Livability & Environment
UPDATED: Yes, Wal-Mart is Eyeing Hayden Island for New Store Location: Our Fight Begins
Sam AdamsBad news, it is confirmed that Wal-Mart is on the march into Portland with a new location on Hayden Island. Soon, we will announce an organizing meeting to fight their proposal. Stay tuned. Thanks for all the blog posts and emails. To keep the dialog going, here are my thoughts...
Posted by Sam Adams on May 31, 2006
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Filed Under Front Page, Jobs & Economy, Livability & Environment, News, North Portland, Transportation, Wal-Mart
Reuse or Recylce the Tower of Power
The Office
Should we save this 190 foot tower? It's a soon-to-be former transmission tower on Ross Island, which we're thinking could be fitted with stained glass and reused as a monument. What do you think?
Posted by The Office on May 30, 2006
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Filed Under Arts & Culture, Livability & Environment
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
Portland Tops List of Bicycle-friendly Cities, Again
Roland ChlapowskiPortland was once again awarded the recognition for being the Best Overall City for Bicycling in North America by Bicycling Magazine in its annual review of bicycle-friendly cities. With Portland's Best Overall designation in Bicycling Magazine's 2006 rankings, Portland now has been dubbed the America's best city for biking by...
Posted by Roland Chlapowski on February 27, 2006
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Filed Under Front Page, Livability & Environment, News, Transportation
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
BLOG: Leave No Brick Unpainted...
Sam AdamsThis morning, the Oregon Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of Measure 37, thereby ensuring that Measure 37 will continue to have a powerful impact on land use regulations in Portland. City Council has recently seen what I think was a terrible unintended consequence of Measure 37: applications for larger-than-life billboards...
Posted by Sam Adams on February 21, 2006
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Filed Under Blog, Front Page, Good Government, 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
FAA to Disperse Cargo Plane Noise
Maria Thi MaiFrom train whistles to race cars, Sam is an intimate neighbor to urban noise issues. This morning, Sam addressed the Port of Portland Commission on the cargo plane (box haulers) noise issue. He applauded the work of the Citizen's Noise Advisory Committee (CNAC), the ad hoc noise committee, the Port,...
Posted by Maria Thi Mai on February 8, 2006
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Filed Under 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
Portland: Best City to Have a Baby
Tom Miller- First Annual Report Hits Newsstands January 25th - - Portland, Oregon Takes Top Honors - Report answers what makes a city great for pregnant women, new parents and babies NEW YORK, Jan. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Portland takes top honors in Fit Pregnancy's Best Cities in America to Have a...
Posted by Tom Miller on February 1, 2006
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Filed Under Livability & Environment
BLOG: "...regarding Tryon Creek Farm...I will never, ever vote for you again..."
Sam Adams
I thought you might find this recent email exchange about the Tryon Creek Farm interesting. For background information...
Posted by Sam Adams on January 8, 2006
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Filed Under Blog, Front Page, Livability & Environment
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
Not so Loud! Reducing Noise in NoPo
Maria Thi MaiSam, a Kenton Neighborhood resident, is no stranger to noise generated by Portland International Raceway (PIR). Following up on a campaign promise to address noise from PIR, we began delving into the world of noise early in 2005. Sam first had an opportunity to address PIR noise by restoring the...
Posted by Maria Thi Mai on December 29, 2005
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Filed Under 2005 Year-in-Review, Livability & Environment
Citizen Review of Noisy Cargo flights Takes Off
Maria Thi MaiEarly in 2005, Fred Stovel, Erwin Bergman, and Robin Denberg asked us for help on addressing the long-standing issue of cargo airplane noise. Sam staffers Maria Thi Mai and Gordon Johnston brought together a group of citizens which in tandem with the Port of Portland became known as the Air...
Posted by Maria Thi Mai on December 29, 2005
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Filed Under 2005 Year-in-Review, Livability & Environment, North Portland, Northeast Portland
Faster Cleanup with the River Trust
Brian RussellThe Willamette River is not being cleaned up fast enough. In 2002, while working for Mayor Vera Katz, Sam had the idea to create the Portland River Trust to speed the federal permitting process required for river and riverbank cleanup projects. Before creating the Trust, clean up projects had to...
Posted by Brian Russell on December 29, 2005
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Filed Under 2005 Year-in-Review, 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
$ for Public Skateboard Parks
Tom MillerNearly every town today provides public skateboard parks - except Portland. At right is the world-class public skateboard park in Donald, Oregon, population 750. At Sam's urging, City Council directed a total of $248,000 to two public skateboard park projects. One is in Pier Park, St. Johns, the other in...
Posted by Tom Miller on December 19, 2005
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Filed Under 2005 Year-in-Review, 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
City Bureaus to Take a "Whack at Weeds"
Brian RussellInvasive plant species are threatening to take over our forests and roadsides, creating monocultures of English ivy, Himalayan blackberry or Japanese knotweed. Sam is committed to preventing our natural resource from being overrun by these invaders. We are losing the battle, he notes, and we must get these weeds under...
Posted by Brian Russell on December 19, 2005
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Filed Under 2005 Year-in-Review, 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
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
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
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
BLOG: "...Melbourne and Portland share a similar outlook on what should be city life..."
Sam Adams
Melbourne is a port city like Portland, big handles more freight. Its land mass is bigger than Portland’s but its population is only 57,000 compared to Portland’s 535,000. It is the center of a region with 3.3 million people; our region is about 2 million...
Posted by Sam Adams on October 12, 2005
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Filed Under Blog, Front Page, Jobs & Economy, Livability & Environment, Melbourne