[OMS_MANAGERS] Recording, PPT, links from today's Mornings on Main call

Tue Mar 1 19:23:43 PST 2022

Hi Shawn,

We have received funds from our Cities UR fund, WRCA, Private donors and
are currently also in the process of TFFF. The ask from the County ARP is
the final amount needed to get the Feasibility Study going for the
Underground Utilities project.

Below we have summarized the four major concerns regarding underground
power:
-Natural Disaster Preparedness
-Promoting Economic Vitality in Gold Beach, and Curry County
-ADA Compliant Sidewalks
-Funding Underground Power Project to Completion

NATURAL DISASTER PREPAREDNESS
Undergrounding the utilities will help keep the infrastructure functioning
and secure our town and county during and after a seismic event. Every 350
years, on average, the coast of Oregon has had a catastrophic earthquake.
Scientists claim we are overdue for a dilapidating tsunami and earthquake.
Outside of earthquakes and tsunamis, Oregon has also had major wildfire
problems in the past years as we are all aware- moving the utilities
underground will make us less prone to pauses in power and communication
that would likely be caused in case of fire.
Gold Beach is the hub of all county emergency services: the sheriff’s
department, state police, search and rescue, and hospital. These
departments are critical to the county’s preparedness levels. As stated in
our application, the town of Gold Beach also has the lowest elevation of
all the cities in the county. The county hub should be protected and
prepared to serve during a disaster. Undergrounding utilities in Gold Beach
will help keep all these services functioning, to serve all areas of the
county population. One of the 5 strategic plans for the county states:
‘Ensure the safety of infrastructure to improve service delivery.’

PROMOTING ECONOMIC VITALITY
Gold Beach has struggled economically since the closing of the US Champion
Mill. To help the economic recovery of the county, we need to attract new
business and industry, and help existing businesses to thrive.
Undergrounding utilities is the single most impactful change that will keep
our community competitive with other coastal towns. Most importantly,
businesses will become more visible, while at the same time, making Gold
Beach more inviting. Creating a mile long stretch of ocean front with lamp
posts and banners, will create a cohesive design that will invite tourists
to stop and spend money in the community. It will also create more
accessibility for pedestrians. The Oregon towns that are presently
thriving, have already improved their infrastructure, putting power and
utilities underground in their downtown/business district areas.
At its conception, GBMS met with business owners, employees, and political
leaders in our community to discuss their concerns. All were united,
stating that the number one improvement for Gold Beach that will help our
economy is undergrounding utilities. This also directly ties into the
County strategic plan: ‘Expand the local economy to creating opportunities,
resources, and incentives for new businesses, jobs and tourism.’

ADA COMPLIANT SIDEWALKS
Many of our sidewalks are not ADA compliant due to the utility poles
located in the middle. They do not allow for wheelchairs and pedestrians to
walk the full mile long stretch of our main street, and don’t allow
adequate access to pass in various places. Some of our pedestrians would
have to move into the road to use the sidewalk, which creates safety issues.

FUNDING UNDERGROUND UTILITY PROJECT
The Curry County ARP grant will be combined with City of GB Urban Renewal
funds, a Wild Rivers Coast Alliance grant, and a Ford Family Foundation
grant. All these funds combined will allow the hiring of Murraysmith
Engineering- an experienced, credible engineering firm, to complete a
comprehensive feasibility study (Murraysmith is the firm that managed the
ReVision Florence project from feasibility to completion).

Senator Wyden and Senator Neguse just passed the Disaster Safe Grid
Proposal bill. This is specifically intended to fund Oregon Coastal
communities. In addition, Richard Christensen, the County Roadmaster has
added this project to the Transportation Plan, which will qualify Curry
County for state and federal funds- including USDA, FEMA, and ODOT. There
will likely never be such an abundance of infrastructure funds again in our
lifetimes! If the project is to be executed, the time is now. With ARP
funding, we will reach our financial goal to begin this feasibility study
with Murraysmith Engineering firm in the beginning of 2022.

