Upcoming events
No events are currently listed.
Breakout group reports
WC CAN Citizen Action Summit
February 11, 2012
Notes from breakout groups
- Urban unincorporated areas: problems & resources
- Resources: Dick Schouten, Sadie McIntire, Mary Manseau, Mike Mahaffey
- Facilitator: Grant Burton
- Scribe: David Barnes
- What needs to change?
- Recology food waste -- how to be most effective?
- Washington County Coordinating Committee - unincorporated residents are under-represented
- Lack of County support for urban-level planning and community development in unincorporated areas
- Annexation process from County to City ignores AIPAA rules
- Wash. Co. Commission lacks overall vision for unincorporated Wash. Co.
- No vision with respect to climate change
- Lack of resources to implement existing plans (implementation toolkits)
- What help is available? What to do next?
- County can provide staffers & comomissioners
- Webinars?
- County Roads portal is a good model. Can Wash. Co. provide simiilar portal for other governance services?
- Congress for New Urbanism - Cascadia Chapter has webinar resources on urbanization, Smart Growth, etc.
- Issue-specific email lists (like Beaverton)
- County can provide staffers & comomissioners
- Sources of Change
- Pursue/develop County-level vision
- Community input
- Consider costs
- Process exists - follow it
- Update community Comprehensive Plans
- Need resources and tools to implement plans
- WC CAN educational resoures
- Web site
- Interactive map w/ tie-ins to member groups
- Wiki
- Pressure at state level to fix flawed process (especially 2005 zoning)
- County staff needs a more county-wide outlook
- Pursue/develop County-level vision
- Saving farms/forests: practical measures
- Resources: Greg Mecklem, Dean Moburg, Laurence Qamar
- Facilitator: Allen Neuringer
- Scribe: Martha Neuringer
- What needs to change?
- Recognition of world-class farm land
- Best seed-growing, Douglas fir
- Need to maintain farmland -- 100 year reserve
- Need to hold UGB, prevent fragmentation (mini-mansions)
- Plans to grow smarter (better urban planning) to accomodate growth
- Too easy to get UGB changes
- We’re exceeding carrying capacity (e.g. garbage)
- Need more infill/redevlopment within the UGB
- Recognize agriculture as economic driver
- Lack of enforcement/fines for land use violations
- Actions
- County Commission elections
- Networking -- identifying interest groups, candidates
- Public education on value of farmland, issues
- Google groups, press, editorials
- Dept. of Agriculture: Farm & Ranch Protection Program -- easements
- Farm Bureau, Extension Service
- Partner w/ organizations
- Hire organizer
- “Hold ‘em off”
- Land trusts
- Social equity in community design and redevelopment
- Resources: Russ Dondero, Mara Gross, Mary Vogel
- Facilitator: Claire Berger
- Scribe: Colin Cortez
- Topic definitions:
- equity
- affordable housing
- equitable stakeholder involvement
- redevelopment
- sense of “change agents”
- educating about rights
- Needed changes:
- Avoid “check box” involvement of groups
- Integration: housing, transportation, social services
- Focus on underrepresented groups
- Design for residences, businesses and multi-generations
- “Food deserts”: need farmers’ markets, co-ops, community gardens, food bank workshops on gardening/plots at food banks
- Access to nature: rivers, swimming, “Where do people want to go?”
- See OPB series: “Designing Healthy Communities” -- “Community Design is social policy in concrete”
- Misuse of multi-family housing to buffer single-family houses from highways
- Metro obtained agreement from jurisdictions to target affordable housing at transit stations but did not win Sustainable Communities grant in 2011
- What’s “affordable?” 30%., 60%, 80% median income (AMI)?
- Equitable distribution of affordable housing in region (outside Portland proper)
- Affordable housing should be tied to Multifamily/Single family ratio targets (Metro)
- Economic Development: Decent, family wage jobs makes everything easier!
- Gentrification: how to reap benefits for all
- Avoid planning for “bedroom communities”
- 31% of Forest Grove residents are below poverty line (in Oregon’s richest county)
- People need skills matching employers that pay well (Silicon Forest)
- Revise high school, community college curriculum
- Too many fail to graduate from high school
- Lack of U.S.industrial policy; outsourcing
- Not just big corporations! Support small businesses, largest employer in sum.
- Too much inter-city competition in US to lure corporations -- bad!
- OR legislature can’t mandate affordable housing thanks to Home Builders Association
- Wash. Co. real estate transfer tax could be dedicated in part to infill/redevelopment
- “Metro 2040”: UGB expansion in 2012 limited -- will force housing diversity and redevelopment (e.g. of strip malls.)
