Votes at a glance: Sandy council approves code cleanup, chronic‑nuisance ordinance, wastewater studies and homelessness IGA

The Sandy City Council approved multiple procedural and project items during its meeting following a joint work session with the planning commission. The council recorded approvals by voice vote or motion on the consent agenda, two ordinances, two engineering task orders for wastewater planning and an intergovernmental agreement to fund a new community services officer.

Nut graf: The votes move several ongoing projects forward. Two ordinances received second readings and final approval; consultants were authorized to perform engineering analyses needed to evaluate a possible conveyance of Sandy’s wastewater to the City of Gresham; and the council authorized a three‑year intergovernmental agreement with Clackamas County to fund most of a new community services officer position focused on homelessness outreach.

Key outcomes (motions and results)

- Consent agenda — approved. The consent agenda included the city council goal‑setting minutes (02/01/2025) and the regular meeting minutes (02/03/2025). Motion to approve the consent agenda was made and seconded; the motion carried by voice vote with no objections recorded in the meeting.

- Ordinance 2025‑03 — second reading and adoption (amended). Council moved and approved the ordinance amending chapter 5.04 (business licenses and regulation) as modified during first reading in February. The motion to approve the second reading as amended passed on voice vote.

- Ordinance 2025‑04 (chronic nuisance properties) — second reading and adoption (amended). The council adopted a revised chapter 8.22 addressing chronic nuisance properties, including a change to increase some notice/occurrence periods (language changed to 180 calendar days for specified nuisance thresholds) and a newly added nuisance activity related to animal abuse/neglect. Motion to approve the second reading as amended passed on voice vote.

- Task Order: Engineering evaluation of Sandy’s wastewater flows at Gresham’s treatment plant — approved. The council authorized a task order with Stantec to evaluate the effect of Sandy’s flows at Gresham’s treatment plant, including a study of required upgrades and estimated costs. Staff said this task order increases Stantec’s contract by approximately $332,198.20 and will be funded by reallocating previously budgeted clean‑water funds. The motion to approve carried on a council vote.

- Task Order: Preliminary engineering/routing study for conveyance pipeline to Gresham — approved. The council approved a second task order to study pipeline routing, environmental constraints and preliminary cost estimation for a proposed conveyance of wastewater to Gresham. Staff reported the task order cost at about $279,166; combined with the other Stantec work these actions would raise the Stantec contract ceiling to approximately $4,188,617.51. The motion to approve carried on a council vote.

- Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with Clackamas County — approved. The council authorized the city manager to sign an IGA with Clackamas County to fund a community services officer focused on homelessness response and outreach. The county will provide $292,352 over three years (about 80% of the anticipated position and vehicle costs); the city’s local match equals roughly $73,088 over three years. Council authorized hiring steps and staff recruitment already underway; the position was expected to be filled within a few months.

Notes on procedure and funding

- Voice votes and roll calls: most approvals were recorded by voice vote; where the mayor or council provided a roll call the meeting record noted unanimous or majority approval and no nays were recorded in the meeting transcript for the items above.

- Funding sources: staff indicated that the Stantec task orders would be paid from existing clean‑water program funds reallocated from a prior outfall project; the new community services officer will be funded primarily through Clackamas County grant funding and supplemented by the city (staff noted available opioid‑settlement funds can cover the city match).

Actions referenced (packet numbers and amendments)

- Ordinance 2025‑03: amendments to Chapter 5.04 (business licenses); modification to purpose subsection order (flip subsections a and b) and change to Section 5.04.14(d)(1) to clarify business‑license versus residential rental licensing requirements; adopted on second reading.

- Ordinance 2025‑04: amendments to Chapter 8.22 (chronic nuisance properties); added section tying certain animal‑welfare offenses to nuisance standards, adjusted time thresholds to 180 calendar days for specified repeat activities, and clarified procedure language in 8.22.30; adopted on second reading.

What happens next

Staff will complete the Stantec studies (treatment‑plant analysis expected in the fall and routing study in the summer months per staff schedules), continue negotiations with Gresham if studies support a conveyance alternative, and begin recruitment for the county‑funded community services officer. The ordinances take effect according to municipal code timing for adopted ordinances.