Archives : By Month : September 2005
Federal Assistance for Infrastructure Projects
Tom MillerThe Bureau of Environmental Services needs to build a number of significant projects requiring major capital investments to meet federal regulations. Attached is a letter from Sam to Len Simon, the city's Washington D.C. based lobbyist, requesting additional focus on the need for federal dollars to assist with development of...
Posted by Tom Miller on September 30, 2005
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Filed Under Environmental Services, Good Government, Livability & Environment
Swimming with salmon
Maria Thi MaiOn Monday, September 26th I hosted a meeting of regional salmon experts at the Portland Building. The meeting was a great reminder of how connected Portland is to the larger Northwest Region. From transportation to economics to environmental protection, what we do -- or don't do -- in Portland has...
Posted by Maria Thi Mai on September 29, 2005
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Filed Under Environmental Services, Good Government, Livability & Environment
October's City Hall First Thursday-Sam's Office
David GonzalezIn Sam's office, for the month of October, we'll be featuring the steel creations of Portland artist Stashu Smaka. Open House/Artist Reception: Thursday, October 6, 5-7pm...
Posted by David Gonzalez on September 29, 2005
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Filed Under Arts & Culture
After-School Care is Part of Education
Jane AmesCouncil Session: Tuesday, Sept. 27 Resolution #36338 (click here to read the resolution) to establish goals and standards for city-funded, after-school programs. I want to thank ‘Stand for Children’ and commend them for their advocacy for children, families and strong communities. • You are developing into a powerful and responsible...
Posted by Jane Ames on September 28, 2005
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Filed Under Education
A Mostly Reverent Reflection on Rail~Volution
Tom MillerWhat is it? Rail~Volution, the family reunion for transit geeks, stops at a new station somewhere in the USA each year to share notes and camaraderie. Founded and organized by some of the finest transit professionals in (where else?) Portland, Oregon, its success has spawned an 11-year history of spreading...
Posted by Tom Miller on September 28, 2005
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Filed Under Livability & Environment, Office of Transportation, Transportation
Task force will explore options for sidewalk dumpsters
Mary Jo MarkleCouncil passed a resolution on September 28, 2005, introduced by Sam and Commissioner Saltzman, forming a collaborative work group to explore potential options for removing dumpsters from city sidewalks. The work group will bring together business interests, city employees and citizens. The city's ombudsman, Michael Mills, approached Sam with the...
Posted by Mary Jo Markle on September 28, 2005
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Filed Under Good Government, Livability & Environment, Our Initiatives
Transportation Safety Summit
Sam AdamsMy number one priority as the Commissioner-in-charge of Portland's Office of Transportation is safety. As the recent spate of traffic-related deaths have shown us, there is a lot of progress that Portland can make in terms of making our streets -and travelling on them- safe. Please join us at our...
Posted by Sam Adams on September 28, 2005
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Filed Under Events, Front Page, Good Government, Office of Transportation, Our Initiatives, Transportation
Addressing Funding Challenges in PDOT's Future
Sam AdamsWe are facing some serious financial challenges at the Office of Transportation- over $7 million a year, or about $43 million over a 5-year period. I am committed to addressing this in a way that focuses on fulfilling community priorities, cuts down on administrative waste, does not significantly cut important...
Posted by Sam Adams on September 28, 2005
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Filed Under Good Government, Office of Transportation, Our Initiatives, Transportation
City and County will Design a System of Public Safety
Jane AmesCITY, COUNTY, And CITIZENS CRIME COMMISSIONER LAUNCH PUBLIC JOINT BUDGETING SAFETY PARTNERSHIP Introduced by Portland City Commissioner Sam Adams, City Council approved a resolution that puts in motion a process to jointly design and budget for our public safety system according to citizenry's priorities. People do not care about whether...
Posted by Jane Ames on September 28, 2005
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Filed Under Events, Front Page, Good Government, LPSCC, Our Initiatives, Public Safety
Sam Starts Community-City Liaison program
Mary Jo MarkleIn an effort to strengthen the connection between city government and the City’s business districts, Commissioner Sam Adams is launching a district liaison program within the Office of Transportation and the Bureau of Environmental Services. The Community Liaisons will be points of contact for navigating City services and information. In...
