CommissionerSam.com -

Impacts of a massive new transportation challenge facing our City.

Sam Adams — Thu, 08 May 2008 11:21:21 -0700

Friends,

I want you to be aware of the impacts of a massive new transportation challenge facing our City.

Gas prices are up 17%.

Bio-diesel is up 20%.

Yesterday, crude oil went for a record $120 a barrel.

You feel the impact on your household budget of these higher fuel prices. So does the Portland Office of Transportation (PDOT), although in a different way than Portland families do.

The first way PDOT is feeling the pinch of increased oil prices is a new multi-million dollar transportation department budget gap. Why? Oregonians are driving less, in part due to the cost of gas. PDOT's funding for taking care of local streets and bridges comes largely from state fuel taxes. The gas tax is based on the number of gallons of gas sold – not the price of that gas. So, the fewer gallons of gas sold, the less gas tax. For PDOT that means a $2.7 million current service budget hole for the fiscal year starting in July.

Second, the skyrocketing cost of oil has put existing estimates for transportation projects out-of-whack. PDOT has about 40 projects in the pipeline for delivery in the next two years. Most of these projects used inflationary cost estimates that have proven to be low. Higher costs for petroleum–based materials like asphalt and tar and for materials that take lots of energy to produce like concrete and steel mean higher project costs.

In response, to protect basic transportation services like street sweeping, pothole repair and bridge maintenance, I will be asking the Portland City Council to fill the $2 million budget shortfall for next year. And, I have ordered a 30-day review of the cost estimates in PDOT's project pipeline.

If these trends continue, this ongoing budget shortfall also blows a $30 to $40 million hole in the proposed Safe, Sound and Green Street Initiative budget that I have slated to go to the voters in November 2008.

Finally, I have also canceled the Sauvie Island bridge reuse project. I simply do not feel confident that we can bring this project in at the $5.5 million budget I have promised. To insure the integrity of the project, I asked for a rigorous review by transportation staff and outside engineers. On Tuesday morning, it became clear that the $5.5 million budget for reusing the Sauvie Island bridge could no longer be guaranteed. I will continue to pursue the construction of a new bridge over I-405 within the next three to five years.

I believe that canceling this project is the right thing to do given the new financial estimates we have received over the past couple of days. But I want to make some comments about the bridge project before we leave the issue.

The recycling of the Sauvie Island bridge was sadly--and unnecessarily--ensnared by political gamesmanship that did no credit to the critics, and obscured an important issue for the public.

Last week, Mayor Tom Potter wrote an opinion article in these pages saying that we don't need a bicycle/pedestrian bridge over I-405 at Flanders Street. Mind you, this is a project that he voted for on 4 separate occasions. In fact, over the last six years two city councils have voted for this numerous times.

But in his article, Mayor Potter argues that the West Burnside and Northwest Everett and Glisan streets are safe and that bikers and walkers in Northwest Portland do not need a bridge dedicated only to them across the I-405 ditch.

That's flat out wrong. The West Burnside, Glisan and Everett streets injure and kill more bikers and walkers than any other street corridor in Portland: 280 injured and 15 dead over the past nine years. And I believe the Mayor was also wrong to use this issue to pit one part of Portland against the other.

In my three years as transportation commissioner I have lead the council to focus on the top safety issues in each part of Portland, including:

$11 million in city non-transportation funds to fund transportation safety projects, 76% of those projects are along East 122nd and East 82nd avenues – two of the most dangerous street corridors in Portland.
$5 million in regional funds to build three east Portland bridges to connect the Springwater Trail;
$11 million in regional funds to build and pedestrian and bridge over I-5 to connect the South hills to Willamette River; and,
$5.4 million in regional, city, and non-transportation funds to build sidewalks along NE Cully Blvd.

When it comes to saving lives and preventing injuries, I believe that projects should be approved on the merits, community support and a clear picture of the budget. That is why everyone but Mayor Potter supported the Flanders Street bridge: it met all the criteria that we have used to put safety first.

A bike and pedestrian crossing at NW Flanders has always been about safety. And while recycling the Sauvie Island Bridge may not be the means, I am committed to finding a safe way for pedestrians and bicyclists to cross I-405. I have asked transportation to study potential improvements we could make with little cost to address safety issues in the Burnside/Everett/Glisan corridor in the short term.

I want to thank all of those who've supported the vision for this project.

For more information on the actions we're taking in light of the budget shortfalls and increased costs in transportation, visit http://www.commissionersam.com/node/3682.

My best,

Sam

Portland: National Sustainability Center

The Office — Wed, 07 May 2008 10:57:11 -0700

On April 15th, Commissioners Dan Saltzman and Sam Adams brought together leaders of environmental nonprofits, businesses committed to sustainability, institutions of higher learning, and government agencies to discuss an exciting development for the City of Portland.

Sam and Dan recognize that Portland and Portlanders are early adopters of and innovators in the field of sustainability. From renewable energies to watershed management to alternative transportation, the city and its people are devoted to sustainable lifestyles, business practices, and urban development.

Culminating in the April 15th meeting, Sam and Dan are attempting to bring local players in this field together to harbor collaboration and forward thinking and to develop the potential for Portland to be the national hotbed for sustainability. The conversation resulted in a communal motivation to get the ball rolling on developing a physical Center for Sustainability and collaborating efforts on making Portland the City that Works Sustainably, Forever.

