Issues

We need to ensure that our budget properly funds "the basics": public safety; streets and sidewalks; water and sewer; and parks and the library. We are in sound shape financially as a city. Our budget is balanced, we collect property taxes at a rate lower than that allowed by state law, and our total borrowing is very low. However, since the pandemic we have received substantial funding from federal and state government that has helped our ability to provide services. Unfortunately, those outside funding sources will be reduced or go away in the future, and we need to make sure that we don't build infrastructure or add staff positions that we might not be able to afford when those outside funds are reduced.

In our next budget cycle, we need to concentrate any available additional funds for new staff positions on police officers and parks maintenance staff.

Homelessness is a region-wide issue and it needs region-wide solutions and region-wide funding. Oregon City should receive our fair share of the available funding, and we should provide our fair share of the services to assist those homeless individuals and families who need our help. At the same time, we need to maintain and expand our enforcement efforts to minimize the impacts caused by those who will not accept assistance that is offered.

Affordable and available housing is another region-wide problem that requires regional solutions and funding. We are required by state law to build our fair share of needed housing, but we need to build it wisely. As a city, we need to ensure that we are protecting our small-town feel and minimizing impacts on existing neighborhoods as we build new housing.

Here's one idea: the old Public Works properties on Center Street will soon be surplus. That would be a great location for small starter homes or workforce housing. Of course, it would have to be built in a manner to honor the goals of the McLoughlin Conservation District, but given the history of that area as the center of workforce housing for historic Oregon City, new workforce housing would honor our past and could be a great addition to the neighborhood.

Tolling is the wrong solution for Oregon City. I spoke to the state legislature's Subcommittee on Transportation Funding stating our opposition to tolling: 

--traffic caused by additional diversion to avoid bridge tolls will destroy our historic Main Street.

--the expense of tolls will financially harm OC residents.

--tolling is a horribly inefficient method to raise funds....at least 40% of the tolls collected will go to running the toll program!

We need to start with an independent full audit of ODOT to ensure that our tax money is being spent wisely. Reducing ODOT's administrative overhead will free up money to actually fix our roads!

My involvement with government in Oregon City began 15 years ago when I was appointed to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee. At one of the first meetings I attended, we discussed inadequate parks funding and a maintenance backlog in our parks. Fifteen years later, and we're still talking about it! It's time to stop delaying the inevitable and begin a public process to answer some key questions:

1. what kind of parks system do we want? A Cadillac? A Chevrolet? Or are we happy with carrying on with a broken-down Yugo?

2. what level of maintenance is acceptable?

3. Once we've answered questions 1 and 2 comes the tough question: how will we pay for it? 

While I have my own opinions on these questions, the important thing for me is that we need a comprehensive public process to determine what we as citizens want from our parks system, then work together on a funding solution that we can all support.