Posted by Mary Jo Markle on September 27, 2005
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Filed Under Good Government, North Portland, Northeast Portland, Northwest Portland, Our Initiatives, Southeast Portland (inner), Southwest Portland
Vocation Vacation (pseudo)
Maria Thi MaiThursday, September 22nd marked the Office of Transportation Maintenance’s 15th annual Field Day event. This year, more than 100 field workers put on a hardhat and bright orange safety vests to fulfill their public works dreams. From spreading hot asphalt on roadways to cleaning storm drains, everyone gained a better...
Posted by Maria Thi Mai on September 26, 2005
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Filed Under Environmental Services, Livability & Environment, Office of Transportation, Transportation
Ivy, Ivy, Everywhere...
Brian RussellPortland (and the rest of the country) is being overrun by invasive species, such as English ivy, Himalayan blackberry, Japanese knotweed and others. They are pervasive. Blackberries vines reach across the shoulders of roads and into bike lanes. Ivy climbs large, mature trees, slowly pulling them to the ground, possibly...
Posted by Brian Russell on September 26, 2005
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Filed Under Environmental Services, Events, Front Page, Livability & Environment
BLOG: My Time as a Tri-Met Bus Shagger
Sam Adams
Tri-Met Maintenance Supervisor Mark Nelson and his team must make sure that the buses run, so someone else can make sure they run on time. Of the 260-odd buses under their charge at the Tri-Met Center Maintenance Shop located at SE 17th and Mall Street in Portland, each day...
Posted by Sam Adams on September 25, 2005
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Filed Under 100 Hours, Front Page, Southeast Portland (inner), Transportation
FUN FACTS ABOUT MAINTAINING PDX'S INFRASTRUCTURE
Sam AdamsThe Maintenance Bureau is the largest of the four bureaus that make up the City of Portland Office of Transportation. About 425 people work for the Maintenance Bureau, and it costs about $47.6 million per year to maintain Portland's infrastructure. Using over 400 cars, trucks, dump trucks, street sweepers, forklifts,...
Posted by Sam Adams on September 25, 2005
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Filed Under Transportation
Celebrate Preservation in Portland
Maria Thi MaiPlease join us in honoring preservation in Portland at the gay and lesbian reception in Portland's historic City Hall (1220 SW 4th Ave, between Madison and Jefferson), September 28, 8pm. This event will feature Commissioner Sam Adams. This reception is part of the National Preservation Trust Conference being held at...
Posted by Maria Thi Mai on September 23, 2005
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Filed Under Arts & Culture, Equality, Events
How's the Review of the Fire and Police Disability and Retirement System Going?
Mary Jo MarkleIn a work session on Tuesday, September 20, Council met with the review committee studying the Fire and Police Retirement and Disability (FPDR) system to see how the process was going. The committee received preliminary reports from actuarial and disability consultants earlier this month. Analysis of the consultants' reports will...
Posted by Mary Jo Markle on September 21, 2005
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Filed Under Front Page, Good Government, Our Initiatives
Should There Be Local Control of Utility Rates?
Warren JimenezThis is the question Sam wants to ask Portlanders. For your reference, see Still taking the battle to Enron and a study presented to City Council on January 12, 1979. What do you think our City should...
Posted by Warren Jimenez on September 20, 2005
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Filed Under Front Page, Jobs & Economy, Livability & Environment
What should we do with Corno's fruit?
Maria Thi Mai
As seen on Northwest News Channel 8 KGW: What would you do with a 6 foot cornstalk sign that has been a Portland icon for more than 50 years? Wander down Martin Luther King Boulevard past the Corno's Grocery site near Alder Street and feast your eyes..
Posted by Maria Thi Mai on September 20, 2005
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Filed Under Arts & Culture, Front Page, Livability & Environment, News, Southeast Portland (inner)
Sam helps to launch Sneak Peek at new Q Center
Greg LeiherCommissioner Adams kicked off the Sneak Peek of the emerging Q Center on Thursday, September 15 at Bluehour by reminding those attending of its need and inviting them to invest in the new venture. When I was a gay teenager in high school in Newport, I was alone and lonely....
