City of Gresham

Congressman Earl Blumenaur and Gresham Mayor Travis Stovall tour Downtown Rockwood in 2021

By Emily Bower, Executive Director, City of Gresham

In 2003, Gresham voters approved the establishment of the Rockwood-West Gresham Urban Renewal Area authorizing the investment of $92 million into a 1,211 acre area in West Gresham. However, the urban renewal area will expire in 2023. This would leave approximately $37 million unutilized dollars due to delays from the Great Recession in 2008 and the COVID-19 pandemic. The City of Gresham proposes extending the urban renewal district to 2029. The extra six years would allow the City to invest approximately $37 million in new projects and to continue funding projects in the Rockwood-West Gresham Renewal area. To date, urban renewal has brought in new development, businesses, schools, after-school youth programs, helped with storefront grants and apartment restoration. With a little more time, imagine the projects that could be tackled in the future – using money that is already set aside.

Urban renewal does not increase your property taxes.

How it works:

• It dedicates funds to an identified neighborhood so a city’s urban renewal agency can focus on improving the area.
• It is often used to provide infrastructure to help spur economic development.
• Urban renewal changes how the existing taxes paid on a property are divided out amongst different taxing districts like the City and Multnomah County.

• As public and private investment stimulates growth in the district and the value of properties improve, money becomes available to use on the projects.
• Urban renewal in Gresham can provide funding for projects sooner.

Boys and Girls Club, Rockwood ribbon cutting. Funded through Rockwood West-Gresham Renewal Plan. Photo: City of Gresham

For more information on this effort go to: https://greshamoregon.gov/Urban-Renewal/

By Lee Dayfield
Wilkes East Resident
Charter Committee Observer

Finally after almost a year and a half the new Charter Review Committee (CRC) is up and running. Currently there are 12 people on the Committee and two positions need to be filled.

The first meeting of the CRC was held by zoom on January 10th and the second meeting is scheduled for February 7th at 6:00pm. To receive notices regarding the CRC you must send a request to Margaria Contreras at Margaria.Contreras@greshamoregon.gov or Dara Halligan at Dara.Halligan@greshamoregon.gov. The webpage for the CRC on the City's website is https://greshamoregon.gov/City-Charter/. There you can find Meeting documents which should contain the agenda which has a link for the meeting. At some point they will be posting recordings of the zoom meetings and possibly minutes. A link to the Charter and previous changes is also on this page.

During the January meeting Joseph Andaya was elected Chair and Jack Ardner was elected Vice Chair. They agreed to allow for public comment at the beginning of meetings but it is unclear how to register for testimony at this time. It should be posted on the webpage at some point.

City Attorney reported that the City Council, by Resolution 3478, asked the CRC to specifically consider and recommend either an at large or district system of elections. A recommendation to be delivered to Council by Jan. 31, 2023. Currently we have an at large system.

Dr. Todd Lochner and Dr. Ellen Seljan from Lewis & Clark have been hired to assist the CRC. They are experts on election systems and will give presentations to the CRC on that topic. You won't want to miss this meeting.

The Urban Renewal Dept. wants to give a presentation to the CRC. My guess based on discussions I have heard at a City Council meeting is they want to discuss changing 36A Urban Renewal, (b)(1) which states "council shall refer to the electors any ordinance adopted after November 1, 1986, approving an urban renewal plan or a substantial change in such a plan."

There is a public discussion group on NextDoor regarding Charter Review with almost 200 people which has had some interesting discussions about the Charter.

Spring 2022 Newsletter "Diversity, Harmony, Community - Together 'WE' can make a difference!”

Read it now!

Spring 2022 Newsletter Inside This Issue: Speeding on NE 172nd Ave Meet Gresham’s City Manager Wilkes East Land-Use Update Proposed Urban Renewal Extension Gresham Charter Review Committee

Download your copy here. (includes active web links)

Newsletters are a regular publication of the Wilkes East Neighborhood Association. They are hand-delivered to over 1,500 residences and businesses in our area 3 times per year, timed to correspond with our general meetings.

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Get Your Green On! Volunteers Needed When: Sat Nov 20, 2021 9:30AM-12PM Where: Nadaka Nature Park 17615 NE Glisan St Gresham, OR Get Map!

Volunteer!
Come lend a hand to restore a healthy habitat at Nadaka Nature Park with the City of Gresham's Annual No Ivy Day Saturday, November 20th at 9 AM! We will be removing English Ivy and other invasive plants from the 10 acre forested portion of the park and planting new native plants!

Parking in St. Aiden’s Church lot adjacent to the park.

• Arrive 9:15 to 9:30
• 9:30 to 10 am: Introductions, instructions and safety training
• 10 am to Noon: Ivy removal/sword fern planting

*Twenty volunteers needed *Masks must be worn *Bring gloves if you have them, water bottle, sturdy shoes, rain gear

We provide: tools, extra gloves, extra masks, sanitizer

RSVP: Keri.Handaly@GreshamOregon.gov.

