After three January hearings to listen to public testimony, including one
interrupted by anti-vaccination rabble rousers, the Clackamas County Board of
County Commissioners (BCC) will make a final decision on whether to send
the Hoodland Park District to the May ballot at the Thursday, Feb. 3 business
meeting.

Some commissioners expressed their support for the district towards the end
of the Jan. 20 meeting, but with a modification to the proposed boundaries to
remove the communities within the 97028 zip code, including Government
Camp, Wapanitia and Summit Meadows.

“We still feel like we’ve got good momentum toward moving toward the
election,” said Marci Slater, one of the district’s chief petitioners. “We’re
looking forward to bringing some local control to decisions on what the
Mountain community needs.”

If formed, the district would receive three parcels of land on Salmon River
Road from Clackamas County and would develop the Dorman Center site as a
community park. Possible amenities could include a pavilion, playground,

walking trails, extended community garden, bike pump track, skate park, dog
park, space for farmers market, restrooms and onsite security.

The district would be funded by a local property tax, proposed to be a
maximum of 67 cents per $1,000 of assessed value (resulting in
approximately $200 per year on a house with an assessed value of
$300,000).

Slater noted that while there were questions regarding the district’s mill rate,
organizers remain confident in their projected funding, with a proposed
budget based on a rate of 57 cents per $1,000 of assessed value.

“We did some additional research, looking at other standalone park districts
and districts part of small communities,” she said. “We feel very confident that
we’re right in the middle of all that.”

The proposed district met with resistance from those in the 97028
communities, who noted the distance to the Dorman Center site, higher
property taxes, no planned facilities for those communities and not being
included in the petition process among the reasons for wanting to be excluded
from the district’s boundaries.

Nick Rinard, president of the Government Camp Community Planning
Organization (CPO), noted that after a meeting more than two years ago that
began the conversation of the district, the pandemic disrupted communication
and the community felt left out.

“It’s just a shame it got compressed because the petitioners turned in the
petition before we had a meeting,” he said, noting the organizers had to meet
a November deadline to get the petition for the district in to the county.
A survey conducted by the CPO of those in the 97028 communities revealed
84 percent of respondents opposed formation of the district. Rinard credited
Jake Thompson, who spearheaded the CPO’s subcommittee that conducted
the survey, for gathering the data.

“This was not spun in any way for or against,” Rinard said. “We were just
genuinely concerned, what did the community feel, what were their thoughts.
Once revealed, it became my job to represent that opinion of the community.”
If approved by the commissioners, the district will be overseen by a board of
five volunteer directors, who will also be elected on the May ballot.
Slater said the district’s organizers will be out to rally the community before
the May vote, as long as the pandemic allows it. She noted that they hope to
hold rallies, town hall meetings and more.

Updates on the park district, including planned events, can be found on the
Nextdoor app and on the district’s website,
https://www.hoodlandparkdistrict.us/.

“I’m excited about the process; I’m looking forward to moving ahead,” Slater
said.