- Need to develop a diversity of housing types: 4-6 story apt. and condo mixed-use buildings, townhouses, allow for conversion of SFH to multi, granny flats, alley houses, etc.
- Summary:
- Fusion of housing, transportation, food, etc. . . .so,
- Integrated solutions
- Advocacy/lobbying
- “Inclusionary zoning” mandating diversity of housing types and prices
- Raising stakeholder awareness
- Living wages
- Revise educational curriculum
- Co-operate with other groups
- Citizens’ rights in Washington County and its cities
- Resource: Matt Pihl, Jan Giunta, Greg Malinowski, Robert Bailey
- Facilitator: Robert Bailey
- Scribe: (?)
- What rights?
- Represention -- boards, commissions
- Hearings -- can be limited by time; testimony/on the record
- Knowledge -- rules of process (lawyer/$)
- Participation -- Goal 1, SB 100
- CPOs, and CCI - task forces, work groups, joint CPO work groups
- Some County ordinances
- Problem: legislation to limit notification and standing to appeal in land use issues
- Access to public records: ask Angie Aguilera at Wash Co.
- Attendance at public meetings, including work sessions or Boards, committees, councils
- How do we get to the Commissioners?
- They’re required to listen, not act
- Need to engage with each one, one-on-one, and walk them through the problem!
- Action ideas;
- Have a schedule for people attending public meetings and work sessions, and sending notes to entire group
- Joint CPO work groups can create added pressure on County Officials
- Civil disobedience
- Consent agenda -- ask questions
- Candidates and elections
- Resources: Ron Morgan, Walt Gorman , JIm Robison
- Facilitator: Luann Pelton
- Scribe: (?)
- Needs to change:
- One more County Commissioner or City Councilor
- Contest all races to raise issues and concerns
- Groom future candidates : Ladder program
- Encourage people to run
- Make politics accessible
- Available help
- OLCV -- Walt Gorman
- Local party -- Wash Co Dems
- Seek endorsements
- Mentors -- Walt Gorman, Ron Morgan
- Help with voter pamphlet -- Jim Robison
- Candidate training sessions -- Wash Co Dems
- PAC for inital funding -- Wash Co Dems
- Campaign plan
- Campaign consultants
- Opposing huge, costly, risky projects
- Resources: Martha Neuringer, Miki Barnes
- Facilitator: Allen Neuringer
- Scribe: David Barnes
- What needs to change?
- Aviation -- corporate control
- Lack of citizen representation
- Pro-aviation advisory committee at HIO
- Runway expansion $14 million
- Overall plans $120 million
- Use of public money to subsidize private aviation interests
- Need for individuals and small groups to spend big $$$ to fight these issues
- Governance of unincorporated Wash Co.
- Use of public money to spport private development: road projects (N. Bethany, MSTIP)
- Hagg Lake expansion $1.2 billion
- LNG pipeline -- takes private land, incrases gas prices, introduces safety risks to benefit oil industry
- (Ab)use of eminent domain
- Aviation -- corporate control
- Solutions and suggestions
- Advisory group (independent of County) to scrutinize annual budget (Ad Hoc audit committee)
- More meaningful citizen involvement (vs. rubber stamp)
- Collection of land use violation fines
- Bring issues to public
- Recalls
- Engage County staff
- Attend county meetings and testify
- Take legal action when necessary (e.g. land use)
- Collaborate with larger ongoing organizations
- Change Co. Commissioner from part to full time
- Hi-Tech orporate consumers should help pay for Hagg Lake project
- Public disclosure of publicly-financed projects
- Attract public attention and involvement
- Saving/restoring natural areas and wildlife
- Resources: John Driscoll, Dean Moberg
- Facilitator: Mara Gross
- Scribe: Sheila Day
- Observations:
- Wetland/riparian zones as habitat for fish, birds, etc.
