Instead of lobbying for a wider bridge, learn which bike-riding government official advocated a bridge that was even narrower than the structure proposed …
According to organizer Bradley Heinz, about 800 neighbors came out on the foggy morning of January 31 to show their solidarity for rebuilding a two-traffic-lane replacement for the Sellwood Bridge about where it now stands.
Story and photos by David F. Ashton
After listening to the testimony of about two dozen citizens, and considerable discussion among themselves and staff members at the meeting, the Sellwood Bridge Policy Advisory Group (PAG) rubber-stamped its approval on the Community Task Force’s (CTF) recommendations for replacing the ailing, 80+ year old river crossing on February 6.
82 citizens and interested parties signed in at the meeting, about 100 people listened and participated in the meeting held in the Multnomah County Board Room.
At the PAG meeting, SMILE president Paul Notti advocates for the neighborhood’s preferred alternative. Behind him, and out of focus, is Multnomah County Public Affairs facilitator Michael Pullen and John Buyer, who was about to testify.
Neighbors say they favor current alignment
Paul Notti, President of the Sellwood Moreland Improvement League (SMILE), testified that their organization’s board and membership recognizes that the Sellwood Bridge is failing and needs to be replaced. He said SMILE has “lobbied for, cajoled, collaborated, and recently endorsed” a two traffic lane replacement bridge that they say will support the ideals of the Tacoma Main Street Plan, and protect the historic nature of the area — including the Sellwood Riverfront Parks and the historic Oaks Pioneer Church.
“We as a neighborhood, and I as a neighbor and a citizen, are concerned that the size and cost of the proposed bridge are potentially unaffordable, unknown, and unwise – portions of it, not all of it; especially the price tag and as it relates [to the proposed bridge’s] west end.”
Correcting an article in the Oregonian newspaper that “some neighbors approve of Alternative D”, Notti concluded his remarks saying. “Everyone I’ve spoken with over the last couple of years favors Alternative D.”
Notti’s statement was met with a strident chorus of “No! Not true!” from several attendees – unit owners at Riverpark Condominiums, near the foot of Spokane Street, just north of the bridge.
Sellwood Harbor resident John Holmes advocates for Alternative E, and adds, “If you don’t have the funding, maybe this bridge should be repaired and stay right where it is.”
Bridge project compromises property values
“My neighbors and I have been left out of this process,” said Jan Bohlmann, a Riverpark Condominium owner. “Although we live, shop, and pay taxes here, we feel like we’re not [considered to be] part of Sellwood. Given that, I hope you’ll carefully consider what you’ll do if you go ahead with Alternative D. With imagination and effort, I think it can be done without the destruction of units.”
John Holmes, Ed Murphy, and several other residents at Sellwood Harbor Condominiums again testified that they support a narrow bridge and the Tacoma Main Street Plan. But, they decried bridge construction that would result in at least four of their units being dismantled. Albert Gonzalez asked government officials to “remember the 80 people left behind [at Sellwood Harbor] who will experience the vibration, noise, dirt, and aggravation of bridge building.”
Governmental officials confer
The Policy Advisory Group, chaired by Multnomah County Chair Ted Wheeler, included Portland Mayor Sam Adams, Milwaukie City Councilor Greg Chaimov, Federal Highway Administration Manager Philip Ditzler, TriMet General Manager Fred Hansen, Multnomah County Commissioner Deborah Kafoury, Metro Councilor Robert Liberty, Clackamas County Chair Lynn Peterson, State Sen. Diane Rosenbaum, ODOT Region 1 Manager Jason Tell, and State Rep. Carolyn Tomei.
Regarding bridge rehabilitation, Metro Councilor Robert Liberty stated, “We are making decisions regarding the Sellwood Bridge before we have funding in place. I want it on the record that [bridge] rehabilitation should be more developed as an alternative.”
Portland City Mayor Sam Adams noted, “We can’t go for funding unless we have a project to present, based on a locally-preferred alternative. I recommend going ahead and getting finding.”
Members of the PAG – Metro Councilor Robert Liberty, Portland Mayor Sam Adams, Multnomah County Chair Ted Wheeler, Multnomah County Commissioner Deborah Kafoury and TriMet General Manager Fred Hansen – listen to staff reports, as they deliberate elements of a locally-preferred alternative for replacing the Sellwood Bridge.
Alignment discussed and decided
Regarding the bridge’s alignment, Chair Wheeler commented, “I was swayed by CTF consensus on selecting Alignment D. Reasons they gave made common sense. Members of the community will be impacted; people [will be] displaced and we will have to mitigate problems promptly.” He also noted that Alignment D can be built in phases, allowing for phased financing, and for the bridge to stay open during construction.
Adams agreed with the recommendation and said he’ll propose it to City Council for their approval. He added, “I recommend working to help get residents [affected by the decisions] out of their [negative financial] situation as quickly as possible.”
At this point, and throughout the discussion, Liberty opined that a 64 feet width for a new bridge was unnecessarily wide. “A 58-foot wide bridge is just fine.”
After several members of the PAG chimed in, Wheeler said “We have a pretty clear idea [of a preference for] Alignment D.”
Interchange impasse
At the east end of the bridge, adding a pedestrian or bicyclist activated signal at the intersection of S.E. Tacoma Street and SE 6th Avenue passed without comment.
However, there was significant discussion regarding the west end of the proposed bridge – shown to be nearly 100 feet wide, with a grade-separated and signalized interchange at Highway 43. Many questioned the proposed size, complexity, and cost of such an interchange.
Among other members, State Rep. Carolyn Tomei spoke up. “The purpose of this action is to rehabilitate or replace [the Sellwood Bridge] and provide a safe bridge for multi-modal use, not [necessarily] to improve [traffic on] Macadam Boulevard.”
