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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 26, 2016)
12 Wednesday, October 26, 2016 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon Sisters resident takes Redmond development role PERS By Steve Kadel Correspondent A Sisters Country woman will help guide the eco- nomic fortunes for the City of Redmond after being named the town’s community devel- opment department director. Kate Porsche was chosen over more than 30 other appli- cants from nearly a half-dozen states, said Redmond City Manager Keith Witcosky. “We were all drawn to her energy, her optimistic out- look, and intellectual curi- osity,” said Witcosky, who offered the job that Porsche began on October 6. Redmond’s newest admin- istrator lives six miles east of Sisters with her husband, Rod, and their daughters Maddie-Jo, 11, and Savannah, 13. Rod is executive direc- tor of the Downtown Bend Business Association. Both Porsches are native Oregonians, and Kate has shown an eagerness to excel throughout her life. Born in Eugene, her family moved to Portland where she attended Wilson High School, earning a GED at age 16 so she could enter Oregon State University earlier than her classmates. At OSU, Porsche received a bachelor’s degree in liberal studies in 2008 and a master’s degree in public policy in 2012. At the same time, she was working for the City of Albany, where she rose to the position of Urban Renewal and Economic Development director. Her experience also includes stints in corporate communications, database designing, and mortgage lending for Bank of America. “That combination helps,” Porsche said during an interview. Why relocate to Sisters attorneys earned $1,627 in fees in records spat after a 10-year career in Albany government? Porsche, 44, said they were drawn by the lifestyle and Sisters as a good place for their girls to continue growing up. She continued working in Albany for a year after the couple purchased a house here. Porsche would spend Monday through Thursday in Albany before heading home, always confident that a new opportunity would open up nearby. We were all drawn to her energy, her optimistic outlook, and intellectual curiosity. — Keith Witcosky “We have similar risk tol- erances,” she said of Rod and herself. The family is a good fit for Central Oregon, enjoying hik- ing and skiing. Porsche and her husband also like compet- ing with friends in NFL fan- tasy football play—and each have etched their names onto the winner’s trophy more than once. In her new job, Porsche will wrestle with a problem familiar to Sisters residents: lack of affordable housing. But she likes the feeling of the city, especially the pedes- trian-friendly downtown area with its trees. “Redmond is business- friendly and family-friendly,” Porsche said. “Redmond is authentic. It’s not a little Bend.” Redmond’s civic lead- ers are enthusiastic about the skills and experience Porsche brings to the job. Jon Stark, PHOTO BY STEVE KADEL Kate Porsche, recently named community development director for the City of Redmond, has been a high-achiever since entering college at 16. senior manager for Redmond Economic Development Inc., knows her abilities well. “I’ve had the privi- lege of serving with Kate on the Oregon Economic Development Association Board of Directors for the past couple of years,” Stark said. “I’m excited of her new role as community develop- ment director. She’s very well organized, she is an excep- tional communicator, and her ability to problem-solve will serve her well in this new position.” Witcosky, the Redmond city manger, said Porsche’s “skill-set and personal- ity matches our organiza- tional culture and embraces the innovative values of Redmond. Her background in economic development and using urban renewal resources to spur public and private development partnerships is exactly what Redmond needs.” Typical of her thorough- ness, Porsche arranged 14 separate, informal meetings with Redmond civic leaders, city staff members and town citizens before interviewing for the job. “I wanted to understand what the community is like,” Porsche said. “Is it function- ing well?” She liked the answers to her questions, and now anticipates a challenging but rewarding role in the city’s government. She will oversee Redmond’s planning, build- ing, housing, code compli- ance, economic development and urban-renewal issues. SALEM (AP) — Attorneys representing the state’s Public Employees Retirement System racked up $1,627 in fees in a dis- pute with a Salem Statesman- Journal reporter who asked the agency to waive a public records request fee. The Bend Bulletin reported last Wednesday that attorneys racked up the fees over a $112 fee. The Oregon Department of Justice overturned the rule last month that allowed PERS to charge for those records. The move reversed a 2002 interpretation of the law by an earlier state attorney general. Lottery employees this summer told The Bulletin they couldn’t waive a $260 fee for a chain of emails. After the ruling, the lottery waived the fee and released the records. Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum is heading a task force to improve the state’s public-records law. NuggetNews.com is your online source for ROAD REPORTS 6th Annual Halloween Costume Bash! Saturday, October 29 Party starts at 8 p.m. Live Music with The Substitutes Costume Contest Prizes, Drink Specials 541-549-6114 | Sisters, Corner of Main & Larch | www.hardtailsoregon.com