CommissionerSam.com - East Portland

30 Rooms at Milepost 5

Jesse Beason — Wed, 14 May 2008 11:58:10 -0700

A one-week, multi-disciplinary art exhibition and music event
Presented at Milepost 5 in conjunction with Portland Art Center

Exhibit: May 16-24, 2008
Gallery Hours: May 16-24, 1-6pm

Milepost 5 invited local curators Chris Haberman (Portlandcityart) and Ben Pink (Launchpad Gallery) to select artists and arts groups from around the city to participate in this sprawling and expansive survey of our local art scene. Haberman and Pink are filling 30+ rooms of the soon-to-be inhabited Lofts building. Each artist or arts group has chosen a room to fill with artwork. Installations, painting, photography, sound work, video work, and sculpture are all included in this celebration of Portland’s artist community.

Along with the visual arts exhibition, Theo Craig has been invited to curate live music for our opening and closing events taking place simutaniously in the Studios building. Bands to perform include Boy Eats Drum Machine, Y La Bamba, Celilo, St. Frankie Lee on the 16th and Per Se, Silverhawk on the 24th. Beer garden and music events will be taking place in the Studios building.

Opening Reception: Friday, May 16, 7-11pm (DJs)
Opening Party: Saturday, May 17, 7-11pm (bands)
Closing Party: Saturday, May 24, 7-11pm (bands)

Worried About Noise in your Neighborhood?

Lisa Libby — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 18:16:54 -0700

Check out the newest feature on PortlandMaps: airport noise maps. Click here for a great example.

PortlandMaps now shows the noise levels around the Portland International Airport and how they impact surrounding neighborhoods. There are a number of maps showing noise levels at different distances from the airport, the aircraft landing zones and the areas impacted by noise.

Follow the PortlandMaps link to compare your neighborhood to others and learn more about what is being done to manage the noise around the airport.

1,130 Transportation-Related Citizen/Biz Requests Handled in 2007: Whew!

Cevero Gonzalez — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 19:12:52 -0800

As Sam's Public Advocate for transportation, the year 2007 continued to provide me with abundant opportunities to assist citizens with their questions and concerns regarding City services and projects. Specifically, the insightful and passionate inquiries we received challenged me, along with other bureaus throughout the City, to "think outside the box" and in turn to provide action-oriented responses to citizens seeking results.

Generally speaking, over 1,130 requests for assistance were received in our office this year [see table below]. In addition, but not included in the table below, we also received and responded to over 1,000 constituent inquiries relating to the proposed renaming of N. Interstate Avenue, as well as over 300 e-mails, letters and phone calls from citizens concerned about improving cyclist safety on Portland City streets. All tolled, we had a very busy but exciting year - addressing and resolving issues to the best of our ability. A brief listing of the types of concerns we addressed includes - but is not limited to:

• Parking enforcement, including suggestions regarding ways to improve parking access;
• General assistance and referral - to internal bureaus within the City, and other external partners throughout the city and county such as local non-profits and housing agencies;
• Motorist and pedestrian safety improvements;
• Paving and other street maintenance concerns;
• Street signage and street lighting issues;A break-down of the 1340 or so annual constituent contacts and requests, by month

* Requests for assistance through December 16, 2007.

Of course, every request for assistance or direction is unique. That being said, however, an in an effort to better highlight the types of concerns and issues addressed this year, following are a few brief examples of inquiries for assistance received in 2007.

OVERVIEW

Abandoned Autos: Priscilla in Northwest called the Public Advocate to request assistance with an abandoned auto that she indicated had remained parked on her residential street despite several attempts to contact the City's Abandoned Autos Program to have the vehicle removed. Not only was the vehicle an eyesore, Priscilla offered, but there was a potential that the debris surrounding the vehicle presented a safety and public health risk. Working on Priscilla's behalf, I contacted the Abandoned Autos Program and investigated the matter further. As a result, the vehicle in question was "tagged" for tow within four hours of Priscilla's call, and shortly after removed from her street altogether. Priscilla called back, once the vehicle had been removed, to thank me for working so diligently and speedily to address and resolve her concern.

Crosswalk Request: Tony in Northeast contacted Commissioner Adams to request his help with the installation of a crosswalk near his neighborhood. The challenge, as Tony indicated, was that the Office of Transportation (PDOT) continued to refuse his request for assistance specifically indicating that no safety improvement was warranted - however, Tony and others in his neighborhood believed otherwise. Working with PDOT engineers and managers, the original request for a crosswalk installation was reinvestigated and surprisingly a final determination was made to rethink the original decision. A crosswalk was eventually installed in the neighborhood. In acknowledgement of our efforts, Tony and others in the vicinity contacted our office to offer their thanks for all the work initiated on their behalf.