Posted by Greg Leiher on September 19, 2005
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Filed Under Equality
Stormwater Management from a Watershed Perspective
Brian RussellFourth in the Watershed Issues Series Satellite Conference Stormwater Management from a Watershed Perspective October 11, 20059:00 am - 11:30 am (PDT) Every year, billions of gallons of untreated stormwater flow into streams and rivers across the nation. The Environmental Protection Agency calls it the number one water quality problem....
Posted by Brian Russell on September 19, 2005
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Filed Under Environmental Services, Events, Front Page, Livability & Environment
Seebach: Portland's business-leery attitude has had an effect
Maria Lynn LimArticle for the Rocky Mountain News, September 17, 2005 PORTLAND, Ore. - This is a famously livable city, and its residents tend to be famously smug about the fact. Some of them recognize, though, that the city faces serious economic challenges. I'm in Portland this weekend, attending the annual convention...
Posted by Maria Lynn Lim on September 19, 2005
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Filed Under Economic Dashboard, Front Page, Jobs & Economy
BLOG: “Can I have ten 27s and some alcohol swabs,” he says confidently as he puts his used needles into the medical waste bin and picks small bottles of bleach from the bin...
Sam AdamsHe bolts through the door; if I passed him on the sidewalk I would never know that my first needle exchange customer was an intravenous drug user. “Can I have ten 27s and some alcohol swabs,” he says confidently as he puts his used needles into the medical waste bin...
Posted by Sam Adams on September 19, 2005
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Filed Under 100 Hours, Downtown Portland, Front Page, Jobs & Economy, Livability & Environment, Public Safety
BLOG: You walk 13 million people through a building...
Sam AdamsApproximately 10,000 employees work at the Portland International Airport. They help deal with: • 13,507,515 passengers each year • 271,317 tons of freight each year• 12,159 tons of airmail each year• 16 air passenger carriers serve PDX• 500 passenger flights daily• 50 nonstop air passenger destinations from PDX• 13 air...
Posted by Sam Adams on September 18, 2005
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Filed Under 100 Hours, Jobs & Economy, Transportation
Portland Race for the Cure Draws 45,000
Sam AdamsWow! 45,000 people walk this morning in the 14th annual Portland Race for the Cure to benefit the The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation of Oregon. This makes Portland’s Race for the Cure one of the biggest Races in the United States. The Foundation was established in 1982 by...
Posted by Sam Adams on September 18, 2005
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Filed Under Equality, Front Page
Landscapes for Rain-The Art of Stormwater
Brian RussellYou're invited: Environmental Services First Thursday at City Hall Thursday, October 6, 2005, 5:00pm-7:00pm, Pettygrove Room, Portland City Hall, 1221 SW Fourth Avenue Rain shapes our landscape and our city. Come see how artists, architects, landscape architects and designers use rain as the guiding element in their work. Presented by...
Posted by Brian Russell on September 15, 2005
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Filed Under Arts & Culture, Environmental Services, Events, Front Page, Livability & Environment
The Launching of a Partnership
Jane AmesThe following is a summary of Sam's comments before City Council as he introduced the Public Safety Partnership. “…the fact remains that we are but the agents of the people, and our duty is to them alone and to none other.” Mayor Harry Lane, July 11, 1907 (who is also...
Posted by Jane Ames on September 14, 2005
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Filed Under Events, Front Page, Good Government, News, Our Initiatives, Public Safety, Speeches & Testimony
A Ride to Pill Hill
Jesse BeasonSam and I stopped by a BBQ with the crew that's just beginning work on the new tram connecting OHSU campuses. They have started digging the hole where the tram will land, and standing there, looking west, you could see the hole (see picture) where the tram will drop people...
Posted by Jesse Beason on September 14, 2005
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Filed Under Downtown Portland, Front Page, Jobs & Economy, Office of Transportation, Transportation
PORTLAND'S CHINATOWN - Open for Business & Visioning the Future
Roland ChlapowskiToday, Sam met with Chinatown business leaders to discuss the future of the neighborhood, monitor the construction currently in progress, and promote the Chinatown Challenge – all over a wonderful, multi-course, dim sum meal served up at the Good Day Chinese restaurant on NW Couch and 3rd. And, Sam wanted...
