2017 Accomplishments

2017 Accomplishments - Community Development Department

Transportation Bond Work Continues. During the summer, approximately four miles of City streets were repaired and repaved at a cost of $1.4 million. Additionally, the $2.6-million NE 5th Street Improvements Project was completed. The purpose of the 5th Street project is to improve traffic flow in the City’s core and enhance roadway and pedestrian safety.

The City worked with the School District to identify needed pedestrian safety improvements near schools and other public facilities. In 2017, the City completed $1.2-million of work to sidewalks and crosswalks in many areas of the community, including:

•   Adding sidewalk along Ford Street south of 1st Street;
•   Upgrades to the Fellows Street / Agee Street crossing;
•   Installation of sidewalk and crossing improvements along South Davis Street (Alethea Way to Cleveland Avenue);
•   Upgrades to the Michelbook Lane / Ash Street crossing;
•   Upgrades to the Galloway Street / 15th Street crossing;
•   Completion of the Star Mill Way - Wallace Road sidewalk;
•   Sidewalk improvements along Grandhaven Street (Lucas Drirve to Grandhaven Drive).

These improvements are part of the $24-million transportation bond measure approved by the voters in 2014. Thank you voters of McMinnville!

Sanitary Sewer Improvements Constructed. The City continued to invest in upgrades to the public sanitary sewer system in 2017. Work included the replacement of the 1970’s vintage 3-mile Lane #3 pump station at a cost of approximately $700,000. Additionally, work to remove unwanted storm water and groundwater (inflow and infiltration) from the sanitary sewer system near Riverside Drive was completed. Over 2,700 lineal feet of sanitary sewer pipes were lined at a cost of approximately $100,000.

National Public Works Week Celebration. City staff conducted the 10th annual Public Works Week “touch a truck” event at three local elementary schools. The program is done in partnership with McMinnville Water and Light, Public Works, Wastewater Services and Engineering staff members who all participate in the planning of the program as well as the on-site activities each year. This year’s program included outreach to the kindergarten classes at Newby Elementary, Columbus Elementary, and Grandhaven Elementary schools.

2017 Accomplishments - Fire Department

•   Successfully merged the City CERT Program with the County CERT Program. This merger combines resources providing both entities a better coordinated response during the event of an emergency and eliminates redundant training.
•   Recruited and hired a Deputy Fire Marshal (DFM) which has allowed the Fire Department to improve our fire safety and prevention efforts. The DFM has provided for an increase in high risk fire inspections, improved staffing to investigate fires, and a continuation of our public education programs.
•   Completed the first year in the cooperative MOU with Amity which provides an increased EMS resources for both departments. Looking to expand that MOU to improve fire responses this year.
•   Partnered with the McMinnville Rural Fire Protection District to purchase the replacement engine for rural fire response.
•   Responded to a record number of state wildland conflagration request. McMinnville supported 5 Oregon conflagrations and 2 California Fires.
•   Responded to a record number of emergency responses through the year.
•   Another successful Toy and Joy year. This year the crews delivered presents to over 300 children in our community.

2017 Accomplishments - Police Department

•   In partnership with the Parks and Recreation Department. The City stood up the Downtown Safety Task Force to address problem behaviors in the downtown core area. In addition we have expanded our communications efforts with regards to downtown issues through our Task Force webpage.
•   Strengthened our community outreach efforts by hosting National Night Out in the Park, Coffee with a Cop, Shop with a Cop, Tip a Cop (which supports the Yamhill County Chapter of the Oregon Special Olympics), and the Law Enforcement Torch Run “Plane Pull” (which supports Oregon Special Olympics), the Parker Archie Moore Memorial 3.5 mile run/walk (supports the Parker Archie Moore scholarship fund). Additionally, we hosted dozens of children and community groups providing them information about what MPD does for our community.
•   MPD partnered with YCSO and Yamhill County Health and Human Services to present the inaugural CIT training in Yamhill County. A Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) program is a model for community policing that brings together law enforcement, mental health providers, hospital emergency departments and individuals with mental illness and their families to improve responses to people in crisis.
•   Remain committed to partnering with UNIDOS and our “aLERT” “law enforcement relations team” to expand and bridge communications with the Latino community and the MPD.

2017 Accomplishments - Parks & Recreation

Expanded or enhanced parks and rec services this year to include:
•   More summer camps, including additional capacity in some camps (up to 70% increase) with new camp offerings such as a lacrosse camp.
•   Additional capacity for more swim lessons at the Aquatic Center and an increase in swim club memberships.
•   New enrichment opportunities in our Kids on the Block after school program including dance, recycled art projects, and nutrition education.
•   Increased Wortman Park Café meals served by 14%.
•   Gained increased sponsorships for youth baseball/softball.
•   Renovated the soccer fields at Dancer Park.
•   Over 1600 showers to community members who do not have access to safe and clean showers.

2017 Accomplishments - McMinnville Public Library
176,287 visitors to the McMinnville Public Library

RFID
The library collection was updated with RFID (radio frequency identification) on all library
materials, which allows for:
•    More rapid checkout.
•   Greater efficiency with self-check lines leading to less repetitive strain injuries for staff.
•    Reduction of time spent on circulation procedures, freeing staff for enhanced service.
•    Greater efficiency with inventory and ability to find lost or misshelved items.

Automated doors
The Friends of the Library funded new automatic opening doors for the front entrance of the library, which has been a great benefit for all who use the library. 

Unique collections
New collections of games and puzzles have been very popular for borrowing to use at home and for use in the library.

2017 Accomplishments - City Attorney’s Office

•   Responded to a large volume of requests for advice and guidance regarding policy and legal matters.
•   Provided labor negotiation leadership on eight separate matters.
•   Initiated process improvement for City’s public contracting rules, competitive solicitation and public contract form documents.
•   Converted part-time contact City Prosecutor to a full-time in-house Deputy City Attorney, which has provided improved coordination of legal services consistent with the City’s values and goals in the areas of criminal prosecution, code enforcement, public safety, affordable housing, and homelessness.
•   Transitioned HR functions to new staff following the retirement of a long-time employee and restructured HR responsibilities.
•   Developed and improved training programs.
•   Identified solutions to operational challenges in Municipal Court, which will improve gross and net revenues.

2017 Accomplishments - Information Systems

Infrastructure:
•   Deployed a new storage solution to replace the previous 2010 equipment – doubling operational City data space from 10 TB to over 20 TB.
•   Installed security cameras at several City park locations and expanded/improved City WiFi network across several buildings.
•   Moved 80% of City desktop computer up to Windows 2010.

Operations:
•   Began planned replacement of two major City systems – Municipal Court software (Spring 2018) and electronic permitting/processing (August 2018).
•   Performed a 3-year cycle refresh of City’s ERP systems and underlying server technology
•   Brought MEDP inside the City’s infrastructure.

Security:
•   Continued to battle security challenges including implementing active file system monitoring and patching for major exploits such as WannaCry/EternalBlue.
•   Began implementing 2-factor authentication for remote user access.
•   Upgrades to City firewall solution as the first and best line of defense against unrelenting intrusion attempts.