The PAG members chose to accept the CTF’s recommendation “as a placeholder”, as Wheeler put it, and proceed to the next stage of the process.
Metro Councilor Robert Liberty suggests 64 feet for a new Sellwood Bridge is wider than necessary.
Bridge width narrows
Because the CTF didn’t provide a “clear consensus” on whether the bridge’s cross-section should be 75 feet or 64 feet wide, it was up to the PAG to make the decision. Adams said he’d support the narrower 64-foot width.
After reviewing lane typical lane widths for motor vehicles, bike lanes, and sidewalks, Liberty again spoke up, noting that two 12-foot wide vehicle lanes, plus two 6.5 foot wide bicycle lanes and two 10-foot wide sidewalks add up to 57 feet. “I question the need for a cross-section 64 feet wide.”
Wheeler proposed they adopt language saying that the bridge’s cross-section be “A cross section of 64 feet or less at its narrowest point – with two traffic lanes, two bike lanes/shoulders, and two sidewalks.”
Next steps
Three local jurisdictions – Multnomah County, City of Portland, and Metro each must vote to adopt the Locally Preferred Alternative. If approved, the county will complete and submit the final Environmental Impact Statement, and project managers will begin the permitting process.
Then, the County will need to secure funding for the cost of approximately $300 million. “Our congressional delegation has been very clear that we will need to have a regional consensus on the Sellwood Bridge plan if we want to have a realistic chance of securing federal dollars for the project,” noted Wheeler. “We have now delivered on that regional consensus.”
For more information, see Multnomah County’s Sellwood Bridge website by CLICKING HERE.
© 2009 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News
Discover why teachers say that teaching kids how to play chess pays big dividends in the classroom …
Parkrose Middle School students Daniel Lillard and Cameron Davison play a practice game of chess during the “Chess for Success” tournament held at their school.
Story and photos by David F. Ashton
Unlike in sports, where size and strength count most, winning at the game of chess doesn’t require any special physical or mental skill – it takes concentration, plus the will to succeed.
That’s why an organization called “Chess for Success” supports kids’ chess clubs in more than 70 Title I schools in the area.
Kids compete for state-level contest play
On February 7, kids from all over outer East Portland made their way to Parkrose Middle School to participate in the Chess for Success regional tournament.
At the start of the tourney, as many as 150 students sat nearly motionless, as they focused on their game.
The event’s host, Parkrose Middle School math teacher and chess club sponsor Greg Nakashima, said “The tournament has five games, and winners play winners. Players who win every game qualify to move up to the state tournament.”
Parkrose Middle School math teacher – and chess club sponsor – Greg Nakashima welcomes youngsters from 25 schools to the Chess for Success tournament.
Chess teaches kids critical thinking
Some 25 kids regularly attend his Chess for Success club, said Nakashima. “It’s worthwhile, because it teaches young people critical thinking, and to think ahead. As they mature, they’ll be better equipped to think about the consequences of their decisions.”
During his club sessions, Nakashima told us the students usually start by learning and practicing a series of moves. “When we start playing games, there is no talking unless it relates specifically to that game. In addition to learning chess moves, they have also learned to sit still, concentrate, and focus.”
In the schools they support, Chess for Success is open to any kids who want to join, we learned from the organization’s executive directory Julie Young.
To learn more, CLICK HERE to visit their website.
© 2009 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News
Take a look and see what you can learn at the outer East Portland working farm and food education center …
Zenger Farm’s Community Involvement Coordinator, Prairie Hale, takes to the streets in the Lents Neighborhood handing out leaflets promoting their new classes with help from volunteer Jon Wagner, and Hazelwood Neighborhood’s Arlene Kimura.
Story and photos by David F. Ashton
For years, we’ve brought you stories about Zenger Farm. It’s a unique, working urban farm on SE Foster Road that promotes sustainable food practices, kids’ education, environmental stewardship, and community and economic advancement.
When we saw their community involvement director, Prairie Hale, distributing flyers in the Lents Neighborhood, we stopped to find out more about their current mission.
More than kids’ classes
“We want everyone in the neighborhood to know about Zenger Farm and how we are a great resource, right here in their neighborhood,” Hale told us. “We have people coming from all over the city to participate in our programs and would like more people from outer East Portland to check out what we offer.”
One of the volunteers handing out flyers was Arlene Kimura, the chair of the Hazelwood Neighborhood Association, a few miles to the north of the farm. “Zenger Farm is a great resource for our community,” she told us. “I’m helping out because I want to encourage more connections between neighbors and the farm. And, it’s a wonderful day to get out and get some exercise!”
Zenger Farm, located on SE Foster Road at SE 117th Ave. provides food education for thousands of kids every year.
Back at the farm …
Jill Kuehler – you’ve seen here at East Portland News as the director of the Lents International Farmer’s Market – has also become the executive director of Friends of Zenger Farm, the nonprofit organization that supports the farm’s activities.
“It’s true; we’re offering some great new adult classes in organic gardening and farming, fruit tree pruning and keeping your own worm bin for composting,” Kuehler told us as they prepared for a class in the farm house educational center.
“These classes are open to everyone and residents of the Lents and Powellhurst-Gilbert Neighborhoods qualify for a 15% discount,” she added. “We always keep a scholarship spots available in each of our classes for those who cannot afford it.”
Connecting people with their food
Zenger Farm is important, Kuehler said, because it helps adults and children stay connected two where their food comes from and how it grows.
“Individuals, and as many as 3,000 Portland-area students attend our educational programs,” Kuehler noted. “We’re always ready to make new friends.”
Cooking class starts next week
Now is a good time to pre-register for the new Zenger Farm Cooking Classes that start on February 26.
