Page 14 The INDEPENDENT, March 19, 2009 Council told population projections needed for UGB not ready From page 13 the centerpiece of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974. The program’s pri- mary objective is to develop vi- able urban communities. The City of Banks and other local governments have demonstrat- ed their ability to administer and customize the CDBG pro- gram to identify and help with local needs. Councilor Brian Biehl, who has been involved with the pro- gram, noted that Banks used CDBG funds for the library. Council adopted Resolution 2009-04 soliciting congression- al delegation support for rein- stating funding for the Commu- nity Development Grant Pro- gram. February was unusually busy for police services, ac- cording to Deputy Tran, who also found that Washington County, in general, had been busy with criminal activity last month. Tran made 16 traffic tops and issued five citations. Because of the limited number of violations, Banks Municipal Court will begin in April instead of March. There were 39 calls for service during February, and three arrests were made. City Manager Jim Hough presented council with informa- tion on several topics. He told council that the city received an appeal from Cameron Crop re- garding a “loss-of-water” charge on his water bill. The appeal will be considered dur- ing the April council meeting. Additional information from Hough included the following: • Among the agencies in- volved, a “comedy of errors” has resulted in a delay in deter- mining the city’s projected pop- ulation. Because that projection is needed for an expansion of the Urban Growth Boundary (UGB), previously scheduled March 31 council, planning commission and community meetings will be rescheduled. The meetings may need to be consolidated in order to meet the targeted June 30 comple- tion date; • Preliminary information has been received on the Hillsboro Sub-Regional Economic Op- portunities Analysis (EOA) and is being incorporated into the process for the UGB expansion and designation of Urban Re- serves; • PGE has provided a re- vised Statement of Streetlight Available at… Gardner’s Farm & Home Supply 19340 Biggs Road Vernonia, OR 97064 (503) 429-6481 Installation Responsibilities, which is being reviewed to en- sure that it incorporates the subdivision. Additionally, the city is working with PGE to draft a lighting ordinance that incor- porates the Dark Skies con- cept, and PGE reminded the city that adjacent homeowners are responsible for trimming trees in the public right of way, especially those near power lines and streetlights; • April 1 is “City Hall Day” at the Capitol; • Signage is being installed for the Vineyard and Valley Scenic Tour Route recently designated by the Oregon Transportation Commission and the Oregon Tourism Com- mission. James Selfiason spoke to council regarding the authoriza- tion of a no parking zone adja- cent to the mid-block crosswalk at 42012 NW Oak Way, and the city Tree Board’s recommenda- tion to remove a tree in the parking strip. Selfiason com- mented that cars drive about 35 mph and that nobody stops for the cross walk. “Smaller kids around kindergarten age can- not been seen,” Selfiason said. “I don’t want to lose that park- ing spot but I am worried about safety.” Council unanimously approved a motion to authorize the no parking zone and re- move the designated tree. Janet Town was appointed to the Banks Planning Commis- sion and Jim Branstitre was ap- pointed to the Banks Budget committee. Council tabled the adoption of an amendment to the city’s ordinance regarding dangerous dogs while waiting for policy in- formation from Washington County Dog Control. The amendment will be on the April agenda. Council accepted the draft Water Management & Conser- vation Plan, which will go to the Oregon Department of Health for review. The next city council meet- ing will be April 14 at 7:30 p.m. School Board hears about lunch program changes From page 12 of all 44 U.S. Presidents. Wow! Following the exodus of par- ents and students, Lance Heg- gin, Sodexo Food Services manager, told the board about changes in the lunch program. Because of legislative changes in rules controlling food service in schools, especially in federal school lunch programs, schools must now meet nutri- tion standards that reduce the amount of fat. Heggin told the board that they now serve food with 30 percent, or less, fat per serving, which eliminated some popular items, particularly from the à la carte menu. Heggin told the board about the data from the Center for Disease Control’s massive Be- havioral Risk Factor Surveil- lance System (BRFSS). Begin- ning in 1984, BRFSS is “the world’s largest, on-going tele- phone health survey system, tracking health conditions and risk behaviors in the United States.” They continue to col- lect data monthly from every state. Obesity, defined as over 10 percent of ideal weight, has been tracked since 1985, when only a few states showed this level. By 1995 all states were reporting and many showed obesity rates of up to 14 per- cent. By 2005 all states showed obesity rates of greater than, or equal to, 15 percent of adult population. Oregon and Wash- ington are in the 25 – 29 per- cent obesity rate. [For further information: www.cdc.gov/brfss Use the al- phabetic index to go to obesity, find Trends for an animated map of survey results.] Two alternatives for next year’s school calendar were presented for discussion. Be- cause Labor Day is September 7, retaining the traditional start of school to the following day pushes the last day well into the middle of June, even with- out any modification that may be needed next year. The ad- ministrative team is recom- mending that the first day for students be August 31. This calendar makes June 8 the last day of school, giving time for any needed adjustments at the end of the year. No decision was made at this meeting. Policies approved by the board include changes in grad- uation requirements. A mini- mum of 24 credits will be re- quired for graduation including: three in mathematics, four in English, three in science, three in either arts or a second lan- guage, and six in electives. Be- ginning in 2014, students must receive math credit in Algebra I or higher to graduate. Other policies address related issues, including alternative education and modified diploma, service learning, and assessment. Prior to the business meet- ing, the board met with Jeanne Magmer and Marsha Latter to discuss what actions should be taken to increase public sup- port for a bond measure. Mag- mer suggested looking at vot- ing results through a lens of fo- cus groups of 12-15 people each. Magmer and her partner would hold “controlled conver- sations” with the groups to identify public perception of the district in regard to current and future facilities. This approach is intended to provide the board with information from voters to help in deciding how and when to propose a bond measure for new buildings. Magmer will submit a proposal to the board for a focus group study. In other business, the board: • Named Pauly, Rogers and Co. to perform the 2008-09 au- dit; • Appointed both applicants to a single opening of the budg- et committee, subject to review by legal counsel; • Were informed by high school principal Jim Foster that the board-approved trip to Italy over spring break is on sched- ule this year and that next year they will be seeking approval for a trip to Costa Rica; • Were introduced to new el- ementary teacher Rachael Kel- ly; • Approved teacher and ad- ministrative contracts for next year, including the reduction of one elementary teacher; • Declined interest in pur- chasing property across Trellis Way from BES; • Heard that three school board positions will be up for election in May.