Citizens Budget Committee Member Tells US why Water Rates are So High!

To All COLA LO Members,

This week budget committee member Gerry Good published an article in the LO Review.    IN the article he provides precise reasons for why water rates continue to escalate in Lake Oswego.     Its a good read for all citizens that are concerned about their monthly water bills.  

According to Mr. Good it seems that rates will only continue to increase until elected officials begin to address the situation.    His article can be found at:  Skyrocketing Water Bills

In an ironic twist this week our council voted 5-1 to review getting into the Internet business in a public private partnership.     Many wonder how much that will cost residents in  the future.    IT seems that the "tax and spend" mentality of the old days has returned to LO.  

Fortunately the 2016 elections are just around the corner. Please notify all members, contacts, and friends.  

Charles Collins is our new City Councilor

To all COLA LO members,

Last night our city council agreed upon Charles Collins as the replacement for Councilor Bowerman.   Charles is the current budget committee chair taking over the committee after board member Dave Berg termed out as budget chair and was elected vice chair this past year.

Widely regarded as a fiscal conservative and a strong advocate of citizens property rights, Charles Collins was believed by many cola members and the board to be the best replacement for the departed councilor Bowerman.  It's clear that Cola endorsed councilors O'Neill,Gudman, Manz and Mayor Studebaker eventually agreed on this conclusion.

 Ironically conspicuously absent from the votes of Councilors Buck and Gustafson was the name of Charles Collins.  Many believe this was due to an attempt to remove him from the final round of 3 candidates. It's a tactic seen in past administration's and one that may return with the 2016 election.
   He is well known to COLA members having sat in as an independent observer on the Cola board member interview process for 2014 council candidates.  The cola board routinely invites two independent observers when interviewing candidates in order to ensure objectivity.

Mr. Collins has served 3 years on the budget committee and has resided in our wonderful city for over 20 years.

Please notify all members contacts and friends...

COLA Board Members Publish Articles on Governance

To All COLA LO Members,

Over the past two weeks COLA board members all have published articles on topics from the need for voter input on budget priorities to the selection of a replacement for departed councilor Bowerman.    The articles have been well received by the community and board members have received comments form a variety of sources.    Here is a brief summary of articles:


Dave Berg published Voters must determine priorities
Gary Gipson published Compromise is not a one way street
Dave Barra published Council should pick a like minded replacement

All of these articles address the current concerns of the community regarding future governance and the management decisions of the current city council.    Once again COLA continues to be engaged in the open debate regarding the governance of our community.  


Please notify all members, contacts, and friends.  

COLA Board Member Addresses the Council Appointment Issue

To All COLA LO Members,

This past week COLA board member Gary Gipson submitted his personal views on the "compromise" approach to selecting a replacement for Councilor Bowerman as proposed by an article from Councilor Buck.  

The article is drawing online attention and can be found in Replacing Bowerman.


It provides for interesting reading on an historical perspective over the past twelve years and the willingness of different administrations to "compromise"   when they are elected.  

Its well known that the past two administrations were not willing to compromise and held a very heavy hand in their positions.  

Please notify all members, contacts, and friends.  

More Candidates "pile on" to the Appointment Process

To All COLA LO Members,

It seems there is no end to the number of candidates who would like to be appointed to the LO City Council when the requirements are pretty limited.    The LO Review published a very good summary of the 10 candidates who applied as of mid week.    They then had to update it for three new applicants.  

The article can be found at:   Council Applicants

The process and decisions are expected to be discussed at council meetings on 9/1 and 9/8.  

It will be very interesting to see how diligent this council is in ensuring they appoint a councilor which holds to the will of the voters when Councilor Bowerman was elected in 2012.

Will the council try to sway the balance of power away from the 2012 input of the voters?   Only time will tell but its certainly on the minds of the community.  

Please notify all members,contacts, and friends.    

City Council Inundated with Applications for Appointment.

To All COLA LO Members,

This week the council seems inundated with applications from candidates seeking an appointment for the open council position vacated by Councilor Bowerman last month.  Candidates must believe that its an easy process to be appointed to the LO City Council?   

With the departure of Councilor Bowerman a number of new candidates are beginning to appear in Lake Oswego. There are now no less than SEVEN candidates for the open position.    All have already submitted their applications before the August 20th deadline.    

Among those are Budget Committee Chair Charles Collins, budget committee member Dave Beckett, planning commissioners Randy Arthur and John Lamott, and three unknown candidates Barbara Rizzatti, former allied/republic waste representative Ray Phelps and Robert Price.    

Its hard to imagine that any candidate without previous board or commission experience could believe they would be effective and know all that is required of a councilor within the 1 year term of the appointment.   That alone should be a factor in the selection process.  

Our city council needs an appointed member who can immediately be effective and understands the history of decision making in this administration.    Let's see if the council agrees or is willing to appoint a candidate that will be learning on the job for the duration of the appointment.    Many residents will be asking themselves how many mistakes will be made during this OTJ period.   

It will be very interesting to observe the council and their management skills during the selection process.  Rumor has it that there is a 3-3 split amongst councilors on the direction of the appointment.    

The Application and specific procedures can be found at:   City Council Appointment.

Please notify all members, contacts, and friends.    

City Council Candidates Submit Applications

To All COLA LO Members,

With the departure of Councilor Bowerman a number of new candidates are beginning to appear in Lake Oswego.   Several have already submitted their applications before the August 20th deadline.    Among those are Budget Committee Chair Charles Collins, former allied/republic waste representative Ray Phelps.   Its rumored that budget committee member Dave Beckett will also apply for the appointment.  

The Application and specific procedures can be found at:   City Council Appointment.

Will the balance of power on the council  and the mandate of 2012 be overturned?   That is a question many are asking within the community.    Rumor has it that a 3-3 vote stalemate exists on the council right now for any replacement that is perceived to be a "fiscal conservative"  like Councilor Bowerman.  

Only time will tell but it appears that a storm is brewing on the council once again.   Will they replace Councilor Bowerman with a like councilor and honor the vote in 2012 or will they ignore the voters?  


The details will certainly impact the upcoming election in 2016 where the Mayor and 3 City councilors are up for re-election.    Stay tuned for the outcome.

Please notify all members, contacts, and friends.