City of Gresham

After decades of delays and missteps the new courthouse receives the finishing touches as it prepares to open for business.

A long-awaited East County Courts project in the heart of Gresham's Rockwood neighborhood could be just what's needed to jumpstart the town center's redevelopment. Completion of the project represents a commitment to an area left behind long ago.

East County Courts Bldg, 185th & SE Stark St. Opening April 2012. Click to enlarge

The new $19.6 million 40,000-square-foot three-floor facility will have three courtrooms, with room for future expansion to six, an office for the district attorney, a sheriff's department security office, court business office, a data center in the basement and a drop-in child care facility for visitors.

The courthouse will serve people being adjudicated for misdemeanors, violations, small claims, landlord and tenant actions, ex parte hearings and document filing for all civil and domestic relations actions - many of which were previously filed at the overcrowded downtown Portland courthouse. The new courthouse is only for civil matters. It will not include a detention facility, nor will felony cases be heard.

Funding for the new courthouse includes $15 million from Recovery Zone Economic Development (stimulus) Bonds. The remaining portion will be funded from the 2008 sale of the South Edgefield property.

Site of new police station. Click to enlarge

Site acquisition for Rockwood public safety facility approved. New facility will improve police presence and services in Rockwood / West Gresham area.

On Feb 21, 2012, the Gresham Redevelopment Commission approved the acquisition of 2.3 acres at 675 NE 181st, 1-block north of Glisan for the future site of the Rockwood Public Safety Facility. Get Map!

Approval of the $775,000 property acquisition will allow design and construction of the project to proceed on schedule for completion by the end of 2013. At the same meeting an award of business was given to Group Mackenzie, Inc. to provide architectural services for the project.

"This important step in the process demonstrates the City’s commitment to improving public safety and enhancing police presence in Rockwood," said Mayor Shane Bemis. "It is very exciting to see work begin towards delivering on this vital urban renewal goal."

The 10,000-12,000 sq. ft. Rockwood Public Safety Facility will create a welcoming and highly visible police presence in Rockwood, improving public safety and encouraging new investment in the area.

Once completed the facility will house a range of police functions, including support for patrol officers serving Rockwood and other special units and programs.

Share your ideas! When: Tue Mar 8, 2012 6PM-8PM Where: Gresham City Hall Oregon Trail Room 1333 NW Eastman Pky Get Map!

Renewable Energy Community Forum
Join us on March 8 from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Oregon Trail Room at City Hall for the Renewable Energy Community Forum. Come review and evaluate the preferred alternatives to renewable energy issues.

This project will determine where and how renewable energy technology should be allowed in the city. Renewable energy technology includes solar power, wind turbines, biomass energy and geothermal energy.

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)

Neighborhood Connections is a publication from the City of Gresham
Communications & Community Outreach offering City of Gresham news, Public Safety information, Community Activities & Events, Training & Workshops, Volunteer Opportunities, and more.

Inside this Issue

• Crime Reports
• Gresham Charter
• We’re Looking for Solar Gresham Volunteers
• Chilly Inside at Home? Get Tips With Our Video Series
• Expect Big Changes in 2012 for Main City Park
• Gresham Composts!
• Learn How to Identify Wintering Birds in your Yard
• Learn About Naturescaping and Native Plants – February 26
• Renewable Energy Project Seeks Input – March 8 at 6 p.m
• Spring Gardening Grants and Resources
• Weed Watcher Workshop March 13
• Fair Housing Training for Gresham Landlords
• Community Forum for Wireless Communication Facilities
• Class: Winter Birds in Your Yard
• Workshop: Brain Science and Conflict Resolution – March 7
• National Passport Day – March 10
• Water Flushing Around Town
• Upcoming Opportunities to Make your Voice Heard
• Gresham-Barlow Education Foundation’s 2012 Phone-A-Thon

Keep up with what’s Happening in your City!

Facebook - Read more
Twitter - Read more
Subscribe to City media releases - Read more

Gresham Neighborhoods listing

For more information, visit the Neighborhood Associations page at GreshamOregon.gov or contact Cathy Harrington at 503-618-2482, or email Cathy.Harrington@GreshamOregon.gov.

