The city adopted its 2022-23 work plan, which resulted from the Banks City Council’s annual retreat that took place in February. “This is written out in a nice fancy way again,” Mayor Stephanie Jones quipped at the March 8 city council meeting. The Council Work Plan focuses on the council’s[Read More…]
Government
Council ends development moratorium, requires developers find own water for new subdivisions
The Banks City Council unanimously passed a resolution ending the city’s moratorium on new development and instituted a new policy requiring developers of subdivisions to provide 100 percent of their own water for each new house built. The city currently is undergoing its largest-ever public works project, replacing water lines that[Read More…]
Metro adds 52 acres to Killin Wetlands area between Banks and Gales Creek
The Metro-owned property between Banks and Gales Creek betwixt Highway 6 and Cedar Canyon Road grew by 52 acres, Metro said in a press release, adding to the natural area connected to a public park opened there in 2018. More than one square mile—or 640 acres—of peat soil wetlands is[Read More…]
Oregon’s short legislative session comes to a close
The Oregon Legislature’s 2022 short session came and went (did you blink?) and in this era of rapid inflation and soaring costs for food and gasoline lawmakers passed $2.7 billion in new spending with the lion’s share allocated to child care, education, homelessness, housing, job training, and mental health. The[Read More…]
Oregon Health Authority Director Patrick Allen returns to work after weeks of recovery
Patrick Allen, the director of the Oregon Health Authority, returned to duty this week after a long absence. The agency declined to respond to requests for more information. He was working at his home in Sherwood throughout much of the pandemic. It’s not clear whether he is continuing to work[Read More…]
Oregon will divest Russian investments, Treasurer Read says
Oregon will dispose of about $137 million invested with the Russian government and Russian companies over the country’s invasion of Ukraine, state Treasurer Tobias Read announced Thursday. The money is tied up in Russian bonds, public equity and currency and with Russian companies represents about 1/10th of 1% or the[Read More…]
County to host series of informational meetings on shelter projects
Washington County’s Department of Housing Services is hosting a series of virtual meetings in March to share information and seek input from the public to learn about the department’s plans to build new shelters for people experiencing homelessness. In a press release, the county said that the goal is to[Read More…]
Oregon, California, Washington will lift most mask mandates on March 12
In a surprise move, Gov. Kate Brown said Monday that Oregon, Washington and California will jointly lift their indoor mask mandate on March 12. Masks will no longer be required in schools but state officials will recommend they still be used, according to a news release. The joint announcement reflects[Read More…]
Week one: Western Washington County’s legislators busy in first week of short session
Rep. Dan Rayfield (D-Corvallis), Oregon’s first new Speaker of the House since 2013, told OPB the 2022 legislative short session that began on February. 1 is “the most important short session” of the state’s history, and with inflation, Covid-19, and homelessness on the minds of many Oregonians lawmakers have a[Read More…]
Oregon economic forecast: More money for lawmakers to spend, tax credits likely in two years
Higher wages for workers and more income for businesses is driving up state tax collections, creating the prospect for even more state government spending and then credits in two years for those paying income taxes, state economists announced Wednesday. The economists described a robust Oregon economy that they now project[Read More…]
