1 million to evaluate the per- formance of the Department of Transportation before law- makers consider approving hundreds of millions of dollars in new transportation funding later this session. The reve- nue to pay for projects would likely come largely from a hike in the state’s gas tax and registration fees. Gov. Kate Brown ordered the review to help allay some lawmakers’ concerns the agency wasn’t prepared to handle the new projects effi- ciently and effectively. lacks a strategic vision for the future and accountability mea- sures, the consultants found. In its draft, the Department of Administrative Services recommended that the gover- nor and Legislature convene a work group to clarify the gov- ernance structure and report back by November. ODOT should seek the expertise of a manage- ment consulting company to develop a management plan for the agency that would define structure, roles and measurements for success. The agency also should seek out a consulting company to address waste in its fleet and facilities programs and convene procurement experts from other state agencies to review potential improve- ments for contracting. Other recommendations ask for a communications plan, align legislative stan- dards with the realities of the agency’s operations and ask the secretary of state to con- duct an audit specifically on ODOT’s management of funds in the highway program. Finally, DAS recommends conducting another manage- ment review to identify the progress of any changes. Unclear governance Released Friday The consultants concluded there is an unclear governance structure for ODOT and the Oregon Transportation Com- mission, which sets policy for the agency. The agency also The draft recommenda- tions were released to the EO Media Group/Pamplin Media Group Capital Bureau Friday in response to a public records request. BEND — Catherine Najand and her husband moved from Southern Cal- ifornia to Bend three years ago so they could live in a quiet, tight-knit community. She bought a home on a quarter-acre lot on the south edge of town, where she would live among ponderosa pines, wildlife and look out to dark, starry skies at night. But just a few years after moving in, neighboring prop- erty owners are threatening the things Najand cherishes the most about her neighbor- hood: They want to build a 192-unit apartment complex just blocks away. Najand isn’t happy. “I came here because I was told Bend is a commu- nity,” said Najand. “It’s not a community anymore; it’s a moneymaking machine.” Najand is one of several residents protesting the pro- posed apartment complex, which would be located just north of Ponderosa Street on U.S. Highway 97. Although developers are still in the early stages of planning, Najand and some of her neighbors say the apartments won’t fit in with the neighborhood and will negatively impact their community, which doesn’t have sewer lines or adequate Capital Bureau The Department of Administrative Services has released draft recommendations to reform the Department of Trans- portation based on the results of a consultant’s evaluation. The finalized recommen- dations are scheduled to be released this week, said Department of Administra- tive Services spokesman Matt Shelby. The records were sub- mitted to the Oregon Transpor- tation Commission and ODOT earlier this month. The com- mission and agency have been asked to give feedback on the recommendations by today, Shelby said. The first of several work products recommended in the draft plan wouldn’t be due until Nov. 1, months after the state Legislature is scheduled to adjourn. Lawmakers on a legislative committee crafting the transpor- tation package say they plan to move forward with their own ODOT reforms. The co-chairs of the Committee on Transpor- tation Preservation and Modern- ization formed an accountability subgroup to look at such issues. “When we decided to go with the accountability group, we kind of put aside what the executive department was doing and said, we are going to do what we think needs to be done from a legislative per- spective for accountability and transparency,” said committee Co-Chairman Sen. Lee Beyer, D-Springfield. Rep. Alan Olson, R-Albany, who heads the accountability subgroup, said he would con- sider the draft plan in a separate set of recommendations he plans to present to the full, 14-member transportation package commit- tee in early April. Accountability measures His recommendations are likely going to include sugges- tions for changing or clarify- ing ODOT’s governance struc- ture and other accountability measures. Olson said he is particularly interested in an idea to provide a website to the public where they can track the progress of trans- portation packages and whether the projects are on schedule and on budget. The Capital Bureau