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10-31-2019 Council Newsletter CoundlNewskaer s Proiided to the Tigard City Council on a meekly bads to stay abreast of rurrent(iz),issues. October 31, 2019 1. Changes to Library Hours of Operation - Tigard man arrested for sex abuse involving Library Director Bernard attached a memo regarding juveniles new library hours. 9. Council Calendar 2. Invitation to Elected Officials Police Academy Tuesday,Nov. 5 Business Meeting One Chief McAlpine invites Council to participate in a free five-hour academy at the Oregon Dept. of Public 6:30 p.m. -Town Hall Safety Standards and Training. If you're interested, Monday,Nov. 11 Veterans Day please let the Chief or Marty know. Date is TBD. City offices closed 3. Consent Agenda for November 12 Council Tuesday, Nov. 12 Business Meeting Meeting 6:30 p.m. -Town Hall Carol Lager attached the Consent Agenda summary Tuesday, Nov. 19 Executive Session Only for November 12. If you would like something pulled Red Rock Conference Room for discussion,please let staff know. Tuesday,Nov. 26 Business Meeting 4. Construction Project Update 6:30 p.m. -Town Hall Christina Zellmer attached an overview of road, trail Thursday, Nov. 28 Thanksgiving and construction projects underway in the city. City Offices Closed 5. Public Works Update Marissa Grass attached an overview of public works activities. 6. Thank You Tigard! This week's thank you letters are attached! 7. Press Release This week the following press release: -Sex abuse investigation leads to arrest of Tigard man 8. News Articles - Tigard mayor, council, officers, fan out to discuss city issues, possible levy - Proposals, priorities put meat on bones of 2020 transit funding plan - MET builds bridges with fourth annual conference - Triplet won't reduce lanes on Barbur to cut costs on MAX project - Tigard police seeking help to ID man who allegedly groped 14-year old girl at Washington Square - Proposed MAX line: To Bridgeport, no narrowing of Barbur 13125;NX'Hall Blvd.Tigard,OR 97223 1 Web wlrev.tigard-ovgo Phone: 503.639.4171 1 FAM 503.684.7297 1 TDD 503.684.2772 Item# / e City of Tigard Newsletter: Memorandum To: Marty Wine, City Manager From: Halsted Bernard, Director of Library Services Re: Changes to Library Hours of Operation Date: October 31, 2019 Beginning December 1, 2019, the Tigard Public Library will amend its operating hours to close at 8 p.m. on weeknights and open at 10 a.m. on Sundays. The new hours of operation will be: Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 10 a.m. 10 a.m. 10 a.m. 10 a.m. 10 a.m. 10 a.m. 10 a.m. to to to to to to to 6 p.m. 8 P.M. 8 P.M. 8 p.m. 8 P.M. 8 P.M. 6 p.m. For years, we have seen a significant decrease in patron visits after 7 p.m. during weekdays, most significantly after 8 p.m. The decrease, which can be seen in the statistics provided at the end of this memo, is also mirrored in circulation statistics and reference interactions. During weekdays, this change allows for greater coverage on our public service desks during staff lunch breaks. On weekday evenings, it allows for more flexibility in providing programming, and supports more robust reference desk coverage. Opening earlier on Sundays will make the Library more accessible for patrons who can only visit on weekends. An earlier opening time also allows for the possibility of Sunday morning programs and outreach visits. Both weekend days we will be open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. which will be easier for our patrons to remember. Of the 999 respondents to our patron survey*earlier this year, only 65 said that an earlier evening closure might affect them negatively. Currently, Tualatin Public Library is the only other library in the Washington County Cooperative Library System that is open until 9 p.m. on Mondays through Thursdays. (They close at 6 p.m. on Fridays through Sundays.) There is no other library in WCCLS that is open until 9 p.m. on Fridays. Patron Visit Statistics Weekday Visitation Averages for FY18 120 100 0 a 80 \ O `a E 60 z z m 40 m `m a 20 0 3pm-4pm 4pm-5pm 5pm-6pm 6pm-7pm 7pm-8pm 8pm-9pm —Monday 106 87 71 71 56 32 —Tuesday 103 88 77 73 61 27 Wednesday 96 91 86 87 59 30 —Thursday 93 81 68 68 54 26 —Friday 99 85 71 68 54 30 Weekday Visitation Averages for FY17 120 100 N L O a 80 0 `w E 60 