Members of the Hoodland Park District Committee decided to push back an
effort to put a taxing district on the November ballot due to restrictions placed
on the community from the coronavirus outbreak. To be on the ballot,
committee members needed to submit a petition signed by 15 percent of the
registered voters (750 signatures from 4,886 voters) within the proposed
district to Clackamas County Elections by Thursday, May 7.

“Therein lies the rub,” noted the committee’s co-chair, Marci Slater, in an
email to the Mountain Times. “In light of the Social Distancing regulations now
in effect this task is not physically possible.”

Slater added that the county cannot legally postpone the deadline.
The committee has targeted the May 2021 election for the proposed district,
which would assess a tax of 54 cents per thousand dollars on homes within
the boundaries. That rate would generate an annual assessment of
approximately $165 on a home valued at $300,000.

Slater also noted that the committee requested the County Commissioners
and Clackamas County Parks and Forests to extend a memorandum of
understanding (MOU) regarding the parcel of land across from the Welches

Schools (the former Dorman Center site) that will be used for the park until
May 2021. The MOU, which gifts the deeds of three parcels of land, had set to
expire at the end of March 2020.

If the district fails to be approved by voters, the land will be sold by the
county for development.

Residents of the park district were also expected to vote on candidates for the
Park District Board on the November ballot. The board will manage park
development projects, the district budget, apply for grant funds and
determine from community input the facilities available at the new park.

“We are committed to this project and will continue to work toward our goal of
a Hoodland Park District dedicated to the recreational needs of all Hoodland
area residents,” Slater wrote. “Thanks to everyone who has supported this
project thus far. We are grateful and depending on you to help us going
forward.”

For more information, visit www.2020parkvision.org and
www.hoodlandwomensclub.org.