Volume 21 | February 2022 |
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Apply Now! Comprehensive Plan
Citizens Advisory Committee
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Help shape the long-term future of Sandy!
The City of Sandy is now recruiting residents to serve on a Citizen Advisory Committee that will play a key role in crafting the Sandy 2043 Vision and Comprehensive Plan!
Our Comprehensive Plan is the blueprint for our community for the next 20 years. Sandy's last plan was originally written in 1997, so we're overdue for an update.
Comprehensive plan details guide the City Council and Planning Commission in making land use decisions, such as whether to allow a zone change or grant a conditional use permit. Because comprehensive plans are so vital in major land use decisions, the law requires an open, transparent process to create or amend them, including citizen and stakeholder input.
Comprehensive plans must make adequate provisions for economic development, needed housing, transportation, public facilities and services, and urban growth.
In our plan update process, the Citizen Advisory Committee's responsibilities will include:
- Reviewing and commenting on plan update work products
- Guiding public outreach and engagement efforts
- Acting as liaisons to specific constituencies or interest groups
- Helping host public events
- Encouraging community members to participate in the process
- Acting as champions of the ultimate Sandy Vision and Comprehensive Plan that emerges from this process.
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Sandy Clean Waters: Big Plans for 2022 |
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We have big improvements planned for our wastewater system in 2022, as part of our ongoing Sandy Clean Waters project!
This year we will continue to repair aging pipes – half of Sandy’s sewer lines will be rehabilitated by the end of the year.
Our old pipes allow rainwater and groundwater into the sewers. When that water mixes with wastewater, the combined flows can overwhelm the treatment plant and pollute Tickle Creek.
In 2021, we repaired one quarter of our sewer lines. Since that work was completed, Sandy has had several major storms. The treatment plant received less water during recent storms than in prior years – which indicates that the rehab investment is proving successful.
By the end of 2022, half of Sandy’s sewer lines will be less vulnerable to rainwater and groundwater – this work helps protect Tickle Creek.
We will complete upgrades to the existing wastewater treatment plant in 2022.
The current Sandy wastewater treatment plant has limited capacity and is not performing up to environmental standards.
Construction began last year on the upgrades. In 2022 we will complete this work – including adding capacity, improving solids handling, and automating many of the treatment processes.
Even with the improvements to the existing plant it still will not be able to treat all of Sandy’s wastewater in the future. We need to build a new state-of-the-art membrane filtration plant to produce extremely clean water that can be safely and responsibly discharged to the Sandy River.
Starting last year and continuing this year – Sandy hired an engineering science firm to study the Sandy River and limit our impact on the crucial waterway. Several studies will be completed this year, and the results will be published on our Sandy Clean Waters website.
The loan, awarded under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s WIFIA program, will pay for nearly 80% of project costs and save Sandy ratepayers over $15 million. This loan is a cornerstone of Sandy’s strategy to keep sewer rates affordable.
Sandy also secured state loans and grants to fund the rest of the project, including a $14.7 million grant from the American Rescue Plan Act.
Want to learn more?
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Welcome Our New Public Works Director |
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“I’m honored to be selected by the City of Sandy and excited to deliver capital improvement projects that will be long term investments in the City’s future. I’m looking forward to growing the public works department and engaging the City of Sandy in this challenging and important work,” she said.
Jenny is a highly qualified civil engineer with both public and private sector experience. Most recently, she served as a senior engineer and program manager at the City of Portland's Bureau of Environmental Services (BES). In that role she managed BES’ Rehabilitation, Repair, and Modifications program, managing large and complex wastewater infrastructure projects. She also has high level management experience at Kennedy Jenks and Carollo Engineers.
“We are thrilled to have Jenny join our team and lead our Public Works Department during this critical time,” said City Manager Jordan Wheeler. “Her background, experience, and enthusiasm are just what Sandy needs to advance our important infrastructure projects and keep the department moving forward.”
A graduate of Duke University and the University of California, Davis, Jenny serves on the executive board of the Pacific Northwest Clean Water Association.
With her impressive skill set and expertise, Jenny will help lead Sandy through numerous public works projects essential to the future of our community, including the wastewater system improvement project (Sandy Clean Waters), expansion of 362nd Avenue and Bell Street, and construction of a new water treatment facility.
Jenny will take over as Public Works Director from Mike Walker, who is retiring after 36 years with our sincere thanks and appreciation for his dedicated service to the City.
We are excited for Jenny to join the City of Sandy team starting on Thursday, February 3rd!
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Council Corner: Sandy's Transportation Future |
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The plan is part of the City’s Comprehensive Plan and will guide how we develop and invest in our transportation system to meet the current and future needs of Sandy and surrounding areas. It helps determine which projects, policies and programs are important to protecting and enhancing the quality of life in the City of Sandy, and that may receive funding over the next 20 years.
What Does a TSP do?
- Review community, business, visitor and stakeholder input to identify and prioritize future transportation projects and investments.
- Provide a strategic investment plan that enhances safety, access and economic opportunities for the community.
