From: Ron Oberg, Clackamas Co. Strategic Communications, 503-742-5911
Date: 12-13-05
Media and Interested Parties
Two Villages, One Hamlet: Three communities apply for special status in Clackamas County
Three Clackamas County communities met the November 30 deadline to submit applications to form hamlets or villages. Those communities are:
According to the new County ordinance, the Board of County Commissioners will hold a hearing to approve, deny or suggest modifications to applications no later than March 30, 2006. They are expected to conduct a work session with petitioners in advance of the hearing. After approval, the communities can begin the steps to turn their visions for these new quasi-governance models into reality.
The Completing Communities project and the hamlet and village models are an outgrowth of Complete Communities, the County’s award-winning citizen engagement process that began in 1999. Hamlets and villages are unincorporated areas that are organized forums for citizens to express issues of concern and to prioritize and coordinate community-based activities.
The level of financing capacity is the main difference between a hamlet and a village. After approval by its citizens and the Board of County Commissioners, a village may be financed through a range of means such as special assessments, service districts, grants or fees as allowed by state law. Hamlets can finance their activities through voluntary efforts.
"We are very pleased that the County has given citizens in our unincorporated areas opportunities to help make their communities more livable, beautiful and complete," said Board of County Commissioners Chair Martha Schrader.
Applications will be considered three more times by the Board of County Commissioners in 2006. Upcoming deadlines are February 28, May 31 and August 31. Application packets are available on the County’s Web site: www.co.clackamas.or.us/community and also may be obtained at the office of the Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners (2051 Kaen Road, Oregon City) or by calling Suzanne Roberts, Cogan Owens Cogan, at 503-225-0192.
For more information, please refer to the County’s Web site at www.co.clackamas.or.us/community or contact Cherie McGinnis at 503-655-8581.