New Projects for COC

COC is keeping busy!  We have several new projects that we would like to share with you if you haven’t already heard.

• Public Involvement and Writing, Editing & Document Management as part of an Environmental Support Services Roster for the Bonneville Power Administration
• Economic Opportunities Analysis for the Salem-Keizer Region
• Safe Routes to School Workshop for the City of Madras and the Oregon Department of Transportation TGM Program
• Strategic Plan Research for Portland + Oregon Sustainability Institute (P+OSI)
• Grant Writing Support for the Oregon Department of Transportation
• Presentation Skills Training for the Oregon Recreation and Park Association
• Community Coach for Highlands Neighborhood Association
• Public Involvement for City of Corvallis Wastewater Reuse Plan
• Economic Landscape Strategic Advice and Document Production for Clackamas County

Portland Economic Stimulus Package

PORTLAND CITY COUNCIL ANNOUNCES $503 MILLION-PLUS “PORTLAND JOB CREATION AND ECONOMIC STIMULUS PACKAGE” TO FAST-TRACK AN ESTIMATED 4,985 PRIVATE SECTOR JOBS

Plan also boosts housing development, business assistance and worker retraining programs

January 13, 2009

PORTLAND, ORE. — Portland City Council at City Hall today announced a crucial local jobs creation and business stimulus package aimed at revving Portland’s economic engine in the midst of a gripping national
recession.

The public infrastructure projects will invest $503 million into the city’s economy and fast-track the creation of an estimated 4,985 jobs.

The “Portland Job Creation and Business Stimulus Package” calls for speeding up selected city government construction projects, boosting housing investments and expanding loan assistance to local small businesses and retraining opportunities to job seekers.

The bulk of the jobs created with this proposal result from fast-tracking, over the next 12 months, city public works and construction projects originally slated for construction over one to three years.  The City plans to use existing capital budget resources and to speed up its public works and construction projects, and will not further increase fees or taxes or incur more-than-anticipated debt to pay for the projects announced today.

Economists predict deepening job losses to peak over the next 12 months.  In addition to creating local jobs at the time Portland needs them most, City leaders believe that the City will save tax dollars by doing more projects now when the construction industry is offering more competitive bids and by avoiding construction related inflation that runs about at out 6% annually.

“We know Portland’s economy is in a better position than most regions, and your City Council is going to do everything we prudently can to keep it that way,” said Mayor Sam Adams.  “This city government has to cut its budget but we will also redouble our efforts to help our people and our businesses during this troubled times.”

“In times like these, public investment is essential,” Commissioner Randy Leonard said. “The good jobs these projects provide will serve the immediate needs of our economy and generations of Portlanders.”

The focus will be in the areas of Public Infrastructure, Housing, Local Businesses and Development, and Workforce Development.

“The best thing about the plan is its across-the-board reach,” Commissioner Nick Fish said. “The community will see benefits from environmental, parks, transportation and water improvement projects.”

The Stimulus Plan will use available and budgeted resources to immediately benefit the city’s families and businesses, while also moving forward with long-term strategies to help our region thrive.

“The momentum generated by this plan will leave the city better able to fully regain its stride when the economic climate improves,” Commissioner Dan Saltzman said.

Under the Stimulus Plan, infrastructure projects already in the funding pipeline in the next several years are being fast-tracked to maximize immediate creation of local, private sector jobs through City contracts.

“As I find out more about my portfolio over the next 100 days,” Commissioner Amanda Fritz said, “I will be asking for more projects to be expedited, consistent with Mayor Adams’ fine direction for economic stimulus.”

Since the General Election, the Portland City Council has moved aggressively to respond to the national recession:

• On  November 15, 2008, the Portland City Council requested $880 million in public works funding from the emerging federal stimulus package.
• On December 27, 2008, mayor-Elected Sam Adams and Multnomah County Chair Ted Wheeler asked the Federal Emergency management Administration to provide local small businesses assistance due to the recent snow and ice weather events.
• On January 7, 2009, the Portland City Council reorganized and streamlined city bureau operations related to business assistance and permitting.
• On Thursday, January 15, 2009, the Portland City Council will announce the “Portland is Better Together” volunteer and chose local public service initiative.

At the direction of the Portland City Council, City government is in the midst of cutting its operating budgets due to a reduction of tax and fee revenues.  Bureaus have been requested to rank services and programs based bureau mission and public demand.  The Mayor Proposed Budget will be released in mid-April 2009.  The resources used to fund the public works and construction projects outlined in the “Portland Job Creation and Business Stimulus Package” are from capital budgets, not impacted by the requested budget reductions.

