City of Bandon

 

CITY MANAGER’S NEWSLETTER

 

July 16, 2010

 

This newsletter is an informal report by City Manager Matt Winkel on the news, issues, and other items of interest from the City of Bandon.  It will normally be posted once each month (on the Friday following the City Council meeting) on the City’s WEB Page at www.ci.bandon.or.us, (click on “City Hall”) and will be e-mailed directly to all subscribers.  Subscribers will also receive copies of City Council, Planning Commission, Parks & Recreation Commission, Committee for Citizen Involvement, and Water Resource Committee agendas via e-mail in advance of each meeting.

 

To subscribe or un-subscribe, or if you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, please e-mail to citymanager@ci.bandon.or.us.  Your e-mail addresses will be kept confidential and not distributed or used for any purposes other than e-mail communications with the City of Bandon.

 

FEATURED IN THIS ISSUE

 

• Committee And Commission Appointments
• Grant Awarded For Renovating The City Park Restrooms
• Dog Ordinance Amended And Study Committee Being Formed
• Pedestrian Bridge And Barn Landscaping To Be Completed By Urban Renewal
• City To Proceed With Amendments To The Urban Renewal Plans
• Zoning Compliance Deadline Extended For Residence At 890 Ocean Drive
• Land Trade And Lot Line Adjustment At Bandon Commons 
• Residents Encouraged To Maintain Adjacent Street Rights-Of-Way
• Cranberry Court Alumni Reunion
• Linda’s Church Joke

 

COMMITTEE AND COMMISSION APPOINTMENTS

 

At their July 12^th meeting, the City Council conducted interviews and made appointments to fill three vacancies on the Planning Commission.  The appointees include Jon Mikels, Rita Johnson, and Harv Schubothe.  Jon was re-appointed to his second consecutive term.  Rita and Harv were appointed to their first term on the Planning Commission, although they have been serving the City for several years, with Rita serving on the Water Resource Committee and Harv serving on the Parks & Recreation Commission.  All three terms are for a period of 4 years.

 

Congratulations to Jon, Rita, and Harv on their appointments!  A sincere thanks to Bruce Capps for his service on the Commission, and to outgoing Chair David Kimes, who decided not to reapply.

 

GRANT AWARDED FOR RENOVATING THE CITY PARK RESTROOMS

 

The City of Bandon received word this week that we have been awarded a grant from the Oregon Parks & Recreation Department to renovate the restrooms at City Park.  The project will include a new roof, exterior aesthetic improvements, interior renovation to provide Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility, and a canopy over the entrance.  Bandon’s grant was one of only six funded, out of 26 applications submitted from around the state.  A total of $224,059 was available, of which Bandon’s $50,000 grant was the largest.  The total project cost is estimated to be $66,514, with matching funds in the amount of $16,514 coming from Urban Renewal.

 

Thanks and congratulations to Parks & Recreation Chair Esther Williams, Commissioners Donny Goddard, Carolyn Goldwasser, Thomas Jefferson, Linda Olsen, Troy Russell, and Harv Schubothe, and City Planner Michelle Hampton who all worked very hard to put the grant application together!

 

DOG ORDINANCE AMENDED AND STUDY COMMITTEE BEING FORMED

 

At their July 12^th meeting, the City Council approved an amendment to the dog leash law, which requires all motels, bed & breakfasts, vacation rentals, and other overnight lodging facilities to post notices advising their guests of the City of Bandon’s dog leash law.  This was done since some out-of-town visitors have been walking their dogs without a leash, unaware of the regulations.  The City will prepare some language which will be distributed to lodging facilities for posting.

 

The City Council also appointed Councilor Claudine Hundhausen to chair a committee to study and develop recommendations to address other issues associated with dogs.  The first problem is the matter of determining how to best require dog owners to keep their dogs on their property, since the current regulations only require leashes when the dogs are outside their owner’s property.  This has caused problems for people walking their leashed dogs on streets and sidewalks, but having them attacked by unrestrained dogs coming off of private property.  Another issue is the matter of dogs being on a leash, which has been tied to a lamp post, bench, or other fixture on the sidewalk, while the owner is in a store shopping.  This can result in confrontations between dogs and with people, and in some cases forces pedestrians to cross the street to avoid tied-up dogs with which they are unfamiliar.  The committee will also review other provisions of the dog regulations and make recommendations as appropriate.  The effort is not directed at interfering with people’s rights to own dogs, but is intended to protect pedestrians, leashed dogs, and children from possibly being bitten by vicious or protective dogs outside their owner’s property.