As was discussed on April 15th, the center will act as a local sustainability focal point, help create a long-term sustainability road-map for Portland, and encourage sincere public awareness and involvement in Portland's sustainable development. It could act as an umbrella organization, facilitating collaboration and eliminating inefficiencies caused by parallel efforts in local sustainability initiatives, while showcasing all that Portland individuals, organizations, businesses, and agencies are contributing to the field. It will centralize our diverse, innovative efforts in a way that promotes cross-fertilization, more weighty decision-making power, and greater visibility in the national and international arena.

Sam hopes to move forward quickly with plans to bring diverse players together with fresh ideas and sincere contributions. The next step is committing these collaborators to contribute their ideas and efforts to a working group, which will move forward with policy, program, and physical development. Take a look at the article in the Portland Business Journal and please contribute your own ideas on what this center would look like and how to help Portland be to Sustainability what Hollywood is to Film.

Why the Flanders Crossing will Save Lives, Save Money and Save Our Environment.

Sam Adams — Wed, 07 May 2008 10:56:38 -0700

During the political season some can feel pressured to make inaccurate or misleading statements for perceived gain, and regrettably the current season is no exception. Many inaccuracies have been uttered about the proposed new crossing at NW Flanders Street over Interstate 405 that would reuse the center span of the existing Sauvie Island Bridge. This is a terrific project as the facts clarify.

The Sauvie Island Span Moves to NW Flanders
On Wednesday, April 23 Commissioners Leonard, Saltzman, and I co-sponsored an ordinance that would direct the City to purchase the center span of the bridge currently connecting Highway 30 to Sauvie Island and relocate it to Flanders Street in Northwest Portland. When completed, this new connection between Portland's two most densely populated neighborhoods will save lives, money, and the environment.

An Easy Decision Compared to Others
As the city's transportation commissioner, I am pleased to support such a far-sighted project. Overseeing transportation in Portland is not a task for those who lack clarity in direction or detail. It's a difficult job that combines high public expectations with limited financial resources that are declining in real value everyday. On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the most difficult decision I make for transportation, reusing the Sauvie span rates a 3.

Priority #1 is Safety
Knowing that expectations dramatically exceed dollars available, I prioritize projects that will save lives. That's why in 2006 I asked Transportation to identify the city's 25 most dangerous corridors and intersections and what could be done to improve their safety. Moving east to west, intersections on 122nd Avenue, 82nd Avenue/Foster Boulevard and West Burnside have the greatest number of crashes.

The Push for New Funding at City Council
That same year we held Transportation's first Safety Summit with the public. Together we prioritized locations for fixes and developed a detailed project list. I took that list to my council colleagues and secured $13 million from the city's general fund. Historically transportation has not received general fund dollars. But council supported my request because we demonstrated the needs were great, alternative funding sources were non-existent, and we had a detailed, transparent project plan approved by neighborhood and business associations that we could execute right away.

East Portland Arterials Come First
Given the concentration of high-crash corridors and intersections in East Portland, it's no surprise that we directed 76% of dollars earmarked for safety improvements there.

West Burnside Corridor is Next
As the data directed, we then turned our sights on West Burnside. Within the last month, some have made a point to dismiss the need for safety improvements in the West Burnside corridor. Apparently for some, the facts don't matter. And the facts are clear.

West Burnside kills.

As recently as October 11, 2007 the unsafe conditions of West Burnside took the life of Tracey Sparling, a 19-year old student traveling by bicycle from her apartment in Goose Hollow to her classes at the Pacific Northwest College of Art in the Pearl District. A cement truck, operating apparently in accordance with the law, ran over her at the corner of SW 14th Avenue and Burnside. She was in the bike lane. The driver never saw her.

It doesn't surprise me that facts are ignored or skewed for perceived gain during the political season. But it does dishearten me that community leaders would tolerate this tragedy by attacking a special opportunity with a uniquely wide range of attributes to improve the street environment. Tracey's plight only personalized for me what the data already show: poor bicycle and pedestrian conditions needlessly jeopardize the safety of those who travel by any mode between Northwest and the Pearl, the city's two greatest concentrations of people.

The Legal Requirement for Bicycles and Pedestrians
West Burnside's dangers immediately became clear when Transportation began to study reconstruction options for the Burnside/Couch corridor. When reconstruction occurs, state law compels the City to provide for bicyclists and pedestrians. I quote from the Oregon Department of Transportation:

"ORS 366.514, aka the bike bill, was passed by the Oregon Legislature in 1971. It requires the inclusion of facilities for pedestrians and bicyclists wherever a road, street or highway is built or rebuilt. It applies to ODOT, cities and counties. It also requires ODOT, cities and counties to spend reasonable amounts of their share of the state highway fund on facilities for pedestrians and bicyclists. These facilities must be located within the right-of-way of public roads, streets or highways open to motor vehicle traffic. The funds cannot be spent on trails in parks or other areas outside of a road, street or highway right-of-way."

Genesis of the Flanders Crossing
In 2002, the Burnside/Couch stakeholder advisory committee debated the best way to meet this obligation while accommodating the other goals for Burnside/Couch. Improving the safety of pedestrians crossing Burnside was their top priority, followed by wider sidewalks on Burnside and on-street parking. The group came to consensus there wasn't sufficient room to accommodate bikes in the Burnside/Couch corridor. The Bicycle Transportation Alliance made a proposal: they would cede the legal right to bike lanes on Burnside and Couch in exchange for the City designating Flanders a "bicycle boulevard" (a street designed to minimize but not eliminate motor vehicle traffic) and building a new 405 crossing at Flanders.

