TAKE ANOTHER LOOK
OREGON CITY ACCOMPLISHMENTS DURING MAYOR NORRIS’S TERM
2003-2010

Created a Climate for Economic Success:

• Developed and promoted an economic development strategy built around Oregon City’s Regional Center designation
• Built partnerships throughout the state and region to assist economic development
• Assisted in bringing new businesses to town, 14 new ones on Main Street in the past year
• Assisted in bringing new restaurants to Oregon City
• Achieved designation of Oregon City as a Preserve America community, one of only 6 in Oregon
• Worked with County to assist in expansion of Benchmade, traded sector knife manufacturer
• Amended Urban Renewal Plan
• Adopted Main Street Program; received ‘Performing’ designation by Governor
• Led efforts that resulted in two major revitalization projects now in due diligence
  • The Cove --- Mixed use housing/commercial development at Clackamette Cove. Clackamette Cove, L.L.C. has entered into a Disposition and Development Agreement for the development of the project
  • The Rivers --- Mixed use lifestyle/ entertainment center on landfill, including Cabela’s. CenterCal, URC, and Parker Family Trust are working on DDA and additional agreements necessary to move project forward
• Led efforts at revitalization along Seventh Street
• Approved Master Plan for expansion of Willamette Falls Hospital (new ER)
• Approved Master Plan of County’s Red Soils Campus
• Approved Master Plan for Clackamas Community College’s expansion
• Approved two required Concept Plans for mandated urban growth boundary expansion areas along Beavercreek Road and in Park Place

Transportation (Infrastructure) Improvements

• Put light rail back into long-term future for Oregon City
• Constructed & opened Amtrak Station; lobbied legislature to keep the trains running
• Restarted summer Trolley program to serve visitors, merchants; purchased 3rd trolley
• Implemented Pavement Management Fee to maintain streets as result of citizen committee recommendation
• Completed the following major street improvements:
  • Beavercreek Road/ Hwy 213 Intersection
  • Beavercreek Road from Molalla to Hwy 213 Washington
  • 13th to 16th Street
  • 7th Street
  • McLoughlin Blvd Enhancements
• Dedicated an electric vehicle charging station (2nd City in Oregon)
• Received AARA funding for improvement to Warner Milne/Molalla Intersection
• Secured state funding for a circulation study on Main Street
• Secured $22 million from Oregon Jobs and Transportation Act for jughandle project [Oregon City’s largest state allocation]. Also secured federal funds for I205 / I213 interchange project.
• Secured funding for Bike/Ped improvements on 10th and Main

Stabilized City Finances:

• Averted General Fund bankruptcy in 2005 with very difficult service cut decisions and other cost saving measures
• Saved taxpayers $9 million in PERS spending by refinancing PERS debt
• Stopped flow of red ink out of General Fund
• Formed citywide Task Force to examine city spending and long term funding for services (Blue Ribbon Task Force)
• Worked at county level to increase library funding, transportation funding, and economic development assistance to the city
• Worked at regional level to secure Metro’s Construction Excise tax to fund the development of our concept plans and relieve pressure on City’s General Fund
• Ended Hilltop Urban Renewal District 18 months early and provided major assessed value boost
• Removed negative outlook from City’s bond rating
• Saving taxpayers money by not levying full permanent tax rate; a decision resulting from fire annexation success and promised to maintain lowered rate and no new programs for five years --adopted by city resolution
• Refinanced several bonds to help reduce debt service costs
• Implemented needed rate increases to address water, sewer, and storm drain utilities
• Approved new library district thereby securing stable operational funding for library

Increased Public Safety:

• Opened South End Fire Station after it sat empty for 5 years
• Annexed to Clackamas Fire District #1 to provide permanent fire & emergency medical service
• Reduced crime rate and improved rating on traffic safety of streets
• Reinstated a School Resource Officer for Oregon City High School, the first police officer hired in 8 years; improved radio communications to OCHS
• Created seven new Patrol Officers position bringing total uniformed officers funded to 40 and increasing staff from 1.13 officers/1000 to 1.28 officers/1000
• Created City’s new K-9 program (now 2 dogs) and first bicycle unit
• Established Code Red, a community emergency telephone notification system
• Worked with federal, state, regional, and local partners in developing emergency sheltering facility for potential Katrina evacuees, which also was available for City residents in 2006 winter rain storms and slope failures
• Police Department received state accreditation
• Upgraded police technology and safety equipment
• Improved disaster and emergency training throughout the organization
• Reassigned investigator to Clackamas County Special Investigative Unit (for meth, etc.)

