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The Sandy Source

Volume 55 | December 2024

Sandy's Holiday Celebration Returns Bigger and Brighter!

The City of Sandy is thrilled to announce the return of Winterfest, a six week-long community-wide event celebrating the holiday season. Now in its third year, Winterfest has become a beloved tradition, with attendance soaring from 3,000 to over 15,000 in just two years. This year promises to be even more magical, with more lights, decorations, volunteers, and sponsors contributing to the festive spirit.



From now, to January 5, 2025, Meinig Park will be transformed into a winter wonderland, fully lit and decorated for families to stroll through and enjoy. In addition to the park’s open hours, Sandy Parks and Recreation & Sandy Area Metro (SAM) will host a series of free holiday events for the whole community.

Mark Your Calendars for These Winterfest Highlights:


December 7, 2024 | 6:00-7:30 PM @ Meinig Park

Pet Pictures with the Grinch


Join us for a whimsical evening of fun and festive cheer!


Bring your furry friends and snap adorable family photos with the Grinch himself! Explore the petting zoo, meet some cuddly animals, and treat yourself to delicious holiday goodies.


A heartfelt thank you to our fantastic event sponsors:

  • Kiwanis-Supplying our Tasty Treats (For Humans)
  • Sandy 4H-Coordinating the Petting Zoo
  • Mt. Hood Pet Resort-Supplying Tasty Treats (For our Furry Friends)
  • Guide Dogs for the Blind-PUPPIES!
  • D31-Working with the Grinch!
  • PupScrub-Free Nail Trimmings (For Furry Friends)


December 14, 2024 | 6:00-7:30 PM @ Meinig Park

Estampa y Santa


Meet Santa, capture the perfect holiday photo, and drop off your letters to the North Pole! Enjoy enchanting performances by Estampa Mexicana that will fill the air with festive spirit.


A big thank you to our wonderful sponsor, the Sandy Rotary Club, for making this event possible! Come share the joy of the season with us—it’s going to be a night to remember!


…and of course, a huge thank you to SANTA!




December 20, 2024 | 5:00-7:00 PM

Stocking Stroll


Join Us for Sandy's 2nd Annual Stocking Stroll!


Get ready to jingle all the way through downtown Sandy!


Bring your festive spirit and enjoy a delightful stroll through downtown, visiting participating businesses to fill your stockings with sweet treats and holiday surprises!


Stay tuned for more information and a map of all the wonderful stops along the way. Let’s make this a night of joy and merriment together!

December 21, 2024 | 6:00-7:30 PM @ Meinig Park

Shortest Day Walkway


Celebrate the Season at Sandy's 3rd Annual Shortest Day Walkway!



Join us for a magical evening of adventure and holiday cheer!


Embark on a festive scavenger hunt through our beautifully decorated park, with special stops at all of the City of Sandy’s departments. Discover hidden treasures and spread some holiday joy along the way!



Don’t miss out on this enchanting night—grab your family and friends, and let’s make some merry memories together!


December 27, 2024 | 6:00-7:30 PM @ Meinig Park

Holiday Happy Hour (21+)


This is a 21 and over event, so gather your friends and enjoy delicious drinks from Just Rum and tasty bites from Jose Cantu (tamales) while soaking in the last of the dazzling holiday lights!


Plus, get ready for some excitement as we announce the winners of the Merry Makeover Challenge! Don’t miss out on this fabulous way to wrap up the holiday season—let’s toast to joy and laughter together!


Jolly Trolley Joy Rides:

December 6th, 8th, 13th, 15th, and 22nd


Rides at: 5:30 PM & 7:00 PM

Meeting Location: Sandy Transit Operations Center (16610 Campion Way)


Hop on the Jolly Trolley and join us for a festive ride through Sandy’s most enchanting neighborhoods where you’ll marvel at the twinkling lights and festive decorations! Stop by Meinig Park for a special holiday treat and soak in the magical atmosphere.


For more information and to register, give the transit department a call at 503-668-3466. Don’t miss this merry adventure—let’s celebrate the season together!


A special thank you to our Jolly Trolly sponsors for adding extra joy to the holiday experience:

  • Mt. Hood Hospice
  • Baker Agency Real Estate Group
  • The Loprinzi Family
  • The Mt. Festival Committee



December’s Merry Makeover Challenge: 

As part of Sandy's Winterfest, our Parks and Recreation Department is inviting all Downtown Sector businesses to join in on the excitement with the Merry Makeover Challenge


The Merry Makeover Challenge is a Christmas decoration contest between the businesses. The top three winners of the contest (plus the Mayor's Choice) will win a monetary prize and bragging rights!!


Winterfest would not be possible without our sponsors:


Gold Level - Barlow Trail Veterinary Clinic & Embold Credit Union


Silver Level - Trimble Rentals, Rolli’s Auto Body, Washman, Wegener Travel & Cruise, Ever Fresh Fruit Co. Next Adventure, Mt. Hood Community College & Clackamas County Bank


Friends of the Lights - Wippersnappers Kids Play Place, Sandy DeCor & AEC


For more information about our events, programs, or sponsorship opportunities, please contact Sandy Parks and Recreation at (503) 668-5569.

Oregon Transit Association Driver of the Year: SAM's Dan Berreth

SAM’s very own Dan Berreth received the prestigious Oregon Transit Association (OTA) Driver of the Year Award!! He was chosen from a select group of Oregon drivers that consistently demonstrate outstanding service and customer care.


You can view Dan receiving the award here. We are so proud and thankful to have Dan as part of the SAM team!

Dan Berreth has been a dedicated member of the Sandy Area Metro (SAM) team for 5 ½ years. In that time, he has become an invaluable asset to our organization. Known for his ever-present smile and signature dad jokes, Dan brightens the day of everyone he encounters, making both passengers and colleagues feel well cared for and appreciated.