The Current Council Affirmed Support Three Times
City council, including Mayor Potter, has affirmed its support for the Flanders crossing three times: when it approved the Burnside/Couch proposal in 2007, when it approved the crossing as part of the list of priority projects eligible for Transportation System Development charges in 2007, and again in 2007 when it approved the study to test the feasibility of moving the Sauvie center span to Flanders over 405. The previous council also supported the Flanders crossing when it voted for the couplet in 2002.

A Correction to Potter's Assertion
On April 19, 2008 Mayor Potter issued a press statement from more than 6000 miles away while traveling in China to blast the council majority's decision to move forward with the Sauvie center span at Flanders. Potter doesn't support the move because "This bridge will give the Pearl District three overpasses in a three-block span. And while one accident is one accident too many, the N.W. Flanders site is not on PDOT's list of dangerous intersections for either autos, bikes, or pedestrians."

As a review of the Burnside to Glisan crash data map reveals, Potter has identified precisely why Flanders was chosen as a bicycle boulevard. Flanders is the safest reasonable alternative to bike lanes on Burnside and Couch and substandard facilities on Everett and Glisan. A bridge at Davis would be unduly complicated by an on/off-ramps between I-405 and NW 14th Avenue. Everett and Glisan are intended to serve, and do serve, concentrations of motor vehicles at higher speeds between the two neighborhoods as well as access points to and from I-405. The data shows these have been high-crash corridors.

Each Existing Crossing is Dangerous
Burnside, Couch, Everett, and Glisan all provide sidewalks of sub-standard width on just one side of the street due to the collection of ramps connecting to I-405. Even with one substandard sidewalk per side, a pedestrian must avoid motor vehicles traveling at high speeds to or from the freeway. It's intuitively dangerous, and the data confirms that.

Why the Sauvie Span at Flanders
With the need for the Flanders crossing addressed, the remaining question is whether reuse of the Sauvie Island center span is a good fit for Flanders. I base my decision on value and values. Would reuse be a good use of taxpayer money at the projected $5.5 million? And would reuse be consistent with Portland's expectations for itself?

In both instances, reuse comes out ahead of any alternate scenario. Much has been made of the original low-confidence estimate that a brand new span would cost the city $3.5 million. We need to explore that number in greater detail.

$3.5 million represents a low-cost estimate for a 15-foot wide design-unfriendly span that was under contract for construction today. It does not account for real-world provisions like the cost of inflation. Prior to the opportunity to relocate the Sauvie center span, Transportation originally had planned to see the new span built as part of Burnside/Couch reconstruction. Planners estimate the project will break ground in 5 years. Construction costs in transportation have been inflating at a rate of 5% annually. Thus a span estimated in low confidence to cost $3.5 million today would be projected to cost $4,375,000 in 2013.

A new span at 15 feet of width is inferior to the Sauvie's 30 feet of width. Not addressing real world constraints, a new 30-foot span today would be projected in low confidence to cost $7 million. (There is no bulk discount in bridges.) But more realistically, the bridge would more likely be built five years out at a projected cost of $8,750,000.

The Utility of 30 feet in Width for Non-Motorized Uses
Some suggest 30 feet in width for non-motorized uses is extravagant. An analysis of high volume corridors suggests existing widths that vary between 10 feet (Hawthorne Bridge) and 15 feet (Eastbank Esplanade) are inadequate to handle peak travel. Transportation projects 2000 daily crossings between Northwest and the Pearl District, the city's two densest neighborhoods. Bicycle ridership has risen steadily in the last 10 years and risen dramatically in the last 5 years. A 30-foot crossing should better accommodate demand for decades to come.

Funding Sources and Constraints
The Sauvie center span move is projected to cost $5.5 million. Sources are:
• $2 million in Transportation System Development Charges;
• $2 million in River District Urban Renewal funding;
• $1 million in Transportation Enhancement funds from the Oregon Department of Transportation;
• $500,000 from the Safe, Sound & Green Streets program; and
• Private contributions.

Some have suggested these funding sources could be redirected to other parts of town. SDCs must be used to enhance capacity, but otherwise do not have geographic constraints. Growth in the Northwest District has generated $4.3 million in SDCs but Transportation has spent just $740,000 in SDCs there. River District URA funding must be spent within the geographic boundary. ODOT's Transportation Enhancement funds are available only for projects that "enhance cultural, aesthetic or environmental values in the transportation corridor." Routine transportation improvements, like basic sidewalk development, are not eligible for TE funds. As mentioned, the Northwest District targeted the Flanders crossing as its highest priority, which is why it's included in the Safe, Sound & Green program. And finally, it's the specific opportunity to reuse the Sauvie center span at Flanders that has encouraged private citizens to seek private fundraising.

These are the reasons I support the Flanders Crossing. I know that when the facts are available to Portlanders they support strong decisions that make our city safer. This project will save lives, save money and help each Portander do our part to save the environment.

Sam

Related Documents

11 Million in PDOT One Time General Fund Safety Projects

Portland's Most Dangerous Corridors

Facts on Flanders Crossing

Ordinance

PRESS RELEASE: Action Plan to Respond to Shortfalls in State Gas Tax Revenues

Shoshanah Oppenheim — Wed, 07 May 2008 10:54:29 -0700

City Commissioner Sam Adams announced today action items the Portland Office of Transportation (PDOT) will take in response to the impact of high fuel prices on Portland's transportation budget. Adams and PDOT officials addressed the fact that rising fuel prices are projected to generate $2.7 million less Gas Tax revenue in Fiscal Year 2007-08 than forecasted six months ago and see this trend continuing for the foreseeable future.

The City's budget process required PDOT to make cost escalation estimates in October 2007 for a budget submitted in December 2007. Today's prices require substantial adjustments to those estimates.

