CommissionerSam.com - 2006 Year-in-Review

2007, The Year Ahead

Sam Adams — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 22:55:27 -0800

We do the Year-in-Review not only to hold ourselves accountable to you but to provide you a glimpse of our plans for the year ahead.

As you know by now, it's not my style to duck an issue just because solutions aren't obvious or because the solutions are obvious but there's no clear sense of how to achieve them.

In my area of City Council responsibility, I see four trends that give me great concern; 2007 is an opportunity to make real headway in solving them.

Transportation Conundrum

Portlanders rightfully take pride in the transportation innovations we have pioneered in the last 30 years. But still we lack a safe, comprehensive and sustainable transportation approach. We try to do more than ever, with relatively less than ever and we haven't decided what we're really trying to accomplish. We must decide with what kind of daily mobility we want to have.

Plight of Poor and Working Poor

Today, the ‘great life' in Portland is definitely for the highly-educated, highly-skilled worker. Problem is, not all Portlanders are highly-educated or highly-skilled. We must better address the root causes of poverty with more skill- and job-training programs that actually work.

Local Businesses Fight for their Livelihoods and Ours

Soaring internet sales, skyrocketing commercial land costs and the continuous march into Portland of national chains -- while these local and global factors are beneficial, they also present a great challenge to our home-grown entrepreneurs. We must do more to support the success of Portland-based businesses.

Failing Watersheds

As Portlanders we care about the natural environment. Our new one-of-a-kind Watershed Management Plan serves as a local environmental wake up call. And it shows the health of Portland's six watersheds at near failing. Living up to our environmental ideals should start at home; we must improve Portland's watersheds.

"Creative" Starvation

Even though the economic value of creativity and innovation becomes increasingly clear, our City government contributes just 2% of our large and small arts institutions needs; the national average is 5%. Arts education, while proven to improve scores across subjects, comes nowhere close to reaching every Portland child. We need to focus more public and private investments on the arts and business innovation.

These are tough problems. But I am bullish on our collective potential to overcome them. Look what we have done already.

Sam

Tripling Affordable Housing Funding in South Waterfront

Jesse Beason — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 17:27:24 -0800

At Sam's urging, the Mayor and City Council directed PDC in December of 2005 to negotiate a new funding package with South Waterfront property owners that included a significant increase in affordable housing. As a result, in April City Council approved $18 million in new dollars for affordable housing in South Waterfront, bringing the total allocation to $25.7 million, which will fund 3-5 projects and funds completion of the first 200-unit project by 2009.

Thanks to this new funding agreement, South Waterfront will be a neighborhood not only for lawyers and doctors that serve OHSU and elsewhere, but also nurses, support staff, and most anybody who chooses to live there. This will be a real neighborhood, with housing options for a breadth of income levels, parks, a streetcar line, and a tram for all Portlanders.

Relevant Documents

City Council Memo to PDC regarding funding negotiations

Neighborhood Parking Benefit Program Generates Mixed Reactions

Warren Jimenez — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 10:07:05 -0800

Sam knew this was a controversial idea. Putting parking meters in a Neighborhood Business District in order to generate revenues to reinvest back into the District was the topic of the book "The High Cost of Free Parking" by UCLA Professor Donald Shoup.

Sam first heard this idea at the 2005 Railvolution Conference. Sam realized that this could be an opportunity to improve our City's parking management. Demand for on-street parking to access neighborhood businesses exceeds supply. That means we need to be vigilant about ensuring effective parking turnover. The proposed addition of parking meters, which are proven to increase turnover, would make parking more efficient.

Another reason for consideration is that we are in a transportation funding crisis. With the current lack of funding for deteriorating transportation infrastructure as well as the many unmet safety needs in our Neighborhood Business District, Sam thought this idea was worth community consideration.

Initially proposed the idea of a Parking Benefit Program to North Portland (St. Johns) and the Southeast Corridor (Belmont, Hawthorne, Division and Clinton). Sam wanted to be clear about the conditions to have this conversation:

This program would not be forced on the district. The community would make the decision whether or not to implement this program.
Any net revenues from this program would be re-invested back into the district. You get to chose what you want to do with the revenues.
We will be open and transparent about the cost of the program before you make a decision. Having this information will be critical for your decision.
The Bureau of Planning will be conducting a customer survey in the district to provider additional analysis. For example, the survey could provide customer leaking information.

What was the feedback from the community? North Portland was interested but did not implement the program because there wasn't sufficient parking demand in the district.

In the Southeast Corridor, the Hawthorne Business District and the surrounding neighborhoods were concerned that it would drive away customers. They were clear in expressing that Hawthorne would lose their identity if they were to implement this program. In the end, the community decided against implementation.

Community Partners

Media Mentions

"Idea would expand pay-to-park sphere," Oregonian, March 7
"Plan for meters not an easy sell," Portland Tribune, May 30
"Pay to Park," Portland Mercury, August 17
"Parking meter idea trips on Hawthorne," Oregonian, August 24
"Hawthorne folks return a meter plan to sender," October 17

Weblogs

10 Tough Questions and 2 Easy Ones for Commissioner Sam

Guest Author — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 09:36:11 -0800

By David Zagel - David Zagel and Sam grew up together in Newport, Oregon; David now lives and works in Portland.

David: I saw in a couple of newspapers say that you are running for Mayor...

Sam: You could just as easily ask me if I am running for re-election and I'd say the same thing: I'll decide what to do with my future at the end of 2007. In the meantime, I am focused on the work in front of me. I work with a great staff and bureau teams; I have a wonderful job in a city I love.

David: Okay, but I also read a local magazine that called you the ‘whirling dervish," convinced that someone who works as hard as you do can only be looking to climb the job ladder.

Sam: I've always put in long hours at work; I guess as a staffer for 21 years it went unnoticed because my work was behind the scenes. Now, I'm out and about a lot. I like to get out of the City Hall bubble, to hear from people directly. That means a lot of evening and weekend events.

David: "Hard work." Is that how you explain wearing a rubber suit, going topless in a Bishops Barbershop newspaper ad, signing up for the annual Woodstock neighborhood dunk tank...?

Sam: [laughing] Hey, what I do in my off hours is my business... I try and be a good sport. I don't take myself too seriously. I'm happy to be a total goofball if it helps a good cause. Did I tell you I am doing the Tango this May for Young Audiences? Buy a ticket and see how my two left feet can mangle a beautiful Argentinean dance...

David: About last year, proudest accomplishments?

Sam: The tram's launch, the $3 million small business tax reduction, completion of the nation's first urban Watershed Management Plan and City Council approval of my $5.6 million one-time funding request for street safety improvements throughout Portland.

David: ...biggest disappointments?

Sam: My on-street parking meter discussion with Hawthorne businesses clearly was a flop. I was unsuccessful in convincing my colleagues to lower the lobbyist reporting threshold to eight hours a quarter -- the lower threshold would catch more lobbying activities in City Hall.

David: What's in store for 2007?

Sam: Another busy year: Lobby the State Legislature for more transportation funding. Improve services in the Bureau of Maintenance. Realign workforce training programs to boost wages. Fight the EPA's attempt to raise our sewer bills, again. Establish a comprehensive ‘green city' stormwater strategy. Keep $1.4 billion ‘Big Pipe' project on time and on budget. Choose bridge option for I-5 Columbia River crossing. Launch Creative Capacity strategy to boost support for the arts...

David: Tell folks why you had your chin cut off?

Sam: It was part of a procedure to cure my ‘sleep apnea.' During a sleep study I "woke up" 127 times in four hours but I had no memory of it. People need to see their doctor if they are rough sleepers like I was. Now, I'm getting caught up on decade's worth of sleep deprivation.

David: Is it just me or have you been in the media a lot lately?

Sam: Yeah, I know...My work focuses on transportation, neighborhood small businesses, sewers, rivers, arts and culture, workforce training, equality and higher education. These issues attract media attention because they are often controversial issues that Portlanders care about.

David: I was surprised to read that the Oregonian columnist Steve Duin took you to task this year for not mentioning Vera's name in some of your 2004 campaign brochures.

Sam: Steve was right. In April 2004, my opponents portrayed me as a Vera clone. I over-reacted to it by downplaying or failing to mention in four campaign brochures the fact that I served for 11 years as Chief of Staff to Mayor Vera Katz. That was wrong. I apologized to Vera.

David: What do you think would've happened had the tram not finished on the timeline and budget you helped set?

Sam: I would have been a one-term City Commissioner for sure.

David: How do you like your new nickname I've been hearing, ‘Sam-the-Tram'?

Sam: [laughing] I have been called a lot worse! The name "Sam" rhymes with a lot of words. As part of my work as arts commissioner during Portland Fashion Week, they called me "Glam" Adams. I tease others, so turnabout is totally fair play.