3 z ovc 40 a a 20 0 3pm-4pm 4pm-Spm 5pm-6pm 6pm-7pm 7pm-8pm 8pm-9pm —Monday 104 93 76 70 55 31 —Tuesday 108 98 84 77 68 27 —Wednesday 102 99 90 94 65 34 Thursday 96 89 74 70 55 30 —Friday 101 91 77 70 56 31 Reference Interaction Statistics Hourly Reference Interactions in Youth Services, Feb 2018-Feb 2019 3-4 pm 4-5 pm 5-6 pm 6-7 pm 7-8 pm 8-9 pm Hourly Reference Interactions in Adult Services, Feb 2018-Feb 2019 11111 m 3-4 pm 4-5 pm 5-6 pm 6-7 pm 7-8 pm 8-9 pm Circulation Statistics Hourly Checkouts for FY18 100000 80000 60000 40000 20000 0 Adlvm&�� ■Jul-18 ■Aug-18 0Sep-18 0Oct-18 8Nov-18 0Dec-18 ■Jan-19 ■Feb-19 ■Mar-19 ■Apr-19 •May-19MJun-19 Hourly Checkouts for FY17 100,000 80,000 60,000 40,000 20,000 0 — .O°e� ■Jul-17 •Aug-17 ■Sep-17 ■Oct-17 ■Nov-17 ■Dec-17 ■Jan-18 ■Feb-18 ■Mar-18 ■Apr-18 •May-18■Jun-18 awEa„ The Department of Public Safety Standards d Training Presents The...ON AND I 174 \ — = ' Elected O cials and Community Partners Academy TT The Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) has a national reputation for professional standards developed in a shared stewardship environment and innovative training programs. DPSST serves more than 40,000 public and private safety professionals around the state. The purpose of this program is to increase awareness of the work done by DPSST by providing an opportunity to understand state certification and training standards and by offering a tour of the 235-acre Oregon Public Safety Academy. TOPICS COVERED WHEN •The role of the employer (local government agency) Offered four times a year • The role of the Board on Public Safety Standards and Five-hour academy including lunch Training (BPSST) • The role of the Department of Public Safety Standards REGISTRATION and Training (DPSST) Contact your local sheriff or • Professional Standards—What are they, who do they apply police chief to sign up to, how are the developed, how are they enforced? •Training—What types of training does DPSST offer, how are classes developed, who pays for the training? COST • An in-depth walking tour of the Oregon Public Safety Free Academy with visits to hands-on/scenario-based training venues QUESTIONS • How elected officials and community partners can Please contact Kayla Smith at engage in the process 503-378-46ig or kayla.smith@state.or.us v Item# i City ofTigard Newsletter: City Council Meeting — Consent Agenda TIGARD CITY COUNCIL MEETING MEETING DATE: November 12, 2019 MEETING LOCATION: City of Tigard - 13125 SW Hall Blvd., Tigard, OR 97223 • Proclaim Small Business Saturday This national holiday,which was first celebrated in 2010, calls to attention the importance of shopping at the small businesses that serve as the backbone of the American economy and our local communities. Each year, Small Business Saturday is held the Saturday after Thanksgiving and draws crowds to main streets across the country with great deals on unique products and services, events that encourage shopping locally, and unique experiences that introduce you to commonly valued neighbors. This proclamation was first issued in 2013 to support blain Street businesses. • Minutes for Approval Several sets of minutes will be included on the Consent Agenda. TIGARD CITY COUNCIL CONSENT AGENDA—November 12, 2019 City of Tigard � 13125 SW Hall Blvd.,Tigard,OR 97223 1 w .tigard-or.gov I Page 1 oft Construction Project Update — October 30, 2019 Item# / Newsletter:I(7 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://www.arcgis.com/apps/MapSeries/index.htmI?appid=d86ee38351le430dalcO5O637040107c • Public Works Update—summary of work done by our Public Works crews. https://www.tigard- or.gov/communitv/pw news.php • Capital Improvement Plan —Tigard's 6-year plan for large-scale improvements. https://www.tigard- or.gov/city hall/cip.php • ODOT Project Tracking—State Transportation Improvement Program projects. https://Ris.odot.state.or.us/transgis/opt/ • Washington County Roads—Washington County projects impacting roads. https://www.wc- roads.com/ Tigard Street Heritage Trail Tigard Street Heritage Trail is closed through mid-November 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 will be daytime lane closures as construction finishes. 