FAQs
Alpine Village
Fiber optic construction will require drilling and digging up to each of the buildings at Alpine Village. The SandyNet team has worked with the property management company to identify agreed locations for our infrastructure.
Most construction will require drilling under sidewalks, driveways and walking paths, to prevent ripping or disturbing more ground than necessary. Walk paths, and access to units will not be obstructed during construction.
There is always risk of hitting a utility when performing construction, and SandyNet will take all necessary steps to minimize or mitigate conflicts with other underground utilities. In the event that a utility is hit, or identified as being damaged, SandyNet will work with utilities, tenants and restoration companies to resolve the issue after identifying the cause. Any damaged ground or landscape will be restored or reseeded to its prior state.
Any questions or complaints should be sent to SandyNet's support team. On-site crews are friendly and easy to work with, but are not a valid point of contact for resolving an issue or answering technical questions, please reach out to SandyNet support and we can help resolve any issues or complaints.
Cedar Ridge Demolition
- Because of its deteriorated condition, the existing pool would require extensive repairs to meet the community’s future aquatic needs. In September 2019, City consultants estimated that it would require $9.5 million to repair and restore the existing pool facility for 15-20 years of additional service - the cost estimate would be higher in today’s dollars.
- Regardless of the repair cost, the existing pool cannot meet the long-term aquatic needs of the community due to its configuration.
It doesn't make sense to invest millions into a pool that can't meet our long term needs.
As stated in the PETF report, “the existing natatorium and pool vessel [...] does not provide a separate recreation pool as desired by the PETF for more robust aquatics programming.” Seniors and families with children in the community prioritize a separate recreation pool because, as the report states, “the combination of shallow water and warm temperature in a recreation pool provides opportunities for a wide range of community programming including water fitness classes, swimming lessons, therapy, and interactive water play.” Such amenities could not be offered in the existing pool facility. This led the PETF to instead recommend construction of a new pool facility with separate recreation and competition pools that can appropriately serve the whole community.
- Proceeding with demolition now is the prudent thing to do. Because it's clear that the old pool facility cannot meet Sandy's aquatic needs anymore, proceeding with demolition now, rather than waiting any longer, is the most responsible use of taxpayer dollars. Demolition costs will only grow more expensive in the future.
The pool is severely deteriorated and is no longer in a safe condition.
In 2019 after the initial Community Campus community center planning project did not go forward, the City asked our consultant for a cost estimate to renovate just the pool (not including any other buildings on the campus site). The estimate provided to the City in 2019 for renovating the old pool was $9.5 million.
It doesn't make sense to spend such a large amount of money to renovate a pool that would not meet the long-term needs of the community anyway, because it is not a large enough facility to include a warm water recreation pool in addition to a lap swim pool.
The large cost of constructing a new indoor pool would require new property taxes.
The new pool proposal recommended by the PETF was estimated (in 2021 dollars) to cost $26.6 million to construct. If the City had tried to construct the project, the necessary bond would have cost a typical Sandy homeowner $425 more on their property tax bill. It's important to remember that the City has a much smaller tax base than the school district which previously owned the pool, meaning that the cost burden on each taxpayer is relatively higher.
Pools also have extremely high operating costs. Even with full programming, a pool would not generate enough revenue to cover its expenses. If the City was operating a pool like the one recommended by the PETF, it would require a $1 million operating subsidy from the General Fund in each biannual budget. The City currently does not have the capacity to provide such a subsidy without substantial cuts to other areas of the General Fund (which pays for services like Police and Parks), or raising new operating revenue through some other means.
In addition to taxes and operating subsidies, pool users would still need to pay some level of fees for admission, program registration, and/or rentals to make the budget balance.
A potential solution to the funding challenge could involve the citizen-led formation of a new special district with its own taxing authority and dedicated revenue, which would require voter approval.
Chipper FAQ
The Chipper program is reserved for citizens who reside within the boundaries of the City limits.
Follow this link to find more information about reserving the chipper and associated rules. https://www.ci.sandy.or.us/publicworks/page/how-reserve-chipper
City Inspections
Inspections should be scheduled one of the following ways: Online: BuildingPermits.Oregon.gov; by Phone: 1-888-299- 2821; or, by Downloading the ORinspect app.
Please note: the ePermittlng system is maintained by the state and any questions or issues should be directed to them. For assistance, contact 503-373-7396 or //Oregon.epermltting@oregon.gov/">Oregon.ePermltting@oregon.gov.
City Policies
Yes. A Sandy home owner may work on their property between the hours of 7:00 AM and 10:00 PM on weekdays, and from 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM on weekends. Please click on the following link for the official City of Sandy policy on construction hours.
Yes. Please click on the following link for our Design Criteria handout.
Yes you do -- this is required by law in Oregon. Please click the following link to the Oregon Utility Notification Center for more information.
City Recorder
Yes. ORS 244.040(2) provides a list of financial benefits that may be received. These include:
- Official compensation
- Reimbursement of expenses
- Honorarium
- Unsolicited awards for professional achievement
- Contributions to a legal expense trust fund
- Some gifts
Please note, all of these items have specific definitions, and in order to be lawfully received, the financial benefit must meet the definition of the allowable item.
Some volunteers are public officials. By some estimates, there are up to 50,000 volunteer public officials in the State of Oregon. A volunteer is a “public official” if they meet one of these three criteria:
- The volunteer is elected or appointed to a governing body of a public body.