Adams outlined the following actions PDOT will take to deal with reduced transportation revenues:

Evaluate all capital projects to ensure recent price increases are included, including the Flanders Street Crossing to insure integrity of the budgets

Evaluate all capital projects to ensure recent price increases are included, including the Flanders Street Crossing to insure integrity of the budgets
Review vacant positions to determine essential hires
Restrict discretionary spending such as out-of-town travel
Accelerate ongoing efforts to find additional productivity improvements
Examine opportunities to reduce fuel consumption
Evaluate major road paving projects

"Like all citizens, the City is aware of rising prices for fuel and other petroleum-based products. We have been monitoring the situation for several months," said Adams. "An increase in the price of fuel means an increase in costs for PDOT projects, not only for paving projects done in-house by our Transportation Maintenance crews but also for construction projects contracted out."

Prices of fuel and other petroleum-based products have been steadily rising in recent years. The City is paying more for fuel and asphalt. The City's price for solid asphalt, which is a petroleum-based product, today is $45 per ton. A year ago the price was $36 per ton. Considering that the City's overlay crews use an average 600 tons of asphalt per day for 106 crew days, that's a big impact. "Certainly, this affects our choices. It affects everyone's choices - the City's and the individual resident's," said Adams.

Although fossil fuels are woven into nearly every thread of the fabric of society, the transportation sector is the largest user of petroleum products. An estimated 38% of the total fuel consumption each year is used for transportation, with electricity being the second at 28%. The transportation sector includes every gallon of gas used to power each car or truck used every day to deliver us from point A to point B, to school, to work, or for errands. City Fleet has seen an average cost increase of 32% per year for fuel in recent years.

If the price of petroleum continues to go up, the City won't have a lot of options, say Adams and PDOT officials. Areas of concern include the following:

Long-term pavement and bridge conditions
PDOT's maintenance program
Future construction projects

"An increase in the price of petroleum means it's more difficult for us to get our work done, meet our street paving goals, and manage construction projects. Rising petroleum costs will reduce the miles of streets paved this year and beyond," said Adams.

Costs of construction projects have been steadily increasing in recent years due to rising prices of major materials. The following material costs have risen 10-25% in the last few years and are expected to continue to rise over the next few years:

Asphalt
Cement
Structural Concrete
Diesel Fuel
Sand, Gravel, Crushed Stone
Pre-stressed Concrete Products

PDOT has implemented a range of measures aimed at reducing its oil use in day-to-day operations and the general public's oil consumption. The City has adopted best practices around using recycled materials. The Sunderland Recycling Facility in northeast Portland, for example, crushes asphalt and concrete into reusable rock that City crews use in maintenance projects.

"We are using sustainability as a tool to reduce long-term costs on all new projects," said Adams. The City has purchased Hybrids, implemented the ZipCar partnership program, purchased bio-diesel fuel, and implemented new technologies to defray the costs of fuel. The City also partners with other government agencies in the region sharing resources to reduce costs.

In the past few years, powerful evidence has emerged that casts doubt on the assumption that oil and natural gas will remain plentiful and affordable. The evidence suggests that global production of both oil and natural gas is likely to reach its historic peak soon. This phenomenon is referred to as "Peak Oil." In March 2007 Portland became the first government body in the U.S. to acknowledge imminent peak oil as a reality and to release a plan for what the city should be doing to cope with the years ahead. A resolution was adopted by City Council that calls for cutting oil consumption in Portland in half by the year 2030.

Portlanders Weigh in on How to Spend Stimulus Tax Rebate

Kimberly Schneider — Sun, 04 May 2008 13:33:00 -0700

Whatever one thinks of the federal government's plan to stimulate the national economy, tax rebate checks are in the mail for nearly anyone who filed a 2007 tax return. The Oregonian reports that many of us will pay down debt or increase savings. The president of Parkrose neighborhood business district reminds us to "buy local" if we're going to make purchases. Click above for the full articles or finds excepts below.

"Use rebate from Uncle Sam wisely, readers say"
By MICHELLE ROBERTS -- The Oregonian

Here are some scenarios to make the most of the dollars coming your way:

Pay down credit cards

Thanks to the Federal Reserve's interest-rate cuts over the past few months, the average credit-card rate last week dropped to 13.01 percent on cards that don't offer rewards, according to IndexCreditCards.com, a consumer-focused credit-card research company.

Even at that lower interest rate, making minimum payments every month will keep you mired in debt for decades.

If you have a credit card balance of $5,000 and pay only the industry standard minimum payment of 2.5 percent ($125) a month at that interest rate, you'd need 19 years, 2 months to pay off that debt -- and you'd spend about $3,700 in interest before you were done.

So, for a family that gets a check for $1,800 (the maximum for a household with two adults and two children) paying off a credit card debt that extracts 13 percent interest compounds the windfall. If a couple with two children pays down a 13 percent credit card debt of $5,000, and continues to make monthly payments of $125, they would have a zero balance in just 31 months and would spend about $600 in interest.

With an interest savings of $3,100, that means a family could increase the power of their rebate from $1,800 to $4,900.

If you want to figure out your own savings, check out the free debt calculators at www.bankrate.com.

Invest in your kids

College 529 plans are a great way to boost the value of your federal rebate checks.

If you're a parent to a newborn, setting up a tax-free 529 college-savings plan will allow you to turn $300 (the rebate amount for each child under age 17) into $948 in 17 years, or by the time little Austin or McKenzie is ready for Harvard. That's based on a conservative return estimate of 7 percent.

