City of Gresham

Press Release:

Visit Rockwood Rising website
Email RockwoodRising@GreshamOregon.gov" or call 503-618-3208.

Get involved, Make a difference When: Sat, May 04, 2019 9AM-12PM Where: Hartley Elementary School 701 NE 185th Place Get Map!

Register now for the sixth annual Green and Clean Day of Service on Saturday, May 4.

This year's day of service will put a special focus on the kids while promoting community engagement. Everyone is invited to help beautify the school grounds at Hartley Elementary with coordinated activities for all ages and fitness levels. Join Gresham City Councilors to help with a variety of spring cleaning, landscape and maintenance projects.

Individuals and organizations, register online by April 28 to ensure enough refreshments for volunteers.

This event is sponsored by the City's Office of Neighborhoods and Community Enhancement.

For more information about this event, contact Michael Gonzales at 503-618-2482 or email Michael.Gonzales@GreshamOregon.gov.

Event flyer

Get involved, Make a difference When: Tue, May 07, 2019 6:30PM-7PM Where: Gresham City Hall Conference Center 1333 NW Eastman Pky Get Map!

The Gresham Redevelopment Commission Budget Committee is responsible for recommending a budget to the Gresham Redevelopment Commission for the upcoming fiscal year 2019/20. Public participation is encouraged.

For more information, contact Sharron Monohon, Budget and Financial Planning Director, at Sharron.Monohon@GreshamOregon.gov or 503-618-2890.

When: Wed, May 08, 2019 6PM-8:30PM Where: Gresham City Hall Conference Center 1333 NW Eastman Pky Get Map!

The Gresham Task Force on Housing will meet to research and discuss how to best address housing issues in the city. The citizen task force will:

• Assess current information on housing in Gresham
• Identify best practice
• Recommend approaches to provide for housing needs in Gresham

For more information contact:

Brian Monberg at Brian.Monberg@GreshamOregon.gov or 503-618-2418, or Teresa Hall at Teresa.Hall@GreshamOregon.gov or 503-618-2871.

Get involved, Make a difference When: Mon, May 13, 2019 6:30PM- Where: Gresham City Hall Council Chambers 1333 NW Eastman Pky Get Map!

The Planning Commission advises City Council on long-range, comprehensive planning and land use issues within the city.

For more information about this event contact Tammy Richardson, Planning Technician at 503-618-2401 or Tammy.Richardson@GreshamOregon.gov.

Public Welcome. Get Involved! When: Tue, May 14, 2019 7PM-8:30PM Where: Gresham City Hall Oregon Trail Rm 1333 NW Eastman Pky Get Map!

For more information about the Coalition of Gresham Neighborhood Associations, contact Carol Rulla, Coalition President, at 503-663-1466 or crullaor@gmail.com.

Get involved, Make a difference When: Wed, May 15, 2019 6:30PM- Where: Gresham City Hall Council Chambers 1333 NW Eastman Pky Get Map!

The Design Commission is the primary advising subcommittee to the City Council on design excellence for the built environment of the city. The Commission assists in the development and application of design standards and guidelines, and will conduct hearings as necessary to ensure that proposed public and private projects achieve these standards.

For more information about this event contact Amanda Lunsford at 503-618-2235 or Amanda.Lunsford@GreshamOregon.gov.

Vandalism, theft, broken windows, fights and stolen vehicles By Greg Hartung Gresham area businesses along a stretch of NE Sandy Blvd had recently experienced an alarming uptick in criminal activities.

From NE 162th to NE 181st, reports of vandalism, theft, breaking of glass windows and doors, fences cut, harassment of employees, fights and stolen vehicles now have businesses on high alert. Many of these activities are thought to be contributed by the increased population of campers within the Big Four Corners wetlands area.

Big Four Corners is an area of about 165 acres of fragile wetlands located north of Gresham that is owned and managed by Portland Parks and Recreation. Some sources say as many as 250 people are currently camping in this area. It is an important habitat for deer, coyote, river otter as well as a variety of birds and amphibians.

Gresham police can do very little as jurisdiction ends along Gresham’s northern border. The Union Pacific rail line divides Gresham from East Portland and the Big Four Corners wetlands. It is just beyond the reach of Gresham Police where many of these campers reside, however they are still within yards of the businesses on the south side of the border. While Union Pacific does conduct its own law enforcement patrols, they are limited to about 50 feet on each side of the tracks. Portland Parks and Recreation has park rangers who patrol the area.

On April 5th, 2019, a meeting at Gresham City Hall was conducted by the City of Gresham’s Economic Development, Gresham Police and Gresham’s Homeless Services departments and was well attended by many of those businesses affected by these recent activities. Representatives from SEKO Logistics, Cedar Source, Royal Bearing, Northwest Handling, Teeny Foods, Portland Bakery as well as Wilkes East and North Gresham neighborhood associations expressed very similar concerns to the City of Gresham. The crime has been costly to these businesses. Some businesses have gone to great expense to shore up security, such as replacing windows with reinforced glass, fences and hiring security patrol at night.

City of Gresham will be working more closely with the City of Portland and other agencies, but it is feared to get worse before it gets better. Word of mouth and sweeps of campers from other areas are bringing more campers to the Big Four Corners wetlands.

Get involved, Make a difference When: Mon, May 27, 2019 6:30PM- Where: Gresham City Hall Council Chambers 1333 NW Eastman Pky Get Map!

The Planning Commission advises City Council on long-range, comprehensive planning and land use issues within the city.

For more information about this event contact Tammy Richardson, Planning Technician at 503-618-2401 or Tammy.Richardson@GreshamOregon.gov.

When: Wed, Apr 10, 2019 6PM-8:30PM Where: Gresham City Hall Conference Center 1333 NW Eastman Pky Get Map!

The Gresham Task Force on Housing will meet to research and discuss how to best address housing issues in the city. The citizen task force will:

• Assess current information on housing in Gresham
• Identify best practice
• Recommend approaches to provide for housing needs in Gresham

For more information contact:

Brian Monberg at Brian.Monberg@GreshamOregon.gov or 503-618-2418, or Teresa Hall at Teresa.Hall@GreshamOregon.gov or 503-618-2871.