John Atkins — city manager

Just so everyone knows the ONLY power over city hall the city councilors have is with the city manager.  To hire and fire.  We did this poll before, lets see how he rates now.  If you have been following the latest problems with the Comp Plan and UGB you might have a different take on our hired official.

Shane Potter city planner

Have you viewed the results from this poll? I think I would quit.

Thank you to Molalla PAL

I just want to say thanks to a wonderful organization, the Molalla PAL and to Beth Faulhaber, Head Coach: Robert Reed, and Assistant Coach:  Richard Reed and for a wonderful and fun wrestling season. My son learned so much and really enjoyed wrestling for the first time.

Shane Potter loses again

For the second time now our wonderful city planner has lost court hearings over enforcing his own code.  First Mia’s sub shop and now to a home owner over a portable car cover.  I also hear that a local developer  is suing the city as well.  Why does the city manager keep this man on the job?  This guy doesn’t know what he is doing.   I think it has something to do with our Mayor Mike Clarke and the “Good OLD Boy” crew.  Look at the other posting and see Shane’s approval rating.

open government

http://www.opensecrets.org/index.php

Vic Gilliam — “what a idiot I am”– vote YES on 66&67

  His words  — “What A Idiot I am” 

He finally spoke the truth.  It’s even on his web site. http://www.repvicgilliam.com/

MEASURE 66 & 67 — TEST

http://gov.oregonlive.com/taxes/

Molalla Staff — Take Notes

I bold faced the important point in this article.  Molalla Planning and Staff, Take notes

In 2002, Gresham pushed hard to bring the 1,200-acre Springwater area southeast of the city inside the urban growth boundary.
The goal in three words: jobs, jobs, jobs. The city, long a bedroom community for Portland, and plagued by a small tax base, wanted a piece of the industrial development that has enriched Washington County
The City Council adopted a community plan in 2005, calling for 500 acres of industrial land, enough to support 15,000 jobs, a Village Center commercial zone and housing. It’s still just lines on a map.

Seven years later, virtually nothing has happened in Springwater. No development. No jobs.

The recession killed the development market, but even when the economy rebounds, the rural area will have obstacles to growth: no water service, no freeway access, a patchwork of small parcels – the 500 industrial acres have about 150 individual owners — and no money to resolve any of the problems.

“The money has to come from somewhere to begin with,” said Ron Papsdorf, government relations manager for Gresham. “That’s the real hurdle we keep running up against.”

So to start somewhere, Gresham has talked about prioritizing a small part of the industrial area, said Janet Young, economic development director for the city. The City Council is scheduled to discuss this plan Tuesday.

The idea is to focus on sites of about four or five acres on about 50 acres on both sides of U.S. 26, just over the city limit. The land must be annexed into the city before it can be rezoned in alignment with the plan.

The area is rural, with rolling hills. Johnson Creek runs through it.

This month, the council expressed unease with a staff plan to remove Springwater items from the city’s capital improvement plan for 2010.

“We’ve spent tons of money and worked hard to get it in the UGB,” Mayor Shane Bemis said. “I’m uncomfortable with writing it off.” (sounds like our Molalla city staff also)

Young said property owners have made a few scattered annexation requests.

She said the smaller site strategy worked well in Tualatin, where she was economic development director before taking the same job in Gresham.

One bright spot: Major sewer work done to serve Pleasant Valley, a primarily residential area brought inside the growth boundary in 2006, will also serve Springwater.

“Pleasant Valley is ahead of Springwater,” Young said. “A number of developers have put together properties and led the charge. About 500 acres have been annexed in Pleasant Valley.” But development has been slow there as well.

Industrial development is more difficult.

“Infrastructure really need to be in place first. It’s very unusual to get an industrial developer to come in and buy up a bunch of land, do a building, and then find tenants,” Young said.

“The challenge right now is even getting infrastructure to a smaller subset is a very expensive thing to do.” she said. Utilities such as water, sewer, and stormwater systems for the smaller area carry a price tag of $40 million to $50 million.