99W Sidewalks ODOT is constructing sidewalks along 99W on the east side between Naeve 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. Beef Bend Road Culvert Washington County will be replacing a pair of failed culverts under Beef Bend Rd near 146th Ave. This project also includes installing a new waterline for the City of Tigard. Beef Bend Road is closed between 146th 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://www.co.washington.or.us/LUT/TransportationProoects/beefbendculvert.cfm?page=About Arthur Court The streambank project has been completed and Colony Creek Trail is now open. 124th Avenue and Ann Court 124th Ave north of Ann Ct has been reopened. Expect some delays as construction continues. River Terrace Area Construction • Traffic on Roy Rogers Rd has been shifted to the east side of the roadway onto the newly widened portion, and work begun 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 https://www.tigard-or.gov/river terrace.php 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 1501h 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. 1001h Ave south of McDonald St A new subdivision is being installed on 100th Ave south of McDonald Street. Half street improvements will have begun on 100th Ave and 103rd. Expect lane closures with flagging during construction. 74th Avenue Expect delays on 74th Ave and Red Cedar Way as construction continues on the Red Cedar Estates subdivision. Item tt5- Public Works Newsletter: 31— ' I 10/31/19 >> Leaf Disposal & Food Drive Event Starts Saturday Leaves, coupled with rainy weather, can spell trouble for city roadways. Leaves that collect and clog storm drains cause standing water and occasional flooding.This creates hazardous conditions for people driving,walking or biking on city streets. What can you do to help? • Collect and contain your leaves—don't let them accumulate on city streets. • Dispose of leaves properly—either compost them, or place them in your yard debris container for pick-up by your garbage hauler. • Report clogged storm drains by calling 503-718-2591. Drop off leaves and food items between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. at Cook Park on: • Saturday, November 2 &16 • Saturday, December 7 & 14 Leaves can be loose or bagged. Paper bags, purchased at local hardware stores, are preferred. Plastic bags may be used for transport, but must be emptied before leaves are accepted by city staff. This event is free,though a donation of two non-perishable food items is recommended. Donations will be forwarded to area residents through Tigard's St.Vincent de Paul food distribution facility. >>Sandbag Station is Up and Ready The city offers a free sandbag station in the parking lot of the Tigard Public Works Building (8777 SW Burnham Street.)The self-service station is stocked with sand and sandbags and can be accessed at any time.Shovels are not provided, so please bring your own. Sand is to be used for emergency purposes only. Citizens are welcome to return the full sandbags, used or not. Please return them directly to the sandbag station on the west end of the parking lot. >> 100th Avenue S-Curves In response to community concerns,the Streets Division recently completed a project on 100'Avenue south of McDonald Street.This project added asphalt, markings and delineators to improve pedestrian safety.Streets Division supervisor Adam Jensen notes that the S-curves in this location previously lacked pedestrian facilities. 1� 4 r ^ z 2117 >>Tigard Street Heritage Trail to be Complete in December Construction of Tigard Street Heritage Trail improvements will extend into December. Originally scheduled for completion this month,the project has been extended in response to utility conflicts and to allow installation of the outdoor museum interpretive elements. Heritage Trail improvements include a %mile multi-use path to employment, landscaping, seating and an Outdoor Museum featuring the rich cultural history of Tigard's rail legacy. Enhanced pedestrian and bicycle connections will also be installed at the Grant Avenue and Katherine Street crossings. f >> Bulky Waste Event Recap On Saturday,October 26 Public Works held a Community Clean Up Event to collect bulky waste and other items. This event is in partnership with Washington County Solid Waste& Recycling, Metro, Pride Disposal and Habitat for Humanity Restore. Items like tires,scrap metal, bulky plastics, and broken appliances were loaded into