Learn to cook delicious, quick and nutritious meals from a well-stocked pantry! Katherine Deumling, regional governor for Slow Food USA, is leading this three-week series on concepts, techniques and easy combinations to cook with what you have on hand. Classes will be interactive and include hands-on participation and demonstration.
“They’ll serve a full meal and copies of recipes and additional materials are included,” noted Kuehler. “The class is appropriate for a wide range of experience levels.”
The class objectives include learning how to stock your pantry for quick, everyday meals, becoming comfortable cooking without specific recipes, creating vegetable/grain/legume-based meals with meat used as a condiment, and using in-season produce year-round.
Classes will be held at Zenger Farm on February 26, March 5, and March 12 from 6 until 8:30pm. The cost is $140 for the three-part series.
Limited scholarship spots are available – contact Prairie Hale at (503) 282-4245 for a scholarship application.
To register e-mail contact Katherine Deumling at deumling@easystreet.net.
To find out more, visit the Zenger Farm website by CLICKING HERE.
© 2009 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News
Was there a disparaging word heard – about the plan, or about Portland’s Mayor – at the Portland City Council’s “road show” at Midland Library? Learn the answer, and see exclusive photos, right here …
Portland Mayor Sam Adams, flanked by Commissioners Amanda Fritz, Dan Saltzman and Randy Leonard listen to Portland Planning Bureau’s Barry Manning (far left) as they watch the PowerPoint presentation that details the East Portland Action Plan.
Story and photos by David F. Ashton
In an effort to deal with explosive growth, burgeoning schools, and a dearth of improvements to outer East Portland, the Portland City Council on Wednesday, February 18th, voted to approve funding to develop and begin implementation of the East Portland Action Plan (EPAP) in 2007.
In December, 2007, Mayor Tom Potter, State Representative Jeff Merkley, and Multnomah County Chair Ted Wheeler convened a committee comprised of neighborhood, business, government services, and faith representatives to “look strategically at short-term opportunities to improve livability, as well as long-term strategies to address some of the challenges facing East Portland,” as Barry Manning with the Portland’s Bureau of Planning put it.
Winter storm postpones meeting
The EPAP Committee wrapped up its meetings last fall. (See end of article for a list of links that detail the project’s process.)
The Portland City Council was to meet in outer East Portland in December to hear testimony and to vote whether or not to adopt their recommendations. A blizzard postponed that meeting until this week – on February 18.
The large assembly room at Midland Library on SE 122nd was filled to capacity as the session of the Portland City Council gets underway.
City Council meeting draws full house
It was standing-room-only at Midland Library’s large hall, as the crowd swelled to about 200 people – almost double the room’s stated capacity. Portland City Commissioners Randy Leonard, Amanda Fritz, Dan Saltzman, and Nick Fish joined Mayor Sam Adams in these makeshift Council Chambers.
Introduced by the Portland Planning Bureau’s Joe Zender, the Bureau’s East Portland liaison, Barry Manning, summarized the project – involving eighteen committee members from December 2007 to July 2008.
Members of the Portland City Council learn about EPAP’s seven actions.
Manning told how the committee selected seven “actions”, from an initial list of 160, for funding, specifically:
- Providing “storefront improvement” matching grants for businesses on SE Division Street, east of 122nd Avenue;
- Hiring an “advocate” to implement East Portland projects and pursue grants;
- Creating “safer routes to school” by improving pedestrian crossings at key locations on busy arterial streets;
- Initiating planning for future improvements on SE Powell Boulevard;
- Funding studies to create “Gateway Green,” a regional green space opportunity;
- Initiating a Portland Plan pilot study to consider and improve land uses, access, and connections, and development design along SE 122nd Avenue between Division and Foster; and,
- Creating an EPAP Grant Fund, to allow area organizations and groups to propose and initiate projects from the Action Plan.
US Senator Jeff Merkley joins Multnomah County Chair Ted Wheeler at the table as testimony begins.
Dozen line up to testify
Multnomah County Chair Ted Wheeler began by jesting, “I urge you to adopt the plan. There is only one exit from this room, and it is located behind me.”
Wheeler commended the committee for the “considerable time and energy” spent on this process. “It is about more than issues and problems. It is really about community and pride. One after another, [outer East Portland] neighbors said there is no other part of town in which they’d live.”
The County Chair said that story of outer East Portland has been one of long-standing negligence and inequity. “When these neighborhoods were annexed into the city, relatively low levels [of attention were paid to] transportation, jobs, green space, educational outcomes and public safety. That hasn’t changed much. Yet, East Portland is unique in this region.”
The EPAP Committee, Wheeler added, “took these issues and made them opportunities; and they’re working to make them into realities. This is, without question, the best example of civic engagement I’ve seen.”
Senator Merkley’s surprise appearance
Many in the room were surprised and pleased to see another convener of the project, newly-minted US Senator Jeff Merkley, come to testify.
“I grew up just eight blocks from here,” Merkley began. “It was only with some frustration that [this area] was annexed into the City. Annexation seemed to be more about pulling taxpayers into the district than giving them full recognition as citizens of the city.”
Portland’s planners, the Senator added, seem to find it difficult to see beyond 82nd Avenue. “This conversation has changed the tenor of the relationship among [outer East Portland residents] and the Portland City Council. I praise the people who have invested so much energy in this program … and I second Chair Wheeler’s recommendation that it be adopted.”
Portland Commissioner Nick Fish thanked Merkley, noting, “It is rare for a US Senator to testify before the City Council.”
Testifying on behalf of education and better regional planning are of Parkrose School District Superintendent Dr. Karen Fischer Gray and Metro Counselor Robert Liberty.
