As a senior policy analyst working with COC, Zehren will focus on public policy development, public-private-nonprofit partnering and collaboration, public finance and governance, urban and regional planning, and civic engagement for existing and new clients, primarily in the Pacific Northwest.

“Jim brings to our firm a visionary understanding of how the public, private and nonprofit sectors in our communities must work together if Oregon is going to move forward in these challenging economic times,” said Kirstin Greene, COC’s managing principal.  “That, plus his proven ability to bring people together to solve problems, are real advantages for our clientele.”

“Jim Zehren has a long history of sustained and deep involvement in public issues at the state, regional and local levels, plus a multi-disciplinary approach that is a great fit for our firm and our clients,” added Arnold Cogan, founder and senior principal at COC.  Zehren joined Stoel Rives after graduating magna cum laude from Lewis & Clark Law School in 1985 and has been a partner in the Development Law Group of the firm.  He also has been heavily engaged in civic affairs during his 25 years at the firm.  In 1990–92, he was a loaned executive from Stoel Rives to the Oregon Progress Board where he helped draft the first edition of Oregon Benchmarks. From 1992 – 2002, Zehren served as a citizen member of the Metro Policy Advisory Committee during Metro’s preparation and adoption of the 2040 Regional Growth Concept.  He is a founding member of the board of the Oregon Business Association from 2000-09 and chaired that board in 2005-06.  In 2008-09, he served as president of the City Club of Portland.

“Jim Zehren has distinguished himself by his many contributions to Oregon business affairs and community issues,” said Stoel Rives managing partner, Bob Van Brocklin.  “We know that he will continue to make significant contributions through his public policy work at Cogan Owens Cogan, and wish him well in this new endeavor.”

Before attending law school, Zehren worked as a policy aide to the Mayor of Minneapolis, Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives, Citizen League of the Twin Cities, and Exposition-Recreation Commission of the City of Portland.  In addition to his law degree, he holds a bachelor of science in industrial engineering from North Dakota State University and masters of arts degrees in anthropology and public affairs from the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota.

About Cogan Owens Cogan

Cogan Owens Cogan, LLC, established in 1975, is a Portland-based multi-disciplinary firm of planners, public process experts and other professionals providing integrated services in planning, public engagement and sustainability.  It has provided leadership in nearly every stage of Oregon’s journey to national recognition in planning and development.  Firm members were leaders in launching the Oregon land use planning system and the Metro 2040 plan and continue to lead the current renaissance in sustainable development.  COC’s experience in the areas of intergovernmental relations, mediation and facilitation allows it to meet complex and politically contentious challenges. The firm has been honored with numerous awards for leadership in the design and implementation of successful planning and public involvement programs.

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“The Institute of Portland Metropolitan Studies, in partnership with OSU Extension, Cogan Owens Cogan, and the City of Damascus, has been awarded a $223,000 three-year grant from the Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program of the USDA to create an assessment of the Portland region’s sustainable agriculture system, develop a needs assessment, and provide tools and strategies for growers and local governments, with a case study of small urban influenced farms near Damascus.”

SB 1059 Passed to Begin to Implement MPO Recommendations on Greenhouse Gas Reductions

“SB 1059 lays the groundwork for communities to plan for future population and employment growth while reducing greenhouse gases….” – Senator Jackie Dingfelder

Responding to the State of Oregon’s policy on Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions passed in 2007, and House Bill 2186 of the 2009 session, legislators passed Senate Bill 1059 during the final days of the 2010 legislative session. Introduced by Senator Courtney at the request of the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Greenhouse Gas Task Force, the bill contains these primary elements:

1. Directs the Oregon Transportation Commission (OTC) to collaborate with MPOs, other state agencies, local governments and stakeholders to adopt a statewide transportation strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as set forth under ORS468A.205. As background, ORS  468A.205 establishes Oregon’s policy on greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals:
   • By 2010, arrest the growth of Oregon’s greenhouse gas emissions and begin to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
   • By 2020, achieve greenhouse gas levels that are 10 percent below 1990 levels.
   • By 2050, achieve greenhouse gas levels that are at least 75 percent below 1990 levels.

   ORS 468.205 further declares that “it is the policy of this state for state and local governments, businesses, nonprofit organizations and individual residents to prepare for the effects of global warming and by doing so, prevent and reduce the social, economic and environmental effects of global warming.”

2. Directs the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) and the Department of Land Conservation and Development Commission (DLCD), after consultation with MPOs, other state agencies, local governments and stakeholders shall establish guidelines for developing and evaluating alternative land use scenarios that may reduce GHG emissions.
3. Calls for development of a toolkit for use by local governments to reduce transportation sector GHG emissions through land use and other means.
4. Directs LCDC in consultation with the OTC, local governments and MPOs to identify a reduction target for the transportation sector for GHG emissions for vehicles weighing 10,000 lbs or less in each MPO area.
5. Directs ODOT and DLCD to work with other state agencies and the Oregon University System on public outreach and education associated with the need to reduce GHG emissions and associated costs and benefits of GHG emission reductions.
6. Asks local governments within MPOs to consider whether any immediate action should be taken to reduce transportation-sector GHG emissions, and to consider how Regional Transportation System plans outside the Portland Metropolitan area could be altered to reduce GHG emissions. [The Portland Metropolitan area has specific and related task it is working on per the 2009 HB 2001 Jobs and Transportation Act.]
7. Requires DLCD and ODOT to report on the above actions to the 2011 Legislature.

Credit goes to OAPA chapter Vice-President Brian Campbell for testifying on the bill, and to members of the emergent OAPA Sustainability Steering Team for their work – particularly Richard Ross and OAPA Legislative Liaison Stephen Kafoury.  For the full text of the bill, see: http://www.leg.state.or.us/10ss1/measpdf/sb1000.dir/sb1059.b.pdf

- Kirstin Greene, AICP, Managing Principal, Cogan Owens Cogan, LLC