Announcement

Get Involved, Make a Difference When: Tue, Apr 06, 2021 10AM-12PM Where: Online meeting via Zoom

How to attend the meeting

• For meeting log-in/call-in information, please see the meeting agenda on the Council Meeting Agendas and Videos page.
• If you're unable to access the meeting via Zoom, you may contact the City Recorder at 503-618-2697 by 10:00 am on the Monday before the meeting so the City can provide alternate arrangements.

For more information about this meeting contact the City Recorder at 503-618-2697.

Read more about Council meetings.

Gardening Workshop When: Tue, Apr 06, 2021 6:30PM-8PM Where: Online via Zoom

Learn how to improve your garden's health and our environment by growing organically.

Gresham Japanese Garden volunteer Jim Buck will offer instruction about soil preparation, planting succession tips, companion planting, avoiding diseases, different types of composting, and elements of permaculture.

This is a free class hosted on Zoom.

Register to attend the class. The Zoom link will be sent to you before the class.

Learn more about the Gresham Japanese Garden or email info@GreshamJapaneseGarden.com.

Get involved, Make a difference When: Wed, Apr 07, 2021 6:30PM- Where: Online meeting via Zoom

In order to protect public health, safety and welfare during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Gresham Design Commission will meet remotely at 6:30 pm on Wednesday, April 7, via Zoom.

Instructions to participate

People who wish to speak during the meeting, provide written comments, are unable to access the meeting remotely, or are otherwise unable to participate in the meeting, should notify staff 24 hours in advance of the meeting for instructions and assistance. This allows the City time to provide alternate arrangements.

Please contact Jamie.Thomes@GreshamOregon.gov or 503-618-2842 for participation instructions or more information.

The Design Commission is the primary advising subcommittee to the City Council on design excellence for the built environment of the city.

The Commission assists in the development and application of design standards and guidelines, and will conduct hearings as necessary to ensure that proposed public and private projects achieve these standards.

PMG PHOTO: TERESA CARSON - Barbara Kinzie Christman is one of the residents who objects to the Headwaters project in Southwest Gresham. The 30-home development would require removal of 250 mature fir trees, which abutt a undeveloped park and two wetland areas.

Source: Gresham Outlook, April 8 2021
By Teresa Carson

Survey asks folks to rate 10 possible projects, buying Headwaters site is one option

The city of Gresham launched a survey on how to use its Metro parks funds, and depending on public input, could purchase the controversial proposed Headwaters housing development site for park land.

The survey opened Monday, April 5, and asks people's opinions on how to use the $5.4 million that Gresham is getting from the 2019 Metro Parks and Nature bond measure.

There are 10 proposed parks projects totaling $13 million. That's more than twice the funds available from the Metro bond. The survey asks folks to pick the three projects they see as most important.

"The mayor and City Council want to provide an opportunity for public input and want to hear how residents would like to see the city spend our "local share" of this money," said Elizabeth Coffey, Gresham's director of communications. The Headwaters property is included as one of 10 potential projects that could be purchased with these funds," "There are lots of competing needs for this $5.4 million, which is why it is critical that residents tune in and let us know what their priorities are," she added.

The $5.4 million can be used for parks or natural resources projects that boost access to nature, water quality, habitat and protect against climate change. The money cannot be spent on playgrounds, sports fields, recreation programs, pools or fountains.

City Council will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, May 4, to review the results of the public outreach and vote on disposition of the Metro funds, including potential purchase of the Headwaters property.

The proposed Headwaters development has stirred controversy in Gresham and beyond.

Development of the 7.82 acre tract would cut down a dense stand of more than 250 mature fir trees adjacent to a protected wetland area and park. The city approved the project and no appeal was filed.

Formerly owned by the late Helen Shaull, the wedge-shaped property is at 3535 W. Powell Blvd. It is about half-mile east of the Highland Fair shopping center.

The forested site is next to Fairview Creek headwaters, the undeveloped Southwest Community Park and near the Grant Butte Wetlands owned by the city of Gresham. The southwest portion of the site is a Habitat Conservation Area.

COURTESY PHOTO: CITY OF GRESHAM - A project at Fujitsu Ponds is one of the 10 proposed uses for the $5.4 million in Metro bond funds. The city of Gresham has opened a survey for residents to rank the 10 projects in importance.

"The Shaull property would be a purchase, while all the other projects are for properties that the city already owns. If the Shaull property is not purchased by the city, it will be forever lost. The other parks projects may get money in the future," said Janet Unruh, who does not want to see the Headwaters development proceed.