More committee members chime in
Dr. Karen Fischer Gray, Superintendent of Parkrose School District, praised the plan’s recommendation to hire a staff member to make sure the plan is implemented and to help locate leveraged support. “I also want to speak for education. Each East Portland school district has special things to offer. We also have tremendous diversity and poverty. We need your continued support of our educational system.”
The Oregon House Representative for District 47, Jefferson Smith, quipped with self-effacing humor, “While Oregon got a great, new US Senator in Jeff Merkley, my district ended up with me.”
Smith advocated for better low-income housing planning and improved MAX light rail safety in outer East Portland. “From 82nd Avenue east, this area has had the greatest opportunity to fail; it now has the greatest opportunity to succeed.”
Portland’s commissioners and mayor listen as Hazelwood Neighborhood Chair Arlene Kimura testifies.
Hazelwood Neighborhood Chair Arlene Kimura said she was glad to find “people as passionate about our area” as she is. “Community building happens when a group of people engages in an activity. Hopefully, the results of this will be inclusive of everyone; we’re working to include those who don’t speak English as their primary language.”
Nick Sauvie, executive director of ROSE Community Development Corp., made a literary allusion: “Portland is the ‘Tale of Two Cities’. In our case, it’s the areas east and west of 82nd Avenue.” He pointed out the City auditors found that outer East Portland’s residents give livability low marks in terms of parks and housing by all measures. “As a multi-family housing developer, I didn’t always agree with other committee members; but we did agree that housing zoning needs to be reconsidered.”
Jim Chasse speaks up for better zoning, streets and “Safe routes to School on behalf of Portland’s largest neighborhood, Powellhurst-Gilbert; and, the APNBA’s Jon Turino says he favors the proposed business upgrades.
Jon Turino, the Executive Director of the Alliance of Portland Neighborhood Business Associations (APNBA), advocated in favor of the plan’s business renewal project along outer SE Division Street.
Longtime Parkrose School Board member Katie Larsell noted, “We are Portland. Equity is about making positive connections. And, a sense of being cut off comes when there isn’t equity. Thank you for holding the meeting here, thanks to Sam [Adams] and Ted [Wheeler] for being sworn in on the East Side – helping to make concrete connections. If the connections [among outer East Portland citizens and City Hall] are there, the equity will come.”
Barry Manning gets his just disserts, a home made berry pie delivered by Mary Wallker.
As Larsell’s time ran out, she thanked Barry Manning and his staff for their efforts, while Mary Walker presented the planner with a homemade berry pie. “Take this back down to City Hall. It will help them remember that we want our part of the pie.”
Portland Police Bureau East Precinct Commander Michael Crebs said, “I’d like to ask for a lot more cops, but I’m advocating for the neighborhoods. Enhanced sidewalks, streets, lighting, and storefronts will make the area more attractive to pedestrians and shoppers. More ‘eyes on the street’ will help reduce crime.”
Crebs also advocated for better residential construction. “It breaks my heart to see dirt roads and so few sidewalks here.”
When the role is called, each Portland City Council member congratulates and commends the EPAP committee and staff members before voting “aye”.
Finally, the vote
Time came for the long-awaited City Council vote. Starting with Amanda Fritz, each of the Portland City Commissioners commended the EPAP Committee members, conveners, and staff for their diligent actions.
The voting roll was called; with five “ayes” the East Portland Action Plan was passed.
Internet Links
We at eastPDXnews have long been following the progress of this unique process….
- To read how it started, CLICK HERE.
- To learn how it progressed mid-year, CLICK HERE.
- And to read about the committee’s wrap-up meeting, CLICK HERE.
To see the City’s official East Portland Action Plan website, CLICK HERE
© 2009 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News
If your electricity goes out, and you want to use a portable generator – this story may save your life …
Officials say a portable generator, used in the basement of this Lents Neighborhood home, exhausted carbon monoxide fumes that nearly killed the residents.
Story and photos by David F. Ashton
You can’t see or smell carbon monoxide (CO), but at high levels it can kill a person in minutes.
Early on Monday morning, February 9, Portland Fire & Rescue (PF&R) crews rushed to a Lents neighborhood home in the 10300 block of SE Harold Street. It wasn’t a fire that brought out the firefighters; officials say it was carbon monoxide poisoning.
“When crews arrived they found a family of four – one twelve-year-old child, and three adults – who had been exposed to extremely high levels of CO within their home,” PF&R’s spokesman, Lt. Allen Oswalt told us. “Three of the family members had gotten out; our crew located the fourth shortly after beginning a search of the house.”
The reason for the near-fatal incident, Oswalt reported, was that “The family was using a gasoline-powered generator in the basement of the home, so the noise wouldn’t bother their neighbors.”
This portable generator is set up outside of a home; there’s no chance for carbon monoxide fumes to enter the home. Generators can kill when operated indoors where they blow fumes into occupied areas. Paul E. Ashton photo
Tragedy narrowly averted
Oswalt said that, according to the gas-measuring instrument the crew took into the home, the generator’s exhaust caused their initial CO readings to nearly “peg the meter” at 300 ppm (parts per million). “Any level of CO is dangerous. For comparison, at 35ppm, firefighters are required to wear their self-contained breathing apparatus [air masks and tanks]!”
Carbon monoxide is produced whenever any fuel such as gas, oil, kerosene, wood, or charcoal is burned. “If fuel-burning appliances are vented, maintained, and used properly, the amount of CO produced is usually not hazardous,” explained Oswalt. “Hundreds of people die accidentally every year from CO poisoning which is caused by malfunctioning or improperly used fuel-burning appliances or equipment.”
© 2009 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News
Take a quick look: If you know who this waddling
bandito is, turn him in and collect $1,000.
If you live in outer East Portland, this delightful fellow may have visited your home and made off with some of your treasures.