- The volunteer is appointed or selected for a position with a governing body or a government agency with responsibilities that include deciding or voting on matters that could have a pecuniary impact on the governing body, agency or other persons.
- The volunteer position includes all of the following:
- Responsible for specific duties
- The duties are performed at a scheduled time and designated place.
- Volunteer is provided with the use of the public agency’s resources and equipment.
- The duties performed would have a pecuniary impact on any person, business or organization served by the public agency.
For purposes of ORS Chapter 244, volunteers are not public officials if they perform such tasks as picking up litter on public lands, participating in a scheduled community cleanup of buildings or grounds, participating in locating and eradicating invasive plants from public lands and other such occasional or seasonal events.
No. There are occasions when a public official engages in conduct that may be viewed as unethical, but that conduct may not be governed by Oregon Government Ethics law. Without an apparent statutory violation, the following are some examples of conduct by public officials that are not within the authority of the Commission to address:
- An elected official making promises or claims that are not acted upon.
- Public officials mismanaging or exercising poor judgment when administering public money.
- Public officials being rude or unmannerly.
- Public officials using deception or misrepresenting information or events.
While the conduct described above may not be addressed in Oregon Government Ethics law, public agency policies and procedures may prohibit or redress the behavior. Please contact the Commission staff if you need further clarification regarding how the Oregon Government Ethics law may apply to circumstances you may encounter.
No. Public officials who are relatives can be employed by the same public body at the same time, or serve on the same governing body of a public body at the same time. However, there are provisions prohibiting a public official from participating in the appointment, employment, promotion, demotion, firing, or discharge of a relative to/from a paid position as a public official. Another statute prohibits a public official from directly supervising a relative who holds a paid position as a public official.
No. In general, public officials may obtain employment with a private employer or engage in private income producing activity of their own. However, they must not use the position they have as a public official to create the opportunity for additional personal income. They must also ensure that when they are engaged in personal income producing activities, there is a clear distinction between the use of personal resources and time and the use of the public body’s time and resources.
Yes. ORS 244.025 limits a public official, and relatives and household members of the public official, to each accepting no more than $50 worth of gifts in a calendar year, from each source that has a legislative or administrative interest in the official position of that public official.
However, if the source of the offered gift does not have a legislative or administrative interest in the official position, then the public official and his relatives and household members may accept unlimited gifts from that source. In addition, there a number of items that ORS 244.020(6)(b) excludes from the definition of a gift, and in the specific circumstances listed, those items can be accepted without limit.
- The mayor of a city signs a contract obligating the city to pay for janitorial services provided by a business owned by a relative of the mayor.
- A city treasurer signs a city check payable to an office supply business that is owned by a relative.
- A city billing clerk alters water use records so that the amount billed to the clerk’s parents will be less than the actual amount due.
- A volunteer firefighter borrows the fire district’s power washer to prepare the exterior of the volunteer’s personal residence for painting.
- A county public works employee stores a motor home that is owned by the employee’s parents in a county building used for storing heavy equipment.
- An employee of a state agency has a private business and uses the agency’s computer to advance the business by promoting, corresponding and managing the activities of the private business.
- A school district superintendent approves and signs her own request for reimbursement of personal expenses the superintendent incurred when conducting official business.
As defined earlier, public officials become public officials through employment, appointment, election or volunteering. ORS 244.040(1) prohibits every public official from using or attempting to use the position held as a public official to obtain a financial benefit, if the opportunity for the financial benefit would not otherwise be available but for the position held by the public official.
The prohibited financial benefit can be either an opportunity for gain or to avoid an expense.
Each public official is prohibited from using the position as a public official to receive certain financial benefits. In addition, each public official is prohibited from using or attempting to use the official position to obtain financial benefits for a relative or a member of the public official’s household, or for a business with which the public official, a relative, or a member of the public official’s household is associated.
There are a variety of actions that could be a prohibited use or attempted use of an official position. The use of a position could be voting in a public meeting, placing a signature on a government agency’s document, making a recommendation, making a purchase with government agency funds, or conducting personal business on a government agency’s time or with a government agency’s resources such as computers, vehicles, heavy equipment or office machines.
Oregon Government Ethics law identifies and defines two types of conflicts of interest: actual conflict of interest and potential conflict of interest.
The difference between an actual conflict of interest and a potential conflict of interest is determined by the words “would” and “could.”
A public official is met with an actual conflict of interest when the public official participates in action that would affect the financial interest of the official, the official’s relative or a business with which the official or a relative of the official is associated.
A public official is met with a potential conflict of interest when the public official participates in action that could affect the financial interest of the official, a relative of that official or a business with which the official or the relative of that official is associated.
In brief, a conflict of interest when an official action by the public official could or would result in a financial benefit or detriment to the public official, a relative of the public official or a business with which either is associated.
A matter is a statutory conflict of interest when both of these conditions are met:
- The official act will cause a personal monetary gain or monetary loss
- The monetary gain or loss will be to the public official, a relative of the public official, or a business with which the public official or the relative is associated.
“Public official” is defined in ORS 244.020(14) as any person who is serving the State of Oregon or any of its political subdivisions or any other public body as defined in ORS 174.109 as an elected official, appointed official, employee or agent, irrespective of whether the person is compensated for the services.
You are a public official if you are:
- Elected or appointed to an office or position with a state, county or city government.
- Elected or appointed to an office or position with a special district.
- An employee of a state, county or city agency or special district.
