Metro news

Metro Council President appoints Alison Kean Campbell as attorney

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:01:00 GMT

Metro Council President Tom Hughes on Tuesday appointed Alison Kean Campbell as Metro Attorney, subject to Metro Council confirmation on Feb. 16. The Metro Attorney is one of two positions the Metro Council president appoints.

Metro Council heads toward unprecedented enforcement action against Troutdale

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:28:00 GMT

Metro and Troutdale disagree on whether that east Multnomah County city is complying with regional rules on habitat preservation. If Metro deems Troutdale to be out of compliance, regional and state money could be withheld.

More specifics discussed about natural areas tax levy proposal

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:38:46 GMT

The Metro Council has not decided whether to ask voters for a property tax levy to fund improvements and maintenance at natural areas. Staff is looking at a levy of less than $0.10 per $1,000 of assessed valuation, and the earliest it could be on the ballot is May 2013.

Metro Council president 'deeply concerned' about House committee vote to end dedicated transit, air quality funding

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:20:00 GMT

A proposal in Congress would undermine the Portland area's ability to build a balanced transportation system that provides travel options and protects air quality, Metro Council President Tom Hughes said today.

Metro events, Feb. 11 and Feb 12: Indoors and out

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:00:00 GMT

Stay warm this season, but don't stay in too long. Enjoy birding with the experts at Mount Talbert Nature Park and get tips on building a natural refuge at Oxbow Regional Park. And don't miss the bus – the Magic School Bus, that is. Catch Ms. Frizzle and her students in a play about climate change this weekend.

Cemetery rules top Metro's 2012 legislative agenda

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 00:35:00 GMT

Other legislation supported by Metro includes bills that allow for background checks of zoo employees and a memorial for the late Steve Apotheker.

Planners moving toward regional look at active transportation

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:32:35 GMT

Metro's Active Transportation Plan will identify a main network of on- and off-street bicycling and walking facilities, as well as develop policies that support active transportation. The plan will also prioritize projects and recommend a funding and implementation strategy.

Who did they pick? Check out the Oregon Zoo's orangutan Super Bowl prognosticators

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:54:00 GMT

Kutai has correctly predicted the outcome in five of the past seven Super Bowls, including the Giants’ upset victory over the heavily favored Patriots in 2008 — a fact that has sparked a lot of discussion as the teams gear up for a rematch this year.

Storing and using leftover paint

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:25:16 GMT

Finished a project but haven’t finished the paint? Want to use a can of paint that’s been sitting in your garage? Extreme temperatures and air will kill your paint, so heed these tips from MetroPaint for containing, sealing and storing leftover paint to make sure you can use it all.

Oregon Zoo hedgehog forecasts early spring

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 23:35:00 GMT

Pack those snow tires and chains away. Jabari, the Oregon Zoo's African pygmy hedgehog, did not see his shadow this morning, meaning an early spring could be in store… or not.

Urban strategist helps Lake Oswego tell downtown story

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 23:40:00 GMT

Every downtown and Main Street has a unique story to tell, claims Michele Reeves of Civilis Consultants. Reeves works with business and property owners in the region's downtowns and Main Streets to help stakeholders develop their district's civic identity by uncovering its unique story. Through her revitalization curriculum, Reeves analyzes the business mix, grid and circulation, vacancies, infrastructure, zoning, design review, parking and retail execution of a district and develops recommendations for increasing sales per square foot and enhancing ties with the community.

Zoo animals peer into future Feb. 2 to predict spring’s arrival, Super Bowl winner

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:45:23 GMT

Predictions can be a tricky business, but Oregon Zoo animals will boldly make not one, but two prognostications Thursday, Feb. 2. At 10 a.m., Jabari the hedgehog will look for his shadow: Will it be an early spring, or should we hunker down for a long winter? Orangutans Kutai and Inji will then predict that Sunday's Super Bowl winner at 10:30 a.m.

Visit Sauvie Island for Raptor Road Trip

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 17:40:00 GMT

Participants can choose their own route to enjoy guided bird viewing, meet live raptors, learn raptor identification tips and see hawk identification displays. Watch the short video with Steve Engel, Adult Education Programs Manager with Audubon Society of Portland on Sauvie Island.

Metro, Drive Less Save More, Burgerville announce winners of Nutcase Helmets design contest

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 21:00:00 GMT

Metro Councilor Rex Burkholder and Burgerville representatives announced the winners of the Nutcase Helmets design contest on Saturday, Jan. 21 at the Hawthorne Blvd. Burgerville. A panel of judges, including representatives from Burgerville, Metro, Nutcase Helmets and Work for Art, joined KGW meteorologist Matt Zaffino, an avid cyclist, to select eight winners from the more than 400 entries.

