Loading...
10-24-2019 Council Newsletter • ouncel Newsletter S Provided to the Tigard City Council on a weekly basis to stay abreast of current city issues. October 24, 2019 1. TTSD Plans Metzger School Park Event Tuesday, Nov. 19 Executive Session Only Lauren Scott said the TTSD communications team is Red Rock Conference Room planning a robust public engagement event for Wednesday, October 30 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Tuesday,Nov. 26 Business Meeting Metzger School Library. They have asked for Mayor 6:30 p.m. -Town Hall Snider and City Councilors to be present at the event. Thursday,Nov. 28 Thanksgiving Superintendent Rieke-Smith and the School Board will City Offices Closed be in attendance. They are also planning on having an additional PSO meeting on Nov. 12`x'in the evening (time t.b.d.). Lauren will send details as she gets them. 2. Construction Project Update Christina Zellmer attached an overview of road, trail and construction projects underway in the city. 3. Thank You TPD! Attached are a number of new letters praising Tigard Police Officers. 4. News Articles - Tigard council members,police host five meetings Tuesday - Summit inspires communities to embrace diversity, equity and inclusion - Breaking down bias at five-city summit - Downtown Tigard's hazelnuts get makeover 5. Council Calendar Tues., Oct. 29 Council Outreach Event 6—7:30 p.m. Five locations in Tigard Tuesday, Nov. 5 Business Meeting One 6:30 p.m. -Town Hall Monday, Nov. 11 Veterans Day City offices closed Tuesday, Nov. 12 Business Meeting 6:30 p.m. -Town Hall 13125 SW Hall Blvd.Tigard,OR 97223 1 Web www.tigard-or.gov Phone:503.639.4171 FAX: 503.684.7297 TDD 503.684.2772 Item# Construction Project Update — October 22, 2019 Newsletter: This update is a listing of major construction projects with traffic impacts. If you do not see a project on the list here are a few resources you can use to find more information: • Tigard Active Permits —interactive map with a list of planning, building, and engineering permits. https://v-a-w.arcgis.com/appsZ Map Series 1index.htinl?appid=d86ee383511 e430dal c05O63704010 7 c • Capital Improvement Plan—Tigard's 6-year plan for large-scale improvements. https://w-,xw-tigard- or.gov/city hall/cip.php • ODOT Project Tracking— State Transportation Improvement Program projects. haps://gis.odot.state.or.us/trarnsgi�pt/ • Washington County Roads —Washington County projects impacting roads. h s: uww.wc-roads.corn Tigard Street Heritage Trail Tigard Street Heritage Trail is closed through the end of October between Main Street and Katherine St,while trail renovations are in progress. Pedestrians are rerouted along Tigard St, and bikes share the roadway with vehicle traffic. Commercial Street Sidewalks ODOT is constructing sidewalks between Lincoln and Main St. Commercial Street is now open between Lincoln Ave and Main St. There may be daytime lane closures as construction finishes. 99W Sidewalks ODOT is constructing sidewalks along 99\X'on the cast side between Naev e Street and Beef Bend Rd, and the west side at the intersection with Bull Mountain Rd as part of their Safe Access to Transit project. Expect sidewalk closures and intermittent nighttime lane closures. The left turn lane from Bull Mountain Rd and the right-turn lane from 99W have been reopened. Beef Bend Road Culvert Washington County will be replacing a pair of failed culverts under Beef Bend Rd near 146`x' Ave. This project also includes a new waterline installation for the City of Tigard. Beef Bend Road is closed between 146`h and the Oak Mont Apartments. The road closure has been extended through the end of October. Beef Bend Road,between Roy Rogers and Hwy 99W,is open to local traffic only during the closure. Pedestrians with mobility needs who travel between 146th Avenue and the Oak Mont Apartment entrance will need to contact Washington County for an escort during construction. Visit the County's project website at https://w-%-w.co.washington.or.us/LUT/TransportationProjects/beefbendculvert.cfm?page=About Arthur Court Colony Creek Trail is closed between Deeann Ct and Wall St for a streambank restoration project. 