Archives : By Month : October 2005
THIS WEEK: City Hall 1st Thursday
David Gonzalez
Join
us November 3, from 5-7pm as we feature the work of Kirk
Botero with wine tastings by Hip
Chicks Do Wine and light refreshments donated by Safeway.
Commissioner Leonard is welcoming guitarist Alfredo
Muro.Commssioner Saltzman will be featuring urban design work by
Bill Badrick. Also, a special dance performance from Hubbard
Street 2, courtesy of Whitebird.
Posted by David Gonzalez on October 31, 2005
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Filed Under Arts & Culture, Events, Front Page
Tell us what you think about stormwater discount registration form
Maria Thi MaiAfter 2 community meetings, several stakeholder meetings, and lots of conversations with Portland residents, we're anxious to hear from you as to what you think about the draft resolution and registration forms for Portland's stormwater discount program. We expect that you will be able to register for this discount beginning...
Posted by Maria Thi Mai on October 31, 2005
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Filed Under Downtown Portland, East Portland, Environmental Services, Front Page, Livability & Environment, North Portland, Northeast Portland, Northwest Portland, Southeast Portland (inner), Southwest Portland
BLOG: Ostrava's Economy tied to Portland's (Part IV)
Sam Adams
Up early the next morning we toured the plant where Portland’s next three streetcars are being built. On site, it is clear that streetcar manufacturing is a unique skill. The guts of these cars are raw metal that is cut, pounded and assembled piece-by-piece, weld-by-weld, section by section the old fashioned way...
Posted by Sam Adams on October 30, 2005
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Filed Under Blog, Front Page, Jobs & Economy, Ostrava, Transportation
Adams must rescue tram in mid-sway...
Sam AdamsAdams must rescue tram in mid-sway: Despite the cost increase, the project is vital to OHSU and the South Waterfront development Sunday, October 30, 2005 The Oregonian Editorial Cost overruns in public projects make taxpayers' blood boil. So it's understandable that Portlanders are, in effect, suffering a kind of altitude...
Posted by Sam Adams on October 30, 2005
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Filed Under Front Page, Jobs & Economy, Office of Transportation, Tram, Transportation
BLOG: Ostrava's Economy tied to Portland's (Part III)
Sam AdamsOutside the train windows, the rural Czech countryside quietly whizzes by at 60 miles per hour. Our destination of Ostrava is 3 hours away. I am in one of 6 seats facing each other. In the seat in front of me and immediately across the isle, I am listening to...
Posted by Sam Adams on October 30, 2005
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Filed Under Blog, Front Page, Jobs & Economy, Ostrava, Transportation
BLOG: Ostrava's Economy tied to Portland's (Part II)
Sam AdamsAs I last wrote, Portland’s economy stands to benefit from Ostrava… ...if only a business deal can be struck. Let me fill you on in some more pieces of this story so you know exactly what I mean. The federal ‘Buy America’ Act: transportation projects (like streetcars) supported with federal...
Posted by Sam Adams on October 29, 2005
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Filed Under Blog, Front Page, Jobs & Economy, Ostrava, Transportation
BLOG: Ostrava's Economy tied to Portland's (Part I)
Sam Adams
Ostrava. I never knew this place existed, much less foresaw that a piece of Portland’s economic future could be tied to this faraway city. Dominated by industrial parks, smokestacks and housing projects...
Posted by Sam Adams on October 28, 2005
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Filed Under Blog, Front Page, Jobs & Economy, Ostrava, Transportation
ISSUE UPDATE: Portland's Tram
Sam AdamsThe Portland tram is over budget. No one likes to deliver this kind of news. I recognize that many Portlanders struggle to meet their monthly household budgets. I seek to be frugal and value each public dollar under my oversight. I know that when the stated budget for any public...
Posted by Sam Adams on October 28, 2005
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Filed Under Downtown Portland, Economic Dashboard, Front Page, Southwest Portland, Tram, Transportation
Saving Portland's Sanitary Sewers
Maria Thi MaiSullivan Gulch Sewer: 94 years and still working (with a little help)By Don Henry, Steve Hawkins and Jim Wood of Environmental Services The Sullivan Gulch Sewer, constructed in 1911, is a 72-inch horseshoe shaped pipe that collects sewage and stormwater from about 1,700 acres. If you live in inner northeast...
Posted by Maria Thi Mai on October 27, 2005
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Filed Under Environmental Services, Livability & Environment, Northeast Portland
BLOG: Cost of steel lifts tram's price tag
Sam AdamsWith one correction, Oregonian reporter Fred Leeson does his usual good good of reporting the complex challenges we face with the South Waterfront Tram project. The one correction is, He [that would be me] said he would not seek more money from property owners in local improvement districts at both...