Throw in another $1,300 a year (this is easier than it looks -- it's the same you'd spend on one venti Starbucks Caramel Macchiato a day), and your babe's college fund bubbles to $39,740 by the time you're sweating SAT scores.

"It's amazing how much it adds up," says Michael Parker, executive director of the Oregon 529 College Savings Board. "People get frightened at the cost of college. Yes, college is expensive, but the cost is manageable. If you can save a little now to defray it, coupled with work study and a little debt, you're well on your way."

Invest in Retirement

Where to invest a little bit of found money? Especially when the stock market is more topsy-turvy than Paula Abdul on a typical "American Idol" episode? Let's stick to the basics. Plunking your federal tax rebate into a traditional or Roth IRA can pay off big time. (The following calculations assume a 9 percent return on Roth IRAs and 8 percent on traditional.)

If a couple in their mid-30s with two children invests their $1,800 stimulus check in a traditional IRA, they could be sitting on a $15,396 nest egg (after taxes) by the time they turn 65 -- without ever pitching in another penny.

The math is good for those who get a $600 rebate, too. If a 29-year-old sticks that money in a traditional IRA, that $600 could turn into $8,144 (after taxes) by the time the office manager orders his or her retirement party sheet cake.

In a Roth IRA, the couple who invests $1,800 could have a $23,882 nest egg, and the individual who puts in $600 could have $13,351 without ever putting in more money.

Michelle Roberts: 503-294-5041; michelleroberts@news.oregonian.com

"Local Business" By Michael Taylor, Parkrose BA President - Statistics from ILSR

There are good reasons to support your local businesses. Not only do they offer variety, unique goods, and employment opportunity, they:

Support the Economy

Every $100 spent with a local firm leaves $68 in the local economy; $100 spent in a chain store leaves $43. For every square foot occupied by a local firm, the local economic impact is $179, versus $105 for a chain store. Dollars spent at an independent business deliver twice the economic impact of those spent at national chains.

Support the Community

Small firms give an average of more than two and a half times the amount per employee than do medium or large firms (small firms give $789 per employee, medium firms $172. and large firms $334).

Support Themselves

Wal-Mart has received more than $1 billion in economic development subsidies from state and local governments across the country. Taxpayers have helped finance not only Wal-Mart stores, but also the company's huge network of distribution centers, more than 90 percent of which have received subsidies.

While we can be friends with our "big box" neighbors, we should remember that the small, medium, and local businesses are the lifeblood of our communities. Next purchase, make it local! Make it count!

Bicyclist Wins in Commuting Race with Car!

The Office — Fri, 02 May 2008 14:35:12 -0700

Commissioner Adams was at City Hall to congratulate Rob Widmer of Widmer Brothers Brewing who crossed the finish line Thursday five minutes ahead of his brother, Kurt, who drove.

The event, a Bicycle Commuter Challenge, kicked off National Bike Month by showcasing the efficiency of riding your bike to work instead of commuting by car. Two paths from the Cadillac Cafe in Northeast Portland to City Hall on SW 4th Avenue were traveled by bicyclists. Rob arrived after 16 minutes of following the same route as Kurt, who traveled by car and arrived after 21 minutes, while Kim Seymour, of David Evans and Associates, biked along the NE Tillamook bike boulevard and the Eastbank Esplanade, a low-traffic route, arriving just 2 minutes later than Kurt.

As Transportation Commissioner, Sam is continually seeking new ways to provide transportation options to his constituents. He is enthusiastic to report that bicycling is not only an afforable, environmentally beneficial, and increasingly safer form of commuting, but also just as quick, if not quicker, as commuting by car!

Check out these articles that were posted on Oregon Live:

[Widmer Brothers Start Bike Month]

[Rob Widmer and Bicycle Win]

Portland Goes Platinum!

Shoshanah Oppenheim — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 15:58:55 -0700

Symbol of our success!The Portland Office of Transportation (PDOT) and its bicycle community partners earned Portland the “Platinum” Level Bicycle Friendly Community award from the League of American Bicyclists. The coveted "Platinum” designation of “Bicycle Friendly Community,” recognizes those communities that have quality conditions for bicyclists and cycling safety. Portland is the first large U.S. city to gain the designation and joins Davis, California, as the only other Platinum city in the country.

“When Portland received the Gold award in 2003,” said Andy Clarke, President of the League, “we challenged the community to increase ridership to get to Platinum. Bold leadership, community-wide involvement, and a lot of hard work have resulted in a 144% increase in bicycle use since the 2000 Census – impressive results by any standard.”

The League’s reviewers noted that Portland has coupled modestWeather is no barrrier in Portland when you want to ride. but smart investments in infrastructure, with outstanding education, promotion, and encouragement activities to make cycling a practical and safe option for many more Portlanders than ever before. Education and enforcement programs are now helping drivers and pedestrians interact more safely and predictably with the increasing numbers of cyclists on the road. Only 0.7 % of the Office of Transportation's budget is spent on bike infrastructure. However this small investment yields significant ridership. currently 6% of trips taken are by bike.

Acknowledging that Platinum status carries with it the responsibility of setting a high standard for other communities to follow, Adams added, “We are not content to rest on our laurels. Platinum status is just the beginning, and we realize that the eyes of the nation are now upon us to keep pedaling forward.”

For more information on Portland’s bicycle program, visit www.GettingAroundPortland.org.

Relevant News

We're looking for a few good interns!

The Office — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 10:07:40 -0700

The Office of City Commissioner Adams is currently looking for self-motivated and intelligent individuals to join our team as interns.

