COLA LO Board Member Publishes Article on Conflict of Interest Issues & Mayor Responds

To all COLA LO Members,

Last week board member Gary Gipson published an article in the LO Review regarding the ongoing community discussion on "conflict of interest" concerns within the City Council.   The article provides detailed facts given the authors experience as an investigator.    Residents have continued to request that the author look at specific concerns following a review by the state board. 

The article can be found at:  Questions Continue about Conflicts.

Mayor Hoffman responded to the article and several residents have posted comments online.   It provides for interesting reading given the current proposals before the City Council including Foothills and Streetcar.  

Residents are concerned about the impact of "potential conflicts of interest"  and many have asked specific council members to recluse themselves from voting on specific projects.  

So far all council members have participated in the controversial votes on specific projects.   However several have declared "potential conflicts of interest" in blanket statements as required in Oregon.  

New Data Shows Lake Oswego is NOT Really Growing

To all COLA LO Members,

Recent data released by PSU shows that LO is not growing and calls into question many of the projects and programs currently under consideration.    2010 census data show the population as 36,619 which was only a 3.8% increase over the 2000 census.    The latest data from PSU shows the 2011 population as 36,725 an increase of only 106 residents or 0.29%

Details can be found at the following:  PSU

They seriously call into question the high density mass transit projects being planned for the area as the costs for these projects will fall upon a relatively flat population base of residents.  

It appears that Clackamas County is only growing by 0.5% while LO is 0.29%   This is less than the 3.8% rate of growth experienced from 2000 to 2010.  

It actually appears that the rate of growth in LO is SLOWING.  

Jack Bog's blog brought out the issues this week in a post: Portland Population Growth Slows to a Crawl.

In the post he challenges the sustainability of Portland's strategy and LO is half the growth of Portland!  Its a serious issue that must be considered when evaluating the costs of many of the projects currently being considered by our City Council.    How much can we really afford as our population doesn't grow? 

Placing the cost burden of these projects on a population which is no longer growing only increases taxes, fees, and debt.   Its a key issue in 2012.

Please notify all members, contacts, and friends.

Oregonian Reports on LO's Largest Capital Project Currently at $230+ Million...

To All COLA LO Members,

Few citizens realize that LO is in the Process of spending over $230 Million on a new water project with Tigard.   It's one of the reasons utility bills are now skyrocketing.   

This past week the Oregonian reported on the project.   The article provides for interesting reading as Utility Bills increase to all residents.   Water rates are projected to increase 25.5% in march 2012 with the approval of your City Council.

The article can be found at:   http://www.oregonlive.com/lake-oswego/index.ssf/2011/11/lake_oswego-tigard_water_partn.html

Please notify all members, contacts and friends.   

Citizen Claims "Streetcar is Getting Expensive"

To All COLA LO Members,

Another citizen article was published this week regarding the streetcar project.  In the article the citizen challenges the intent of the City Council regarding the Streetcar project and Foothills.   The citizen claims the council is intending to distract citizens and ignore their feedback in the recent survey conducted for the city.

It provides for interesting reading.  In the article the author states:  

"The mayor and his three allied council members are not acting in our best interest and a change in attitude would be refreshing. The council could start off with revisiting some of the suggestions presented by the townspeople instead of pushing their personal agenda."

The article can be found at:  Street Car is Expensive

Citizen Article Claims Four Councilors Don't Get It!

To All COLA LO Members,

This week a citizen published a very strong article challenging members of the City Council.   The article seriously questions the motives and abilities of four councilors in terms of their approach to ward major projects.   The article reviews details regarding the WEB and Streetcar projects.  

In the article the author states:

"Could the survey results have been more clear that the citizens oppose streetcar? Are these survey results too difficult to understand? Apparently, yes, to the Four Who Don’t Get It."

The article can be found at:  "Four Who Don't Get It"

It seems more citizens are continuing to question the motives and the direction of the current City Council as it spends taxpayer funds on major projects for which there is little support.   This is especially true after surveys indicate that the public is opposed to these projects. 

It provides for interesting discussion and evaluation.   Please notify all members contacts and friends...

Jack Bog bloggers claim "Bizzard of Lies Continues" on Streetcar

To all COLA LO Members,

A post on Jack Bog's blog today provides for an interesting perspective.  In the post he claims that now that the streetcar survey is in and that residents don't want the survey, the pro streetcar group is coming back to doctor up the "Liars Budget" on the streetcar.   

Its clear that the City Council refuses to accept the details of the survey where 82% of respondents claimed that the Streetcar was not a priority item versus fixing streets.    The council voted to continue spending money on the project last spring in a 4-3 vote.   

The blog entry can be found at:   Blizzard of Lies   It includes readers comments on the project and article which provide insightful perspective on the history of these projects in nearby Portland.     Please notify all members, contacts, and friends...

Foothills Development Impact on Schools Article Draws Strong Public Comment.

To All COLA LO Members,

An article in the Review last week attempted to address the impact of a Foothills Development project on LOSD.    It provides an interesting perspective but also was a catalyst for strong online comment.    The council last night held a review session on the project and its impact.   LOSD representatives indicated they wanted the city to build as much as possible to increase school enrollment.

Citizens are deeply concerned about the risk of the project and the fact that public funding will be used.   Its a very strong concern in the community and the consultants have indicated that the city will need at least $8 million in "bridge" funding due to the schedule of construction and cash flows.    Citizens expressed concerns about the City taking on the risk of the project.  

The Council Review meeting can be found online at the TVCTV link.  

The article can be found at:  Relationship between Foothills & LOSD is complicated.

Councilor Tierney expressed that the Foothills Project and Streetcar are linked and that residents may need to accept Streetcar to get the Foothills Development Project.  

Please notify all members, contacts, and friends.