Traffic and Public Safety Committee agrees to provide letter backing Founders’ Day grant application

The Estacada Traffic and Public Safety Committee voted unanimously to provide a letter of support for an arts-commission proposal to mark the city’s 120th anniversary with a Founders’ Day celebration tied to existing summer events.

Bev Nordstrom, who identified herself as an arts commissioner and said Jerry Tenbush is her liaison, asked the committee to back an application to the Clackamas Culture Coalition. Nordstrom told the committee she is seeking community partners, wants to capture oral histories and artifacts, and proposed a modest, staged approach that would wrap a Founders’ Day acknowledgment around existing events such as the July Fourth parade.

Nordstrom said the application is weighted toward historical programming and that the grant would cover most costs, with local donations filling minor gaps; she said the project would need about $300 in local fundraising to fully cover costs and that the grant application deadline is April 17. She also offered to draft a sample letter of support for the committee to edit.

Several committee members voiced support for the idea of celebrating Estacada’s history, and one committee member raised a caution about relying on grants, saying, “I don’t like taking money from somebody else that didn’t work for it… I’m not into free money.” Other members responded by noting past local projects — the skate park and library — that depended on grant funding.

After discussion the committee made a motion and voted in favor. Chair roll call for the committee showed five votes in favor and no opposition; the chair declared the motion passed and said the letter of support will be forwarded and the arts commission may add to it later.

The committee did not commit any direct funding; Nordstrom said she is applying for outside grant funds and asked only for the letter of community support. She requested rapid turnaround because of the April 17 application deadline.