Dan’s willingness to volunteer for special events (birthday trolleys, parades etc.) demonstrates his commitment to our community, always ready to lend a hand. His leadership skills were quickly recognized, and he was promoted to dispatcher, where his critical thinking and problem-solving abilities truly shine. Not one to easily have their feathers ruffled and when challenges arise, Dan is an exceptional communicator, addressing issues efficiently and effectively. 


It should be noted that in his 5 ½ years at SAM, Dan has had perfect attendance. In addition to his professional excellence, Dan goes above and beyond in the workplace. Whether it is cleaning the kitchen area, restocking coffee, giving coworkers pep talks, giving coworkers a ride home or taking on whatever duty is needed in the moment, he continuously shows his dedication to keeping our team environment running smoothly. 


Whether at home or on a trip to Disneyland, he is typically spending off duty time with his wife Jaime and son Nick. Dan enjoys home improvement and gardening in his backyard oasis. 


Dan’s hard work, positive attitude and team spirit make him truly deserving of the Driver of the Year award. We are proud to have him as a part of the SAM family. Thank you Dan!

Library Events

Sandy Library Giving Tree

Please help us keep our neighbors warm and cozy during this chilly season by bringing new or handmade hats, scarves, mittens, gloves, and extra warm socks to the Sandy Library. A tree will be in the lobby for you to decorate with your donations. Donated items at the Sandy library will go to the Sandy Community Action Center.


Donations will be collected through Saturday, January 4th, 2025.

Mahjong at the Sandy Library

Come play mahjong at the Sandy Library. Beginners are welcome!


An introductory course will take place at 2:00 PM, followed by regular play at 2:30 PM.


No set (game pieces) required to join, but if you have a set please bring it with you.


Date: 2nd Saturday of each month starting in November

Time: 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM

Location: Hoyt Community Room in the Sandy Library

Information on New Utility Rates

Water and wastewater utility rates will be increasing in January 2025. Please click here for more information. The revenue from these increases is necessary to construct critical water and wastewater infrastructure to ensure Sandy residents can continue to have access to safe and reliable drinking water into the future, and to fulfill the legal requirements of Sandy’s wastewater consent decree with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of Environmental Quality. 


The Cost of Stringent Regulations

Sandy is subject to stricter wastewater regulations than almost any other city in Oregon. The state requires Sandy to comply with the Three Basin Rule, which raises the cost of the wastewater improvements we have to construct by at least $60 million. Unfortunately, these extra requirements do not come with any additional state funding. The estimated total cost of our wastewater improvements is over $200 million. More information on the Three Basin Rule is available here.


With regard to drinking water, the EPA and the Oregon Health Authority are requiring that Bull Run water (Sandy’s critical supplemental water source) must be filtered to protect against cryptosporidium, resulting in the need to construct a new filtration plant. This in turn requires construction of new transmission infrastructure to ensure Sandy can continue to access Bull Run water. Similar to wastewater, these expensive regulations do not come with any additional funding. Simultaneously, Sandy is investing in our primary Alder Creek water source to protect our water supply and minimize the need to purchase supplemental Bull Run water over the long term. The estimated total cost of our drinking water improvements is $70 million.


What Will This Mean for My Bill?

The January 2025 rate increases will be 36% for fresh water, 16% for wastewater, and $2 for stormwater. The average residential utility bill will increase by about $36. The increase on your bill may be different based on consumption. You should expect the new rates to be reflected on the bill you receive in January. 


Sandy has been successful in securing a variety of grants and low interest loans to finance the needed projects. However, to qualify for this favorable financing, the City must demonstrate that our utility rates are sufficient to make the required loan payments. The City is pursuing increasing system development charges paid by new construction projects to ensure that new development is paying for its impact on the system.


What Can I Do?

We regret the need to raise rates, and we understand that higher rates have a meaningful impact on our community. In light of that fact, we want to assure our residents of two things: (1) we will be strenuously making the case to the state legislature and others that Sandy needs funding assistance to ease the financial burden that these required projects are placing on our residents, and (2) we have carefully evaluated the possible construction alternatives and have developed our capital improvement plan with a desire to make public dollars go as far as possible.

  • Contact Your State Legislator: If you are interested in adding your voice to the call for state funding assistance for Sandy’s required infrastructure improvements, we encourage you to do so. You can find your elected state representatives’ contact information contact information on this webpage.



  • Water Conservation: There are also many ways you can reduce your water consumption and lower your bill significantly. Things like leaky toilets, old appliances, long showers, and inefficient sprinklers all use surprising amounts of water. Here are 10 tips for lowering consumption indoors; and 10 more tips for lowering consumption outdoors.


Learn More

You can learn more about Sandy’s infrastructure reinvestment projects on the Public Works section of our website. You can also review past City Council meetings, and get information on attending future meetings and providing public comments on our meetings portal.


As always, if you have questions about your bill, please feel free to contact us at (503) 668-7449 or Utilitybilling@ci.sandy.or.us.

Current Land Use Applications


Here's the latest in our comprehensive database of active land use applications, complete with links to public meetings, documents, plans, maps, explanatory videos, staff reports, and other materials! You'll also find links to opportunities to take part in the decision-making process by submitting your own testimony.


Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions.

Upcoming Public Meetings

Be a part of the process! Members of the public are always welcome at meetings of the City Council and other boards and commissions.


Get meeting details and learn more about the variety of ways you can participate by visiting our online meeting portal.


Mark Your Calendars:

  • Parks & Trails Advisory Board: December 11th
  • City Council: December 16th
  • Transit Advisory Board: December 18th
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