|
Rep. Richardson's
Legislative Update
July 29, 2005
Medford—Westwood Water Dispute to be NegotiatedMost readers from southern Oregon are aware of the on-going conflict over water between of residents of the Westwood Subdivision and the Medford Water Commission (MWC). Westwood is a rural subdivision located south of Ross Lane, near the Naval Reserve facility at Ross and Old Stage Road. For those unfamiliar with this situation, I’ll give a brief summary.Westwood subdivision originated in the 1950’s, long before Senate Bill 100 introduced Oregon’s State land use restrictions. It consists of some 63 homes. Westwood residents have sewer service, but no municipal water. Over the years, many of their shallow wells have either gone dry or are headed in that direction. Currently, three families must haul water in, and at least two more families are expecting to begin doing so soon. In short, Westwood subdivision needs municipal water service, but have been unsuccessful in obtaining it. The Medford Water Commission (MWC) has a waterline, which connects to the Naval Reserve facility and passes within 100 feet of Westwood. In an attempt to qualify for MWC water, the Westwood residents have established the Westwood Water District (WWD), and applied with the Army Corp of Engineers at Lost Creek Reservoir to purchase WWD’s own water allotment. To obtain water from a source (Lost Creek via the Rogue River), a water district usually enters into an agreement with the local municipal water district or commission (here the MWC), and pays for the treatment and transport (use of their water pipes) to get the water to the water district’s connection point. Westwood has been repeatedly rebuffed in its attempts to secure MWC water, even though Westwood is willing to pay all costs and expenses and the MWC pipeline is only 100 feet away. Westwood brought their plight to me this session. This week with the assistance of Senator Alan Bates, a Westwood Water amendment was adopted into House Bill 3093, by a unanimous, bipartisan vote. Neither Senator Bates nor I normally would promote a state law ordering a municipal water commission to sell water to a subdivision, but in this instance we agreed this was a matter of fairness and common sense. In addition, it appeared the residents of Westwood had no other option. The Conference Committee bill was scheduled to pass the House floor tomorrow and shortly thereafter the Senate. Today, thanks to the excellent work of Senator Alan Bates and Representative Sal Esquivel, a floor fight between my friend, Sal and I was averted. Rep. Esquivel and Senator Bates were in communication with Mayor Gary H. Wheeler, and I with Westwood resident and representative, Trent Nistler, and a deal was made for Medford and Westwood to work together to get Westwood’s water problem resolved without the need for state legislation. Mayor Wheeler and Medford Water Commission Director, Larry Rains, sent me a confirming letter, which indicates Medford’s willingness “to enter into good faith discussions with the Westwood Water District in regards to water issues concerning the residents of the Westwood Subdivision.” (Click here to read letter) I know Mayor Gary Wheeler to be a man of his word, and, he confirmed to me over the telephone that he and Medford’s City Council and Water Commission members were willing to take a fresh look at the Westwood water situation and work with representatives of Westwood to try and resolve it. Based on Mayor Wheeler’s representation of “good faith”, I agreed to pull the Westwood amendments out of House Bill 3093. Water issues of this type are commonly worked out in a mutually acceptable way, and both Medford and Westwood deserve another chance to do so here. Senator Bates, Representative Esquivel and I are happy to take the State of Oregon out of this matter. We encourage both parties to work together to reach a mutually beneficial agreement. When it comes to resolving issues, a handshake is generally better than a club.