- An unpaid volunteer for a state, county or city agency or special district.
- Anyone serving the State of Oregon or any of its political subdivisions, such as the State Accident Insurance Fund or the Oregon Health & Science University.
Construction - 362nd
We hope to have the 362nd & Bell Street project complete by the beginning of next year's school year (fall/winter 2023).
This application was approved through the Development Services Department (Planning). File No. 22-003 FSH can be found at the below path:
General Commercial - Code Section 17. 44: C2 (General Commercial)
Medium Density Residential - Code Section 17.38: R2 (Medium Density Residential)
Flood Slope Hazard Overlay - Code Section 17.60: FSH (Flood Slope Hazard Overlay)
* Please see the attached Zoning Designations & Project Map located at the end of this webpage.
Decks, Porches and Patios
Decks greater than 30 inches in height OR greater than 200 square feet in total area require a building permit for structural review and land use development review.
Uncovered patios do not require a building permit, but rain water may not sheet flow off of patio surfaces on to neighboring property.
Covered patios larger than 200 square feet require a building permit.
Please contact the City of Sandy Building Department at building@cityofsandy.com
Emergency Egress (escape windows and window wells)
Yes we do. Click on the following link for our "Emergency Escape & Rescue Openings" handout.
ethics
Yes. ORS 244.040(2) provides a list of financial benefits that may be received. These include:
- Official compensation
- Reimbursement of expenses
- Honorarium
- Unsolicited awards for professional achievement
- Contributions to a legal expense trust fund
- Some gifts
Please note, all of these items have specific definitions, and in order to be lawfully received, the financial benefit must meet the definition of the allowable item.
Some volunteers are public officials. By some estimates, there are up to 50,000 volunteer public officials in the State of Oregon. A volunteer is a “public official” if they meet one of these three criteria:
- The volunteer is elected or appointed to a governing body of a public body.
- The volunteer is appointed or selected for a position with a governing body or a government agency with responsibilities that include deciding or voting on matters that could have a pecuniary impact on the governing body, agency or other persons.
- The volunteer position includes all of the following:
- Responsible for specific duties
- The duties are performed at a scheduled time and designated place.
- Volunteer is provided with the use of the public agency’s resources and equipment.
- The duties performed would have a pecuniary impact on any person, business or organization served by the public agency.
For purposes of ORS Chapter 244, volunteers are not public officials if they perform such tasks as picking up litter on public lands, participating in a scheduled community cleanup of buildings or grounds, participating in locating and eradicating invasive plants from public lands and other such occasional or seasonal events.
No. There are occasions when a public official engages in conduct that may be viewed as unethical, but that conduct may not be governed by Oregon Government Ethics law. Without an apparent statutory violation, the following are some examples of conduct by public officials that are not within the authority of the Commission to address:
- An elected official making promises or claims that are not acted upon.
- Public officials mismanaging or exercising poor judgment when administering public money.
- Public officials being rude or unmannerly.
- Public officials using deception or misrepresenting information or events.
While the conduct described above may not be addressed in Oregon Government Ethics law, public agency policies and procedures may prohibit or redress the behavior. Please contact the Commission staff if you need further clarification regarding how the Oregon Government Ethics law may apply to circumstances you may encounter.
No. Public officials who are relatives can be employed by the same public body at the same time, or serve on the same governing body of a public body at the same time. However, there are provisions prohibiting a public official from participating in the appointment, employment, promotion, demotion, firing, or discharge of a relative to/from a paid position as a public official. Another statute prohibits a public official from directly supervising a relative who holds a paid position as a public official.
No. In general, public officials may obtain employment with a private employer or engage in private income producing activity of their own. However, they must not use the position they have as a public official to create the opportunity for additional personal income. They must also ensure that when they are engaged in personal income producing activities, there is a clear distinction between the use of personal resources and time and the use of the public body’s time and resources.
Yes. ORS 244.025 limits a public official, and relatives and household members of the public official, to each accepting no more than $50 worth of gifts in a calendar year, from each source that has a legislative or administrative interest in the official position of that public official.
However, if the source of the offered gift does not have a legislative or administrative interest in the official position, then the public official and his relatives and household members may accept unlimited gifts from that source. In addition, there a number of items that ORS 244.020(6)(b) excludes from the definition of a gift, and in the specific circumstances listed, those items can be accepted without limit.
- The mayor of a city signs a contract obligating the city to pay for janitorial services provided by a business owned by a relative of the mayor.
- A city treasurer signs a city check payable to an office supply business that is owned by a relative.
- A city billing clerk alters water use records so that the amount billed to the clerk’s parents will be less than the actual amount due.
- A volunteer firefighter borrows the fire district’s power washer to prepare the exterior of the volunteer’s personal residence for painting.
- A county public works employee stores a motor home that is owned by the employee’s parents in a county building used for storing heavy equipment.
- An employee of a state agency has a private business and uses the agency’s computer to advance the business by promoting, corresponding and managing the activities of the private business.
- A school district superintendent approves and signs her own request for reimbursement of personal expenses the superintendent incurred when conducting official business.
As defined earlier, public officials become public officials through employment, appointment, election or volunteering. ORS 244.040(1) prohibits every public official from using or attempting to use the position held as a public official to obtain a financial benefit, if the opportunity for the financial benefit would not otherwise be available but for the position held by the public official.
The prohibited financial benefit can be either an opportunity for gain or to avoid an expense.
