Cottage Grove, Oregon - State of the City Address

My fellow City Councilors, City Staff, City Employees and all citizens of Cottage Grove. It is my duty and honor to present to you your 2009 State of the City Address for Cottage Grove.

This past year has presented many opportunities to Cottage Grove. The various highlights I will list tonight in this address are not by any means all encompassing, as our community is a diverse and multi-faceted one, and as such there will be many projects, activities and individuals that should receive their due recognition here. However, time and space constrains such an accounting. To those various organizations, projects and talented and giving citizens may I simply say thank you for caring and making meaningful contributions for a better Cottage Grove. I would like to give sort of a nuts and bolts address, a kind of “Just the Facts Mam” approach as there are multiple departments in our City structure and services. Each department has a great deal of work and project commitments which have had many challenges many with successful results.

I begin with the Finance Department. Once again we have received another GFOA Award for our annual audit. The award recognizes the presentation of the data and clarity for the public. We also began our new water bill format that increased the ability for the City to share information with water and sewer customers. The bills provide more information about the customers’ consumption and City rates. Many have found the new format easier to read and understand. The new bill format also allows us to share more information about City programs and events on the bill and as inserts to the bill.

Middlefield Golf Course and its operation continues to be a source of pride for our community. Under the restructuring of the operation of not only Middlefield but also by blending the Library and Community Center activities into a new Community Services Department, efficiencies have improved the overall operations of these vital components of our City. Under the direction of Pete Barrell, we have moved to a new level of professionalism. Among the golf course enhancements are some new innovations such as enrollment in the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for golf courses. This is an example of our continued commitment to good environmental stewardship in our operations at Middlefield.

Ongoing building maintenance and yard improvements have been made. These improvements, such as new roofs, new paint and also new security fences and gates, now enclose and secure the maintenance yard. Also, remodeling and reorganization of the spaces inside the maintenance building improve the efficiency of the overall operations.

New staff has been hired - Matt Rich, mechanic and Derrick Denney, groundskeeper have joined the team at Middlefield. We have had over 20 tournaments held at Middlefield Golf Course this past year. The pro shop has expanded its inventory of products such as shoes, a new line of push carts and varietal wines now available at the pro shop. We are proud to offer these wines from our local vintners.

Over 75 people attended the Gathering of the Grove, an event sponsored by the City and the Chamber of Commerce. As I travel about the state it is not uncommon to hear favorable comments from many individuals who have enjoyed a day at Middlefield. Community Services Director Barrell has also implemented training opportunities for staff for improved operations at the golf course and the library.

Speaking of library improvements and enhancements, we have applied for various grants for computer upgrades and special exhibitions at the library. We are excited to be hosting the “Visions of the Universe” event in 2009. The library is also coordinating with the School District for the Oregon Reads Project in 2009. The Library and the Friends of the Library group sponsored a “Hispanic Fiesta” event which drew over 120 Hispanic members of our community in 2008. In addition a new library section featuring Spanish and bi-lingual books and materials has been expanded. The City is pleased that the Friends of the Library group has been reestablished. New board members have committed themselves to revitalizing this important group that works to support the mission of our public library. 2008 also saw 83 children programs at our library. These various programs served over 1,766 local children and parents. Overall in 2008 more than 53,406 patrons were served at our library.

I would now like to focus on the area of Community Development. This year the Community Development Department was hit by the economy. We had to lay-off the Building Inspector and restructure the building inspection program. The Community Development Department is working with grant funding on an Economic Opportunities Analysis to evaluate our commercial lands inventory; the first step in determining the need for Urban Growth Boundary changes. We also are implementing the new development code and working with groups to help understand that code.

The City submitted a grant for Highway 99 & Main Street improvements from the Downtown Refinement Plan. Currently the grant is ranked second on the County list of projects. The County list now goes to the State for evaluation and selection. Typically two projects from each county are funded.

Our Community Development Department has been very busy with projects and grant writing opportunities. The following list describes just some of the efforts and successes of the Community Development Department.

Working with the Chamber of Commerce we have tried to recruit occupants for the vacated Kwikee Building. We have brought representatives from state agencies and Lane Metro Partnership and other organizations to the building to make them aware of the facility’s possibilities. We are working with Lane MicroBusiness on “Economic Gardening Tools” to help grow and strengthen local businesses.

Various community promotions included helping coordinate events and activities during the Olympic Trials. Also, the City was host to the annual City Managers’ Conference held at the Village Green Resort this past summer. I personally heard from many attendees who expressed their pleasure and enjoyment of their Cottage Grove experience. The Chamber of Commerce and the Village Green are great partners with the City as we all strive to promote the many attributes of our community. Other projects of Community Development were the adoption and implementation of the new development code. Minor adjustments have been made as staff and the public implement that code.

A Community Development Block Grant was awarded for the South Lane Mental Health project. Staff started the process of moving forward with the first steps of the grant requirements which include environmental review, appraisal and a request for qualifications for architects. This grant was for $800,000.

Our Watershed Council was awarded a grant of $180,000 for conservation work in the East Regional Park. The City is a partner in the project and provided “soft” costs as a match.

An Economic Opportunities grant was awarded by the Department of Lands Conservation and Development and a consultant was hired. This is the first of a two-step process in examining the question of expanding the Urban Growth Boundary.

A Certified Local Government application was made to the State Historic Preservation Office, and the City has a grant to repair the national historic “Grove Tavern” sign. The City also made an application to be a “Main Street Program” participant with the state which reactivated the Main Street Program.

The City has applied for a Conservation Reuse Water Grant from the Water Resources Department. Currently our project is rated number one and recommended for funding, depending on availability of grant money. The City’s Community Development Department also worked on and presented to Lane County and the Oregon Department of Transportation for a Transportation Enhancement Grant for the realignment of the intersection of Hwy. 99 and Main Street. This project also received a high recommendation for funding from the State. Due to State budget limitations the amount we may receive is not known.