Garbage Pickup: Ken in Southwest called to ask for assistance in dealing with garbage collection services in his neighborhood, specifically indicating that his attempts to address and resolve the issue on his own had proven unsuccessful. On Ken's behalf, I contacted several departments within and outside of City bureaus and eventually identified the neighborhood's garbage hauler. Then, after consultation with Ken and his building's management staff, I contacted the garbage hauler and informed them that they might not be in compliance with City guidelines regarding refuse pickup times and other policies. Ken called back after two months time and informed me that the call on his behalf had "done the trick," since he had not experienced any further disruptions since my initial call.

Parking Control - Construction: Dan in Northeast called to request assistance with parking and construction issues in his neighborhood. Specifically, Dan indicated that PDOT had blocked off access to the street in front of his business resulting in a significant loss of parking and easy access to sidewalks. Further, Dan indicated that PDOT had not provided advance notice to affected businesses, in turn causing unneeded disruption to business operations. I spoke with PDOT staff about Dan's concerns and indicated that communication regarding any parking or construction disruptions was paramount to ensuring that alternative plans by affected parties could be considered. Additionally, I asked PDOT to reopen sections of the street - and more pointedly to restore parking - in areas not currently needing to be restricted. Dan called back, once the corrections had been made, and thanked me for working so quickly and thoroughly to resolve his complaint.

Parking Control - General: Michael M., a business owner from the Lloyd District, contacted me to request assistance with parking challenges his patrons were experiencing as a result of an abutting property owner removing parking without property City authorization. Working with PDOT staffers we were able to quickly identify the potentially offending parking removal and return it to its original state. Michael M. called me back once the correction had been made and thanked me for working so quickly - and thoroughly - to resolve his complaint.

Parking Control - Handicapped Access: Helen and her husband John, residents of the Hollywood District, called to request assistance with the installation of handicapped parking near their residence - indicating that they contacted me because they had received a denial of their request by PDOT. As senior citizens with disabilities, they offered, it was difficult to find available parking near their residence. I contacted PDOT staffers on Helen and John's behalf and challenged them to rethink their original assessment. Thankfully, and after much negotiation, PDOT reconsidered their initial decision and agreed to install handicapped parking near Helen and John's residence. Once the installation was completed, Helen sent a thank you letter - with pictures attached - acknowledging our offices efforts on her behalf.

Parking Enforcement: Robert called to voice his concerns about inappropriate treatment he believed he experienced at the hands of a Parking Enforcement Officer. Specifically, Robert indicated that while he did not dispute the validity of the parking citation he had received he did not believe that the citing officer needed to act in a matter unbecoming of a City employee. I investigated the matter further by contacting the Manager of the Parking Enforcement Office and we spoke at length about Robert's concerns, identifying strategies that might be used in the future to improve customer service for all. Once my investigation was completed I contacted Robert again and updated him on the status and result of my inquiry. Robert acknowledged his appreciation of my efforts on his behalf, again acknowledging that he did not dispute the issuance of the parking citation.

Paving: Paul from Southwest called to request that certain street and paving improvements be made on W. Burnside, leading from Tichner to the Multnomah County line. Further, Paul offered that previous attempts to get this matter addressed by City staff had proven fruitless. As a result, I called and e-mailed several staff within the City to find out the status of Paul's request. Surprisingly, I discovered that the street improvement Paul had identified was scheduled to be implemented later in the year. That being said, no one within the City had responded to Paul about his request. I informed Paul of the impending improvement and too, offered my apologies for the lack of response he had received from various City bureaus he had contacted, including PDOT. Paul thanked me for providing the requested information and indicated that it was nice to simply receive a response to his inquiry.

Permitting - Construction: John in Northwest contacted the Public Advocate to voice a concern he had about impending construction in his neighborhood. Specifically, John indicated he was concerned that a developer in the area would not fulfill his obligation to complete repairs to an unimproved street. Further, John indicated that attempts to secure a response from PDOT regarding this matter fell on deaf ears. On John's behalf I met with PDOT staffers to determine the status of the request. We determined, after reviewing contracts and permits, that the developer would be required to make the agreed upon improvements and to guarantee that such improvements were made the City had required that the developer sign a performance bond. John was grateful for my efforts on his behalf and the matter was closed with no further action.

Permitting- Sidewalk Vendors: Jeff in Southwest called to share a concern he was having with the City regarding his street vendor cart and the location of said cart on the City street as a result of downtown construction. Of note, Jeff indicated that attempts to secure a response from the City had not been successful. First, I met with PDOT staff to identify the lack of response Jeff was receiving regarding his original request. Second, I worked with staff to secure a proper location for the vending cart. The matter was resolved within four hours of receiving the complaint. Jeff contacted me to offer his thanks and praise for working so quickly on his behalf.

Pothole Repair - Commercial: Roy in Southeast called Sam to complain about the lack of response he had received from PDOT regarding his original request for a pothole improvement near his business. After investigating the matter further, I was able to send out a PDOT crew to make the requested improvement; all within 48 hours of Roy's direct request to Sam's office. Roy called back once the pothole had been repaired and thanked me for such a prompt reply.

