October 5, 2020

TSP Open House
The City of Ontario has developed a new online open house to gather public feedback on active transportation improvements and a new streetscape plan for East Idaho Avenue. Multiple biking and walking routes have been selected for improvements and a concept design has been developed or East Idaho Avenue, but we need to hear from you! Please take just a few minutes and visit the online open house (open until 10/9) and give us your feedback. Visit the open house here. 

Chamber AV Upgrade – I received the third bid for the AV setup in the Council Chamber. I’ll bring a recommendation to Council for award on Thursday.
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Branding Implementation – Peter has been working on implementation of our new brand. Final presentation is coming to Council on Thursday and then we will launch with your approval.

JOINT NEACT/SEACT – The two Eastern Area Commission on Transportation met on Thursday.

Airport Planning Application –We officially submitted the Airport Planning grant application this week. 

Grants – Letters continue to come in from businesses for the EDA Grant. The mayor organized a meeting between him, President Dana Young, myself, and Andy Bentz to discuss the rangeland management program and possible grants.

Highway Lighting – I got another estimate for the lighting of the overpass. It was considerably lower. The most recent estimate I got was at about $30k which is what I was hoping for.

TVCC Aviation Program – I continued discussion with TVCC Administration about the Aviation program.

Another CDBG Funding – Euvalcree was awarded the CDBG grant that they will be administering for us for the micro-business enterprises. It is for $50,000.

Airport
The 105 acres of mowing at the airport was completed this week. This should help immensely with the problem of blowing weeds. It is also bringing in comments of how nice it looks.

Dan Beaubien and I attended the Airport Committee on Monday and discussed fueling procedures as well as other topics at the airport. An additional work session meeting will take place next Monday, October 12th to finalize a fueling solution.

Precision approach path indicator lights have been repaired and put back into service this week. Also, a runway light and two taxiway lights which were destroyed by an aircraft upon landing.

The BLM’s single engine air tanker planes and spotter plane left this week for the year. They went to Utah, Arizona, and Colorado.

Pre-meetings are happening this week and next for capital improvement projects at the airport. Groundbreaking should begin next week to build a taxiway and hold apron at the airport.

Fire
Staff inspected Treasure Valley Cannabis and a neighboring building on 10/1/20.
This month is Breast Cancer Awareness month. You will see our staff in pink to show our dedication and support.

Incidents
9/28- Rescue-1 was contacted concerning a garbage can fire at Beck-Kiwanis Park. The reported can was extinguished as crews arrived. 9/29- Crews responded to a fire at a homeless camp. Crews also responded to an arcing light pole. When Rescue-1 responded, crews noted sagging wires. Idaho Power was contacted.

Police

Administration
Sept 28th- Chief Romero talked with an Ontario Real Estate Association agent to discuss crime prevention strategies for Ontario’s multi-unit parcels. Chief Romero presented a program known as the “Crime Free Multi-Housing Program” that focuses on crime reduction strategies for multi-unit rental housing and subsidized housing. Recent crime incidents at local apartment buildings were the origin of this community concern.  
Sept 29th-Chief Romero hosted the regional director from the Idaho-Oregon High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) agency to discuss a future plan for funding and assisting Malheur County law enforcement agencies with combatting the illicit drug epidemic in the region.

Sept 29-Chief Romero attended a board meeting for the Ontario Boys and Girls Club. Chief Romero has been selected to serve as a co-chair for the BGC’s sustainability committee. Chief Romero hopes to increase the level of crime prevention education and youth activities offered at the BGC.
 
Sept 30- OPD conducted its second annual “Feed the Veterans” breakfast at the Ontario American Legion POST. Following social distancing protocols and care, OPD was able to feed about 20 area veterans and some OPD staff that dropped by to exchange mutual support for each-others service to our communities and country.
 
Sept 30-Chief Romero attended a community development planning meeting in the City of Baker. Chief Romero and other Ontario Civic group and business leaders were invited to serve as guest presenters and consultants for Baker City stakeholders and city officials. The topic presented was the launching of youth outreach programs and programs for serving the special needs and vulnerable population. Ontario has captured the attention of other areas for the great collaborative work that is taking place in the areas of outreach and community partnerships. 
 
Oct 1- Chief Romero served as a guest speaker at the FRCC for Project Dove and spoke about OPD’s role and support in combatting the crime of Domestic Violence. Chief Romero provided educational tips on how the community can help reduce incidents of DV and how to effectively report DV to law enforcement agencies.
 
Chief Romero began review of applications for the newly formed Chief’s Advisory Council. He anticipates a 9-council member selection completed by October 9, 2020.
 
Field Services
OPD activities remained steady but OPD is glad to report that there were no significant crimes or incidents this week. OPD’s proactive efforts focused on some drug related complaints and recent vandalism (graffiti) that popped up throughout various parts of the city. It is believed that the same suspect is responsible for the vandalism. OPD is following some promising leads for identifying the suspect.

Code Enforcement
CEO’s met with Chief Romero and the city’s contracted “Hearing Officer” to draft and finalize contracts for the city’s current hearing officer and a newly selected second hearing officer.
CEO conducted directed enforcement efforts in the southeast section of the city. Many of the contacts were follow-ups from previous warnings and notices as well as trying to identify chronic violators.  

This week’s enforcement focus was on illegal parking, specifically non-functioning vehicles that are left on public roadways.

Public Works
Field Services
Crews spent the week crack sealing West Idaho Avenue.
A pilot test of the Titus Twister that began last week at the Malheur Lift Station has removed about 95% of the fats, oils, and grease from the wet well.  However, those waste products appear to be moving downstream to the wastewater treatment plant and congealing on the surface of Lagoon #1. Staff will continue to monitor the performance and results throughout the pilot test period.

Water
The water treatment plant is running well, and the reservoirs are full. Staff worked on cleaning out the drying beds. Sodium Hydroxide feed lines are being to break down. A solution is being pursued.

Wastewater
Arsenic sampling was performed at the wastewater treatment plant this week. Representatives of Synagro were on site Tuesday reviewing the scope of the bio solids removal work. They still intend to mobilize to Ontario the week of October 12th.

Parks and Cemeteries
A large new mower is back in service. Bids are being solicited for irrigation system upgrades at Evergreen Cemetery.

Engineering
The second phase of the SE 2nd Street project is scheduled to wrap up this week and Phase III is scheduled to begin.

​Staff are working with Oregon Department of Corrections to identify the amount and type of sulfate containing cleaning agents are being used at SRCI. Jacobs is recommending that using lower sulfate cleaners will reduce the amount of hydrogen sulfide being generated in the wastewater collection being received from SRCI. Hydrogen Sulfide is a prime suspect in objectionable odors emanating from the waste treatment plant as well as very corrosive the collections system infrastructure