Greetings from City Hall!

Thank you to the over 1,000 residents who participated in our recent community survey! Preliminary results from the survey were shared during the City Council meeting on March 2nd - click here to review the data. Survey information will be used to help the City Council create goals and allow City leadership to make informed decisions based on community feedback during the next budget cycle. Additionally, these results will help to highlight areas where the City excels and areas where improvement is needed. I sincerely appreciate you taking the time to complete the survey and provide your feedback!

The City Council held a work session in early February to discuss traffic and pedestrian safety, including the use of technology for traffic enforcement purposes. The Council requested additional information related to photo radar and red-light cameras but did provide clear direction to advance the implementation of flashing beacons at key crosswalks in the downtown area and driver feedback signs at the east and west entry points of downtown Sandy. These improvements are designed to ensure traffic slows down to the appropriate speed as it enters downtown and provides a safer crossing experience for pedestrians. Other pedestrian related improvements were discussed including crosswalks and flashing beacons near Sandy Elementary School and Cedar Ridge Middle School. City staff are currently exploring these other proposed locations.

As you know, the City’s wastewater system and discharge location are complex. The City has been diligently working to make required pairs to our collection and treatment system over the past several years. City staff are continuing to work with our consultants to finalize the Wastewater Facility Plan Amendment – a detailed document outlining all the City’s available solutions for the long-term treatment and discharge of wastewater, as well as the associated costs. After extensive work studying solutions and evaluating the viability of each, I’m excited to share that the Plan is nearing completion. We expect this document to be ready for review in April, and plan to hold public meetings to discuss the long-term solutions and receive comments from stakeholders. The plan must be adopted by the City Council and submitted to Department of Environmental Quality and the Environmental Protection Agency no later than June 30 of this year. Additional information will be shared on the City’s website and in the Sandy Source once available.

The City Council recently adopted some exciting new grant and loan opportunities for local businesses. The program, known as ‘Energize Sandy’, is designed to provide funding for projects in the Urban Renewal District to assist businesses in their conceptual design and feasibility work or construction work. This initiative is in alignment with City Council goal 9.1, which is intended to create more living wage jobs, support local business growth, and support a strong local economy. We’re excited to offer these new funding programs and hope to encourage business growth and development. If you’re a local business and interested in learning more, please reach out to City Hall.

Cheers!

Tyler Deems

City Manager

Sandy has a new place to gather, play, and enjoy the outdoors!

Deer Pointe Park, Sandy's newest neighborhood park, officially opened on February 7th with a ribbon-cutting celebration that brought together Deer Pointe neighbors, City Councilors, Parks Board members, staff, and contractors from Lango Hansen Landscape Architects and N8 Construction.

The 3.1-acre park is located just south of Highway 26, west of Meadow Avenue, and north of Fawn Street. Designed to serve the growing Deer Pointe neighborhood and nearby future developments, the park provides a welcoming space for families, neighbors, and friends to spend time together.

Visitors will find plenty of ways to enjoy the park, including a playground, picnic shelter, covered basketball structure, walking paths, landscaped areas, and open lawn space perfect for tossing a ball, relaxing, or meeting up with neighbors.

If you haven’t visited yet, it’s a great time to check it out and enjoy one of Sandy’s newest community spaces!

Anyone who would like more information or share feedback about the park can contact Parks and Recreation Director Tiana Rundell at trundell@ci.sandy.or.us.

Dine out and give back to Sandy Meals on Wheels this March! 

Throughout the month of March, we’re turning good eats into a great cause!    We’re teaming up with amazing local businesses to support the Sandy Meals on Wheels Program. When you eat at participating locations on the dates listed below, a portion of your tab will go toward delivering warm meals, friendly visits, and vital support to seniors right here in our community

Participating restaurants & dates:

• Scoop N Swirl: Thursday, March 5th | 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
• Smokey Hearth: Wednesday, March 11th | 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM
• Sandbar BBQ: Monday, March 16th | 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM
• Mt. Moka: Friday, March 20th | 6:00 AM – 6:00 PM
• Panda Express: Friday, March 27th | 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM
  

It’s an easy (and delicious!) way to make a difference. Mark your calendars, invite your friends and family, and help us support Sandy Meals on Wheels all month long.

