It seems like only yesterday when I sat down, exactly one year ago to write this message. But 36 City Council meetings later we find ourselves at the beginning of yet another year. Two years ago, as the Oregon economy was slowly beginning to recover, I said that for Estacada to take part in this recovery we needed to continue to make improvements to our basic City infrastructures: streets, housing, family wage jobs, parks, library and other quality of life aspects of the Estacada community. As we begin 2006, I believe we have come much further in meeting these goals.

The first highlight that comes to my mind from 2005 is that it was the year we celebrated our 100^th birthday! The celebration began with an official stamp cancellation event and commenced during the summer with the Mayor’s Ball. The Ball took place on the front lawn of City Hall and was attended by over 200 citizens. A new plaza art project was dedicated and several past Estacada Fire Chiefs were recognized alongside three of Estacada’s pioneering families.

Others might look back on 2005 as the year our library enthusiasts saw their dreams come true. The construction (funded thus far through $1.9 million in voter approved bonds; $841,000 in locally raised donations, and $624,500 from grants) officially took its form during a ribbon cutting ceremony attended by nearly 100 people in September.

Citizens watched later that month as 200 cubic yards of cement began pouring to signify the reality of a dream that began nearly a decade ago.

2005 will likely be measured as the year Estacada reviewed a significant amount of land use applications in the face of growth speculation. The City’s Planning Commission and City Council considered, and ultimately approved, over 450 new single family residential home lots, and 13 new single family homes were actually constructed. Voters supported annexation of land into the city limits for the 10^th straight election at a total average rate of 66% (for) vs. 34% (against). The total additional annexed land since May 2000 is 305 acres. The city government continues to ensure that developers are paying for their impacts to our infrastructure by charging the maximum number of fees allowed under state law (see right). Our current plant capacities represent room for an additional population of 2,200.

To me, 2005 was also the year of the survey. On three separate occasions throughout the year the city conducted a survey of its citizens and business community. Residents commented on general services and public safety while downtown merchants were surveyed on the current business climate. One of our main focuses of 2006 will be to implement the opportunities suggested by our citizens and merchants through those surveys.

Several contractual relationships were renegotiated by the City Council in 2005. A new Sheriff’s contract ensures 92 hours per week of city limit coverage. A new fee split with the Building Department retains more review fees with the City,

and new legal counsel brings us a diverse portfolio of legal staff for the multiple issues our city inevitably becomes involved with. In looking ahead to 2006 we will need to proceed carefully in the face of pressing growth. As housing prices continue to rise on smaller lots in the Portland vicinity, the Estacada we all love will become even more of a popular area to call home. With $25 million invested in our school facilities, over $3.4 million in a new library, and roughly 100 new jobs in our industrial parks, the citizens of Estacada are ensuring that an balance comes with that growth.

As I complete this year’s message it comes on the heals of more good news. We have successfully procured a $70,000 grant to update our Transportation Master Plan, a $30,000 grant towards the library’s community room addition, a $225,000 grant to re-align 4^th Street, and an approximate $1.3 million grant to improve Hwy 224 along Downtown Estacada. Each of these projects will require our undivided attention so that they are completed in the manner in which our citizens have called for and expect.