More Info
For more information email Keri.Handaly@GreshamOregon.gov.

Fall Meeting Notice When: Mon Nov 08, 2021 7PM-8:30PM Where: Online meeting via Zoom Click here to Join Meeting (New to Zoom? Go to https://zoom.us/join) Dial-in Zoom +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) Meeting ID: 864 2480 4501 Passcode: 061657

Neighborhood Meeting, Everyone's Invited

Join Your Neighbors. Get involved. Make a difference!

Save the date
Be sure to save Monday Nov 8th at 7PM for the Wilkes East Neighborhood 2021 Fall Meeting.

Agenda

• Kevin Dahlgren, City of Gresham, Homeless Services
• Mary Ann "Miki" Herman, New CEO of Ablertina Kerr
• Election of Officers
• Q & A
• Neighborhood news and more

Who should attend?
Participation is open to all residents who live, own property or a business, organization, church or government agency within our boundaries

Be Part Of Your Community. Plan To Attend.

Watch for these red & white Meeting Signs the week before our meeting. The signs were purchased with assistance of the City of Gresham Neighborhood Grant Program, and with volunteer hours to set them out and retrieve them. Signs Now NW also made a generous contribution to this project.

Mark your calendar. See you there!

Questions or comments?
Contact Wilkes East Neighborhood by email at info@wilkeseastna.org, or by postal mail to: Wilkes East Neighborhood, 17104 NE Oregon St, Portland Oregon 97230

Retired, have a flexible schedule, want some exercise, need school credits? The City of Gresham is requesting volunteer support to help manage trails and plant species in the forest at Nadaka Nature Park, 17550 NE Pacific St.

Work will be led by PGE interns and will include digging, pulling and pruning. Work will require use of shovels, loppers and wheelbarrows. Equipment and work gloves will be provided, we suggest you bring your own water bottle. Bring sturdy work shoes and clothing you’re comfortable working in, as we approach fall weather please ensure to come dressed for the weather.

Covid-19 protocols: Everyone must be wearing a mask at all times, unless more than 6ft away from others. Hand sanitizer will be provided. Volunteers will be required to complete an application and sign a waiver.

Volunteer schedule: Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 1:00pm-5:30pm, Thursdays and Fridays 10:00am-2:30pm

More Info?
Please email keri.handaly@GreshamOregon.gov to inquire/rsvp.

Summer 2021 Newsletter "Diversity, Harmony, Community - Together 'WE' can make a difference!”

Read it now!

Summer 2021 Newsletter Inside This Issue: Trackers, Never Lose Stuff Again New Special Needs Adult Program Wilkes East Land-Use Update Saving 267 Trees; Shaull Woods Meet City Councilor Dina DiNucci

Download your copy here. (includes active web links)

Newsletters are a regular publication of the Wilkes East Neighborhood Association. They are hand-delivered to over 1,500 residences and businesses in our area 3 times per year, timed to correspond with our general meetings.

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Get involved, Make a difference When: Thu, May 06, 2021 6PM-7:30PM Where: Online meeting via Zoom

To protect public health, safety and welfare during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Transportation Subcommittee will meet remotely at 6:00 pm on May 6 via Zoom.

How to participate

• Zoom login information will be available in the meeting agenda on the Transportation Subcommittee page one week before the meeting.
• If you want to speak during the meeting, provide written comments, are unable to access the meeting remotely, or are otherwise unable to participate in the meeting, please notify us 24 hours in advance of the meeting for instructions and assistance. This will allow us time to provide alternate arrangements if needed.

Contact Jay Higgins at Jay.Higgins@GreshamOregon.gov or 503-618-2215 for participation instructions or more information about the meeting.

Let's Have Fun! When: Sat, May 08, 2021 8AM-12PM Where: Main City Park 219 S. Main Ave. Get Map!

Join us for the third annual Gresham Lilac Run presented by Unitus Community Credit Union.

Register for the Lilac Run by May 2.

The event's 5K run/walk, 10K and half marathon courses begin and end at Main City Park. Travel through quaint historic downtown and visit at least one of Gresham's scenic trails.

All registration fees benefit Family of Friends Mentoring in Gresham.

At this time the event is planned in-person, but will switch to a virtual run if public health guidelines still do not permit gatherings.

For more information, contact Sasha.Konell@GreshamOregon.gov.

Grab your running shoes! When: Sun, May 09, 2021 8AM-12PM Where: Main City Park 219 S. Main Ave. Get Map!

Join us for the third annual Gresham Lilac Run presented by Unitus Community Credit Union.

Register for the Lilac Run by May 2.

The event's 5K run/walk, 10K and half marathon courses begin and end at Main City Park. Travel through quaint historic downtown and visit at least one of Gresham's scenic trails.

All registration fees benefit Family of Friends Mentoring in Gresham.

At this time the event is planned in-person, but will switch to a virtual run if public health guidelines still do not permit gatherings.

For more information, contact Sasha.Konell@GreshamOregon.gov.