(Molalla wants to waive our SDC’s that would cover the infrastructure mentioned above. Who’s going to pay for it?)

One of the challenges: Water will have to come from the west, and sewer goes out to the east.

Transportation is another challenge. The community plan calls for a $29.5 million full intersection, complete with an overpass and on- and off-ramps, on U.S. 26, but city officials are pursuing as a temporary measure an at-grade interchange that would cost $4 million.

In the meantime, planning needs to go forward on the full interchange in order to place the temporary interchange in the right location, Young said.

How to pay for all this is a serious problem. Historically, developers pay for utilities and other infrastructure through system development charges, but this pot of money has dried up as development has stalled in the recession.

“The problem is rural areas don’t have any basic backbone infrastructure in place,” Papsdorf said. “You can’t get the money until development pays the SDCs.”

He said the 2009 Legislature looked at creating a revolving loan fund to finance infrastructure development in growth boundary expansion areas such as Springwater and North Bethany in Washington County.

Then once development occurred, cities could collect the system development charges and repay the loan. (Molalla already has this)

“But with the state budget circumstances, it was difficult coming up with money to capitalize such a fund,” Papsdorf said.

He said there has also been some conversation with Metro about a regional funding solution, given that Metro makes decisions about where future growth should occur.

http://www.oregonlive.com/gresham/index.ssf/2009/12/greshams_springwater_growth_pl.html

The word is —–

http://www.hoffmanhouserestaurant.net/

Our little town of Molalla is losing another business.  I will be sorry to see them go.  Best of luck to you.

Rumor or Fact??????? — Molalla Golf course

 

I heard the other day that a local property owner that lives just outside the city would like to build a golf course.  That property owner would like to make use of the recycled water from the cities wastewater plant to water the course. Rumor has it that the city planner Shane Potter told him that there is not enough waste water and that they would not be able to use the greywater.  I think this could make the golf course a “make it or break it” situation. I thought Molalla was trying to spur a “recreation theme”?

Does any of the leases the city have “require” the city to provide any certain amount of water? Or is it a first come first serve situation? 

If there is not enough water to go around then maybe we can block off the pipe dumping it into the river? 

The current lease with the current local ranch is really only to benefit the city and give them a place to dump the city greywater. In fact, the city pays city employees to move and basically irrigate a private land owners property.  How much money would the city save not having to pay to do that?  It shouldn’t be used to “curb” natural city growth and as an excuse not to include that same land from local inclusion in the city expansion especially if you have offers to take the greywater elseware that would benefit the city even further.

With the amount of growth that the Planning Dept wants to expand our little city I don’t think there will be ANY lack of greywater in the future. 

I’m sorry but this seems like a no brainer.  Let anyone who wants the greywater have it. Of course they need to pay for the infrastructure to get it to their property or at least a major percentage.

In Memory of Paul Cox

Paul Cox

Paul Cox May 2, 1910 – November 28, 2009 SALEM – “I was born May 2, 1910 in Milan, Missouri and my first memory was living in a log house with a ‘lumber’ kitchen on one side. We also had a log barn with a flat slanting roof.” Throughout Paul Cox’s 99 years, he garnered a wealth of experiences and saw many changes in the world. His family will always remember Paul as the ultimate story teller, a man with an extra-ordinary memory and a storehouse of details that added flavor to the story. Paul graduated from high school in Galt, Missouri in 1929, where he was valedictorian of his class and captain of the basketball team. Paul spent 18 months in the Civilian Conservation Corp, primarily in Idaho. After his discharge in 1938, he came to Brooks, Oregon and it was there that he met Daisy Potts, whom he married in 1940. In 1947, Frank, Alta, Paul, and Daisy bought a farm near Gervais, where Daisy still resides. Paul farmed all his life, and loved the outdoors. Surely some of Paul’s happiest times were hunting, fishing, and camping with his family and friends. Paul passed away peacefully on Saturday, November 28 in Woodburn, Oregon. He is survived by his wife, Daisy; son, Johnie (Sarah) Cox of Gervais; daughter, Pauline (David) Mikkelsen of Silverton; three grandsons; two granddaughters; 15 great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; as well as several nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was predeceased by his parents, Frank and Alta (Gent) Cox; and a sister, Eulah Johnson. Paul was an inspiration and a steady influence in the lives of his loved ones, who will always cherish his wisdom, sense of humor, and stories that will live on forever. The family extends their thanks to the staff of French Prairie Care Center for their care of Paul the last four months.