 

If you are interested in serving on the dog regulation study committee, please contact City Councilor Claudine Hundhausen at haus@mycomspan.com.

 

PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE AND BARN LANDSCAPING TO BE COMPLETED BY URBAN RENEWAL

 

Following a recommendation from the Parks & Recreation Commission, the Bandon Urban Renewal Agency approved a minor amendment to the Urban Renewal Area 2 Plan, and authorized the expenditure of Urban Renewal funds to construct the planned pedestrian bridge at the corner of Beach Loop Drive and 7^th Street SW.  The bridge is necessary for the safety of pedestrians who walk on the outside of the new guardrail, and will be an essential element of the proposed walking trail system, including the gravel pathways currently being constructed by the youth workers funded by the Oregon Youth Employment Initiative (OYEI) grant. 

 

The Urban Renewal Agency also approved the recommendation from the Parks & Recreation Commission to expend Urban Renewal funds to complete the planned landscaping and trellis along the front (east) side of the Barn/Community Center.

 

The City is proceeding to secure bids for constructing the Beach Loop pedestrian bridge and installing the Barn/Community Center landscaping and trellis.  It is estimated that cost for the bridge will be $50,000-$60,000, and the cost for the Barn/Community Center landscaping and trellis will be $16,000-$20,000.  The expenditure of Urban Renewal funds is restricted to undertaking capital improvement projects which have been specifically identified in the Urban Renewal Plan and located within the boundaries of the Urban Renewal District.

 

CITY TO PROCEED WITH AMENDMENTS TO THE URBAN RENEWAL PLANS

 

At their July 12^th meeting, the Urban Renewal Agency approved an agreement with Tashman Johnson LLC for providing consultant services on proposed amendments to the plans for Urban Renewal Areas 1 and 2.  The fee for these services will be $25,000, plus travel and reimbursable expenses not to exceed $5,000, which will be paid with Urban Renewal funds.

 

Formed in 1987, Urban Renewal Area 1 includes Old Town, the South Jetty, and the Woolen Mill area along the east side of Fillmore Avenue.  Some of the projects completed to date include sidewalks, decorative lighting, and underground utilities in Old Town; significant contributions towards the boardwalk and crabbing dock; paving Edison Avenue; construction of Fillmore Avenue; installation of the traffic signal at Highway 101 and Fillmore Avenue; reconstruction of the Ferry Creek bridge; purchasing the old City Hall building for the Historical Society Museum; street and utility installations in the Woolen Mill area; significant contributions towards the Coquille River Lighthouse renovation; paving the Madison Avenue pedestrian-bicycle path and South Jetty emergency access route, and payment of part of the cost of renovating the wastewater treatment plant.  Ongoing and future projects include the 1^st Street sidewalk and utility undergrounding project; public restrooms in Old Town; walkway, bikepath, and flood protection on Jetty Road; and improvements to South Jetty Park.  Area 1 will reach its maximum amount of indebtedness and expire in 3 to 6 years, depending on whether or not the Special Levy is imposed.  If that is allowed to happen, no further projects could be undertaken.  So, it is proposed that the Urban Renewal Area 1 Plan be amended to increase its maximum amount of indebtedness and extend its duration in order to undertake additional projects.  At this time, it is anticipated that such additional projects would primarily involve improvements to the Woolen Mill area as identified in the Woolen Mill Plan, and possibly purchasing additional land in this area.

 

Formed in 1990, Urban Renewal Area 2 encompasses City Park and the surrounding area, north to the bluff and west to Coquille Point, and includes 11^th Street.  Some of the projects completed to date include numerous improvements to City Park, drainage improvements in the adjacent neighborhood, significant contributions to construction of the Library and the recent renovation of the Barn/Community Center, and payment of part of the cost of renovating the wastewater treatment plant.  Ongoing and proposed future projects include a contribution towards the proposed community swimming pool; new restrooms, parking lot paving, and other recreational facilities at City Park; and construction of additional pedestrian walkways.  Area 2 will not reach its maximum amount of indebtedness and expire for 21 to 42 years, depending on whether or not the Special Levy is imposed, so there is no need to extend the district or increase the maximum amount of indebtedness at this time.  However, the last major Plan review and amendment was in 1998, and a large number of projects have been completed and needs have changed.