Posted by Sam Adams on October 22, 2005
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Filed Under Downtown Portland, Front Page, Office of Transportation, Tram, Transportation
gDiapers, "Love at first flush"
Warren JimenezPortland is known for being a green, sustainable city. Therefore, it makes good sense to support local businesses who care about our environment. Today, Sam and I had an opportunity to meet with gDiapers. gDiapers have developed the first flushable diaper in the world. They really are flushable, said Jason...
Posted by Warren Jimenez on October 21, 2005
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Filed Under Front Page, Jobs & Economy, Northwest Portland
Safety Summit a Success
Guest AuthorDakota InyoSwan, Mark Lear, Greg Raisman of Portland's Office of Transportation compiled this summary of our first annual Transportation Safety Summit. The City of Portland began International Walk to School Week on October 3, 2005 with what Commissioner Sam Adams called “The First Annual” Transportation Safety Summit. Over 200 residents,...
Posted by Guest Author on October 21, 2005
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Filed Under Events, Office of Transportation, Transportation
Breakfast of Champions
Maria Thi MaiEarly (6:30am) this morning, Sam helped Lynn Sandretzky and Duane Sanger serve breakfast to the good folks at the BES's Columbia Boulevard Treatment Plant. This breakfast is the managment's way of saying thank you to the 150 employees at the treatment plant. While this was Sam's first appreciation breakfast, the...
Posted by Maria Thi Mai on October 19, 2005
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Filed Under Environmental Services, Events
BLOG: Smoldering Argument over West Burnside Couplet
Sam Adams
As the City’s new transportation commissioner, let me pull back the proverbial curtain at city hall to give you a glimpse at a smoldering internal argument I have inherited. It is time to air it out. I want you and others to join in the discussion...
Posted by Sam Adams on October 16, 2005
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Filed Under Blog, Downtown Portland, Front Page, Northwest Portland, Office of Transportation, Southeast Portland (inner), Transportation
BLOG: Why Arts!
Sam AdamsIt's the early 1980s. Melbourne is being “out-festivalled” by cities within Australia and around the globe. The state Premier (Governor) wants out of this shadow. He sends scouting parties and researchers to check out 100 annual art events in other cities. They report back saying a Melbourne arts festival would...
Posted by Sam Adams on October 16, 2005
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Filed Under Arts & Culture, Blog, Melbourne, Regional Arts & Culture Council
BLOG: 300 Miles of Tram Tracks
Sam Adams6 miles of Portland streetcar tracks compared to over 300 track miles in Melbourne is hardly a fair comparison. While Portland paved over its streetcar tracks in the 1950s and 60s, Melbourne's streetcar system expanded.Melbourne has the 3rd largest streetcar network in the world. Over 141 million trips were taken...
Posted by Sam Adams on October 16, 2005
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Filed Under Blog, Melbourne, Transportation
LUBA Decision
Sam AdamsOn October 5, the Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA) rejected challenges to Northwest District Plan parking regulations. There could be further appeals on these parking issues. Two transportation issues relating to NW Vaughn had previously been remanded and will require action by the City Council. Those transportation issues, which...
Posted by Sam Adams on October 13, 2005
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Filed Under Northwest Portland
BLOG: "Let Knowledge Serve the City" Better
Sam Adams
Portland is lagging behind other cities in implementing an aggressive city/university/labor/ business-driven “knowledge city” strategy. Boston, Philadelphia, Atlanta and other cities have strategies, Portland doesn’t. Knowledge cities show a strong investment...
Posted by Sam Adams on October 13, 2005
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Filed Under Blog, Education, Front Page, Melbourne
They Promised But Did They Deliver?
Maria Lynn LimLast summer, as local candidates for city hall were clamoring for precious votes, The Mercury hosted a series of three, townhall forums. For each, we asked the candidates to provide 5 specific promises for projects they would accomplish during their first year in office. Cleverly, it was called the You...
Posted by Maria Lynn Lim on October 13, 2005
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Filed Under News, Our Initiatives
BLOG: "...Melbourne and Portland share a similar outlook on what should be city life..."
Sam Adams
Melbourne is a port city like Portland, big handles more freight. Its land mass is bigger than Portland’s but its population is only 57,000 compared to Portland’s 535,000. It is the center of a region with 3.3 million people; our region is about 2 million...
Posted by Sam Adams on October 12, 2005
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Filed Under Blog, Front Page, Jobs & Economy, Livability & Environment, Melbourne
New Development, New Day for Lents
Warren JimenezToday, begins a new day for the Lents community. By a 4-1 vote, PDC approved Assurety Northwest to begin developing a towncenter in Lents. Assurety Northwest, a full service insurance agency dedicated to providing quality products, competitive rates and outstanding customer service, will bring 45 family wage jobs to Portland....
Posted by Warren Jimenez on October 12, 2005
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Filed Under East Portland, Front Page, Jobs & Economy, News
BLOG: More Street-Level Innovations from Melbourne
Sam Adams
As Portland's new transportation commissioner, I've been keeping an eye out for street-level innovations I have encountered in Melbourne. Here are a few to consider..