You will be missed. With Love

ODOT comments on the Comp Plan

Sounds like ODOT is having to tell Shane how to word his comp Plan now.

Town Murals

Went on tour of the Estacada Artback Murals today with my sons cub scout pack.  They sure are nice and the town paints one mural a year I think in July town celebrations..   Visited the “The Spiral Gallery” also.  They are a cooperative art gallery and have lots of wonderful artists displaying their work.  Visit them at www.thespiralgallery.com.

Say NO to LNG

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xd5CpjaWN1g

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYLpjN8yYPQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiWC5FMjHv8

Molalla River News

House passes bill to protect Molalla River

http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2009/11/house_passes_bill_to_protect_m.html

John Atkins — Bait and Switch

John Atkins,

Although the paper was willing to print your “bait and switch” statement about it “not having an impact on operating revenue”.    I know this is true.

You go on to say that “SDCs are specifically designated to cover future impacts on the city’s facilities” is a double cross.  This is deceit and you know it.  Those “Impacts” are the problem I have with your crazy plan. These “impacts” are what are going to cost us citizen’s money.  $1 million in fact!

Your plans stink and I will continue to show the public what you are!  Deceptive

You can put all the lipstick you want on it, it’s still a pig!

New Bumper sticker found

The city has lost it’s mind! — $1,000,000 of your tax money being given away

Ok, I think the city manager has lost his mind.  I said that John Atkins should fix the SDC’s, not do away with them.  The city just got done increasing your water bill, not because they needed to. Just because they could. 

Our city streets are failing all over the city and our city manager wants to forego SDC’s for a year.  I understand trying to bring a little more activity to commercial and industrial development but this is going to far and is at the expense of the rest of the citizens of Molalla.  $1,000,000 in needed repairs around the city will now “not be done” because of this adventure.  How is that you might ask?, well infrastructure is not free and if the developer doesn’t pay their share that means you and I are picking up the bill.

Which one of the ”Good Old Boy” land owners has a project to kick off at the taxpayers expense? 

We have incentives to bring in businesses:

1. We already offer tax abatement too — http://www.clackamas.us/docs/business/ezonemolalla.pdf

2. I also seem to remember the city council passing something that allows developers to finance the SDC’s over time not to long ago.

Get to the council meeting on the 18th at the adult center at 7:30 pm and tell your councilor’s — NO!

Shane Potter — Planning Director — Comp Plan

Subject: RE: ADD TO COMP PLAN FILES — 11/7/09

Mr. Citizen,

I would like to point out that the city is currently in the process of a legislative review not a quasi-judicial review as shown and discussed below.  For that fact it was not only the Planning Commissions responsibility but their duty to hear those proceedings.  The fact that they are hearing these proceedings as councilors is irrelevant at this point.  I would also point out that two of the planning commission members that you have pointed out in this email served many years ago when the plan was young.  Many changes to the plan have occurred since that time.  A planning commission represents the citizens and are the primary citizen advisory committee for the city.  For that reason they listen to all the people in the community and make decisions which incorporate all the comments heard.  For instance there are usually conflicts such as the desires of citizens for large amounts of landscaping and the desires of business to have reduced landscaping standards.  There has to be a common ground which may not be exactly what both parties want but a meeting in the middle that addresses the needs and desires of the community while also working with the business community.  This is what the group did for the past years working with the citizens of Molalla while at the same time holding numerous work sessions with TEAM to address their concerns.