bins supplied by Pride Disposal. Usable items were loaded into a Habitat for Humanity truck. h 5 v:Community, Clean-Up Event p IM a r--d Item# = Newsletter: /� City of Tigard October 29, 2019 To: Officer Evan Fourie Re: Letter of Commendation As a representative of the Tigard Police Department,you met with Boy Scout Pack#232 to help them earn their Forensics badge on October 28, 2019. You talked about the role of a police officer,the services we provide,and the tools we use to keep our community safe. You took extra steps to set up a mock crime scene,which allowed the Scouts to see first-hand how a police officer would handle a crime scene, maintain the integrity of the crime scene, and how to gather proper evidence collection. You made yourself available for them to ask questions, get stickers and explore a police vehicle. X11 The level of effort that you put into this contact highlighted Iout core values of Attitude,Leadership and Service. While we may never know if you just planted a seed in some child's mind, you certainly showed them that they can trust the police, and that we are there to help them. Your actions reflect great credit upon yourself, the City of Tigard, and the Tigard Police Department. Thank you for a job well done! 7` JL Kathy McAlpine Chief of Police c: Employee files Chiefs file City Manager Human Resources Commendation board 13125 SW Hall Blvd. • Tigard, Oregon 97223 • 503.639.4171 TTY Relay: 503.684.2772 0 www.tigard-or.gov v City of Tigard October 24, 2019 To: Detective David Hockin Re: Police Medal While acting as the forward negotiator during an active gun battle on August 8,2019,you learned that a deputy had been shot. You quickly formed an evacuation team and immediately moved forward into the area where gunfire was continuing. Your team located the deputy that had been prepared for evacuation and carried the stretcher uphill toward rescue vehicles. After the evacuation, you returned to the shooting scene in case other officers also needed evacuation. Your quick and decisive actions of moving through dense vegetation towards gunfire to assist the wounded deputy contributed greatly in saving the deputy's life. Your actions, calm demeanor and situational awareness reflect great credit upon yourself, the City of Tigard,and the Tigard Police Department as well as our core values of Attitude,Leadership,Integrity, Service, and Te work. Thank you for your great work! KEEF Chief of Police c: Employee file Chief's file City Manager Commendation board HR 13125 SW Hall Blvd. • Tigard, Oregon 97223 • 503.639.4171 TTY Relay: 503.684.2772 9 www.tigard-or.gov City of Tigard October 28,2019 To: Officer Nate Will Re: Life-Saving Medal On October 16, 2019, you recognized that a patient was in cardiac arrest. You immediately began chest compressions,which continued for an uninterrupted period of two minutes until you were relieved by TVF&R personnel. It was determined that the patient's heart had completely stopped during the event, but due to your actions, the patient was later transported in stable condition. You remained calm during the serious life-threatening situation, applied CPR training purposely and directly contributed to the lifesaving efforts. Your actions reflect great credit upon yourself, the City of Tigard, and the Tigard Police Department. Your efforts exemplify our core values of Attitude, Leadership, Integrity, Service, and Teamwork. Thank you for your great work! Kathy McAlpme Chief of Police c: Employee files Chief's file City Manager Commendation board 13125 SW Hall Blvd. • Tigard, Oregon 97223 • 503.639.4171 TTY Relay: 503.684.2772 0 www.tigard-or.gov 4 D OCT 2 a 2U19 Rev.Dr.James L.Wallace CALVIN Pastor PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH City of Management Tigard, OR Rev.Tim Jantos City MPastor of Congregational Care 10445 SW Canterbury Lane Tigard OR 97224 October 5 2019 To the Council of the City of Tigard Thank you so very much for the grant you provided to Calvin Presbyterian Church. You made it possible for us to purchase backpacks, calculators and graph paper for 150 Middle School and High School students. Not only that, but our congregation and some folks in the neighborhood joined in, supplying notebook paper, spiral notebooks, pens, pencils, pencil pouches, highlighters, erasers and other necessary