Story by David F. Ashton
After his parents were victims of a burglary, at their home in the Powellhurst-Gilbert Neighborhood not long ago, their son – and next door neighbor – said he invested some $1,500 in a video security system.
That video surveillance system which Michael Neumann installed was up and running on January 12 – and captured stunningly-clear images of a man strolling up to the front door of his house in the 2300 block of SE 139th Ave. just before 10:00 a.m.
“The surveillance recording clearly shows a suspect walking up to the front door, ringing the doorbell, discarding a cigarette, and then walking around to the back of the house,” confirmed Portland Police Bureau spokesperson and Crime Stoppers Coordinator, Officer Catherine Kent.
“The suspect made entry into the home through the sliding door, setting off the alarm,” Kent stated. “The suspect was scared off, and left without taking any property.”
Investigators believe this suspect may be involved in several burglaries in the area, revealed Kent.
Stop, thief; get a Grand
Look at the photo, and read this description: This guy is a white male, late 20’s to early 30’s, stocky build, short brown hair with a receding hairline, and has a goatee. He was wearing a grey hooded sweatshirt over a light-colored sweatshirt, dark shorts, and white tennis shoes. The suspect has a large distinctive tattoo on his left calf.
Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward of up to $1,000 for information about him, reported to Crime Stoppers, that leads to an arrest in this case – or any unsolved felony – and you can remain anonymous. Call Crime Stoppers at (503) 823-HELP (4357), or leave a tip online at this Internet website: www.crimestoppersoforegon.com.
© 2009 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News
See why many of your neighbors volunteer to plow through the foot-thick binders of Portland Zoning Codes, to help keep our neighborhoods livable …
John McDonald, the new land-use chair for the Powellhurst-Gilbert Neighborhood Association, gets his questions answered by BDS expert Dr. Mark Bello, during a class break.
Story and photos by David F. Ashton
Powellhurst-Gilbert resident John McDonald was one of a roomful of people who spent the better part of a Saturday delving into the intricacies of Portland’s land use policies on January 24.
The workshop, called the “ABCs of Land Use” and presented by three experts – Barry Manning of the Bureau of Planning, Dr. Mark Bello of the Bureau of Development Services, and James Chasse, former land-use chair of the Powellhurst-Gilbert Neighborhood Association – presented an overview of the city’s land-use policies.
“John McDonald, our new land-use chair, is a very talented person,” said Chasse of his neighbor. “Because of his skills, and perhaps because of a different point of view than mine, he can get together and work out compromises in different situations, to the benefit of our neighborhood.”
More than 30 land-use watchdogs from all over the city come to learn how to respond to proposals for zoning changes in their neighborhoods.
Volunteers time to maintain quality of life
“One of the reasons I’m interested in this topic,” McDonald told us, “is I’m in an R10 area, but I’m surrounded by R5 zones. This means I live in a house, but I’m surrounded by medium-density development. I’m making sure that what gets built in my neighborhood conforms to code.”
McDonald said he’s taken on the challenge of being the land use watchdog for Powellhurst-Gilbert – the geographically largest of Portland’s 95 neighborhoods – because more and more higher-density development is encroaching on single-family residences there. “More than on my own block, I’m also trying to improve the situation in my neighborhood, by keeping a real good eye on what’s being proposed before it’s built.”
To him, “quality of life” means having good street connectivity, sidewalk improvements, and making sure that the adjustments that builders and applicants are requesting do not infringe on other people’s property rights.
“This class is helping me keep current with the code and with the land use process,” McDonald said. “It’s great to be able to get answers directly from city officials.”
Here holding two voluminous binders, detailing Portland’s Zoning Code, is Sellwood resident – and land-use committee chair for his neighborhood – Mat Millenbach.
Land use primer
Past SE Uplift Chair Paul Leistner, now working on projects with the Office of Neighborhood Involvement, said, “Portland’s land use system is so complex! If you don’t understand the system, it’s difficult to have an effective community voice.”
For example, Leistner said, staff members from City bureaus are explaining what neighborhood land-use volunteers should do when they get a letter proposing development.
Dr. Mark Bello listens, as Marguerite Feuersanger – also from Portland BDS – tells why neighbors must promptly act on zoning notifications if they are to obtain “legal standing” on impending changes.
Marguerite Feuersanger, from the City’s Bureau of Development Services, urged class attendees to make comments in a timely way. “Being timely helps give you ‘standing’; and ‘standing’ is required to challenge or appeal a decision.”
We learned that “standing” is the ability of a land-use representative to demonstrate to a court or bureau that the neighborhood has sufficient connection to, and can be harmed by, a change in code.
City of Portland’s Bureau of Development Services (BDS) representative, Dr. Mark Bello, Ph D, condenses centuries of land-use planning into a few, concise sentences.
History of zoning in 60 seconds
We were intrigued that Dr. Mark Bello, Ph D, city planner at the Bureau of Development Services, managed to condense the history of city codes and of zoning – spanning from the antiquity up till last week – in fewer than 200 words:
“Zoning actually began in the Middle Ages,” Bello began. “The purpose then was to keep the slaughterhouses out of the city. These rules, or ‘codes’, were put in place to regulate noxious industries and keep them out of the town centers.
“Portland’s first zoning code, introduced in 1924, was based on the 19th century regulations instituted by other cities.
“The first real revision here came in 1959, suggested by a consultant from Los Angeles. It was a very basic segregation of uses for land. Not recognizing that that we were moving from a postwar era into the future, it assumed that we would have a low density, suburban-style city of 3 million people indefinitely.
“In the 1960s and ’70s we saw new social issues – like the environment – and started to change our policies. In 1980, the Comprehensive Plan was institutionalized as the 1990 Zoning Code, with which we continue to tinker.