724"Avenue and Ann Court A short section of 124'Ave is closed north of Ann Ct for work on a culvert replacement. The road is expected to reopen at the end of October. Detours are provided. River Terrace Area Construction • Starting this week, traffic on Roy Rogers Rd will be shifted to the east side of the roadway onto the newly widened portion,while work begins on installing a waterline and widening the west side of the road. • River Terrace subdivisions are under construction particularly on the east side of Roy Rogers Rd south of Scholls Ferry Rd. See ht s: wuw.ti and-or.gov river terrace.12hli for more information. • A new sewer line is being installed along Clementine Street, out to Roy Rogers Rd and will impact Clementine Street, a section of Pumpkin Valley Terrace, and Sabrina Ave. Expect some delays and short closures while work is in the roadway. • A contractor is building a new subdivision on the west side of 150"Ave south of Hawksridge. There are other significant road, sewer and water projects underway or planned in the area. Visit GetUsThere.org for information and updates. 100`'`Ave south of McDonald St A new subdivision is being installed on 100`'Ave south of McDonald Street. Half street improvements will begin this week on 100'Ave and 103`'. Expect lane closures with flagging during construction. 74"Avenue Expect delays on 74`''Ave and Red Cedar Way as construction continues on the Red Cedar Estates subdivision. • _11 CITY a PORTLAND, OREGON Ikem# ` s Bureau of Polices Newsle er: Ted Wheeler,Mayor — Danielte M.Outlaw,Chief of Police 1111 S.W. 2nd Avenue•Portland,OR 97204•Phone:503-823-0400 integrity. Compassion + Accountability • Respect a Excellence • Service Memorandum September 23,2019 TO: Officer lino Pavan#51792(East/C/1002202) Officer Bryan Lloyd#52678(East/C/1003907) Officer David Harding#52228(East/6/1002958)Officer Justin Horecki#57450(East/6/1026922) Officer Greg Burn#42554(Traf/563240) Officer Tyler Wyatt#58115(East/C/1037035) Officer Onest Robert#52367(East/C/1003903) Officer Mark Piamba#46529(Traf/360753) Officer lake Ramsey#56603(East/C/1015617) Deputy Casey Kotsovos#44750 MCSO Officer Greg Sudey#51248(East/8/1001996) Officer Josh Nyone#55652(East/C/1007962) Officer Justin Raphael#52780(East/C/1004087)Officer John Maul#31386(East/C/574282) Officer Anthony Whitmore#56159(North/1008577) Officer Patrick Johnson#49069(North/128536) Officer Kaci Mace#51039 Tigard PD Officer Brian Hunzeker#39600(Traf/489290) Officer Sean Scott#56911(East/C/1018389) Officer Joe took#48042(East/C/837589) Officer Dan Leonard#50211(East/A/688600) Officer Joe Goodrich#37240(Traf/319536) Officer Paul Valdez#40188(East/C/106072) Officer Pat Nagy#39612(East/A/936510) PS3 Gerbis Soler Gonzalez#92088(Trng/1058537) Officer Tim Mast#36874(East/C/198731) Officer Brian Wheeler#57813(East/E/1033297) Officer Larry Keller#16483(East/E/242735) A/Sgt Troy 5awtelle#46621(East/C/214061) A/Sgt Dan Barnard#49119(East/B/917843) Captain Craig Dobson#35609(East/A/421065) RE: COMMENDATION 19.293611 On August 26th 2019 about 1734hrs East Precinct,Traffic Division,Transit Division and North Precinct Officers were dispatched to the area of Northeast 84t"Avenue and Russell Street to assist the Portland Fire Bureau on the report of a grass fire that was threatening nearby residences, First arriving Officers found a chaotic scene. They were tasked with directing traffic and making evacuations from homes directly downwind of the fire due to heavy smoke and falling embers.Evacuations were made quickly and vehicle traffic was diverted to facilitate Fire Bureau objectives and residents fleeing the area.For several hours officers maintained a perimeter around the fire scene. Your work and diligence contributed to the safety of area residents and protected valuable Fire equipment from civilian vehicle damage.Your efforts were recognized and praised by Portland Fire Bureau Command Personnel on scene of the fire. Fire Command acknowledged that your assistance allowed PFB resources to be focused on fire suppression,rather than evacuation and equipment preservation. You are commended for your hard work under dangerous and chaotic circumstances.Your efforts made a positive difference in the safety of the citizens of Portland. Tashia Hager Commander,East Precinct TH/HH/tin cc:IA,2015;Post Community Policing:Flaking the Difference Together An Equal Opportunity employer City Information lane: 503-823-4000,TTY(for hearing and speech Impaired): 593-823-6868 Website:www.partiandpol(ce.com CITY OF PORTLAND, OREGON Bureau of Police Ted Wheeler,Mayor Danielle M.outlaw,Chief of police 1111 5.W. 2nd Avenue a Portland,OR 97204.Picone; 503-823-0000 