Gallup poll shows political views.

To all COLA LO members,


A recent report in the Oregonian shows that 70% believe they are moderate-conservative.   The report marginalizes moderates which exceed both liberal and conservative responses. 

Here are the key figures for the Northwest:

State..................Conservative............Moderate..........Liberal
Oregon.....................34.5%.....................35.3%...........26.3%
Washington..............33.1%.....................37.3%...........25.9%
Idaho........................48.5%.....................34.5%...........14.9%

The report in the Oregonian is positioned to show Oregon as a highly liberal state but the poll results are available for your review at:

http://blog.oregonlive.com/mapesonpolitics/2011/02/gallup_oregon_washington_among.html

http://www.gallup.com/poll/146348/Mississippi-Rates-Conservative-State.aspx#1

Please review and inform all members and contacts....

Clackamas County voters to decide Sellwood Bridge fee on May ballot

To All COLA LO Members,

Clackamas County clerk Sherry Hall has certified the signatures on the petition to place the Sellwood Bridge fee before county voters. The May Ballot will have Clackamas County voters provide their determination if County residents should provide $22 million in fees to pay for the Sellwood Bridge by giving these funds to Multnomah County.  

The Oregonian has reported on the final determination that the petitioners provided enough valid signatures to place the fee on the ballot. The article can be found below:

http://www.oregonlive.com/oregon-city/index.ssf/2011/02/clackamas_county_voters_to_decide_sellwood_bridge_fee_on_may_ballot_after_county_clerk_sherry_hall_c.html

Foothills continues to proceed with awarding of $129,000 contract.

To All COLA LO Members,

The council voted this week to award a contract for continued analysis of the foothills area. Last year the Council approved $1.1 million for investigating the foothills area for redevelopment.   

The final vote on the new contract was 4-3. The company will provide the city with financial and urban renewal analysis for the project. Councilors Kehoe, Olson and Gudman voted against awarding the contract of $129,000 until a decision was made on the locally preferred alternative as it impacts the streetcar.

The Oregonian reported the vote in its article:

http://www.oregonlive.com/lake-oswego/index.ssf/2011/02/update_of_foothills_area_development_plans_discussed_at_latest_lake_oswego_city_council_meeting.html

Is the new $230 million (LO-Tigard) water system in trouble? Part III

To All COLA LO Members,

There is a new article in the LO Review explaining that councilors continue to be intimately involved in the design on the largest capital project in recent city history and constantly changing the design requirements.

How much are all these changes costing our citizens in staff time and expenditures?   Is politics overriding sound design?   How much can we really afford given our share of costs?

http://www.lakeoswegoreview.com/news/story.php?story_id=129850176136989500

Please notify all members and contacts. 

Parks & Recreation Advisory Board Chair Begs the City "Don't Cut Our Parks Budget to Save Schools?"

To all COLA LO Members,

PRAB Chair Steve Dodd begs the city not to cut the Parks budget to provide $2 million for the deficit in the LO School District budget.     The council is finalizing an effort to provide $1-$2 million to LOSD to offset a $5-8 million budget deficit.  

This is in addition to $800K  already provided by the city to LOSD. Is this the beginnings of a budget battle?  Schools, Parks, Fire, Police, Foothills, WEB?  

Details can be found at:  http://www.lakeoswegoreview.com/opinion/index.php

Please notify all members and contacts.

City of LO Vacancy on Parks and Recreation Advisory Board (PRAB)

To All COLA LO Members & Contacts,

The city of Lake Oswego now has a vacancy on the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board.    This is an important opening which will impact the direction of our parks and recreation programs in the city.  

The details of this opening can be found at http://www.ci.oswego.or.us/boards/Vacancies/currentvacancies.htm

The application is required by 3/15/11 at 5pm.    We encourage all members and contacts to consider this opening and contact the city for additional details.  

Is the new $230 million (LO-Tigard) water system in trouble? Part II

To All COLA LO Members,

A recent letter to the editor of the Oregonian by a local resident questions the due diligence of the water plant expansion. The letter to the editor can be found at:
http://www.oregonlive.com/lake-oswego/index.ssf/2011/02/letter_to_the_editor_lake_oswego_water_treatment_plant_in_west_linn.html

There is also an article in the LO Review explaining that residents in two neighborhoods may not be favorable to the water reservoir options.  
http://www.lakeoswegoreview.com/news/story.php?story_id=129789709138026700

Please notify all members and contacts. 

Lake Oswego city council lists off at least $1.3M in possible funds to make available for school district

To All COLA LO members,

The city council last night reviewed their budget and options for assisting the LO School District with its deficit.    After an open and direct discussion it appears the council has found over $1 million in budget reductions so it can transfer those funds to give to the School district.   This is in addition to the $840K the city already provides to the School District.  

Although there were some conflicting opinions on specific budget cuts,  in general the council agreed to provide the funds to LOSD.  Some council members asked for raising fees to support the transfer of fuinds to the School District.    

A more detailed review can be found in the Oregonian online. 

  http://www.oregonlive.com/lake-oswego/index.ssf/2011/02/lake_oswego_city_council_lists_off_at_least_13m_in_possible_funds_to_make_available_for_school_distr.html

Clackamas County voters likely to decide Sellwood Bridge fee; rejection could doom project

To all COLA LO Members,

It looks like the Sellwod bridge fee (tax) will now go before the voters according to the Oregonian. The County commission voted for the fee despite overwhelming public testimony against it late last year.   