Sincerely,
House Passes OPI Modernization ActThe House of Representatives passed Senate Bill 870-B today to sustain and strengthen Oregon Project Independence (OPI). Chief sponsors of the bill are Sen. Bill Morrisette (D-Springfield) and Rep. Dennis Richardson (R-Central Point). The bill now goes to the Senate for its confirming vote, then to the Governor ."Oregon Project Independence should now have ample, dedicated funding to help both qualified Oregon seniors and people with disabilities remain in their own homes instead of rest homes" Richardson said. SB 870-A reverses the Governor’s proposed elimination of the program and will fund OPI at $12 million for the 2005-07 biennium. The bill goes further to assure funding for future biennia by establishing a trust fund that receives excess monies from the Senior Property Tax Deferral Revolving Account. In addition to assisting the elderly, Oregon Project Independence will now help disabled people under age 60, if there are excess funds after providing OPI's benefits for seniors. "SB 870-A is the ‘Oregon Project Independence Moderization Act,’” Richardson said. “It provides a dedicated funding source from excess revenues of the Seniors Property Tax Deferral program. Thus, senior's property tax reimbursement payments will help seniors remain independent in their own homes." "OPI is Oregon's way of giving a helping hand to qualified seniors who have given so much for so long to so many." Legislative Leaders Reach Agreement On 2005-07 Budget
“This is a hard-fought, bipartisan agreement that clears the way for the session to adjourn,” said Speaker Minnis. “It balances the state’s budget without raising taxes, while providing good schools, a safety net of services for seniors and ensuring that neighborhoods are kept safe from criminals.” “This is a responsible and sustainable budget that holds true to the principles our caucus put forth at the beginning of this session,” said Rep. Scott. “We were able to balance the budget with the tax dollars Oregonians are already sending, and we were able to set aside money for a rainy day account that will sustain Oregon into the future.”
House Votes to Make Higher Education More AccessibleThe House this week passed budget bills that increase funding for Oregon’s community colleges and extend state Opportunity Grants to all eligible students this fall, and to part-time college students for the first time next fall. Both bills passed unanimously and will help make higher education accessible to more Oregonians.“Higher education is the gateway to better skills, higher wages and a stronger economy,” said Speaker Minnis. “I’m proud of the strong bi-partisan votes in favor of investing more in our two-year colleges, and extending Opportunity Grants to part-time students.” Under House Bill 5617-B, the Department of Community Colleges and Workforce Development will receive $430 million in state General Fund support – a 10 percent increase in general funds over the Governor’s recommended budget. In addition, in separate legislation, the House approved a budget for the Oregon Student Assistance Commission that provides more than $31 million in General Fund support than last biennium. The additional funding will allow Opportunity Grants to be awarded to all eligible full-time community college and Oregon University System students beginning this fall. In 2006-07, Opportunity Grants will be further expanded to serve all eligible students in private colleges and will be awarded to part-time students for the first time. Rep. Susan Morgan, who worked on both bills and carried them on the House floor, said, “Part-time students need and deserve our help just as much as full-time students, so I’m proud we are able to now include them in the Opportunity Grant program. We all understand the value of higher education – today we helped make accessing it a reality for more Oregonians.”
House Honors Former Governors Atiyeh and RobertsThe House this week honored former Oregon governors Victor G. Atiyeh and Barbara Roberts by directing the Port of Portland to name a terminal at the Portland International Airport after Gov. Atiyeh and by naming the Oregon Department of Human Services headquarters building the Barbara Roberts Human Services Building. Both former governors were present in the House chamber as Senate Joint Resolution 24-A was passed unanimously.“Today we honor two governors – one a Republican, one a Democrat – who both held the honor of leading our state and did so with integrity, honesty and resolve,” said Speaker Karen Minnis (R-Wood Village). “I’m proud to welcome both of them back to the House of Representatives so we may honor their achievements.” Elected to the governorship of Oregon in 1978 after serving in the state House and Senate, Victor Atiyeh was the first elected governor of Arab descent in the United States. During his time in office, he cut his own salary three times to balance the budget, reformed Oregon’s workers’ compensation system, launched a worldwide tourism initiative and opened the state’s first overseas trade office in Tokyo. He also reinstated a state employee suggestion program that saves Oregon taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars annually and was instrumental in establishing Oregon Food Share, the nation’s first statewide food bank. A fourth-generation Oregonian, Barbara Roberts was elected Oregon’s first woman governor in 1990. She began her public service in 1969 as an unpaid lobbyist advocating for children with disabilities. She served on the Parkrose School Board, the Mt. Hood Community College Board and the Multnomah County Commission before being elected to the Oregon House in 1980. In 1984 she was elected Secretary of State and re-elected in 1988. During her term in office she was recognized as a strong advocate for public education, human rights and human services programs.
Capitol Office Please tell a friend about House District 4 Legislative Update. Click here to subscribe. To unsubscribe to this newsletter, send an e-mail to nick@dennisrichardson.org with "unsubscribe" in the Subject line.
|
House Profile: Rep. Vicki Berger