 

Since Bandon Urban Renewal does not impose a special levy, its revenues are derived strictly from a share of property taxes which would otherwise be paid to the overlapping taxing districts.  As a result, Urban Renewal has been able to undertake the various projects listed above without increasing property taxes.  Without Urban Renewal, those projects would not have been possible.  If Urban Renewal is allowed to expire, it would prevent further projects from being undertaken, but would not reduce the property tax rates, since the funds would simply revert back to the overlapping taxing districts.

 

The Economic Development Committee will oversee preparation of the Urban Renewal Plan Amendments, which are expected to be completed within 6 months.

 

ZONING COMPLIANCE DEADLINE EXTENDED FOR RESIDENCE AT 890 OCEAN DRIVE

 

As many residents and visitors who travel along Beach Loop Drive know, the house at 890 Ocean Drive sat vacant for many years and was becoming a significant eyesore.  In December 2008, the owner agreed to renovate the building, and was granted zoning compliance which required the project to be completed within 18 months.  During that period, the owner made significant progress on the building’s renovation, and the project is nearing completion.  Due to several factors, however, the project has not yet been quite finished, and the owner requested a six month extension of the prior June 29, 2010 zoning compliance deadline.  At their July 12^th meeting, the City Council reviewed and approved a request to extend the completion deadline for six months to December 29, 2010.

 

LAND TRADE AND LOT LINE ADJUSTMENT AT BANDON COMMONS

 

At their July 12^th meeting, the City Council approved a request from Bandon Commons for authorization to proceed with a lot line adjustment and land trade to allow the former Fanning residence, located off of Shore Pine Drive to be sold as a single-family residential property.

 

When the Bandon Commons subdivision and planned unit development (PUD) were approved, the former Fanning residence was located on a parcel of land which included both the residence itself and the remaining land designated as Bandon Commons Phase II.  The owners now wish to split off the house with a parcel containing 30,861 sq. ft. from the remaining 8.35 acres.  Accomplishing this will require an amendment to the original PUD, a land trade, a  lot line adjustment, and a partition.  The land trade is necessary since the City’s development regulations require a minimum of 40 ft. frontage on an open street, while the proposed parcel would only have a frontage of 35 ft. without acquiring 5 ft. of additional frontage.  Bandon Commons is proposing to trade to the City 40 sq. ft. of wetland area in exchange for 38 sq. ft. of land previously dedicated to the City as public open space.  This exchange would add 5 ft. to the required frontage to meet the 40 ft. requirement, and would allow the PUD amendment, lot line adjustment, and partition to proceed.

 

No adverse impacts on the City, the public open space, or the wetlands were found as a result of the proposed land trade and lot line adjustment.  All costs for processing the applications, surveying, and document recording will be the responsibility of Bandon Commons.  There will be no additional out-of-pocket expenses for the City.

 

As part of their authorization to proceed, the City Council imposed several conditions to protect the interests of the City and nearby residents.  Those conditions prevent the resulting parcel from being further subdivided, partitioned, or used for siting any additional residence(s); ensure that utilities are properly located and installed; allow City access across the land being traded to Bandon Commons; require compliance with all development regulations; and prevent any gates on the driveway from being located closer than 20 ft. from Shore Pine Drive.

 

RESIDENTS ENCOURAGED TO HELP MAINTAIN ADJACENT STREET RIGHTS-OF-WAY

 

