Mid-county Memo Blog

Last month the Airport Futures Public Advisory Committee, the appointed body overseeing the update of the Portland International Airport Master Plan, did not take up the Port of Portland staff’s proposed definition of sustainability as applied to PDX. However, the definition process could turn into a major debate.

A previous draft document called on the city and Port???? ??? ???? to pursue “actions and policies that assure PDX becomes the most sustainable airport in the world over the next 10 years.” But just what does sustainability mean? According to a current working draft, sustainability means “meeting the region’s air transportation needs without compromising future generations’ livability and quality of life.”

The East Portland Neighborhood Office is taking applications through November 3 for the latest round of Neighborhood Grants.

These funds, available in amounts ranging from $500 to $5,000, are for projects and programs that increase the “capacity” of community-based organizations, provide outreach to “under-represented communities” such as ethnic groups, and involve partnerships between neighborhood associations and other community organizations.

East Portland’s share of the funds, distributed through the Office of Neighborhood Involvement, is $34,000. For more information call 503-823-4550.

The Central Northeast Neighbors’ Electronics Collection, held at Glenhaven Park parking lot in east Portland the same day as the event described above, had the opposite problem: not enough volunteers to handle the crowds.

At times, vehicles that were in line to drop off old computers, TV sets and the like were backed up until they threatened to spill into Northeast 82nd Avenue. At the end of the day, the volunteers and staff had collected more than 7,000 pounds of gear.

After splitting with several partners, CNN’s share of the money donated was $3,000, enough to buy a sorely needed new photocopier.

The consensus verdict among participants was that the Sept. 20 Parkrose Community Fair was a great public event — if only more of the public had been there to appreciate it.

The event at Eastminster Church had originally been intended to promote the church, which is trying to rebuild itself after seeing its congregation dwindle over a period of years, as well as the Russell Neighborhood Association.

It was later expanded to include St. Therese Catholic Church, Parkrose United Methodist Church, and the Hazelwood, Parkrose and Parkrose Heights neighborhood associations. It also had people who made homemade jam and ice cream, a woodcarver, a magician and the folk trio Sky in the Road, plus a dozen others.

The deadline has been extended for a public survey on streetcars, part of the Portland Office of Transportation’s Streetcar Systems Plan. This is an effort to identify the most suitable routes for future expansion of the Portland Streetcar.

Among the criteria are the physical feasibility of the route, whether it will help meet transportation needs either by itself or in conjunction with other transportation systems, whether the adjacent land is suitable for the sort of high-intensity development a streetcar is intended to stimulate, and whether there is community support for such a route.

For more information or to take the survey, visit http://www.portlandonline.com/transportation/streetcarsystemsplan.