Approved by City Council last week, the Portland Bureau of Environmental Services’ Community Watershed Stewardship Program will grant $95,500 to 15 community groups this year to support watershed projects in Portland.

CWSP grants up to $10,000 for individual projects that encourage watershed protection and enhancement. The grants fund native plants, supplies, equipment, rentals, transportation, and technical assistance for community-based watershed projects. Projects include invasive plant removal, native plantings, education, monitoring, bioswale and ecoroof construction, natural area cleanup and restoration.

East Portland projects funded by CWSP grants this year are:

• Columbia Slough Watershed Council Wilkes Creek Restoration — $4,840

We wish you a Happy New Year.  A recap with links to stories in the January 2011 Mid-county Memo follows:

We caught up to busy busy Superintendent Karen Fischer Gray for an interview as she begins her third year at the helm of the Parkrose School District.

East Portland business and neighborhood leaders are canvassed and asked what are major issues facing our little corner of Portland.

Joann “JoJo” Glass calls it quits after 35 years tending bar at the Candle Light Restaurant and Lounge on 74th and Northeast Glisan St.

A press release from Portland Parks & Recreation follows. PP&R and the Portland Bureau of Transportation are seeking members for the Sullivan’s Gulch Trail Project Advisory Committee connecting the mythical land of  “East Portland” (why do people— especially professional press release writers who are supposed to know these things —  insist on using the grammatically incorrect “East Portland”) with a separate pedestrian/bike route to downtown.

Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) and the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) are assembling a Project Advisory Committee (PAC) to assist in the development of a concept plan for the future Sullivan’s Gulch Trail, a 5-mile long opportunity to connect East Portland with a bicycle and pedestrian route that is separated from auto traffic. This trail will provide safe, continuous, and direct transportation options for cyclists and pedestrians.

A news release from the Portland Housing Bureau seeking members for a new advisory committee follows. Attention Richard W. Ellmyer, here’s your chance.

Interested in weighing in on investments of public resources in housing? Want to serve as a sounding board on significant housing policy issues? Want to be in a position to officially advise City Council and City staff on matters relating to housing issues?

The Portland Housing Bureau invites you to apply for membership on its new Portland Housing Advisory Committee. The Portland Housing Advisory Committee is a new volunteer public advisory body that will advise the Director of the Portland Housing Bureau, the Housing commissioner, and the Portland City Council on a range of housing policy and program issues.

We received notice from Eden Dabbs at the Bureau of Planning and and Sustainability about next week’s Portland Plan Senior Day. It follows. In this round of meetings, the City especially wants to hear from seniors, elders, their friends and families to help shape Portland’s future

“The senior community, family and friends are invited to the Portland Plan Senior Day discussion. The event is co-sponsored by Elders in Action, Multnomah County Aging and Disability Services, Native American Youth and Family Center and Hollywood Senior Center. Deborah Stein of the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability will lead the dialogue, and door prizes, ice cream and beverages will be provided!

Portland Plan Senior Day
Thursday, June 3rd, 2010
1:30-3:30 p.m.
NAYA Family Center Cafeteria
5135 N.E. Columbia Boulevard

A press release from Portland Parks & Recreation follows:

“At a special Parkrose High School event this morning, Portland Timbers owner and president Merritt Paulson presented a check for $50,000 on behalf of the Major League Soccer team to the Parkrose School District, a contribution towards the future Parkrose Regional Soccer Center.

“In addition to Paulson, others at the presentation included Portland City Commissioners Nick Fish and Amanda Fritz, and Parkrose School District Superintendent Dr. Karen Fischer Gray, who accepted the donation on behalf of the school district.

The East Portland Land Use & Transportation Advisory Committee meets this Wednesday, May 12 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the East Portland Neighborhood Office, 1017 N.E. 117th Ave.

For additional information contact Linda Bauer at 503-761-2941 or lbauerpvna@aol.com.

Because Multnomah County is required to furnish court facilities to adjudicate violations that occur east of 122nd Avenue, the proposed East County Courts Project is important to east Portland. The e-mail follows:

“The East County Courts Project will hold an informational meeting about the proposed East County Justice Center Tuesday, March 30 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Parklane Christian Refomed Church, 16001 S.E. Main St.

“The purpose of the meeting is to update community members and get their comments on the status of the East County Courts. The agenda includes: Brief overview on recent history of the project by the Project Manager Comments at beginning and end from Commissioners McKeel and Shiprack.

On Thursday, December 10, 2009, The Multnomah County Board of Commissioners will conduct a public hearing to recommend designations for Urban and Rural Reserves in Multnomah County.  The hearing will take place at 10:30 a.m. in Board Hearing Room 100 at the Multnomah Building, 501 S.E. Hawthorne Blvd.

The Board will hear public testimony and adopt a resolution authorizing Commissioner Jeff Cogen and staff to forward recommendations for urban and rural reserve designations in Multnomah County to the effort’s “Core 4” representatives.

New resource for improving the design of infill development now available

Portlanders have a new tool to help improve the design of infill development in their neighborhoods.

Published by the Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability, “The Infill Design Toolkit: A guide to integrating infill development into Portland’s neighborhoods” serves as a resource for community members; builders, designers, neighbors and others – all who are involved in designing, building or participating in dialogue about the new development that continues to shape the form of Portland’s neighborhoods.