Metro in the Media, Jan. 30, 2012

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:10:02 GMT

News and blogosphere mentions for the week of Jan. 30, 2012

Hidden forest emerges at Oxbow, but surging Sandy River leaves questions

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 22:05:21 GMT

Flooding at Oxbow Regional Park in January caused erosion near the campground, forcing Metro parks officials to close a road and bathroom.

Metro Council accepts findings report on climate scenario planning

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:50:00 GMT

Local policies designed to preserve farmland and make livable neighborhoods have made the Portland area well prepared to reduce emissions related to climate change, but more work will be needed to meet state targets and maintain the quality of life the region is striving for.

Metro events, Feb. 4 and Feb. 5: Adventures in birds and buses

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 17:00:00 GMT

Whether its bird sightings or stage shows that make for great entertainment, this is the week to indulge in a little family fun. Catch this year's Raptor Road Trip at Sauvie Island or treat the family to a Magic School Bus adventure that's both fun and informative.

Hughes: Time to reconsider MPAC citizen appointees

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 00:36:00 GMT

One of the MPAC citizen reps has served since 2000, but timing leads some to wonder whether politics prompted the change.

First meeting of the Southwest corridor community planning forum

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 00:30:37 GMT

Community members who live in the Southwest corridor area, between Portland and Sherwood, are invited to help develop a common vision for communities and the Southwest Barbur Boulevard/99W corridor.

In Milwaukie, Metro helps a riverfront renewal come to life

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 19:10:35 GMT

Reinvigorating Milwaukie's waterfront has been a public priority for nearly half a century. After dedication and money from local governments and nonprofits, both residents and salmon will have reason to come and stay a while.

Public private partnership speeds jobs while easing traffic flow near Intel's Hillsboro expansion

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 00:35:45 GMT

Metro recently expedited approval of federal and state air quality reviews to help a package of road improvements stay on pace to be finished in time for the expected opening of Intel's D1X facility next year.

New natural areas beyond Forest Park forge connections for wildlife, people

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:23:32 GMT

Metro's Natural Areas Program has purchased 550 acres in western Multnomah County during the past two years, including a significant addition last month. As this network of wildlife habitat grows, so do the possibilities for restoration and recreation.

Field notes: Good day to be a floodplain

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 22:00:09 GMT

"Heavy rains falling on snow can create havoc or heaven, depending on your perspective."

Read Metro scientist Kate Holleran's latest reflections on wetlands conservation.

Dan Cooper to retire as Metro Attorney; Hughes nominates deputy as replacement

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 17:50:00 GMT

Cooper has served as Metro Attorney since 1987, and will stay on until November as a senior policy advisor. Deputy Metro Attorney Alison Kean Campbell has been nominated to lead the agency's legal department.

Metro events, Jan. 26 to Jan. 29: It's showtime

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 17:00:00 GMT

Learn to spot birds, track mammals and care for nursery plants this week. Then sit back, relax and watch Ms. Frizzle's class learn how to fight climate change. This week is full on fun!

Metro in the Media: Jan. 23, 2012

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 23:10:06 GMT

News and blogosphere mentions for the week of Jan. 16-22.

Metro launches GLEAN; calls on creatives to "make art, not landfill"

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 00:40:53 GMT

Metro, in cooperation with Recology and crackedpots, is launching the second year of a program that makes art out of trash.

Mastering meal moths and clothes moths

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 21:45:33 GMT

Are little moths fluttering through your kitchen or crawling in your closet? Metro expert Carl Grimm appeared on KATU’s AM Northwest this morning with tips to get rid of moths without resorting to toxic pesticides.

Convention center hotel discussion shifts to private sector, smaller incentives

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 23:17:00 GMT

Members of the Metro Council and the Metro Exposition and Recreation Commission generally agree that there need to be more hotel rooms near the Metro-owned Oregon Convention Center. But it's unlikely that a massive, publicly financed "headquarters hotel" will be built in the Lloyd District.

Metro seeks public comment on four-year federal transportation projects schedule

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 23:15:44 GMT

Metro invites the region to view and comment on the upcoming four-year schedule of federal transportation investments in the Portland area. The four-year schedule, known as the 2012-2015 Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Program, encompasses all federal spending on transportation, including highways, public transit, pedestrian and bike projects in the three-county metropolitan area.

Cities want updates as climate scenarios work moves forward

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 19:35:11 GMT

Metro planners are wrapping up the first phase of their study of the region's greenhouse gas emissions, focusing primarily on exhaust from cars and light trucks. The work was prompted by legislation at the state, which required the Portland region to reduce its per capita vehicle emissions by 20 percent by 2035.

