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47 °F Forecast | Road Cams Thursday, November 25, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend November 18, 2004 Eagle Point claims growth title Census data put the city a close second to Portland suburb Happy Valley, but local officials say the numbers are wrong By SCOTT SMITH Mail Tribune Fresh population estimates confirm phenomenal growth seen in Eagle Point and Central Point, but officials in those cities say they’re getting shortchanged with conservative numbers. Eagle Point’s population grew by more than 45 percent, from 4,797 to 6,980 residents, between the 2000 U.S. Census and July 1 of this year, according to preliminary estimates released this week by Portland State University’s Population Research Center. That would make it the second-fastest growing city in Oregon — just a hair behind Happy Valley, a southeast Portland suburb, which grew 46.9 percent to 6,640 residents. Eagle Point Planning Director Bunny Lincoln says her math shows PSU comes up short by several hundred residents. "We believe we have in the neighborhood of 7,200 to 7,400 people here," she said. Advertisement Eagle Point added 680 people last year alone, Lincoln estimated, based on the number of completed housing units. She multiplied the 241 units by a census-determined 2.82 people per unit to get that figure. (PSU says the town added 350 people last fiscal year). "That’s — pardon my language — a hell of a lot more than 350 people," Lincoln said. With that calculation, Eagle Point has grown more than 52 percent in the past four years, which would be the fastest growth rate in the state by far. "We’re continuing at record levels with residential building and beginning to experience a big upsurge in commercial," Lincoln said. It’s not just a matter of bragging rights — PSU’s estimates are used to determine how much state tax revenue Salem sends to cities statewide. Gas, liquor and cigarette tax revenues, for example, are distributed to cities based on population. Although he couldn’t determine the exact cost in potential lost revenue, Eagle Point City Administrator Dave Hussell described the difference as a "big deal." "When you’re off 8 or 10 (people), that isn’t a big deal, but when you’re off several hundred, it sure is," Hussell said. "The math doesn’t add up. "If we’re shortchanged a certain amount of that (state tax) revenue, that decreases our ability to serve our residents" by providing services and infrastructure such as road building and maintenance, Hussell said. "If they under-allocate to you, then that revenue goes to some other city, so it’s a big deal. That’s always been a bone of contention in Eagle Point." The city challenged 2000 census numbers that showed just 4,797 residents living there. Hussell said census officials told the city that they didn’t count post office box holders, leaving out hundreds of Eagle Point residents. Even worse, the 2004 estimate for Central Point shows its population actually declined by 30 residents, or two-tenths of a percent, last fiscal year. "There’s something wrong," said Phil Messina, city administrator in Central Point. "They’re showing us going backwards. "There’s a chad hangin’ somewhere." Messina said the city did slip in the number of building permits issued last year, "but we haven’t stopped building and we sure as heck haven’t lost population." He believes PSU’s 2004 estimate is off "by at least 500 to 600 people." "We’ll definitely be asking for a recount," he said. PSU’s estimate still shows 17.83 percent growth in Central Point — from 12,493 residents to 14,720 — since the 2000 census, making it the second-fastest growing city in Jackson County. Messina and Hussell both said they would call PSU to find out what went wrong, and Hussell said it’s likely to be corrected. "There have been times before ... where they’ve fixed it," Hussell said. "I’m not concerned about it. It’s just one more thing." A call to the Population Research Center wasn’t immediately returned Wednesday. Asked to describe the recent pace of growth in Eagle Point, Lincoln, the city’s only planner, said it’s "pandemonium, like always." "It’s really, really busy," she continued. "It’s an exciting time for Eagle Point — a lot of challenges and lot of opportunities." Hussell said the city’s growth has been largely planned, but "our biggest problem, in all honesty, is that growth has occurred a lot quicker than we thought it would." If current conditions continue, the city has less than 10 years of residential land available for development. But Hussell said the current regional problem solving process is on track to label land outside the city limits for future urbanization, a precursor to expanding the city’s urban growth boundary. So when the city needs it, there will be still more room to grow. Coming in as the third-fastest growing city in the county, Phoenix has seen 12.6 percent growth since 2000, PSU’s 2004 estimate shows. Assistant City Planner Angela Harding said the activity is likely a function of the city’s available land and central location between Ashland, which grew 5.47 percent to 20,590 residents, and Medford, which grew 8.69 percent to 69,220. Shady Cove came in fourth with 11.8 percent growth and 2,580 residents. Reach Assistant City Editor Scott Smith at 776-4464, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities