Public safety

Aug 11, 2014 Hello Gresham Neighbors! Starting today, I am pleased to announce that the City of Gresham will be using Nextdoor to help build stronger and safer neighborhoods across the city. City departments plan to share important news and updates, services, programs, public events, and emergency notifications that are relevant to your neighborhood on Nextdoor. Please be assured that your website remains private. City staff will not be able to see any of the content on your Nextdoor neighborhood website except for the direct replies to our posts. We look forward to connecting with you on Nextdoor to make Gresham an even better place to live! Take care, Aaron Abrams, Office of Neighborhoods & Community Engagement City of Gresham

Join here!

Nextdoor, a free social network website geared to individual neighborhoods.

It's the latest hyper-local trend: connecting with your neighbors via smartphones and laptops. Since its launch in 2011, San Francisco-based Nextdoor (is used by) 1 in 5 U.S. neighborhoods, more than 36,000 neighborhoods in all 50 states.

Members must give real first and last names as well as verified home addresses to join

City of Gresham, Fire & Rescue

The Gresham City Council on Tuesday voted unanimously to make permanent an expiring $7.50 monthly utility fee to help stave off cuts to police and fire services, two weeks after voters rejected a property tax increase intended for that purpose.

Source: oregonlive.com (Jun 4, 2014)

The utility fee is now expected bring in $3.7 million in 2014-15. The tax would have raised $5.4 million toward next year's budget. Budget Director Sharron Monohon said officials would suggest amendments to the city's proposed budget to keep it in balance.

"We have no choice but to protect our people," said council member Karylinn Echols.

The utility fee was due to expire June 30.

The city's proposed budget for the 2014-15 fiscal year, which starts July 1, included $5.4 million from an "unspecified source" that would replace the sunsetting fee.

City leaders had hoped the new source would be a tax hike of $1.25 per $1,000 in taxable assessed property value at the May 20 ballot. The vote was so close that Mayor Shane Bemis wouldn't concede defeat for days afterward. But the narrow margin against the measure persisted as the final votes were counted. Read more.

City of Gresham, Fire & Rescue

Gresham officials made clear this week they are unwilling to cut more than $5 million from public safety and parks, a little more than a week after voters narrowly defeated a tax levy that would have paid the bill.

Source: oregonlive.com (May 30, 2014)

The only solution to the funding gap that elected officials and appointees to a city budget committee offered at meeting Thursday?

Reinstating a "temporary" fee charged through city utility bills. And that fee may go up from the $7.50 residents have been paying each month for more than a year.

Mayor Shane Bemis called for the Gresham City Council to meet in a special session immediately before the budget committee meets Tuesday (June 3, 2014, 6:30PM) evening. Bemis, a key backer of the failed tax measure, made it clear he expects members to vote for an alternative source of funding. Read more.

Gang Prevention Summit When: Thu May 01, 2014 10-11:30AM Where: Gresham City Hall 1333 NW Eastman Pky Gresham, OR Get Map!

You're invited!
Join Mayor Shane Bemis, Gresham City Council, Police Chief Craig Junginger, Multnomah County District Attorney Rod Underhill and other community leaders to learn about gang activity in Gresham and our collaborative approach to improve public safety and livability.

Kid's Helmet Giveaway! When: Sat May 10, 2014 9AM-2PM Where: NW Miller & Third St Historic Downtown Gresham, OR Get Map!

Look for the Transportation Planning booth at the Gresham Farmers Market from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Gresham is partnering with the Oregon Nurses Association to provide free children's bike helmets and bike safety information. Helmets are limited to stock on hand, and children need to be present to be fit.

LED streetlight, Capri Terrace

Monday, May 19th, the Capri Terrace area of Wilkes East began receiving new LED streetlights -- replacing the old familiar 'pink glow' high-pressure sodium lights. The new streetlights are white, bright and money saving, but some folks say they also create more shadows at night.

What a bright idea: Gresham switching to LED streetlights

Source: Gresham Outlook website

Cost to keep lights on will go from $600,000 a year to $100,000 with new program

In yet another green effort to save energy and money, Gresham is starting a major streetlight replacement project, which will convert the city’s streetlights to high-efficiency LED bulbs. The move will save approximately $500,000 a year in costs.

Cities across the nation — even the globe — are turning to light-emitting diode lights as a way to save money and the environment.

CPR / AED Training When: Sat Feb 22, 2014 9AM-12PM Where: Contact for location

Are You Prepared?
Would you know what to do in a cardiac, breathing or first aid emergency? The right answer could help you save a life.

Every minute without CPR following sudden cardiac arrest, the probability of survival reduces by 7-10% per minute. Attend this training provided by Gresham firefighters and learn the most up-to-date CPR techniques, as well as hands-on training using an Automated External Defibrillator (AED).

Register Today! Don't put this off another minute.

Grand Opening! When: Thu Nv 21, 2013 11AM-12PM Where: Rockwood Public Safety Bldg 675 NE 181st Av Gresham OR Get Map!

You're Invited!
The Gresham Redevelopment Commission and Gresham Poice Department invite you to attend the grand opening of the Rockwood Public Safety Facility, Thu Nov 21, 2013 11AM.

Parking is available on site and just north of the site on NE Oregon St. Mayor Shane Bemis, Police Chief Craig Junginger and other dignitaries look forward to seeing you there!

Public Invited Town Hall Meeting

When: Thu Oct 03, 2013 6:30-7:30PM Where: Butler Creek Elementary School 2789 SW Butler Rd Get Map!

The City is hosting a series of town hall meetings this fall to continue its Invest in Gresham discussion with the community about funding critical police and fire services, including the possibility of a voter-approved levy in May 2014.

Because of Oregon’s statewide property tax restrictions and Gresham’s low $3.61 permanent property tax rate, the City is at a defining moment in its ability to provide the level of essential police and fire services this rapidly growing, urban city needs.

Last fall the Gresham City Council established a temporary fee as an interim solution to maintain police, fire and park service levels through June 2014. With expiration of that $7.50-per month fee less than a year away, the process of a potential levy to stabilize funding for public safety long term starts now.