We are offering an entry-level internship which entails office work including data entry, multiple-line phones response, staff support, filing, and policy research, as well as assisting with projects as directed by senior staff.

Commissioner Adams provides equal opportunity to all qualified individuals without regard to their race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, source of income or physical or mental disability. People of diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

Deadline of Submission is April 30, 2008

Please send resume, a cover letter and a writing sample (3 pages max) to:
Maria Lynn F. Lim, Operations Manager
mlynnlim@ci.portland.or.us
(503) 823-3017 (FAX)

Or mail it to:
1221 SW 4th Ave., Rm. 220
Portland, OR 97204

Art in Our Future: Youth Art Show at City Hall!

Pollyanne Birge — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 15:17:18 -0700

. ..

Art in our Future:

City Hall Youth Art Show

Thursday May 1st 5-7pm

City Hall 1221 SW 4th

FREE and Open to the Public

Featuring work from:

* Buckman Arts Focus School

* The Children's Healing Art Project

* Young, Gifted, and Black Art Competition in collaboration with the African American Visual Arts Scholarship project.

Performances by:

* Buckman Chorus
* Buckman Marimba Ensemble
* Boys Dance Group, (led by Keith Goodman)

From painting and drawing to sculpture and performance, the night's spotlight will be firmly focused on the rich talent of Portland's young artists. City Hall is excited to open its gallery space for the next generation of creative thinkers to exhibit their amazing work!

Free refreshments, delicious food, youth produced art and great performance-be sure not to miss this event!

Partner Descriptions:

* Buckman Elementary School Arts Focus, a Portland Public School located in inner Southeast Portland, offers an innovative arts-integrated academic curriculum, in addition to intensive arts classes in dance, drama and music, and visual art. At Buckman, Portland's premier arts elementary school, students internalize their academic learning through these varied forms of creative self-expression, resulting in increased self-esteem, absorption of academic material, creative thinking, and understanding and acceptance of the self. Combining a love of the arts with high academic achievement, Buckman is both a neighborhood school and arts focus option program that is open for admission to all elementary students in Portland. Buckman was recently given the Creative Ticket School of Excellence Award by the Oregon Alliance for Arts Education in conjunction with the Kennedy Center Alliance for Arts Education Network.

Children's Healing Art Project (CHAP) brings the healing power of art to children in crisis and their families with a mobile team of teaching artists working in Portland's children's hospitals.

CHAP has created art classes tailored to the needs of the children we serve in each partner facility: Doernbecher Children's Hospital, Shriners Hospital for Children, Legacy Emanuel Children's Hospital & at Art Club (CHAP's out-of-hospital art camp in our Pearl District studio). In 2007, CHAP served over 5,000 children & their families. CHAP offers one-on-one classes for children in isolation and group classes in playrooms, lobbies and waiting rooms. CHAP classes include drawing, painting, sculpture, computer animation, mask making and jewelry. CHAP classes offer a place where nervous energy is transformed into creative energy. Our common language is based in the creative process of making art, which crosses all gender, age, and cultural, religious and ethnic boundaries. CHAP classes offer an art experience that engages and inspires -- where children can be seen for their artistic talents and not for their disease, diagnosis or disability. CHAP is a 501 (c-3) non-profit.

* African American Visual Arts Scholarship:
Visual Arts express the hopes, dreams and history of a people. As guardians of memory and gatekeepers of history, artists are often silently at the heart of resistance and revolution, consciously and unconsciously responsible for changes that have shaped our world. The artist is at once a griot, a teacher, a philosopher. African American Visual Arts Scholarships was created to recognize and support developing African American artists.
www.aavas.com

Young, Gifted, and Black Art Competition:
African-American/African Diaspora high school students 14-19 years of age from the Portland Metro area in Public, Charter, Private, Alternative or Home School.
To encourage the study of a rich cultural history as a living legacy and inspire the creation of original works of art.
Throughout time, the study and knowledge of history has given artists a foundation to fashion their visions as they chronicled and interpreted past and present people, places and events.
Each entry will be accompanied by a typed 100-200 word essay/outline from readings that provide the basis for your art.

Grey to Green: A Comprehensive Approach to Clean Rivers and Watershed Health

Sam Adams — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 11:51:14 -0700

Portland is blessed with abundant rainfall. With it, our city grows lush and beautiful. But all of this rain comes with a challenge: our annual average of 37 inches creates a staggering 20 billion gallons of stormwater runoff every year.

Without proper management, stormwater runoff can damage our watersheds, rivers, and streams. The good news is that Portland is well past the days of simply funneling stormwater into pipes that release fast-moving, dirty water directly into once-pristine rivers and streams.

In 2005, City Council embraced a holistic approach to watershed health in adopting the Portland Watershed Management Plan. With this new strategy and thanks to on-going help and a steady application of pressure from organizations like the Audubon Society of Portland and the Urban Greenspaces Institute, we are ready to step up our investments in clean rivers and streams to preserve our urban watersheds for generations to come. We're calling this shift in the way we do business "Grey to Green".

Portland is at the forefront of using "green infrastructure" - sustainable stormwater management technologies that mimic natural systems. The city is dotted with parking lot swales, green streets and rain gardens that filter stormwater pollutants and allow water to soak into the ground, replenishing groundwater supplies.

But repairing our urban landscape is not enough. We also need to restore and preserve existing natural areas throughout our city, by fighting invasive weeds, restoring native plants, protecting our most critical natural land, and replacing culverts that harm fish.

