August 2023
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CITY MANAGER’S NEWSLETTER AUGUST 2023
Housing Update The City of Bandon and Bandon School District will be selecting a developer this month to move forward with a workforce housing project on the adjacent City and School District property across from the high school. We have received a high level of interest so far from potential developers. The sponsors are open to a wide range of solutions, and we are letting the private sector use their expertise and creativity rather than specifying a particular solution. There will be little local tax money going into the project. Earlier this summer, we announced that the City would be giving grants for new accessory dwelling units (ADUs). The grants would be for $5,500 and would cover all systems development charges for ADUs. Thus far, we have received only one application. This really just speaks to the economics of building these days. ADUs may make sense for family members (which their original purpose), but don’t seem to pencil out as an investment at this time. High interest rates and high construction costs both play a role right now.
Accessory Dwelling Unit Amnesty Program Over the years, people have created unpermitted dwelling units that are currently being rented or used as rentals. We are aware of some, but we are sure there are others as well. Knowing that our community faces a housing crisis, we are hesitant to take code enforcement action against property owners, which would take these units off the market. We are instead proposing an ADU Amnesty program, where unpermitted units may come into compliance more easily. Here are the highlights of the proposed program:
Sprague Theater Update We should be going to bid this month to replace the siding on the Sprague Theater. In previous newsletters we noted that our Public Works Director came up with a solution that should cut the cost of the project in half. This will free up resources for other needed projects in the area, possibly including a rebuilt skate park.
Downtown Streetscape Project Kickoff Bandon is looking to enhance Old Town and plan for future public expenditures in the Urban Renewal District. In order to be sure we do it right, we have retained DLA Inc., an architecture and design firm that has done great work in other cities. We will be having a public project kick-off meeting on August 22, 2023. Look for flyers around town and updates on the City website and City Facebook page for an exact time and location.
City Manager Retirement and Recruitment I will be semi-retiring this September to travel and spend more time with family. After traveling, I plan to remain in Bandon. I am very proud of the things our staff have accomplished in the last three and a half years, and am grateful to the citizens of Bandon for their support, as we took some hard steps to put the City on a better financial footing. The City Council will be interviewing candidates for City Manager on August 1, 2023, with staff interviews on August 2, 2023. If they are successful in finding a candidate, they will negotiate a contract and starting date. |
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77th Annual Cranberry Festival is Just Around the Corner Just a reminder that Cranberry Festival is coming September 9th and 10th. The main venue is Bandon City Park, and other events will be scheduled around town. There will be live music on Saturday and Sunday, a dance on Saturday night and events for kids throughout the weekend. You can get more information at https://bandon.com/2023-cranberry-festival-events/. Cranberry Festival is a Chamber of Commerce event. |
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