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Leading the way on climate action
If you’re a pedestrian, cyclist, or ride buses, streetcars or the MAX Orange Line, then you may have been lucky enough to use Tilikum Crossing, the first bridge of its kind in the United States. Also called Bridge of the People, it opened in 2015 and spans the Willamette River – a shining example of Portland’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions. Read on to learn how the City of Portland is taking action in this climate emergency.
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Climate action starts with cities, and cities start with you
A message from Vivian Satterfield, Chief Sustainability Officer
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Photo caption: Chief Sustainability Officer Vivian Satterfield meets with community members at a kickoff event for the Sustainability and Climate Commission last year.
Cities are responsible for 70 percent of the world’s emissions and more than half the world’s population – and they’re most vulnerable to the impacts of the climate crisis.
So, what can cities do? A lot.
That’s what I’ll talk about in March as part of a panel at the South by Southwest Conference & Festivals (SXSW) in Austin, alongside my counterpart from Baltimore and an executive from the U.S. Green Building Council.
Here in Portland, our Climate Emergency Workplan provides a to-do list: Reducing carbon from sectors that produce it (like transportation, industry, and buildings). Reducing carbon from the consumption of food, goods, and materials. Sequestering carbon in trees and green spaces. And building Portlanders’ resilience to the impacts of climate change, focusing on people who are most vulnerable.
You can be part of creating Portland’s next climate action plan. I hope you’ll consider applying by January 17, the end of next week, to serve on Portland’s new Sustainability and Climate Commission.
This 20-member body will review and propose actions to the Portland City Council to achieve City-adopted goals to eliminate carbon emissions by 2050 and make Portlanders more resilient — especially communities of color and those most at-risk and vulnerable to impacts of climate change.
The volunteer commission will meet at least once a month. Work will be organized by eight initial focus areas, such as building and homes, energy and renewables, and environmental justice and equity.
I encourage people from every part of Portland to share their voices, especially those who have not been involved before and have lived experiences from climate change. If you want to serve your community and help government make better choices, then we want to see your application!
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Resources and engagement opportunities |
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Register online, over the phone through the Portland Parks & Recreation Customer Service Center (503-823-2525), or by calling or visiting a recreation or arts center. If cost is a barrier to participating, consider signing up for an Access Discount.
Sign up begins January 16 at 9:30 a.m.
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Do you have information and insight about the Lower Albina, Lloyd, and Rose Quarter areas? If so, please help shape the Reconnecting Albina Planning Project, a two-year effort to create restorative urban development strategies that reconnect the area’s physical fabric. Your comments on the Pin It, Portland: Reconnecting Albina map will help identify assets, opportunities, and challenges.
Map is open for input until January 15.
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New to Portland or moving to a new location in Portland? Call 3-1-1 to help answer questions about utilities such as garbage and water services. PDX 311 is your government connection. Dial 3-1-1 or email 311@portlandoregon.gov, 7 a.m.-8 p.m., seven days a week, and have questions answered, request service, or report issues.
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Meetings and Ongoing Opportunities
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Twelve Portland city councilors met for their first official session last week. They are, from left to right: Candace Avalos, Jamie Dunphy, Loretta Smith, Sameer Kanal, Elana Pirtle-Guiney, Dan Ryan, Tiffany Koyama Lane, Angelita Morillo, Steve Novick, Olivia Clark, Mitch Green, and Eric Zimmerman. |
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Portland’s new elected officials entered City Hall’s renovated council chambers last Thursday for their first official gathering as Portland’s legislative body. Launching the city’s new form of government, councilors elected Elana Pirtle-Guiney from District 2 as council president and Tiffany Koyama Lane from District 3 as council vice president.
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Putting their recently announced winter shelter plan into urgent action, Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson and Portland Mayor Keith Wilson announced The Salvation Army will operate the planned 200 overnight beds, which will open Tuesday, January 7, at 7 p.m.
The City and County — working through the cross-jurisdictional Homelessness Response System — will use two existing Salvation Army facilities. Those are The Salvation Army Female Emergency Shelter site on Southwest Second Avenue and the Moore Street Corps & Community Center on North Williams Avenue.
Starting today, the City of Portland Urban Forestry is piloting an updated Tree Removal and Replant Application; the previous version of the application form will be removed from the website. Using this updated application will help Urban Forestry better understand the effectiveness of the updates.
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Two bargaining units representing more than 1,200 City of Portland employees declared “impasse” in late December, signaling the unions’ dissatisfaction with contract negotiations. Last week, the City submitted final offers to the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and the District Council of Trade Unions.
From there, a 30-day “cooling off period” begins for each of the bargaining units – meaning a strike would be a possibility as soon as the end of January if a compromise cannot be brokered. Find the latest updates at Portland.gov/bargaining/news.
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Legin Commons is a new 124-unit affordable housing development that just began construction at Southeast 77th Avenue and Division Street in Montavilla. Learn about site plans, history, trees and efforts to improve the ecosystem.
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Pioneer Courthouse Square was filled with revelers on New Year’s Eve, dancing and enjoying drone displays. Photo by Finn Turnbull
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Request an accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) for any City of Portland program, service, event, or activity. To ensure the best response, please make your request at least five business days before the program or event, if possible. |
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Volunteer events
Admission pricing
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Your Portland moment
Honoring Portland’s fallen firefighters
Plans are under way to renovate the David Campbell Memorial at 1864 SW Alder St., shown in this photo from 1931. This triangle of property was established in 1928 to honor fallen Fire Chief David Campbell, who lost his life June 26, 1911, at the Union Oil fire at Southeast Salmon Street and Water Avenue. The David Campbell Memorial Association, a nonprofit partner of Portland Fire & Rescue, has been planning and fundraising for this renovation.
The project includes two parts: restoring the 96-year-old David Campbell Memorial and developing the Portland Firefighter Memorial Plaza. The plaza will honor all 77 Portland firefighters who have died in service to Portland.
This project will restore a city heritage site, help revitalize Portland's core and the Goose Hollow community, and properly honor Portland's fallen firefighters.
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Traducción e Interpretación | Biên Dịch và Thông Dịch | अनुवादन तथा व्याख्या 口笔译服务 | Устный и письменный перевод | Turjumaad iyo Fasiraad Письмовий і усний переклад | Traducere și interpretariat | Chiaku me Awewen Kapas
Translation and Interpretation: 3-1-1
The City of Portland ensures meaningful access and reasonably provides: translation, interpretation, modifications, accommodations, alternative formats, auxiliary aids and services. To request these services, call 311 for Relay Service or TTY: 711.
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