Integrity * Compassion . Accountability . Respect - Excellence^- Service Memorandum September 25,2019 TO: Officer Stephanie Lourenco#37836(Traf/585932) Officer Erin Anderson#22178(Cent/388342) Officer Huntley Miller#43999(Traf/1017592) Officer Kaci Mace#51039(Tigard PD) Officer Parik Singh#31724(Personnel/762274) Officer Tracy Ballew(East/A/955223) Joe Carter Officer Elise Temple(North/1002764) PASS Linda Le Blond 11191840(TPD/1005388) PASS Teresa Leeper#46361(Trng/846952) SR PASS Krista Brant 431135(Traf/736812) CMDR Wendi Steinbronn#28922(North/679731) Officer Jessica Brainard 949847(TPD/549598) P J Nagy(PBOT) Haley Holte(Park Ranger) Sarina Morrison(Parking Ranger) Laura Kelly(Park Ranger) Alex Arrell(Park Ranger) Kelley Deas(Park Ranger) Sonja Grove(TIP) June Vining(TIP) Officer Derek Harris#47653(TPD/979291) Officer John Brent#24176(TPD/Lake Oswego) Erik Oatfield(Fire Bureau) John Davies(Fire Bureau) Kylle Simonstrong(Fire Bureau) Jessy Brown(MCSO) Adam Best(BOEC) Rachel Miles-Davis(BOEC) Raelynn McKay(Cent/1003883) Kayla Cooke(MCSO) Veronica Avila(Revenue Bureau) Nayeu Serna(Revenue Bureau) Adriona Garica(Revenue Bureau) Sergeant Don Livingston#32588(TOD/127331) Sergeant Peter Simpson#28653(CHO/306791) Seats Cook(Cowlitz Tribal Police) Susan Andersen(Cowlitz Tribal Police) Sergeant Bret Burton#43860(TPD/962060) Officer Heather Hughes#32358(FSD/839860) SR PASS Marcie Buntrock#37333(FSD/727794) Officer James Townley#49848(TOD/692098) AST Chief Chris Davis#36611(CHO/983868) Jessica Conner(PHB) John Wheeler(Parking Enforcement) Henry Ford(Parking Enforcement) Gilmer Gongera(NW Family Srvcs) Molly Martinez(NW Family Srvcs) Lynette Brown(Parking Enforcement) Rich Thallhelmer(Parking Enforcement) Simona Bogdan(Parking Enforcement) Meghan McDermott(Parking Enforcement) Ann Blackburn-Morris(Parking Enforcement) Dawn George(Parking Enforcement) Kyle Buss(Parking Enforcement) Chris Nero(Parking Enforcement) Mike Crebs(PBOT) Rachel Beane(Procurement) Mike Anderson(PBOT) Travis Gullberg(MCSO) Joel Wendiand(MCSO) Nick Carter(MCSO) Nicole Morrisey(MCSO) Dan Logan(MCSO) Dan Brown(MCSO) Jenny Goss(MCSO) Ryan Rist(MCSO) Rian Hakala(MCSO) Molly McDade Hood(MCSO) Leslie Goodlow(Housing Bureau) Olga Veronica Elizondo Carsen Funkhouser(Cadet) RE: COMMENDATION Thank you for participating in the recent Shop with a Cop,which was held on August 21, 2019. This was the 181 anniversary of this amazing program,where officers get the opportunity to engage local youth.This year,73 officers, Community Pollcing:Making the Difference Together An Equal opportunity employer City information kine: 503-823-4000,TTY(for hearing and speech impaired); 503-823-6868 Website: www.portlandpoUce,com CITY GOL OF PORTLAND, ! Bureau of Police Ted Wheeler,Mayor Danielle M.Outlaw,Chief of Police 1111 S.W.2nd Avenue.Portland,OR 47204.Phone: 503-823-0000 integrity • Compasslon . Accountability • Respect • Excellence • Service community partners and other volunteers shopped with 275 youth for school clothing and supplies. More than$50,000 worth of school clothing and supplies was given out. In the past 18 years, more than half a million dollars`worth of back to school supplies has been provided to students in our community. The Police Bureau could not have done this--and could not continue to do this—without your steadfast participation. Unfortunately,for many children in our community,going back to school can be a stressful time. Many youth are in need of clothing,shoes and school supplies.With the assistance of the Portland Police Bureau Sunshine Division,Camp Rosenbaum and Fred Meyer, police officers and our community partners have a unique opportunity to not only provide these youth with much needed back-to-school items,but also spend some time engaging with them in a positive way. We talk a lot about community engagement and how it is critical in today's modern policing world. This is community engagement at its core.By volunteering your time,you helped not only fulfil a child's needs, but in all likelihood,you made a lasting and powerful positive impact on a child. Please accept my sincerest commendation for a job well done. Your actions reflect the highest standards of the Portland Police Bureau and represent our core values of Integrity,Compassion,Accountability, Respect,Excellence and Service. Thank you. Tashia Hager Commander,East Precinct TH/HH/tin cc:IA,241s,Post CITY OF • ' i OREGON Bureau