News

Do We Really Need This Fountain? When: Tue Apr 3, 2012 6:00PM Where: Gresham City Hall Council Chambers 1333 NE Eastman Pky Gresham, OR Get Map!

$1.5 million Children's Fountain Loan Application
A couple of weeks ago, the City of Gresham posted an obscure 24-page document titled "Five Year FY 2011-2016 Consolidated Plan Amendment / Amendment to the One Year Action Plan 2011-2012" on the City's "Children's Fountain" webpage (http://greshamoregon.gov/city/) by following the Read More link. The key part of this lengthy HUD (US Department of Housing and Urban Development) application document is on the back page, where it says that the City "intends to utilize HUD Section 108 Loan Guarantee assistance to create a Section 108 Loan Pool" and that the City "intends to apply for a Section 108 Guaranteed Loan in 2011-2012 to develop a Children's Fountain in Gresham's downtown......for $1.5 million to aid in the elimiation of slum and blight in downtown Gresham."

It turns out that the City intends to pay back the loan ($110,000/yr. for 20 yrs.) from it's annual Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds (currently $900,000) from HUD. These CDBG funds typically pay for things like affordable housing and public improvements in qualified neighborhoods.

At a recent Community Development & Housing Subcommittee meeting committee members questioned:

• why the City was building a fountain at this time,
• whether the fountain would really bring more shoppers to downtown,
• how downtown qualified for a Section 108 loan,
• why the fountain costs $1.5 million,
• what would happen if HUD again cut the City's CDBG funds & the City couldn't repay the loan with them,
• what the annual maintenance costs for the fountain (not part of grant) would be.

You'll find the City's 2-page Children's Fountain project flyer here. You can find a 5-page Case Studies of other such fountains (Jamison Square-Portland, Lake Oswego, Beaverton and Maryland) compiled by City staff here. We encourage neighbors to take a few moments to review these documents. Written public comment due no later than 4:30pm Tuesday, April 3, 2012.

(Click 'Read More' link below for more details and project concerns.)

East County Courts Building. Click to enlarge

Grand Opening Event When: Tue Apr 10, 2012 10AM Where: 185th & SE Stark St Gresham, OR Get Map!

Completion of the new $19.6 million East County Courts project signals the beginning of Rockwood Town Center's redevelopment.

Join the Celebration
You are cordially invited to attend the grand opening celebration for the long-awaited East County Courthouse in the heart of Gresham's Rockwood neighborhood.

Join us Tuesday, April 10, 2012 at 10:00am 'rain-or-shine' at the new East County Courts building, 185th & SE Stark St, as elected officals from Multnomah County and City of Gresham kick-off the event.

Light refreshments will follow the speaking portion of the program. Event includes self guided tours of the new facility.

PDX Seasonal Traffic Flow Change Ahead

Get ready for increased air traffic noise as PDX makes its seasonal traffic flow change

Semi-Annual Pattern Change
Wilkes East residents will notice a change in aircraft flight activity as Portland International Airport begins its seasonal traffic flow change. This is an annual event that occurs every fall and spring due to changing weather conditions, particularly wind direction and speed.

As a result of this change, residents of Wilkes East neighborhood may experience variations in aircraft noise exposure.

After decades of delays and missteps the new courthouse receives the finishing touches as it prepares to open for business.

A long-awaited East County Courts project in the heart of Gresham's Rockwood neighborhood could be just what's needed to jumpstart the town center's redevelopment. Completion of the project represents a commitment to an area left behind long ago.

East County Courts Bldg, 185th & SE Stark St. Opening April 2012. Click to enlarge

The new $19.6 million 40,000-square-foot three-floor facility will have three courtrooms, with room for future expansion to six, an office for the district attorney, a sheriff's department security office, court business office, a data center in the basement and a drop-in child care facility for visitors.

The courthouse will serve people being adjudicated for misdemeanors, violations, small claims, landlord and tenant actions, ex parte hearings and document filing for all civil and domestic relations actions - many of which were previously filed at the overcrowded downtown Portland courthouse. The new courthouse is only for civil matters. It will not include a detention facility, nor will felony cases be heard.

Funding for the new courthouse includes $15 million from Recovery Zone Economic Development (stimulus) Bonds. The remaining portion will be funded from the 2008 sale of the South Edgefield property.

Body Donation Business For Medical Training and Research Expands

MedCure Inc, a 6-year old Portland company that arranges body donations for medical training and research will soon move into their new headquarters at 181st & NE Sandy Blvd in Gresham Oregon.

The 20,000 square foot West Gresham facility with administrative offices features a 1,300 square foot surgical training center with six stations, classrooms and a small auditorium.

