North Macadam

North Macadam Urban Renewal Area
Meeting Minutes
Urban Renewal Advisory Committee Meeting
Thursday, October 16, 2003
8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Portland Development Commission
Commission Conference Room

1. Welcome & Opening Comments

The meeting was opened at 8:45 a.m. by URAC Chair Rick Saito.

2. Review & Approval of September 18, 2003 and August 7, 2003 Meeting Minutes

The minutes for September 18, 2003 and August 7, 2003 were approved as submitted.

3. Project Updates

Greenway Implementation Strategy

• Commission approved the work plan and schedule for the project October 15, 2003.
• An advisory committee meeting, called the Partnership Group, will soon be scheduled for this project. The Partnership Group will meet once a month at PDC. Committee meetings will be open to the public; meeting details will be posted on the PDC website.
• The final work plan and schedule for this project will be posted on the PDC website.

Brownfields Supplemental Assistance Grant Project

• The contract with the consulting team will be completed this week.
• The first project Bulletin will be released at the end of this month. It will be posted on the PDC website as well as distributed at the Brownfields 2003 Conference.

Neighborhood Park

• Jane Blackstone (PDC, Development) spoke on the Central District neighborhood park acquisition. The Third Amendment to the North Macadam Urban Renewal Plan, authorizing the acquisition of Blocks 32 and 36 in the Central District, is tentatively scheduled for Commission action on November 19, 2003 (Note: deferred to December 17, 2003).
• PDC has had informal discussions with the property owner, Public Storage.
• Funding must be identified prior to acquisition.
• The Central District Development Agreement calls for acquisition of the neighborhood park site and requires Portland Parks to design the park in the context of other District open spaces. Design of the neighborhood park is not part of the Greenway Development Plan project currently underway.
• Park implementation will be triggered by development of adjacent blocks.
• Ms. Walker noted that the residents and workers of the new neighborhood should play a significant role in the programming and design of the park.

Urban Renewal Urban Renewal Boundary Amendment/Acquisition Update (Doubletree Hotel Site)

• The First and Second Amendments to the North Macadam Urban Renewal Plan, presented at the August URAC meeting, are scheduled for Commission action at the November 19, 2003 Commission meeting.

Tram

• Matt Brown (Portland Office of Transportation) provided a brief update.
• The Design Team is under contract and has been working on the project design since September 15, 2003.
• The first public open house will be held on November 12, 2003 from 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. (Marriott Hotel Ballroom, Naito Parkway).
• Schematic design will be completed by early December 2003.
• Detailed design will be completed May 2004.
• City Council will review the Tram design and neighborhood improvements in March 2004.
• Tram equipment supplier proposals are due the week of October 20, with interviews scheduled for the end of October 2003.

Street Plan & Standards

• City Council will review the Street Plan & Standards on October 29, 2003. The City Council will take action at this meeting.

Local Improvement Districts (LIDs)

• PDOT will schedule meetings with property owners in the District about Local Improvement Districts (LIDs) for infrastructure.
• The City’s goal is to establish two of the infrastructure LIDs by mid-January 2004.

Central District

• There was a groundbreaking ceremony on Monday, October 13, 2003. Those present could view the bioswale and riverbank stabilization and habitat, which is near completion.

Greenway Development Plan

• Henry Kunowski (Parks) presented an update on the Greenway Development Plan project.

Overview

• Site was a wetland with Portland’s first log cabin.
• Filling of the site occurred as industry came to this area.
• Remnants of docks remain along the north end of the District.
• The Greenway will be an average of 100 feet in width from top of bank.
• The Greenway design will be influenced by many factors including environmental contamination, existing topography, and Willamette River depth and hydrology.
• To provide access to the river and river views, pathways may extend above habitat areas in an effort to integrate multiple public goals into this important area.

Public Involvement Opportunities
(For confirmation of these dates and locations please contact the Portland Parks & Recreation website)
Tuesday, November 4 – Preview Opportunity
11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Location yet to be determined

Wednesday, November 5 – History Talk
12 noon
Portland Building Auditorium

Wednesday, November 5 – Preview Opportunity
11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Zupan’s Market on Macadam Avenue

Thursday, November 6 – History Talk
7:00 p.m.
Tabernacle Church (026 SW Condor Avenue)

Friday, November 7 – Preview Opportunity
4:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Waterfront Park at RiverPlace

Saturday, November 8 – Open House
OMSI Foyer
10:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Free Jet Boat Tours will be provided

Schedule
A preferred option will be prepared by mid-November 2003.
An advisory committee, called the Project Advisory Team, will soon meet to begin review of this work.
By the end of February 2004, a complete design program and cost-estimate will be prepared.

4. Budget Update

Cheryl Twete (Development, PDC) briefed the URAC on the upcoming budgeting process for FY 04/05.

• PDC has received revenue figures for FY 03/04 and the figures appear to be consistent with projections. The focus of FY 03/04 budget expenditures will be continuation of work in the Central District and at RiverPlace.
• A public discussion of the budget process will begin January 2004; budget recommendations will be taken to the Commission March 2004.
• It is unclear as to whether the PDC budget process will include a five-year outlook.

5. Closing Remarks
(none)

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