142-2024

The project is in the Lents and Powellhurst-Gilbert neighborhoods. As reported by the 2020 US Census, the Lents neighborhood has about 15%and the Powellhurst-Gilbert neighborhood has about 20% of their populations which speak a language other than English at home. Additionally, comparing the poverty rate of the 94 neighborhoods in Portland, Powellhurst-Gilbert and Lents are ranked 87^th and 77^th respectively. The City of Portland has ongoing and planned outreach with the community. Some community project elements include:

• As part of the project, BES will update the National Flood Insurance Rate Maps for the Johnson Creek floodplain in this area.
• In 2002, Commissioner Salzman stated that fill from the Mid‐County Sewer project, currently stockpiled near 111th and Harold, must be removed and is a community priority. This project will fulfill that commitment.
• During the Lents Collaborative process, community members asked to improve neighborhood conditions like increasing sidewalks and/or trails for pedestrians and cyclists and improving access to natural areas. This project will fulfill that need.
• Lents Stabilization and Job Creation Collaborative Oregon Solutions Project Declaration of Cooperation: Oregon Solutions engaged City of Portland bureaus, neighborhood groups, Metro, state and federal agencies, academic institutions, and community-based nonprofits to identify actions that would lessen the impacts of flooding and flood insurance costs on the physically, economically, and socially vulnerable neighborhoods of Lents and Powellhurst Gilbert.
• Regular Community Rating System newsletters to floodplain property owners, including the owners of the properties impacted by the Springwater Wetlands and Floodplain Restoration Project. The newsletter includes information about flood safety, flood plain development regulations, BES’ efforts to address flood impacts from Johnson Creek.
• Neighborhood outreach: Lents Neighborhood Association, Lents Livability Association Meeting, Powellhurst-Gilbert Neighborhood Association and Johnson Creek Watershed Council presentations; Native American Community Advisory Council site tours (Fall2019/Winter 2020). Large community events were delayed due to public health and safety concerns associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Community-based organization partnerships: For over 20 years the City of Portland has actively partnered with organizations like Johnson Creek Watershed Council and Zenger Farms to promote environmental stewardship and education for students and adults about the ecological values of Johnson Creek and its wetlands. Zenger Farms is a working urban farm that models, promotes and educates about sustainable food systems, environmental stewardship, community development and access to good food for all. Many students who participate in these programs come from David Douglas School District, where 63 native languages are spoken and 24% of students are English-language learners. The experiential and science-based programs teach kids of all backgrounds about food, farming, wetland conservation, and environmental stewardship. The Springwater Project will build upon and further enhance nearby natural area access, education, outreach, and stewardship activities.
• Foster Lents Integration Partnership, a multi-agency effort led by the Portland Development Commission (now Prosper Portland) with community engagement developed an action plan to support a healthier, more prosperous future for the Foster Corridor. This area is part of the Lents Urban Renewal District and includes substantially decreasing flood risks in the Lents and Powellhurst-Gilbert neighborhoods.   

Since 2018, Environmental Services has conducted community outreach and public information activities regarding the goals of the project, investigative activities during the design phase such as soil sampling and utility location, demolition and site preparation work, and information on what to expect during construction. Outreach has included:

• Develop and maintain the project webpage.
• Project updates mailed to more than 800 property owners, renters, businesses, and public and private agencies.
• Email updates to the project email list (currently with 540 subscribers)
• Next door updates posted to Lents and Powellhurst-Gilbert neighborhoods totaling 7000 recipients.
• Public presentations to Lents and Powellhurst-Gilbert Neighborhood Associations.
• Focused outreach to nearby property owners to coordinate demolition work and site preparation on adjacent properties.
• Situational email, mail, and phone correspondence to answer community questions, take input, and address concerns.
• BES project information is available in multiple languages online. Fliers communicating what to expect during construction have been translated into 11 different languages. Future outreach will include work to identify underserved or low English proficiency stakeholders (LEP) impacted by construction and develop and implement an equity work plan that may include translating notification materials with site specific messages and use of translators, Community Engagement Liaisons, or other community organizations.

The construction contracting community, including contractors certified with the State of Oregon as minority, women, and emerging small businesses became involved when the Chief Procurement Officer advertised and publicly noticed the project on the City’s Online Procurement System on September 21, 2023.  A public notice was also posted in the Daily Journal of Commerce on September 27, 2023.

Potential bidders were able to review the competitive solicitation, ask questions, provide comments and submit a bid in response to the Invitation to Bid (ITB).  Proposals received resulted in the award of the construction contract.  Procurement Services managed the procurement process.  No protests were received.

No known persons or groups will be testifying.

No future public involvement is anticipated or necessary for this request.