City Council

The City of Columbia City In Columbia County on the Columbia River STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES COLUMBIA CITY VISIONING PROCESS JANUARY 11, 2012 - 7:00 P.M. CITY HALL, 1840 SECOND STREET COLUMBIA CITY, OR 97018 Steering Committee Members Present: David Stocker, Facilitator Lisa Bush Christine Ebrahimi Ken Gates Paula Miranda Lisa Moore Leahnette Rivers Lisa Smith Casey Wheeler Steering Committee Members Absent: Shannon Fitzgibbons William G. Guy Konnie Speirs Patrick Trapp Also Present: Cheryl A. Young, Mayor Joe Turner, Citizen Gunta Turner, Citizen Stocker, Columbia County Economic Team CEO, opened the meeting with introductions from everyone present and brief statements about their ideal vision for Columbia City. 1 Young, Columbia City Mayor, said she would like to see environmentally clean and friendly development on the Port property that would provide family wage jobs, or even a hotel/conference center, outlet stores, etc. Rivers, Columbia City Administrator, said she would like to see the quality of life preserved and a sustainable tax base that is supported by industrial and commercial development that provides jobs to the region. Smith, Columbia City Planner, said she would like to see the preservation of the small, quaint community supported by a sustainable revenue source and. Moore, Columbia City citizen, said she would like Mayberry - a well-kept community, quality family living, walking trails, parks, etc. Ebrahimi, Columbia City citizen, said she participated in the development of the 2001 Vision Statement, and during that time the City was experiencing growing pains and looking at an urban growth boundary expansion. She said she’d like to see Columbia City stay small and lovely, and she recognizes the need for additional income. She would like Columbia City to stay the way it is - everyone knows his or her neighbors. Miranda, Port of St. Helens Business Development Manager, said the Port’s vision extends beyond Columbia City throughout the region, but the Port tries to work well with each community and respect their vision. She said she does not live in Columbia City, but she spends a lot of time here and she loves this community and understands the issues it is facing with sustainability because residential taxes don’t generate enough to cover costs. Bush, Columbia City citizen, said instead of Mayberry, she sees Stepford - people actually make eye contact and wave. She said she works for DHS and recognizes the ever-increasing need for accommodating an aging population, and would like to see some assisted living development in Columbia City. Joe Turner, Columbia City citizen, said he participated in a similar process for downtown Pendleton. He said he doesn’t want Columbia City to change but sees the need for additional revenue. Gates, Columbia City citizen, has served on the Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and is currently President of the Food Bank and a SHEDCO Board Member. He said SHEDCO is currently implementing the Main Street program, which focuses on revitalizing downtown core areas of communities. He said his home is next to a greenbelt, and he often brags about living in Columbia City because the Police Department will check on your house when you’re out of town, and you won’t find that service anywhere else. He said the revenue derived from commercial and industrial uses is very beneficial to a community. Wheeler, Columbia City Council Member, said he also serves on the Executive Board for the Columbia County Economic Team. He would like the qualify of life maintained, 2 and recognizes that the current model will not work outside of a building boom because the amount of revenue generated by residential development will not sustain services. He said other communities within the County have a commercial and industrial base to draw from. He said the City’s funding decisions become more and more difficult with each passing year. Stocker distributed sample Vision Statement’s from the American Red Cross, Boeing, GE, IKEA, Qualcomm, and Smithsonian Institute, noting that they are all very inspirational. He said the Vision Statement should be well known and revisited often. Stocker also distributed statistical information about the City, and asked members to review Columbia City’s 2001 Vision Statement. Stocker asked members to identify community resources, human capacity, and conditioning influences, and the following lists were developed: RESOURCES:  Columbia River  Highway 30  Railroad  Smith Road - wilderness  Scenic views  Quiet  Industrial property  Metropolitan proximity  Internet  Transit CAPACITY:  Volunteerism  Vested/civic virtue  Stable households  Highly skilled and educated workforce CONDITIONING INFLUENCES:  Aging population - disinvestment  Lack of jobs  Heavy commuter population  Economic stagnation  Homeownership less attainable  Expensive housing  Large lots  Prestige Stocker asked the group to identify community values and find the values contained in the 2001 Vision Statement. The following list was developed: 3 VALUES:  People gravitate here, and find that they want a long-term relationship with the community - they stay here.  Good value  Sustainability - financial affordability  Attractive  Peaceful  Quiet  Friendly  Safe  Continuity  Participatory community  Independence  High quality residential  Economic security  Care for others  Family oriented Following a lengthy group discussion, the meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m. 4