In addition to the proposed Headwaters purchase, the other nine projects included in the survey are:

• Columbia View Park, 1000 N.E. 169th Ave. The city's $850,000 proposal calls for a nature play area, making trails accessible, a Columbia Gorge viewpoint and other improvements.

• Southeast Neighborhood Park, 3003 S.E. Barnes Road. Trails, picnic facilities, signs and a nature play area would be added to this 6.5 acre undeveloped park at a cost of $600,000.

• Jenne Butte Neighborhood Park, 2358 S.W. Border Way, would get a wetland viewpoint, trails, picnic facilities and more, for $1.2 million.

• East Gresham Neighborhood Park, 237 S.E. Williams Road, would get improvements such as signage, trails, picnic facilities and a nature play area at a cost of $650,000.

• Southeast Community Park, 5600 S.E. Salquist Road, would see soft and paved trails, picnic facilities, a restroom, nature play area, off-leash dog area, and more, at a price of $2 million.

• Southwest Community Park, 3333 West Powell Blvd., would get improvements that could include picnic areas, wetland viewing, trails community gardens, a restroom and more, at a cost of $2.25 million.

• Hogan Butte Nature Education Center, would purchase the undeveloped forest land north of Hogan Butte Nature Park, 757 S.E. Gabbert Road. A home on the property would become the accessible Nature Education Center to engage students in a native plant nursery and other operations. This would cost $700,000.

• Fujitsu Ponds, off Glisan Street near Salish ponds, would get improvements worth $1.75 million. The upgrades would eliminate warm water from going into these ponds, benefiting wildlife and reducing flooding risk. A public natural are would be created.

• Forest health recovery. The proposal is to spend $1 million on forest restoration and safety efforts all over Gresham.

SGS Development LLC, headquartered in Bend, bought the Shaull property for around $1 million and plans to develop the lots and sell the property to a builder to construct the 30 homes. Chet Antonsen, of SGS Development, said Metro and Gresham had first right of refusal on the property and declined to buy it.

COURTESY PHOTO: CITY OF GRESHAM - Another of the 10 proposals would spend $2 million on upgrades at Southeast Community Park, a 6. 5 acre undeveloped site on Southeast Barnes Road.

SGS is asking $2.5 million for the acreage now. The city would spend about $500,000 for improvements for a total cost of $3 million.

The proposed development unleashed a torrent of public comment and controversy. The city received many comments, all opposed to the Headwaters development, from local residents to the The Audubon Society of Portland.

John Bildsoe, vice president of the Coalition of Gresham Neighborhoods, wrote that arrowheads and other artifacts from Indigenous people have been found on the site.

After similar community pushback in 2014, SGS sold the Gantenbein Farm property at 2826 N.W. Division St. it planned to develop, to Metro, Gresham and the East Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District (EMSWCD). That property is now the part of the Grant Butte Wetlands.

Take the survey
Share your thoughts on how the city could use its portion of Metro parks funds by taking a survey at: GreshamOregon.gov/Parks-Planning

For more information email: ParkOptions@GreshamOregon.gov or leave a voicemail: 503-618-2145. Instructions will be in English and Spanish.

Paper surveys will be available upon request.

The survey is due by Monday, April 26.

Survey responses are limited to one per person. Duplicate submittals will be removed.

This story first appeared in The Outlook. Support community newspapers. Subscribe at http://savinglocalnews.com

Get involved, Make a difference When: Mon, Mar 08, 2021 6:30PM-8:30PM Where: Online meeting via Zoom

How to attend the meeting

• For meeting log-in/call-in information, please see the meeting agenda on the Planning Commission page.
• If you are unable to access the meeting via Zoom, you may contact Jennifer McGinnis at Jennifer.McGinnis@GreshamOregon.gov 24 hours in advance of the meeting so the City can provide alternate arrangements.

How to provide testimony

• To testify during a Planning Commission meeting, provide testimony in writing to Jennifer McGinnis at Jennifer.McGinnis@GreshamOregon.gov 24 hours before the meeting to allow the testimony to be forwarded to the Planning Commission.
• If you are unable to provide written comments in advance, or are unable to access the meeting via Zoom, notify Jennifer McGinnis 24 hours in advance of the meeting so we can provide alternate arrangements.

General meeting information

The Planning Commission advises the City Council on long-range, comprehensive planning and land use issues within Gresham.

For more information about this event, contact Jennifer McGinnis at Jennifer.McGinnis@GreshamOregon.gov.