Pothole Repair - Residential: John in Southwest called to request the repair of three potholes in his neighborhood. Too, John indicated that he had received no response from PDOT regarding his original request. That being said, John's request was investigated by me immediately and crews were sent out to the identified area within 24 hours. Days later I received a return call from John thanking me for working so quickly to resolve his citizen's complaint.

Referral - ODOT: Tina from Southeast called to request assistance with a few traffic calming concerns for her neighborhood, specifically at a street that intersected with Powell Blvd - a state owned highway. I contacted ODOT on Tina's behalf and shared her concerns with ODOT staff. ODOT in turn contacted Tina and to this day they continue to work with Tina on possible and future solutions to the traffic calming issue she brought to our collective attention. Tina e-mailed recently to thank me for working so diligently on her behalf to address her concerns, and further for helping to steer her in the right direction.

Revenue Bureau: Greg from downtown Portland called to request assistance from the Public Advocate with a situation he continued to experience with the Revenue Bureau. Specifically, Greg indicated that he continued to receive billing statements from the City for a business that he had no association with. I contacted the Revenue Bureau directly to discuss the matter further and after considerable review it was determined that the billing statements were being sent in error. As a result, the Revenue Bureau indicated that they would make the correction immediately and cease sending inaccurate billing statements to Greg. For his part, Greg called to thank me for working so quickly to address and resolve his issue - which he indicated had been going on for several months.

Sidewalk Access: Nick in SE contacted Commissioner Adams to request assistance with a business in the neighborhood that was blocking proper access to the public right of way. Additionally, Nick indicated that he had, in the past, contacted City staff on several occasions in hopes of addressing his concern but had been told "nothing could be done." On Nick's behalf, I worked quickly to find a reasonable solution to his complaint. City crews were called upon to notify the offending business of the need to ensure proper access to sidewalks and within days the business was in compliance. Nick called later to offer his appreciation for the quick results.

Street Cleaning: Emily in Southwest contacted me to voice her concern about street sweeping procedures in place within the City whereby businesses are often left with little, if any, parking access as a result of the sweeps. Working with PDOT crews I was able to get the street sweeping crew to better manage their efforts so that minimal parking was impacted. Emily called me back after the sweeping had occurred to thank me for making her issue a top priority.

Street Signs - Directional: John in Southeast called to request improved street signage on a couple of streets in the Hollywood District. His intention in making this request was to help motorists navigate and manage parking while shopping in the area. John also indicated that his original request to PDOT had been denied. I consulted with PDOT about John's request and after some additional conversations regarding the need to make any improvements PDOT reevaluated their original decision and improved street signage per John's request.

Street Signs - Safety: Jerry in Southwest contacted Sam to request assistance with a safety problem he believed existed on his residential street. Further, Jerry indicated that attempts to resolve this safety issue through PDOT channels had proven unsuccessful - specifically because PDOT did not consider the requested improvements were warranted. After considerable debate with PDOT staff and a plea to have them "think outside the box," Jerry's suggested improvements were finally made. Jerry contacted me once the improvements were implemented to thank me for continuing to work so diligently on his behalf.

Street Striping: Tom in Old Town e-mailed Commissioner Adams to request his help with much needed upgrading to street striping in the area. Specifically, Tom indicated that he and other businesses in the area were concerned that the striping in front of the Portland Police Precinct station needed to be improved and better identified so that motorists would be able to accurately determine available parking and not risk being towed. At my request, this matter was investigated immediately by PDOT staff and striping completed. I e-mailed Tom later to verify that he was satisfied with the work performed by the City. Tom indicated that "yes," the City had acted quickly. He also expressed his thanks to Sam for taking this concern so seriously.

Traffic Calming: Mary K. from Southeast called to request assistance with an issue she confronts on a daily basis as a commuter. Specifically, Mary indicated that when exiting from the Morrison Bridge and onto 3rd Avenue the streets are not clearly marked and because of this motorists experience confusion regarding appropriate travel lanes. According to Mary K., her efforts to address this issue in the past have proven unsuccessful. Working with PDOT staff the area was investigated immediately and PDOT eventually determined that lane improvements should be clarified. Mary K. called me after the improvements had been implemented to offer her thanks to me and Sam for working so quickly to resolve her traffic safety concern.

Traffic Signaling: Jill in Southwest called to complain about traffic lights not synching properly during her morning commute in Southwest. Working with the Street Systems group within PDOT we were able to address the synching concern immediately. I contacted Jill to let her know the final outcome of her request and she in turn contacted me to let me know that her morning commute had improved significantly.

SUMMARY

The role of Public Advocate continues to provide me with many rewards and opportunities for assisting and connecting with the public. Mind you, while not every issue can be resolved to the satisfaction of the citizen, I will continue to make it my goal to work on behalf of the public. I look forward to the challenges and blessings of 2008.