Each public official is prohibited from using the position as a public official to receive certain financial benefits. In addition, each public official is prohibited from using or attempting to use the official position to obtain financial benefits for a relative or a member of the public official’s household, or for a business with which the public official, a relative, or a member of the public official’s household is associated.
There are a variety of actions that could be a prohibited use or attempted use of an official position. The use of a position could be voting in a public meeting, placing a signature on a government agency’s document, making a recommendation, making a purchase with government agency funds, or conducting personal business on a government agency’s time or with a government agency’s resources such as computers, vehicles, heavy equipment or office machines.
Oregon Government Ethics law identifies and defines two types of conflicts of interest: actual conflict of interest and potential conflict of interest.
The difference between an actual conflict of interest and a potential conflict of interest is determined by the words “would” and “could.”
A public official is met with an actual conflict of interest when the public official participates in action that would affect the financial interest of the official, the official’s relative or a business with which the official or a relative of the official is associated.
A public official is met with a potential conflict of interest when the public official participates in action that could affect the financial interest of the official, a relative of that official or a business with which the official or the relative of that official is associated.
In brief, a conflict of interest when an official action by the public official could or would result in a financial benefit or detriment to the public official, a relative of the public official or a business with which either is associated.
A matter is a statutory conflict of interest when both of these conditions are met:
- The official act will cause a personal monetary gain or monetary loss
- The monetary gain or loss will be to the public official, a relative of the public official, or a business with which the public official or the relative is associated.
“Public official” is defined in ORS 244.020(14) as any person who is serving the State of Oregon or any of its political subdivisions or any other public body as defined in ORS 174.109 as an elected official, appointed official, employee or agent, irrespective of whether the person is compensated for the services.
You are a public official if you are:
- Elected or appointed to an office or position with a state, county or city government.
- Elected or appointed to an office or position with a special district.
- An employee of a state, county or city agency or special district.
- An unpaid volunteer for a state, county or city agency or special district.
- Anyone serving the State of Oregon or any of its political subdivisions, such as the State Accident Insurance Fund or the Oregon Health & Science University.
Fences
Only fences in excess of seven (7) feet in height require a building permit.
Residential Standards:
1. Fences on corner lots. Any fence or retaining wall, constructed upon or adjacent to any property line that abuts two or more intersecting streets, shall not exceed 30 inches in height within the clear vision area.
2. Fences in a required front yard. The height of a fence or retaining wall in a required front yard shall not exceed 4 ft.
3. Fences - side and rear yards abutting streets. The height of a fence or retaining wall in a required side or rear yard abutting a public right-of-way shall not exceed 6 ft.
4. Fences - side and rear yards abutting other lots. The height of a fence or retaining wall in a required side or rear yard abutting other lots shall not exceed 8 ft.
5. Sight Obscuring Hedges. Trees or shrubs that form a sight-obscuring hedge shall comply with the same height requirement as a fence within the clear vision area. Deciduous trees separated by at least 15 ft. may grow to any height.
6. Front Yard Fences for Existing Dwellings on Major Arterials. The height of a fence in a required front yard for an existing dwelling (constructed prior to July 1, 1996) facing a major arterial shall not exceed a height of 6 ft. outside the clear vision area.
7. Fences on Through Lots. Gates are required in rear-yard fences on through-lots since it remains the property owners’ responsibility to maintain the area from the curb or edge of pavement to a proposed fence.
Commercial/Industrial Standards:
1. Fences on corner lots. Any fence or retaining wall, constructed upon or adjacent to any property line that abuts two or more intersecting streets, shall not exceed 30 inches in height within the clear vision area.
2. Fences in a required front yard. The height of a fence or retaining wall in a required front yard shall not exceed 4 ft.
3. Fences - Side and Rear Yards. The height of a fence or retaining wall in a required side street, side or rear yard or adjacent to a side or rear property line shall not exceed 8 ft.
4. Sight Obscuring Hedges. Trees or shrubs that form a sight-obscuring hedge shall comply with the same height requirement as a fence within the clear vision area. Deciduous trees separated by at least 15 ft. may grow to any height.
Any recreational court may be enclosed by a wire fence not exceeding 12 ft. in height provided that no part of the court fence is within 20 ft. of any street.
A swimming pool, hot tub or other man-made outside body of water, which has a depth greater than 18 inches shall be enclosed with a fence not less than 4 ft. and not more than 8 ft. in height. If located on or surrounded by a deck, the deck shall be enclosed with a railing with a height of not less than 4 feet and not more than 8 feet. The fence or railing shall not have any openings, holes or gaps larger than three inches square, except for doors or gates. Any gate shall be equipped with a selfclosing, self-latching device. A dwelling unit and/or accessory building may form part of the enclosure.
Exception: This regulation does not apply to wetland areas and storm water detention facilities. However, fencing requirements may be imposed through the design review process.
Barbed wire fencing may be permitted for agricultural, community service, commercial or industrial uses when the wire is employed on the top of any other type of fencing, and when the barbed wire is a minimum of 6 ft. above the finished ground surface, and does not extend over a public way. The maximum height shall not exceed 8 ft.
No electrically charged or sharp-pointed fencing such as razor wire (other than barbed wire fencing) shall be constructed or maintained within the city limits.
Handrails
Yes we do. Click on the following link for our "Dwelling Handrails" handout.
Homelessness FAQ
This issue is an important focus for Sandy's City Council and for the City of Sandy staff.
