May 2015

Naming Contest

We need a snappier name for our Continuous Process Improvement program. Please think of some good labels, and enter them into a naming contest. We'll all vote, and the winner will be memorialized in an equestrian statue in the center of the Iron Mountain roundabout (well, it will be a virtual one with the help of Photoshop). Words that are associated with this program are Quality, Customer, and Lean. Acronyms are fine, but CPI seems to have been taken (and not to be confused with our PCI - pavement condition index - and CIP - capital improvement program). To submit your entry, just fill out this quick form: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/BGYVCJN

Introducing...  www.LakeOswego.city
Have you ever been on the phone, trying to give someone your e-mail address? Do you get tired of saying "dot," and does the other person get confused? Well, our sparky colleagues in IT have created a solution. A new series of web name extensions opened up, and the IT department snagged lakeoswego.city. Much simpler, yes?

We won't print out new business cards or re-paint the police cars just for this. Instead, we'll do a "soft roll-out." Use the new address (good for both the web site and e-mail addresses) where it's easy to update, such as electronic publications. When you do print new cards or outfit a vehicle, use the new address. It may take a few years to fully make the switch, but that's okay. Both addresses will work.

Here are some tips and guidelines from IT:

• For the web address, it doesn't matter if you put "www" in front. Both "www.LakeOswego.city" and "LakeOswego.city" work. Sometimes it's good to put www in front so people know it's a web address; use your own judgment.
• Capitalization doesn't matter either. LakeOswego.city looks a little classier, but lakeoswego.city works just as well. Most e-mail addresses are all lower case, so name@lakeoswego.city would be appropriate.
• www.LakeOswego.city will get you into the web site, but when you navigate around in it, your browser will show the old www.ci.oswego.or.us. 
• People can send you mail using name@lakeoswego.city, but when you hit reply, it will show the response coming from name@ci.oswego.or.us.
• All the former shortcuts and extensions still work with the new web address. For example, you can get to the library page via LakeOswego.city/library in the same way you can with www.ci.oswego.or.us/library (and isn't it easier to type?)

Recognition
Last month, Megan Phelan received national recognition with the Pacesetter Award, given by the National Public Employees Labor Relations Association (NPELRA). And Ivan Anderholm has earned the distinction of being a "Certified Parks & Recreation Executive," one of only 129 nationwide.

If you or your colleagues receive any awards or recognition from professional or community organizations, please let me know.   --Scott

​

Special April 1 Edition

Local News
Developer Jerry Abel has announced plans for a new strip mall to be built at an undisclosed location. When asked if it would be consistent with village character, he replied, "Sure, I'm going to name it some kind of village; I'm leaning toward Swampview Village."

Parks Director M.J. Chong said there is no truth to the rumor that recreational marijuana will be grown at Luscher Farm as a source of revenue to the parks department.

The Knickers Dune Neighborhood Association is working on an amendment to the city's development code that would require use of a single house plan for any new infill development. The three members of the board are meeting next Wednesday to choose the paint color and to decide whether the shelves in the hall closet should be poplar or melamine.

In related news, the Second Subtraction Neighborhood Association recently mailed a survey to residents asking for opinions on a variety of Neighborhood Association issues and concerns, including elephants at the Oregon Zoo and the US military presence in Syria.

The Historical Society has mounted a campaign to preserve an old sandwich (circa 2008) that was left in the refrigerator of the employee lunch room.

The school board took testimony for three hours from angry parents, complaining their daughters didn't get enough playing time on the basketball team. One of the board members commented, "Seems we should instead be spending our time talking about educating our children." "What does that have to do with school?" parent Jock Stropp demanded.

Region
On Monday, I-205 was once again turned into a parking lot, extending from Oregon City to the Glen Jackson Bridge. The cause this time was a four-hour closure of all northbound lanes as emergency responders attempted to resuscitate a bug on a windshield.

State
A growing number of of bills have been introduced in the 2015 legislative session to impose a variety of land use "fixes" on local governments. LCDC Chair Dick Tator commented in a committee hearing, "We should just cut to the chase and make all local land use decisions in Salem."

Governor Luke E. Mee has proposed a bill that would include friends with benefits as members of households for the purpose of state ethics rules. The Senate Committee on Manners held a spirited and sometimes salacious debate on the definition of "benefits."

Nation

In response to the spiraling cost of higher education, Congresswoman Patty Padiddle has introduced a bill allowing student debt to be excused in exchange for donation of certain body parts for scientific research.


World
As a gesture to end the conflict in the Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin  has challenged German Chancellor Angela Merkel to an arm wrestling competition (best two out of three). Suspiciously, sales of black market steroids in Russia spiked after the announcement.