Posted by Sam Adams on October 12, 2005
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Filed Under Blog, Front Page, Melbourne, Transportation
Stormwater Art Exhibit Extended
Maria Thi MaiIf you missed the Stormwater Art Exhibit last Thursday at City Hall, you can visit the art exhibit at one of the following locations. Oct 10-22 Ecotrust Building, 721 NW 9th Avenue, second floor Oct 22 OMSI-Community Planning Day Oct 25 Environmental Services Watershed Management Plan Open House, 6-9pm, Hinson...
Posted by Maria Thi Mai on October 11, 2005
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Filed Under Arts & Culture, Environmental Services, Livability & Environment
The History of Street Paving and Sidewalks in Portland
Sam AdamsWe will soon be coming out with some new funding options for getting more streets paved in Portland and more sidewalks built. In the meantime, I wanted to share this street paving history produced by PDOT a couple of years ago. And, ask for any creative ideas that you might...
Posted by Sam Adams on October 11, 2005
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Filed Under Front Page, Transportation
BLOG: World Class Melbourne, Arts Funding and Streetcars
Sam AdamsThe London-based magazine The Economist last week ranked Vancouver, British Columbia; Melbourne, Australia; and, Vienna, Austria as the world’s ‘best’ cities to live and visit: Portland ranked 42nd. By coincidence, I’m in Melbourne this week. I am here as a guest of the City of Melbourne and the Portland Institute...
Posted by Sam Adams on October 10, 2005
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Filed Under Arts & Culture, Blog, Front Page, Melbourne, Transportation
BLOG: Above the "Flat" World
Sam AdamsI’m on my 11th of 15 hours on a Qantas flight from Los Angles to Melbourne, Australia. I think its 2:36 am Portland time. Every seat on this 747-400 is sold out. Mine, a window seat, 53C, is almost being shared by a Grey-haired and good-natured Australian woman in front...
Posted by Sam Adams on October 9, 2005
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Filed Under Blog, Economic Dashboard, Front Page, Jobs & Economy, Melbourne
BLOG: Notes on Discussion of Jobs, Taxes, and Budget Reform at City Council Retreat
Sam AdamsToday the City Council held a budget planning retreat for the fiscal year 2006-2007. Given that last year we were dealing with a $19 million two-year deficit, the good news is that more money is coming into the City’s coffers because of an uptick in transient lodging taxes and business...
Posted by Sam Adams on October 7, 2005
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Filed Under Blog, Front Page, Good Government
BLOG: Stormwater and a Discount
Sam AdamsI am the City’s sewer Commissioner, so I will try and lay out the basic science and history of the issue in this blog entry. I will summarize what I propose to do next in a separate blog entry. Portland is 145 square miles. Each year, 37 inches of rain...
Posted by Sam Adams on October 7, 2005
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Filed Under Front Page, Good Government, Our Initiatives
Stormwater hits East County News front page
Maria Thi MaiAdams, Potter hear sewer fee complaints; relief possible - http://www.eastcountynews.com/cat/20#8661...
Posted by Maria Thi Mai on October 7, 2005
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Filed Under Environmental Services, Livability & Environment, News, Southeast Portland (inner), Southwest Portland
Street Twigs
Maria Thi MaiLast Saturday (Sept 24), Sam and I stopped by Sullivan's Gulch Neighborhood's dedication of Street Twig. This 16-foot-tall sculpture represents a gigantic Big Leaf maple Twig and was hand forged by Nick Lyle and Jean Whitesavage of Whidbey Island, Washington. Come on by the corner of 16th and Weidler and...
Posted by Maria Thi Mai on October 6, 2005
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Filed Under Arts & Culture, Events, News, Northeast Portland
Prosperity Now!, November 1st
Warren JimenezProsperity Now! is a symposium for small businesses, business district associations, and anyone interested in Portland's small business community. Filled with information for both small businesses and business districts, it's an opportunity to learn how to improve your business, to network, and to learn how collaboration can bring resources into...
Posted by Warren Jimenez on October 5, 2005
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Filed Under APNBA, Front Page, Jobs & Economy
Managing stormwater
Brian RussellWhat happens when you mix 80-100 billion gallons of stormwater (equal to a trillion cans of beer) per year with fertilizers, motor oils and other pollutants? Combine this with sewer overflows and we've got a problem that affects everyone. Whether your stormwater goes into a drywell, ditch, sewer, or your...
Posted by Brian Russell on October 3, 2005
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Filed Under Environmental Services, Events, Front Page, Livability & Environment
1st Annual Gathering, Oregon Native American Chamber
Warren JimenezOn October 1st, Sam was the featured speaker for the Oregon Native American Chamber of Commerce 1st Annual Gathering. It was a wonderful evening of Native American drumming and dancing as well as networking with business owners. Here is Sam's speech: Good Evening. I am deeply honored to have been...
Posted by Warren Jimenez on October 3, 2005
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Filed Under Equality, Jobs & Economy