“The Portland Plan looks at 1990’s policies and zoning codes. In January (2009), the City of Portland announced the creation of the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability. They will revisit the issues, proposals, and public process which are involved in changing policy and zoning.”
Portland Planning Bureau’s Barry Manning explains how his bureau interacts with the Bureau of Development Services.
Popular class to be repeated
McDonald said he was glad he got a seat in this class – while free, it’s limited to 30 participants.
“We had almost twice as many people want to sign up as we had spaces,” Leistner confided. “Anyone can come; they need not be a neighborhood association land use chair. We hope to offer another class later this spring.”
Part of the City’s goal for the Office of Neighborhood Involvement is to increase the ability and capacity among members of the community at large, Leistner said. “This will give more people an effective voice in public decision-making. If you don’t know the ins and outs and all the nuances of how things work, it’s difficult to do that. Knowledge is power.”
© 2009 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News
Learn how a specialized group of cops, and their
canines, locate and arrest dope-dealing
crooks in our community …
Portland Police Bureau Drug & Vice Division Officer Scott Groshrong, and K-9 Nikko, get ready to show how they sniff out the drug peddlers.
Story and photos by David F. Ashton
As cool and collected as drug runners and dope peddlers try to appear, in an effort to evade detection, specialized officers of Portland Police Bureau Drug & Vice Division (DVD) are trained to sniff them out – literally.
At a recent community meeting, DVD Officers Chris Devlin and Scott Groshong were on hand to talk about their work, and to demonstrate how effectively their drug-detecting dogs can locate illicit and illegal substances.
PPB drug-sniffing K-9 Nikko relaxes, before he’s put through his paces.
His nose, knows
First up, Officer Groshong introduces his partner, a Belgian Malinois named Nikko. “We were certified as a team in June, 2008 – so we’ve been working together for a while now.”
Although the dog will live to be 11 or 12 years old, Groshong said, Nikko’s active service life will be about six years. “The dog cost about $8,000, but so far, he’s helped us find about $250,000 worth of drugs.”
Unlike other police dogs, Nikko’s duty isn’t to find and apprehend people, explained Groshong. “He’s great at finding drugs – finding hidden compartments in cars. We sometimes work at the train and bus stations; we’ve also helped with package interdiction [finding drugs that are being shipped] with the U.S. Post Office and United Parcel Service.”
So sensitive is Nikko’s sense of smell, the dog’s handler noted, “In training, a drug sample was hidden in a vehicle several cars away. The wind shifted and he immediately picked up on it. He worked the scent back to the source.”
As East Precinct Commander Michael Crebs watches, Nikko sniffs and scratches at a closed door, indicating he’s found something that smells like narcotics is on the other side.
Moving the drug sample to the flagpole base on a table doesn’t fool Nikko; he’s immediately got the scent.
Groshong said that while he didn’t have actual sample narcotics, Nikko picked up the scent from an adhesive label used to mark an evidence bag that once DID contain drugs.
During two demonstrations, Nikko sniffed the air, walked over to the hiding place and scratched at it, indicating that he smelled dope. “He’s trained to smell marijuana, cocaine, heroin, and other drugs.”
Says drugs lead to other crimes
DVD Officer Chris Devlin read their the mission of their unit: “To investigate drug and vice crime, thereby reducing crime and the fear of crime, improving the quality of life in Portland’s neighborhoods, and improving the relationship between the community and police.”
He added that investigating illegal drug activity is important beyond the drugs and dealers they apprehend. “There is a strong correlation between drug abuse and other crime, including burglary, car prowls, and theft of all kinds, including identity theft,” Devlin said.
PPB DVD Officer Chris Devlin shows samples of drugs and associated paraphernalia.
Although they still train to deal with methamphetamine laboratories, “Meth lab activity is way down. We still do find old, inactive meth labs.”
About marijuana-growing operations, Devlin said that today’s lack of the zero-down home loans has reduced the number of outer East Portland homes being turned into indoor pot farms. “Executing a search warrant on a marijuana grow is still dangerous. Some growers set up deadly booby traps. If people live there, they usually keep guns on them or by their beds, because they get ripped off frequently. They live a dangerous life, and are dangerous to their neighbors.”
Fighting drugs, far and wide
Although TV shows and movies have glamorized undercover work, Devlin said it’s simply too dangerous for the benefit it provides. “Our best [drug] cases come from citizen information. We tend to use confidential informants who, for a variety of reasons, give us valuable information.”
Devlin noted that DVD team members also work with the Portland Interdiction Taskforce. “The goal of PIT is to disrupt and dismantle drug trafficking in the tri-county area, whether it be at the airport, bus or train stations, guest lodging at hotels and motel – even on and freeways.”
Officer Devlin answers questions about the drug trade in East Portland.
Cops “follow the money” up the distribution chain
A neighbor asked why, although a lot of money changes hands in the illicit drug trade, many “dealers” tend to live in squalor.
“There is a lot of money involved,” Devlin concurred. “The money travels ‘up the chain’ of dealers, to distributors and importers. People at the top of the chain tend to live the ‘high life’.”
As an example, Devlin told of the case of a Reed College student who sold drugs from a modest apartment near the school. “We followed the money back to his distributor – that guy lived in Portland’s West Hills in a very nice place.”
Illegal drugs in the community, far from constituting “victimless crime”, in fact spawn a multitude of other crimes, touching almost everyone.
© 2009 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News
See why officials say these students gave other area high schools real competition this year, in our district’s “We the People” competition.
Parkrose High students Connor Leines, Caitlyn O’Mealy, Carmen Avram, Elizabeth Lee and Nathan Clement say they’re proud to have done well at the “We the People” completion. Richard English, their instructor and sponsor, stands behind them – and behind their sentiment.