items, so that we could deliver full backpacks to the School District well before school started. That way, when the students arrive to register at school, if there is a need,there is a backpack full of supplies, ready to hand to the student, so they will be very well prepared on the very first day. This is an incredible gift for a pre-teen, or a teen whose family may not be able to provide all the needed supplies, and sends the message that our students are important,valued, and welcomed into the schools. Again,thank you for your gift. You have blessed the young people in our community. Sincerely ce sett Joanne Shipley And all the folk at Calvin Presbyterian Church 10445 SW Canterbury Lane • Tigard,OR 972244811 • (503)639-3273 • FAX(503)603-0703 WEBSITE:www.calvinpresbyterian.org • email: letters@calvinpresbyterian.org Item# / Newsle ter:Itlb Tigard Police Department r" Media Release 13125 SW Hall Boulevard I Tigard, Oregon 97223 www.tigard-or.gov/police FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE / October 29, 2019 Contact: Jim Wolf, Public Information Officer Tigard Police Department Phone: 503-718-2561 Email: jim@tigard-or.gov Sex Abuse Investigation Leads to Arrest of Tigard Man A sex abuse investigation which began in the late spring culminated yesterday with the arrest of the suspect, Louis Howard Johnson (DOB 071063) of Tigard.Johnson was indicted by a Washington County Grand Jury on October 28, 2019. Johnson was taken into custody without incident at the Greenburg Oaks Apartments where he is employed. Johnson was later lodged in the Washington County Jail on six counts of Unlawful Sexual Penetration in the First Degree and seven counts of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree. The investigation involved multiple female victims who were juveniles at the time of the alleged abuse,which spanned approximately five years. For a number of years,Johnson had been employed at two known rental properties in Tigard-The Tigarden Court and the Greenburg Oaks Apartments. The crimes for which Johnson is charged occurred approximately fifteen years ago. Based upon the suspect's employment and inherent access to residents over the years, including children, investigators are questioning whether there may be additional victims. If anyone has information regarding contact with the suspect relative to this investigation, you are urged to contact Tigard Police. Tips can be provided via email at: tips_�?a t ar,¢ d-or.gov or by telephone at 503-718-COPS (2677). 1) III<a Louis Howard Johnson Page 1 of 1 Tigard mayor, council, officers, fan out to discuss city issues, possible levy Item# e Newsle ter 10;�i Ray Pitz Thursday, October 31, 2019 They appeared at five separate venues Tuesday night to detail what a possible local option levy would look like a IW PMG PHOTO:JAIME VALDEZ-Tigard Officer Eric Enzenberger and Mayor Jason Snider listen to Sebastian Salway, a citizen of Tigard, address his concerns Tuesday night during a"Council, Cops and Conversation"night, hosted by Fido's--'World's First Dog Tap House.' Tigard City Council members and police officers spread across the city Tuesday night for a "Council, Cops and Conversation" night, hosting the event at five locations. The gatherings, in lieu of the council's regular-scheduled council meeting at Tigard City Hall, was designed to discuss topics of interest to the public including questions about a potential public safety levy that could be sent to voters in May 2020. The venues covered by Mayor Jason Snider and Councilors John Goodhouse, Liz Newton, Tom Anderson, Heidi Lueb and Youth City Councilor Meghan Turley included Fido's -- 'World's First Dog Tap House, FlyBoy Brewery and Pub, Tapphoria Home, Whole Foods Market and Panera Bread. Both Mayor Snider and Tigard Officer Eric Enzenberger met with residents at Fido's an establishment believed to be the only specialty tap house of its kind where patrons can not only eat and drink beer, wine or cider but can meet and adopt rescue dogs. Enzenberger, whose restaurant table held literature about a likely public safety levy answered general questions about the levy that could add eight officers to the patrol division as well as two officers dedicated to homeless outreach issues. Most days, there are only three officers covering the five patrol districts. 