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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (July 1, 2020)
Wednesday, July 1, 2020 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon WILDFIRE: Residents should be ready for smoke GOALS: Budget is key to implementation of City plans Continued from page 3 Continued from page 1 " Buy a portable air cleaner before there is a smoke event. Make sure it has a HEPA fil- ter and is the right size for the room. " Create a <clean room= in your home. Choose a room with no fireplace and as few windows and doors as pos- sible, such as a bedroom. Use a portable air cleaner in the room, with the door shut. " Know where to go for local information. You can find fire and smoke informa- tion at www.centraloregon fire.org. " Sign up for emergency alerts: https://www.deschutes. org/911/page/sign-deschutes- emergency-alerts. <It9s important to begin preparing for wildfire smoke early. In the past, we9ve seen stores run out of portable air cleaners,= said Deschutes County Public Health Director Nahad Sadr-Adozi. <By preparing now, you can be ready and minimize poten- tial health impacts.= Smoke may worsen symp- toms for people who have pre-existing health condi- tions and those who are par- ticularly sensitive to air pol- lution. Contact your health care provider to develop a smoke plan. Sensitive groups include: " People with asthma or other chronic respiratory dis- eases, such as chronic obstruc- tive pulmonary disease. " People with cardiovascu- lar disease. " People age 65 or older. " Infants and children. " Pregnant women. " Smokers, especially long-term smokers. headwinds. It is vital that we continue to invest and prioritize furthering that resiliency.= Livability and Growth: The City will be com- pleting a Comprehensive Plan update that is an important step in balanc- ing the demand for growth with adequate buildable land supplies. Three of the Comp Plan sections have to do with housing, economic development, and urbaniza- tion, all of which need to be assessed before consider- ing expansion of the Urban Growth Boundary (UGB). New land must be brought into the UGB before it can be annexed into the City and available for building. To support the efforts of balancing land supply with maintaining the historical character of the community, the budget includes monies for the Comp Plan update, Transportation System Plan amendments, creating a Master Plan for the City- owned Lazy Z property, and updating the city housing plan. Public Safety: Beginning July 1, the City will enter into a new Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with the Deschutes County Sheriff9s Office for law enforcement services for the next five years. In support of pub- lic safety, and in response to feedback from the com- munity, Sisters will have a DCSO lieutenant and three patrolmen assigned exclu- sively to patrol Sisters. Economic Development: rs, e t s i S you, k n a h T us! g n i t r o p for sup The two major factors in the City9s economic develop- ment are traded-sector busi- nesses and tourism. Funds in this year9s budget in support of marketing and promo- tion of tourist activities by the Chamber have been cut by nearly $100,000 due to anticipated reduced transient room tax (TRT) from visi- tors due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Reduced fund- ing from the City for the Economic Development for Central Oregon (EDCO) program will be made up by fundraising among the private sector. Some funds will be available for business support and economic recov- ery from the COVID-19 pan- demic. Funds are designated to develop the City9s first- ever strategic plan regarding tourism and the utilization of the TRT funds. E s s e n t i a l Infrastructure: The backbone of all activ- ity within the City is the essential infrastructure sys- tems 4 water, wastewater, streets and parks. Council has continued to prioritize the necessary investment in these systems to ensure stability against any unfore- seen issues (redundancy) and capacity in the face of con- tinued growth. Several big projects for FY 20/21 are the construc- tion of Well No. 4 for drink- ing water system capacity and additional capital invest- ment in water, sewer, parks, and streets systems. Two potential budget impacts for which the City doesn9t yet know amounts include right- of-way acquisition for the Locust/US 20 roundabout and acquisition of the East Portal USFS property. The City is actively working with ODOT to refine those num- bers and does plan to move forward on both in FY 20/21. Good Governance: Many of the objectives under this goal, such as <increase and enhance public outreach,= can be furthered with little to no impact on the budget. Much of the work by the City is based on transparency, accountability, participation and consensus- orientation, being effective and efficient, equitable, and adhering to policies and law, and is part of everyday actions and procedures at the City. The City will be host- ing an AmeriCorps mem- ber for 11 months through the Resource Assistance for Rural Environments (RARE) Program at the University of Oregon. The City will be conducting an audit of short- term rentals (STR) and TRT remittance. Monies will also help create and utilize the long-range financial model and assess cybersecurity and any needed protections. Community Vision: The outcome of the Sisters Country Vision is 20 key strategies across four focus areas to be carried out by local government, public agencies, nonprofits, and other partners over the next five-to-ten years. As a <living plan,= it will inform future decisions and help move Sisters in the direction of our shared vision. Money will go to extend an IGA with Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council for facilitation of the Vision Implementation Team and member organization sup- port. A large portion of the RARE intern position will be dedicated to the Vision, specifically coor- dination between partners and advancing key proj- ects. Engineering and legal work will study potential future Sun Ranch Drive streetscapes and improve- ments; land-use planning time to update the zoning code; and explore the details and potential designation of a Makers District (identified in the visioning process). According to Misley, <Our greatest asset continues to be our people. The public service of every volunteer, from the Council to the com- mittees, contributes to our collective success. The City staff are passionate about their work and serving this community. Our team strives to be both effective and effi- cient in light of stewardship of pubic tax dollars.= As growth continues and the Sisters Country Vision encourages us to aim higher, we must continue to evaluate every tool in the toolbox. — Cory Misley Misley went on to say, <We have a diverse array of revenue sources and have been diligent in accumu- lating thoughtful reserves for the respective services. As growth continues and the Sisters Country Vision encourages us to aim higher, we must continue to evaluate every tool in the toolbox.= NTED LADY PAI Antiques 541-904-0066 141 E. Cascade, Ste. 104 541-549-4349 260 N. Pine, Sisters Have a safe & happy 4 th of July Licensed • Bonded • Insured • CCB#87587 Nothing says quality like true hand-forged ironwork CCB# 87640 541-549-9280 | 207 W. Sisters Park Dr. | PonderosaForge.com IT’S NOT SUMMER WITHOUT A JUICY STEAK! I WANT YOU! (to look this good) PHOTO BY ALEX JORDAN “Your Local Welding Shop” Enhance the look and feel of your home or business environment with our hand-crafted iron products. Our artisans are 3rd-generation meat and smoking experts, and we’ll cut your meat to order. We’ve got tasty sandwiches and NW craft beer on tap! Have you tried our Alaskan seafood? The perfect addition to a mixed grill feast. Happy 4th of July from 541-719-1186 Excellent meat case! 110 S. Spruce St. Beer & wine, too! Open 9 AM -6 PM Every Day 152 E. Main Ave. / 541-549-8771 9 MEATS • CHEESES • EATERY • DRINKERY
