June 2009
1. SAFE
Update: Judge rules against city's sidewalk obstruction ordinance
2. Clean & Safe security news
3. Neighborhood District Attorney Update
4. Clean & Safe maintenance program goes green
5. Clean & Safe's work recognized
6. Westside Community Court
7. Crew Comments
8. Theft Accountability Class
9. Sidewalk Ambassadors
10. Downtown Retail Advocate
11. Dining Guide is out!
12. Development/Redevelopment Report released
13. More Big Bellies coming downtown
1.
SAFE Update: Judge rules against city's sidewalk obstruction
ordinance
In late
June, Multnomah County Circuit Judge Stephen Bushong ruled
that the City of Portland's sidewalk obstruction ordinance
was in conflict with state law.
"We at
the Alliance are very disappointed in the judge's ruling
on the city's sidewalk obstruction ordinance," said Sandra
McDonough, President & CEO of the Alliance. "The ordinance
is part of a comprehensive approach to making downtown livable
for everyone.
"A broad
based group that includes homeless service providers, the
city and businesses, created and oversees the SAFE initiative,
which includes the ordinance. The ordinance is an important
community policing tool that has helped improve the approachability
and livability of downtown."
The Alliance
is working through appropriate channels on this important
issue to downtown property owners and retailers.
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2.
Clean & Safe security news
Portland
Police Commander Mike Reese reports overall crime is down
18 percent since January 1 and car prowls are down 19 percent.
Along with the continuing decline in crime, the Portland Police
Mounted Patrol Unit (MPU) recently had their radios adjusted
to be able to receive Clean & Safe calls for assistance with
citations and arrests. This greatly enhances the Clean & Safe
program and is a welcome asset. A thanks goes to Commander
Reese for his support.
Clean
& Safe officers are providing assistance in the downtown core
area as summer "urban campers" have returned. Clean & Safe
bicycle police officers are engaging this behavior along with
Central Precinct and the assigned Clean & Safe officers who
patrol downtown daily.
 Recently
Clean & Safe Officer John Picinisco observed a subject leaving
the Rite Aid store on Alder street after he had stolen beer.
Officer Picinisco followed and ultimately caught up with this
person, then called police and convinced the suspect to return
to the store. Officer Picinisco is also active in contacting
the "urban camper" types in the core area and engages them
frequently. He is an asset to the late afternoon shift. Thanks
for the work, "Pic."
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3.
Neighborhood District Attorney Update
The Neighborhood
District Attorney reviewed 144 cases for May and issued 139.
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4.
Clean & Safe maintenance program goes green
 Downtown
property owners have gone green and recently purchased an
electric vehicle allowing the Clean & Safe maintenance staff
to travel throughout the downtown and Old Town areas in a
more efficient and sustainable manner.
The new
electric vehicle - a Summit Neighborhood Electric Vehicle
- is better for the environment and more cost efficient. It
was purchased for approximately $15,000 and will cost less
than $1 a day to charge. Its fuel - distilled water - will
cost roughly $10 monthly. Last year, a vehicle serving a similar
purpose used 130 gallons of diesel a month at an approximate
cost of $5,400 per year. The new vehicle can go 25 miles an
hour and its battery life allows for approximately 35 miles
between charges. The vehicle seats two and has a large storage
capacity in the rear.
"It's
extremely functional for our needs," said Clean & Safe Manager,
Matt Bellet. "It is easy to maneuver and will have very low
maintenance costs. And we are particularly pleased with operating
a zero emissions vehicle in the downtown area."
"Downtown
property owners are committed to being green every chance
we can as seen in the recent conversion of our holiday lighting
program to LED lights and renewable power and the ongoing
expansion of the BigBelly solar trash compactor program,"
said Ron Beltz, chair of Portland Downtown Services, Inc.
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5.
Clean & Safe's work recognized
Cleaner
supervisor Matt Bellet did a presentation on the Clean & Safe
program at the 2009 Friendly Streets Graffiti Summit. Clean
& Safe was recognized for its "outstanding performance of
graffiti abatement in the heart of our city." Commissioner
Amanda Fritz presented the award to Bellet.
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6.
Cleaning Statistics:
The cleaners
report the following:
- 1,331
graffiti tags removed- Public/Private and Tri Met
- 1,789
bags of trash
- 676
citizen cleaning responses
- 142
needles
- 712
items of drug paraphernalia
- 141
condoms
- 1,655
restroom inspections and cleaning
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7.