Link to related documents and the full text of the local economic stimulus package:
http://cts.vresp.com/c/?OfficeofCommissioner/dc97beeb70/8da4d91d6a/3c9434fb9d/c=49278&a=225953

For the outline of steps Council has taken in response to the economic slowdown:
http://cts.vresp.com/c/?OfficeofCommissioner/dc97beeb70/8da4d91d6a/72003e88c7/id=225977

For description of Portland’s Job Creation and Business Stimulus package:
http://cts.vresp.com/c/?OfficeofCommissioner/dc97beeb70/8da4d91d6a/147e16b819/id=225979

For detailed description of the $500 million dollar investment in fast-tracked, private-sector construction projects:
http://cts.vresp.com/c/?OfficeofCommissioner/dc97beeb70/8da4d91d6a/ce07a322f1/id=225974

For list people who participated in the creation of the package:
http://cts.vresp.com/c/?OfficeofCommissioner/dc97beeb70/8da4d91d6a/f12f2192e9/id=225971

Media Mentions:

Fox Oregon 12: “Mayor’s Stimulus Plan to Create New Jobs”
http://cts.vresp.com/c/?OfficeofCommissioner/dc97beeb70/8da4d91d6a/a758d12616

Oregonian: “Portland will spend $500 million to Stimulus Local Economy:
http://cts.vresp.com/c/?OfficeofCommissioner/dc97beeb70/8da4d91d6a/d1bf3e69ba/a=226005&c=27435

Portland Tribune: “City Readies Plan to Boost Sagging Local Economy”
http://cts.vresp.com/c/?OfficeofCommissioner/dc97beeb70/8da4d91d6a/d8032e7f0b/story_id=123170022641530000

PSU Forums Fall Term 2008

Presented by Arnold Cogan, FAICP, Planner-in-Residence in the Nohad A. Toulan School of Urban Studies and Planning

Two forums will be held in room 303 of the Urban Center from 10 to 11:30 am. Specific dates, topics and speakers are as follows:

October 31: How will the poor economy affect state and local government in Oregon?
Guest speaker will be Joseph Cortright, an economist with Impressa, a Portland consulting firm. Joe is a non-resident Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution and the chief economic analyst for the Oregon Business Plan. He is an advisor to state and local governments, private businesses, foundations and advocacy groups in more than a dozen states, Canada and Europe. With the economy in dire financial straits, he will discuss the significant challenges facing planners and others in federal, state and local agencies who are feeling the pinch. In addition, he will provide his insights on the changes needed if governments in the Portland region are to continue providing needed services and facilities.

December 5: A month after the election—what does it all mean?
Guest speaker will be Russ Dondero, who has been an adjunct professor of political science at PSU since 2005. Russ received his B.A. in political science from Whitman, an M.A. in political science from the University of Minnesota and a PhD. from the U of M. He is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Politics and Government at Pacific University where he taught for 31 years. He will discuss the impact on Oregon and local policies of the presidential and congressional elections, legislative and local government races, as well as key ballot measures. The emphasis will be on how all this affects planners and public officials, why voters made the choices they did and likely results.

All forums will be webcast live and archived for future viewing. Our expectation is that each event will stimulate spirited conversation, focus our expectations on the role of planning in the future and provide students, faculty and others with new insights.

For more information, please contact Arnold Cogan at: 503-225-0192 or at arnold.cogan@coganowens.com

COC Wins OAPA Special Achievement in Planning Certificate of Merit Award

COC has received a Certificate of Merit award for Special Achievement in Planning from the 2008 Oregon Chapter of the American Planning Association Awards Program for our work developing an economic development roadmap for Clackamas County’s agriculture, natural resources and sustainability industries. This work began when the Board of Commissioners, on behalf of the County’s Economic Development Commission, appointed a fifteen-member Green Ribbon Committee (GRC) in August 2006 to develop:

• an Agriculture, Natural Resource and Sustainable Economic Development Roadmap and Action Plan, and
• a Business Plan and Financial Strategy for a Clackamas County Sustainability Center/Complex.

This project focused on the first assignment and culminated in a report and action plan to strengthen the financial viability of Clackamas County’s agriculture, natural resources and sustainable development industries while helping the County transition to more sustainable practices over time. In particular, the GRC was charged with helping to build a sustainable economy by strengthening rural agricultural and natural resource industries and linking them to urban economic activity. These strategies have significant implications for land use and growth management at the urban/rural interface.