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April 10, 2013
10
- Your Answer Guide
FILE PHOTO
Damascus
Population:
9,990
Area:
16.15 square miles
Households:
3,323
Elevation:
712 feet
Average home value:
$298,004
Median household size:
3
Educational attainment:
67% have complet-
ed some college or earned a degree
* Information drawn from the U.S. Census.
The city of Damascus is in Northeastern
Clackamas County, distinguished by dra-
matic forested buttes, rolling hills and val-
leys crossed with streams, all under the
watchful eye of majestic Mount Hood and
less than 15 miles from downtown
Portland.
A half dozen families had established
the early beginnings of the Damascus
community by 1852 as they laid claims
along the Barlow-Foster Trail, a spur off
the old Barlow Road, which connected
Eagle Creek and Portland — a historic set-
tlers’ route that would later become
Sunnyside Road.
The name Damascus as an identifier for
the community can be traced back to
1867, when a post office by that name was
established.
Despite the proximity to metropolitan
Portland, and although local residents had
long enjoyed amenities (like water service
to their homes) not common in other unin-
corporated rural areas, Damascus
remained perched on the very edge of
urban development until the dawning of
the 21st century.
The city of Damascus’ boundaries are
roughly the Multnomah County line to the
north and Southeast 257th Avenue to the
east. The southern boundary is as far
south as the Clackamas River in some
places, and to the west the boundary is SE
177th Avenue.
Voters in 2004 also chose members of
the first Damascus City Council, many of
whom had been involved with the citizen
group advocating the formation of the new
city. Presently, they are working with the
Damascus community, Clackamas County
and the state to preserve the spirit of
Damascus for future generations.
City Hall
19920 SE Highway 212
Damascus 97089
Call: 503-658-8545
City Manager:
Greg Baker
Mayor:
Steve Spinnett
Call: 503-659-7722
Councilors:
Jim DeYoung, Andrew
Jackman, Mel Obrien, Randy Shannon, Bill
Wehr, Mary Wescott
Police:
Contracted with the Clackamas County
Sheriff’s Office.
Call: 503-655-8211 (non-emergency)
Fire:
Boring Fire District
Call: 503-663-4638
Clackamas County Fire District #1
Call: 503-742-2600.
Mayor Steve Spinnett
Steve Spinnett was born in Japan along with five of
his nine siblings. When he was four years old, his fam-
ily moved to Portland. He has lived in Damascus since
1993, and graduated from Gresham High School. He
opened an auto repair shop in Southeast Portland in
1976 that is still in operation today.
Jim DeYoung
A native of North Illinois, Jim DeYoung was born
into a farming family on the state line with Wisconsin
and came to Damascus area in 1971 with his wife. A
teacher of Greek and New Testament at Western
Seminary, he was an early participant in the
Damascus Community Association.
Andrew Jackman
Andrew Jackman moved with his family from
Corvallis to Damascus in 1994. He said the city has a
“wonderful opportunity to design its own infrastruc-
ture, character and process for future development.”
Mel Obrien
Born in Oakland, Calif., in 1950, Mel Obrien has
been a Damascus resident since 2004. He wants to
maintain his city’s “rural” nature and avoid “big city”
problems by preserving the city of Damascus as an
entity and keeping as much local control as possible.
Randy Shannon
Randy Shannon is married with two children and
has served on numerous groups and committees to
pursue incorporation of Damascus since 2002.
Bill Wehr
Bill Wehr was born Brooklyn, N.Y., and in 1976
came to Damascus, where he and his wife have lived
ever since. He said he wants to “help bring before the
citizens a quality Comprehensive Plan that respects
property rights.”
Mary Wescott
After growing up in Newberg and Tigard, Wescott
has lived in Damascus for 18 years. She has been
closely involved with a number of community organi-
zations, including Good Morning Damascus, the Day
in Damascus community festival, Kiwanis,
Soroptimists and more.
Damascus City Council
What’s new:
Three new faces joined city govern-
ment this year in Jim DeYoung, Mel
Obrien and Bill Wehr, councilors elected
in November.
Another new face came last July with
City Manager Greg Baker.
Damascus continues to work on its
comprehensive plan, to govern how the
area grows over the next 20 years,
which was recently submitted to the
state and rejected by voters.
Meanwhile, petitioners have started
collecting signatures needed to place a
measure on the November ballot for a
“Vote to Determine Whether to
Disincorporate the City of Damascus.”
Signature event:
Day in Damascus
is a community celebra-
tion, focusing on family fun, great enter-
tainment and great food for all to support
the Damascus Centennial Park and other
community service activities of KIWANIS in
Damascus. The event has been held on the
last Saturday in July, from 10 a.m. to 4
p.m. in the Damascus Centennial Park,
which is located next to Bi-Mart.