David: How are your chickens doing?

Sam: My three hens are doing really well, thank you. Along with my vegetable garden, I guess I am now officially an urban bachelor-farmer in North Portland.

Welcome to our 2006 Year-in-Review

Sam Adams — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 12:18:06 -0800

Welcome to our 2006 Year-in-Review. First, whew! Yes, I'm so glad the tram is running. But as you will read we did much more than build the tram. Thank you for interest in reviewing my team's work. We're proud to serve you.

You may be wondering, "uh, Sam, year-in-review? It's February... don't these things usually get released in January?"

Usually.

This year we're deviating slightly because December and January were busy months reforming the City's Business License Fee and finishing the Tram. Practically speaking, we completed both projects in December but formally, both were launched in late January.

Okay, I admit that if "business tax reform" showed up as a song on your iPod, you'd likely hit fast-forward. But I promise this topic is worth twenty seconds of your time. Here we go.

Business License Fee financially slammed many smaller, new and Portland-based businesses. If you owned a small business, say 50 or fewer employees, it likely hit you hard. If you owned a really small business, say 5 or fewer employees, it likely hit you harder. I witnessed this firsthand at many of the 160 businesses I have visited.

Too often the City's tax structure treated Wal-Mart better than we treated Vanilla Bicycles. (And you know how I feel about Wal-Mart's business practices.) It was so not Portland. We had complained about it for more than 13 years without actually doing anything about it.

Until now.

After more than two years of outreach with our staff tediously crunching numbers, Council unanimously agreed with my proposal to stair-step fee reduction over five years.

City government needs tax dollars to meet your needs. But bottom line: $3 million to grow our small business entrepreneurs is tax dollars well-invested.

Now to that tram.

I'm really proud (and, yes, relieved) to see it running so smoothly. When I inherited the project 20 months ago it was floundering. I pushed a public/private funding package that not only closed the tram budget gap (the City's contribution was capped at 15% or $8.5 million of the $57 million budget) but also added millions more to affordable housing, parks and transportation projects in South Waterfront.

To address our City's natural environment, we adopted the nation's first comprehensive Urban Watershed Management Plan earlier in 2006. This may sound like another snoozer, but the plan is our environmental baseline, and in the years to come we'll use it as a foundation to make our everyday actions even more conscious of its impact to our planet.

And before I spotlight our Arts & Culture accomplishments please allow me a brief sermon.

A thriving Portland arts scene no longer is a "nice to have," it is a "must have." Why? Whether we like it or not, traditional manufacturing work is moving abroad to developing countries. Our economic future increasingly depends on our creative output here at home.

Don't think of "creative output" as only the traditional visual or performance arts. Now even our "traditional" manufacturing jobs now focus overwhelmingly on more specialized products that require more sophisticated and creative skill sets.

This past year, we issued a City matching grant that more than quadrupled private giving to the arts through Work for Art, a campaign by the Regional Arts & Culture Council. We increased ongoing support to the arts and expanded grant programs. Most exciting, we are moving forward in developing a permanently affordable place for artists of all media to create their work, learn from each other, and focus on professional development.

In 2006 we also got the resources to make Portland's most dangerous streets safer. We studied in-depth each problem area. And, at my request, the City Council approved $5.6 million in one-time funds to add school crossing beacons, cross walks, pedestrian islands, red-light cameras, traffic lights and enhanced enforcement at Portland's most dangerous intersections.

We are just getting started.

Thanks for letting me serve you.

Sam

Sam: Diversifying Who Gets City Contracts

Shoshanah Oppenheim — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 15:18:54 -0800

Through his oversight of PDOT and BES, Sam is committed to increasing opportunities for firms owned by minorities and women and emerging small businesses (M/W/ESB).

Sam also is committed to ensuring that contract work performed for the city is done in a cost effective and responsible manner, that the money is spent locally when possible, and that the City support minority and woman owned businesses

For fiscal year 2005 to 2006, which ended in June 2006, the dollar value of City subcontracts awarded by PDOT to minority-owned businesses increased 13.68% -- an increase of over $3,250,000.

Also, women owned businesses subcontracting with PDOT both saw an increase in the number of subcontracts awarded as well as the dollars earned.

BES increased number of contracts -- a total of $1,580,441 -- in awards to minority-owned businesses and $1,727,615 awarded to women owned businesses.