is a col- laboration between EO Media Group and Pamplin Media Group. streets to handle hundreds of new residents. Najand is not unlike doz- ens of other residents who have protested new develop- ments in Bend — specifically apartments. Housing advo- cates and city officials say building up is the only way to provide enough homes for the city’s population; Bend’s rent prices have skyrocketed in recent years, pushing some longtime residents out of the city. But hundreds of other Bend residents say apart- ments will ruin quiet, sin- gle-family neighborhoods. Developers haven’t applied for any permits yet for the Ponderosa Street proj- ect, but the initial proposal calls for multiple three-story apartment buildings, a club- house and pool, according to documents submitted to the city by Grant Hardgrave, a civil engineer in Bend. The 192-unit apartment complex would span 8.6 acres, which are owned by multiple prop- erty owners, according to property records. Hardgrave wouldn’t comment on the proposal. Colin Stephens, planning manager for the city, said before anything can be built, the developers will have to send notices to neighbors and go through a planning and permit process, which will give people the chance to appeal the project. W A NTED Alder and Maple Saw Logs & Standing Timber N orth w es t H a rdw oods • Lon gview , W A Contact: John Anderson • 360-269-2500 H APPY 90 B IRTHDAY TH E D M C C ALL M ARCH 27 TH You are our hero. Mike, Liz, Doug, John and Julie They’re your dreams. Start building them. Consider a U.S. Bank Home Equity Line of Credit for your next project. With competitive rates and flexible payment options, lasting home improvements could be within reach. Introductory rates start as low as 1.99% APR. HOME EQUITY LINE OF CREDIT Introductory rate for 6 months Rates as low as Variable rate after introductory period 1.99 % 4.64 % APR* APR* Rate available 2/25/17 – 5/5/17. Rates are subject to change. Rate shown for lines of credit: – Up to 70% loan-to-value – U.S. Bank Consumer Checking Package Actual rate may be lower. Visit usbank.com for custom rates. Call 800.209.BANK (2265), visit a local branch, or go to usbank.com/dreambig *1.99% Introductory Annual Percentage Rate (APR) is available on Home Equity Lines of Credit with an 80% loan-to-value (LTV) or less. The Introductory Interest Rate will be fixed at 1.99% during the 6-month Introductory Period. A higher introductory rate will apply for an LTV above 80%. Offer is available for new applications submitted from February 25 – May 5, 2017. After the 6-month introductory period: the APR is variable and is based upon an index plus a margin. The APR will vary with Prime Rate (the index) as published in the Wall Street Journal. As of March 16, 2017, the variable rate for Home Equity Lines of Credit ranged from 3.51% APR to 8.29% APR. Higher rates may apply due to an increase in the Prime Rate, a credit limit below $100,000, an LTV above 70%, and/or a credit score less than 730. A U.S. Bank Consumer Silver, Gold, or Platinum Checking Package account is required to receive the lowest rate, but is not required for loan approval. The rate will not vary above 18% APR, or applicable state law, or below 3.01% APR – 3.25% APR, depending on market. Choosing an interest-only repayment may cause your monthly payment to increase, possibly substantially, once your credit line transitions into the repayment period. Repayment options may vary based on credit qualifications. Interest only repayment may be unavailable. Loans are subject to credit approval and program guidelines. Not all loan programs are available in all states for all loan amounts. Interest rates and program terms are subject to change without notice. Property insurance is required. U.S. Bank and its representatives do not provide tax or legal advice. Your tax and financial situation is unique. You should consult your tax and/or legal advisor for advice and information concerning your particular situation. Other restrictions may apply. Mortgage and Home Equity products offered by U.S. Bank National Association. Deposit Products are offered through U.S. Bank National Association. Customer pays no closing costs, except escrow-related funding costs. An annual fee of up to $90 may apply after the first year and is waived with a U.S. Bank Consumer Platinum Checking Package. The Consumer Pricing Information brochure lists terms and conditions that apply to U.S. Bank Consumer Checking Package accounts and can be obtained by calling 800.872.2657. Member FDIC. ©2017 U.S. Bank. 170184C 2/17 U.S. Bank was named a 2016 MONEY® Magazine “Best Bank,” November 2016. ©2016 Time Inc. Money is a registered trademark of Time Inc. and is used under license. Money and Time Inc. are not affiliated with and do not endorse products or services of U.S. Bank.