What Will Metro's Population Forecast Do to Lake Oswego?

To All COLA LO Members,

 
This week the Oregonian published an article indicating that METRO forecasts Portland will grow by 750,000 people over the next 20 years nearly reaching the 3 million mark.    It is similar to an estimate made in the decade of 1990 when METRO estimated growth of 500,000.  

What many may have missed is Metro's emphasis on REDEVELOPMENT  to manage this growth over the next two decades.   That's right it translates into "high density" development given the Urban Growth Boundary (UGB)  limitations.  

The article can be found at:   Big Growth = Higher density?

Many believe this forecast and the method now being used by METRO will make Lake Oswego a higher density community.   Those same residents now believe this will drive projects like the Wizer Block 137 and the eventual return of both Streetcar & Foothills to Lake Oswego.  

Is the writing on the wall? Its hard to believe this is required in a community with population growth of 0.3% per year over the last decade.   In fact it isn't required for Lake Oswego but the solution is really more about diluting our community character to accommodate growth in other cities within Portland.  

Will the forecast drive decisions that change our community?  Only time will tell....Please notify all members, contacts, and friends.  

$330 Million Budget Approved Unanimously By City Council

To All COLA LO Members,

This week the City council passed a $330 million budget and a 5 year capital plan that defines city spending over the next few years.   


Its the first time in a decade the council passed a budget on a unanimous vote.    COLA  Board member Dave Berg is quoted in a recent LO review article describing the details of the new budget.   


The article can be found at:   Council Approves .


Its a very complex budget but provides for a substantial increase in funding for streets and encourages citizen groups to participate in volunteer programs.   Details can be found at Council meeting.

Please notify all members, contacts,and friends.

County Elections Providing Insight Into Local Politics?

To All COLA LO Members,

The election results are in for several races in Clackamas County and the story they may be telling is very insightful. 

 It seems the electorate isn't pleased by negative campaigning and is returning all incumbents back to office in several positions.

Does this amount to a rejection of more conservative candidates or a rejection in tactics?  Many are now asking that question and projecting the impact of this election on both 2014 and 2016.  

The Oregonian is reporting that PAC funded challengers failed to unseat the incumbents this primary election. 

Details can be found at: Failed to Unseat 

These results represents an interesting about face compared to the 2012 county election.  Many are asking what this says about the leadership at the county and candidates immediately being elected for one position then running for another within a 1-2 years.  

It will be interesting to see how this impacts local elections in the fall of 2014.

Do voters want conservative candidates with a  positive message?  Only time will tell. but the outcome of this election and recent votes in Damascus clearly signal that voters aren't satisfied with some of the recent behaviors. Why? They were unwilling to unseat incumbents and by doing so rejected the expressed support of several newly elected officials in the county that openly asked for the removal of the incumbents.    

Election results can be found at:  Clackamas County Elections.

Please notify all members, contacts, and friends.  

Is the City Council Considering Increasing Street Fees Like Portland?

To All COLA LO Members,

This past week Portland is increasing the rhetoric on its proposed street fee.    Many in LO are very aware of the degradation of roads as they enter Portland form Lake Oswego.    Its a common topic of discussion amongst residents.  

A recent WW article can be found here:  Portland Street Fee?

LO has had a street fee on utility bills for many years designed to improve road maintenance and funds are used for repaving streets.    The current council has established streets as a top priority and the administration has indicated this summer will see a dramatic increase in street projects throughout the city.  

Is the council considering increasing fees while the county also proposes a street related fee?  

Will LO residents have to pay double fees to both the city and the county?    Only time will tell but a ballot measure is being proposed by Clackamas County and will likely be seen in the Fall election.   An article on the topic can be found here:  Clackamas Road Fee.


Will residents support ever increasing fees (taxes)  while the cost of others services continue to escalate well beyond inflation?  Only time will tell.  

Please notify all members, contacts, and friends.  

Portland Voters May Approve a Water Board. Will Lake Oswego Follow?

To All COLA LO Members,

This past week several articles were published on the upcoming measure that would require an independent elected board to set water rates in Portland.    

The group sponsoring the measure states that Portland water rates are higher than Phoenix and implies its due to improper spending.    


The groups website can be found here: PPWD
Their latest radio ad can be found here:  Water Rates Radio Ad
Details can be found at Water Initiative

Lake Oswego water rates have just been slightly lower than Portland and many residents are up in arms over the high costs despite conservation measures.   Its particularly difficult for residents on fixed incomes.   Recently the City went to a monthly billing cycle and many believe its a means to collect revenues more swiftly to pay for projects.  

Will Lake Oswego residents start a similar campaign?   Only time will tell but its clear they aren't happy accepting massive rate increases over the past 5 years.   Its an issue that been simmering under the surface in our community and may be a force in the election this Fall.

Please notify all members, contacts, and friends.    

Citizen Complains about the Cost of Lake Oswego

To All COLA LO Members,

For the past few years many in our community have noticed the escalating cost of living in Lake Oswego.   Its on the minds of many citizens especially those on fixed incomes.

COLA board members have heard this concern from a variety of residents and members.  

This week in the LO review a resident put it in perspective.     Many have wondered how West Linn has risen in several measures above Lake Oswego over the past few years.  

Well one component is clearly described in the article Why are costs in LO higher?:

"Why are costs in LO higher than West Linn?

As a newcomer to Lake Oswego, I find two of my basic living expenses surprising: In West Linn my monthly one-can trash pickup (free recycling pickup) was $7.95 per month. Here it is $29.52, some 271 percent higher. My West Linn monthly water/sewer bill for a single-family home on an acre was $40 per month. Here, in a much smaller house, it is more than $100, some 150 percent higher and rising.Combined, that’s $47.95 in West Linn versus $129.52 Lake Oswego each month.  I knew Lake Oswego was a wonderful place to live, but is it worth almost three times more for water and trash?"

This article should prove insightful to many in the community.  

 Please notify all members, contacts, and friends.   

Did Lake Oswego Dodge a Financial Bullet? New Audit of Streetcar Says Yes!

To All COLA LO Members,

This week the results of a financial audit of Portland Streetcar were released.   It provides a stark reminder of many of the issues discussed during the proposals to bring a streetcar to LO from Portland.  

Much of the concern was about who would actually operate the streetcar, how much it would really cost, and how much of the cost the city of LO would have to pay.    All of which was never really answered by Streetcar's proponents.  

The audit released clearly establishes these issues as being core to the current operations in Portland.   In the article released in the Oregon is the statement:  

The bureaucracy behind Portland’s $251 million streetcar system is "convoluted and confusing," according to a new city audit, and no more money should be spent expanding it until city leaders set clear goals.

The article can be found at:  Convoluted

In the actual audit the auditor claims the "City bears the financial risk"   just as many LO residents believed when the LO streetcar was proposed with total costs exceeding $200 million.   Its a stunning clarification showing the core concerns of opponents to Streetcar were valid.  

The actual audit can be found at Portland Streetcar Audit.    Its clear from this document that LO would be taking on enormous financial risk with the project as proposed under the Hoffman administration and supported by former Mayor Hammerstad.  

While many may say hindsight is 20/20 its very valid in this case and residents should seriously consider what approval of Streetcar may have done to LO financially.   To his credit Councilor Jeff Gudman showed these details consistently in council sessions.  

Please notify all members contacts and friends.