of Police led Wheeler,Mayor Danielle M. Outlaw,Chief of Police 1111 S.W. 2nd Avenue•Portland,OR 97204.Phone: 503-823-0000 Integrity • Compassion • Accountabillty . Respect • Excellence . Service MEMORANDUM DATE: September 30,2019 TO: Detective Posey 929521 Officer Clary#40926 Officer Hansen#52786 A/Sgt. Marrs #52826 Officer Ellis#45974 Officer Hill 936236 Officer Bechtel 957093 Officer Emmons 456132 Officer Shadron#37126 Officer Brooks 952787 Officer Fender#50793 Transit Officer Azevedo 940228 Transit Officer Mastrich #45308 SUBJECT: COMMENDATION LETTER—CASE(S)#19-267282, and various case numbers. On August 7, 2019, Officer Sheldon responded to 821 N Lombard Street, regarding a residential burglary where the suspect used a ladder to gain access to the residence through a second story open window. The victims were then awakened by the suspect crawling across their bed. They chased the suspect into the parking lot, where he fled in a maroon Honda SUV. Officer Sheldon recognized this case was similar to two other residential burglaries; where during one burglary, a maroon Honda CRV had been stolen. Burglary Detectives were then contacted. On August 9, 2019, Officers Hansen located the stolen Honda CRV, covered in tree branches and camouflage netting, in the area of North Martin Luther Blvd and North Schmeer Road. There officers witnessed a shirtless male sitting in the front seat of the vehicle; then exit the vehicle and run out of sight. Officer Hansen did a check of the area and located the male identified as Derek Baxter. Baxter stated he had been in possession of the vehicle and of the vehicle's keys. He admitted to driving the vehicle to that location, attempting to hide it by using camouflage, and that his belongings were inside the vehicle. The vehicle was then towed to Rivergate Storage Facility. Detective Posey was assigned the case and searched the recovered vehicle where he found a multitude of items taken in previous reported burglaries; all of which took place in North Precinct, specifically the Piedmont, Hayden Island and Kenton neighborhoods. Then on August 20, 2019, and August 21, 2019, officers responded to commercial burglaries where they were able to ID the suspect as Baxter. Again on August 23,2019, another commercial burglary occurred and officers collected Baxter's physical evidence. Knowing probable cause existed for Baxter's arrest, police were able to affect a quick capture of a prolific burglar, who had terrorized surrounding neighborhoods on a nightly basis. Detective Posey interviewed Derek for over two hours in which Baxter confessed to one residential burglary, stealing the Honda CRV and two commercial burglaries. Since June 2018, Baader has been named suspect in twenty documented burglary reports. Since Derek's arrest, burglaries in the Piedmont, Hayden Island and Kenton neighborhoods have reduced by 100%. Baxter had caused close to $29,000 in damage to property and stole approximately $24,000 in personal belongings and merchandise. It's extremely possible that Derek was involved in many more burglaries, and has yet to be identified as a suspect. Community Policing: Making the Difference Together An Equal Opportunity Employer City Information Line: 503-823-4000,TTY(for hearing and speech impaired): 503-823-6868 Website: www.portlandpolice.com Officers, you are to be commended for your excellent investigation skills, teamwork and commitment to removing a}prolific criminal from the community. Your actions reflect the highest standards and are in the finest tradition of the Portland Police Bureau. Congratulations on a job weld" WENDI STEINBRONN Commander North Precinct WS/CCM/cros cc: Cmdr Frome,Cmdr Bell,CmdrNakamura,IA/Personnel 201/Field 201/Post Community Policing: Making the Difference Together An Equal opportunity Employer City Information Line: 503-823-4040,TTY(for hearing and speech impaired): 503-823-6868 Website: www,portlandpolice.com N i • ' r City of Tigard October 22, 2019 To: Officer April Keller Re: Letter of Recognition This letter of recognition is for your outstanding work in building trust with a person in crisis and then referring them to the appropriate community resources. We had several contacts with the individual over the past few months without successful resolution. On October 12, you spent time with the individual, building a rapport and trust with them, and leveraged that relationship into a referral