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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 24, 2016)
Wednesday,February24,2016The Nugget Newspaper,Sisters,Oregon5 City may increase parks SDC By Sue Stafford Correspondent The Parks Advisory Board heard from Patrick D a v e n p o r t , c o m m u n i t y development director, that staffisconsideringtheneed toincreasetheparkssystem developmentcharges(SDCs). SDCs are fees paid by builders per unit built to covercertainexpensestothe City created by new dwell- ingunits.Forexample,with anewsubdivisiongoingin, therewillbeimpactsonthe existing sewer and water systemsaswellasincreased use of City parks by new residents. SDCs pass the cost of necessary improve- mentsontothebuildersand thusthenewhomebuyersor renters, rather than requir- ing existing residents to payforcostsrelatedtonew developments. ThecurrentparksSDCin Sistersis$613perdwelling, by far the lowest in the majorCentralOregoncom- munities. The total SDCs for all services on a single 1,800-square-foot, three- bedroom,two-bathhousein Sisters run about $10,000. Comparable SDCs in Bend are$40,000to$60,000. In some communities, like Madras, an equivalent dwelling unit basis is used indeterminingparksSDCs, soeveryonepays,including businesses.Forexample,the localMcDonald’smaybethe equivalent of six dwelling units,andwouldberequired topaysixtimestheratefor asingleresidentialdwelling unit. InSisters,thecommercial andindustrialpropertiespay higherpropertytaxessothey are not required to pay the SDC. The Parks Advisory Board voted to recommend to Sisters City Council an increase in parks SDC fees to$1,368,alittleoverdou- blethecurrentfee.Council willreceivethatrecommen- dationandconductapublic hearing, probably in May. The proposed change also has to be forwarded to the Central Oregon Builders Association for notification of any builders working in Sisters. At their March 3, 8 a.m. workshop, council will be reviewingthePAB’srecom- mended Parks Master Plan (minustheSDCs)withpos- sibleadoptionattheMarch 19,7p.m.Councilmeeting. ThePABalsobegandis- cussion on establishing a policy for selecting names fornewparks.Theylooked at possible criteria such as the name being consistent with the town’s Western theme, or in memory of a resident of local signifi- cance.Theywillsolicitpub- licinputbeforefinalizingthe policy. Child seat safety program on tap T h e S i s t e r s - C a m p ShermanRFPDwasawarded a reimbursement-based grant through the Oregon DepartmentofTransportation to provide child passenger seatservicestothecommu- nity. The grant provides up to $1,200 over the next 10 monthstoassistinpurchas- ing supplies needed to con- ductachildsafetyseatpro- gramandrequiresanin-kind matchfromtheDistrictof25 percent.This match will be metbyvolunteersconducting child safety seat checks for the community throughout theyear. AccordingtotheCenters for Disease Control (CDC), motor vehicle injuries are theleadingcauseofprevent- able deaths and injuries to childrenintheUnitedStates. Correctly used, child safety seats can reduce the risk of deathbyasmuchas71per- cent.Mostcarseatsareeither installed incorrectly, or do not fit the child properly. Providingeducationtocare- giversabouthowtoproperly buckletheirchildrenisasim- pleandhighlyeffectiveway tomakeadifference. Thenextcarseatcheckup event will be held on Saturday,March5,from10 a.m.to1p.m.attheSisters firestation,locatedat301S. ElmSt.inSisters.Seatswill becheckedbynationallycer- tifiedcarseattechniciansfor properinstallationandrecall information. Caregivers will then be assisted in installing their child’s seat properly. For more information, contact Heather Miller, S i s t e r s - C a m p S h e r m a n fire district volunteer at 541-729-5791.