These are not new approaches, but shifting our focus and resources from grey to green is a vital step toward improving the health of our watersheds and rivers. With this shift comes the added benefit that we don't get from miles of piped sewers - cleaner air and water, reduced urban temperatures, and increased and improved habitat. And, these approaches often cost less than traditional piped systems.

What excites me most is that this new approach allows every residence and business to be a part of the solution, whether it's installing an ecoroof or simply planting a tree.

Grey to Green is an investment that makes sense. And we are ready to act now.

Attachment	Size
G2G_Council_PowerPoint.pdf	3.4 MB
G2G Benefits.xls	63.5 KB
Oregonian Opinion Page.pdf	17.01 KB
Grey to Green FINAL.pdf	2.7 MB

Ecoroof Workshops - FREE

Lisa Libby — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 18:11:49 -0700

Here is your chance to learn more about ecoroof structure, design, construction and permitting. The City of Portland's Bureau of Environmental Services (BES) will be hosting this series of free technical workshops, beginning on April 29th.

All participants will receive a certificate of completion and may be eligible to receive city funding to support ecoroof construction.

Call 503.823.7213 or e-mail sandih@bes.ci.portland.or.us to register. Advance registration is required, and space is limited, so be sure to register early... but don't worry if the workshop it full. Rumor has it that the series will be offered again in the Fall.

For more information about ecoroofs, visit the BES website.

Ecoroof Workshop Topics and Dates:

Latest Data, Information and Resources
Tuesday, April 29

Structure and Design
Tuesday, May 6

Membrane and Waterproofing
Tuesday, May 13

Plants, Growing Media, and Irrigation
Wednesday, May 21

Permitting, Construction, and Operation and Maintenance
Wednesday, June 4

Relevant Documents:

Ecoroof Seminar Brochure

10 Strategies to Keep Portland's Economy Working

Sam Adams — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 10:13:53 -0700

Dear Portlander,

We've all heard that another economic slow down is upon us. The national economy is currently confronting slow job growth, a severe mortgage lending crisis and credit crunch, and a widening income gap.

In Portland, we are hopeful that the current slowdown won't become a local recession, but too often in recent history Oregon and the Portland region have been among the worst hit by national recessions. With Oregon's unemployment up, and an increase in foreclosures, we need to make sure we're proactive in preparing for whatever happens in the next six to twelve months.

Historically, city government has done little to either prepare for a slowdown or act to recover from one. It's time we do so.

The purpose of this draft economic response strategy is to identify the actions we can take immediately to help mitigate local impacts of the national economic slowdown on Portlanders and Portland businesses.

This discussion draft lays out immediate and short term strategies designed to foster job creation and retention, economic development, and to strengthen our safety net by:

marshalling existing resources and increasing partnerships with the private sector
greenlighting requests put forward by the bureaus
investing in target initiatives and;
increasing certainty wherever possible

For a sense of where these strategies are in the budget process (sorry it's so complicated!) click here.

The total $6 million investment into our economy and community will help individuals and businesses using proven strategies and new partnerships.

As a city and a region, we will clearly need to take additional action to address this economic slowdown. However, these investments will help people stay in their homes, secure family-wage jobs and increase their assets. They will also help small businesses stay open and grow by reducing uncertainty and tax burden, accessing new markets, and securing technical and capital assistance.

I'd like to thank the City, County, State, organized labor, private sector and community leaders who have already added their expertise and advice to this document. I am sending this discussion draft proposal to you for your input before I finalize it and submit it to my colleagues for their consideration as part of the city budget making process now underway.

Yours,

Sam

10 Strategies to Keep Portland's Economy Working

Recognizing that the Federal and State governments have important roles to play in reinvigorating our economy (see complete report for legislative priorities), here are some ideas about what the City of Portland can do to mitigate risk and to seize opportunities that will immediately benefit our vulnerable families and businesses - while we continue to move forward with the long-term strategies that will help our region thrive:

In the next 3 months:

Form a Council of Economic Advisors
Protect Basic Services
Boost Support to Vulnerable Families, Expand Rent Assistance and Increase Capacity of Foreclosure Counseling Services
Support small businesses by placing a moratorium on new fees and taxes, Extending City Building Permit Validation, Easing Permitting Process, Boosting Technical Assistance and Access, Expanding Loan Programs and Promoting Local Retail Activity

In the following 6 months:

Expand Job Placement and Workforce Training Programs
Reduce City Taxes on Small Businesses
Increase Exports of Local Products and Services
Maintain Tourism Support
Support Transition to a Sustainable Economy and Green Jobs Strategy
Integrate Job, Housing, Education and Development Programs

For the complete draft document, click here.

After reading the draft document, please help us prioritize these possible actions and add your thoughts, questions and ideas through a short survey here.

City of Portland Receives Credit for Innovations in Government

The Office — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 15:27:50 -0700

Harvard Picks Lobbying Registration Code and Home Again - part of the 10 Year Plan To End Homelessness - as Two of the 50 Most Innovative Government Programs

The Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation at Harvard Kennedy School today announced that the City of Portland's Lobbying Registration Code and the Multnomah County and Portland's Home Again made the Top 50 Programs of the 2008 Innovations in American Government Awards competition. Selected from a pool of nearly 1,000 applicants, these 50 programs represent the best in government innovation from local, county, city, tribal, state, and federal levels. Each of the Top 50 programs underwent several rounds of rigorous evaluation from a committee of practitioners and policy experts from Harvard Kennedy School as well as renowned institutions nationwide. Representing a range of jurisdictions from across the country, the Top 50 programs include seventeen cities/towns, four counties, six federal agencies, three school districts, nineteen states and one tribal government.