to the Hawthorn Walk-in Center. The person was able to take a cab to the Center and begin working with social workers there, hopefully to achieve a long-term solution. During this incident, you demonstrated our core values of Attitude, Leadership, Integrity, Service, and Teamwork. Your dedication and hard work to achieve a successful resolution in this situation reflect great credit upon yourself and the Tigard Police Department and you should be cognized for your efforts! Ka y McAI 'ne Chief of Police c: Personnel File Chief's File City Manager Commendation Board HR 13125 SW Hall Blvd. • Tigard, Oregon 97223 • 503.639.4171 TTY Relay: 503.684.2772 • www.tigard-or.gov Transit Date: October 3rd, 2019 TRI DMET Police Divlslon To: Officer Megan Linn#54549 Subject: Letter of Commendation —Transit Police Division bike program During the spring of 2019, Officer Megan Linn worked to procure funding specific to updating the bicycle patrol program for the Transit Police Division(TPD). Officer Linn was aware the TPD had frequently used bicycles effectively in the past to help staff detached patrol missions and special events. Bicycles have been a useful part of the patrol formula within the TPD for many years,but the division has been without a bicycle program manager for a long time. Officer Linn took the initiative upon herself to advocate for the restoration of this program. Officer Linn took inventory of all bicycle program assets at each of the four TPD precincts. She then performed an inspection of all bicycles and accessory items. Many of the bicycles had fallen into a state of disrepair. She also recognized the benefit of standardizing all of the accessory components affixed to each patrol bicycle such as racks, lights, and tools. Officer Linn researched various bicycle components and vendors. She also worked with a local bicycle shop to strike a deal that would get all of the TPD bicycles back into good working order. Officer Linn then generated a detailed memo to TriMet requesting funds sufficient to pay for repairs and professional inspections of each bicycle. She outlined costs needed to purchase accessories and tools. She identified vendors who could supply all of the items requested in this project. Also included in her memo was a proposal to pay for future bicycle acquisitions. She organized a rotation schedule in order to map out a routine maintenance plan, and she prioritized each of the patrol bicycles for replacement. The request Officer Linn submitted was approved, and she moved quickly to secure all of the new items. She worked with other members of the TPD to begin the process of updating the bikes and tracking progress. She was able to accomplish all of these things in a short period of time. The TPD was able to use the bicycles all throughout the summer months on a weekly basis. Bicycle patrols are another effective way to help police the public transportation system. Officer Linn, all of your efforts during this project goes above and beyond what is normally expected of you at the Transit Police Division. Your work to identify a deficiency and then recommend and implement positive change has been outstanding. I would like to congratulate Officer Linn for working hard to make the TPD better. Please know your diligence and attention to detail has not gone unnoticed. I appreciate the commitment and dedication you displayed while working on this project. Your home agency will be proud to learn of your valuable contributions. NII HAEL FROME Commander Transit Police Division Tigard council members, police, host five item# ' meetings Tuesday Newslett r. I Pamplin Media Group Tuesday, October 22, 2019 The community meetings will discuss such topics as police calls for service, response times and the need for neighborhood policing. COURTESY CITY OF SHERWOOD-The Tuesday gathering. �1 � and Con��r dubbed Council. Cops and Conversation,will feature at least God%% r Saba., one council member and a police officer The City of Tigard will host a "Council, Cops and Conversation" night on Tuesday, Oct. 29, at five locations around the city. Both the Tigard City Council and the Tigard Police Department will attend the events, which run from 6 to 7:30 p.m. LET CHAT Plans are to have a council member and Tigard police officer available to talk to residents about such loin thccanversarion abQt t petal c wfety,trdnspQrUtton. topics as police calls for service, response