Community

You know the old saying, "spring ahead, fall back"...

Set your clocks ahead 1 hour Sunday 2AM

It's time to spring ahead! Daylight saving time 2012 officially begins this Sunday, March 11 at 2:00AM (local time) -- remember to set your clocks ahead one hour to 3:00AM when you go to bed Saturday night.

It's also the perfect time to install a fresh battery in your smoke detectors.

About Daylight Saving Time
Daylight saving time (DST) — aka summer time is the practice of temporarily advancing clocks during the summertime so that afternoons have more daylight and mornings have less. Clocks are adjusted forward one hour near the start of spring and are adjusted backward in autumn.

Most of the United States and Canada observe DST beginning the second Sunday in March and ending the first Sunday in November -- almost two-thirds of the year.

(More on the history of Daylight Saving Time below the break)

Public Invited to Attend When :Tue & Wed Mar 13-14, 2011 Where: Gresham City Hall East Hill Church Details below

Transportation and economic development plan being discussed for Gresham, Troutdale, Fairview and Wood Village.

Metro regional government is offering two community forums, March 13 & 14, to learn about and participate in the East Metro Connections Plan.

Investing in Gresham and the East Metro area
Federal and state money is shrinking, and when the region makes difficult decisions about who gets it, they reward those cities that agree on near- and long-term priorities. Through an effort called East Metro Connections Plan, Gresham and other east county cities are developing that shared agreement.

Metro will be advocating for federal and state transportation money to make our area more attractive to employers while protecting our neighborhoods, making our roads safer and promoting our treasured natural areas.

Many of you have participated in this effort already. Your input helped identify problems and shaped the solutions Metro is considering. But your role isn’t over. Decisions will be made this spring about how investments will be prioritized. Metro want you to weigh in to tell them what is most important to you.

Participate in person

Other ways to be involved

• Participate online and discover what we learned over the last year, such as why we don’t need a Mount Hood freeway, at www.oregonmetro.gov/eastmetro
• Get email updates by sending a request to eastmetroconnections@oregonmetro.gov
• Request a briefing for your neighborhood association or local event
• Come to a steering committee meeting share your comments; their next meeting is on March 14 from 2-4PM at East Hill Church (see above)

Final Opportunity for Public Comment on Proposed City Charter Changes
		When: Thu Feb 2, 2012 4PM Where: Gresham City Hall Conference Room 3A 1333 NW Eastman Pkwy Gresham OR Get Map!

Public Encouraged to Attend
The City of Gresham Charter Review Committee will meet Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 4PM to hear Public Comment (Please observe the time limit of three minutes) and recommend the Final Committee Report to the City Council at their next meeting February 7, 2012 at 6PM.

(Proposed Charter changes and Feb 2nd meeting agenda below this break)

Board Meeting, Public Welcome When :Tue Feb 7, 2011 6:30-8PM Where: Margaret Scott Elementary School 14700 NE Sacramento Portland OR Get Map!

Save the Date
Wilkes Community Group is holding their February Board Meeting on Tuesday Feb 7th from 6:30-8PM at the Margret Scott Elementary School Library.

Agenda

• 6:30 PM   Call to order
      Minutes - Joyce Ley, Secretary
      Treasurer’s Report
      Police Report - Neighborhood Response Teams:
      East Precinct - Louis Seals, Tim Mast, Steve Albert
      North Precinct - Eric Zajac, Kelly Kindrick, Pete McConnell, Miguel Olmos, Brad Kula
• 6:45 PM   Discussion and vote for Movies in the Park special donations account
• 7:00 PM   Recap from Joyce Ley on what’s happening at the Wilkes Creek Headwaters New Park site
• 7:15 PM   bigail Cermak from the Brownfield Program will explore possible grant options for use towards developing a master plan for the Wilkes Creek Headwaters New Park site
• 7:55 PM   Movie in the Park announcements
• 8:00 PM   Adjourn

Board meetings are open to the public. All are welcome to attend.