During the same period, BES significantly increased the number of subcontracts signed with the M/W/ESB contractors.

"This is a good start," said Sam recently, "But we have a a lot more work to do to help build Portland's historically underutlized businesses of color and women."

The 2006 Year-in-Review

The Office — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 10:05:49 -0800

You may be wondering, "uh, Sam, year-in-review? It's February... don't these things usually get released in January?"

Usually.

Okay, I admit that if "business tax reform" showed up as a song on your iPod, you'd likely hit fast-forward. But I promise this topic is worth twenty seconds of your time. Here we go...[more]


Dave Lister: Sam was Right to Reform the BLF	Speaker Merkley on New Clean River Rewards	Hayden Island Residents: What Planning Our Future Means to Us	10 Tough Questions and 2 Easy Ones for Commissioner Sam

Arts & Culture

Education

Equality

Good Government

Housing

Jobs and Economy

Environment

Livability

Public Safety

Transportation

OHSU Tram: Finished on Revised Timeline, Budget

Roland Chlapowski — Sun, 17 Dec 2006 19:53:06 -0800

One of the most troubled projects Sam inherited as the new Transportation Commissioner was the OHSU-South Waterfront Tram.

Significantly over budget already, cost overruns followed cost overruns. It was clear that those overseeing the project were not in control of it.

He relieved the original project managers of their duties and placed a new manager at the helm. To get a clearer picture of the true state of the project, he brought in independent auditors. They found that the tram's pricetag was going to rise.

Sam and his new team came in and worked to solve the problem on two parrallel fronts: first, he negotiated new contracts with the companies building the tram so that the risk of future cost overruns was minimized for the city; second, Sam (with the help of the mayor's office) negotiated a package with OHSU and South Waterfront developers that distribute the cost overruns amongst all three groups, so that the city would not fit the whole bill.

Also, in the spirit of transparency, Sam opened up the process to the public, giving them the same information he had, and holding townhalls to both educate and receive public comment.

When all was said and done, the City of Portland was only responsible for 15% of the overall costs, which was in line with the original estimates for public, non-OHSU ridership.

The tram is now getting its final touches, and will be open to the public in the end of January. With the project itself now nearly complete and its costs under control, the Tram will end up being an icon for the city.

The tram, which served as the catalyst for the development of a new neighborhood in an old, vacant, and contaminated industrial site, will ensure that one of the pillars of Portland's economy has the room it needs to grow, and will be something that makes Portland stand out nationally.

Related Materials:

Community Partners:

Finally, Portland Gets a Freight Master Plan

Warren Jimenez — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 09:41:31 -0800

Following through on a project that was set forth by former Transportation Comissioner Jim Francisconi, the Freight Master Plan was completed in 2006. City Council unanimously adopted the plan in May 2006.

Through freight policies, operational strategies, and system improvements, the Freight Master Plan will provide a road map for how Portland manages freight and delivery movement today and into the future.

As the nation's third most trade-dependent region, the Freight Master Plan was a critical step towards identifying solutions and strategies that can make the system more efficient for freight mobility.

Streetcar Service Extended to Gibbs St., in the SoWa District

Roland Chlapowski — Thu, 14 Dec 2006 16:09:20 -0800

Portland Streetcar Extended

The Portland Streetcar made its debut on July 20, 2001, making Portland the first city in North America to build a modern streetcar system with modern vehicles.

This year, we got to celebrate Portland Streetcar's extension into the South Waterfront district, where there will be two new stops -on Gibbs St. by the tram station and further into SoWa on Lowell St.

Sam helped piece together funding for this project from a variety of sources: a state of Oregon $2.1 million ConnectOregon grant, regional Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Project funds from Metro, a lot of support from various private partners, and support from the Portland Development Commission.

The Streetcar is not just for transportation - it has become a national model for community support, land-use planning, transportation planning, public art, and environmentally friendly construction practices.

Transportation options like the Streetcar, light rail, bus service, and great bicycle and pedestrian facilities help Portland achieve its status as the most sustainable city in the nation. It has never been more important to implement smart transportation polices and investments that will help us meet the needs of a growing and prosperous Oregon.

Related Links

Portland Streetcar, Inc.

Community Partners

Fixing the Traffic Clot at I-5 Columbia River Bridge

Roland Chlapowski — Thu, 14 Dec 2006 14:46:18 -0800

I-5 Traffic on the Bridge Has Grown, and Grown, and Grown..The I-5 bridge between Portland and Vancouver is a mess. And Sam is working to fix it.