Story and photos by David F. Ashton
A couple of weeks ago, Portland Commissioner Nick Fish stopped us on our way to a press conference at City Hall. “Did you hear how well the students from Parkrose High did at the ‘We the People’ competition in mid-January?” he asked.
Fish got to witness the Parkrose students’ success first-hand; he was a judge at this year’s competition, which is organized by congressional districts. “Historically, Grant and Lincoln High Schools have taken the honors. This year, Parkrose High School students gave them a real ‘run for their money’.”
Grilled about the U.S. Constitution
The full title of the event, we learned, is “We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution”, and it’s sponsored by the Center for Civic Education. It’s a yearly competition for American high school students across the country; finals are held in Washington D.C.
Parkrose High Government class instructor and team coach Richard English told us that the competition is modeled after a congressional hearing. “Each team is divided up into six units, each composed of three or more students. Each unit focuses on a particular area of Constitutional interest.”
Each unit, English explained, prepares three four-minute statements, or delivers a speech, on sections of the Constitution of the United States. At the competition, each unit presents one of their speeches.
Then, a three-judge panel questions the students to see how well they know their topic. “You have to know your part of the Constitution intimately,” explained team member Nathan Clement. “They asked you both a prepared question and non-prepared questions about it.”
Caitlyn O’Mealy added that when displaying knowledge of the First, Fifth and Sixth Amendments, “in addition to knowing your information well, we needed to be able to make persuasive arguments about the ideas we expressed.”
Portland City Commissioner Nick Fish, one of the teams three judges, says the Parkrose High students represented their school well. EastPDXnews file photo
Value beyond the contest
Other than enjoying abundant quantities of “great organic milk” at the competition – as Clement noted with a grin – which was held at Lake Oswego High School on January 12, the students agreed that the preparation for the contest helped prepare them for situations later in life.
“Before studying for the competition,” Carmen Avram chimed in, “I knew only a little about the Constitution. But after learning about the Bill of Rights and the other parts of the Constitution, I was able to apply these ideas to real life. It shows me how our society evolved and promoted equality among citizens.”
In addition to the learning about our Constitution, Connor Leines volunteered, “It was a good experience to be interviewed by professionals. Commissioner Fish and the other judges asked good, hard questions; learning how to give good answer back in an intelligent way helps us prepare for our future.”
Wins two awards
“Our students won two Outstanding Unit Awards,” noted English. “I’m very proud of our team members.”
“They did a fantastic job,” Fish commended. “That’s a huge accomplishment. The kids on the winning teams are just remarkable.”
© 2009 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News
Find out how Portland Fire & Rescue pre-fire
planning actions may save your life some day …
Firefighters, crewing their brand new engine from Portland Fire & Rescue’s Station 25, pull hundreds of feet of lines [hoses] off their rig on the way in to fight the apartment fire at the back of a SE Portland complex.
Story and photos by David F. Ashton
When an apartment at 7890 SE 72nd Avenue, just south of SE Flavel St., caught fire about 2:30 p.m. on February 13, it didn’t catch the attention of anyone in the area except for the neighbors in the complex who reported it to 9-1-1 dispatchers.
On our way to cover another story at that time, we drove within a block of the burning building, and didn’t notice the blaze – the apartment complex is set well off the street.
Nevertheless, the first PF&R rigs arrived on scene within two minutes being dispatched to the blaze.
A firefighter from PF&R Truck 25 carries a ladder to the unit on fire, located far corner of an apartment complex.
Minutes later, crews from Stations 11, 25 and 29 were fighting the fire. We walked west on the complex’s a long, winding driveway, following Engine 25 as slowly rolled along. Two parallel snakes of bright yellow lines [hoses] unfolded from the truck’s back bins as it moved into position, several hundred feet from the street.
“We have a single unit on fire,” Battalion Chief District 4 Todd Keathley told us at the scene. “There are three other units in this building, total of four. Two rooms of the one unit are involved in fire. We got it knocked down quickly; made a search. No one was in the structure.”
Although the fire was well involved when firefighters arrived, crews knocked it down in minutes, saving the other units in the building.
Keathley said the fire broke out on the first floor of these two-story townhouses. “The units are designed with an open area to the second level. The fire would’ve extended up through the building pretty quickly, but they got a fast knockdown on it.”
“No one was injured in this fire,” PF&R spokesman Lt. Damon Simmons confirmed. “This positive outcome resulted from quick action by neighbors; they called 9-1-1 right away and knocked on doors to ensure that occupants in nearby apartments were out.”
Firefighters drag a charred, smoldering mattress or large cushion from the burning apartment.
Inside and out, fire crews check to make sure the fire has been completely extinguished.
Pre fire plan prevents tragedy
The four-plex that caught fire was at the very back of a long, oddly-configured – but nicely maintained –complex of buildings just south of Whitman Elementary School and just west of Flavel Park.
We asked Battalion Chief Keathley why firefighters so easily located the out-of-the way unit.
“A firefighter from Station 11 (on SE 92nd Ave. near SE Foster Rd.) had recently ‘pre-fired’ the building. Engine 11 directed some crews to respond by coming in on SE Lambert St. that dead-ends just east of the complex.”
The firefighter about whom Keathley referred, Kirk Stubblefield, nodded as he held a clipboard of drawings in his hand.
Thanks to their pre fire planning visit, PF&R Engine 11’s Kirk Stubblefield was able to help crews reach the blazing unit quickly.
“A pre fire planning visit helps us make sure we have an accurate drawing of the buildings and the complexes we serve,” Stubblefield explained. “We note any unusual configurations. Part of what we do, when we’re not responding to fire or medical emergencies, is go out and we document primary and secondary entrances.”