Posted by Roland Chlapowski on September 13, 2005
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Filed Under Downtown Portland, Front Page, Jobs & Economy, Transportation
Sam offers Council a proposal to register Portland's Lobbying Entities
Mary Jo MarkleUPDATE: City Council reviewed Sam's proposed lobbying regulation on September 14. The ordinance will have another reading on October 5. Council vote is tentatively set for October 19. On Wednesday, September 14, 2005 at 2:00 p.m., Council will discuss Commissioner Adams' proposal to register Portland's lobbying entities -- the individuals,...
Posted by Mary Jo Markle on September 12, 2005
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Filed Under Front Page, Good Government, Our Initiatives
Assistance for Katrina Survivors
Jane AmesMAYOR, RED CROSS AGREE TO STAFF SHELTER24 HOURS TO HELP HURRICANE KATRINA SURVIVORS Mayor Tom Potter and Red Cross officials on Sunday agreed to staff the former Washington-Monroe High School shelter site around the clock to provide assistance to Hurricane Katrina survivors who are coming to Portland on their own...
Posted by Jane Ames on September 11, 2005
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Filed Under Events, Good Government, News, Southeast Portland (inner)
A Ribbon of Humanity
Jane AmesFaces of addiction can heal and grow strong again. On September 5th a long human ribbon of various colors and stories wove its way from Oregon over the I-5 bridge to Washington and back again. The news accounts estimated around 1500 people; it sure felt like more from inside that...
Posted by Jane Ames on September 11, 2005
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Filed Under Events
Hot Town, Public Safety in the City
Jane AmesPublic safety can be defensive and dramatic: Late night shootings in different parts of the City, robberies or assaults taking place, parties that get out of control and property or people getting hurt, drug deals and abuse, or identity theft destroying people’s lives. The list is long; people’s ability to...
Posted by Jane Ames on September 11, 2005
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Filed Under Events, Northeast Portland, Public Safety, Southeast Portland (inner)
BLOG: To 'TOD' or Not to 'TOD'?
Sam AdamsThe Portland region helped pioneer the transit oriented development (TOD) concept with the construction of Pearl District, The Round and the emerging South Waterfront district. What are the lessons learned? How can we improve the TOD of the future? The Pearl, Orenco and South Waterfront were built on nearly vacant...
Posted by Sam Adams on September 11, 2005
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Filed Under Blog, Front Page, Housing, Livability & Environment, Transportation
BLOG: Transit Placemaking
Sam AdamsHello again from Salt Lake City, Utah. Outside of the Pearl and the emerging South Waterfront districts and a few other transit stops, I would like improve upon our local efforts at what planners call “placemaking” around transit stations. Transit stops and stations can help the surrounding neighborhoods and business...
Posted by Sam Adams on September 9, 2005
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Filed Under Blog, Front Page, Livability & Environment, Transportation
BLOG: "The High Cost of Free Parking"
Sam AdamsToday I am attending the three-day 10th Rail-Volution Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah. The
Conference founded by then-City Commissioner and now U.S. Congressman Earl Blumenauer seeks to address nearly "every aspect of building liable communities with transit...
Posted by Sam Adams on September 8, 2005
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Filed Under Blog, Front Page, Jobs & Economy, Transportation
Early Survey Results!!
Warren JimenezThank you so much for taking our on-line survey. If you haven't taken the survey, it's not too late. We look forward to collecting more surveys but we thought we would share early results. Please click here to see...
Posted by Warren Jimenez on September 8, 2005
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Filed Under Economic Dashboard, Front Page, Jobs & Economy
Podcast Hotel!
Guest AuthorAlex Williams is sponsoring Podcast Hotel, a two-day forum about the phenomenon, logistics and symbolism of podcasting. Podcasting is becoming hugely popular. A form of Internet radio, it gives anyone the ability to do their own radio show. Podcast Hotel Presents Podcast Jams will take place Sept. 7 and 8 in Portland...
Posted by Guest Author on September 7, 2005
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Filed Under Arts & Culture, Events, Southeast Portland (inner)
