Follow-Up Letter to the Community From City Council

Last night (May 20, 2020), marked nine weeks since the City of Milwaukie declared an emergency for our community.  Life is hard for nearly everyone right now. We’re all living in a stressful, unpredictable time and trying to deal with situations we’re unfamiliar with. Despite this, we’ve seen many examples within our community of people going out of their way to help each other or lift someone’s spirits. From our community driven “Hidden Hearts” campaign, to community members looking for ways to support the houseless community in securing hand washing stations, it shows up every day in hundreds of ways. As City Councilors and fellow Milwaukians, we couldn’t be prouder. Our community is much stronger because of these selfless, heart-warming actions.

City Council and staff continue to focus on providing uninterrupted services while finding targeted ways to help those in the community who are most in need. Although offices are closed to the public right now, the city continues to work diligently behind the scenes:

• Meetings for City Council, Planning Commission, Neighborhood District Associations, and some boards and committees have moved online to allow for continued community engagement
• Utility shut-offs for non-payment are temporarily suspended and customers who previously received a shut-off for non-payment have been temporarily reconnected (this does not include customers who requested an account shut-off).
• Using revenue collected through the Construction Excise Tax, the city launched a business relief fund to provide $132,000 in grants to small businesses affected by the impacts from COVID-19. The city received 105 applications and 47 businesses were selected to receive funding with awards ranging from $1,500 to $4,000.
• The Milwaukie Police Department initiated a program where officers pick up prescriptions from local pharmacies and personally deliver them to the city’s most at-risk seniors.
• City construction work continues with the Meek Stormwater and McBrod Avenue projects. Several additional projects are expected to go out to bid by month’s end.
• A temporary parking permit program was created for those living in the downtown area who need to park near their homes for extended periods of time because of illness, self-quarantine due to exposure, or the need to care for someone who is ill.    
• The Ledding Library continues to make more and more of its programs available online, including virtual story times, poetry series and art activities, among many others. They’ve also found more ways for library patrons to access books and learning programs.
• On May 5, City Council also identified a small pot of funding to assist Milwaukie families struggling to pay their rent, with a focus on those who are not currently qualifying for state or federal assistance.  Those funds will be administered by Northwest Housing Alternatives starting July 1.
• The Milwaukie Farmers Market has opened for the season with many changes designed to prioritize safety for our community and vendors and provide access to essential items. To learn more, please visit milwaukiefarmersmarket.com.

Clackamas County officials have been leading emergency operations in the region allowing municipalities and fire districts to coordinate response efforts that protect the community and provide vital resources. Local response efforts include deploying personal protective equipment to first responders, establishing and supporting on-going operations for local food pantries, facilitating access to childcare for essential workers and coordinating support and resources for access to emergency funding available from FEMA through the CARES Act.

In April, the Clackamas County Commissioners issued a temporary moratorium on residential and commercial evictions based on a tenant’s inability to pay rent and a mandatory continuation of waste collection services for residential and commercial customers in the event of nonpayment due to loss of income attributed to COVID-19.

Recognizing the pressures of the current situation, Clackamas County recently launched “Go Teams” to support individuals and families in the community who are struggling with anxiety, unemployment, grief and other emotional and social problems that are becoming more common during the ongoing pandemic. To access the Go Team Service, please call 503.655.8585.

In May, Clackamas County initiated a free Wi-Fi hotspot network for individuals to access high-speed, reliable internet provided in partnership with local school districts and internet service providers. For a schedule of when hotspots will be available, visit www.clackamas.us.cbx.

Clackamas County has also started a new “Who’s Open?” webpage that allows users to determine which businesses are currently open, along with their services and hours.  We appreciate Milwaukie businesses who are doing all they can to stay open for our community.  To learn more, please visit www.clackamas.us/business/whos-open.

The county is also leading collective efforts, with local municipalities and health care providers, to meet the eligibility criteria outlined in the governor’s phased approach to reopen safely, based on public health and community preparedness. Counties that meet the recommendations of the Oregon Health Authority and the governor’s criteria are now eligible to submit applications for reopening. Clackamas County plans to submit its application to the Governor’s office today, Tuesday, May 19 and may be approved to enter Phase I on or before May 26.

Governor Brown has acknowledged that thanks to the sacrifices of millions of Oregonians in complying with stay-at-home orders we have collectively prevented as many as 70,000 COVID-19 infections and 1,500 hospitalizations across the state. Together, we now have the opportunity to begin rebuilding a safe and strong Oregon. In Milwaukie, that rebuilding will be done as it has always been done (albeit at a six-foot distance), neighbor with neighbor, business by business, one step in front of the next.

Each of us is appreciative of each of you.  Thank you for caring about one another and for having such grace.  Together, we will persevere, and we will be a stronger Milwaukie through this experience.