Now the voters may decide in the May election. Take a look at the report in the Oregonian. Rejection of the hidden tax may doom the project and force Multnomah county to pay for its own bridges.

http://www.oregonlive.com/oregon-city/index.ssf/2011/02/sellwood_bridge_clackamas_county_multnomah_county_deborah_kafoury_lynn_peterson.html

Will the county voters reject a hidden tax that transfer the money to Multnomah County? Only a vote of the people will tell. County Commissioners were not willing to refer it to the voters.   

Please notify all members and contacts. 

Is the new $230 million (LO-Tigard) water system in trouble?

To All COLA LO Members,

The Review has published an article showing a serious oversight in the planning process for the new LO-Tigard Water Agreement project. It appears the city did not review limitations on expansions within the neighborhood of the plant in West Linn.  

The city is now paying $1000 per household to have waivers signed for residents in the West Linn community. As some are aware the project is preliminarily estimated to be approximately $230 million in total cost. 

Will this impact citizens in terms of additional increases in water rates?  

The article can be found at:  http://www.lakeoswegoreview.com/news/story.php?story_id=129669434477283000


2008 Mayoral Candidate and LONAC Chairperson John Surrett wrote an article on the project last year. The article can be found at:
 http://www.lakeoswegoreview.com/opinion/story.php?story_id=129252101116136800

Tigard citizens just began experiencing the tax increases (fee increases) for the project and will see much more over the next 4 years as their rates double or more.   Comments show some opposition in a recent article:
http://www.tigardtimes.com/news/story_2nd.php?story_id=128950222512955900

West Linn residents rejected a similar improvement in their water system this past election.   Lake Oswego residents were not given the opportunity to vote on the project.    http://www.portlandtribune.com/news/story_2nd.php?story_id=129304598914006200

please notify all members and contacts....

Petition to place Sellwood Bridge fee before the voters doing well

To All COLA LO members,

The petition to place the sellwood bridge fee before Clackamas County voters is doing well. The fee would tax Clackamas County voters and give the $21 million to Multnomah county. It's a precedent of taxing one government jurisdiction and then transferring it to another jurisdiction that has only been allowed since the last legislative session.

It appears the initiative will be on the May ballot. Petitioner Dan Holladay is indicating that he has more than enough signatures to place the initiative on the ballot.   

   http://www.lakeoswegoreview.com/news/story.php?story_id=129729812697667200

City Council reconsiders WEB as a long term asset

TO All COLA LO Members,

The Lake Oswego Review is reporting that the council will now reconsider the WEB as a long term asset.  This comes after a survey which clearly shows what voters and COLA LO have been saying for more than a year, there isn't any support for massive investment in the WEB.  After spending $20 million the WEB has declined in value by $10 million and citizens aren't willing to spend $40-80 million on the building.   

The story can be found at:  
http://www.lakeoswegoreview.com/news/story.php?story_id=129729824869290300

Some members of the council wanted to delay a bond measure and were in denial on the results of the survey. This has been going on for nearly five years as the prior council continued to hold onto the building as its value declined and they proposed massive investments in the WEB.

We encourage all members to review the story and observe the council session on line. Councilors Kehoe, Gudman, and Olson strongly positioned that a resolution of the WEB issue was required this year.    Councilor Tierney showed some support for a resolution.  

COLA LO Board member article in LO Review

To All COLA LO Members,

Board Member Dave Berg has an article published in the LO review this week. The article asks for greater transparency in council deliberations and two way communication in the public process. It relates his experience as a hearings officer for many years and asks citizens to provide additional input to the council on key issues.

The article can be found at:

http://www.lakeoswegoreview.com/opinion/story.php?story_id=129736950802540700

Please notify all members, friends, and contacts.  

City Services - City completes facilities survey

To all COLA LO Members,

The city has completed a facilities survey including resolution of the West End Building (WEB). The survey shows that citizens want a resolution on the WEB and strong opposition toward a bond measure to pay for it.   

The survey can be found at http://www.ci.oswego.or.us/calendar/CouncilMtgs/2011MeetingLog.htm

under the city facilities survey link for the 2/8/11 meeting.  

Please notify all members and contacts. 

Oregonian outlines 2011 City Council goals

To all COLA LO Members,

The Oregonian published an article describing the City Councils goals and objectives for 2011. This article can be found at:

http://www.oregonlive.com/lake-oswego/index.ssf/2011/02/lake_oswego_city_council_goals_west_end_building_lopd_transit_police_program.html

COLA - LO Board member submits guest opinion to the Lake Oswego Review

To all COLA LO Members,

COLA LO board member Dave Luck submitted a guest opinion to the LO Review this week describing issues of fiscal responsibility within the city.  

The article can be found at:

http://www.lakeoswegoreview.com/opinion/story.php?story_id=129675193939739000

Please notify all members and contacts.

LO City Council Goal is a $40-90 Million Bond for the WEB (Property Taxes to Increase?)

To all COLA LO Members,

The preliminary city council goals and objectives for 2011 have been drafted.   The initial goal is to propose a bond measure for the WEB.

It's anticipated the Measure will be drafted to request $40-90 million to purchase and upgrade the WEB building.  It is a top priority for the new council.  

The initial discussion is to have the measure on the May ballot but this may be delayed depending upon council discussions.