City of Gladstone, OR

03/24/2023 | Press release | Archived content

Gladstone City Administrator, Jacque Betz Weekly Report - 3/24/23

Gladstone Event Sponsorship Program The City awarded funds to two grant applications for the Gladstone Event Sponsorship Program. The Community Festival will receive $5,000 to use the funds to secure high-end entertainment and market the event in Oregon. The second recipient is the Friends of Gladstone Nature Park. They were awarded $1,230 towards pop-up tents, garden wagons, and signage for the annual Gladstone Arbor Day Plant Sale. This event is beginning to generate interest from around the region and was recently included in the 2023 Mt. Hood Territory Travel planner as a popular destination. Congratulations to both these organizations for seeking to enhance existing festivals and events in Gladstone. The City encourages others to follow suit and apply for funds during the second cycle of the program. Gladstone Community Event Sponsorship is currently accepting applications through May 31st, 2023. https://www.ci.gladstone.or.us/community/page/gladstone-community-event-sponsorship-programGladstone Senior Center Name ChangeThe Gladstone Senior Center Advisory Board met today to narrow down the suggestions for a name change. There are five finalists marketed back to the public.
  • The Gladstone Community Center
  • The Center of Gladstone
  • The Gathering Place
  • The Gladstone Enrichment Center
  • The Chautauqua Community Center

Here is a link to the survey https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HC9PPT7 available until April 6th at noon.

Oak Lodge Library- Clackamas County is building a new Gladstone and Oak Lodge library under the "one library, two buildings" concept. This week at the Oak Lodge Library Meeting, the architect Opsis presented ideas for the overall floor plan with exterior and interior options. The Task Force and community are interested in sustainable energy, water, materials, and ecology design strategies. However, they also want to keep things timeless and simple. According to the timeline, they anticipate Board approval of the guaranteed maximum price in May, permitting in summer 2023, and forecasted construction in October 2023 70191cdd-c456-45cf-8e06-f02c55e34620 (clackamas.us).

Clackamas County Research Justice Study Update- Attached is an update on the progress of the racial research justice project with the Coalition of Communities of Color. There is an upcoming stakeholder meeting in May, where Councilor Huckaby (liaison to the project) and I will receive an analysis of their previous conversations and an update on all the work that has happened since they last met. In the meantime, here is a high-level update on the job and progress of this study.

Gladstone Senior Center Van- In September 2022, the Gladstone Senior Center received a grant from the Oregon Department of Human Services, Office of Aging and People with Disabilities and Community Services Sports Unit in the amount of $75,000 for congregate meal site modernization and improvements and enhanced transportation at the Gladstone Senior Center. As a result, the Gladstone Senior Center purchased a 12- passenger van to improve our transportation services, and it arrived on site this week (attached picture). They will add signage to the new van, branding it as the Gladstone Senior Center "adventure van," to reach more seniors in our community and provide an image and identity. In addition, the extra five-passenger van they currently have will be surplused.

Gladstone Nature Park Paved Loop Grant- City Administrator Betz, Public Works Director Caniparoli, and Grant Writer Morgan Spencer presented the paved loop pathway project at the Gladstone Nature Park to the Oregon Parks and Recreation Committee. The Committee awarded funding for the project. Once we receive the formal award letter, the City will bring it to the Council for acceptance and prepare a timeline. The Friends of the Gladstone Nature Park have been integral to the success of the Nature Park, and Gladstone is better when we collaborate. Thank you to everyone for believing in a small city's big dreams to inclusively connect people to nature. Here is a copy of the presentation. City of Gladstone Presentation.pdf

Chronic Code Nuisance- The Gladstone Police Department has been working on a chronic code nuisance at 980 82nd Drive. Since there has not been sufficient progress on cleaning up the site they issued a junk-keeping citation ($740) this week to the property owner. We will continue monitoring the situation to ensure that the property is being cleaned up.

City of Gladstone Special Meeting/Work Session- The Gladstone City Council will hold a special meeting/work session on Tuesday, March 28, 2023, at 5:30 pm. The Special meeting consists of deliberations to fill the vacant city councilor #4 position. There are three applicants; Cierra Cook, Maria Mitchell, and Trevor Taylor. A copy of the agenda can be accessed here. City Council Special Meeting and Work Session | Gladstone, Oregon

Gladstone Public Works spread new play chips to all the playgrounds in time for Spring Break, except Meldrum Bar Park, as we anticipate adding new playground equipment this summer- stay tuned for more information on this collaboration.

Have a great weekend.

Jacque M. Betz

Gladstone City Administrator