Guest Author's blog

What should the mayor know? By Bud Clark

Guest Author — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 15:16:56 -0700

What should the mayor know? What should the mayor do? Those are the questions, the challenge that was originally given to me for the program today.

My first instinct was to do a random poll, asking different citizens what the mayor should know and do. I received answers from; put Portland Development Commision Districts back on the tax rolls and save the schools, to advice from a Neighborhood Developer from the Pearl, "focus Sam, focus". I also received some very good advice from long time friends, specifically Mike Lindberg and David Kish. Well, I sat down to start writing and out came some history and what followed was the formation of "community" both in and out of City Hall.

Mayor Elect Sam Adams, is probably as well prepared for the job of mayor as any mayor in the history of the city, having been chief of staff to Mayor Katz for 12 years and as a Commissioner for four. However, a long time in city hall can be a disadvantage. My predecessor is a perfect example. Frank Ivancie had been in city hall for 27 years when I beat him in 1984.

When I left city hall after only 8 years, I was surprised by the changes that had occurred in that 8 years. For 8 years I had not been shopping for groceries and certainly not at a big box store. The plethora of goods, packaging, and displays had changed. At the hardware store, I found power tools that were not available when I went to city hall. Construction efficiency had grown and many people had computers. At the Goose Hollow Inn we had 12 beers on tap instead of the three when I ran for office in 1984. I knew about the micro beer revolution of course, because I stopped for a beer occasionally to see Sigrid my wife at the Goose, but I emphasize occasionally, because when you are Mayor of Portland, Oregon you do not have time to drink. Being the Mayor of Portland is a 24 hour 7 day a week job. The world is changing very fast and knowing it from a citizens point of view is easily lost in the isolation of City Hall even though there is the illusion of knowing it all.

How does the Mayor over come this isolation, what do you do, I'm not sure. My solution was to not run for a third term. Maybe Sam has already faced and solved this isolation. He has attended several neighborhood meetings in my neighborhood and others, and at council he has demonstrated an awareness of the citizens point of view, which demonstrates to me, a bottom up management perspective rather than the top down approach.
Until the citizens of Northwest Portland started the NWDA in the late 1960's and early 70's the City was run from downtown. It was strictly top down management. Decisions were made behind closed doors. Isolation of City Hall from the general citizenry was the status quo. The media ignored neighborhoods too, reporting only tragedies in neighborhoods, murders, fires, etc. Thankfully in my opinion, the neighborhood revolution has been successful and now the citizens of our city identify with and have pride in their individual neighborhoods, from far South East to the Pearl.

Sam knows the neighborhoods and I hope he keeps in touch with them and therefore the citizens. The citizens are the stockholders of the city and the watch dogs of their neighborhoods. They must have input into the management of their neighborhood and their city. They must have that identification of ownership, of belonging, of community.

Also, the employees of the City must have a sense of community, responsibility and ownership and take pride in their work. One of the Mayors "dos" is to thank them for their work and let them take credit for their good works. When I came to City Hall I was pleased to find a professional work force that wanted to get things done and what they wanted from me and the council was direction. I did find exceptions to that which brings me to an example from the Police Bureau.

How many of you have been to North Mississippi Ave. recently. Well, it is booming. It tickles me to see it now because in 1985 the main business there was the illegal drug business. I said to the Captain in charge of narcotics at that time that we needed to get rid of the drug dealers at Mississippi & Shaver. He responded with, "Mr. Mayor, those drug dealers have been there for 25 years, we can't do anything about that". This was unbelievable to me. I asked, "Why do we have a police department then?"
Well, we, my staff, went around the middle management of the Portland PD. Carolyn Niemeyer of my office staff found that the Police on the street wanted to do something about the drug dealers, and of course the citizens and the owner of the single retail store of the neighborhood did too. Carolyn got the Building Bureau to have some derelict buildings torn down and the citizens organized a neighborhood watch and a community cleanup. It still took a long time for Mississippi and Shaver to become what it is today, but it took the Northwest Neighborhood 20 years to come out of it's depression too. You must begin some time and not just say, "We can't do anything about that".

Option: A second example of mid management indolence; Bicycles
I read and hear now that it is traditional for the Mayor to keep the Police Bureau in his/her portfolio. I don't know how the media determines how long a tradition is, but before I was mayor, the ‘tradition' was to assign the PP bureau to one of the commissioners. Commissioner Charles Jordon told me when I was Mayor Elect in '84 that the PPD was such a problem and distraction for the mayor, that I should assign it to a commissioner as it was tradition at that time.

My campaign for mayor in 1984 was done neighbor to neighbor, coffee to coffee. The issues I brought to office with me, were the issues that the citizens from all over the city gave to me, and the biggest issue was the Police Department. 90 percent of the citizens of all colors and social position looked upon the Police Department as the occupying army rather than as their protectors.

