Archives : By Month : March 2006
Five questions to help navigate Portland's new lobbying disclosure requirements
Mary Jo MarkleOn April 1, the city's requirements for disclosing lobbing activity go into effect. The city ordinance requires groups, business, and organizations that lobby city officials to register with the city and report their lobbying efforts. The first six months will be a trial period (see cover ordinance). During this time, let us know your thoughts about the requirements - what you like about them and how they may be improved...
Posted by Mary Jo Markle on March 31, 2006
(0) Comments | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
Filed Under Front Page, Good Government, Our Initiatives
April City Hall First Thursday
The OfficeMayor Tom Potter, Commissioner Sam Adams, Commissioner Randy Leonard, Commissioner Dan Saltzman, and Commissioner Erik Sten, invite you to a free event celebrating the Community Vision Project.Photo by Stewart Harvey Celebration for the Community Visioning Project VisionPDXPortland City Hall, 1221 SW 4th Avenue Thursday, April 6th from 5 pm-7 pm...
Posted by The Office on March 30, 2006
(0) Comments | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
Filed Under Arts & Culture, Events, Front Page
The Costs of Stopping the Tram
Sam AdamsA lot of people have been asking me and my staff about the specific costs of stopping the tram project. After talking with city staff, our office learned that coming up with a solid cost figure is difficult because it would require speculation on many costs due to legal uncertainties. They did give me an estimated "floor" to such costs (the lower limit of we could owe). Right now, that floor stands at $36 million, though it could increase...
Posted by Sam Adams on March 29, 2006
(58) Comments | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
Filed Under Front Page, Tram, Transportation
Columbia River Crossing Open House
Roland ChlapowskiAnyone who has tried to travel from Oregon to Washington on I-5 during rush hour knows that the I-5 Bridge spanning the Columbia River from Portland to Vancouver, WA acts as a real bottleneck for traffic. In an effort to fix this, officials in Oregon and Washington are working together on ways to reduce congestion and increase the connectivity of the two states, while also improving safety. We urge you to learn more about the project and give your feedback by attending the informational Open Houses that will be held in mid-April...
Posted by Roland Chlapowski on March 28, 2006
(21) Comments | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
Filed Under Front Page, North Portland, Transportation
Flood Insurance Rates May Go Down
Maria Thi MaiDue to a resolution that Commissioner Adams introduced this week, you may be eligible to increase the current $200 savings to your flood insurance premium. Council's approval of a resolution to amend the City's Hazard Mitigation Plan makes it possible for the City to improve our ranking with FEMA’s Community Rating System. Because Portland has gone above and beyond FEMA's standards for flood preparedness and management especially in the Johnson Creek Watershed, residents may receive an additional 10% off of the already 20% discount to their flood insurance premium....
Posted by Maria Thi Mai on March 24, 2006
(0) Comments | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
Filed Under Environmental Services, Livability & Environment, Southeast Portland (inner)
Where you clean your paintbrush may not clean the river
Maria Thi MaiWhere do you wash your paintbrushes? Depending on where you live, washing your paintbrush into the gutter of the street versus the sink could send pollutants to two different places. Most Portland businesses spend the time and money to handle materials responsibly. Now, thanks to five years of work and a unanimous City Council vote on March 22, the City has more muscle to deal with the few that don’t...
Posted by Maria Thi Mai on March 23, 2006
(0) Comments | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
Filed Under Environmental Services, Good Government, Livability & Environment
Town Hall on Equal Benefits
Jesse BeasonSam is holding a Town Hall to answer questions and get further input on our proposed Equal Benefits Ordinance. Adding accountability to Portland’s non-discrimination policies, the Equal Benefits Ordinance would require city contractors to provide access to partner benefits equally. If a contractor offers benefits to the spouses of their employees, the ordinance would ensure they also offer benefits to the domestic partners of their employees...
Posted by Jesse Beason on March 22, 2006
(9) Comments | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
Filed Under Equality, Events, Front Page
Tram Town Hall Materials
Roland ChlapowskiFor those of you who weren't able to attend Sam's Tram South Waterfront Townhall, we want to let you see the materials that were shown there. The two presentations (one by the Portland Office of Transportation [PDOT], the other by Portland Development Commission [PDC]) were accompanied by commentary by knowledgeable...
Posted by Roland Chlapowski on March 17, 2006
(62) Comments | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
Filed Under Events, Front Page, Office of Transportation, Tram, Transportation
BLOG: An interesting discussion on school funding
Sam AdamsAn interesting discussion about school funding took place at a City Council meeting this morning that I would like your feedback on… …should the City Council add another $5 million to the $10 million in one-time City resources yesterday pledged for schools in Portland? The proposed additional $5 million would be used to allow more time for public input before the decision is made to close schools.
Posted by Sam Adams on March 17, 2006
(30) Comments | Permalink | TrackBack (1)
Filed Under Blog, Education, Front Page
Southeast Portland Blight to Bright
Maria Thi MaiImagine having affordable housing across the street from the New Seasons store at 20th and Division... and know that we are cleaning up one of nearly 500 Brownfield sites in Portland. Today's Oregon Live highlighted this Southeast Portland Seven Corners property Brownfield clean up. This projects' transformation from blight to affordable homes exemplifies the kind of redevelopment we need for future economic prosperity. To help jump start future redevelopment projects...
Posted by Maria Thi Mai on March 16, 2006
(1) Comments | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
Filed Under Environmental Services, Jobs & Economy, Livability & Environment
BLOG: Staff Response to Questions about Views and Terwilliger Parkway Guidelines
Sam AdamsI received this email in follow up to a question posed last night at the tram town hall. Following the email are the replies I received from staff...
