ENB-11.51 - East Portland Action Plan

Non-Binding City Policies (NCP)
Policy number
ENB-11.51
EAST PORTLAND ACTION PLAN
Non-binding City Policy
NCP-ENB-11.51

EXHIBITS

Exhibit B - East Portland Review (PDF Document, 8.3 MB)

Exhibit C - East Portland Action Plan Projects for Funding with FY 2008-09 Budget (PDF Document, 35 kb)


PURPOSE

WHEREAS, much of the East Portland area east of Interstate 205 was annexed to Portland from unincorporated Multnomah County during the 1980s-1990s with a substantial lack of urban infrastructure; and

WHEREAS, the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability’s District Liaison for East Portland completed the East Portland Review – a study of development, change, and livability issues affecting Portland’s eastern neighborhoods – in 2007, informed by on-the-ground research and several years of understanding issues, concerns and opportunities through the perspectives of community stakeholders; and

WHEREAS, the East Portland Review (Exhibit B) describes the existing conditions, needs, and trends of the East Portland area, which highlights: significant infill development in single- and multi-dwelling areas; a loss of trees and landscape character; increasing population growth and diversity; pockets of increasing poverty; unmet local neighborhood commercial and business opportunities; lack of public facilities and infrastructure (such as streets without sidewalks, a lack of safe pedestrian crossings, and undeveloped parks); lack of geographically dispersed libraries and social services; limited north-south and off-peak transit service; and concerns about public safety; and
   
WHEREAS, the East Portland Review found that the East Portland study area, comprising roughly one-quarter of Portland’s total population, is experiencing population growth at a rate greater than the City of Portland overall, and experiencing a greater increase in racial and ethnic diversity at a faster rate than the City of Portland overall; and

WHEREAS, the East Portland Review found that the study area accommodated well over 30% of new residential units in Portland from 1996 to 2006, and that by 2006 the area targeted by the Outer Southeast Community Plan (adopted March 1996) had met 86% of its goal to develop 14,000 new housing units by 2014; and

WHEREAS, the East Portland Review found that East Portland has a larger household size and higher percentage of children than Portland overall, and that most of the five school districts serving East Portland are experiencing enrollment growth, including some that are experiencing significant capacity issues due to enrollment growth; and

WHEREAS, the East Portland Review found that that many of the area’s schools are experiencing a significant rise in the number of students that are English Language Learners, and that all of the elementary schools in the area have over 50% of their students eligible for free and reduced-price lunch – with some as high as 90%; and

WHEREAS, the East Portland Review found that the number of neighborhoods in East Portland with income levels at or above the citywide median is declining; and

WHEREAS, the Regional Equity Atlas (Coalition for a Livable Future, 2007) found that poverty is rising in East Portland neighborhoods, most schools are poorly served by sidewalks, and access to grocery stores is limited in some areas; and

WHEREAS, the City of Portland initiated the East Portland Action Plan process, in partnership with Multnomah County, in December 2007 as a means to address some of these issues by identifying short-term opportunities to improve livability, as well as long-term strategies to address some of the challenges facing East Portland; and

WHEREAS, the East Portland Action Plan process included an East Portland Action Plan Committee, convened by former Portland Mayor Tom Potter, Multnomah County Chair Ted Wheeler, and Senator Jeff Merkley (then Oregon Speaker of the House), and composed of: East Portland residents and businesspeople; elected officials from Portland, Multnomah County, and Metro; representatives from the City of Portland, Multnomah County, Parkrose School District, TriMet and the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT); and representatives of local non-profit organizations, and

WHEREAS, the East Portland Action Plan process included participation by a Technical Advisory Group represented by the City of Portland, Multnomah County, David Douglas School District, Centennial School District, Reynolds School District, Portland Public School District, Housing Authority of Portland, Metro, TriMet, and ODOT; and

WHEREAS, the East Portland Action Plan Committee met monthly in meetings open to the public from December 2007 through July 2008, with additional subcommittee meetings held throughout the process; and

WHEREAS, during this seven month process, the East Portland Action Plan Committee developed, discussed, refined and prioritized a set of actions which address the range of issues, needs and opportunities identified in the East Portland Review and which reflect the diverse perspectives of the members of the committee; and

WHEREAS, a public open house was held on April 2, 2008 with over 120 attendees to gather input on action plan ideas and direction; and

WHEREAS, the East Portland Action Plan Committee endorsed the recommended East Portland Action Plan (Exhibit A) in July 2008 as a document that articulates aspirations for East Portland and specific ideas for actions to improve community livability; and

WHEREAS, the recommended East Portland Action Plan articulates a list of four guiding principles for improved livability:  1. Mitigate Negative Trends; 2. Attain and Sustain Equity; 3. Build on Community Assets and Connections;  and 4. Capitalize on East Portland’s Place in the Region; and

WHEREAS, information about the East Portland Action Plan process was published in the following publications:  The Oregonian, Portland Tribune, Mid-County Memo, Gresham Outlook, and East Portland Neighborhood News; and

WHEREAS, staff from the Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability presented information on the East Portland Action Plan at multiple local events, including: East Portland Neighborhood Chairs, East Portland Land Use Committee, Lents Neighborhood Association, Gateway Area Business Association, Powellhurst-Gilbert Neighborhood Association, Centennial Community Association; Lents Urban Renewal Advisory Group; Gateway URA Program Advisory Committee; Parkrose Heights Neighborhood Association; Lents Homeowner Initiative; Wilkes Neighborhood Association; Pleasant Valley Neighborhood Association; and

WHEREAS, the Portland City Council appropriated $500,000 in its fiscal year 2008-09 budget to be used for East Portland Action Plan implementation; and

WHEREAS, the East Portland Action Plan Implementation Group, a subset of the East Portland Action Plan Committee, met from September 2008 to November 2008 to further prioritize actions and identify an initial set to fund using the City of Portland $500,000 FY 2008-09 budget appropriation; and

WHEREAS, informed by community feedback received at an October 23, 2008 open house, the East Portland Action Plan Implementation Group endorsed a list of seven proposed actions to fund (Exhibit C) using the City of Portland $500,000 FY 2008-09 appropriation;


POLICY

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that City Council adopts the East Portland Action Plan (Exhibit A); and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the report and action plan will inform City Council and City bureaus in the course of decision-making related to long-term planning and capital improvement projects in the East Portland area; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council encourages other government entities and agencies such as Multnomah County, the Portland Development Commission, TriMet, Metro, the State of Oregon, David Douglas, Parkrose, Portland Public, Centennial and Reynolds School Districts to use the East Portland Action Plan as a guide to their own actions and activities in the East Portland area; and 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council encourages non-profit agencies, community development corporations, neighborhood associations, business associations, and other organizations working in East Portland to use the East Portland Action Plan as a guide to their own actions and activities in the East Portland area; and 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council recognizes that many of the actions proposed to be funded by the special appropriation may continue into fiscal year 2009-10, and the City Council endorses the ability to carry over a portion of the $500,000 special appropriation into the next fiscal year to successfully carry out the actions; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this resolution be classified as non-binding City policy by the Auditor’s Office. 


HISTORY
Resolution No. 36682, adopted by City Council February 18, 2009.

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