Cevero Gonzalez, Public Advocate for the Office of Commissioner Sam Adams

More transparency in government by reducing the threshold for lobbying registration

Shoshanah Oppenheim — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 14:11:00 -0800

On Wednesday August 8, Portland City Council unanimously voted to reduce the hourly threshold that triggers a lobbying entity's obligation to register with the auditors offices. The City Council believes that the threshold reduction will require more entities to disclose their lobbying activities. This action builds on Commissioner Adams' efforts to "daylight" political decision making and create a more accessible city government.

Under the changes, lobbying entities who spend more than eight hours "attempting to influence the official action of City officials" must register with the auditor. Under the original ordinance sponsored by Sam, elected officials and bureau directors must publish their official calendars. This is an effort to disclose who is meeting with city leaders and whose interests are being represented in the decisions of the council.

Sam is pleased with the threshold reduction and said that "Portland is a very engaged City. Residents deserve to know how their money is being spent, how decisions are made, and why."

Please give us your feedback on this issue and how we can make the city more accountable to you.

Related Documents

Copy of Ordinance

Media Mentions

Blogs

Council Unanimously Votes to Reduce Threshold for Lobbying Activities

The Community Advisory Committe has Spoken: Now it's your Turn to Talk!

Kimberly Schneider — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 13:08:40 -0700

Proposed changes to the City of Portland's Transportation System Development Charge (TSDC) program, as well as the list of improvement projects, reflect the direct involvement of several hundred stakeholders over the course of the TSDC Update study. The Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) -- representing a broad spectrum of Portland's residents, business community and interest groups -- oversaw the project from its inception.

The project to update the TSDC program is nearing its final destination: a public hearing before the Portland City Council on Sept. 5. Culminating a year-long study process, the CAC will present to Council its recommendations for TSDC program changes that will be effective through 2017. This includes a recommended list of "capacity-increasing" transportation improvements eligible to receive TSDC funding over the next 10 years.

You're Invited to voice your opinion online and/or at the Public Hearing:
Date: Wednesday, Sept. 5 Time: 2 p.m.
Location: Council Chambers, 1221 SW 4th Ave., Portland

The Council will consider the following CAC- endorsed TSDC program changes during the public hearing:

Phase out an existing Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) discount over four years.
Apply the principles of geographic equity - make sure projects are spread throughout the City - when determining a list of TSDC-qualified improvement projects, while also supporting projects that have identified leverage and/or are regional in nature.
Keep TSDC rates charged to new development comparable to current 2007 rates, recognizing that the phase-out of the TOD discount will generate additional TSDC revenue.

Proposed Project List:

The Council will also consider a list of 43 proposed capacity-increasing transportation projects. Besides 41 projects recommended by the Citizen Advisory Committee, the project list includes a Twenties (Avenue) Bikeway project and a proposed Flanders Bike/Pedestrian Bridge to serve areas with high potential for future non-motorized trips. (The full list can be viewed on the project's Web site.)

The TSDC project list was developed to maximize funding opportunities from local, state and federal sources in order to fund as many projects as possible. All TSDC projects require some amount of matching funds because none can be fully funded by TSDCs. Realistically, inclusion on the final TSDC project list is no guarantee of funding or construction.

Community Involvement:

Meeting 12 times over 16 months, the Citizen Advisory Committee worked with Portland Office of Transportation (PDOT) staff and the project team to evaluate rates, discounts and exemptions, geographical and modal equity, and prioritize a list of projects qualified to received TSDC funding.
To ensure affected citizens among Portland's business community, neighborhoods, and special interest groups had a voice in the process, interviews with 20 key stakeholders were conducted in September 2006. These included developers; property owners; business associations; bicycle, pedestrian and freight advocates; City staff and elected officials. These interviews were followed by presentations to 21 neighborhood and business groups. Information gathered during interviews and presentations provided important input to the Citizen Advisory Committee.

Finally, to involve other interested citizens, two public open houses were held in February and May, 2007. Those attending the first open house were asked to comment on project priorities and economic/equity issues, which later helped the Citizen Advisory Committee refine the TSDC project list. At the second open house, participants were asked to comment on TSDC rates, geographic equity and the TOD discount. Again, this feedback helped the Citizen Advisory Committee draft its final recommendation to Council.

The project team wishes to thank all those who participated in the TSDC Update Project.

If you have questions about the project, contact Kathryn Levine, PDOT Project Manager, (503) 823-7085, Kathryn.Levine@ pdxtrans.org. You can also learn many details about the project on its Web site: www.portlandonline.com/transportation/index.cfm?c=40692.

RiverEast Center - From Demo Building to Demonstration Building

Kimberly Schneider — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 17:44:09 -0700

Sam and I took a tour yesterday of the new RiverEast Center. Just off the East bank of the Willamette River, the building is the workplace to 250 employees from seven businesses and two non-profit organizations.

Jay Haladay, CEO of Coaxis, and Jeffery Reaves, President of Group Mackenzie, showed us the building's beautiful new design as well as some of the building's many environmentally-friendly features. These features include the reuse of the building's concrete for unique art features, on-site storm water management, and an innovative solar heating system.

