November 13, 2019

I want to start off by saying first of all, the City Council is making a difference in this community. Through their visioning and application of resources, we are making many visible improvements that will help change the image of this community.
 
Also, we have a great leadership team. We talk through problems together and I couldn't feel more blessed to be surrounded by such great people.
 
Homeless 
We are still working through some challenges with a site to support the homeless population for the winter.

Marijuana
I was interviewed by KTVB on Monday. The story aired over the weekend about the marijuana business in Ontario. I shared with them the investments in our community the City Council is making in our community with the money being collected.

Budget
Finance prepared a draft budget calendar. We moved the budget back one month last year and I would like to move it back another month this year. Preparations will begin in December.

Border Board 
I attended the Border Board this week. They have good participation in the grant programs from the other taxing entities in Malheur County. Most of the taxing districts are opting in.

Park Improvement Leveraging 
The plan to put up match money for our service clubs is looking successful. This week we were notified that three service clubs have planned matches for our $10,000 each, leveraging another $30,000 in park improvements.

Police
Chief Romero met with Masonic Lodge representatives to coordinate a fundraising dinner event to benefit OPD’s community policing initiative.

Chief Romero conducted a conference call with Astoria Police Chief, Geoff Spalding. They discussed strategies about homeless population response plans, small agency scheduling, and resource allocation efficiency plans. Astoria PD serves as a comparable agency for OPD.

Chief Romero hosted the “First Annual” OPD retiree open house and luncheon at OPD. The goal is to welcome back the great people that previously spent part of their lives serving the Ontario community through a variety of assignments. Chief Romero places great emphasis on building a long-term relationship for OPD teams of the past and current. Chief Romero donated all the food, snacks and beverages for those in attendance.

Field Services
After several weeks of investigating, OPD and federal task force officers made an arrest of a wanted fugitive. Last Friday, Chief Romero assisted OPD units in the early morning hours at the scene of perimeter containment next to Ontario High School. The suspect, who was wanted for a felony warrant, was pursued by vehicle first and after using a spike strip, then by foot, after crashing his vehicle against a curb. The suspect, considered “Armed and Dangerous”, was located by OPD officers during a foot search of the homes just east of the OHS football field. Another great catch by OPD personnel.

Fire and Rescue
The department had many members and apparatus in the Veterans Day parade for those that served our country. Some of the staff assisted the high school by replacing lightbulbs on the football field; that was a big project and is only half way done.

The crew responded to a care home for a call of burning smell, they were able to trace it down to a melted doorbell chime and an overheated transformer. The power was disconnected and the chime was removed.

The staff responded to a fully involved car fire in the state park by 201 and I-84 the owner stated the steering felt funny so he pulled over and then flames appeared and he called for help.

Airport
This week, Dan began with troubleshooting the strobe light the end of runway 33. A new bulb is being sought after as it is non-standard. More runway and tax away lighting is also being repaired as part of the upkeep at the airport.

Two new hanger leases have been created and will be put on the agenda for City Council approval as soon as the required insurance is provided from the owners.
 
Community& Economic Development
Staff has been very busy with lots of phone calls and clients coming in trying to get t projects done before winter hits as well as continuing scanning past records and files into the archive system to free up the storage facility.
 
Building:
Staff is reviewing 6 building applications this week and has issued 12 building permits this past week.
 
Planning:
The city council approved the amendment of the city comprehensive plan and map by extending the urban growth boundary to include a piece of property left out in the 2007 update. The next step in to now annex this property into the city limit which the application for this can now be processed.
 
Dan is continuing to work on updating the City code relating to Marijuana, Certified Local Government regulations and housekeeping code issues found over the years working with the codes and will be bring these forward to the planning commission and city council in the near future.

Economic Development:
Dan completed the construction plans for the Airport sewer extension project the council approved the budget for and submitted them to the City engineer for review and approval in hopes of getting this project out to bid in the next few weeks. Way to go Dan for saving money on this project.
 
Dan met with the Ontario Rotary Club as well as the Ontario Lions Club this week on future plans of the parks they represent and future development and improvements to these parks.

Public Works

Field Services
ADA crosswalk access sidewalks were poured on Alameda; the crosswalks are painted and now in service.

The bar screen system at the prison lift station was rebuilt and put back into service, this system has backup redundancy. Street sweeping continues for the entire town based on our schedule. Catch basin cleaning started and will be going through the fall.

New decorative trash cans were installed in the downtown core area replacing the old concrete cans. Those cans will be recycled to other locations in the City.

Water
Staff identified an issue with our chemical feed system; crews developed a work around and will move to repair this issue early next week.

Housekeeping and painting continue at the water treatment plant. Primary focus is the pump gallery.

Parks and Cemetery
There were two burials this week at Evergreen Cemetery. Leaf mulching at the parks has also begun, in weekly inspections staff are keeping well ahead of leaf drop. Winterization of underground irrigation systems is complete.