Environmental Services
Brownfield Investment Fund Receives $500,000
Maria Thi MaiWith more than 700 contaminated properties (Brownfields) across Portland, Commissioner Adams spearheaded an initiative to streamline the regulatory and redevelopment of these Brownfields by securing $500,000 to help property owners clean up and redevelop their property. This Brownfield Investment Fund will allow us to continue and build on the City's...
Posted by Maria Thi Mai on May 30, 2006
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Filed Under Environmental Services, Good Government, Livability & Environment, North Portland
Portland gets A+ credit rating
Maria Thi MaiIf you had money to invest, would you loan it to the City of Portland for building sewers? Someone would, since investors now hold about $1 billion in sewer system revenue bonds. Now the City has asked investors for another $270 million for sewer construction, mainly for ongoing combined sewer...
Posted by Maria Thi Mai on May 19, 2006
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Filed Under Environmental Services, Good Government, Livability & Environment
Owens Corning Backs Out of Town
Maria Thi MaiFor more than a decade, Portland has worked to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Even with rapid economic and population growth, fortunately, emissions in Multnomah County are now only slightly above 1990 levels. This is the result of continued, combined efforts and deliberate decisions to help maintain the ecological and environmental...
Posted by Maria Thi Mai on May 15, 2006
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Filed Under Environmental Services, Livability & Environment
Big Pipe Breaks Ground
Maria Thi Mai
Today marks the beginning of the final major project in our 20-year program to control combined sewer overflows, also known as CSOs, to the Willamette River. This morning, I was joined by staff from the Bureau of Enviornmental Services, Kiewitt Belfinger and Berger (KBB) and a host of other local community memberss to break ground on the East Side Big Pipe Project--one of the largest, longest, and deepest tunneling projects in the United States...
Posted by Maria Thi Mai on May 12, 2006
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Filed Under Environmental Services, Events, Front Page, Livability & Environment
Portland Bureau of Maintenance: Recycling While Saving Taxpayers' Money
Roland ChlapowskiAs most citizens of Portland know, Portland is a leader in the sustainability and green building movement in the United States. The City’s Office of Transportation Bureau of Maintenance (BOM) has embraced the challenge of developing cost-effective methods to recycle materials generated when performing street maintenance operations. BOM’s recycling program...
Posted by Roland Chlapowski on May 4, 2006
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Filed Under Environmental Services, Front Page, Livability & Environment, Transportation
Bridger Rainwater Garden Grand Opening
Warren JimenezSam attended the grand opening of Bridger Rainwater Garden on Earth Day. After more than five years of hard work, the 12,000-square-foot rainwater garden was recognized by the community. This rolling native plant garden fills the school's center courtyard where there used to be a sea of barren asphalt. Once the plants are fully rooted, the garden will be fed by stormwater runoff from its roof. By returning this water to the earth's groundwater through natural filtration, the garden will help divert almost 300,000 gallons a year from our sewer systems. Here are Sam's comments from the event...
Posted by Warren Jimenez on April 24, 2006
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Filed Under East Portland, Environmental Services, Events, Livability & Environment, Speeches & Testimony
EPA Overflows with Enforcement
Maria Thi MaiWhy has the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) given Portland more enforcement attention than other cities? Last week, Jim Barnett, Washington correspondent for The Oregonian, delved into this question and found some interesting discoveries which are noted in his article "EPA Shifts to Hardball with Portland" ...
Posted by Maria Thi Mai on April 6, 2006
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Filed Under Environmental Services, Front Page, Livability & Environment
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
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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
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Filed Under Environmental Services, Good Government, Livability & Environment
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
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Filed Under Environmental Services, Jobs & Economy, Livability & Environment
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
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Filed Under Environmental Services, Front Page, Livability & Environment
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
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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
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Filed Under Environmental Services, Livability & Environment
Business #146: ORRCO Oil Re-Refining
Warren JimenezORRCO Oil Refining is located in North Portland close to the Portland Expo Center. We met with Bill Briggs, Founder and President and Steven Gunther. ORRCO is a leader in petroleum recycling. Through new technologies developed by ORRCO, they have the capabilities to recycle antifreeze, oil filters, oily rags, and...