March for Meals Bingo Night

Join us on March 13th from 6:00 - 8:00 PM at the Sandy Community Center for a fun-filled evening supporting Sandy Meals on Wheels!

Enjoy a delicious taco bar dinner and play four games of bingo with prizes.

• Tickets: $25 (Just $15 for ages 12 & under)
• Ticket sales open February 13th!
• Call 503-668-5569 to reserve your seat!

Special thank you to Taqueria El Jaliscience for their generous sponsorship!

Bring your friends, bring your family, and help us make a difference in our community. We can’t wait to see you there!

Discover practical, reliable guidance for growing your own delicious vegetables and enjoying a plentiful harvest this summer!

OSU Extension Service Master Gardener™ volunteer Cindy Manselle will highlight essential steps to plan, prepare, plant, and care for a thriving vegetable garden. Whether you're a first-time gardener or looking to sharpen your skills, you’ll leave ready to cultivate your most successful season yet!

Date: Monday, March 9th

Time: 6:00 PM

Location: Hoyt Community Room in the Sandy Library

Spring is almost here!

Come to the first Edible Gardening meeting of the year to discuss your plans and hear what your neighbors are doing. We'll focus on timing strategies and create our own garden action plans. We'll also discuss topics and ideas for future meetings.

Date: Monday, March 23th

Time: 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM

Location: Hoyt Community Room in the Sandy Library

Oh the fun you will have at the library!

Come and celebrate Dr. Seuss with a special family storytime on his birthday. We’ll read one of Dr. Seuss’s beloved books and then dive into exciting, Seuss-inspired games and activities!

Date: Saturday, March 7th

Time: 12:00 PM

Location: Sandy Library

Sandy’s Annual Silent Disco

Teens in Grades 6-12, this is your night to shine!

Come party with us at the Sandy Community Center on March 20th from 7:00 - 9:30 PM. Silent discos are dance parties where everyone is listening to music on headphones. You'll get your own set of headphones with three music channels to choose from: punk/emo, country, and 80s/90s/2000s music!

No matter what you’re into, you can vibe to your own beat! Come dressed in your best or themed to one of our channels and don’t forget to strike a pose at the photo booth to capture all those fun moments. And don’t leave without filling up on plenty of pizza, snacks, and soda!



Big thanks to our amazing sponsors Maeco of Oregon, Bill's Automotive, and Domino's for making this night possible!

Community Garden Volunteers Needed

Love being outside and giving back? Join us for garden volunteer days at Bornstedt Park!

Help us with:

• Winter cleanup
• Garden bed repairs
• Native planting
• Weed management


Dates: March 18th and April 1st

Time: 1:00 – 4:00 PM

Location: Bornstedt Park Community Gardens


No experience needed, just dress appropriately and bring your energy! Call 503-668-5569 to learn more.

Pollinator Panel

Want to help pollinators, but don't know where to start? Drop by the Sandy Community Center Thursday, March 12th from 6:00 - 7:30 PM to hear from a panel of local experts!

This is a free event, and it's a space for you to learn what you can personally do to make a difference in the world of pollinators in honor of March’s National Learn About Butterflies Day. Honor these beautiful pollinators by joining the discussion and asking lots of questions!



Call us at 503-668-5569 with any questions.



Thank you to the Sandy Bee City USA Action Group for hosting this event and to Oregon State University Extension Service Master Gardeners, Clackamas River Basin Council, and Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District for providing the experts!

Here's the latest in our comprehensive database of active land use applications, complete with links to public meetings, documents, plans, maps, explanatory videos, staff reports, and other materials! 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.

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:

• Parks and Trails Advisory Board: March 11th
• City Council: March 16th
• Transit Advisory Board: March 18th