Residents of the Central North East Neighborhood Coalition discussed
[0] their safety concerns at the budget town hall meeting Monday night. Unsafe intersections, unprotected pedestrian crossings, unmarked islands and poor pedestrian routes were primary concerns of residents in the district that spans the Cully, Rose City Park, Sumner, Hollywood, Beaumont-Wilshire, Roseway, Madison-South and Sunderland Neighborhoods.
[0]Sam and Clarence Larkins, President of 42nd Avenue Business AssoicationCommissioner Adams clearly stated that his top priority is safety; when having to choose between dangerous intersections and unimproved roads, he will choose to spend money to save lives.
Neighbors highlighted many intersections they felt were unsafe and asked pointed questions about the plans both PDOT and BES had for the community. They discussed their traffic safety concerns and the impact of the CSO project on sewer rates.
We met in the district firehouse, which houses a sculpture by
[0]Everday Hero by Bill Will, housed at Central North East Firehouse Bill Will titled Everyday Hero. The sculpture was constructed in relief of hundreds of common objects, inspiring us to see the heroes all around us. Region Arts and Culture Council (RACC) has awarded grants to the Central North East Coalition district for music classes, theater productions, performance art and the 2007 Disability Pride Art and Culture Festival. For more information about RACC or how to take advantage of the grant program, go to www.racc.org [1].
Watch the budget town hall here.....src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docId=1050787959127685434&hl=en" style="width: 400px; height: 326px" id="VideoPlayback" type="application/x-shockwave-flash">
Below are constituent questions from the meeting and answers from BES.
1. How can we get the Columbia Slough to qualify for a Green Street pilot program?
There has been a green street in the Slough area at 131st & NE Fremont for more than a year, and the Bureau is currently scoping another green street project on NE Shaver. Scaling up to a broader green streets program will be most effective in areas where significant redevelopment is occurring, and will be greatly enhanced by additional federal funding, which the Bureau is currently seeking.
2. Can we work together to come up with a better vision than a big box for the former landfill at 82nd and Siskiyou?
Yes. In fact, there may well be alternatives more attractive than sewer facilities, which would argue for broadening the participation further.
3. Can you explain Clean River Rewards?
Clean River Rewards is Portland's stormwater discount program. When you manage stormwater on your property, you can qualify for as much as a 35% discount on your stormwater management charge. There are many resources available for finding out more about the program. You can get more information about the program and even register online at www.CleanRiverRewards.com. Homeowners can also register by calling the Clean River Rewards hotline at 503-823-1371.
The Bureau also conducts Clean River Workshops around the city to show homeowners how to manage stormwater on-site and how to register for the program. A list of locations and a schedule is available online at the website.
4. Why are Portland environmental costs exceeding those of Gresham?
A large part of Portland's system consists of combined sewers that overflow to the Willamette River when it rains. The City is spending $1.4 billion to control these overflows. Gresham's sewer system does not require comparable work.
5. Is it viable to sell sewage for fertilizer?
The Bureau has in the past operated a composting facility, but has discontinued that activity in favor of biosolids application to rangeland in eastern Oregon. Land application is a sustainable, cost-effective alternative for the Bureau. Although we do not sell the biosolids applied to the rangeland, the cost savings relative to composting far exceed the loss in revenue.
6. Why don't we charge developers a higher percentage of the CSO price tag?
System Development Charges (SDCs) are charges paid by new development connecting to the sewer system. The only costs that can legally be collected in Oregon exclusively from new development are sewer facility costs necessary to accommodate that development. CSO costs do not qualify, since they are necessary to change the existing system. New development does pay a share of these facility costs through SDCs but only proportional to the portion of system capacity that they use.
7. When we are done paying for CSO will we be able to enjoy the Willamette?
When CSO controls are complete in 2011, the quality of the water in the Willamette River leaving Portland will be at least as good as the quality of the water entering Portland. While this should mean that the river can be enjoyed a greater percentage of the time than in the past, upstream water quality issues will still be a matter of concern.
8. Who audits expenses?
The Auditor's office periodically examines City bureau programs, but rotates these audits across bureaus from year to year. The Bureau of Environmental Services has in the past worked with the Auditor's Office and outside firms to audit selected construction contracts. In addition, the Bureau hired an outside firm for a management and cost audit on the West Side CSO Project.
ates for the remaining budget meetings are posted at www.commissionersam.com/node/1954 [1]. See Portland Community Media [2] for telecast listings.
Relevant Documents
PDOT One Time Requests [2] for improvements to the Central Northeast Neighborhood Coalition district.
PDOT Capitol Improvement Projects [2] for the Central North East Neighborhood Collation Districts
BES Budget Overview [2]