West Side Community Court
Side Community
Court statistics:
- 176
defendants' were ordered to community service
- 65
defendants were in compliance
- 98
defendants working toward completion
- 13
defendants unsuccessful and facing additional court sanctions.
- 23
jail days saved by the program
Several
defendants have come into court saying that they enjoyed their
community service and that they volunteering regularly.
Westside
Community Court Work Crew reports:
- 502
block faces covered
- 127
bags of trash removed
- 16
hours spent at Loaves and Fishes
- 976
street cleaning hours
- 5 drains
cleared
- 124
people reporting for crew
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8.
Crew Comments
Because
of the employment orientation everyone receives from Central
City Concern when assigned to perform community service, many
participants apply for jobs through Central City Concern's
employment programs and often successfully gain employment.
Some former crew members have even sought out the Alliance's
crew supervisor after completing community service to let
her know they have attained stable housing, become clean and
sober, sought veterans assistance and/or are otherwise turning
their lives around. Thanks to crew supervisor Nova Fortier
for taking the time to listen and provide good direction to
these defendants.
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9.
Theft Accountability Class news
The Theft
Accountability Class remains at an 86 percent success rate.
- 104
sentenced to attend
- 65
successful completions
- 9 failures
resulting in jail sentences
- 30
open cases
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10.
Sidewalk Ambassadors
The Cinco
de Mayo festival brought many people to downtown's waterfront
as well as the Rose Festival Waterfront Village in the latter
part of the month. These are two of the most popular festivals
of the year and bring tens of thousands of festival lovers
to downtown. The Ambassadors answered the call and were there
to assist.
In May,
the Ambassadors embarked on a major project for Tri-Met and
assisted in providing information about the long awaited relocation
of the buses back to the transit mall. Former Ambassadors
Kean Glassmeier, Merlin Varaday and Bryan Dillon came back
and donned the green team uniform to assist in this project
as well.
We also
welcome the newest additions to our team, Leigh Ann Weidlich
and Alex Reese, who will be here for the summer season. Leigh
Ann has lots of experience leading tours through downtown
for Portland Walking Tours and is currently enrolled at Portland
State University. Alex Reese is a lifelong resident of Portland
who learned all about downtown working during the summers
for Portland Patrol. She will be completing her senior year
at Hampshire College in Western Massachussetts this fall.
Welcome, Leigh Ann and Alex!
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11.
Downtown Retail Advocate
Our Downtown
Retail Advocate, Cori Jacobs, recently attended the International
Council and Shopping Centers annual real estate convention
in Las Vegas. Cori partnered with local real estate brokers
to tell the story about downtown Portland to prospective retailers
including: our renewed investment in downtown highlighting
the transit mall reconstruction and recent retail renovations,
success stories from our local retailers including sales per
square foot, enhanced merchandise mix and higher-end offerings,
tax-free shopping, and the Alliance's market research including
pedestrian counts and Business Census. The Downtown Retail
Advocate position is funded through a partnership among the
City of Portland, the Portland Development Commission and
the Portland Business Alliance.
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 12.
Dining Guide is out!
The Alliance's
2009 Downtown Dining Guide, listing all restaurants in the
I-5/I-405 loop, is printed and 50,000 copies will be distributed
to downtown businesses by the Sidewalk Ambassadors over the
summer. Alliance members specially featured in the Dining
Guide this year include Mother's Bistro and Mama Mia's Trattoria,
McCormick and Schmick's, Carafe, Old Town Pizza, Portland
Spirit, and our newest member, Nel Centro. If you would like
copies, contact Lisa Frisch at lfrisch@portlandalliance.com.
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13.
Development/Redevelopment Report released
The Alliance
has published the 2009 Central City Development - Redevelopment
Report. The report summarizes and highlights all development
efforts either under construction, under review or under discussion
within the Central City. Portland has experienced many years
of aggressive development and many major construction projects
through downtown, the Pearl District, and South Waterfront,
but with the recent economic slowdown, new projects entering
the construction pipeline have slowed. See
the report here >>
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14.
More Big Bellies coming downtown
 Portland
City Council recently approved an ordinance that would allow
acceptance of private donations of Big Belly solar trash compaction
devices. Two Big Belly units are currently in use in downtown
Portland, donated by property owner Greg Goodman. PDSI will
be donating two additional units to the city. The Alliance
has set up a program through their Charitable Institute where
companies can purchase the units to donate to the city and
apply for a tax deduction. Additional information is available
at www.portlandadoptabelly.com.
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