Salmon-Safe Certification Catches the Business Community’s Attention
Salmon-Safe, Inc. is a nonprofit organization devoted to restoring agricultural and urban watersheds so that native salmon can spawn and live. Almost a decade after Salmon-Safe first started certifying fish friendly farms in Oregon's Willamette Valley, the non-profit has become one of the nation's leading regional eco labels with more than 50,000 acres of farm and urban lands certified. The Salmon-Safe retail campaign has been featured in 200 supermarkets and natural food stores.
In addition to the Portland Parks system receiving the Salmon-Safe certification, previously the designation was earned by farmlands, vineyards and other agricultural businesses. But Salmon-Safe certification has begun to catch on throughout the business community. Nike’s 175-acre world headquarters campus became Salmon-Safe certified last year, and Toyota, Kettle Foods, and Portland State University campuses have been certified this year.
Salmon-Safe certification attracts support for products and services through the businesses demonstration of their commitment to the preservation of wild salmon and to the use of the best environmental management practices.
For more information please contact Maria Thi Mai Senior Policy Director, at 503-823-4045 or maria.thimai@ci.portland.or.us.
Business License Fee Reform; better for Business better for Portland
On January 18th at 3:30 p.m. in City Council Chambers, Portland City Council will consider reforming the Business License Fee. Over the past few months, Sam has been presenting his proposal to community stakeholders. The proposal is three fold: increase the Owners Compensation Deduction from $60,000 to $80,000 with the intent to increase to $125,000; increase the Gross Receipts Exemption from $25,000 to $50,000; and to institute a progressive minimum tax increase based on the number of employees, gross receipts in Portland or a combination of the two options.
For more information, go to commissionersam.com or contact Warren Jimenez at 503-823-4541 or at wjimenez@ci.portland.or.us.
Making Live/Work Work
In May, we asked Portland artists, “What works in Work/Live?". We didn't realize the response would so overwhelmingly state the need for affordable work/live spaces in Portland. Over 340 people responded to a survey to say resoundingly: artists want space and a sense of community.
Commissioner Adams heard the message loud and clear and set out to develop the first of what he hopes will be many affordable rental and ownership opportunities for artists throughout Portland.
In a unique public/private partnership, Commissioner Adams began working with Brad Malsin's Beam Development, Portland Affordable Housing Preservation Trust, works partnership architecture and the Regional Arts and Culture Council, to find the perfect site to create our first space.
We knew our first site when we found a former retirement home in Montavilla. When finished, the project will offer 49 work/live condo units for sale for $95,000 and up. 85 rental units will rent from around $250 to $600. There'll be a performance space (the former chapel), a cafe, an exhibition space, community rooms, and shared studio space.
This public/private partnership is unique delivering affordability with no public subsidy, and a shared vision for what this place can become. Best of all, Portland will have a permanent affordable housing for serious artists of all media to create their work, learn from each other, and focus on professional development.
For more information please contact Jesse Beason, Senior Policy Analyst at 503-823-4128 or jbeason@ci.portland.or.us.
See and Be Seen Bike Light Campaign Goes for a Ride
November 30 was the kickoff of the 1st “See and Be Seen” bike light safety project. Look for the campaign’s advertisements on Tri-met buses and bus shelters, one effort to get out the message that bikers need to light up and drivers need to keep an eye out for cyclists riding after dark.
With the darkening days, the likelihood of collisions increases. Everyone who drives a car in Portland knows how hard it is to see bikes when they don’t have proper lighting. On the same token, Portland cyclists are too familiar with the dangers of drivers who fail to remember that they are sharing the road. Our goal is for these advertisements to remind you of the responsibility for yourself and others that comes with using the road -- be it by car or bicycle.
We kicked off the “See and Be Seen” campaign with a bike light parade during the Last Thursday on Alberta Street and more events are on the way.
A big thanks goes out to Tri-met for donating the advertising space. We are grateful for our sponsors: Portland General Electric, NW Natural Gas, Hoffman Construction, ACTS Oregon, and OHSU. The Community Cycling Center hosted the bike light parade and is a strong program partner.
For more information contact Leah Barbaree at 503-823-4046 or leah.barbaree@ci.portland.or.us.
Big Pipe Recognition
The Oregon Chapter of the American Public Works Association (AWPA) has recognized the West Side Big Pipe Project as the state’s Public Works Project of the Year. The Bureau of Environmental Services, West Side Big Pipe contractor Impregilo/Healy and consulting firm Parsons Brinckerhoff were all recognized. The AWPA sponsors the award annually to “…recognize excellence, innovation and cooperation with regard to management and administration of public works projects through the alliance of the managing agency, consultant and contractor.”
For more information please contact Maria Thi Mai Senior Policy Director, at 503-823-4045 or maria.thimai@ci.portland.or.us.
East Side CBO Application Deadline Extended
Groups and individuals with ideas for East Side Community Benefit Opportunity (CBO) projects have an extra month to get the applications to the city. The application deadline has been extended from Monday, January 8 to Monday, February 5, 2007 at 4:00 p.m.
The CBO program allows citizens, neighborhood associations, business groups, non-profit organizations, and public agencies to nominate community improvement projects for neighborhoods affected by East Side Big Pipe construction. Nearly $2 million is available for projects.
For more information, contact Debbie Caselton at 503-823-2831. debbiec@ci.portland.or.us.
January 4th First Thursday:
Life After a Hurricane
Voice and Vision is a collection of New Orleans and Gulf Coast art offering personal accounts of how Hurricane Katrina has affected lives. On January 4th, 2007, Portland City Hall will host the opening of this remarkable exhibit.
Curated by the grassroots project, From the Bottoms Up, the exhibit is the first installment of a dynamic series of presentations and events aimed at creating cross-city collaboration between New Orleans and Portland to secure a foothold for a large-scale sustainability movement. Voice and Vision provides a venue for those affected by Katrina to share, through art, their reflections of home and how their lives have been reshaped by the hurricanes.
For more information contact Pollyanne Birge at 503-823-4182 pbirge@ci.portland.or.us.
posted by Vernon Neighbors at 3:46 PM
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