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.
City Councilors Morgan and Boreth were present – I hope they listened carefully and will start to research the happy public relations that Estacada enjoys.
The Commissioners told us that rural Clackamas County makes agriculture #1 in the County’s economy and that the Commission is eager to work for South County. Thanks, Commissioners!
Planner Potter appeared to try to defend the Ground Hog Day comp plan, displaying the same incorrect soil maps he has trotted out for two years. Soil mapping is of primary concern in land use. Why, after two years of complaints – and Potter’s admission before the CPO that the maps are incorrect – can’t Potter produce a correct map?
When Potter insisted that he is continuing to use his “bought” population numbers instead of the legally mandated Safe Harbor figures, I left in disgust. I’ll save my objections for state and county hearings, since citizen input to Potter falls on deaf ears.
The next day, I called Jennifer Donnelly, the DLCD rep who has the unenviable job of trying to guide the city to success. Donnelly was shocked about Potter’s refusal to accept Safe Harbor – she said that Potter and the lawyer who advises him have been telling DLCD that the city understands that Safe Harbor is the only path.
After I left the meeting, Councilor Boreth attempted to tell the CPO that he would help those who want to be “in” the city limits get “in” and help those who want to stay “out” continue to be rural.
Boreth’s empty promises represent all that is wrong with the plannin’effort, since state rules strictly outline how land may be considered for future Urbanization” via an objective path based on a complex list of development efficiencies and soil classes. That objective process has no room for Boreth’s “who wants in/out” baloney and proves yet again that city “leaders” fail to understand the hole that plannin’ has dug for the city.
Plannin’ Director Potter and city “leaders”: is your game simply to insult us by dragging the process on and on forever as you play one side against the other, telling different stories as the mood fits? It is time for a house cleaning in the “plannin’ effort. Get your FACTS straight for a change. Learn from our County Commissioners what leadership is all about!
Susan Hansen
Filed under: Uncategorized