Get involved, Make a difference When: Tue, Mar 09, 2021 11AM-12PM Where: Online meeting via Zoom

How to attend the meeting

• For meeting log-in/call-in information, please see the meeting agenda on the Council Meeting Agendas and Videos page.
• If you're unable to access the meeting via Zoom, you may contact the City Recorder at 503-618-2697 by 10:00 am on the Monday before the meeting so the City can provide alternate arrangements.

For more information about this meeting contact the City Recorder at 503-618-2697.

Read more about Council meetings.

Public Welcome. Get Involved! When: Tue, Mar 09, 2021 7PM-8:45PM Where: Online meeting via Zoom

Please note, this is a Zoom meeting. For additional information about this meeting or how to attend via Zoom, please visit the Coalition webpage, and view the agenda.

For more information about the Coalition of Gresham Neighborhood Associations, contact Carol Rulla, Coalition President, at 503-663-1466 or crullaor@gmail.com.

Get involved, Make a difference When: Tue, Mar 09, 2021 3PM-5PM Where: Online meeting via Zoom

How to attend the meeting

• For meeting log-in/call-in information, please see the meeting agenda on the Council Meeting Agendas and Videos page.
• If you're unable to access the meeting via Zoom, you may contact the City Recorder at 503-618-2697 by 10:00 am on the Monday before the meeting so the City can provide alternate arrangements.

For more information about this meeting contact the City Recorder at 503-618-2697.

Read more about Council meetings.

Get involved, Make a difference When: Wed, Mar 10, 2021 6PM-7PM Where: Online meeting via Zoom

How to attend the meeting

• For meeting log-in/call-in information, please see the meeting agenda on the Historic Resources Subcommittee page.
• If you are unable to access the meeting via Zoom, you may contact Mary Phillips at Mary.Phillips@GreshamOregon.gov 24 hours in advance of the meeting so the City can provide alternate arrangements.

How to provide testimony

• To testify during a Historic Resources Subcommittee meeting, provide testimony in writing to Mary Phillips at Mary.Phillips@GreshamOregon.gov 24 hours before the meeting to allow the testimony to be forwarded to the Historic Resources Subcommittee.
• If you are unable to provide written comments in advance, or are unable to access the meeting via Zoom, notify Mary Phillips 24 hours in advance of the meeting so we can provide alternate arrangements.

General meeting information

The Historic Resources Subcommittee maintains an inventory of historic landmarks in Gresham, reviews and recommends a decision on proposed actions to alter or demolish structures on the adopted inventory, and participates in special projects and events that increase public awareness or provide education on historic preservation.

For more information about this event, contact Mary Phillips at Mary.Phillips@GreshamOregon.gov.

Gresham Mayor Travis Stovall

City hopes team can change decade of funding frustration, improve parks & recreation Source: Gresham Outlook, March 19 2021 By Christopher Keizur

A decade ago, Travis Stovall joined a task force dedicated to seeking solutions for Gresham's parks funding woes.

The Green Ribbon Task Force was created in 2010 to address the need for sustainable parks funding within the city. After investigating various funding methods, the task force put forward its suggestion — a parks district in East Multnomah County.

The idea represented an exciting way to bolster parks and recreation that had been withering for years. The task force wanted the city to implement a $0.25 property tax levy to generate roughly $2.1 million a year. They spoke of Gresham partnering with Fairview, Wood Village and Troutdale, which would have resulted in an annual payment of $31 to $53 for the average home in East Multnomah County.

But that idea was never put before voters as a ballot measure to save parks, with city officials citing a lack of support from the public. Thus, the city effectively ignored the work done by the Green Ribbon Task Force.

"I was disappointed they didn't move forward with the ideas," said Stovall, who has since been elected as mayor of Gresham. "At this point, we need multiple opportunities for council to work with and think of initiatives that would lead to (parks) ballot measures."

Now 10 years later, Gresham is convening another green team to investigate potential solutions to stop the continued hemorrhaging of parks and recreation.

During a Tuesday morning, March 16, meeting, Gresham City Council helped plan the Parks Community Advisory Group. The team would have up to 30 members, with a broad representation of the community and members who live or work in Gresham. The city wants to have 30% of participants be Black, Indigenous or people of color.

The Parks Community Advisory Group would create a vision and options for the future of Gresham parks and recreation — including two or three funding options and mechanisms to support them in an effort to avoid the failure the last time this was attempted.

"We really want to make sure council's expectations are clear to this group to avoid any frustrations," said Steve Fancher, director of environmental services and city operations.

The city hopes to find participants for the Parks Community Advisory Group in the coming weeks, and will be recruiting from local organizations and communitites.

This story first appeared in The Outlook. Support community newspapers. Subscribe at http://savinglocalnews.com