As discussed numerous times before the Comprehensive Plan was in need of updating.  As part of that update the plans triggered land use goals which include Goal 14 addressing the cities 20 year requirement for a buildable land supply.  while comments have been made in the past that if we had been updating this all along that we would not be at this point of needing an expansion line are simply not correct.  First Molalla did not take over its own planning department until 1996.  At that time the planners were looking at numerous outdated plans and began working on many of the long range plans.  This continued after I started the job and we finally got to the point of updating our comprehensive plan.  I actually think most people would find it impressive the amount of plans the city has undertaken and completed since it took over its planning in 1996 (13 years ago) which is a short period of time in the planning world.  Some may say that we took five years but I would challenge you to find plans that your citizen involvement committee created entirely on their own as compared to most cities which have a consultant come hold a series of public comment periods, meet with the Planning Commission a few times and create a plan.  I can tell you from the years of work we have had this -planning commission better understands the reasoning of every single piece of all of these plans including the code compared to a lot of other communities which understand the overall intent of their plans but may not necessarily understand the specifics of each portion of all the planning documents that they have.

As a long term responsibility to the citizens the Planning Commission looked out over the next 50 years in order to better plan for the future public services such as water and sewer line extensions and sizing and parks just to mention a few.  If you are truly opposed to note how to better the plans rather than state the errors.  Simply stating don’t do it is not planning.  Since the code drives densities, how the community will look over the planning period, and the uses allowed in all zones I would suggest some concentration n this area to provide direction and solutions for the community.  You can continue to oppose the growth numbers and that will be resolved in one way or another at the end of this process.  Having said that failure to provide constructive observations of the code and alternative directions ultimately drives the way the community will look over the planning period.

Sincerely,

Shane Potter, Planning Director

————————————————————————————————————————————————

Add to comp Plan files 11-9-09

Mr. Potter

In response to your letter,

I’m glad I was able to get you to “publicly state” what form of “Process” we are in.  Leg. vs. Jud.

The planning commission does not represent the Citizens of Molalla, they represent the “PLAN”.  You quote “listening to the people”, what a joke; hardly anyone ever came to the planning meetings.  I attended many, as a councilor and a citizen.  For the most part only land developers and a few people objecting to the plans ever went to the planning hearings.  What kind of “listening to the community” is that?

Mr. Miller time and again talks about how the commissioners spent one day 5 years ago going out and walking the streets to talk to the businesses in the community.   Do you really consider this an adequate  effort to gather real citizen input?  How many homeowners did they talk too?  How many of those businesses still exist?

If you did so much work with TEAM how come they are the still objecting loudly to the plan?  Obviously you did not listen to well to them in the process.

Who came up with the equestrian estate idea?  A developer or a planning commissioner?

Many objected to the whole “sports complex” idea at Bohlander Field when you where trying to kick that off the ground and it landed with a thud and it’s still in the plan.  I have not heard one community member come and say, “I want a Bohlander Sports Complex”.  Again not listening.

Molalla is not that unique. The majority of the work that you and your planning commission have done could have been “copy and pasted” from comp plans of cities comparable to ours with the same result and taking only a fraction of the time and expense.

“As a long term responsibility to the citizens the Planning Commission looked out over the next 50 years in order to better plan for the future public services such as water and sewer line extensions and sizing and parks just to mention a few.”  This is your quote and you talk about future public services which I have questioned many times personally only to be dismissed.  Quote “we will worry about it later”. You can plan all the sewer and water lines you want but that won’t do any good if you don’t have water to put in them.  The last meeting it was stated by the city, that it’s assumed that we have enough water for 12,000 people. Please tell me HOW you are going to provide water with a “Real Plan”, data and all, for the other 13,000 people your plan “plans” for and I will back off that issue. A “plan” that doesn’t require the city taxing the citizens with some huge bond.   You talk about providing for parks and yet you have the worst SDC rates in the state that cater to residential developers. You also continue to ignore this issue (SDC’s) as well.  If you’re planning for Parks, where will the next one be?

