Hands-Only CPR at the Gladstone Senior Center- Gladstone Emergency Management Services (GEMS) and the American Red Cross are offering hands-only CPR on February 22, 2023, at 6 PM at the Gladstone Senior Center. There has been much inspiration nationally around teaching CPR, given the recent lifesaving first aid on Buffalo Bills football player Damar Hamlin. It is easy to learn, and the American Red Cross provides a free, 30-minute class. You can impact the community by learning to deliver lifesaving CPR care without rescue breaths and be prepared. Please call 503-655-7701 to sign up. I did.
Gladstone Library Update- The last cost assessment for the new Gladstone Library was completed in March 2022 and Clackamas County is working on providing up-to-date cost estimates for this project. Staff will go before the Board of Commissioners with an updated project cost and request approval to proceed with construction. They will finalize and submit the GMP(Guaranteed Maximum Price) contract with P&C Construction if approved.
The County is also preparing to work towards submitting the Gladstone Library project for a permit with the City of Gladstone. They estimate the process to take 8-12 weeks to complete. They are working towards purchasing long-lead materials needed to stay on schedule. They are not able to provide a construction start date at this time. The Art Subcommittee and county staff are in the process of putting together a Request For Proposal for art installations previously discussed. Once they collect proposals, they will have the committee meet to choose finalists. There continues to be much positive energy around this project, and we are very excited.
Community Service Officer Sean Boyle has accepted a position in Madison, South Dakota, and is leaving Gladstone. Sean has been with the organization for 25 years and has also participated in a leadership role with the Gladstone Police Association. We appreciate all the years of service Sean dedicated to Gladstone and wish him and his family the best in their new endeavors. The recruitment can be accessed here. Community Service Officer | Gladstone, Oregon. We are poised to enhance Gladstone's livability by onboarding an individual who can engage with the community, educate, and provide solutions to neighborhood issues.
Climate Friendly and Equitable Communities- the Land Conservation and Development Commission (LCDC) adopted Climate-Friendly and Equitable Communities rules to strengthen Oregon’s transportation and housing planning in regions with populations over 50,000 people (Metro). As of January 1, 2023, we cannot enforce parking minimums on Portland Avenue. As of June 30, 2023, Cities must adopt code amendments to eliminate parking minimums, adopt a fair parking policy, or reduce regulation approach. Many jurisdictions need more time, and DLCD provided an “alternative dates” process, whereas cities can apply for an extension. These new rules are complex, and the City submitted a one-year extension letter this week (Attached). As you will see from the letter, Gladstone has already completed much work in the past six years, and we will continue that work to benefit our residents through a thoughtful strategic effort to meet the State’s requirements by June 30, 2024.
Police Department Body-Worn Cameras- Last year, the Gladstone Police Department completed a pilot project assessing the value of body-worn cameras and found that capturing events in progress with initial police response is valuable for transparency, reporting, evidence gathering, and a means to mitigate confrontational interactions. As a result, the City has implemented a body-worn camera program, purchased the equipment, and had a five-year subscription. Police Officers will begin training on February 14th and 15th and we anticipate the “go live” date to be mid-February.
Promotion Public Works Supervisor – Congratulations to Jeff Shepherd for being promoted permanently to the position of Public Works Supervisor. Jeff has been with the City since 1999 and has been acting as the supervisor for the past couple of months while also going through a recruitment process. Before this interim role, he was a utility worker-journeyman. Succession planning in small organizations is peril to retaining institutional knowledge, and we are very proud that Jeff can advance his career in Gladstone.
Gladstone Library and Gladstone Senior Center Collaboration- Community Services Manager Tiffany Kirkpatrick and Gladstone Library Manager Mitzi Olson are partnering to educate our community on services for older adults. There will be a series of short workshops on using the seed library for gardening, basic technology, and assessing adaptive equipment for isolated and homebound seniors in our community. We anticipate these to begin in March. Great work, Tiffany and Mitzi.
Gladstone Brand and Tourism Update- In 2023, the City will focus on identifying one key signature event per quarter for the City to lead/support, expand branding opportunities, market river access at Meldrum Bar Park, and identify key partners to develop the outreach and support beautification of Portland Avenue, such as seasonal flower baskets, and participating in Mt. Hood’s “map of murals” program. The City’s tourism consultant Lori Bell will conduct community outreach regarding murals at the Gladstone Senior Center Building in collaboration with the Advisory Board. There will be two meetings in March - one will be hosted at the Senior Center, and the second will be at the Holiday Inn. If you are interested in participating, please get in touch with Lori at Lori@loribellconsulting.org.
Have a great weekend.
Jacque M. Betz (she/her), City Administrator ICMA-CM
Original source can be found here.
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