Richard Strathern Friday, January 20, 2012 By James Mayer, The Oregonian

Former Gresham Councilor Richard Strathern says he is likely to launch a petition drive to get his charter reform ideas before voters. The Charter Review Committee, which has been meeting since October, has not taken any formal votes — that’s scheduled for Feb. 2 (Info below) (UPDATED: Gresham council struggles with vacancy charter language. Feb 8, 2012) — but it seems clear the panel will recommend only minor tweaks to the charter, rejecting the kind of major changes advocated by Strathern.

The former councilor, who did not run for re-election in 2010 after serving one term, is seeking to increase the power of the mayor.

“I think we are all very aware of the financial position the city is in, and the country is in, and now may not be the time to rock the boat,” said Joan Armstrong, a retired accountant who serves as chairwoman of the committee. “I think most of the citizens are more concerned about matters much closer to home life and work life than about trying to remake the world.”

But Strathern says the current form of government, with a city council to set policy and a professional manager to run the day-to-day operations, tends to do the bidding of influential businesses and developers.

“It took me four years to figure out how powerless the council and mayor were,” he said. “I’d get all fired up about something, and then nothing would happen. We clearly don’t really have the authority.”

UPDATED: Visit Citizens-for-Voice-and-Accountability Facebook page.

Neighborhood Connections is a publication from the City of Gresham
Communications & Community Outreach offering City of Gresham news, Public Safety information, Community Activities & Events, Training & Workshops, Volunteer Opportunities, and more.

Inside this Issue

• Crime Reports
• Neighborhood Safety Forum
• Community Forum for Wireless Communication Facilities (WCF)
• Basic Mediation Training
• New Downtown Development Rules Proposed
• Charter Review Committee
• Gresham Composts – Businesses Recycling Food Scraps
• Workshop: Negotiation for Win-Win Solutions
• What’s Your Opinion of Code Violations in Your Neighborhood?
• Earth Day is April 21
• Water Crews Flushing Pipes
• Raptor ID Class
• Winter Birds in Your Yard
• Amphibian Surveys: Volunteers Needed
• February is Plant a Tree Month (Free Tree Giveaway)
• Texas Hold ‘Em Fundraiser
• Auditions for East County’s Got Talent
• Free Activities at the Library
• Volunteer Today at Girl Scouts

Keep up with what’s Happening in your City!

Facebook - Read more
Twitter - Read more
Subscribe to City media releases - Read more

Gresham Neighborhoods listing

For more information, visit the Neighborhood Associations page at GreshamOregon.gov or contact Cathy Harrington at 503-618-2482, or email Cathy.Harrington@GreshamOregon.gov.

Healthy Eating Active Living website

Public Welcome When:Mon Jan 9, 2012 6:30-9PM Where:Council Chambers Public Safety & Schools Building Gresham Civic Center 1333 Eastman Pky Gresham OR Get Map!

HEARINGS

• Type IV Hearing – City of Gresham CPA 11-245 - Stacy Humphrey
  Healthy Eating Active Living (HEAL)
  Proposed amendments to the Gresham Community Development Plan Volumes 1 (Findings) and 2 (Policies) related to the Healthy Eating Active Living project. Materials for the work session are available on the Planning Commission page of the City’s website. Additional information also is available on the project page.

• Type IV Hearing – VAC 11-26000241 - Jim Wheeler
  Applicant: Yvonne Nelson
  Site Location: 430 NW Birdsdale Ave
  Application to Vacate the Spencer Partition Plat (PP 2008-85) located at 430 NW Birdsdale Avenue in Gresham

Coalition of Gresham Neighborhood Associations When: Tue Jan 10, 2012 7PM-8:30PM Where: Gresham City Hall Springwater Trail Room 1333 NW Eastman Pky Get Map!

Public welcome
The Coalition of Gresham Neighborhood Associations was formed to provide structure and support for the leadership of Gresham's neighborhood associations, enabling more effective cooperation among neighborhood associations in order to achieve desired outcomes. Goals of the Coalition include providing a public forum for the review and evaluation of issues and problems, providing education and information on specific areas such as land use, and providing a unified voice for the neighborhood associations.

The Coalition meets monthly on the second Tuesday at 7:00PM