North Macadam

North Macadam Urban Renewal Area
Urban Renewal Advisory Committee (URAC)
MEETING MINUTES
Thursday, April 22, 2004
8:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Portland Development Commission
Room 2500B

Committee Members in Attendance: Scenna Shipley, Vince Sheridan, Rick Saito, Glenn Taylor, Mark Edlen, Steve Gray, Barbara Walker, Dee Walsh, Nicole Petersen, Ron Balash, Pasquale Pascuzzi, Bob Durgan, Cheryl Twete for Abe Farkas, Lois Davis

Committee Members not in Attendance: Jerry Ward, Jay Kenton

1. Welcome & Opening Comments

2. Review & Approval of March 18, 2004 Meeting Minutes

3. FY 04/05 Budget

Mark Murray (PDC, Finance) briefed the Committee on the proposed FY 04/05 budget.

• The budget incorporates the commitments in the Central District Development Agreement. A funding gap still exists within the budget for some of the District projects and programs.
• The District still suffers from a lack of increment growth. The information provided only reflects the budget for PDC, not the entire investment that is being made in the District.
• No major changes have been made to the budget since the last discussion with the URAC.
• This version of the proposed budget does not reflect the Federal appropriation received a few months ago; this Urban Renewal Area (URA) relies heavily on outside funding sources for early redevelopment.
• The five-year funding strategy will be presented at the May URAC meeting.

PDC Budget Hearing on Proposed Budget
(Public testimony will be taken at this meeting)
April 26, 2004
5:30-7:30 p.m.
Multnomah County Courthouse

PDC Budget Committee Vote on Proposed Budget
May 12, 2004
3:00 p.m.
PDC Commission Conference Room

Since the URAC will not meet prior to May 12th, the URAC decided to meet to discuss the budget prior to this time. The URAC special meeting is scheduled for May 6th, 8:30 – 10:00 a.m. at PDC.

4. Tram Project Update

Matt Brown (Portland Office of Transportation) briefed the Committee on the Tram project.

• The project is now in the Design Development phase.
• The new proposed Tram budget is $28.5M. Financing principles have been developed for this new budget. The original project budget was $15.5M. (A handout was provided on the budget and the proposed LIDs.)
• City General Fund dollars will not be used to close the gap on the Tram project budget.
• Updated Project Budget & Financing Responsibilities (total budget $28.5M):
  OHSU: $18M
  South Waterfront LID: $7M
  TIF/Transportation SDCs: $3.5M
• In terms of design, the upper terminus has remained relatively the same. The “legs” of the terminus will be plated steel and the cladding is proposed to be polycarbonate.
• The “legs” of the pedestrian bridge are also proposed to be plated steel, to match the upper terminus. The bridge is estimated to be $4M and is a high priority for the neighborhood. The cost of the bridge is not included in the $28.M Tram budget.
• The lower station in the South Waterfront District is proposed to be 85 at grade in the center of Gibbs Street, and is clad on two sides with the polycarbonate to provide some protection from the weather as well as to provide an architectural feature. The landing in the District is proposed between Bond and Moody Avenue. Gibbs Street is proposed to be designed with a water feature and some plaza areas.
• The Tram cabin design is nearing completion.
• A draft report, from the Tram Citizens Advisory Committee, that includes Tram recommendations and neighborhood improvements recommendations is available. The final draft for City Council will be available early next week.
• The Tram presentation to Council is scheduled for June. At this presentation, PDOT will ask the Council to accept the Tram design and the recommendations from the Citizen Advisory Committee, to extend the architect’s contract for the next phase of design, and to approve the RFP for a construction manager/ general contractor (CM/GC).
• Operations and maintenance of the Tram will be covered by OHSU (based on their share of ridership which is estimated at 85%) and the City will pick up the remaining funding needs through parking meter collections. Riders will be able to use their Tri-Met pass, Tri-Met transfer or OHSU badge. The Tram is expected to be considered part of the Portland transit system.

5. Central District Development

Jane Blackstone briefed the Committee on the Central District Development.

• The Design Commission has approved the architectural designs for blocks 25 and 30.
• Bids have been received by the City for the street improvement project. Stacey and Witbeck have been selected. This firm has constructed the Streetcar infrastructure (PSU to RiverPlace extension). Street work will begin within the next few weeks. There will be a lot of activity within the Central District for the road construction. PDOT intends to prepare a one-page update on infrastructure construction activity every two weeks that will be sent out to businesses and residents in the District so that they can plan for any interruptions.
• A specific route for bus transit has not yet been chosen. It is expected that the buses will likely run on Moody Street, unless it is not improved as needed. If this is the case, Bond Street will be used for bus transit. Bus stations, etc. will be provided in the final design of the streetscapes as appropriate.
• The one-way couplet proposed for Moody and Bond will not be implemented for awhile.
• The Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) project will continue in the District through 2006.

6. Project Updates

Neighborhood Park

An item will be taken to City Council to authorize the acquisition of the Public Storage property located on Moody Avenue. In May, PDC Commission will take action on a resolution authorizing condemnation, if necessary, for this property. PDC is working with Public Storage on a new location for their operations and is hopeful that a transaction can be successfully negotiated.

Greenway

The Greenway Development Plan is now entering schematic design. The Plan will be taken to Council at the end of 2004 along with the Greenway Implementation Strategy.

The Greenway Implementation Strategy is being managed by PDC. The advisory committee, Partnership Group, meets the 3rd Wednesday of each month.

Brownfields

Three properties have been selected for phase II site assessment: Neighborhood Park Site, Bond Ave right-of-way, and the ODOT/PDOT parcel north of the RI Bridge (potential uses include open space/stormwater treatment or affordable housing). All sites will help achieve public goals.

7. Closing Remarks

A member of the audience asked about the timing of the future transportation improvements in the district? Matt Brown was a suggested source for this information.

Next meeting:
May 6, 2004
8:30-10:00 a.m.
PDC, Commission Conference Room

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