Construction of the new building began in early October 2011.

The company also has two other training facilities in Nevada and Rhode Island, and a donor center in Florida.

MedCure is a clearinghouse for families focused on donating a body to science - and medical researchers needing a body for their work.

Site of new police station. Click to enlarge

Site acquisition for Rockwood public safety facility approved. New facility will improve police presence and services in Rockwood / West Gresham area.

On Feb 21, 2012, the Gresham Redevelopment Commission approved the acquisition of 2.3 acres at 675 NE 181st, 1-block north of Glisan for the future site of the Rockwood Public Safety Facility. Get Map!

Approval of the $775,000 property acquisition will allow design and construction of the project to proceed on schedule for completion by the end of 2013. At the same meeting an award of business was given to Group Mackenzie, Inc. to provide architectural services for the project.

"This important step in the process demonstrates the City’s commitment to improving public safety and enhancing police presence in Rockwood," said Mayor Shane Bemis. "It is very exciting to see work begin towards delivering on this vital urban renewal goal."

The 10,000-12,000 sq. ft. Rockwood Public Safety Facility will create a welcoming and highly visible police presence in Rockwood, improving public safety and encouraging new investment in the area.

Once completed the facility will house a range of police functions, including support for patrol officers serving Rockwood and other special units and programs.

Board Meeting, Public Welcome When :Tue Mar 6, 2011 6:30-8PM Where: Margaret Scott Elementary School 14700 NE Sacramento Portland OR Get Map!

Save the Date
Wilkes Community Group is holding their March Board Meeting on Tuesday Mar 6th from 6:30-8PM at the Margret Scott Elementary School Library.

Agenda

• 6:30 PM   Call to order
  Minutes - Joyce Ley, Secretary
  Treasurer’s Report
  Police Report - Neighborhood Response Teams:
  East Precinct - Louis Seals, Tim Mast, Steve Albert
  North Precinct - Eric Zajac, Kelly Kindrick, Pete McConnell,
  Miguel Olmos, Brad Kula
• 6:45 PM   Graffiti clean up date --- Discussion and Vote
• 6:50 PM   Mailer to all Households in the Wilkes Community --- Discussion
  (Please bring pictures and ideas for content)
• 7:20 PM   WCG Board Secretary Appointment
• 7:25 PM   Expenditure of Wilkes Community Group’s funds --- Discussion
  IRS requirement (990-N)
• 7:40 PM   Movies in the Park current budgets --- Update and funding request
• 7:50 PM   Presentations for April and June
• 8:00 PM   Adjourn

WCG meetings (Board or General) are always open to any & all interested community members. Come share your ideas or suggestions for Wilkes.

Share your ideas! When: Tue Mar 8, 2012 6PM-8PM Where: Gresham City Hall Oregon Trail Room 1333 NW Eastman Pky Get Map!

Renewable Energy Community Forum
Join us on March 8 from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Oregon Trail Room at City Hall for the Renewable Energy Community Forum. Come review and evaluate the preferred alternatives to renewable energy issues.

This project will determine where and how renewable energy technology should be allowed in the city. Renewable energy technology includes solar power, wind turbines, biomass energy and geothermal energy.

Public Invited to Attend When :Tue & Wed Mar 13-14, 2011 Where: Gresham City Hall East Hill Church Details below

Transportation and economic development plan being discussed for Gresham, Troutdale, Fairview and Wood Village.

Metro regional government is offering two community forums, March 13 & 14, to learn about and participate in the East Metro Connections Plan.

Investing in Gresham and the East Metro area
Federal and state money is shrinking, and when the region makes difficult decisions about who gets it, they reward those cities that agree on near- and long-term priorities. Through an effort called East Metro Connections Plan, Gresham and other east county cities are developing that shared agreement.

Metro will be advocating for federal and state transportation money to make our area more attractive to employers while protecting our neighborhoods, making our roads safer and promoting our treasured natural areas.

Many of you have participated in this effort already. Your input helped identify problems and shaped the solutions Metro is considering. But your role isn’t over. Decisions will be made this spring about how investments will be prioritized. Metro want you to weigh in to tell them what is most important to you.

Participate in person

Other ways to be involved

• Participate online and discover what we learned over the last year, such as why we don’t need a Mount Hood freeway, at www.oregonmetro.gov/eastmetro
• Get email updates by sending a request to eastmetroconnections@oregonmetro.gov
• Request a briefing for your neighborhood association or local event
• Come to a steering committee meeting share your comments; their next meeting is on March 14 from 2-4PM at East Hill Church (see above)