8 Wednesday, October 19, 2016 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon City snapshot By Sue Stafford Correspondent • Sisters City Council has reaffirmed that no new mayor will be selected to serve between now and December 31. There are only three more Council meetings; there is only one meeting in both November and December because of Thanksgiving and Christmas. Council President Nancy Connolly will continue as acting mayor. • City Attorney Jeremy Green presented Council with recommenda- tions regarding System Development Charges (SDC) waivers for affordable housing. The waivers may be made as long as the property remains affordable for 50 years. If the property sells to a new owner, that person must meet the qualifications for purchasing affordable housing. If it is not a permit- ted transfer, the waiver plus interest must be paid. At this point in time, the total SDCs per unit amount to $8,000-$10,000. The interest rate (generally between 9 and 18 percent) should be high enough to be a penalty. It is up to the Council to decide which fees will be waived — park, It’s Time to Catch Steelhead! Let our experienced guides help you! transportation, water, or sewer. The City doesn’t have to manage the trans- fers because the developing agency — HousingWorks, Habitat for Humanity — has to ensure compliance. The draft plan will be able to serve as a template for future affordable-housing developments. • Chuck Ryan, the sole applicant, was interviewed and sworn in to fill the Council chair left empty by the resignation of Chris Frye. Ryan will hold that position until December 31. In response to his interview questions, Ryan stressed the importance of Council determining, and operating according to, a long-term strategic plan. He identified three main issues he sees in the next two to three years — busi- ness diversification, afford- able housing, and working to establish process before decision-making, strategy before budget. He would like to see the councilors com- municating with one another and working as a team. Ryan also thinks it will be impor- tant to have some training for both Council and staff as to their roles and responsibil- ities both alone and together. Proper planning for public outreach is another area for consideration. • Rick Allen, interim city manager, presented to Council his suggestions regarding the search for a permanent city manager. He recommended putting out a request for proposal (RFP) to outside consulting firms that deal with cities all over the West to conduct the search. The $20,000-$30,000 expected price tag buys the expertise, connections, and time saved for staff by an unbiased third party that will handle the entire process. There is one company that guarantees if the new manager doesn’t work out within one year from hire, there is no charge. Allen recommended wait- ing to start the process until the new Council is seated in January. They will meet with the chosen firm to discuss what they are looking for in a city manager. The entire process is expected to take about four months with the new hire hopefully on board in May. Old-School — Kindling — BARBER SHOP Veterans Discounts & Hot Shaves! Year-round FIREWOOD SALES — — SISTERS FOREST PRODUCTS 541-410-4509 SistersForestProducts.com Walk-Ins NEW on! ti Loca No appt. needed TIME TO AERATE Aspen Lakes launihes ianned food drive Aspen Lakes Golf Course teed off its annual canned food drive on Wednesday, October 19, asking golfers to donate in exchange for a significant discount off their green fee. The proceeds sup- port various Central Oregon charities and food banks. Each year Aspen Lakes asks golfers to donate at least three cans of nonperishable, unexpired food in exchange for a discounted 18-hole green fee of $30 and nine- hole fee of $20 (cart rental is not included). The 18-hole rate represents an $18-per- round discount from Aspen Lakes’ regular rate. The food Aspen Lakes collects is then donated in time for the holi- day season. The program, which was started by Aspen Lakes nearly 10 years ago, has been a successful one. Since its inception, Aspen Lakes has been able to donate an average of 2,200 pounds of food each year. “The canned food drive has been one of our favorite ways to help area families in need,” said Pam Mitchell, co- owner of the family-owned golf facility in Sisters. “We take great pride in being able to collect all that food and then donate it to worthy food banks and charities. And the bonus is that we get to offer Aspen Lakes golfers a great deal to play.” The canned food drive will last into November. 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