'What we'd like is one officer per district each shift," said Enzenberger. The other goal is to decrease response times to incidents where police are needed. Ideally, that would mean responding to the higher priority calls such as those involving thefts, physical assaults and similar calls in less than five minutes. Currently, response times are around 6 minutes, 20 seconds, he said. 1 A � 's ,ter Y a PMG PHOTO: JAIME VALDEZ-Tigard Mayor Jason Snider talks with Todd Murphy,a citizen of Tigard while Tigard Officer Eric Enzenberger listen another citizen of the city Tuesday night during a Council,Cops and Conversation night, hosted by Fidos--Worlds First Dog Tap House. Regarding the homeless outreach officers, Enzenberger, a I6-year veteran of the Tigard Police Department, said they would handle not only issues such as responding to complaint about individuals who are trespassing on private property but could inform them about available services available to help them as well. Meanwhile, Mayor Snider noted that the Tuesday gathering was part of a campaign promise of making himself and the council available throughout the community. "This is us putting words into action and making sure we're out in the community," said Snider, noting that he and the council have attended 40-some events to hear what the public is interested in. The mayor said the council will likely make a decision on whether to approach voters with a levy in January or February. (Although nothing is set in stone, one possible number that has been mentioned is a rate of 46 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation.) At the same time, approaching voters on whether they support a bond for a new police facility is less likely for the near future. "I don' think it's on the table for the May ballot," he said. "There's a lot of work that has to go into that." ; r+ -d I T a - may I PMG PHOTO:JAIME VALDEZ-Tigard Mayor Jason Snider listens to Laura Braught, a new citizen of Tigard,Tuesday night during a Council, Cops and Conversation night, hosted by Fidos--Worlds First Dog Tap House. Snider said he's found when talking to residents that they are shocked and concerned to hear the low number of officers that are on duty at any given time, pointing out that given the size of the city—54,000 residents—police wouldn't be able to handle two significant(or high priority) calls for service at the same time. Proposals, priorities put meat on bones of 2020 transit funding plan Portland Tribune Tuesday, October 29, 2019 We recommend sweetening the pot for Clackamas County, ditching what is sure to be a highly unpopular regional income tax, and keeping all the projects above ground. PMG FILE PHOTO - Up to $975 million of the proposed $3.11 billion transportation bonding plan would be dedicated to a new light rail line between Portland and Southeast Washington County. It is intended to reduce congestion on Southwest Barbur Boulevard (above). Other funds would go toward projects throughout Multnomah, Washington and �.... Clackamas counties. We don't know yet how the Metro regional government plans to raise $3.11 billion to make it easier for people to travel within the Portland area. But we finally got a glimpse last week of where the funds likely would go if Metro takes a transportation money measure to voters in November 2020. The first big pot—and this is a surprise to no one—would be dedicated to a light-rail line connecting Portland with Tigard and Tualatin. That proposal would gobble up $975 million of the proposed $3.11 billion plan. What might be surprising —and contentious—is where the rest of the funds might go (see story, Page A1). The dollars would pay for projects and planning in 13 transportation corridors in Multnomah, Washington and Clackamas counties. But a preliminary list suggests Clackamas is getting the short end of the stick. A chart released last week shows that—aside from the Southwest Corridor light-rail line— Multnomah County would receive $840 million of the available funds (most of that is within the city of Portland). Washington County would receive $785 million. And Clackamas County would receive only$390 million. This disparity grows even wider when you consider that the new light-rail corridor will serve Multnomah and Washington counties, but won't make it to the Clackamas line. