Community

Public Input: Oct 9-22, 2008 Transition Residential Districts, Increased Residential Intensity, and New Lot Size Standards May Effect Your Property Value. Hearings to begin soon!

City of Gresham Comprehensive Planning is holding several community forums to solicit neighborhood input on two projects: the Residential Districts Review and Natural Resources/Title 13.

Meetings schedule:

• Oct 09: 6:30PM, Centennial High School cafeteria
• Oct 14: 7:00PM, Coalition of Gresham Neighborhood Associations, City Hall
• Oct 20: 6:30PM, Powell Valley Elementary, 4825 S.E. Powell Valley Road, Gresham
• Oct 21: 6:30PM, Hartley Elementary, 701 N.E. 185th Place, Portland
• Oct 22: 7:00PM, Kelly Creek Neighborhood Association, Gordon Russell, 3625 E. Powell Valley Road, Gresham

Make A Difference Day to plant trees along East Burnside St in Rockwood

When: Saturday Oct 25, 2008 9:00AM-12:00PM
Where: Rockwood Community Office
18709 SE Stark St
Gresham, OR

Make a Difference Day

Saturday, Oct. 25, 2008 is the 18th annual Make A Difference Day - the largest national day of helping others. Recognizing the need to make a difference in Rockwood, the City of Gresham and the Gresham Redevelopment Commission, in partnership with Friends of Trees and AmeriCorps, will use the opportunity of Make A Difference Day to plant 15 trees along East Burnside St in Rockwood from SE 181st Ave to SE 185th Ave.

Meet incoming Gresham Chief of Police Craig Junginger Saturday Oct 25th, 1:00PM

When: Saturday Oct 25, 2008 1:00PM-3:00PM
Where: East Hill Youth Center
50 NW 5th St
Gresham, OR

You're Invited!

Join Mayor Shane Bemis, Gresham City Councilors, and Citizens For A Safer Gresham in welcoming Gresham's incoming Chief of Police Craig Junginger, Saturday October 25th, 2008 from 1:00PM-3:00PM at the East Hill Youth Center, 50 NW 5th St, Gresham OR.

Experience, and more

Junginger, 52, was named to the department’s top position from among 28 applicants as part of a national search to replace Chief Carla Piluso, who will retire at the end of the year, ending a six-year run as police chief and a 29-year career with city’s police department.

Have you recently remodeled a major room of your house? Then HGTV is looking for you!

Hi, Wilkes East neighbors. Here's something that may interest you. We got this letter from Keri Grogan, who does casting for HGTV:

I work in the casting department for HGTV. We are excited to announce that we will be looking for 3 lucky homeowners throughout the Portland Metro Area to feature on our new show Bang for Your Buck. I was hoping that some of your residents might be interested in being considered for the show. We plan to be in Portland the week of November 17th

Click here to sign-up now! Exploring the Linkage between Urban Parks, Trees, Public Safety & Economic Vibrancy

When: Saturday, October 4, 2008 8:30AM - 3:30PM
Where: Gresham City Hall
1333 NW Eastman Parkway
Gresham, OR

Field Trip 3:30PM - 5:30PM

Cost: $10.00 (includes lunch)

This Summit is a chance to explore how investments in urban parks and trees can contribute to business vibrancy, safer streets and neighborhoods, increased property values, and enhanced fiscal health.

Featuring guest presenter Kathy Wolf, Research Director at the University of Washington's Human Dimensions of Urban Forestry and Urban Green program.

As a valued member of our community we want to hear from you!

Seating is limited. To register, or for more information, visit www.pfpevents.org or call 503-667-2300

Public Open House, NE 181st Ave Corridor Traffic Signal Improvement Project, Wednesday, Sept 24th 7PM

When: Wednesday, Sept 24, 2008 7:00PM-9:00PM
Where: Springwater Trail Room
Gresham City Hall
1333 NW Eastman Parkway
Gresham, Oregon

The City’s Transportation Division and Urban Renewal Dept would like to discuss a proposed project to improve freight and commuter traffic conditions on NE 181st Ave, between I-84 and the San Rafael industrial district, in North Rockwood.

Your Input Is Valuable

Please attend this open house and let the City know your concerns about this project, especially the possible prohibition of southbound U-turns at NE 181st Ave & NE San Rafael St to improve traffic flow .

Transition Residential Districts, Increased Residential Intensity, and New Lot Size Standards Proposed

The City is proposing revisions to the Community Plan Map and Development Code as part of the Residential Districts Review project. Property owners who could be most affected by these changes are being notified by mail. Comprehensive Planning staff also wanted to make sure Neighborhood Association officials are aware of the potential changes.

Complete information is available here on a special page on the City's Web site, in addition to project information available here on the main Residential Districts Review page.

Traffic 'Near Capacity' On The NE 181st Ave Corridor. City 'Signals' Relief Is On The Way!

Ask any rush hour commuter traveling NE 181st Ave in Gresham and they will tell you, traffic congestion between Interstate 84 and NE Halsey St is miserable. In fact at times, it's just downright unbearable!

Over the past few years the increased population and business growth in west Gresham has outpaced the ability of the NE 181st Ave corridor to efficiently handle the additional traffic between the I-84 freeway ramps and the Powell Butte area.

Frustrated commuters rejoice, change is coming!

The City of Gresham Dept of Public Affairs has announced a plan to reduce traffic congestion on NE 181st Ave between NE Sandy Blvd and NE Halsey St. The proposed changes are scheduled to begin spring 2009, and be completed before summer. Changes include installing new state-of-the-art computer-controlled traffic signals, prohibiting southbound U-turn's at NE San Rafael St, eliminating a crosswalk across NE 181st Ave, plus several other changes in hope of improving the flow of traffic along this particularly busy section of the NE 181st Ave corridor.

A public meeting on the proposed changes will likely be held in early to mid-September according to Jill Bradley with the City of Gresham Dept of Public Affairs.

A "Must See" Event! East Multnomah County Commissioner #4 Candidates Debate, Diane McKeel vs Carla Piluso Sept 18, 2008 7:30PM St Aidan's Church

When: Thursday, Sept 18 2008 7:30PM - 9:00PM
Where: St. Aidan's Episcopal Church
Murdock Hall
17405 NE Glisan St
Gresham, Oregon

Substantial off-street parking available

Debate starts promptly at 7:30PM

No admission charge!

Sponsored by the Rockwood Neighborhood Association, Roger Meyer, President; phone (503) 666-2776, email rogernmeyer@earthlink.net.

All Gresham Neighborhood Association residents are invited to attend a lively 90 minute debate between Diane McKeel and Carla Piluso, candidates for County Commissioner District 4. Preference to be given to audience questions from members of West Gresham's Neighborhood Association members from Rockwood, North Gresham, North Central, and Wilkes-East.

Youth volunteer helps seperate bulky waste for disposal while Event coordinator Brian Heerwagen breaks down larger items

2008 Wilkes East Neighborhood Clean-Up a Huge Success! With the peak of summer came this year's Wilkes East Neighborhood Clean-Up. For the past 3 years, Wilkes East residents have enjoyed the convenient disposal of unwanted trash and yard debris at the annual July fund-raiser sponsored by the Wilkes East Neighborhood Association.

Residents lined-up early for the three hour event held Saturday July 26th from 9AM to Noon in the east parking lot at HB Lee Middle School. Staffed by a dozen volunteers this year's clean-up served 48 families, and filled two industrial sized (40 cubic yard) dumpsters to capacity! One dumpster was dedicated to Yard Debris and Wood Waste, the other dumpster was dedicated to Bulky Waste (trash).

Volunteers directed traffic, helped clean-up participants with their drop-offs, and seperated the debris for disposal. Home pick-up was also available this year for bulky items and to those neighbors without transportation. Many neighbors expressed their appreciation, thanking the volunteers, and stating how much they look forward to the annual event. Disposed items included yard debris, furniture, beds, bbqs, carpet, garage trash, remodeling debris, lots of junk, windows and doors, even an old wooden boat!