Firefighters poked and pulled down walls, inspected the roof, and made sure the fire was out before they started draining and refolding their lines. We noticed crews pulling out what looked to be a burned mattress.
“Red Cross has been called to assist the adult occupant of the apartment with finding shelter,” Simmons later reported. “The other apartment units in the building are still habitable. The cause of this fire is currently under investigation.”
The crew of brand new PF&R Engine 25 repack their lines; making sure their rig is ready to respond quickly to the next fire.
© 2009 David F Ashton ~ East Portland News
Organizers and musicians booked a second performance did when their first show ‘sold out’ in minutes. Find out how to make sure you can enjoy the Tom Grant concert on February 13 …
CMC volunteer Judy Seubert sells David Malcolm one of last remaining tickets at their first Family Friendly Friday concert event.
Story and photos by David F. Ashton
Minutes after the doors opened at S.E. Portland’s Community Music Center (CMC) at 3350 SE Francis Street, and people began to flood in to buy tickets for the center’s first Family Friendly Friday concert on January 9, the event sold out.
Working his way through the crowded lobby, the Executive Director of CMC, Gregory Dubay, smiled faintly. “Everybody wants to have this problem: Too many people come to enjoy a concert!”
Community Music Center executive director Gregory Dubay welcomes folks to their new series of family-oriented concerts.
The idea for holding a Family-Friendly Friday concert series came from the CMC’s Board members, Dubay said. “There are lots of concerts in the community, but because of their late starting times – it being on a school night, or in a far-away venue – they felt many programs didn’t serve families with children.”
Making it fun for families
The CMC series programs begin earlier than most concerts, Dubay continued, noting the 7:00 p.m. start time. The musicians are chosen to appeal to a wide range of age groups.
“One of our Board’s primary considerations was to offer something that families can afford, especially with our economy the way it is. At just $5 for adults, or $15 for the entire family, these programs are affordable.”
The CMC performance hall at 3350 SE Francis Street – filled to capacity with folks listening to music from the Portland Cello Project.
So many people came to the concert, Portland Cello Project agreed to play a second concert that evening.
Group adds a second show
A CMC board member interrupted Dubay to whisper in his ear. “The Portland Cello Project has just agreed to do an entire concert for everyone who wants to come back at 9 p.m.,” he said. “Unfortunately, that doesn’t help our families with early bedtimes; we hope they come early next month.”
As the auditorium doors closed, the music started, and the rich, mellow sounds of cello music filled the center.
Tom Grant to play February 13
The series features instrumentalist, singer, and entertainer, Tom Grant at their February 13th program. Grant has been a recording artist for 35 years, and has been featured on CNN and a guest on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno.
“This concert will sell out quickly,” Dubay said. “Because tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis at the door, come early to make sure you’re not disappointed.”
All proceeds from this volunteer-run concert series, sponsored by Larkins Vacura, LLP Trial Attorneys, benefit scholarships and other programs at the Community Music Center.
© 2009 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News
Discover why this grade-school teacher works nights and weekends showing kids and adults how – and why – to learn juggling …
SE Portland resident, educator – and juggler – Zach Vestal demonstrates the “cascade pattern” used in three-ball juggling.
Story and photos by David F. Ashton
Teaching his third-grade class at Buckman Arts Focus Elementary School doesn’t fatigue Woodstock neighborhood resident, Zach Vestal – it invigorates him. Vestal harnesses his energy by teaching the art and skill of juggling at Portland area libraries.
“I think all kids should be exposed to juggling,” Vestal explained, while getting ready for a Saturday workshop not long ago. “It uses both halves of the brain. Research shows that it’s excellent for hand-eye coordination. But more important is the boost of self-esteem that a person gets when he or she learns to juggle.”
That’s why juggling is part of his classroom curriculum. “Most people can learn it in about an hour. When you learn something that seems like a daunting or impossible skill, it opens your mind to the possibility of learning other new things. And, it’s really good exercise.”
Vestal demonstrates that chin-balancing, with a spinning plate on a stick, is an art related to juggling.
A life-long juggler
Vestal said he learned to juggle when he, himself, was in third grade. “I enjoyed it so much, I started teaching others how to juggle right away.”
This love of teaching led him to work with the “Circus of the Kids” organization, which still holds circus-arts training camps along the east coast.
Timmy Borcean tries his hand – actually, his nose – at balancing a feather.
Short class; lots of practice
“Juggling dates back to 2000 B.C.,” Vestal tells the class. “Juggling and balancing are two of the earliest forms of public entertainment in recorded history.
With that, he picks up three balls and starts juggling.
“The most common way to juggle balls is the ‘cascade pattern’,” Vestal said as he demonstrated. “Each ball passes underneath the ball that precedes it. Once you have the basic cascade pattern down, there all kinds of tricks and variations you can do.”
As he continues his demonstration, he misses a ball and it drops. “Oops! There was a sudden gust of gravity in the room!”
Vestal also demonstrates juggling large wispy scarves, commenting that this is the easiest way to learn the basic cascade pattern.
The demonstration ends with the instructor showing balancing – an art allied to juggling – using a spinning plate on a stick and a feather.
A group of students make their own juggling balls, using latex balloons and (clean) kitty litter.
Student-made juggling balls
On tables at the back of the room Vestal has several stations set up, permitting students to craft their own juggling balls.
“These latex balloons actually make good juggling balls,” said Vestal. “You’ll be able to make a set here today and take them home. We fill them with kitty litter – CLEAN kitty litter!”
Within the hour, students were practicing the basic skills shown them by Vestal. Some quietly complain after they’ve dropped their balls numerous times, but Vestal tells them, “Remember, there is no juggling without being willing to pick up fallen objects.”
Faith Cox and Brandi Van De Riet practice juggling using their newly-made, do-it-yourself balls.
© 2009 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News
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