Public transit drivers are responsible for transporting riders safely on a daily basis, but our SAM drivers often go above and beyond the call of duty to ensure the well-being of passengers - sometimes under extraordinary circumstances.

Consider Chrysler Collins, a SAM driver who, during the recent winter storm, took it upon herself to transport a dialysis patient to life-sustaining treatment. Knowing the critical nature of the appointment, Chrysler journeyed out at 5:00 a.m. to navigate icy roads, in the dark, to ensure the passenger made it to the facility. After arriving and safely boarding the passenger, she found the vehicle was stuck in the ice. Not to be deterred, Chrysler worked with a few neighbors to get the vehicle moving again, and soon they were on their way!

This story is just one of many examples of our amazing drivers stepping up in adverse circumstances to ensure Sandy residents can get where they need to go. It's a testament to the dedication and compassion these individuals bring to their roles, often going unrecognized for their significant contributions to the community.

The next time you see a SAM driver, let them know you appreciate all they do with a honk and a wave or a big thank you! 

Our prized community asset, the Tickle Creek Trail, was heavily impacted by the recent winter weather. High winds, heavy rain, and ice have caused significant damage, leading to the closure of portions of the trail until further notice.

Fortunately, as of January 31st, a portion of Tickle Creek Trail is back open: the section east of Melissa Avenue to Bridge 5 (please refer to the map in the flyer). While we invite you to enjoy that section of trail, we kindly ask trail users to obey all closure signs, as those areas are still unsafe.

Restoration Activities

The Parks and Recreation team is actively involved in restoration efforts, developing site-specific plans to address the damage. It is crucial to note that Tickle Creek is a fish-bearing stream located within a sensitive land area known as the Flood Slope Hazard (FSH) zone, necessitating careful and specialized attention during the restoration process.

We understand the significance of Tickle Creek Trail within our community, and our team is diligently working to assess, salvage, remove, or donate the downed tree debris. Given the complexity of the restoration process, which involves coordination across multiple jurisdictions, we kindly ask for your patience and understanding during this time. The restoration of the Tickle Creek Trail is a complex undertaking, and unfortunately we anticipate that the full site opening will be delayed by several months.

Our Commitment to Safety

Our commitment is to provide a safe and enjoyable experience for all community members. As part of our ongoing efforts, we will be restoring and reopening parts of the trail that have incurred less damage. To keep you informed, we will make announcements on social media, our website, and through onsite trail notifications and signs as repairs are completed.

In the meantime, we urge everyone to adhere to the postings at trailheads and trail entrances. These safety measures are in place to protect the public and ensure a secure environment for all visitors. Your cooperation in following these guidelines is greatly appreciated.

Thank You!

We understand the impact this temporary closure may have on your outdoor activities and appreciate your continued support of the Parks Department. Our ultimate goal is to restore Tickle Creek Park & Trail to its former glory, providing a safe and enjoyable space for the entire community. Thank you for your patience and continued support!

March for Meals Senior Dinner

During March, the Sandy Community and Senior Center will be raising funds for the Meals on Wheels program. Our Community and Senior Center has served Meals on Wheels for over 30 years in Sandy, last year helping over 70 local homebound seniors with their nutritional needs and serving over 17,000 meals!

As part of this effort, on March 2nd we will hold a special Senior Dinner at the Center, in partnership with the D31 Foundation.

Please join us to support a great cause and enjoy a home cooked meal hosted, cooked, and shared by youth from the Sandy community!  

Supper for Tupper

Celebrate Valentine's Day this year by dropping by Scooter's Restaurant & Sports Bar, for Scooter's Supper For Tupper (with love!) fundraising event!

25% of all sales from 6:00 - 9:00 pm on February 14th will be donated to Sandy's Tupper Park play structure renovations!

To-go orders are included too!

Stay tuned for more details about fun Valentine's Day activities for the evening. Call (503) 668-5569 for more information.

Get ready for another season of fun - Sandy's latest Recreation Guide is out, and it's packed with information on classes, programs, and other opportunities this winter and spring!

You can pick up a physical copy at the Community Center, Library, or City Hall. Or you can scan the QR code below or link directly to the guide online here.

It was a wild and wintery January, but gardeners in Sandy are starting to get ready for spring!

Seedy Saturday

This year's annual seed swap saw over 60 people come out to share seeds and smiles, and many attendees were intrigued and delighted by varieties they had never seen before. A special shout out to the wonderful volunteers who helped make it possible! Don't worry if you weren't able to make it this time - the seed swap will be back again next year!

Food Hero & SNAP-Ed’s Stephanie joined the event to educate attendees on nutrition and growing food. She spoke about the Grow This! program - an Oregon gardening challenge aimed at teaching folks how to grow some of our their food. While supplies last, you can sign up and request seeds to be mailed free of charge.

Amy with Sandy Parks and Recreation also provided information on Sandy's Bee City USA program, and all the benefits that our local pollinators provide, including at Sandy's Community Garden at Bornstedt Park. Look out for more upcoming events highlighting pollinators!

OSU’s Master Gardener Extension Service

This month the Master Gardener program is launching Growing Oregon Gardeners: Level Up Series, which is aimed at teaching Oregonians how to grow their own food to help “take a bite out of hunger” as food scarcity is on the rise. This, along with the Grow This! program, is a great place to start for gardeners looking to level up!

The City of Sandy is in the process of updating our existing Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan (NHMP). A natural hazards mitigation plan provides communities with a set of goals, action items, and resources designed to reduce risk from future natural disaster events. Engaging in mitigation activities provides jurisdictions with a number of benefits, including reduced loss of life, property, essential services, critical facilities, and economic hardship; reduced short-term and long-term recovery and reconstruction costs; increased cooperation and communication within the community through the planning process; and increased potential for state and federal funding for recovery and reconstruction projects.  

The NHMP update is being performed in cooperation with the University of Oregon’s Institute for Policy Research and Engagement - Oregon Partnership for Disaster Resilience and the Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM) utilizing funds obtained from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. With re-adoption of the plan, the City will maintain its eligibility to apply for federal funding towards natural hazard mitigation projects. This local planning process includes a wide range of representatives from city, special districts, and county government, emergency management personnel, and outreach to members of the public.

An electronic version of the updated draft City of Sandy NHMP Addendum is available for formal public comment. To view the draft please click here.

If you have any comments to submit or questions regarding the City of Sandy NHMP Addendum or the update process in general, please contact: Jeff Aprati, Deputy City Manager, at 503-489-0938 or japrati@ci.sandy.or.us; or Michael Howard, Director for the Oregon Partnership for Disaster Resilience at (541) 346-8413 or mrhoward@uoregon.edu.

Here's the latest in our comprehensive database of active land use applications, complete with links to public meetings, documents, plans, maps, explanatory videos, staff reports, and other materials! You'll also find links to opportunities to take part in the decision-making process by submitting your own testimony.

Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions.

Be a part of the process! Members of the public are always welcome at meetings of the City Council and other boards and commissions.

Get meeting details and learn more about the variety of ways you can participate by visiting our online meeting portal.

Mark Your Calendars:

• City Council: February 5th
• Library Advisory Board: February 7th
• Economic Development Advisory Board: February 7th
• Parks and Trails Advisory Board: February 14th
• SandyNet Advisory Board: February 15th
• City Council: February 20th
• Urban Renewal Board: February 20th
• Planning Commission: February 26th