We also saw an on-site fitness gym and learned about the public boat house on the building's bottom floor. The Center's close proximity to the Eastbank Esplanade makes for an inviting building open to all forms of transit.

With its former life as an art deco warehouse for C&H Sugar and Quaker Oats, the building was once slated for demolition to the proposed Mt. Hood Freeway. After the freeway failed to be built, however, the building sat vacant for 40 years.

Tucked partly underneath Interstate 5, the radically revamped building now sits as a gem of promise for an industrial area poised for future redevelopment and restoration.

In addition to the promising environmental features of the new RiverEast Center, the recent development of a once-vacant building emphasizes innovative efforts to support successful, sustainable development within the city core.

Coaxis provides unique vertical-market software development and management services throughout the country. You can learn more about their company as well as their new headquarters on their website.

Group Mackenzie is a firm that specializes in creating sustainable, cost effective and innovative designs through architectural, engineering, and planning services. Visit their website.

Be sure to take a trip to the new RiverEast Center. You will be amazed by what you see!

Porltand Tribune: Wanted More Butts on Bikes: Portland Looks at how to make cycling more attractive to all

Fri, 20 Jul 2007 11:21:18 -0700

Jennifer Anderson

The Portland Tribune

The unexpected downpour this week didn’t throw Eva Frazier for a loop at all.

The 24-year-old snapped on her bike fenders, zipped up her blue jacket and rode her bike over the Hawthorne Bridge into downtown, the route she takes nearly every day.

Thousands of cyclists throughout town also were unfazed by the weather, pedaling furiously in a bike lane or along with cars, trucks and buses in the rush of midmorning traffic.

This is Portland, after all, where there certainly is an abundance of fair-weather riders but also a serious collective of bike commuters who don’t let a little precipitation get in their way.

If the city has its way, that number of regular riders will grow exponentially, building on the momentum that already exists.

“We want to make Portland a world-class cycling city,” says the city’s bicycle coordinator, Roger Geller, who’s leading the effort to update Portland’s 11-year-old Bicycle Master Plan.

“If you look at what other cities have done – the investments they’ve made, the quality of their facilities and way they’ve integrated it into all forms of transportation and land-use planning – we still have a pretty good ways to go.”

A lot of people, however, feel excluded by this line of thought and think the city shouldn’t be in the business of funding bike infrastructure improvements.

“If people want special amenities for bikes, they need to find a way to fund them,” says Craig Flynn, a Parkrose resident who ran for Metro Council in 2002 and speaks around town on transportation and density issues. “If bikes are getting more than their fair share, they need to find a way to fund it through their user fees. We need money for cars.”

Flynn doesn’t support bike lanes or bike boulevards, which are low-traffic side streets marked with “sharrows” to indicate shared use between bikes and other vehicles. Stretches of Southeast Lincoln and Ankeny and Northeast Tillamook streets, for example, are designated as bike boulevards.

He thinks city transportation funds should go toward relieving congestion on freeways and other main roads, specifically adding lanes or building new freeways. Bike lanes, he says, make the vehicle lanes even narrower and take up more space on the crowded roadway.

When he does occasionally ride his bike for fun, Flynn says, he avoids bike lanes because he fears getting hit by car doors. He prefers to stay on neighborhood streets – yet he doesn’t see the point of creating bike boulevards since he says they don’t connect him to where he wants to go.

Surveys point to local streets

Flynn’s sentiments aren’t shared by anyone working on the city’s bike master plan update. Geller now is midway through the process of gathering information to update the plan, which includes holding monthly “bike master plan network rides” to solicit public input on existing conditions and desired routes.

The rides are held the first Tuesday of each month, starting at Terry Schrunk Plaza at 5:15 p.m. They span all parts of the city; next month’s ride heads to Southwest.

According to the Portland Office of Transportation, bike boulevards will go a long way toward attracting the 300,000 or so people (about 60 percent of the city’s population) who are dubbed “interested but concerned” about riding on the city streets.

They would ride more if there were more safe, quiet networks around town, the city has found through various surveys. Since funding sources are scarce, the expansions would take place little by little, over time, mostly through state or federal money with limited city investment.

Such initiatives would make a seasoned rider like Frazier worry a lot less about getting killed, she says.

“There’s definitely close calls, all the time,” she says. “It’s buses mostly – they’re so wide, they creep into the bike lane. I’ve had them brush my shoulder.”

Other groups plan rides

Another series of bike boulevard rides is being held in Southwest Portland, sponsored by a group called SWTrails – a volunteer pedestrian advocate committee that’s part of Southwest Neighborhoods Inc.

The group will hold its next ride Sunday to map out potential routes to recommend as part of the master plan update. It starts at 3 p.m. at the Gabriel Park Community Center parking lot.

Southwest has lagged behind Northeast and Southeast Portland in bike amenities because of its geographic challenges: sloped terrains, winding roads and blind curves, as well as more storm-water runoff due to the clay soil.