Sam is a member of the Columbia River Crossing Taskforce, which is charged with improving the current I-5 crossing. It has been a long process, but the group has narrowed down the potential projects to two - dismantling the current I-5 bridge and building a new I-5 bridge with more automobile capacity, pedestrian and bicycle accomodations, and some form of transit.

Portland is one of the most trade-dependent cities in the country, which is just one of many reasons the current I-5 bridge crossing the Columbia River and connecting OR and WA must be fixed.

It represents the worst bottleneck on the West Coast's interstate system. If you have ever had to commute between Portland and Vancouver during rush hour, you already know that - and that gridlock is the result.

Also, it is not up to seismic standards - this 1917 bridge would fail if a moderately strong earthquake were to happen.

Originally, new arterial bridges were on the table, as was continuing to use the current bridge. With these ruled out, the region is closer than ever to a a recommended bridge.

Related Documents

Community Partners

Project Development Team
Working Groups
Task Force
Project Sponsors Council
Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration
Interstate Collaborative Environmental Process (InterCEP)
Coalition for a Livable Future
WSDOT
ODOT
RTC
Metro
C-TRAN
TriMet
City of Vancouver

Burn Fat, Not Oil: Making Portland the "Mostest" Bike-friendly City in North America

Roland Chlapowski — Thu, 14 Dec 2006 14:08:50 -0800

"Whether or not you ever ride a bike, each Portlander should support our efforts to get more people on bikes," said Sam. "It cuts down on car congestion, it reduces pollution, and it makes bike riders healthy."

<> Bicycling Magazine, after 10 years of naming Portland the best bicycling city in the USA, finally came up with a new category in 2006 just for Portland - Best Overall City for Bicycling - to give others a chance at number one in their own population categories. Why? It is our innovative programs, from designated bike-only areas at traffic signals, hundreds of miles of safe and convenient bikeways, Pedalpalooza (a month long bicycle festival), to free bike lights given out by Portland's Traffic Police Division, that make riding in Portland practical even for new cyclists. The Eastbank Esplanade and Springwater Corridor got a shout out getting cyclists from the heart of downtown to farm country by bicycle. Providence Bridge Pedal - where two-wheeler take over 10 city bridges and close down part of the interstate freeway system is second in size only to New York City. It comes down to momentum: pedal around Portland and your can see it for yourself.

Bridge Counts are way up!Portland's bikeway network - bike lanes, low-traffic bike boulevards, and off-street paths - grew 232% since 1991. During that same period, the number of bicycle riders daily crossing the four main bicycle bridges in Portland increased 322%. This increase was especially noticeable on the Broadway, Hawthorne, and Steel Bridges, where combined daily ridership went from 2,115 in 1991 to 10,786 in 2006. Until 2004, increases in riders mirrored infrastructure investments in bikeways. The Burnside Bridge is the only bicycle bridge without an increase in ridership - and it is the only bridge that has had minimal infrastructure improvements for cyclists. Since 2005, Portland Transportation and the energized bicycling community have focused on encouragement and educational efforts such as new bikeway signage, Safe Routes to School programs, and the SmartTrips individualized marketing approach reducing car trips and increasing bicycling. This has led to skyrocketing increases in ridership - 15% and 18% increases in 2005 and 2006 respectively.

Related Documents

Blogs

Community Partners

PDOT: SmartTrips Northeast Hub Underway

Roland Chlapowski — Thu, 14 Dec 2006 14:07:43 -0800

SmartTrips Northeast Hub

Modeled on successful TravelSmart Projects in Multnomah/Hillsdale, Interstate and Eastside Hub, Transportation Options SmartTrips Northeast Hub was a coordinated individualized marketing and outreach strategy designed to inform and show residents and employees how to get around by walking, cycling, taking transit and carpooling and increase their physical activity. From March through November 2006, fifteen programs were implemented to decrease drive alone and increase environmentally-friendly trips. Programs included newsletters and order forms to 24,000 households offering free information and activities about all transportation options. Additionally guided walks (Ten Toe Express Walks and Senior Strolls), bicycle rides (Summer Cycle and Women on Bikes Rides), and clinics (Smart Living and Women on Bikes Clinics) were offered.