In 2022, the City Council adopted Ordinance 2022-12, amending Chapter 8.35 of the Municipal Code to prohibit camping in certain places in the city including:
- All city parks, trails, and areas designated as parks and open space (POS) under SMC chapter 17.32.
- All areas designated as flood, slope, and hazard areas under SMC Chapter 17.60
- Any area on a sidewalk, unless the camping is done in a manner that maintains a clear, continuous sidewalk width of at least five feet
- All real property upon which city facilities are located
- All city owned parking lots
- All public property located within an area zoned for residential use under SMC Title 17
- All publicly owned property located along and between Proctor Avenue and Pioneer Avenue, and along Pleasant Street between Bluff Road and Ten Eyck Road.
City Council created a goal for the 2021-2023 session to:
- Collaborate with regional and community partners to address homelessness
- Appoint a homelessness task force
- Create a plan to address homelessness in Sandy
The Homelessness Task Force has begun meeting and will continue to work on developing proactive and collaborative strategies for dealing with the important issue of homelessness.
This task force will use a two pronged approach:
- Explore options through City policies and ordinances
- Connect with other agencies and the Social Services Task Force to address service gaps in the area
Additionally, the Sandy Police Department has added a new Homelessness Liaison position to improve the City's response to homelessness in real time.
Here in Sandy, we have single adults, couples, and even families who are experiencing homelessness. Though it may not be as visible on the surface, many children are also experiencing and dealing with the impacts of homelessness in our community.
During the 2019-2020 school year, there were 75 homeless children enrolled in the K-12 Oregon Trail School District.
Of those students:
- 56 are living in “doubled-up” situations (i.e., their family is staying with another family)
- 14 are unsheltered (i.e., living in a car, camping, or other place not meant for human habitation)
- The remaining 5 are living either in shelters or hotel/motel
- Of the total homeless students, 8 are unaccompanied
To learn more about the impacts of homelessness on children, please visit the National Alliance to End Homelessness's page on children and families. The National Alliance to End Homelessness is a nonpartisan organization committed to preventing and ending homelessness in the United States.
Relevant definitions according to the National Center for Homeless Education and the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act:
A student is considered homeless if he lacks fixed, regular, and adequate housing. This is broader than just living “on the street.”
It includes temporarily living with other people because he had nowhere else to go; living in substandard housing (if it doesn’t meet local building codes or the utilities are turned off, it is generally not adequate); living in emergency or transitional shelters, for example, trailers provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) after disasters; or living in motels, camping grounds, cars, parks, abandoned buildings, bus or train stations, or any public or private place not designed for humans to live in.
A student living in any of these situations and fleeing an abusive parent may be considered homeless even if the parent would provide support and a place to live.
A student is considered “unaccompanied” when they are not living in the physical custody of a parent or guardian.
Here in Sandy there are individuals and families experiencing homelessness for many different kinds of reasons. Common reasons why someone may lose their housing or find it difficult to find stable housing include:
- Affordable housing crisis (unable to find rent that they can afford)
- Sudden loss of a job
- Trauma such as domestic violence, sexual violence, or child abuse
- Eviction (both for cause, and no cause evictions)
- Mental or emotional health issues
- Property Foreclosure
- Mobile home park closure
- Death of the primary wage earner in the family
- Drug or alcohol addiction
- Natural disasters
If you'd like to learn more about this complex issue, please visit the National Alliance to End Homelessness, which is a nonpartisan organization committed to preventing and ending homelessness in the United States.
Clackamas County conducts an “homelessness count” every two years to help communities understand the current state of homelessness throughout the county.
COVID-19 has presented difficulties in getting an accurate count for 2020, but looking at the January 2019 count tells us that:
- The number of people experiencing homelessness within Clackamas County was 1,166, a 9% increase from 2017
- Of this count, 48 adults were recorded here in Sandy
- There was a significant decrease in the number of unsheltered people counted, likely because Clackamas County operated more warming shelters during the winter of 2018-19. (The count includes anyone who doesn’t have permanent, stable housing.)
- Even with the decrease in unsheltered count, our county has still seen a 48% increase in how many people are struggling with chronic homelessness since the 2017 count.
Some facts about the current situation of homelessness in our county:
- Unaffordable rent, unemployment, eviction, interpersonal conflict (such as domestic violence) and mental or emotional health issues were the most common problems faced by those who told us what caused them to leave their last living arrangement
- People of color are disproportionately experiencing homelessness in our county
- The majority of those surveyed have been Clackamas County residents for two or more years, and primarily live in Oregon City, Clackamas, Molalla, Milwaukie, Sandy, Estacada or Canby
There are a variety of resources available for individuals who are experiencing homelessness or are at risk of experiencing homelessness.
2-1-1 is a great source of information about local resources and services in our area that is completely confidential. They keep up to date information about what services are available and can connect you to expert, caring help and support for your particular needs.
There are three ways you can connect with 211:
- Call 2-1-1 or (503) 222-5555
- Text your zip code to 898-211
- Search for resources online on the 2-1-1 website
Library How Do I
To get a library card, bring an official photo ID and proof of address to any LINCC Library Location. Residents of Clackamas, Multnomah, Washington, and Hood River County Library Districts, Camas, or the Fort Vancouver Regional Library District are eligible for a free library card for use at any LINCC library. Out of district residents can get a card for an annual fee.