Most properties in Bandon abut streets that are located in rights-of-ways which are much wider than the pavement itself.  Generally, the City rights-of-way are 60 ft. wide, with the hard surface on local streets, including the pavement (and curbs, gutters, and sidewalks where they exist), taking up anywhere from 16 ft. to 38 ft.  Although the streets themselves are not always located in the exact center of the right-of-way, that leaves an average of 11 ft. to 22 ft. on each side between the property line and the surface.  Although technically this belongs to the City and is the City’s maintenance responsibility, and the City has the capability of maintaining all of the water, sewer, storm drain, and electric utilities in these areas, we unfortunately do not have the capacity to also adequately mow and properly maintain these strips of land, particularly during the spring and summer vegetation growth periods.  As a result, they can become overgrown and unsightly weed patches.  While we do mow these areas to reduce the fire hazard whenever possible, recent budget cutbacks have forced us to eliminate the funds we previously used to hire temporary summer workers who were assigned to right-of-way maintenance.  The situation has been made more difficult this year, since the Public Works employees have been assigned to assist with various construction projects such as the First Street sidewalk, the Harlem Avenue sidewalk, and the Ocean Drive - Seventh Street - Beach Loop walking path being installed by the young workers hired under the Summer Youth Employment Initiative grant.

 

Many residents and businesses secure a Temporary Right-of-Way Permit which allows them to install landscaping and essentially incorporate these areas into their front yards.  There are some restrictions on what can be placed in these areas, to ensure that there is sufficient room for pedestrian passage, to prevent damage to the adjacent pavement and underground utilities, and to protect property owners from the hazards associated with digging around electric lines and other utility lines.  There are no fees for these permits, and the application is very simple.  The City encourages such use of the rights-of-way, since it typically improves neighborhood appearance, increases property values, aids businesses, ensures that the property is maintained, and reduces the cost to taxpayers since those areas do not have to be mowed or maintained by City crews or contractors.

 

Even if you do not want to install any landscaping or irrigate the strip of land between your property line and the sidewalk or pavement, voluntarily helping maintain these areas by mowing and removing weeds from the land and sidewalks adjacent to your residence or business helps improve the overall appearance of the community, helps prevent fires, and helps reduce the cost to taxpayers for maintaining the rights-of-way.  Such maintenance activities are very much appreciated, and require no permits from the City as long as no digging is involved.  If you have any questions or need additional information regarding what can and can’t be done in the rights-of-way adjacent to your property, please feel free to contact me at any time.

 

Please also be reminded that the City occasionally uses herbicides to kill weeds on sidewalks, next to the pavement surface, and in drainage ditches.  If you do not want herbicides sprayed adjacent to your property, you can contact City Hall at 541-347-2437 and have that portion of the right-of-way placed on the “No Spray” list.  In such a case, you will be responsible for weed control in the areas which would otherwise be controlled with herbicides.

 

Thank you very much to everyone who helps maintain the rights-of-way adjacent to their property!

 

CRANBERRY COURT ALUMNI REUNION

 

Lynn Giovannetti and Peggy Backholm have volunteered to head up a committee which is trying to contact all past Cranberry Court members for an Alumni Reunion at the 2011 Cranberry Festival.  If you have the name, address, e-mail address, and/or telephone number of any past Cranberry Court members, Lynne and Peggy would very much appreciate your help.  You can submit that information to the Cranberry Court Alumni Committee at www.crancourtalumni@yahoo.com, or contact Lynn Giovannetti at 541-404-4359, or Peggy Backholm at 541-347-1702.  Thank you very much for your help!

 

LINDA’S CHURCH JOKE

 

One of Linda’s dedicated readers sent this one in:

 

A bum asked a man for a dollar.

 

The man asked, “Will you use it to buy booze?”  To which the bum replied, “No, sir.”

 

The man asked, “Will you gamble it away?”  To which the bum replied, “No, sir.”

 

The man then said to the bum, “If you’ll come home with me, I’ll give you fifty bucks.  I want to show my wife what happens to a man who doesn’t drink or gamble!”

 

HA!  HA!  Ha!  HO!  Ho!  HA!  Ha!  ha!  ha!  ha!

 

ANYTHING ELSE?

 

Do you have any questions, input, or suggestions?  Are there any topics you want addressed or covered in the Newsletter?  If so, please let me know at citymanager@ci.bandon.or.us.  For more complex questions or issues that may take significant discussion, please feel free to contact me by telephone at (541) 347-2437, voice mail ext. 229, so we can schedule an appointment.

 

Also, remember to visit the City of Bandon WEB page at www.ci.bandon.or.us, where you can get more information on this wonderful place in which we live.

 

That’s it for now.  Have a great day!

 

Matt Winkel

City Manager