The Portland City Charter gives the power to appoint and fire the Chief of Police to the Mayor and only to the Mayor. I concluded that because the PPD had always been assigned to a commissioner it had evolved into an independent entity, on it's own, running it's own show without civilian, elected official oversight. Therefore I decided that the Mayor needed to be in charge of the PPD Bureau. I kept the PPD in the Mayor's portfolio for all 8 years and 5 chiefs pushing constantly toward community policing.
In November of 1984 when I was Mayor Elect, Doug Rake(sp), a video producer came to me with a video he had produced for the Eisenhower Foundation comparing the Tokyo PD, the Santa Anna PD, and the Portland PD. The Portland PD was the bad example following the traditional police practices which meant you waited for a crime to happen, made the arrest, and put the offender in the judicial system which was over stressed then as it continues over stressed today. The Tokyo Police Department was the good example of police officers living in the neighborhoods, with cobans or mini police stations at convenient locations in the neighborhoods. The Santa Anna PD was the example of a U.S. city transitioning itself toward what would become known as ‘Community Policing' getting the police out of their cars, being proactive, and having their officers reflect the racial mix of the citizens.

Whether it continues to be necessary at this time for the Mayor to keep the PPD in the Mayor's portfolio, I am not sure. If there is a commissioner with a passion and an understanding of community policing, and who would like the job, it might be wise to give him the bureau. The commissioner should have the assurance from the Mayor that the Mayor would follow through with recommendations for Chief of Police from the Commissioner. Community Policing in Portland still has a long ways to go.

Now to the direction. I was fortunate to have a great team which translated into team work with my commissioners all eight years. I learned about goal setting sessions in 1984 and used them with my staff when I was Mayor Elect and eventually started the practice with my commissioners. Mike Lindberg recalled to me a facilitator that came from Boulder, Colorado who was especially good. We, the City Council met at the Japanese Garden all day eventually coming to consensus on the Cities priorities for the following year. I would then assign the bureaus to each Commissioner who was most interested in that particular bureau and its' goals for the coming year. One commissioner was not a team player and I took all of his bureaus away distributing them to other commissioners.
The meetings were public, the media attended and the bureaucracies were aware of the consensus of goals we had agreed upon. From there we were able to follow through with the budget, with each commissioner and their citizen budget committees using the goals as the foundation of their individual budgets. As we shared the tasks we also shared the credit.
As you know I fought to keep the current charter. It is a unique form that has evolved over time. It is a flexible charter so the mayor has many options. If the Mayor and Council want less day to day involvement in the management of the city, the Mayor can create a City Manager model. I almost did just that when I was in office, but the passions of the commissioners and the successes we were having, made it an unnecessary step. Another option is give all the bureaus to the commissioners and hold none of them yourself, however, I think I'd keep the Office of Fiscal Management.

There are many stories and I could give advice about specific projects in the city but I have been most concerned about the lack of cohesion or shared goals on City Council. The Mayor and the Council can accomplish so much more by working together toward shared goals.

The Charter directs the Mayor to, "Exercise a careful supervision over the general affairs of the City." I like to emphasize "careful".

So my major "DO" for the new mayor is to focus on building consensus within City Hall and the community. Mr. Mayor, keep in touch with your stockholders, the citizens of our city, "the riches of the city". Mr. Mayor, use your intelligence, you creativity, and compassion. Lead us in partnership with the City Council, with the City Employees and with the Citizens to build a stronger community, a community of communities, to work together to make our city a better and better place to live on this planet.

Tearing it up on Depaving Day

Guest Author — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 14:01:15 -0700

By Jenn Bildersee, BES

Depave at work

Bands played and concrete crumbled as the Towards Carfree Cities Conference kicked off last Monday with Depaving Day. With pry bars and shovels, 150 volunteers began the transformation of a 3000 square foot asphalt parking lot into a community greenspace.

The empty lot on the corner of N. Williams and Fargo Street is now on its way to becoming Fargo Gardens, a pilot project of the nonprofit Depave that will soon feature vegetables, fruit trees, native plants, and a patio. Depave’s mission is to inspire and promote the removal of unnecessary concrete and asphalt from urban areas.

In addition to providing a new community space, removal of the parking lot will reduce pollution and provide new bird and butterfly habitat. The completed site will also be used to educate the public about pavement removal and storm water management.

Two Bureau of Environmental Services programs helped to set the stage for Fargo Gardens. Planting materials, tools, rental equipment, and project coordination will be funded by a grant from the Community Watershed Stewardship Program, which supports community groups and citizens in their efforts to protect and enhance watersheds. The program recently won the Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Partnership Award for Campus Community Collaboration.

To ensure that there was no soil contamination on the soon-to-be garden, the Portland Brownfield Program provided environmental assessment.Commercial properties across the city receive support from the Portland Brownfield Program to assess and clean up contamination.

Now that the asphalt is gone, Fargo Gardens volunteers will begin site preparation and planting. Up-to-date information on progress and opportunities can be found at www.depave.org, and a video of Depaving Day is online at www.streetfilms.org.

NYT: Building Costs Deal Blow to Local Budgets

Guest Author — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 09:39:59 -0800

By WILLIAM YARDLEY

SEATTLE - State and local governments in many parts of the country are struggling to pay for roads, bridges and other building projects because of rising construction costs, adding another burden to budgets already stressed by the troubled housing market.

