Greetings from City Hall!

By Tyler Deems, For The Sandy Standard

Summer is just around the corner, and in the warmer weather and longer days, many folks enjoy spending more time doing activities outdoors. Unfortunately, with that comes an increase in noise complaints received by the City. The City Council is currently reviewing the existing noise ordinance and making modifications to address some of the recurring livability complaints that are received. This work also includes a new municipal code section related to solicitation and door-to-door sales. A public hearing is currently scheduled for June 1 to provide the public an opportunity to comment on the proposed changes, and the Council will consider adoption that same evening.

The City’s wastewater infrastructure continues to be a top priority. City staff, with the help from an extremely knowledgeable consultant team, have been working on drafting a Wastewater Facility Plan Amendment. For context, the City initially adopted a Wastewater System Facilities Plan in 2019. In early 2022 it became clear that the improvements contemplated in that plan were no longer appropriate. Since that time, the City has been working to evaluate the most appropriate long-term investment. To date, $40 million has been invested in the collection system, ensuring groundwater does not infiltrate pipes and increase flows at the treatment plant. Another $14 million is scheduled to be invested over the next few years to finish this important work. Unfortunately, this work does not address the treatment and discharge challenges that the City is facing.

To address the City’s treatment and discharge needs, the Facility Plan Amendment has evaluated three long-term solutions: 

Sandy River - Construction of a membrane bioreactor (MBR) plant at the existing treatment plant site and constructing a pipeline for discharging treated effluent to the Sandy River. The total estimated cost of this project is between $184 million and $195 million.

Regional Treatment - Construction of a new pump station and pipeline and sending untreated wastewater to the City of Gresham for treatment and discharge at their existing wastewater treatment plant. The total estimated cost of this project is $165 million.

Groundwater Recharge - Construction of an MBR plant at the existing treatment plant site and expanding the City’s current water reuse program to include both irrigation at a local nursery and discharge to groundwater, ultimately augmenting our region’s diminishing groundwater supply. The total estimated cost of this project is between $134 million and $147 million, ultimately depending on the final level of treatment required by the State.

The Groundwater Recharge solution is noted as the preferred alternative in the Wastewater Facility Plan Amendment, as it is the best combination of implementation feasibility and the lowest overall project cost. This solution also aligns with the Oregon Legislature’s desire “to encourage water reuse and to expand opportunities for water reuse in this state in a manner that protects public health and the environment”, as noted in House Bill 2169, which was adopted in 2025.

The City Council will be considering adoption of the Wastewater Facility Plan Amendment at their June 1 meeting. We are committed to ensuring recurring updates and communications regarding this important project. Stay up-to-date and learn more about all the City’s water and wastewater projects at: https://www.ci.sandy.or.us/publicworks/page/water-wastewater-projects.

Sandy City Council meetings are held on the first and third Mondays of each month at Sandy City Hall, 39250 Pioneer Boulevard. These meetings are open to the public, both in person and virtually. The agenda is typically published the Thursday prior to the meeting. Each agenda contains a Zoom link for those who wish to attend virtually. Come check us out and learn more about what is happening with the City!

Cheers!

Tyler Deems

City Manager