November 4, 2019

Downtown Bench
Our JACOBS staff turned around the bench that was put in near Andrews Seeds after pouring a small pad, with the permission of the owner, so that it did not obstruct any parking or handicap space. See the picture (it looks really great!).

Citizens Coalition of Ontario
The grassroots group hosted their 3rd community forum. Chief Romero (Police) and Dan Cummings (Community & Economic Development Director) presented with Andrew Maeda from the Recreation District. We had the Alameda Lego Robotics Club come; they asked some really great questions. We owe much thanks to the coalition for hosting and planning these forums.

Job Shadow
I was privileged to have a student from Four Rivers Community School shadow me for the day. Her interest is in architecture so she participated in the design meeting for the wayfinding system and we reviewed the skate park bathroom plans with the Architect from JACOBS.

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Homeless
I spent about 9 hours this week investigating some potential solutions to our homeless issues. That work involved meeting with other community agencies, talking with staff, and speaking with our City Council members. We will have a discussion about it during next Thursday’s City Council Work Session. It’s a challenge that has many potential solutions, but none are easy or simple. It’s a very complex issue. Addressing it will involve making difficult decisions.

Energy Performance Proposal
I let out a request for proposals for an ESCO (Energy Service Company) Performance Contract. I believe we have some savings to realize, particularly with our street lighting.. This has the potential to save us a significant amount of money. I’ll talk more about it at the Work Session.

​Fire & Rescue
Our public safety staff was invited to First Responders Appreciation day at Ontario Community Church where they welcomed us and had both Chiefs say a few words. They also had us join them for brunch. The crew and some of the associate members took out Engine 103 to the Boo-Bash trunk or treat at TVCC and the high school trunk or treat.

​We responded to an electrical outlet that overheated and was contained to the outlet and plug strip. The staff responded to a motor vehicle crash roll over with three critical patients. Two were sent by air ambulance. The crews also responded on multiple false alarms.

Police
Chief Romero was shadowed by his Four Rivers High School mentee for her high school senior project. The mentee did a short ride-along with officer Llamas, who was eager to assist and mentor the student as well.

Chief Romero issued one temporary lodging voucher to a homeless individual who he contacted at the river clean-up project. The voucher was possible through a program offered by the Salvation Army and administered by OPD. The individual is a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps.

Chief Romero and Officer Elizondo visited Alameda Elementary School for a Red Ribbon presentation and school assembly. Students K-6th grade were provided an opportunity to ask questions and interact with OPD regarding, “How to stay drug free.” Chief Romero challenged the students to a “Say No To Drugs” writing contest, in return for a classroom party for the winning class.

Chief Romero accompanied me, our Public Works Director, and two reporters from the Argus Observer to take a post river cleanup tour of the water treatment plant. The goal was to provide transparency and information.

Chief Romero and Officer Elizondo conducted a community Drug Prevention and Education seminar at OHS in both English and Spanish. The goal was to inform and educate parents and children on best practices for insuring a Drug Free lifestyle. This was in conjunction with the Red Ribbon Week campaign.

Chief Romero met with and assisted a group of homeowners in the south side of the city, with planning and developing a new Neighborhood Watch program.

OPD staff donated over $150 of candy to hand out at OPD’s “Trunk or Treat” event at OHS for Halloween. OPD Staff also participated at other Halloween festivities throughout the city and at the Elks Lodge. The goal was to interact with the community and offer additional safety.

Airport
Monday evening's airport committee was productive. Jessica Sherwood from the Bureau of Land Management shared that Ontario's tanker base is now on the list of sites for a new building at the national level. This is great news! The much needed fiber, sewer, and cameras approved by the council were also well received.

The Airport Managers airplane inventory has generated another 40 planes based in Ontario. With this more accurate data, we will be in a position to receive more funding.

Gravel will be placed at the ends of the runway to meet the requirements stated in the Oregon Department of Aviation's report on the pavement maintenance plan.

Human Resources and Public Information
Peter is continuing to work with the Police Department on our Code Enforcement Officer. We had a lot of applicants and the top candidates will be interviewed in front of a panel this month.

Community & Economic Development
Staff has been very productive these past weeks with the help from our part time worker Isabelle who has been a big help in scanning past records and files into the archive system.

Staff is reviewing 13 building applications this week and has issued 8 building permits this past week with 26 total permits being issued so far in the month of October.

Marcy and Dwayne attended training and re-certification for the 2019 Oregon Structural Specialty Code (commercial code change) in Bend this month.

Dan has been very busy processing 13 land use applications these past few weeks. We are at 66 Land Use Actions so far for this year.

Dan attended a week’s training in Lewiston, Idaho, funded by a grant from Oregon DLCD (Department of Land Conservation and Development) on FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Administration) Flood Plain Administration last week to get trained on the new NFIP (National Flood Insurance Program) regulations and the new model codes established by FEMA and the State of Oregon.

Dan has been working on amending the Ontario Flood Plain Code (10A-47) to meet the new Oregon Model Code and will bring that forward to the planning commission and city council in the near future.

Dan is still working with me on the Snake River Trail with Kraft Heinz (ORE-IDA) and Wal-Mart as well as with ODOT (Oregon Department of Transportation).

With the help from Kit Kamo with SREDA, staff has been submitting our Industrial site to several manufacturers looking for sites in Oregon.

​Public Works
Field Services
The concrete pad and sidewalk were poured for the Lions Park shelter. After the concrete has cured we will finish the construction of the replacement shelter. This will be a great asset to the city.

ADA crosswalk access sidewalks were poured on Alameda, which was a citizen led effort. 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 matching our benches were installed in the downtown core area replacing the old concrete cans. Those cans will be used at other locations in the City.

Water
Staff trouble shot and resolved an issue with a brine tank sensor for our disinfection system.

Engineering
SRCI contract negotiations continue. We meet again next week. ​

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