times and anti iouc-,Affect.ngyour neighborhood the need for neighborhood policing. go The council is considering whether to place a public safety levy --which could include adding up to 10 more officers to the force -- on the May 2020 ballot. I't,uyw*thcCrtr����Atwtq_n It's also discussing the feasibility of placing a bond �aeuq ewt o�ei1 r hall and w,to nery r�t..d �,♦ .d� •��� OCTOBER 29 measure before voters to build a new police facility. �""%'" ytty..deItp tten.M+''s'`'`rawerxnm.ria, 5 VENUES In the current ��h� to ehaos�From than councilors have attended more pcnw to Ip ed 114C„setw.A rit nk,- than 40 community events from the Hillshire rer map on the hark On Cktobr,39 the Ctv Co wd Arid 6,-00-730cthe avl neighborhood picnic to Tigard High School reunion. Tigard Pul"air partworit uD to hoaf rro. Venues for the gatherings include: Fido's -- "World's d.,!",.,r r�ardrim4�rhwlxwd=w.u.., r r First Dog Tap House, 7700 S.W. Dartmouth Street; 0, 0d toW*61,1+.r.nra,n°tr• FlyBoy Brewery and Pub, 15230 S.W. Sequoia stay tlx rhnlr nrric Parkway; Tapphoria Home, 13815 SW Pacific Highway, Suite 40; Whole Foods Market, 12220 S.W. Scholls Ferry Road; and Panera Bread, 10230 S.W. Washington Square Road. Visit tigard-or.gov/city hall/council connections.php for more information. Summit inspires communities to embrace diversity, equity and inclusion Pamplin Media Group Saturday, October 19, 2019 Close to 400 city, school and community leaders from Lake Oswego, West Linn, Wilsonville, Tigard and Tualatin attend the one-day event After a year of planning, the first Multi-City Equity Summit was held Saturday at Lake Oswego High School. Local school officials, mayors, city councilors, state politicians, emergency responders and community members from five local communities were all in attendance. Almost 400 strong, attendees spent the day learning how to create communities that embrace diversity, equity and inclusion. A common plea from many in attendance was the need to R educate others in the community in an effort to break the cycle of racism, discrimination and exclusion that happens all too ' often. ?� r Here are just a few of the images taken from at today's summit. Be sure to pick up a copy of this week's Lake Oswego Review, West Linn Tidings, The Times- serving Tigard and Tualtin, or f ` Wilsonville Spokesman for a complete story and more photos ` from the event. T � _ y Breaking down bias at five-city summit Claire Holley and Ray Pitz Wednesday, October 23, 2019 Nearly 400 attend Multi-City Equity Summit, including representatives from Tigard, in Lake Oswego on Saturday. PMG PHOTO JONATHAN HOUSE-Dr Marvin Lynn sings during his keynote address at the Multi- City Equity Summit Hundreds of people from Lake Oswego, West Linn, Wilsonville, Tualatin and Tigard gathered at Lake Oswego High School Saturday, Oct. 19 to discuss diversity, equity and inclusion at the - first Multi-City Equity Summit. These cities, their corresponding school districts, the West Linn Alliance for Inclusive Community, Respond to Racism and LO for LOve worked together to create the event, the goal being to acknowledge that barriers exist which prevent some people from fully participating in the quality of life that the communities have to offer. The summit had roots in a February 2018 trip during which 18 Lake Oswego School District representatives and community leaders traveled to Los Angeles for a two-day workshop at the Simon Wiesenthal Center's Museum of Tolerance. The trip followed multiple racist incidents in the LOSD, and was planned to help inform the district's future discussions about race. David Salerno Owens, the district's director of equity, was hired shortly after the trip and directed to begin the planning stages of an equity summit. "At first we started with just Lake Oswego and we had started to plan for that, but as we were creating our plans, several cities started hearing about us coming together to do this and they wanted to be a part of it," Salerno Owens said. "So we actually had to take some time to gather collective stakeholders from other cities and figure out who we really wanted to be a part of this project. Then the planning was able to start coming off the ground." First, the West Linn Alliance for Inclusive Community joined in, and helped bring along the West Linn-Wilsonville School District. Salerno Owens and his team decided to see if Tigard and