FY-2012 Budget Update

Sellwood Bridge Replacement Project

Save the date for the grand opening of Bud Clark Commons

Proposed Redistricting Plan

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Earlier this month the Board unanimously approved a resolution I brought forward opposing deep cuts to the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) Program being considered by the Legislature.

The proposed cuts include limiting lifetime eligibility for assistance to 18 months, making Oregon's time limit the shortest in the nation.

TANF only serves families with children with incomes less than 40 percent of the federal poverty level ($7,300 per year for a family of three). The current maximum monthly benefit for a family of three is $506.

Oregon's TANF program currently provides cash assistance to 30,108 families (54,000 children), 8,353 of whom live in Multnomah County.

Cutting TANF is not going to solve the budget problems in Salem. It will have a real and harmful impact on the lives of children in our community. Taking away parents' ability to provide food or shelter for their children is not good policy and will be devastating for thousands of families.

TANF assistance may make the difference between a family living in a home or on the street. The Oregon Department of Human Services has predicted that these cuts could mean more children end up homeless or in our foster care system.

We cannot stand by and allow these cuts to happen. I urge you to call or write to the governor and your state legislators. We can do better.

Sincerely,
Deborah Kafoury
 

FY-2012 Budget Update
 

We kicked off the budget process on May 5th with the release of Chair Cogen's Executive Budget. I submitted an article to Street Roots on the County's Budget and my priorities. I am interested in any feedback you have on the budget. Email me at district1@multco.us or come to a budget hearing and share your opinion.

Upcoming Budget Hearings:
Wednesday, May 18 - 6:00pm to 8:00pm, Multnomah Building, First Floor Boardroom, 501 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland
Wednesday, May 25 - 6:00pm to 8:00pm, Multnomah County East Building, Sharron Kelley Rooms, 600 NE 8th Street, Gresham
Tuesday, May 31 - 6:00pm to 8:00pm, Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO), Gymnasium, 10301 NE Glisan, Portland
 

Sellwood Bridge Update

Progress continues on the Sellwood Bridge replacement project with the hiring of TY Lin International, in partnership with CH2M HILL, to design the bridge.

One of our goals for this construction project is ensuring that the jobs are available to local workers and local businesses. To achieve this, the TY Lin International contract sets a high bar for involving disadvantaged local businesses in the project. Fifteen percent of the design contract will go to twelve smaller businesses that are categorized as Disadvantaged Minority, Women or Emerging Small Businesses (DMWESB's). Several DMWESB sub-contractors will be mentored by TY Lin International and receive technical assistance to help broaden their skills and develop a platform for growth.

The new contract includes final design services for the bridge and the Highway 43 Westside interchange, permitting assistance and public involvement support. The entire bridge replacement project is currently at the 30% design phase with an estimated cost of $290 million.

Tomorrow, May 17th, Clackamas County voters will decide whether to support a $5 a year vehicle registration fee to raise $22 million toward the $290 million project. These dollars are critical to the success of this project. I am hopeful that people of Clackamas County will support the partnership to keep our bridge safe and ensure that future generations are able to use this regional economic and transportation asset.

Bridge construction is expected to begin in July 2012 or earlier, pending a decision on construction phasing later this year. Visit the county's new web site devoted to the bridge replacement project, www.sellwoodbridge.org.
 

Save the date for the grand opening of Bud Clark Commons

Please save the date for the grand opening of the Bud Clark Commons (formerly, the Resource Access Center), a cornerstone of Portland and Multnomah County's efforts to end homelessness. The project features an innovate day center, a 90-bed transitional program, 130 units of permanent supportive housing, and will operate at the highest level of environmental sustainability.

June 2, 2011, 10:00am
The Bud Clark Commons is located in North Old Town, on a site currently owned by the Portland Development Commission, and known as Block "U". The block is bounded by Hoyt and Irving Streets to the south and north respectively, and Sixth and Broadway Avenues to the east and west respectively.
 

Proposed Redistricting Plan

Multnomah County Commissioner Districts are redistricted every ten years after the Census numbers come out if any Commissioner District is greater than 103% of any other. This is a requirement of our Home Rule Charter which directs the County Auditor to perform the task by August 1 of the year following the Census.

The attached map outlines propsed changes to the boundary between District 1 and District 3. For more information and updates, please visit the Auditor's website.
 

Business Advisory Council

Multnomah County is recruiting members for a new Business Advisory Council.

The council will consist of local business leaders who will use their knowledge of regional infrastructure and development to help Multnomah County recruit, grow and retain businesses. Applicants should be business owners, executives, directors, managers or have substantial experience in workforce development or nonprofit organizations. Applications may be completed online and are due by May 31, 2011.

For questions, please contact Warren Fish at 503-988-5882 or warren.fish@multco.us.

View the application form
 

2nd Annual Multnomah Food Summit

The 2nd Annual Multnomah Food Summit will focus on implementing actions of the Multnomah Food Action Plan. To Grow and Thrive by 2025 we will come together to develop strategic partnships and identify gaps and barriers to fostering a sustainable, healthy, equitable, and prosperous local food system in Multnomah County.

The Multnomah Food Initiative started as an innovative community partnership to develop a shared food system vision, goals, and an action plan that will promote issues of health, social justice, economic vitality, and sustainability within our regional food system. Thanks go to Chair Cogen, Commissioner Shiprack, the Multnomah Food Initative Steering Committee and over 400 organizations and community members who provided input, guidance, and support in this endeavor.

Event information:
June 3rd, 2011 @ Portland University Hotel and Conference Center
Online Registration