Fires Started!

Me and the fam went out for a little walk to check out the 'Practice Burn' exercise for the Cornelius Fire Department. This was 1 of the 3 buildings scheduled for demolition from a previous Blog posting.

Cornelius Parks, my perspective

Tomorrow, Monday - The Parks Advisory Board will discuss their Parks Master Plan.
I wanted to do my own little homework and drove around visiting Cornelius's current park offering.

Listed here: http://www.ci.cornelius.or.us/index.asp?Type=GALLERY&SEC={EA25527E-3494-4017-A0E9-76A7ADFBDCDC}

10 so-called "Park"s and 2 Open Space Parcels of land. The 2 open space I did not visit, and I couldn't locate "Free Orchards Park - 1493 S Fawn Street".

Here's my ranking: [Best to Worst]
1. Tarrybrooke - Good use of the Basketball Court, nice open space, what a park should be.
2. Harleman - Nice Large space around the School Area, perfect for Concerts/Entertaining Events...I'll certainly check out again
3. Alpine - Cute, Small, Park Space -> City focused on developing further - GOOD
4. Dogwood - Good mix of activity -> City focused on developing further - GOOD
5. Water - Nice little space and gathering area [Awful view of a Cell Tower and Huge Cement structure]
6. Aboretum - How is this a park? I don't get it.
7. City Hall - Green Rectangular Space of Lawn = Park?
8. Ryland - Super Steep location, easy to miss, Very outdated equipment.
9. Steamboat - Long forgotten it seems to me. A lot of overgrowth, and littered. What a shame.
10. Free Orchards??? Where is it?

Other comments: I think the true parks Cornelius has and maintains are the Top 5 above...the rest are I.M.O. either 1) not really "parks" or 2) starved of attention. The City should get the word out, ask for volunteer support, ask for resources. We're in Oregon, people! We're crazy about preserving green spaces, even more so if they're in our own backyard.

I think Cornelius really needs to focus on maintaining and bringing their current "parks" up to speed BEFORE they go thinking BIG about future developments. Everyone likes NEW stuff. I'd survey the residents surrounding the parks in place, and ask them their satisfaction level, and go from there.

Please fill out this 6 question survey for Cornelius

http://www.corneliussurvey.com/

There you'll find a quick set of questions that will assist in the planning of the City of Cornelius's PARKS MASTER PLAN. It is scheduled for final review and adoption October 2009. Your participation is greatly appreciated.

Improvements could range from favoring hiking/running trails to sporting facilities/swingsets...

1 comment box allows "real" input...the rest is either multiple choice/scale based/the like.

Have a part in the future of Cornelius!

Planning Commission, for me? Hold the applause...

So it looks as though my efforts to publish commentary on Cornelius Developments have gotten some notice. In the span of a few months, I've received feedback from local newspapers, city personnel, Wal-Mart reps, and co-workers (albeit most, if not all, jokingly). Anywho...it was amongst all this interest that I stumbled apon an opening for a spot on the City of Cornelius's Planning Commission. *Trumpets sound* Just kidding.

Honestly, I'm honored to be a part (1/7 to be exact) of the process thats in place to support the City Council and City government as a whole. I look forward to learning the details and behind-the-scenes work that goes on into Land Use approvals, etc. Who wouldn't want to know where there money goes to after its TAXED AWAY? I'm interested. FYI: Planning commission members are volunteer. See? Tax Money saved already. Go Cornelius!

All joking aside, I think I'll have to 'self-censor' most of my commentary going forward in this forum. Seeing as the Planning Commission has Legal Authority and all. Bias, ex parte, and all that jazz, you know?

Too bad for me though...I'll have to return the voucher for lifetime supply of Laundry Detergent courtesy of Wal-Mart. Totally Joking. I wouldn't dare return it! :)

I have to get back to work on my proposal of mandating that residents install Pink Flamingos on their lawns now.

Until next time,
Commisioner Jose
Formerly known as, just plain Jose

P.S.: Please don't hesitate to visit www.ci.cornelius.or.us and check for upcoming Planning Commission dates, the public is always welcome to play a part in the process for more perspective. 7 representing 10,000+...we may miss an idea here and there. ;)

The Planning Commission usually meets on the 2nd/4th Tuesdays of the month.

Current Topic: Parks Master Plan, can't remember the name exactly.

Wal-Mart update 'Summer Construction'

From the Cornelius City Manager's weekly update: "Great News - Wal-Mart's construction plans arrived on Tuesday (April 14)! They will be reviewed quickly and returned for any corrections before a permit is issued. A summer groundbreaking is planned."

Fire(s)! Wait... these were planned...oh.

From Cornelius City Manager {Dave Waffle}'s weekly 'Hot Off the Griddle' [Sunday March 29, 2009]:

"TMT Development has finally agreed to the demolition of the three decrepit, white-frame structures with numerous broken windows on their property between the Burger King restaurant and N. 26th Street on Baseline Street. All three will be burned as part of training exercises before June 30th. YEAH!"

In other news...MAX extension to Forest Grove update?

Kidd ready to pitch Forest Grove rail
Hillsboro Argus, Nick Christensen
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/argus/index.ssf?/base/news/123515401512430.xml&coll=6

Excerpt: "Metro is launching a study of the next 30 years of rail construction, and an extension of the Blue Line from Hillsboro to Forest Grove is one of 15 lines the regional planning agency will consider for construction before 2040. "

Commentary: All power to Mayor Kidd! Good Luck proposing this, try not to let Metro stand in your way.

Metro's "Regional High Capacity Transit System Plan"
http://www.oregonmetro.gov/files/planning/hct_fact_sheet-020609.pdf

Commentary: From what I understand, this is a long-range plan to evaluate corridors for additional transportation needs.