1) Crime and homeless camps update
2) Downtown on-street parking rates increase to $2 per hour (Feb. 1)
3) Youth sought for Oregon Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee
4) Pre-session town hall with state senators and representatives (Jan. 30)
5) Learn more about the Portland Harbor Superfund Cleanup
6) OKNA Board meeting (Feb. 2)
1) Crime and homeless camps update
At the request of the Overlook Neighborhood Association, Portland Police provided data about the number of calls for service from Overlook over the past three years (2013-15). Overall the total number of calls were down in 2015 from the previous two years. However, calls for people in areas they should not be or behaving in an inappropriate way for the area, suspicious individuals and vehicles, and theft were all up over the two-year period. View the full report in a large pdf.
Based on the analysis, police are working to deploy additional patrols in the neighborhood. OKNA will continue to analyze the available data for trends and steps to improve the safety of residents.
There is no way to know if any particular calls were related to homeless camps and other homeless people. If residents experience problems or see suspicious activity, they should call Portland Police on the non-emergency line at 503-823-3333. In case of an emergency, call 911.
Residents interested in the future of homeless camps in Portland can attend an upcoming community conversation by Commissioner Amanda Fritz. The focus will be proposed development of the SE 3rd  & Harrison site as a future home of the Right 2 Dream Too homeless camp.
Community conversation about SE 3rd and Harrison site
Saturday, Jan. 30, 10 – noon
St. Philip Neri (2408 SE 16th Ave.) in Carvlin Hall
2) Downtown on-street parking rates increase to $2 per hour (Feb. 1)
The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) will increase downtown on-street parking rates to $2 per hour, effective Monday, Feb. 1. The higher rate was approved by Portland City Council and recommended by a stakeholder advisory committee.
PBOT uses meter rates to manage the supply of on-street parking. PBOT’s goal is to have on-street parking occupancy rates lower than 85 percent. Such a rate ensures that spaces will be available for the next customer. A study of downtown parking rates found many areas of downtown that exceeded the critical 85 percent benchmark. In some areas, parking occupancy tops out above 95 percent.
The new rate is the first change to downtown meter rates since 2009. Public transit fares and off-street parking rates both have increased since then. Rates for PBOT’s six SmartPark garages, which offer nearly 4,000 parking spaces to the public, are not affected by Monday’s new meter rates.
Downtown parking meters operate from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday, unless otherwise posted.
For more information, see Frequently Asked Questions on PBOT’s web site.
3) Youth sought for Oregon Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee
Give Overlook and North Portland a voice in how Oregon handles bicyclists and pedestrians. The Oregon Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee seeks to fill a recently vacated position that represents the youth community (someone younger than 21 at the time of appointment).
The eight-member committee, appointed by the governor, acts as a liaison between the public and the Oregon Department of Transportation. It advises ODOT in the regulation of bicycle and pedestrian traffic and the establishment of bikeways and walkways. Members serve four-year terms.
Learn more about this exciting opportunity and how to apply online.
4) Pre-session town hall with state senators and representatives (Jan. 30)
The 2016 Oregon legislative session starts next week. Come to a pre-session town hall and listen to Senate Majority Leader Ginny Burdick and House Majority Leader Jennifer Williamson. They will be joined by Sen. Richard Devlin, Rep. Margaret Doherty and Rep. Ann Lininger. All will discuss the upcoming session, key issues for Oregon and their goals. They also will take questions from those in attendance.
Pre-session legislative town hall
Sat, Jan. 30, 11 a.m.
Stephens Creek Crossing (6719 SW 26th Ave.)
5) Learn more about the Portland Harbor Superfund Cleanup
If you missed this week’s forum about the Environmental Protection Agency’s plans to clean up the Portland Harbor Superfund site, several more are scheduled in the coming weeks.
The Portland Harbor Superfund Site resulted from more than 100 years of industrial activity. The EPA has documented contamination in the water and sediments that is harmful to human health. EPA placed the Portland Harbor on the National Priorities List in 2000.
The upcoming forums include:
- Monday, Feb. 8, 7 p.m., sponsored by the Audubon Society, 5151 NW Cornell Rd.
- Tuesday, Feb. 9, 7 p.m., sponsored by the League of Women Voters, Multnomah County Building, 501 SE Hawthorne Blvd.
- Thursday, Feb. 11, 6:30 p.m., EPA information and discussion session, Matt Dishman Community Center, 77 NE Knott St.
To learn more about these and other upcoming opportunities to learn more about the harbor cleanup, visit the EPA’s information page.
6) OKNA Board meeting (Feb. 2)
The Overlook Neighborhood Association Board will meet on Tuesday to discuss a number of issues related to the neighborhood. View the full meeting agenda.
OKNA Board meeting
Tuesday, Feb. 2, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Overlook House (3839 N Melrose Dr.)