While there are bike lanes on some major roads in Southwest, the need for safer facilities is there, says Keith Liden, one of the organizers. “A lot of people are not comfortable on busy streets, and in a lot of cases not even busy streets with bike lanes,” he says. “If the local streets are available but you don’t know where they go, you just don’t do it.”

The nonprofit Bicycle Transportation Alliance sponsors a separate bike boulevard ride set for Wednesday. It will begin at 6 p.m. at Alberta Park and wind through identified gaps in North and Northeast Portland to see what street features riders like and don’t like.

The BTA also will get community feedback, advocate for the supported features in the city’s master plan process and help the city secure grant money for their construction.

Some question speed bumps

Scott Bricker, the BTA’s director of policy and education, said his group has an internal working list of 112 miles of potential bike boulevards which would cost about $20 million to implement.

“We already have low-traffic neighborhood streets,” he said. “We just need small improvements such as on-street pavement markings like the sharrows, speed traffic calming; they could even go through some neighborhood parks.”

Currently, low-traffic bike boulevards have no more than 3,000 cars per day, but that threshold might be lowered in the new bike master plan, Geller says.

The city also adds speed bumps and other devices to slow vehicle traffic, which seems like a waste to Flynn, the former Metro candidate.

“When you put them on one street, it pushes everyone else to the next street,” Flynn says. “I feel like honking my horn going over a speed bump to irritate the people who want them there. They’re just unintended consequences of not having more capacity on the roads – cars stay off main roads and cut through neighborhoods.”

Joshua Bass, a Portland State University instructor who commutes daily by bike, thinks everyone on the road will benefit more by slowing down a bit. To pit cars against bikes is “a false dichotomy,” he says. “It’s a problem between good travelers and bad travelers. It’s disrespectful of people of all types.”

jenniferanderson@portlandtribune.com

Portland’s Transportation System “In Trouble”

Guest Author — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 16:10:20 -0700

Peggy Anderson

On Sunday, June 17, Portland City Commissioner Sam Adams joined ten Nob Hill business owners and residents in a walk along NW 23rd Avenue to assess the street's proposed reconstruction and to hear the views and concerns of those who live and work in the area. Adams oversees Portland's transportation system - which Adams says is "in trouble." The commissioner's website www.commissionersam.com outlines the following facts about the city's transportation infrastructure:

• 157 (22%) of Portland bridges are in poor condition.*
• 992 (43%) of Portland traffic signals are in poor condition.*
• Each year of deferred maintenance adds an estimated $9 million to future maintenance costs.*

During Sunday's walk with merchants, Adams saw first-hand many sections of the heavily-traveled NW 23rd Avenue that have become crumbling hazards due to buried trolley rails and rotting rail ties that have compromised the streets cobblestone and asphalt layers. Clearly, much more work than continued patching has been needed, but area residents and business owners have opposed reconstruction efforts that would shut down large sections of the street for months at a time, jeopardizing many businesses' very existence.

Adams has asked city engineers to develop multiple alternatives for tearing up and reconstructing NW 23rd Avenue that would last no more than two weeks along any block and that work be done at times that are best for businesses struggling to stay open during the project. These new approaches would condense the NW 23rd Avenue Reconstruction Project from its original 10-11 month timeframe to 2-3 months.

While Adams admitted there is no good time for businesses to be so impacted by a major construction project, he is currently exploring a schedule to last late-winter '07 to early spring next '08.

Adams has been hosting a series of town hall meetings on the Portland transportation crisis. Upcoming meetings include:

• Tuesday, June 26, 7-9 p.m., North and Northeast Portland King Neighborhood Facility (4815 NE 7th Avenue)
• Wednesday, June 27, 7-9 p.m., Northwest Portland Friendly House Conference Room (1737 NW 26th Avenue )
• Monday, July 2, 7-9 p.m., Central Northeast and East Portland Firehouse #12 (4415 NE 87th Avenue)

Since the earliest days of the NW 23rd Avenue Reconstruction Project, the Nob Hill Business Association has worked directly with Commissioner Adams, PDOT, area residents, and business owners to ensure that the reconstruction project has the most minimal impact possible on those whose livelihoods rely on the primary arteries of NW 21st and NW 23rd avenues.

(*Source: City of Portland Transportation System Status and Condition Report, July 2006)

Attachment	Size
23rd1.jpeg	65.87 KB

Back to the Future

Lisa Libby — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 18:08:04 -0700

Upon completion, 150,000 cubic yards of soil and debris will have been removed from the project site. Photo: Bruce MacGregorIf you’ve pedaled along the Springwater Corridor Trail near Powell Butte Nature Park recently, you've probably noticed that there's a lot of digging going on. No, they’re not building another subdivision. The Bureau of Environmental Services is in the midst of the Brownwood phase of the East Powell Butte Floodplain Restoration Project, a 35-acre creek and floodplain project along Johnson Creek.

Sam and Crew at Brownwood

Sam joined funding partners and the construction crew last Thursday to look over the progress. Check out The Oregonian to find out more.

