Early in 2000, over 60 citizens met as the Start-Up Committee for a remarkable outreach effort known as "Complete Communities for Clackamas County". Their charge? To develop a purpose statement and public outreach process, and to identify the most comprehensive issues to be considered when answering the questions "What is a Complete Community?" and "How can we make our communities more complete?"
  Three Commmunity Congresses were held and a second series of meetings held in each of the four regions of the County to confirm what the County officials heard from citizens and to prioritize the recommendations developed by the citizenry. Additionally, a project called Completing Connections was undertaken to develop possible governance options to encourage greater local citizen involvement and decision-making.
  The fourth County-wide Community Congress is scheduled for April 9, 2005, at the Jackson School Campus (site of the old Oregon City High School, see location details at end):
  Everyone in Clackamas County is invited to hear about how previous Complete Communities recommendations are being carried out and talk about what should be done in the future.
  "We invite everyone in Clackamas County to join us at our Fourth Complete Communities Congress," said Board of County Commission Chair Martha Schrader. "This Congress will help us continue to develop the blue print for maintaining our high quality of livability in the fact of change and growth."
  A new draft ordinance to allow unincorporated areas in Clackamas County to become hamlets and villages also will be available for review. Issues for discussion include:
• Citizen Involvement
• Cultural Opportunities
• Diversity
• Economy and Employment
• Education
• Environmental Quality