For over 2 years citizens and community residents, DLCD and County argued that the city MUST use “safe harbor”, ignored by the planning commission and the “Planner”.  How much money and time was wasted with that? Lots!   Showing that the “Planning Commission” was not listening to anyone, once again.

I will never forget the very first Public Hearing, the one that followed sending out the letter I think in the water bill that stated “your property values may be affected”, which I think should have been done again because you have taken so long, but you had standing room only in the Adult center.  That could have been a GREAT day for community input. But instead you tell the audience that their property values would not be affected, the notice was only a formality, and made the whole night into a joke and you turned everyone OFF to wanting to participate. Half the people left before the end of the meeting.   The truth is that your plan WILL affect property values. If it’s a bad plan property values will go down, if it’s a good plan they will go up.  This was when I feel you failed at “goal one”.

In regards to your last comment on, “providing constructive observation of the code”. From past experiences with you I feel making any further effort to help in the process would be a complete waste of my time.

As far as allowing the same councilors who were once on the planning commission to be the deciding voters for approval just reeks of the back room policy of this current city staff, and elected officials.

I want a new code. The city needs a new code. It just doesn’t need to be the “Potter Plan”.  It doesn’t need to plan for more than 20 years because we don’t have the ability to sustain that many people. 20 years is too long to predict anything for a town with no economic base.

I want a new code done by someone who has some “Real Planning Credentials” rather than someone I can’t believe.

Concerned Citizen of Molalla

For your reading pleasure — Health Care

http://docs.house.gov/rules/health/111_ahcaa.pdf

Molalla Comp Plan — more bad news

A new letter for Molalla Planning

 

Not so Funny

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/vp/33423952#33423952

Funny

Molalla River School District

It’s a new rule that the school district charges an hourly rate for the use of the school facilities.  Will they continue with this bad mistake they made, which will put the youth groups like Scouts and MYS into financial ruin? These Facilities are “Public Facilities”, I payed my taxes already. I think it’s ok to charge for paying the electric bill but don’t try and make a quick buck off the groups that offer our kids so much.

Public OPTION — WATCH

When will the city realize that’s throwing good money after bad!

 A few months back the city of Molalla did its annual budget and the planning department was in the hole about $60,000. The budget committee took some money from the water fund and bailed out the planning department. At the last council meeting (Aug. 26) John Atkins your city manager came to city council with another request of bailout for the planning department for $175,000. This is the same planning department that in five years has yet been able to redo its comp plan and UGB expansion plans. Your city councilors approved taking that money out of your water fund and gave it to Shane Potter, the city planner. I ask you, where is the fiscal responsibility? Would you keep a gas station open in a town with no cars? This is the same city government that is “taxing” you every month $5 to keep the pool open. Maybe instead of everyone throwing stones at the federal government and the state government about their spending and bailouts, you should throw them at the city government and question the “local bailout” here at home. The county can do for us what Shane Potter can’t and they can do it cheaper. And no, I really don’t want you throwing stones.

Reality check People —

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ja8h2wxTzJY

http://www.whitehouse.gov/realitycheck/3

http://www.whitehouse.gov/realitycheck/471

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RznHDPvGSlc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxckojgY49U

SICK FOR PROFIT — health care reform now!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBi2hMK1G8Y

Wake up and watch!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don’t care who you are, nobody is worth that much money. Nobody

Winterbrook Planning — Shane Potter gets a clue?????????????????

Nonetheless, the “safe harbor” is currently Molalla’s only population projection option, so Molalla will plan for a UGB to meet the needs of slightly over 10,000 people

   Table 3: Growth Rate Comparison

 

 Year 48-Year Average (3.4%)Safe Harbor (1.5%)15,838  compared to 10,532  

 

 

 

 

CONCLUSION  

 

 

 

 

 

Molalla’s UGB will be based on a “safe harbor” population of 10,532, as this is the City’s only legal option, given Clackamas County’s unwillingness to work with the City to adopt a realistic projection based on the expert analysis of E.D. Hovee & Associates.