Work Through a Disagreement When: Mon Feb 13, 2012 6:30-8:30PM Where: Troutdale City Hall Conference Bldg 223 Buxton Av Troutdale, OR Get Map!

Win-Win Solutions
Learn and practice the skills of Interest-Based Negotiation to find win-win solutions when you find yourself stuck in a conflict. Participants will have fun practicing with a creative dilemma. The presenter, Anndy Wiselogle of East Metro Mediation, will be sharing proven techniques that mediators use.

No fee for local residents; pre-register by February 13 at 503-618-3247 or email Mediate@GreshamOregon.gov.

Community Forum When: Mon Feb 13, 2012 6:30PM-9PM Where: Gresham City Hall Springwater Trail Room 1333 NW Eastman Pky Get Map!

Public invited to comment during Feb 13 work session
The Planning Commission will discuss proposed Downtown-related changes to the Development Code at its Monday meeting. The meeting starts at 6:30PM. in the Springwater Trail Room at City Hall.

The Code changes are intended to remove development barriers while ensuring the community's vision for Downtown can still be achieved.

To see the draft Code and a summary of the changes, visit the Downtown Plan Review project page at go.usa.gov/bGZ.

The approval process for the Code changes is scheduled to begin at a March 12 Planning Commission hearing.

North Gresham Neighborhood Meeting When: Mon Feb 13, 2012 7-9PM Where: Hartley Elementary School 701 NE 185th Gresham OR Get Map!

Everyone's Invited
Join us for North Gresham Neighborhood Association's (NGNA) public meeting, Monday February 13th 7PM, at Hartley Elementary School, 701 NE 185th (1 block north of Glisan).

Jamie Stamberger from the Healthy Streams program will give a presentation on FREE resources for residents. This includes free native plants, trees, compost bin and bee blocks. This program will end on March 31st, so this is a limited opportunity. Additional programs she will cover are rain garden grants, downspout disconnect and discounted lawn tools. Here is a link for more info: http://www.greshamoregon.gov/watershed/

We'll also discuss plans for our 2nd annual neighborhood clean-up.

Let your neighbors know about this very informational meeting and we'll see you there!

Summer Jobs Fair When: Thu Feb 23, 2012 10AM-1PM Where: Mt Hood Community College College Center Fireplace Lounge 1333 NW Eastman Pky Get Map!

Job Opportunities
The Mt. Hood Community College (MHCC) Career Planning and Counseling Center is hosting the sixth annual summer jobs and career fair in the College Center Fireplace Lounge at 26000 SE Stark St. in Gresham, Thursday Feb 23, 2012 from 10AM to 1PM.

The fair offers students and community members the opportunity to meet with employers who are hiring for great summer and seasonal positions, as well as ongoing opportunities. Employers scheduled to attend include Timberline Lodge, Clackamas County Parks, Mt. Hood Aquatic Center, Princess Tours, Oregon Department of Forestry, The Home Depot and KOIN 6 Television.

Community Forum When: Wed Jan 19, 2012 6PM-8:30PM Where: Gresham City Hall Oregon Trail Conference Room 1333 NW Eastman Pky Get Map!

Share Your Opinion
Join us to provide your comments on draft Downtown Development Code changes.

Issues include floor area ratio (the minimum amount of building required on each lot), streets and sidewalks, minimum parking standards and building design standards.

The Downtown Plan Review project seeks to remove obstacles to Downtown development while retaining the vision of Downtown as: a center for jobs and housing; a thriving and unique entertainment, nightlife and shopping district; and a visually interesting place with buildings and streetscapes of high design quality.

Shaping Our Community When: Mon Jan 23, 2012 6:30PM-9PM Where: Gresham City Hall Springwater Trail Room 1333 NW Eastman Pky Get Map!

Improving Efficiency
The Planning Commission will hold a work session on Monday Jan. 23 to review the discussion draft of code amendments. These amendments create a land use classification system, reconsider how community service uses are categorized and reviewed, and update the Staff Interpretation process.

For more information, see the Planning Commission website or the project website: http://greshamoregon.gov/city/city-departments/planning-services/comprehensive-planning/template.aspx?id=23815