Metro in the Media: Jan. 18, 2012

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 17:15:41 GMT

News and blogosphere mentions for the week of Jan. 17, 2012

Metro events, Jan. 21 and Jan. 22: Do, learn, grow and enjoy

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 17:00:00 GMT

This weekend has a little something for everyone. Indulge your DIY spirit, help nurture growing plants, explore Mount Talbert's rocky past, or sit back and enjoy a ride with the Magic School Bus.

Oregon Zoo to open new Veterinary Medical Center Jan. 19

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 02:03:00 GMT

After 16 months of careful construction and equipment installation, the Oregon Zoo's new Veterinary Medical Center will open its doors on Thursday, Jan. 19. The public can peek inside Jan. 20-22, when the zoo will offer behind-the-scenes tours.

Hosticka joins CRC opponents in calling for project's halt

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 01:20:57 GMT

Metro councilor emcees press conference featuring a spectrum of community activists. They had different ideas for a solution for the Columbia River, but generally agreed that the government-endorsed project was a boondoggle.

European cities boost economic future with public-private action on climate change, Burkholder says

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 00:30:02 GMT

To create jobs and save money, several European metropolitan areas are building public-private partnerships that create innovative clean energy solutions the Portland area can learn from, says Metro Councilor Rex Burkholder.

Drive Less Connect saves commuters $307,000

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 21:18:27 GMT

The typical American household spent 8.4 percent of their income, or $4,155, buying gasoline this year. According to The Oregonian, that's the highest it has been since 1981. The average American family now works one month each year to buy fuel for the car, SUV or pickup.

Metro events, Jan. 14 to Jan. 16: Days of service

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 17:00:00 GMT

Martin Luther King Jr. once said "Life's most persistent and urgent question is: 'What are you doing for others?'" In honor of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service on Monday, Jan. 16, check out the following opportunities to get dirty, have fun and help out.

Metro in the Media: Jan. 9, 2012

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 01:45:43 GMT

News and blogosphere mentions for the week of Jan. 9, 2012

Zoo urges Second Tuesday guests to ride MAX, save

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 21:15:00 GMT

Oregon Zoo guests can enjoy their visit while spending less on Jan. 10 – especially if they MAX it to the zoo.

Transfer station moves to quell nuisance with bird bouncers

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 22:29:56 GMT

To curb a ongoing problem of winged scavengers picking off food waste at Metro Central transfer station in northwest Portland, facility operator Recology has brought in some feathered reinforcements.

Community celebration kicks off new era at Orenco Woods natural area in Hillsboro

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 20:30:53 GMT

The sun came out Thursday – and so did a bald eagle – for a celebration of Hillsboro’s newest natural area: Orenco Woods. Metro teamed up with the City of Hillsboro to protect the 42-acre site, which will be transformed into a nature park.

Traffic, land use lead Metro Council discussion about TV Highway

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 19:45:00 GMT

At a work session Tuesday, Metro Council discusses whether the Tualatin Valley Highway should be thought of as an arterial or throughway, a definition that will help officials planning for the the future of the road.

Metro in the Media: Jan. 3, 2012

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 23:58:28 GMT

News and blogosphere mentions for the week of Jan. 3, 2012

Bicycling for health: A personal story

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 17:30:00 GMT

Three years ago, Mary Kittleson, 56, weighed 289 pounds and needed to change her lifestyle. Now, she's a 120 pounds lighter, thanks in part to her choice to jump off of an unhealthy track and onto her bike.

Oregon Zoo to ring in new year with free admission Jan. 2

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 21:45:00 GMT

The Oregon Zoo will ring out 2011 in record fashion this weekend with the final nights of its best-attended ZooLights ever – and then ring in 2012 with a celebratory day of free admission on Monday, Jan. 2.

Heavy rains close Oxbow Regional Park

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 20:55:25 GMT

Heavy rains have temporarily closed Oxbow Regional Park.

The park, east of Gresham, hugs the Sandy River, which is quickly approaching road level in the area. The closure is expected to last until Saturday, when colder weather is forecast to turn the rain that's flooding the Sandy into snow that gradually melts.

Bridges, boundaries, bosses and birds - Metro's 2011 stories of the year

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 00:55:35 GMT

You know it's been a busy year at Metro when a list of the Top 10 stories in regional governance has an urban growth boundary expansion at No. 6.

But 2011 was just that - a year of new faces, big decisions and even a bit of pop culture. Here's a look back at what made news at Metro in 2011.

A world away from war, transit helps her get her life back

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 21:27:37 GMT

For some people, taking transit is a choice; for others, it's a necessity. For Diana Mirkovic, transit provided the lifeline for making a fresh start some 5,800 miles from her home. Diana came to the Portland area in February 1996 with only her daughter, a few belongings and the desperation to put years of horror behind them.