By fall, this part of Johnson Creek will be freed from its armored bank (courtesy of a 1930s Works Progress Administration project) and once again will flow across the site in more natural twists and turns, with boulders, logs and gravel riffles (those swell places where threatened steelhead trout and salmon like to hang out). Nearby, wetland trees, bushes and sedges will clean the water and provide food and home for frogs, birds, deer and other wildlife. The project will also benefit nearby residents by storing and slowing the creek water during high winter flows, reducing the frequency of local flooding.

The Kelley Creek Confluence Project, completed in 2004, was the first phase of the East Powell Butte Restoration project. Future restoration nearby is planned. These are just two of several projects completed or in the works along Johnson Creek to help reduce flooding, improve water quality and provide habitat for ESA-listed fish and other wildlife. Last year BES improved creek conditions at Tideman Johnson Park. Future projects are being designed in Lents, with funding from the Army Corps and a $2.7 million FEMA grant.

Attachment	Size
Brownwood Facts.pdf	24.31 KB

The Avenue of Roses: Creating a Safer East 82nd Avenue

Sam Adams — Wed, 30 May 2007 16:16:22 -0700

Many problematic and dangerous intersections exist on E 82nd.As many know, my top priority as Transportation Commissioner is addressing traffic safety in Portland, particularly at high crash corridors and intersections. Often times, there are multiple dangerous intersections on the same street, and this is exactly the case on a popular stretch of asphalt known as 82nd Avenue. Together with E 122nd, and West Burnside, it tops the list of the most dangerous streets in the City.

About 60-70% of our entire City's vehicle-related injuries and fatalities occur on less than 5% of the intersections in the city. A disproportionate share of these intersections lie on E 82nd Avenue. To give you an idea as to the magnitude of the problem on 82nd, in 2005 this stretch of road experienced a combined total of 4,862 crashes for all modes of transportation--including 16 crash fatalities.

One of my responsibilites as Transportation Commissioner is to partner up and collaborate with ODOT (Oregon Department of Transportation) on worthy efforts, even if they are projects that occur on state-owned and run facilities. SE 82nd falls into this category. To ensure the project is as successful as possible in achieving its goals of reducing traffic-related injuries and fatalities, the city has put in over $1 million in safety improvements on that stretch of road. ODOT has put in an additional $2 million, helping us move forward with dozens of safety improvements on the corridor. PDOT might not own every street, but I believe we should still advocate for better safety across the whole transportation system.

Safety improvements along the 82nd Avenue of Roses will be implemented primarily through the use of engineering fixes and increased traffic enforcement. The project also includes a partnership between the 82nd Avenue of Roses Business Association, Portland Office of Neighborhood Involvement (a community based crime prevention outfit), the Portland Police Bureau, TriMet, Portland Development Commission, and the 82nd Avenue of Roses Neighborhood Associations.

But, as we begin to focus on making 82nd Ave. a truly safer street, I want -and need- your input. While PDOT's traffic engineers are incredibly knowledgeable and have huge amounts of crash data that can help us in identifying and adressing the issues at the most problematic intersections, I am a firm believer in the fact that neighbors are the true experts when it comes to neighborhood transportation safety issues.

So please, leave me some feedback.

What are the biggest problems you see on SE 82nd?

Where are the worst intersections?

Do you have any good ideas as to how PDOT should prioritize the funds that we were able to secure for safety improvements on this street?

Feel free to post your thoughts and suggestions below, or email me at commissionersam@ci.portland.or.us. For more information on this project and E 82nd, contact Kirsty Hall at 503-823-6981 or Kirsty.Hall@trans.ci.portland.or.us

To learn more about this and other safety initiatives on 82nd, visit I Share The Road.

Out on a Walkabout in Parkrose

Shoshanah Oppenheim — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 16:50:42 -0700

Out with the people in ParkroseSam visited the Parkrose Business District today for a walk about. Parkrose was once the gateway to the Gorge before I 84 was opened. It was the last urban center on the road to Mt. Hood. Since then much of the traffic to the mountian has been diverted, but the main arterials, Prescott and Sandy, still carry a good amount of traffic both to Gresham and west though town. The District runs from about 70th to 122nd along those main thoroughfares.

We were able to learn about some of the main concerns of businesses in this traffic heavy part of NE Portland. Speed is a significant issue. Many businesses want traffic to be calmed, so that cars don't fly by their storefronts and safety is improved.

Businesses can thrive in this district. For example Parkrose Hardware,At Parkrose Hardware which currently carries a full line of both hardware and housewares, plans to expand to include a green house. They are able to match any fastener or nut you bring in with you. The staff is knowledgeable and interested in your projects. Please visit David Ableidinger at Parkrose Hardware 10625 NE Sandy.

A M Moss for all your flowers in ParkroseAcross the street at AR Moss Floral Design and Event Embellishment, Anita Tabyoyon has a thriving wedding services business. Visit Anita for your next event, large or small at 10604 NE Sandy.