This year's programs showed a 13% reduction in drive alone trips - the most successful project to date in Portland. These drive alone trips were shifted to increases in walking by 4.7%, bicycling 1.5%, transit 1.3% and carpool 2.7% in the area. About a third of northeast households, participated in SmartTrips. SmartTrips Northeast Hub enjoyed significant media coverage in The Oregonian, Portland Tribune, Hollywood Star and Willamette Week. The campaign also garnered local radio and TV coverage and attention in national venues and transportation related publications.

In 2007 Options will be in the Sellwood and Woodstock areas with SmartTrips Southeast. Options is also seeking Metro funding to expand into parts of the City of Milwaukie.

Related Documents

Community Partners

Kaiser Permanente
Neighborhood Volunteers -"Options Ambassadors"
TriMet
Timber Press
Portland Water Bureau
Kryptonite
Foot Traffic
Fox Chase Business Area
BikePortland.org
Sweet Summer Cycle Shops

I-5 Delta Park To Get New Lanes, Interchanges

Roland Chlapowski — Thu, 14 Dec 2006 14:06:01 -0800

.I-5 traffic is a drag, especially at Delta-Lombard, a major traffic bottleneck that leads to severe congestion, safety and operational problems. The problems on this segment of I-5 also seriously affect regional accessibility and commerce. The need for this project was identified as one of several highway, transit and freight projects recommended by the I-5 Transportation and Trade Partnership, an effort of community leaders and citizens from both states.

This project will provide improvements for I-5 from approximately Victory Boulevard to the Lombard interchange. Phase I will add a new south bound lane (third lane) and widened shoulders in both directions for safety, and reconfigures the Columbia Blvd. interchange. Phase II will add a new north bound access to I-5 from Columbia Blvd.

The project decision process was guided by a Citizen Advisory Committee and an Environmental Justice Work Group. A hearings panel was assembled of ODOT, Vancouver and Portland representatives including Commissioner Sam Adams. A major challenge of the project was to provide freight access to the Columbia Corridor while not impacting neighborhoods, notably Kenton, and other residential areas adjacent to I-5.

Phase II considered four alternatives and "Alternative 2-Argyle on the Hill" was chosen as the Locally Preferred Alternative. This will include a new roadway connection from Columbia Blvd. to a rebuilt Denver Avenue viaduct.

The Federal Highway Administration has greenlighted the project, which will permit it to proceed to construction. Phase I is scheduled to begin construction within the next two years. Phase II's initial design work and right-of-way acquisition is starting, though Sam is still finding funds for construction.

Related Documents

Community Partners

Invasive Species

Vicki Grudzinski — Thu, 14 Dec 2006 10:42:47 -0800

Author: Mike Rosen

Non-native, invasive weeds are spreading through Portland's natural areas, displacing native plants and destroying wildlife habitat. In November 2005, City Commissioner Sam Adams convened a town hall meeting to begin developing a strategy to stop the spread of invasive plants.

As a result of the town hall meeting, City Council adopted the Invasive Plant Species Resolution. The Bureau of Environmental Services (BES) Watershed Division has the primary responsibility for coordinating and implementing the effort. The Watershed Division is identifying projects and resources to accomplish these objectives of the Invasive Species Resolution:

Invest in maintenance of existing natural and re-vegetated areas.
Build on existing citywide invasive species management investment.
Incorporate invasive species management into existing watershed restoration work (i.e., implementation of the Portland Watershed Management Plan).
Continue to coordinate with regional groups such as Cooperative Weed Management Area (CWMA) and community-based organizations.
Quantify and implement a 10-year goal of invasive species reduction on city property (Reduce, Control and Eradicate).
Develop an ongoing, citywide work plan for invasive species management that integrates this work into regular operations.
Partner with federal and state agencies to develop sustainable funding.

Accomplishments to date include:

Increased Columbia Slough Watershed Investment Fund Invasive Species Control project by $40,000 to $100,000. In addition to management of invasive species on "orphan"* City property, we will expand the role of community involvement for invasive species removal on private property.
Coordination with CWMA.
Began work on the "Weed of the Month" Program and agreed to provide Watershed funds to sustain this work.
Provided $30,000 in Willamette Watershed operating funds to Stephens Creek invasive weed control as part of Lower Willamette River Riparian and Wetland Enhancement funded work.
Continued work with Stephens Creek Watershed Investment Fund team to further define work and clarify the Watershed Revegetation Program component.

Partners
• CWMA
• Portland Audubon
• Three Rivers