Tualatin had any interest in participating, and the rest is history. "It was definitely something that our collective cities were on board with and wanted to be a part of," he said. The summit opened with keynote speaker Dr. Marvin Lynn, the dean of the College of Education at Portland State University. Lynn, a Chicago native who moved to Tigard in 2017, delivered a presentation titled "Conceptualizing and Building a 'Beloved Community' in Oregon: Race, Multiculturalism and Intersectionality." The presentation gave a broad overview of how divisions manifest around race, gender, ethnicity, sexuality and religion —divides that Lynn categorized as social constructs. He also emphasized that despite its reputation as a homogenous state, Oregon is continuing to diversify at a rapid pace. Nair led a session titled "Breaking the Bias Code: Unlock, Harness and Transform the Largest Hidden Barrier to Inclusion," in which she focused on personal accountability for biases one may hold. Nair described bias as similar to a blind spot in a car. You can't see it in your normal vision, but once you check it, you realize how dangerous it can be. "Bias is hardwired in our brains to keep us alive. To keep us safe, we go toward the familiar and away from the unfamiliar," she said. "But if we can begin to break those bias bubbles, take the areas that are unknown and make them known, we can begin to break down our biases." Nair said it takes time to break down biases, because they are innate in the human brain. "It becomes a lifelong effort to fill those gaps and engage with communities (different than yours)," she said. "The idea is to keep the conversation going, both internally within yourself and externally with other people." Former LOSD Communications Director Christine Moses attended last year's conference at the Museum of Tolerance, and has seen just how far the district has come since that time. Moses talked about that experience during a panel discussion, "Building Bridges: One Community's Journey to the Museum of Tolerance," at the Equity Summit. "I was really honored to be up there talking about trip, and seeing that things really can come to fruition," she said. "Change can happen. To have nearly 400 people show up on a Saturday shows that there really is a need for it." Moses, who is a woman of color in the Lake Oswego community and seen troubling incidents occur in the district's past, said she felt a sense of hope for the community as a result of the summit. 1 have hope on a big scale. I walked away knowing that each of the people who attended will make ripples," she said. "Those ripples touch other people, and they touch other people, and so on." The goal for organizers of Saturday's summit was to keep the momentum and conversation going far into the future. "We're striving to make sure this isn't just a one-off event, but a continuing conversation not just of one city but a group of cities together, a group of school boards, different governmental agencies saying 'What are we doing and not doing? What do we need to change?"' said West Linn City Councilor Jules Walters, who was on the planning committee for the summit. Salerno Owens said that because this summit took about 18 months to plan, seeing it actually happen was quite special. "I really do feel that a lot of people came out of it just thinking about how wonderful the day was. We've been planning this for a long time, and to actually see this happen was humbling," he said. "It was amazing to see so many people from so many different walks of life together, having a shared experience, learning and collaborating. People were really a part of this day, and their hearts were definitely there." Several Tigard attendees attended the Multi-City Equity Summit as well, including Tigard police Chief Kathy McAlpine, who said she believes it's important to keep conversations about diversity, equity and inclusion going. "These cannot be one-off events that you check a box and move on," McAlpine said. "We as a government entity should be looking at everything with an equity lens, both to our external customers as well as internally." The chief said some of the most impactful moments came during a breakout session involving recruitment, when a city employee who was also a person of color asked once a city government or police agency gets a diverse group of employees, what happens to make sure those employees are welcomed