To renew materials, go to lincc.org. Log in at the top of the screen, click My Account, and then click the Checkouts tab. Check the boxes next to the items you wish to renew by clicking on the square to the left of the item title. Click the Renew button.
- You may renew everything at once by checking the box next to the word "Select All" before clicking the Renew button.
- Most items will renew 5 times if no one else has placed a hold on the item.
Please call our automated TeleCirc number at 503-659-8634. During hours of operation, you can call the Sandy Library at 503-668-5537 or the Hoodland Library at 503-622-3460.
Call 503-723-4900 or e-mail ill@lincc.org
Please note: renewals are up to the owning library of the material. Please allow 1-3 business days for a response to your request.
Call or stop by your local library. Most of them have a form or a process for library users to suggest items for purchase.
You can also use the Contact Us feature on the lincc.org site.
Your Personal Identification Number (PIN) is a 4 digit password that you create when you apply for a library card. If you don't specify a PIN on your application, then the default PIN is the last 4 digits of your primary phone number.
Your PIN serves as a password to your library account, and helps protect your privacy. You may also use your PIN to renew your library items via the TM3 Automated Phone Renewal System at 503-659-8634.
If you need to reset your PIN, click "Log In" at the top of the page, and then click the Forgot my PIN link. For further instructions, contact your library or view PIN Reset Help
Fill out the Online Form to receive the monthly newsletter by email.
Fill out the online volunteer application.
If you have any questions about volunteering, please contact Elaine Russell at the Sandy Library by phone at (503) 668-5537 or by email at erussell@ci.sandy.or.us.
Except for Library of Things, items that belong to any LINCC library can be returned at any other LINCC library. See Locations & Hours for a list of all LINCC libraries.
Proctoring is offered at the Sandy Public Library when space and staff time are available Mondays through Fridays from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm. Weekend proctoring is unavailable.
Procedure
- Scheduling is dependent upon when a staff member responsible for administering the exams is on duty. Arrangements must be made ahead of time, so that there is adequate time for delivery of the exam to the Library. Library staff will determine whether they have the available resources to proctor an exam and may decline, at any time, if they do not have the staff available or the exam does not meet the guidelines listed here.
- To schedule a time to have your exam proctored, fill out the online form.
- We require at least one (1) week notice prior to the desired testing date; more lead time is preferred.
The student must:
- Have a LINCC library card to receive proctoring services.
- Make all arrangements with the institution giving the exam.
- Contact his/her institution to be sure that Library staff proctoring exams meet criteria set by the institution.
- Arrange for delivery of the exam. Library staff cannot make these arrangements for you.
- Contact the Library to verify exam information has been received and to make final arrangements for the exam date.
The Library Staff member will:
- Ensure that the person taking the exam meets all requirements, such as verifying ID and whether the student has any accompanying materials. Exams may be written on paper or taken online.
- Provide a computer to use for online testing. Personal laptops are permitted, depending upon the institution’s requirements.
- Discard exams not taken by the student within one month..
Other local proctoring options:
The online service www.ProctorU.com, where you can have tests proctored via webcam.
Pause on New Sewer Connections
For years, our treatment plant has not been able to consistently treat the high volume of sewage and stormwater that flows to the plant, especially during wet weather. This leads to permit violations and intermittent pollution of Tickle Creek, which is a small tributary to the Clackamas River.
Under the Clean Water Act, these violations could result in large fines for Sandy. The City is under enforcement proceedings from the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality and the United States Environmental Protection Agency to complete the improvements and increase the capacity and performance of the City’s treatment plant.
This moratorium will help us avoid further violations while the system upgrades are being completed.
On June 3, 2024, the City Council adopted Resolution 2024-11 which allows up to 570 ERUs. This resolution has the effect of adopting a new moratorium and repealing the existing moratorium, rather than being an extension of the existing moratorium, because state law requires a new moratorium be adopted in order to make any modifications to the moratorium terms. On December 2, 2024, the City Council adopted Resolution 2024-24 which extends the moratorium adopted with Resolution 2024-11 by another six months.
This new moratorium could last up to two (2) years if extended. The City also has the ability to replace the current moratorium with a new moratorium if necessary.
That’s generally true, but this is a special case. Under Oregon law, (ORS 197.505 to 197.540), cities may impose a moratorium on development when they can demonstrate that a “shortage of public facilities” exists, provided they comply with a number of specific requirements established under the statute.
Sandy has been working hard to address our wastewater challenges for years, investing tens of millions of dollars into repairing and upgrading our system. We’ve already repaired and replaced the oldest sewer collection pipes in the city, and we’ve made vital improvements to the treatment plant. But more is needed to protect Tickle Creek and achieve permit compliance. This development moratorium will help us avoid further violations and fines under the federal Clean Water Act while the upgrades are being completed.
Absolutely. The increased rates are necessary for the City to secure the financing necessary to make the required system improvements, which are already underway. We’ve already invested over $30 million into rehabilitating the sewer collection system and upgrading the treatment plant. That said, we are pursuing all possible opportunities for grant funding and alternative financing to keep rates as low as possible for customers. We’ve secured $16 million in state and federal grants and over $40 million in low interest loans so far for Sandy Clean Waters, we've been accepted for a Federal Water Infrastructure and Financing Act (WIFA) loan with low interest and favorable terms.
Yes, we are pursuing all possible opportunities for external funding and financing to keep rates as low as possible for customers. We’ve secured over $16 million in State and federal grants and over $40 million in low interest loans so far for Sandy Clean Waters, and we expect to secure even more in low interest financing in the months to come.