We turn next to the Department of Public Works. The Wastewater Treatment Plant has been a challenge. We continue to wait for the permit for the facility from the DEQ and have participated in a couple of meetings and hearings regarding all the outstanding permits from around the State. Another issue that has been difficult at the plant is the employee shortage. Certified Wastewater Treatment Plant Operators are in short supply throughout the State and the country. The shortage is likely caused by two factors - the so called “silver tsunami” and the lack of young workers entering into public employment. We are having a difficult time recruiting plant operators. We have also spent considerable time pursuing the development of the solar array at the wastewater plant. During 2008, the City of Cottage Grove began working with BacGen Solar to pursue private investment alternatives for a solar energy retrofit of the City’s Wastewater Treatment Plant. Private investment companies have shown strong interest over the preceding months in partnering with municipal governments to develop solar technology projects. In this case, BacGen has been in detailed discussions with several private investment companies, including Bank of America, since last March to underwrite the City’s solar energy project. BacGen has designed and would install the solar energy project under contract to Bank of America, for the benefit of the bank’s sale of solar energy for Cottage Grove’s use. In exchange, Bank of America will receive a variety of tax and energy credits over a five-year period, wherein, they will recover 100% of their investment costs. The City would receive a fixed, pre-negotiated electric rate of 7.5 cents per kWh, with an annual 3% escalation rate, over a twenty-year agreement period, and would be acquiring carbon-neutral, renewable solar energy instead of fossil fuel generated power. The City would also have the option to purchase the solar power system outright, at a fair market depreciated value, upon the close of the tenth year or at the end of the twenty year agreement. The cost to develop 100 kilowatts of solar power is approximately $850,000. The generation capacity at this facility would generate approximately 24% of our total yearly electrical demand at the facility.

Another major accomplishment in 2008 was the completion of the Row River Water Treatment Plant expansion and upgrade. A great deal of time and effort was expended acquiring a myriad of requisite permits to construct the various components of this project. During 2008 upriver and golf course water rights were transferred to the Row River Water Treatment Plant. The dam at Rujada was removed as well as other infrastructure from the old processing site. City staff has been working with representatives of the newly formed Row River Valley Water District to facilitate the transfer of the Layng Creek Water Treatment and facilities to district control and operation.

Also, from public works citizens have seen other improvements to our infrastructure which is generally buried and hidden from view until there is a problem. Then roads and right-of-ways are dug up and aging pipes are exposed then repaired or replaced. Recently, the City contracted to replace the failing sewer main along South 5th Street between Adams and Quincy, continuing south across Highway 99. An additional sewer main replacement was installed on Adams, between South 5th and South 7th. In addition, storm drain improvements were included in the Anthony and Bryant Avenue areas. The work was completed by H & J Construction for the contract bid price of $333,195. The citizens of Cottage Grove can and should be very proud of the outstanding performance of their public works personnel.

The other City employees we can all be proud of is our Police Department. These dedicated officers protect us in so many ways and provide services that often go unsung and undetected by most. “To protect and to serve” is more than a phrase on a patrol car. Our officers offer the highest degree of professionalism, and I am proud of each and every one of them.

This year we complete the Vision 2037 project. Over 350 people attended the first town hall meeting. More than 200 attended the second town hall meeting. In total more than 800 individuals were involved during the project. Ninety-three action items were created. The plan lays the groundwork to look forward to the City’s sesquicentennial in 2037. This will be a living and working document. We have established a “Vision Keepers” Committee that will be working on keeping the vision alive and moving forward. Our visioning project has been a model that other communities around the country are looking to for creating their own plans. A special thanks to everyone who helped with this project. As we look to our future we are guided by our past and the present. For the last fifty years we have celebrated our forefathers’ pioneer spirit - our history and heritage with Bohemia Mining Days, and we have celebrated over 75 years with the Western Oregon Exposition - our own family fair.

In just a few weeks the most beautiful state in the nation will celebrate her 150th anniversary. How fitting that it should fall on Valentine’s Day. Cottage Grove will celebrate throughout the year starting on February 14th with our Sesquicentennial Sweethearts’ Ball. Tickets are available now for this once in a life time event. As one who has attended every Bohemia Mining Days since its inception in 1959, I am very excited about this one. Please make plans to add your own special touch to this event. Volunteers are needed.

Other items of historic concern are we continue in our pursuit to obtain funding for the reconstruction and preservation of the Chambers Railroad Bridge. It is a unique national treasure that draws many to this community.

We also will soon be presented with the challenge of what to do with the National Guard Armory. After well over 110 years presence in Cottage Grove, our National Guard presence will be no longer. What will become of this historic building. I wish all citizens would discover how important and significant the National Guard has been to this community. I would ask each to learn how they earned their motto, “First to Assemble”.

Other City projects were and are the Greening the Grove. The City partnered with Emerald Peoples Utility District and Pacific Power to pursue efforts to become an EPA Green Power Community and became the 17th city designated as an EPA Green Power Community. Through the actions of the citizens in stepping forward we were able to see a 6.1% participation rate with 3.35% of the power purchased in Cottage Grove coming from renewable sources. The renewable power purchased has a benefit of removing 2,347 tons of CO2 from the atmosphere or not driving 6,788,489 miles.

Further, the City’s broadband project continues with many facets of this project completed. Many users are now able to connect to the system. The downtown business area is enjoying this service now. In a very short time most of Cottage Grove will have connectability to “CGWiFi”.

There are easily a dozen more accomplishments I could mention, but I will save those items for another time.