Posted by Warren Jimenez on February 23, 2006
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Filed Under Environmental Services, Jobs & Economy
Big Pipe Contract Goes to Council
Maria Thi MaiToday, Council will consider the largest contract to come before the City of Portland - $426m for the East Side Big Pipe. This is the last phase of the City of Portland’s combined sewer overflow (CSO) control program. A construction contract with the joint venture Kiewit-Bilfinger Berger (KBB) went to the City Council this week. Yesterday, (February 21), Sam and others briefed reporters from the Daily Journal of Commerce, KOPB, KATU, KEX, KOIN and the East County News...
Posted by Maria Thi Mai on February 22, 2006
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Filed Under Environmental Services, Front Page, Livability & Environment
Green Side Up
Maria Thi MaiRemember, green side up, Governor Kulongoski says with a smile as he is seen here watching Sam dig a hole for one of the 10,000 trees that were planted last Saturday. Sam and I joined Michael Bogert, EPA, Stephanie Hallock, DEQ, Travis Williams, Willamette River Keepers, Cheryl Kennedy, Confederated Tribes...
Posted by Maria Thi Mai on February 14, 2006
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Filed Under Environmental Services, Events, Front Page, Livability & Environment
Dear Sunset Magazine,
Maria Thi MaiLast December, Sunset Magazine encouraged its readers to use ivy for decoration with their poinsettia arrangements. The use of English Ivy and other invasive species is contrary to Sam's Invasive Species Resolution and his work to get City bureaus' pulling together to tackle ivy and other invasives. Here is his...
Posted by Maria Thi Mai on February 14, 2006
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Filed Under Environmental Services, Livability & Environment
Cleaner Air Coming to Sewer Treatment Plant
Maria Thi MaiThe BES treatment plant on Columbia Boulevard will soon be generating it's own electricity and heat by reusing excess methane gas. Yesterday, (February 8, 2006), the Council accepted a $362,000 grant from the Energy Trust of Oregon to help finance this co-generation project. The Columbia Boulevard facility already reuses more...
Posted by Maria Thi Mai on February 9, 2006
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Filed Under Environmental Services, Front Page, Livability & Environment
The City's Biggest Pipe is the Biggest Project
Maria Thi MaiRain becomes stormwater when it hits the ground. And the rain we hear falling on our roofs are a gentle reminder to what is happening underground; Portland's Big Pipe Project. While this is not new news to most Portlanders, setting up a big tunnel stage in the Opera Plaza parking...
Posted by Maria Thi Mai on February 2, 2006
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Filed Under Environmental Services, Livability & Environment
City Awards Safe Employees
Terry RichardsonOn January 25th, the City of Portland honored its employees who are leaders in safety at work Council Chambers in City Hall. City Hall was packed to capacity on Wednesday for the annual safety recognition awards ceremony. The mood was cheerful as commissioners presented dozens of employees with awards for...
Posted by Terry Richardson on January 31, 2006
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Filed Under Environmental Services, Office of Transportation
YOU'RE INVITED: Not All Levees Are Equal
The OfficeWHAT: Not All Levees are Equal WHEN: Wednesday, February 8 from noon to 1:00pmWHERE: The Portland Building, 2nd floor auditoriumDESCRIPTION: The Multnomah County Drainage District presents Not All Levees are Equal, a brown bag program open to the public where staff of the MCDD will present, in pictures and words,...
Posted by The Office on January 25, 2006
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Filed Under Environmental Services, Events
Walkabout in Multnomah Village
Maria Thi MaiAfter much rescheduling, Commissioner Adams visited Multnomah Village as part of his Business Association Walkabouts. Multnomah Village is one of 11 Business Associations selected for a pilot program to have Environmental Services and Transportation Community Liaisons. These Liaisons are intended to provide a single point of contact for navigating City...
Posted by Maria Thi Mai on January 6, 2006
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Filed Under APNBA, Environmental Services, Events, Front Page, Good Government, Livability & Environment, Office of Transportation, Southwest Portland, Transportation
Minimizing Damage from Measure 37
Maria Thi MaiOregon voters passed Measure 37 in November, 2004 and shortly after Sam was sworn in, he was poised to take a close look at how the City would address claims. He introduced and Council passed an ordinance to establish a filing fee and create a private right of action and...