and included. "It tells me this work is constant, and just hiring a diverse workforce does not complete the intent of DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) work," McAlpine said. She said the event gave her a chance to listen to stories from those who have spent their lives dedicated to equity and inclusivity. PMG PHOTO: JONATHAN HOUSE-Massene Mboup asks a question to Marvin Lynn during the Multi-City Equity Summit. "I believe as the police chief, it is important to ensure our policing philosophy has an equity lens," said McAlpine. "The manner in which we police, the tone we use and the decisions we make have significant impacts to the community we serve." Lloyd Purdy, Tigard's economic development director, said the summit provided an opportunity for city employees, educators and residents in all five cities to "directly face the realities of racism, discrimination and exclusion." "So many of us recognize that we must make different individual and community wide decisions about how we include everyone in public process and institutions," said Purdy. Purdy said he was particularly impressed with Drew's comments. She spoke about the difference between equal access and equity, something he found "illuminating." "She pushed participants to think critically about the outcomes we're trying to achieve, not just process and effort," said Purdy. Likewise, Jennifer Curran, Tigard's risk manager, said she was impressed with a breakout session facilitated by Smith, who spoke on the topic of"Microaggressions: The Macro Impact," saying she was an engaging speaker who used historical information from experts in the field, personal experience and engagement of the audience during her talk. "One of the biggest takeaways I had was that it's OK to be uncomfortable as we work together to be more accepting of everyone," said Curran. "Dr. Smith made me very aware of how I could say things that were hurtful to another without thinking very much about it. If we believe each of us deserves to be respected, honored and valued for the people we are, we need to be careful about how our words and actions impact each other." The bottom line, said Curran, is that everyone needs to "accept feedback and take it to heart as we do this work to treat each other with respect and dignity." 1 1 . f + ` o ' Z Two filbert tree sculptures that greet residents to Tigard's downtown area L. received three fresh coats of -- -- W 4 --� -- -- paint this moi t.The - -L artwolt was J I created by artist i Brian Borrelio in 1 2815. PMG PHOTO:RAY PITZ 1 Downtown Tolgard's azelnuts e makeover Three coats of paint The pieces,named"Corylus" the selected two-tone scheme after the scientific name for the because it added depth, espe- trans form art from hazelnut or filbert tree, went cially to the interior of the piec- from pink to a two-tone light es. It also resembles more 1 pink to green green on the exterior and a closely the blossom of a hazel- i light pinkish-white in the inte- nut, a tree the city used to be By RAY PiTZ rior_ filled with,and was more"eye- 1 Pamplin Media Group Artist Brian Borrello, who catching"from Highway 99W, I created and installed the sculp- officials reported. t Those two pink gateway tures in 2015, completed the In May,the full membership sculptures of hazelnuts that repainting job last week, ac- of the Town Center Advisory I greet visitors on both ends cording to city officials. Commission signed off on the of Tigard's Main Street got a "The final cost for repainting choice, with the Town Center shot in the arm two weeks the sculptures was$9,860,"said Development Agency Board ago with a new color scheme Lauren Scott,Tigard's commu- and the Tigard City Council and fresh coats of paint. nity engagement coordinator. giving the colors a thumbs-up "He painted each with three as well in July. coats of paint." "During the mayoral cam- After the pink paint on the paign last year, I frequently sculptures showed signs of heard concerns about the color fading earlier this year,a sub- of our downtown gateway art," committee of the Town Center said Tigard Mayor Jason Snid- Advisory Commission dis- er. "I am glad our community cussed the possibility of re- was able to work with the art- painting them using color ist over the last nine months to schemes different from the find a color scheme that more original color. of our community can em- The spbcomligMpreferred brace,"