- Align and implement strategies within the City of Sandy Transit Master Plan, City of Sandy Parks and Trails Master Plan and other local plans.
- Consider issues such as increased traffic volumes on US 26, citywide pedestrian and bicyclist activity, opportunities for enhanced connectivity and funding opportunities.
- With community input, identify strategies to improve mobility throughout Sandy, considering bike and pedestrian needs, connectivity, increased traffic volumes, funding opportunities, street design, development conditions, and user preferences.
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Opportunities for Public Input
You can stay up to date on the TSP update project on Sandy Speaks, which will include Survey #2 in the near future.
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Highway 26 Bypass Feasibility
The bypass study was undertaken to evaluate positive and negative impacts to the community that may result from a bypass, to define a conceptual alignment, and to define an estimated cost. The study includes, but is not limited to, an analysis of the existing and future transportation system performance, potential benefits and negative impacts to local businesses, safety considerations, hard costs associated with different aspects of a bypass system, traffic forecasts, and policy and regulatory considerations that would need to be evaluated with a bypass.
As defined in the study, the cost to construct a Highway 26 bypass is estimated at approximately $365 million to $390 million in 2021 dollars, and $980 million to $1 billion in 2040 dollars. There are also costs associated with the jurisdictional transfer of the existing Highway 26 section (5 miles) that currently runs through Sandy. If and when a bypass facility is constructed, the City of Sandy would assume ownership for a portion of Highway 26. The evaluation also includes a conceptual design and alignment of the bypass and how it might possibly interact and connect with the existing and planned street and highway network.
When reviewing the study, please realize the placeholder alignment is merely conceptual at this time.
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February Fun at the Library! |
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We have lots of fun Library programming planned for February, including the return of some in-person favorites!
Check out the details below - we hope to see you soon!
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Storytime In The Park
Thursdays, 10:00 am
In-person storytime returns February 24th!
Miss Monica will read some books and we will sing songs and learn rhymes together.
Bring your own comfy blanket, pillow, or lawn chair to sit on, and a mask. Masks are required for everyone over age 5.
Storytime will not take place if it is below 40 degrees. Please make sure to dress appropriately for the weather. If you are not able to watch it in person, you can catch the recording in the Facebook Storytime Parents Group.
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Plant Swap
February 13, 1:00 pm
Is your house starting to look like a jungle with too many plants? Or too bare with not enough? Do you have cuttings to give away? Or maybe you are looking to adopt a new plant friend?
Come by the Sandy Library Community Room between 1 and 3 pm on Sunday, February 13. Please bring a healthy, pest-free houseplant or cutting to swap. If you don't have one to bring, that is ok too. Please bring your own containers to take any new plant friends home. Click here for contact information.
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After School Kids Club & Kid Take & Make
Tuesday, February 15, 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm
Come to the library to learn about mazes and create your own to take home!
We'll be hosing an in-person STEM program on the third Tuesday of each month from 3 - 4:30 p.m. At our first program on February 15th we will experiment with a variety of materials and designs to create three-dimensional mazes.
If you can't make it to the program on the 15th, you can pick up a maze take and make starting the following day.
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Kinder Classes Are Back
at the Community Center!
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We're happy to welcome these fun classes back to the Community Center on Wednesdays starting February 2nd!
Kindertots - ages 2-3, 2:45 - 3:15 p.m.
Kinderdance - ages 3-6, 3:30 - 4:15 p.m.
Kids Yoga - ages 3-9, 4:20 - 4:50 p.m.
Kindercombo - ages 5-9, 5:00-5:45 p.m.
Location: Sandy Community Center, 38348 Pioneer Blvd.
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Now Hiring - Telecom Utility Worker |
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We're now accepting applications for the position of Telecom Utility Worker. This position is tasked with the installation, repair, and maintenance of the outside plant telecommunication infrastructure. It requires intermittent knowledge of fiber and fiber-optic maintenance techniques, as well as familiarity with the installation and maintenance of wireless systems.
Essential functions include:
- Installation of service drops for the FTTH network, extending service from the distribution network to customer premises.
- Installation of in-home equipment for SandyNet Fiber and Wireless services, in customer premises.
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Assistance with the repair and preventative maintenance of outside plant infrastructure for the SandyNet Fiber and Wireless networks and tower infrastructure.
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Current Land Use Applications |
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City staff keep the database updated as often as possible, so everyone can stay in the loop on what applications have been received and where they are in the process. You'll also find links to opportunities to take part in the decision-making process by submitting your own testimony.
Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions.
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Be a part of the process! Members of the public are always welcome at meetings of the City Council and other boards and commissions.
Get meeting details and learn more about the variety of ways you can participate by visiting our online meeting portal.
Mark your Calendars:
- Library Advisory Board - 02/02/2022
- City Council - 02/07/2022
- Parks and Trails Advisory Board - 02/09/2022
- City Council - 02/22/2022 (Tuesday)
- Planning Commission - 02/28/2022
Click the image below to access Sandy's full public meeting calendar with date and time details, and learn more about everything your city government is doing to serve you better!
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