Posted by Maria Thi Mai on January 4, 2006
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Filed Under 2005 Year-in-Review, Environmental Services, Livability & Environment
Burnside sewer collapse underscores aging sewer system
Maria Thi MaiToday, Sam and I visited NW Burnside where a sewer tunnel had partially collapsed and overflowed onto the street. Randy Neves, from KGW was there to follow up on an earlier interview and sewer visit. Sam underscored our ancient sewer system and the dire need for maintenance. Here's Peter Wojcicki,...
Posted by Maria Thi Mai on December 22, 2005
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Filed Under Environmental Services, Front Page, Livability & Environment
Be Green & Keep Green (in your pocket)
Brian RussellIn 1999 and 2000, reforms of the billing system for Portland's water, sewer, and stormwater charges were proposed and passed by City Council. Over 5 years later, the changes were still not implemented. Sam, as the new Environmental Services Commissioner, proposed a plan for implementing residential and commercial stormwater discounts...
Posted by Brian Russell on December 19, 2005
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Filed Under 2005 Year-in-Review, Environmental Services, Livability & Environment
Portland Tribune: Stink still rises in city sewer deal: Political skirmish at state level may have brought on EPA heat
Sam AdamsStink still rises in city sewer deal: Political skirmish at state level may have brought on EPA heat By NICK BUDNICK Issue date: Fri, Dec 9, 2005 The Tribune -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Even as Portlanders are spending more than $6,000 per household to fix the city’s antiquated sewage system, the federal government...
Posted by Sam Adams on December 11, 2005
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Filed Under Environmental Services, Front Page, Livability & Environment
REQUEST FOR COMMENTS: Draft 2005 Portland Watershed Management Plan
The OfficeLast Wednesday, we received a detailed briefing from BES on Actions for Watershed Health the Draft 2005 Portland Watershed Management Plan. Environmental Services has worked for a year to develop this comprehensive citywide watershed management plan. The Plan describes the approach the City will use to improve watershed health. This...
Posted by The Office on December 6, 2005
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Filed Under Environmental Services, Front Page, Our Initiatives
Stormwater Discount Passes Council
Maria Thi Mai
City Council approved a resolution yesterday (Wednesday. November 30) to deliver stormwater discounts beginning in September 2006. The resolution, introduced by Commissioner Sam Adams, sets a timetable for starting discounts and retroactive credits, establishes the basic program elements, calls for aggressive marketing and outreach activities, and targets special efforts to serve low income ratepayers. In addition...
Posted by Maria Thi Mai on December 1, 2005
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Filed Under Environmental Services, Front Page, Good Government, Livability & Environment, News
Notice to City Employees: Inclement Weather Policy
Sam AdamsWith the return of winter, this is a good time to remind everyone of the City's policy on inclement weather. Employees are expected to report to work during periods of inclement weather unless directed not to do so by the Mayor. http://www.portlandonline.com/shared/cfm/image.cfm?id=12245. Generally, employees who do not report to work...
Posted by Sam Adams on November 30, 2005
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Filed Under Environmental Services, Office of Transportation
What is a Brownfield?
Guest AuthorClark Henry is the Program Manager for the Bureau of Environmental Service's Brownfields Program. What in the world is a Brownfield? This and how can Brownfields create economic vitality for Portland were some of the questions that I helped answer on a tour with Commissioner Adams and his staff this...
Posted by Guest Author on November 28, 2005
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Filed Under 100 Businesses, APNBA, Environmental Services, Good Government
Wild in the City: Exploring Downtown Water Gardens and Ecoroofs
Sam Adams
Today I joined Urban Naturalist (and local icon) Mike Houck and Bureau of Environmental Services (BES) stormwater management specialist Linda Dobson and a group of 40 folks for a portion of a walking tour for a look at stormwater management projects that combine innovative architectural and landscaping techniques to help remove pollutants from the Willamette River.
Posted by Sam Adams on November 27, 2005
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Filed Under Downtown Portland, Environmental Services, Front Page, Livability & Environment
DEQ fines Portland for discharging sewage
Maria Thi Mai
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) notified the City of Portland today that it will assess nearly $449,800 in civil penalties against the City for 67 sewer system discharges into the Willamette River and four of its tributaries over the last five years...