Opened New Parks

• Opened the first new developed park in Oregon City in 23 years: Wesley Lynn Park
• Completed Jon Storm Park along Willamette River, plus Willamette River Trail segment
• Completed public viewing deck (Willamette Terrace) along Willamette River and commissioned public art pieces
• Created a spray park to enhance Rivercrest Park
• Modernized equipment and transitioned wading pool to spray pool at Library Park
• Installed new playground equipment at Senior Citizen Park, now renamed Richard R Bloom Park
• Worked with High School construction class on Hillendale Park improvements and Wesley Lynn picnic shelter and benches
• Built and dedicated Clackamette Trail around Clackamette Cove
• Increased habitat restoration and preservation with Nature in Neighborhoods program
• Secured grant funds, constructed, and dedicated new 320’ floating dock on Willamette River
• Purchased new potential park land near Oregon City High School, with Metro GreenSpaces funding
• Adopted Trails Master Plan

Tourism

• Created the Oregon City Tourism Council
• Wrote grants that brought in $120,000 for City tourism projects
• Created and adopted a Tourism Action Plan for Oregon City
• Partnered with McLoughlin House to secure federal designation as a National Park site
• Secured funding for assistance to OCHS girls’ basketball summer camps
• Re-established trolley service along Main Street to link our historic attractions & businesses
• Secured funding and implemented many projects for the 2009 Oregon Sesquicentennial Celebration in Oregon City
• Secured funding and refurbished the Elevator interior with unique new art on deck and tunnel (lenticular prints by Michael Asbill)
• Secured funds for interpretive signage, new benches and trashcans along Promenade
• Organized the Willamette Falls Heritage Area Coalition; Mayor Norris is co-founder
• Participated in Oregon Solutions funding to secure continued operation of Willamette Falls Locks

Restructured City Organization

• Oversaw Capital Improvement Program averaging $4 million annually
• Initiated annual goal-setting and long range budget-forecasting for city
• Improved services at Pioneer Community Center
• Reformatted city commission agendas to improve customer service and citizen access
• Implemented video streaming of Commission and other City Boards and events
• Purchased McLean Clinic Building to rehab for a new city hall in 2009; Silver LEED certified
• Introduced and adopted a Payday loan ordinance to protect vulnerable citizens
• Updated our Comprehensive Plan, first since 1985
• Improved staffing in police, administration, parks maintenance, and hired City’s first new Library Director since 1990s

Infrastructure Improvements

• Guaranteed long term water security and capacity with new covered water reservoir and refurbishment of old large reservoir
• Cleaned Singer Creek Falls
• Secured AARA funding for restoration work on Promenade Rock Wall and Grand Staircase
• Secured AARA funding for safety realignment and rehabilitation of Warner Milne Road
• Completed energy efficiency improvements and upgrades to Swimming Pool facility
• Approved long range plans for enlarging and enhancing Public Works facility

Improved Citizen Communication and Involvement

• Improved audio visual system in Commission Chambers
• Became 2nd city in the state to have video web-streaming of city commission meetings and events
• Completed two community opinion surveys plus 3 focus groups
• Created a Mayor’s Page on the city website to better communicate with citizens
• With citizen and staff input, created a new city logo and redesigned web site, which won national recognition
• Used recommendations from ad hoc committees to implement planning:
  • Blue Ribbon Task Force
  • Concept Planning Committees (Beavercreek & Park Place)
  • Reinstated new citizens to Urban Renewal Commission after previously eliminating citizen members
  • Street Maintenance Funding Citizens’ Task Force
  • McLoughlin Blvd Enhancement Committee
  • Elevator Public Art Committee
  • City Hall Public Art Committee
  • Citizens’ Involvement Committee Task Force
  • Downtown Parking Task Force
  • Carnegie Center Task Force
  • End of the Oregon Trail Task Force 

City Facilities Improvements

• Purchased McLean Clinic and remodeled facility for use as City Hall.
• Developed City Hall as City’s first LEED certified facility (awarded Silver)
• Made necessary improvements to City’s swimming pool including new roof and HVAC system along with interior and exterior painting
• Began process for design and engineering for new Police Department Building, while creating some additional interim space at existing site until new facility can be constructed
• Approved plan and land use for development of new OCPW Operations Center
• Purchased old Southern Pacific train depot and moved to the expanded Amtrak Station

Challenges for the Future:

• Siting a new library
• Maintaining livability while preparing for population growth
• Complete South End Concept Plan
• Funding to maintain parks and open spaces
• Updating the city charter and addressing water roll back issue
• Meeting citizen demands for service with limited city staff
• Implementing Parking Study recommendations
• Finding solutions for operations of the EOTIC and City Heritage Product
• Securing long term future for the Ermatinger House
• Improving Downtown circulation program and implementing downtown parking program
• Interim assistance to Blue Heron as they work through bankruptcy and to establish long-term relationship to insure appropriate redevelopment for community when and if site redevelops
• Find appropriate use for Carnegie Center after library leaves
• Negotiate appropriate agreement on wastewater mitigation and urbanization policies
• Find long-term stable funding for Main Street program
• Resolve city and regional transportation issues along with decisions on light rail and high speed rail