The problems have come as many governments pursue ambitious projects to improve roads and airports, build schools and upgrade long-neglected water and sewer systems. Many of the projects were conceived when money from property, sales and income taxes was steady and interest rates low, but officials say the ground has shifted beneath their feet.

"Everybody's scared," said Uche Udemezue, director of engineering and transportation for San Leandro, Calif., which will soon put out a request for construction bids on a retiree center and a parking garage. "You don't know what you're going to find when you go out to bid."

Costs have jumped for projects as varied as levee construction in New Orleans, Everglades restoration in Florida and huge sewer system upgrades in Atlanta. The reconstruction of the Interstate 35W bridge in Minneapolis, a $234 million project, has been fast-tracked for completion by December, and state officials say it is too soon to know whether it will come in on budget.

The impact has been felt in different regions at different times, and not every project has been high-profile. In Oregon, high costs have forced the State Department of Transportation to slow the rate at which it upgrades roads and bridges. In Seattle, school building projects were put on a fast track this fall because of fears of cost overruns...[Read the rest at NYT.com]

Portland’s Transportation System “In Trouble”

Guest Author — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 16:10:20 -0700

Peggy Anderson

On Sunday, June 17, Portland City Commissioner Sam Adams joined ten Nob Hill business owners and residents in a walk along NW 23rd Avenue to assess the street's proposed reconstruction and to hear the views and concerns of those who live and work in the area. Adams oversees Portland's transportation system - which Adams says is "in trouble." The commissioner's website www.commissionersam.com outlines the following facts about the city's transportation infrastructure:

• 157 (22%) of Portland bridges are in poor condition.*
• 992 (43%) of Portland traffic signals are in poor condition.*
• Each year of deferred maintenance adds an estimated $9 million to future maintenance costs.*

During Sunday's walk with merchants, Adams saw first-hand many sections of the heavily-traveled NW 23rd Avenue that have become crumbling hazards due to buried trolley rails and rotting rail ties that have compromised the streets cobblestone and asphalt layers. Clearly, much more work than continued patching has been needed, but area residents and business owners have opposed reconstruction efforts that would shut down large sections of the street for months at a time, jeopardizing many businesses' very existence.

Adams has asked city engineers to develop multiple alternatives for tearing up and reconstructing NW 23rd Avenue that would last no more than two weeks along any block and that work be done at times that are best for businesses struggling to stay open during the project. These new approaches would condense the NW 23rd Avenue Reconstruction Project from its original 10-11 month timeframe to 2-3 months.

While Adams admitted there is no good time for businesses to be so impacted by a major construction project, he is currently exploring a schedule to last late-winter '07 to early spring next '08.

Adams has been hosting a series of town hall meetings on the Portland transportation crisis. Upcoming meetings include:

• Tuesday, June 26, 7-9 p.m., North and Northeast Portland King Neighborhood Facility (4815 NE 7th Avenue)
• Wednesday, June 27, 7-9 p.m., Northwest Portland Friendly House Conference Room (1737 NW 26th Avenue )
• Monday, July 2, 7-9 p.m., Central Northeast and East Portland Firehouse #12 (4415 NE 87th Avenue)

Since the earliest days of the NW 23rd Avenue Reconstruction Project, the Nob Hill Business Association has worked directly with Commissioner Adams, PDOT, area residents, and business owners to ensure that the reconstruction project has the most minimal impact possible on those whose livelihoods rely on the primary arteries of NW 21st and NW 23rd avenues.

(*Source: City of Portland Transportation System Status and Condition Report, July 2006)

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The Northwest Institute for Social Change

Guest Author — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 10:49:44 -0800

Phil Busse is Executive Director of The Northwest Institute for Social Change.

Nothing drives me more nuts than listening to a White House press conference. The reporters shy from any probing questions and have all but muzzled themselves.

There must be a better way.

That's why this summer we're hosting the Northwest Institute for Social Change here in Portland-an academic program for undergrads to learn how arts and the media can bring about positive and progressive social change. (Sam is on the Board of Directors.) We're hoping to turn out a new generation of truth-seeking filmmakers, bold journalists and rabblerousing musicians. Check out: www.nwisc.com. The institute is a mix of liberal-arts styled classroom academics (taught by Reed, PSU, UO profs) and real-life projects (like producing a series of short documentaries about gentrification and designing a media literacy curriculum for middle schools).

The only challenge? Finding our students! If accepted, students receive a full-ride fellowship and can earn academic credit!

We're recruiting undergrads from across the country-from Middlebury College (my alma mater) to University of Kentucky. And we need help finding the right students. This is truly an opportunity for an ambitious and optimistic college student to find traction for his or her political passions-and to turn them into a career in the media.

Do you have a professor from your alma mater who inspired students and would be able to recommend someone? Is there a person that you know at Student Affairs? Do you have a son or daughter in college who you would like to bring back to Portland for the summer - but have them do something more productive than hang out at Rooster Rock?