We filled out the application for funds back in January. The County had an
ARP committee to look over all the applications and make recommendations
for which ones qualified and should be top priority. Gold Beach Main Street
was one of 8 that were sent to the Commissioners with a green light to move
forward on. Then, in the beginning of February the County held a workshop
to discuss the applications received and the County treasurer went around
the committee to say that certain projects didn't qualify. It very much
felt like he just picked out a couple he didn't support, one was ours and
the other was an organization that deals with homeless outreach and
housing.

I'm planning on speaking briefly at the meeting tomorrow. I appreciate all
the feedback!!

Anna Marie

On Tue, Mar 1, 2022, 5:35 PM Shawn Irvine <
irvine.shawn at ci.independence.or.us> wrote:

> Just noticed this reply.  I’m not completely sure a feasibility study
> would be eligible.  Undergrounding utilities definitely would be, but a
> feasibility study alone is tough to draw a straight line to a benefit for
> downtown businesses.  Can you make an argument that the funding is there,
> or relatively accessible to do the work if this study is completed?  That
> this project is ready to move forward but for the completion of this
> feasibility study?  That’s a best case scenario.  Otherwise you would have
> to hope that the County is willing to use some of the flexible funding
> strategies that David identified.
>
>
>
> Shawn
>
>
>
> *From:* OMS_MANAGERS <oms_managers-bounces at omls.oregon.gov> *On Behalf Of
> *Business Outreach & Community Coordinator
> *Sent:* Tuesday, March 01, 2022 4:57 PM
> *To:* Oregon Main Street program managers <oms_managers at omls.oregon.gov>
> *Subject:* Re: [OMS_MANAGERS] Recording, PPT, links from today's Mornings
> on Main call
>
>
>
> We applied for funds for our Underground Utility feasibility study.
> Lyndsey actually put the application together. The ARP committee looked
> over our application and said it qualified, and gave the commissioners the
> green light to move forward on the project. Now the County Treasurer is
> saying he doesn’t want the Commissioners to vote yes because he doesn’t
> think that Infrastructure is allowed.
>
>
>
> On Mar 1, 2022, at 4:53 PM, STUART Sheri * OPRD <
> Sheri.STUART at oprd.oregon.gov> wrote:
>
>
>
> Are you asking for funding for your organization or for a specific project?
>
>
>
> *From:* OMS_MANAGERS <oms_managers-bounces at omls.oregon.gov> *On Behalf
> Of *Gold Beach
> *Sent:* Tuesday, March 1, 2022 4:52 PM
> *To:* Oregon Main Street program managers <oms_managers at omls.oregon.gov>
> *Subject:* Re: [OMS_MANAGERS] Recording, PPT, links from today's Mornings
> on Main call
>
>
>
> Hi there! We are going into a meeting with the County Commissioners here
> in Gold Beach tomorrow. Our county treasurer is saying that Gold Beach Main
> Street’s project is not eligible for the ARPA funds. I was hoping to get
> some guidelines that show we are eligible. We are stressing a bit about
> this, and trying to combat any negativity.
>
>
>
> Thanks!
>
>
>
> Anna Curtis
>
>
>
> On Feb 24, 2022, at 1:41 PM, STUART Sheri * OPRD <
> Sheri.STUART at oprd.oregon.gov> wrote:
>
>
>
> Thanks to all who joined the Mornings on Main call this morning with the
> update on federal funding sources by Kelly Humrichouser! Attached is a copy
> of the PPT. Below is a link to the recording and some useful links that
> Kelly shared:
>
>
>
> Meeting recording:
> https://us06web.zoom.us/rec/share/ZwnzYvT9S_ECTcmMga5bcIW8kjU7z8LPdnIImxDhsdoaYzfrDW8zWNB6KWQXltc.U-vstngHQiXmQSb5
>  *(Passcode: wHb?Z&s9)*
>
>
>
> Final Rule Overview:
> https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/SLFRF-Final-Rule-Overview.pdf
>
>
>
> Qualified Census Tract finder:
> https://www.huduser.gov/portal/sadda/sadda_qct.html
>
>
>
> Best, Sheri
>
> <Oregon Main Street 2.23.22.pptx>
>
>
>
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