The City of Portland's Lobbying Registration Code requires entities that lobby city officials (over 8 hours a quarter) to register with the city and to report what city officials they talked with, the subject discussed, the amount of money expended and when the lobbying occurred. That information is then made available to the public via the auditor's website. This is the only system in the country that focuses on actual lobbying hours as well as gifts and contributions.

After a year of shaping the lobbying regulations draft through public input, the regulations were passed by City Council at the end of 2005, and registration started in early 2006. Commissioner Adams is honored to have the regulations recognized by the Kennedy School. As a result of the regulations, over 217 lobbyists, representing 57 lobbying entities, have registered their activities with the City Auditor. As well, City officials publish their calendars. Commissioner Adams said, "It is an honor for Portland to be nationally recognized in our efforts in increasing transparency and accountability in local government."

Since the 10-year Plan to End Homelessness was announced in December 2004, the City and County have housed more than 1,200 homeless individuals and more than 1,600 homeless families. Over 1,000 units of permanent supportive housing (where services such as mental health treatment, addiction treatment and job training are provided onsite) have been built. Home Again is the City and County's effort to end peoples' homelessness.

These two programs highlight Portland's innovative approach to government.

Finalists among the Top 50 will be announced on June 3, 2008. On June 12, finalist programs will make presentations on their initiatives before a National Selection Committee, chaired by David Gergen. Winners will receive $100,000 to replicate their efforts in other communities. Additional information about the Ash Institute is available at http://www.ashinstitute.harvard.edu.

Oregonian: Tech Firms Flock to City's Core

Kimberly Schneider — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 16:53:26 -0700

By Jonathan Brinkman

It turns out that empty-nesters with excess discretionary income are not the only ones who gravitate to Portland's urban core. To attract top talent, software companies are briskly filling large, open spaces in older downtown Portland buildings with fresh faces, ideas and energy.

In the past two years, dozens of software companies have taken root or expanded in downtown. Some have kept adding space in the district even amid worries of a broad economic slowdown. The trend has
gradually given downtown a burgeoning tract of the tech scene, traditionally concentrated in Portland's western suburbs.

Two crucial factors are driving the trend: Software companies -- particularly those focusing on social networking, online advertising and finance -- are thriving. And a hip office in a central location can be a
competitive edge in attracting top-notch staff. "Software companies have always tended to go toward these types of creative spaces, but this is now a fullgrown phenomenon," said Harvey Mathews, executive director of the Software Association of Oregon. "I get calls from people from all over the place, and all of them want this Old Town, downtown, brick funky
space."

The spate of downtown activity also supports the recent conclusion of new economic development group Greenlight Greater Portland, which lists the software industry among the metro area's most promising job engines.
The biggest recent deal came in February, when Jive Software announced it was taking three floors and 38,000 square feet of the vacant former Federal Reserve building at Southwest Ninth Avenue and Stark
Street. The move is slated for this summer. Jive, formed in 2001 in New York City, came to Portland in 2004. It has 145 employees at its current
location at Southwest Third Avenue and Alder Street.

The new building "has the potential for a lot of creativity," said Dave Hersh, Jive's chief executive. "We would kill the company in one fell swoop if we tried to move out to the suburbs."

Among other software companies expanding in Portland:

Galois Inc., specializing in computer security, is moving July 1 from a 12,000-square-foot space in Beaverton to a 19,000-square-foot space at 421 S.W. Sixth Avenue.
PreCash Inc., a Houston financial software company, moved its 40-person technology team from a 17,000-square-foot space on Southwest Broadway to a 20,000-square-foot office in the same building that Galois is moving into, called the Commonwealth Building.
An e-mail marketing software and Web company, eROI, moved Dec. 1 from a 6,200-square-foot-space inthe Albers Mill building at the west end of the Broadway bridge to a 10,000-square-foot spot in a renovated building on Northwest Fifth Avenue in Old Town. It plans to pick up an additional 7,500 square feet in the building early next year.

"This is a very important evolving industry," said Sandra McDonough, chief executive of the Portland Business Alliance, the city's chamber of commerce. "For them to see the central city as the place they want
to be is great for Portland."

The state's tech bubble burst in 2001, and it's only been in recent years that the industry has gained new steam. Statewide employment in the software industry grew by 16 percent from 2004 to 2006, the most
recent year for which data is available.

Chris Elsenbach, a managing principle for corporate real estate adviser CresaPartners, said that's partly due to the tech bust survivors.
"Software firms struggled through 2002, 2003, 2004, but the good firms are coming out of that," he said. "The companies that survived the tech downturn are now profitable. They are selling their products, making
money, adding desks."

The hard part is getting good employees to fill those desks, said Joe Cortright, a Portland economist who co-wrote "The Young and the Restless," a study of the so-called creative class.

"The chief asset of a software company is the talent it attracts," he said. Being centrally located -- easy to get to by public transportation -- and having coffee shops, good restaurants and cultural amenities nearby
help attract creative young workers, he said.

That's what convinced Jay Haladay, owner and chief executive of Coaxis Inc., to move last April from Tigard into a 50,000-square-foot space in a converted warehouse in inner Southeast Portland. "I wanted to create a recruiting magnet," he said of the LEED-certified building at 1515 S.E. Water St. he helped develop. "Being downtown lends itself to the kind of people we're looking to attract."

Jill Bruhn, a Web developer at eROI, lives by the Lloyd Center -- just across the Willamette River from work. She moved from Ashland six months ago.
"I moved here to work in a company like this in the city center," she said. "I didn't want to work in the suburbs. This is kind of the lifestyle I want."