The moratorium will not affect your property taxes.
Water conservation is always a good practice. In addition to reducing flows to the treatment plant, conserving water helps the environment and lowers your monthly utility bill. The Regional Water Providers Consortium has water conservation tips and advice available on their website at https://www.regionalh2o.org/water-conservation.
If the remodel doesn’t necessitate modifications to your sanitary sewer connection that would increase flows into the sewer system, then the moratorium should have no effect on your plans to remodel your house. Please contact the Building Division at building@cityofsandy.com or at (503) 489-2173 to discuss permit requirements.
If the addition doesn’t necessitate modifications to your sanitary sewer connection that would increase flows into the sewer system then the moratorium should have no effect on your plans to expand your house. Please contact the Building Division at building@cityofsandy.com or at (503) 489-2173 to discuss permit requirements.
The moratorium will not affect the work being done on the Comprehensive Plan. Envision Sandy 2050 is a long term visioning and goal setting project that will guide Sandy for the next 25+ years, while the moratorium is a short duration solution to help solve a capacity problem at the sanitary sewer treatment plant.
Prohibited Camping FAQ
On June 21, 2022 the City Council adopted Ordinance 2022-12: Camping Prohibited in Certain Places.
Key provisions of Ordinance 2022-12 include:
Sec. 8.35.020. - Prohibited camping.
- A. Except as expressly authorized by the Sandy Municipal Code, it is unlawful at all times for any persons to camp on the following:
- i. All city parks, trails, and areas designated as parks and open space (POS) under SMC chapter 17.32.
- ii. All areas designated as flood, slope, and hazard areas under SMC Chapter 17.60;
- iii. Any area on a sidewalk, unless the camping is done in a manner that maintains a clear, continuous sidewalk width of at least five feet;
- iv. All real property upon which city facilities are located;
- v. All city owned parking lots;
- vi. All public property located within an area zoned for residential use under SMC Title 17; and
- vii. All publicly owned property located along and between Proctor Avenue and Pioneer Avenue, and along Pleasant Street between Bluff Road and Ten Eyck Road.
- B. Except as expressly authorized by the Sandy Municipal Code, it shall be unlawful for any person to camp in the city during the hours of 6:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
- C. Except as expressly authorized by the Sandy Municipal Code, it shall be unlawful for any individual to store more than 5 cubic feet of personal property, including camp facilities and camp paraphernalia, on city property during the hours of 6:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
- D. Notwithstanding the provisions of this chapter, the City Council may temporarily authorize camping or storage of personal property on city property by written order that specifies the period of time and location:
- i. In the event of emergency circumstances;
- ii. In conjunction with a special event permit; or
- iii. Upon finding it to be in the public interest and consistent with council goals and policies.
- E. The City Manager may adopt administrative rules to implement any of the provisions of this chapter.
Sec. 8.35.030 - Violation—Penalties and enforcement.
- A. Violation of this chapter is a Class “D” violation per ORS Chapter 153. Each day that a violation occurs will be considered a separate offense.
- B. In addition to any other penalties that may be imposed, violation of this chapter shall constitute a public nuisance and may be abated in accordance with ORS 202.077 and 203.079.
Homelessness affects our whole community in many different ways and the City is committed to finding positive solutions for everyone. Below is some information about who to call and what to expect from the City in response to reports about camping in undesignated areas:
Campsites on Public Property:
If you come across a campsite in an undesignated area or trash that needs to be cleaned up, please call the Sandy Police Department non-emergency dispatch line at 503-655-8211 or use the MySandy app to report the issue.
If the camp is inhabited, please do not engage or make contact with those camping. This is for your safety and for the safety of those camping.
Once a report has been received, the Sandy Police Department will then determine next steps for handling the situation in line with current legal requirements. These next steps could include:
- Site visit from the Sandy Police Department Homelessness Liaison Officer
- Problem-solving the issue with the campsite occupants and referral to relevant social services
- As a last resort, possible enforcement actions such as posting a site for cleanup, and citations for trespassing, littering, etc.
What does it mean to "post" a campsite?
When we post a campsite for cleanup, a formal notice is issued to the occupant(s) that camping at that particular location is prohibited. This process gives the person(s) a chance to clean up and leave the site on their own.
After the time period of the "post" has expired, the site is revisited by the police department and the occupants are required to leave at that point if they have not already.
PLEASE NOTE: In locations that belong to ODOT, the City must follow ODOT camp posting requirements which allow for cleanup of belongings no sooner than 10 days and no later than 19 days from the date the site is posted for cleanup. There are some exceptions that would allow for cleanup within 24 hours, but those are reserved for severe situations.
If there is an emergency situation, please call 9-1-1
Homelessness affects our whole community in many different ways and the City is committed to finding positive solutions for everyone. Below is some information about who to call and what to expect from the City in response to reports about camping on private property.
Campsites on Private Property:
If you come across a campsite on your private property please call the Sandy Police Department non-emergency dispatch line at 503-655-8211 or use the MySandy app to report the issue.
If the camp is inhabited, please do not engage or make contact with those camping. This is for your safety and for the safety of those camping.