The ideal candidate has completed his or her first-year of college. A background in Political Science and/or Media Studies is helpful, but the program is open to all disciplines. The ideal candidate has experience with media or art projects-such as the school newspaper, college radio, a band, dance, ‘zines, blogs-and has worked with community projects. When thinking about the student, these adjectives should come to mind: charismatic, motivated, creative, optimistic, tenacious.

We are not necessarily looking for the A+ student who sits front-and-center, but are looking for students who have potential, and who have a seriousness and earnestness of their purpose and desire to positively affect their communities-whether that means starting a blog that watchdogs city council in their hometown or means producing the next documentary that informs millions about global warming.

This summer is one that we hope will be a catalyst for professional development and personal transformation. Our application is on-line at www.nwisc.com or you can get it right here.

10 Tough Questions and 2 Easy Ones for Commissioner Sam

Guest Author — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 09:36:11 -0800

By David Zagel - David Zagel and Sam grew up together in Newport, Oregon; David now lives and works in Portland.

David: I saw in a couple of newspapers say that you are running for Mayor...

Sam: You could just as easily ask me if I am running for re-election and I'd say the same thing: I'll decide what to do with my future at the end of 2007. In the meantime, I am focused on the work in front of me. I work with a great staff and bureau teams; I have a wonderful job in a city I love.

David: Okay, but I also read a local magazine that called you the ‘whirling dervish," convinced that someone who works as hard as you do can only be looking to climb the job ladder.

Sam: I've always put in long hours at work; I guess as a staffer for 21 years it went unnoticed because my work was behind the scenes. Now, I'm out and about a lot. I like to get out of the City Hall bubble, to hear from people directly. That means a lot of evening and weekend events.

David: "Hard work." Is that how you explain wearing a rubber suit, going topless in a Bishops Barbershop newspaper ad, signing up for the annual Woodstock neighborhood dunk tank...?

Sam: [laughing] Hey, what I do in my off hours is my business... I try and be a good sport. I don't take myself too seriously. I'm happy to be a total goofball if it helps a good cause. Did I tell you I am doing the Tango this May for Young Audiences? Buy a ticket and see how my two left feet can mangle a beautiful Argentinean dance...

David: About last year, proudest accomplishments?

Sam: The tram's launch, the $3 million small business tax reduction, completion of the nation's first urban Watershed Management Plan and City Council approval of my $5.6 million one-time funding request for street safety improvements throughout Portland.

David: ...biggest disappointments?

Sam: My on-street parking meter discussion with Hawthorne businesses clearly was a flop. I was unsuccessful in convincing my colleagues to lower the lobbyist reporting threshold to eight hours a quarter -- the lower threshold would catch more lobbying activities in City Hall.

David: What's in store for 2007?

Sam: Another busy year: Lobby the State Legislature for more transportation funding. Improve services in the Bureau of Maintenance. Realign workforce training programs to boost wages. Fight the EPA's attempt to raise our sewer bills, again. Establish a comprehensive ‘green city' stormwater strategy. Keep $1.4 billion ‘Big Pipe' project on time and on budget. Choose bridge option for I-5 Columbia River crossing. Launch Creative Capacity strategy to boost support for the arts...

David: Tell folks why you had your chin cut off?

Sam: It was part of a procedure to cure my ‘sleep apnea.' During a sleep study I "woke up" 127 times in four hours but I had no memory of it. People need to see their doctor if they are rough sleepers like I was. Now, I'm getting caught up on decade's worth of sleep deprivation.

David: Is it just me or have you been in the media a lot lately?

Sam: Yeah, I know...My work focuses on transportation, neighborhood small businesses, sewers, rivers, arts and culture, workforce training, equality and higher education. These issues attract media attention because they are often controversial issues that Portlanders care about.

David: I was surprised to read that the Oregonian columnist Steve Duin took you to task this year for not mentioning Vera's name in some of your 2004 campaign brochures.

Sam: Steve was right. In April 2004, my opponents portrayed me as a Vera clone. I over-reacted to it by downplaying or failing to mention in four campaign brochures the fact that I served for 11 years as Chief of Staff to Mayor Vera Katz. That was wrong. I apologized to Vera.

David: What do you think would've happened had the tram not finished on the timeline and budget you helped set?

Sam: I would have been a one-term City Commissioner for sure.

David: How do you like your new nickname I've been hearing, ‘Sam-the-Tram'?

Sam: [laughing] I have been called a lot worse! The name "Sam" rhymes with a lot of words. As part of my work as arts commissioner during Portland Fashion Week, they called me "Glam" Adams. I tease others, so turnabout is totally fair play.

David: How are your chickens doing?

Sam: My three hens are doing really well, thank you. Along with my vegetable garden, I guess I am now officially an urban bachelor-farmer in North Portland.

The Regional Arts & Culture Council to Offer Artists Workshops in 2007

Guest Author — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 11:35:18 -0800

Eloise Damrosch is the Executive Director of the Regional Arts & Culture Council.