Posted by Maria Thi Mai on November 21, 2005
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Filed Under Environmental Services, Front Page, Livability & Environment
River Trust brings agency heads together
Maria Thi MaiLast Friday afternoon (Nov 18), Sam convened a meeting of federal and state agency directors to identify collectively environmental priorities for the coming year. The River Trust was originally initiated by Sam when he was Chief of Staff in the Mayor's Office and builds on the 2001 River Renaissance Vision....
Posted by Maria Thi Mai on November 21, 2005
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Filed Under Environmental Services, Good Government
BLOG: “Alms for a poor City?”
Sam Adams
The Oregonian newspaper described this trip as "the odd couple goes to Washington DC." My traveling companion City Commissioner Randy Leonard, feigned umbrage at this newspaper description believing that it stereotyped him in the Oscar Madison roll (please, he has an axe mounted on his office wall!) and me as the urbane Felix Unger...
Posted by Sam Adams on November 15, 2005
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Filed Under Blog, Environmental Services, Front Page
Eco-Logical
Guest AuthorBrett Holstrom, Environmental Specialist in the environmental pollution prevention group and Linc Mann, BES communications. Brett was instrumental in initiating this program with the City and its local businesses. A good idea born in Portland has gone statewide. In 1999, the regional Pollution Prevention Outreach (P20) Team launched the Eco-Logical...
Posted by Guest Author on November 15, 2005
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Filed Under Environmental Services, Livability & Environment
Inside the sewers with Sam
Maria Thi Mai
Last Thursday Sam and I had "sewer training" so we could safely be hoisted down a man hole and into a 1906 brick sewer off of SE 17th. Our sewer tour...
Posted by Maria Thi Mai on November 10, 2005
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Filed Under Environmental Services, Front Page, Livability & Environment
Why should people who don't use sidewalks pay for them?
Maria Thi MaiOn our way to last night's Multnomah Neighborhood Association's monthly meeting, we were almost hit by an oncoming car on Capital Highway near the Hoot Owl market. This near miss underscored some of the safety issues raised by some of the 40 neighbors who came to hear Sam talk about...
Posted by Maria Thi Mai on November 9, 2005
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Filed Under Environmental Services, Livability & Environment, Southwest Portland
War on Weeds
Guest AuthorJayne Cronlund is the Executive Director of Three Rivers Land Conservancy. Monday's Town Hall on invasive species was a good step to educating all levels of the city government about the threat that invasive species pose to clean air, clean water and nature close to home of Portland citizens...
Posted by Guest Author on November 9, 2005
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Filed Under Environmental Services, Front Page, Livability & Environment
Invasive Species to be Discussed at Town Hall
Brian Russell
Time for some tough talk about weeds...Commissioner Sam Adams will be hosting his Town Hall on Invasive Plant Species this afternoon from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm at the Cascade Crest Room in the Oregon Zoo. Dr. Mark Sytsma from PSU's Center for Lakes and Reservoirs will be making the keynote address...
Posted by Brian Russell on November 6, 2005
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Filed Under Environmental Services, Front Page, Livability & Environment, Our Initiatives
"Why don't the 'walk' signals give you enough time to cross the street?"
Maria Thi MaiWhy don't the 'walk' signals give you enough time to cross the street and why aren't there sidewalks on Taylor's Ferry? were several among many questions students asked Commissioner Adams. This afternoon in the pouring rain, Sam and I stopped by Jackson Middle School to acknowledge Rob Coats' students for...
Posted by Maria Thi Mai on November 4, 2005
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Filed Under Environmental Services, Livability & Environment, News, Southwest Portland
Ready, Set,...Winter
Jane AmesTuesday Nov. 1st was ruled by weather. The day began with a downpour that flooded streets and basements, sent people into sandbagging efforts, and I know the PDOT maintenance workers had a wet, hardworking day. Thank you to all the people working to help make our community safe and functioning...
Posted by Jane Ames on November 2, 2005
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Filed Under Environmental Services, Livability & Environment, Office of Transportation
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
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
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
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
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
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
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