Posted by Sam Adams on March 15, 2006
(4) Comments | Permalink | TrackBack (1)
Filed Under Tram, Transportation
Is the Sauvie Island Bridge Worth Saving?
mtrichardsonWe were recently contacted by the City's Supervising Bridge Engineer, David O'Longaigh, about an opportunity to save the current Sauvie Island bridge and turn it into a bicycle/pedestrian walkway across I-405 at NW Flanders St. We want your input on this issue... Multnomah County is in the process of replacing the existing Sauve Island bridge. The new bridge is in the process of being built alongside the old one; when it has finished construction, the old bridge is slated to be demolished. The reason that the county is replacing it is that the old bridge cannot support freight trucks weighing over 40 tons. Aside from that, it is in good structural condition...
Posted by mtrichardson on March 15, 2006
(88) Comments | Permalink | TrackBack (1)
Filed Under Downtown Portland, Front Page, Northwest Portland, Transportation
Blog: 200+ Attend Tram Town Hall
Sam AdamsAbout 200+ people attended the tram town hall meeting tonight, hosted by Mayor Tom Potter and me. Participants asked about 60 questions that covered a lot of ground. Staff representatives from Portland Office of Transportation, Portland Development Commission, Office of Management and Finance and the City Attorney’s office answered questions...
Posted by Sam Adams on March 14, 2006
(46) Comments | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
Filed Under Blog, Front Page, Tram
Mill Ends for Mularkey
Guest Author
Kyle Collins is a local filmmaker. Every year MovieMaker Magazine ranks the cities it considers as the best places for independent filmmakers to live and work according to the production benefits offered, and based on feedback from writers, directors, crew people and film office representatives. This is the fourth year in a row Portland has made the list...
Posted by Guest Author on March 12, 2006
(2) Comments | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
Filed Under Arts & Culture, Front Page
BLOG: East Burnside/Couch Couplet Moves Forward
Sam AdamsThe City Council just approved my request today authorizing preliminary engineering and outside review of cost estimates for the East Burnside/Couch Couplet project. This action distinguishes decision-making for the proposed East and West Burnside/Couplets.
Posted by Sam Adams on March 9, 2006
(34) Comments | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
Filed Under Blog, Front Page, Transportation
UPDATE: Council approves establishing confidence levels
Mary Jo MarkleOn Wednesday, March 8, Council unanimously approved forming a committee to establish confidence levels for city project cost estimates. The committee will determine the steps involved for a city project manager to attain a high level of confidence for a cost estimate as opposed to a low level of confidence...
Posted by Mary Jo Markle on March 8, 2006
(5) Comments | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
Filed Under Front Page, Good Government, Our Initiatives
Alice B. Toeclips
The OfficeOn Saturday night, Sam had the opportunity to speak at the Bicycle Transportation Association's annual awards dinner and auction. After riding in on a Trek Portland, Commissioner Adams praised the BTA for their dedication to bicycle safety and their commitment to help lead Portland to be the first large city to receive the Platinum Award from the League of American Bicyclists...
Posted by The Office on March 7, 2006
(1) Comments | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
Filed Under Events, Transportation
H20shed Plan Gets Council Approval
Maria Thi MaiYesterday, Sam received unanimous support by Council for Portland's Watershed Plan. This Plan is a call to action and is based on science, collaboration, and partnerships. In the photo, Sam has an exclusive interview with Kristen Foden-Vencil of OPB at the mouth of Stephens Creek where it enters the Willamette...
Posted by Maria Thi Mai on March 7, 2006
(13) Comments | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
Filed Under Environmental Services, Front Page, Livability & Environment
UPDATE: TRAM TOWNHALL MEETING
Roland ChlapowskiNOTICE: Commissioner Adams and Mayor Potter to hold a Town hall to discuss Tram issues. THE DATE HAS CHANGED FROM WHAT WAS PREVIOUSLY SCHEDULED. Sam values transparency and open government greatly. In the spirit of open government, he is sponsoring a Public Town hall to discuss the tram project currently...
Posted by Roland Chlapowski on March 6, 2006
(16) Comments | Permalink | TrackBack (2)
Filed Under Events, Front Page, Good Government, News, Office of Transportation, Tram, Transportation
Sewer Fix Has Heads Pounding
Maria Thi MaiThe collapse of the Portland's 100-year-old sewer underscores our need to invest in maintenance before we have a collapse. Last fall, the 100-year-old Woods Line brick sewer collapsed. Click here to read what Anna Johns of the Tribune has to say about it. BES quickly moved into action with setting...
Posted by Maria Thi Mai on March 3, 2006
(0) Comments | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
Filed Under Environmental Services, Livability & Environment, News, Southwest Portland
PUMA Goes Bowling
Maria Thi MaiJust past daylight, Terry Richardson and I were met by the smiling faces of the PUMA crew (Pump Station Maintenance) of the BES. These are the good folks that fish bowling balls out of our pipes - among other things. I learned that we have nearly 100 pump stations that...
Posted by Maria Thi Mai on March 2, 2006
(0) Comments | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
Filed Under Environmental Services, Livability & Environment
Assurety NW/Lents Town Center Project moving along, thanks to help from PDOT!
Warren JimenezBelow is an email from the brokers, who represent Assurety NW, in this new development in Lents. Thanks to all of the bureaus for your hard work on this project. From: Molly MinkSent: Wednesday, March 01, 2006 11:32 AMTo: samadams@ci.portland.or.us; wjimenez@ci.portland.or.usSubject: Recent PDOT Experience Commissioner Adams and Warren Jimenez: As...
Posted by Warren Jimenez on March 1, 2006
(0) Comments | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
Filed Under Transportation