Starting in January 2007, the Regional Arts & Culture Council (RACC) will be offering professional development workshops for working artists in all disciplines. These workshops are offered as part of RACC's commitment to provide relevant and inexpensive learning opportunities that help artists become more successful in their careers.

Six professional development workshops will be presented from January to June, including sessions on public art, marketing, fabrication processes, legal issues, grant writing and new media formatting. RACC staff, along with highly qualified specialists in their fields, will be leading these presentations. The following is a schedule of workshops that will be offered in the Portland area, and preparations are underway to repeat some of these workshops later in the year for artists in Washington and Clackamas Counties. To register for RACC Workshops go to www.racc.org/workshops.

Friday, January 19, 2007 from 9:00 A.M. to noon
Artists Wanted: Public Art from A to Z

RACC's public art managers Peggy Kendellen and Kristin Calhoun review the process of applying for a commission from the City of Portland's 2% for Art Program and Multnomah County's 1.33% for Art Program. Participants will be guided through successful application examples, reviewing - 2 - budgets, timelines, and architectural issues associated with publicly funded capital construction projects. Location: Portland Building, 2nd Floor Auditorium, 1120 SW 5th, Portland, OR, 97204. Fee: $15.

Friday, February 16, 2007 from 9:00 AM to noon
The Balancing Act: Making Art and Making Money

This marketing workshop is specifically designed to help working artists in every discipline promote and/or sell their work. A panel of marketing experts including Carolyn Campbell, Bob Sterry, and Bonnie Meltzer will share their perspectives on marketing, and how artists can clarify their niche and market, create specific marketing plans, and design an effective website. Location: Portland Building, 2nd Floor Auditorium, 1120 SW 5th, Portland, OR, 97204. Fee: $25.

Saturday, March 17, 2007 from 9:00 AM to noon
Making Art/Work for a Public Space: the Ins and Outs of Public Art Fabrication

Learn how studio work can be fabricated for the public realm using permanent materials. The workshop will feature an interactive panel discussion with artists, fabricators and conservators who will address selecting the right materials for a project, appropriate fabrication processes for specific media and installation concerns. Following the discussion, artists will have time to talk with local fabricators who will be available to discuss their processes and provide information about their services. Location: New Columbia Community Education Center, 4625 N. Trenton, Portland, OR 97203. Fee: $25.

Friday, April 20, 2007 from 9:00 AM to noon
Legal Issues for Artists

Portland's own Art Cop and President of Northwest Lawyers and Artists, Attorney Kohel M. Haver discusses a variety of legal issues facing today's creative entrepreneur (artist). In this three hour session specially tailored for film makers, recording artists, literary artists, and visual artists, participants will review several types of artist contracts and business documents - including consignment agreements, copyright protection, litigation and fair use. Location: Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center, 5340 N Interstate Ave, Portland, OR, 97217. Fee: $25.

Friday, May 18, 2007 from 9:00 AM to noon
Grantwriting for Success

In this hands-on workshop Gigi Rosenberg leads artists through the grant writing process. Learn techniques for generating fresh language to describe yourself and your artwork. Discover methods to focus ideas, hone an artistic vision and secure funding for that next project. Please bring your artist's statement, if you have one, and start writing that next grant during this workshop. - 3 - Location: Portland State University, Smith Memorial Student Union, SW Park Avenue and Montgomery, Portland, OR, 97207. Fee: $25.

Friday, June 29, 2007 from 9:00 AM to noon
Going Digital: Submitting Application Materials in New Media Formats

Confused about the differences between JPG, TIF, PICT and other image formats? Unsure of which format is best for grant or public art applications? RACC staff will cover standard requirements for submitting music and other data on CD and video on DVD. Learn the best ways to format images, video and written materials and how to label and organize these images for readability. There will be two hours of hands-on activity where participants will learn to format digital images to meet general standards for projection and playback. Location: Art Institute of Portland, 1122 NW Davis, Portland, OR, 97209. Fee: $15.

Registration is now open, and space is limited. To Register online go to www.racc.org/workshops. A 20% discount will be available to artists who subscribe to the entire series. For more information email info@racc.org or call 503.823.4698.

Dave Lister Guest Editorial: Sam was Right to Reform the BLF

Guest Author — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 12:27:47 -0800

Dave Lister is the Secretary Treasurer for Integrated Data Concepts, Inc.

Simply stated, the City of Portland imposes a fee called the Business License Fee (BLF) on all business transactions that occur within its city limits.

Portland and Multnomah County's BLF/BIT did not cause us to leave the city. We stayed at our Northeast Portland location for eleven years. It was, however, a significant factor in our decision to relocate outside the city when we decided to upgrade our facility.

The owner's compensation component of the BLF/BIT was particularly onerous and unfair in our case. As a professional services company with two owners and two employees we are top heavy with owners compensation. Because of this, our BLF/BIT was nearly one percent of our gross revenue; this was more than our state and federal tax combined. Firms like ours have been carrying a disproportionate burden under the current system. This is particularly troubling in that firms like ours are exactly the type of businesses Portland desires to retain. We are a non-polluting, creative endeavor paying a living wage.