While you are driving in the area or biking along the 205 bike route, look at the new plantings at the Traffic Island where 99th, Sandy and Killingsworth cross. This project was paid for by an APNBA business association grant.

If you need a key, be it skeleton or automotive, Quick Key has what youQuick Key has a key to help unlock your world. have been looking for. With 40,000 keys in the shop, and over 8,000 in the van service, they are able to serve your lock needs. Visit quick key at 7540 NE Sandy.

Bob Brown Tires helps you get on the road.Think local and buy your tires local at Bob Brown Tires. Owned by Bob and Cindy Brown, Bob Brown Tires provides a full range of tire and suspension related services. Bob Brown Tires is located at 120th and NE Sandy.

EastPDX News - City grants boost East Portland business association projects

Sam Adams — Fri, 02 Feb 2007 09:45:34 -0800

EastPDX News - City grants boost East Portland business association projects

Leaders of many East Portland business associations celebrated and dined for good reason on January 22 - they were picking up a grant checks totaling $82,125.

The event was the Alliance of Portland Neighborhood Business Association's (APNBA) grant awards, at the Ambridge Conference Center.

After a buffet dinner, the program began. Portland City Commissioner Sam Adams was on hand to greet the grant recipients.

Adams said that, for 14 years, citizens and politicians have tried to change the City's business tax structure. "We were told businesses do not need tax relief. But, thanks to members of the APNBA and other members of the business community, nearly 14,000 businesses will pay lower fees, starting in about a year an a half."

Concluding his remarks, Adams commended the business people saying, "You have stood with one another. You have shown what happens when you work with one another."

PDC News Release: New Office Development in Lents Town Center Urban Renewal Area

Warren Jimenez — Fri, 05 Jan 2007 00:12:56 -0800

This is a press release from the Portland Development Commission.

January 4, 2007
MEDIA RELEASE CONTACT:

John Jackley, PDC
(503) 823-3315

New Office Development in Lents Town Center Urban Renewal Area

The Portland Development Commission (PDC) announces the first new office development in the Lents Town Center Urban Renewal Area. Assurety NW, a full-service insurance and financial service company has purchased a 77,000 square foot property, owned by PDC, along SE Foster Road between SE 88th and SE 91st Avenues at 8919 SE Foster Rd. The project is expected to break ground later this month.

Assurety NW will re-develop the 1.8 acre property as a 30,000 square foot commercial, mixed-use project which will serve as the Assurety NW new corporate headquarters. The company had been located in Gresham. Assurety NW expects to employ approximately 45 people at the new headquarters when it is operation in late 2007. The project will also include additional office and retail space which will be available for lease. The project will be developed in two phases with Phase I consisting of Assurety NW offices and ground floor retail and commercial space totaling 20,000 square feet. Phase II of the project will include a second building with construction scheduled to begin in 2009 totaling 10,000 square feet.

"With the addition of 45 living wage jobs, this project will help jump-start the Lents community," stated Portland City Commissioner Sam Adams who recruited Assurety NW. "With the enthusiastic support from Mayor Potter and Commissioner Leonard, this infusion of financial and human capital will help make the dream of a Lents Town Center a reality."

PDC provided the company with a $770,000 loan for purchase of the land and a $711,000 loan for construction of the building.

The project supports the core goals of the Lents Town Center Urban Renewal Plan, which include revitalization of commercial areas and partnering with commercial property owners by investing public funds to increase the vitality and economic heath of commercial areas. The project also supports economic development goals in the urban renewal plan by creating new business investment and job creation.

The Lents Town Center Urban Renewal Area (URA) was formed in 1998 to spur the revitalization of the Lents Town center and surrounding neighborhoods. The URA consists of about 2,500 acres. Other URA projects planned within walking distance of the Assurety NW headquarters are a new Tri-Met I-205 light rail station that will be operation in 2009 and a three-acre mixed-use, mixed-income residential/commercial development.
PDC was created by Portland voters in 1958 to serve as the city's urban renewal agency as laid out in Chapter 15 of the City's Charter. PDC provides comprehensive housing, development and economic development programs with the Portland region.

###

Fighting Gentrification: Build Affordable Work/Live Artist Lofts to Rent and Own

Jesse Beason — Thu, 30 Nov 2006 09:53:56 -0800

In May, we asked, " What works in Work/Live?". We didn't realize the response would so overwhelmingly state the need for affordable work/live spaces in Portland. Over 340 people responded to a survey to say resoundingly, artists want space and community.

We heard the message loud and clear. We set out to develop the first of what we hope will be many places that offer affordable rental and ownership opportunities for artists.

We found the perfect site. When finished, the project should offer work/live condo units for sale, rental units, performance space, a cafe, an exhibition space, community rooms, and shared studio space.

Best of all, we will have a permanently affordable place for artists of all media to create their work, learn from each other, and focus on professional development.

Look for more soon.

Media Mentions

"City eyes empty nursing home," Portland Tribune, January 23
"Twenty to watch gave our readers plenty to talk about," Portland Business Journal, December 22