Once a report has been received, the process for the Sandy Police Department looks different than with camping issues on public property:
- The police department can trespass and remove camp site occupants without a 24 hour waiting period
- The department will still try to provide assistance and resource referrals to those experiencing homelessness
If there is an emergency situation, please call 9-1-1
Oregon passed a new law (HB 3115) in 2021 to require that local governments may only adopt policies that are “objectively reasonable” when dealing with the use of public property by people experiencing homelessness. Local laws dealing with “sitting, lying, sleeping or keeping warm and dry outdoors on public property must be objectively reasonable … with regards to persons experiencing homelessness.”
Cities have until July 1, 2023 to update their ordinances to be in compliance with HB 3115.
The Legislature passed this law to permanently codify a recent 9th Circuit Court ruling, known as Martin v. Boise, which held that cities cannot enforce anti-camping ordinances if they do not have sufficient homeless shelter beds available for individuals experiencing homelessness.
"Sit-lie" policies have been used in the past to try and prevent people from sitting or lying on public sidewalks. Such policies were ruled unconstitutional by a US District Court decision in Anderson v. City of Portland.
Residential Accessory Structures
Residential accessory structures that are non-habitable, 200 square feet or smaller and no higher than 10 feet measured from the finished floor to the top of the top plate do not require a building permit.
Important Note: Garages, carports or like structures that have the ability to contain a motor vehicle require a building permit regardless of the size or height of the structure.
Residential accessory structures that are over 200 square feet or over 10 feet high measured from the finished floor to the top of the top plate need a building permit.
1. Accessory structures shall comply with the setback requirements for the main building except where specifically modified by Development Code Section 17.74.
2. No accessory structure shall be located in a required front yard or side yard setback, except where specifically modified by Development Code Section 17.74.
3. An accessory structure on a corner lot shall meet a minimum street side yard setback except for private vehicle storage.
Sandy River Discharge Alternative
Even at the current population, the City’s current treatment facility has issues treating the water during heavy rainfall events. In order to properly protect human health and the environment, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has mandated that improvements are needed, which includes increasing the capacity of the treatment system.
For the last 20 years, the City has been able to deliver all of our treated wastewater to a local nursery between May 1st and October 31st for irrigation. However, the City still produces treated wastewater in the winter when irrigation is not possible. As part of the detailed discharge alternatives evaluation, the city conducted outreach and studied options for providing the treated water to other large property owners and agricultural users.
The permitting process is quite extensive and is aimed at maintaining high water quality. The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality would be responsible for issuing a permit to discharge the Sandy River, and they require a number of studies and engineering evaluations. The City’s consulting engineers have already conducted water quality studies of the current river flows and a geomorphology study and fisheries biology evaluations to determine the most stable location of the river for an outfall. DEQ would require additional studies such as a mixing zone study, an “antidegradation” study to evaluate any impacts to the river, groundwater quality sampling and analysis, additional geotechnical investigations, and wetlands delineations prior to issuing a permit.
SandyNet Billing
Yes, Sandy's utility payment system does allow you to pay online as well as set up paperless billing. You will need your eight digit account number (00-0000-00), email and phone number to register. Sign up or login here.
Search Tips and Tricks
Yes. The website indexes web pages as well as PDFs, Microsoft Office documents, and text documents.
No. By default, the search results will show matches for any word within the phrase. In this example, you would receive results for all web pages and documents that contained either the word alarm or the word permit or both.
In order to search on an exact phrase, enclose your search phrase in quotations. The search results for "alarm permit" will show matches for that exact phrase.
Yes. You can exclude words by using the minus sign (-). In order to find the results of all pages that have alarm in the result but not permit, you would search for alarm -permit.
Sewer FAQ's
Sandy’s storm and sanitary sewer lines are separate systems. The wastewater treatment plant is designed to handle water we provide to the customer through the water meter.
NO!! Only the 3 P’s are allowed. Poop, Pee and Paper, (Flushable wipes are not paper and are very dangerous and destructive to our sewer system) reference SMC Sec. 13.12.080
Sewer lines are maintained by jetting (cleaning), enforcement of our FOG (fats, oils and grease) Program, CCTV and visual inspections, flow monitoring for inflow and infiltration, outreach of what is safe and what isn’t safe to flush or put down the drain. All these things help the city protect and maintain the sewer system for years to come.
The treatment plant was upgraded in 1998. It is capable of treating 1.25 million gallons per day during dry weather and up to 4 million gallons per day during wet weather. An activated sludge process is used followed by effluent filtration. Ultraviolet (UV) light is used to disinfect the treated wastewater eliminating chlorine disinfection, which tends to harm beneficial aquatic species.
NO!! It can damage the sewer system and treatment process. It is in violation of SMC Sec. 13.12.080
NO!! FOG's (Fats, Oil and grease) poured down kitchen drains accumulates inside sewer pipes. As the FOG's builds up, it restricts the flow in the pipe and can cause sewer wastewater to back up into homes and businesses. Sanitary sewer backups result in high costs for cleanup and restoration. FOG's can also impact the city’s side of the sewer system, manholes can overflow into parks, yards, streets, and storm drains, allowing FOG to contaminate local waters, including drinking water. Exposure to untreated wastewater is a public-health hazard. It is in violation of SMC Sec. 13.12.080.
YES!! Make sure to call 811 before you dig. Utilities may be just a few inches under ground.
Operation and maintenance of the sewer system. Making sure the wastewater reaches the treatment plant.
It could be a sewer manhole or a storm manhole. Both systems are not always located in the road. Sewer and storm systems work off gravity, so via a utility easement. A manhole may be in your back yard due to the engineering and design to achieve gravity flow to the next manhole.