A sole proprietor in Portland who earns the same wage as a sitting Portland city commissioner pays approximately $1200.00 per year in city and county taxes that the commissioner does not. Top level city bureau managers earn more than twice the current owners compensation cap. It is fundamentally unfair to tax people simply because they choose to work for themselves rather than for others.

Our move to Tigard reduced our business licensing costs from nearly four thousand dollars annually to fifty five dollars. The cost savings covers 25% of the annual mortgage payments on our new facility. We have also used the cost savings to improve our employee health benefits and invest in new equipment.

In my view, Commissioner Adams' reform proposal will stimulate the local economy and in the long term increase overall revenues. The savings that businesses like ours would realize will for the most part be reinvested locally and create more jobs.

Guest Editorial: Island Leaders on What Planning Hayden Island Future Means to Them

Guest Author — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 11:18:35 -0800

Rick Gill, Brad Howton, Steve Welch and Walter Valenta are residents and business owners on Hayden Island.

What do you think of when you hear Hayden Island? Jantzen Beach Super Center? Home of Hooters? Tax-Free Haven for Vancouver residents?

For the nearly 5,000 people, we call this island home--home to our families, our businesses and our community. For us, Hayden Island offers a community that is unique in Portland. It also means we face some distinct challenges as an island community: one (very congested) way on and off the island; underdeveloped riverfront property; the lack of a town center; safe pedestrian and bicycle travel; transit options; and preservation of affordable housing.

But we see beyond these barriers. We see the potential for this island as much more:

I-5’s Scenic Gateway to Oregon from the North and Washington from the South (I-205 is the By Pass)
Portland/Vancouver’s Cruise Ship Port-of-Call with tourist friendly mass transit to downtown Portland and Vancouver.
Portland’s North Waterfront District to complement the South Waterfront District
A town village with a coherent development plan with higher density (total of more than 3,000 residential units) that maintains the diverse demographic of residents and types of housing; enough small retail, commercial, service, and light industrial businesses so residents do not need to leave the island; and open space parks with public access to the Columbia River and an inter-island paved bike/pedestrian trail system connected to Portland and Vancouver

Thanks to the strong will of many passionate residents and business owners, and the leadership and vision shown by the City Council, we have the tremendous opportunity to plan for a vision of this island that is attainable and sustainable.

NEA: The Arts and Civic Engagement

Guest Author — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 16:04:12 -0800

Dana Gioia is Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts. What follows is the preface to their recent study, "The Arts and Civic Engagement: Involved in Arts, Involved in Life."

This study (PDF)may contain the most widely useful data of any recent NEA report. The Arts and Civic Engagement demonstrates—with statistically reliable data—that arts participation overwhelmingly correlates with positive individual and civic behaviors. Put simply, Americans who read books, visit museums, attend theater, and engage in other arts are more active in community life than those who do not.

The results of this study surprised us at the Arts Endowment. While we were confident that arts participation contributed to civic engagement, we were astonished at the huge margins of difference between arts participants and non-participants. Arts participants, especially readers, engage in positive civic and individual activities—from exercise to charity work, from hiking to amateur sports league attendance—at strikingly higher rates than nonparticipants.

It is not necessarily obvious that a novel reader or classical music listener would be more likely to exercise or play sports; yet the data are unambiguously clear that they do. Arts participants are measurably different from non-participants—more active, more involved, and more socially engaged.

What accounts for these differences? It is impossible to offer explanations with the same statistical authority with which we measure the participation rates, but I can venture a highly plausible hypothesis.

Something happens when an individual actively engages in the arts—be it reading a novel at home, attending a concert at a local church, or seeing a dance company perform at a college campus—that awakens both a heightened sense of identity and civic awareness. We must banish the stereotype that reading books or listening to music is passive behavior. Art is not escapism but an invitation to activism.

The one alarming note in this study is that arts participation is falling among younger adults and with it most forms of civic and social engagement. Once again we cannot offer any statistically reliable proof of causation for these trends, but it is reasonable to speculate that the proliferation of electronic entertainment options offered to young adults has drawn them away from traditional forms of civic and social involvement.

The Arts and Civic Engagement is a study of vital importance to every arts organization in America. For the first time, artists, arts advocates, and educators have the means to communicate—in empirical terms—the far-reaching benefits of participating in the arts. Healthy communities depend on active citizens. The arts play an irreplaceable role in producing both those citizens and communities.

Read the study here (PDF).

Hawthorne Street hostel Gets Greener

Guest Author — Mon, 20 Nov 2006 16:50:20 -0800

By: Lisa Libby, BES

Later this summer, you will see a green wall among other sustainable stormwater treatments around the hostelIn 2001, the Hawthorne Hostel (3031 SE Hawthorne Boulevard) installed an ecoroof with a $5,000 grant from the City of Portland's Community Watershed Stewardship Grant Program. Now this neighborhood landmark is about to get a lot greener.

Construction is expected to start this January on the Hawthorne Hostel Rainwater Demonstration Project. The design includes two 3,000-gallon cisterns to harvest rainwater for the building's toilets, irrigation and other non-potable water uses. Overflow from the cisterns will irrigate vegetation on the front of the cistern walls and flow into a swale. The backside of the cisterns will be the surface for a community mural.

The stormwater management techniques will keep rainwater onsite and out of the sewer system, where the water would contribute to combined sewer overflows to the Willamette River. The re-use system will conserve fresh water, and the swale will allow rainwater to soak into the ground and recharge groundwater supplies.

About $75,000 of the project budget will come from the Portland Watershed Investment Fund. Commissioner Sam Adams initiated this general fund resource to support high-priority projects that promote watershed health.

On November 9th over 70 people attended a public open house at the hostel to view the project design plans and learn about community involvement opportunities. The design plans will be on display at the hostel until the construction is complete. For more information stop by the Hawthorne Hostel or contact Lisa Libby (Environmental Services) at 503-823-7863.

Keeping an Eye on Johsnson Creek

Guest Author — Mon, 13 Nov 2006 09:29:56 -0800

By Maggie Skenderian

Johnson Creek at "bankfull" stage last winterBES' Johnson Creek Team spent a lot of time during election week looking at data on the internet. We weren't watching the House and Senate races, but we were watching another close call.

Johnson Creek, known to flood on average every other year, rises quickly during major rain storms - which is why it's characterized as a 'flashy' stream. The creek rose and fell repeatedly during our last storm, and for a day or two, predictions looked like we were in for an event that rivaled November of 2006.

Five of the top twenty floods on record in Johnson Creek happened in November, so this time of year we start keeping an eye on the weather forecast and the creek. We pay particular attention to a stream gage that the United States Geological Survey (USGS) installed in the 1940's to monitor creek flows and water temperature. The Sycamore gage is in Johnson Creek at about SE 150th, just north of Foster Rd.

To view the data from the gage, click here.

We look at the changes in the real-time stream flow data and how it matches up with the prediction of what will happen over the following days. This is a great tool for documenting what's actually happened, but the flood predictions are only as accurate as the weather forecasts so we have to do some interpretation to decide how likely it is that it will flood.

On November 6th, we used Sycamore gage information to watch the creek levels (also called 'river stage') go from about 3.5 feet to about 8.5 feet in less than 12 hours. When the Sycamore gage shows Johnson Creek at 10 feet it is at 'Bankfull Stage'. At 11 feet it is at 'Flood Stage' and has usually gone over its banks in the Bell Station area (SE 72nd and Springwater Trail) and in Lents at about SE 110th and Foster. We also go out and make field visits so we can see what different parts of the creek look like at different high water levels.

Environmental Services is busy doing work to help minimize the negative effects of flooding. Through our Willing Seller Program, we've purchased over 160 acres of frequently flooded property that we will turn into restored floodplain areas. These restored floodplains will accommodate flood waters and provide fish and wildlife habitat, helping to improve the livability for areas of Johnson Creek that been plagued by frequent floods.

Completed projects include the Brookside Wetland and the Kelley Creek Confluence project. Restoration work will be complete in a few weeks in Tideman Johnson Park where floodplain restoration was an important component of addressing an exposed sewer pipe in Johnson Creek. These three projects add about 40 acre feet (an acre at the depth of one foot) of flood storage. Restoration work at the East Powell Butte Floodplain Restoration Project will add about another 70 acre feet when construction is complete in 2007.

Another large project will be complete by 2009 in the area south of Foster Rd., between SE 106th and SE 112th. This $3.6 million dollar project is being done with a $2.7 million dollar grant from FEMA's Pre-disaster Mitigation Program and will add about another 60 acre feet of flood storage.

Over the next 5-15 years, BES will work on acquiring another 140 acres of frequently flooded property and doing more floodplain restoration projects. Once the work is done, Johnson Creek will flood restored floodplains on a regular basis and will hit the roads and private properties only about every 10 years.

Elsewhere: Who's Your City? Share a Story

Guest Author — Wed, 08 Nov 2006 10:03:31 -0800

From Richard Florida, author of "The Rise Creative Class"

Well, I'm at it again, cranking away at a new book - and I have a huge favor to ask you. I want your stories.

See, this book is about how people pick the places they live and why that's the single most important decision they'll ever make. It's a book for you, any of you, wondering about all the different options out there. Here's is what I'd like for you to do:

Tell me about the place you live. Why did you pick your city or region? How did you go about picking it - what was your strategy? What other kinds of places did you look at? How has that choice affected the rest of your life? Your job or career? Friends, family, or romantic interests? Fulfillment and fun? Real estate jackpots or money pits? Would you do it differently next time? What cities and regions are on your radar for the future and why?

That's it. 100 or 200 words, on any or all of those subjects. 300-500 words could be even better. Send your stories to: whosyourcity@gmail.com, or post them on the comment section of my blog or do both.

Together, we'll build a reservoir of community knowledge that I hope can help get a little closer to understanding: Who's Your City? And remember, everyone: Make 'em zing! They just may find their way into print and around the globe. And thanks again!