- Impacts on all species, food webs (ecological, human)
- Healthy streams: water temperature, shade, etc., plantings, setbacks
- Government Players:
- US Fish and Wildlife Service
- Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife
- Metro
- Clean Water Services
- Washington County Soil and Water Conservation District
- US Dept. of Agriculture
- Oregon Department of Forestry
- Issues:
- Endangered Species Act : Steelhead, Dusky Goose, Nelson’s ____ ?, Kincaid’s lupine, Fender’s Blue Butterfly
- Others: songbirds, waterfowl, Bald Eagle, Elk
- Invasive species
- Water quality
- Monocultures
- Connectivity, continuity of habitats and corridors
- Change
- Strengthen partnerships
- Focus: Tualatin, Gales Creek
- Economics
- Funding (e.g. weed guard)
- Mesh ag and wildlife (e.g., Metro easements)
- More efficient, economical restoration processes (e.g. combining flow return with wildlife)
- Saving historic and public spaces, traditional arts and communities
- Resources: Lyle Speisschaert, Amy Barton
- Facilitator: Lyle Speisschaert
- Scribe: Maureen Barnhart
What needs to change? How to do it? Education of the Commissioners and public Creation of historic registry properties (e.g. Oak Hills) Constant threats to what we have and love now When we create new places, do it in a way that complements what we have Disjointed architecture spoils the flow Look at regulations requiring district arch. - it shouldn’t result in jarring appearances Balance of business & community use of properties (e.g. Fairgrounds) Challenge Sec. of the Interior charter -- at least interpretation thereof Quality of life around existing strucures and spaces - Stop changes that destroy relationships w/ commuity groups
- Build the case that we need to put a value on public areas, beyond short-term $: livability, etc. that ultimately are worth more, are the long-term investment
Change tendency to lose our sense of place as we lose our gathering places, such as the Fairgrounds - Keep public areas public
- Remind commissioners of documentation of agreements regarding use of public areas
Hotel tax $ voted in for Fairgrounds, but an MOU gives the $750.000 to the County’s General Fund Monitor these types of questioable actions - Need:
- Another positive Commissioner
- More energy from more people and organizations, even if just in name
- To encourage more people to take on small tasks
- NOTE: U of O location in Portland will present Historic Preservation League of Oregon on Sunday, March 11, at 3pm
- Ownership: Fair Boosters, Oak Hills Preservation
- Communication for advocacy: challenges, tools, resources
- Resources: Brad Coffey, JIm Robison, Laurence Qamar
- Facilitator: Ron Morgan
- Scribe (?)
- These pages are missing in action... do you know where they are?
- Engaging youth and minorities on their own behalf
- Resources: Luis Nava, Matt Koehler, Fernando Gutierrez, Adriana Canas
- Facilitator: Dorila Nava
- Scribe: (?)
- Problems:
- Problem that reflects on our young coming from their olders
- Being together is diffiicult (time)
- Cultural differences depending on where they came from
- Do not interact
- Old generation (conservative); youngs have different point of view acording to their time
- Young immigrants
- Click time: must change the way to approach issues (get attention) to the problems that affect their parents
- Schools need to be very strong
- Students do not want to work in groups. Trouble forming groups/gettng common grounds.
- Their efforts will not rich. approval
- Growing up in a sociey with individual incentives, pursuits, success
- Learn to work as a group (collaboration, cooperation).
- Lack of sense of communitiy
- Educate people on the process -- how things happen
- Being told about one side of the stories and not everyone’s (Indias, climate movements, etc.)
- Willingness to ask / Curiosity / Participate
- Lack of vote -- due to frustration, engaging, do not make a difference
- Loss of sense of true Democracy
- Issues that are critical to you
- Solutions:
- Elections -- make things interesing and cool
- Identify motivations and opportunities for engagement
- Teach people to identify the value of the things that they have easy access to (food, Fire Dept. etc.)
- Social media -- more information
- Media campaiagn to show why to vote
- Create programs learning how local government works, how to work with it.
- Serve in the community
- Local community -- neighbors helping neighbors
- All immigrants are affected by the same issues/battles regardless of the language they speak
- Honoring citizenship of the kids when they are kids
- Board of kids that exercises their right to democracy
- Education -- teaching citizenship from birth; questions like “Who owns the park? Transportation value? Food processing -- how, who?
- Connecting the dots -- “Tri-met” generation gap
- Give young adults the opportunity to involve, get others engaged
- Legislation -- now and future
- Resources: Claire Berger, Robert Bailey, Mary Vogel
- Facilitator: Russ Dondero
- Scribe: (?)
- Problems/needs
- LCDC and Goal #1 -- need enforceable Oregon Adminstrative Rules, not just “Guidelines” to assure citizen involvement in land use planning
- What do we want to see? City, Metro, State support for citizen involvement in planning/design for growth
- Resources/actions needed
- Auditing
- Accessibility
- Expertise
- Time
- How --
- CCI/CPO Citizen Review Process: What is a robust Citizen Involvement System? Now and future “preferred”
- Other -- Global Warming Commission Report
Transcribed by Linda Peters, Feb. 13, 2012
Edited by Brian Beinlich, Feb. 27, 2012