Winterbrook recommends applying the Hovee rate (2.9%) for 30 years beyond the UGB, which results in a population of 24,829 for URA planning purposes. This provides an overall 2008-2060 AAGR of 2.34% – well below the 48 year historic growth rate of 3.4%, but above the overall County growth rate. This is a reasonable expectation for a growing urban area close to the Metro UGB.

 

 

 

Molalla’s UGB will be based on a “safe harbor” population of 10,532, as this is the City’s only legal option, given Clackamas County’s unwillingness to work with the City to adopt a realistic projection based on the expert analysis of E.D. Hovee & Associates.

Winterbrook recommends applying the Hovee rate (2.9%) for 30 years beyond the UGB, which results in a population of 24,829 for URA planning purposes. This provides an overall 2008-2060 AAGR of 2.34% – well below the 48 year historic growth rate of 3.4%, but above the overall County growth rate. This is a reasonable expectation for a growing urban area close to the Metro UGB.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gun laws

Instead of all the gun shops opposing Obama they should be embracing him. There is not any other single thing that has increased gun shop sales more. Thanks to the paranoid gun lovers buying everything up.

Health Care

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1wttp6VCqU

Health Care

Street Repair — Another bright idea

Street Closure

Starting at 3:30 a.m. on Wednesday, July 1, and lasting until 4 p.m., the Main Street- Molalla Ave. intersection will be closed to traffic to replace collapsed pavement. Detours will be in effect during the closure.

I must say closing the cities main streets on the busiest week of the year doesn’t sound like a really bright plan to me.   I’m sure the local businesses will suffer.  Keep up the good work city hall.

Looks like “safe Harbor” is your only way

Idea for a New city sign

Recall — City Councilor’s

Ok folks, are we ready for a recall?  If you are willing to sign a petition to get the ball rolling please contact me at clarks971@yahoo.com.  I need your name, address and phone #.  You need to be a registered voter and live in the city limits. Hope to talk to you soon.

The Jacober Witch Hunt

A couple days ago Dan Jacober put in a public records request for all email communications between city councilor Mary Jo Mackie and Steve Clark and Susan Hansen.  This coming only days after Danna questioned the costs to the city of the public records requests of Susan Hansen.  What a Hypocrite.

She will claim that she is not responsible for her husband’s actions of course, but will enjoy the use of information her husband gets through his request. As if this isolates her from being the one looking to stir the pot again. 

Poor Mary Jo, I guess she is guilty of communicating with her constituents or by association with the people most vocal about the problems with our city and it’s staff.

Wouldn’t Jacober better serve our community by focusing on the urgent issues facing Molalla, like the bad planning, failing infrastructure, and lack of business development, instead of spending all her time and energy on futile witch hunts?

Mike Clarke — King of Molalla

 Mike Clarke seems to think he is the King of this Town.  Other Councilors can’t publicly speak or print anything in the paper now without his approval. What is even worse is the councilors agreed to this.

Everyone has the right to “FREE SPEECH”.  Shame on Mayor Clarke and shame on Council.

What has your Mayor done for this town since taking office?

I commend Jim Needham for his recent article in the Molallapioneer telling us how he thinks things are going as a city councilor.  Jim Needham I appreciate your effort.

Don’t let the “GOOD OLD BOY” push you around.

Shortie’s Pond in Molalla

 Great fishing at Shortie’s Pond

letter to the editor

The Molalla CPO was honored on May 26 by a visit with two new Clackamas County Commissioners, Ann Lininger and Bob Austin. They outlined goals to provide transparent, inclusive, financially responsible, and sustainable government.

The Commissioners heard our concerns about HB 3058, an LNG related permitting bill that would allow state process to begin BEFORE legal land rights are attained. Lininger was so pro-active that she immediately contacted the County’s Salem rep about this abusive bill.

Bob Austin, former Mayor of Estacada, explained Estacada’s success in promoting good relations between rural and city dwellers.  Estacada makes a point to include citizens from both sides of the borders on all committees – that way; they don’t have to deal with the “outsider” label that Molalla government is fond of throwing out when rural dwellers attempt to participate.