BES employee, Renee Chauvin receives Crystal Crucible Award

Guest Author — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 10:36:07 -0800

By: Chuck Lytle, Ph.D,

BES, Water Pollution Control Laboratory

It gives me great pleasure to announce that Renee Chauvin, Water Pollution Control Laboratory, Quality Assurance Specialist, has been awarded the Pacific Northwest Clean Water Association (PNCWA's) "Crystal Crucible" award and was inducted into the "Crystal Crucible Society" for "...having made a significant contribution which promotes professionalism, pride and high ideals among those working in wastewater analysis, education, training, certification and management, and promoting innovative laboratory operations... membership in this society represents significant effort over time, positively contributing to the betterment of individuals associated with wastewater laboratories..."

This is the first time a member of the Lab has been given this award. The award ceremony took place at the quarterly meeting of the Water Quality Laboratory Analysts Section of PNCWA at the Salem Willow Lake facility November 2, 2006. Please join me in congratulating Renee on this outstanding recognition.

In addition to this personal award, BES was recognized and awarded a citation as "...an organization which fosters active employee involvement in the Pacific Northwest Clean Water Association..."

The latter award will be framed and mounted in a public area of WPCL.

I would like to thank everyone up the management chain for creating a great workplace and fostering a supportive climate of professionalism and service in which City employees can do their best and achieve success above and beyond the call of duty. Again, congratulations to Renee!

Tryon Farm Update

Guest Author — Wed, 25 Oct 2006 15:22:24 -0700

Guest Author: John Brush

Designing a Sustainable Urban Ecology: a TLC Farm Update

School kids learn first hand the joy of growing and building with the earthTryon Life Community Farm has had an eventful year! This sustainability research and education center on 7 acres surrounded by Tryon Creek State Park in SW Portland exists because thousands of area residents committed ourselves to a different vision of the city, a vision in which human and natural habitat is interwoven and interdependant. This approach stands in contrast to the "standard" model in which development devastates forest ecologies, diverts stormwater out of evolved cycles, and drains energy and resources.

Another City is Possible
As many will remember, this visionary approach faced down the "inevitable" high-impact subdivision planned for this special land -- and won! Early this year, a vibrant grassroots campaign was joined by Sam Adams and unanimous City and Metro Councils to assemble a financing package for an innovative legal structure that protects the ecological and educational value of the land in perpetuity. Government funds were critical to the project's success -- yet they represented less than a fifth of the full acquisition cost, a powerful example of wisely leveraged public resources.

With the acquisition behind us, TLC Farm has used the spring and summer to ramp up its programs. For example, volunteers have been teaching classes to several visiting school and youth groups each week, providing an easily accessible opportunity for kids of all ages (and income levels) to learn about food cycles, habitat restoration, natural building, and alternative energy. Through our community education program, we have hosted a number of successful adult workshops teaching a variety of sustainability skills. And we recently submitted a grant for a 30' yurt that will allow us to continue to grow our programs through the rainy months.

The farm's new public composting toilet will help demonstrate on-site alternatives to waste managementPart of the educational value of this land is the opportunity to demonstrate sustainable technologies, and we've continued to expand the range available to visitors. In May, as a site for Village Building Convergence 6 , TLC Farm constructed the shell of a composting toilet for public use. We are currently working with City officials to carefully lay the groundwork for integrating a wide variety of well-tested sustainability technologies into building codes, supporting the local eco-building industry and reducing the pressure on overtaxed public infrastructure.

Stormwater management is another critical element of restoring balance to our habitat. Tryon Creek is a rare and valuable urban resource, supporting threatened anadromous steelhead trout and a complex stream ecology. However, even though the valley itself is largely protected, rapidly accelerating development in the upland headwaters is changing the water cycle. The threat is two-fold: stormwater is diverted directly into the creek and its tributaries, increasing erosion and sedimentation that undermines reproductive cycles. At the same time, reduced infiltration into the soil is decreasing groundwater recharge and diminishing the summer waterflow to no more than a trickle.

But there are alternatives! Localized stormwater management approaches for the watershed could maximize the use of forested areas to delay water movement and allow it to soak into the soil. Combined with increased and appropriately placed permeable surfaces, this could restore much of the stream's function. TLC Farm has been organizing with local neighborhood associations, the Friends of Tryon Creek State Park, Lewis & Clark College faculty and students, and the Bureau of Environmental Services to develop a citizen-led monitoring and policy-development approach to the watershed.

An Open-source Approach to Planning
This is just a taste of the future for TLC Farm. Our strategic planning process, launched in June, is bringing together participants from the whole spectrum of the sustainability movement to design how TLC Farm can most effectively support and catalyze the emergence of a thriving, holistic social ecology in Portland. Inspired by the effectiveness of open source software engineering, we're creating at TLC Farm an infrastructure that allows impassioned, energized communities to design and implement our future, together.

After all, healthy urban density isn't just about big buildings. We can grow into a density of relationships, like the forest; by learning to share space and resources, we can all have richer lives while using less in total. TLC Farm is a place where a wide diversity of communities and individuals in Portland are coming together to make this vision real. Thank-you!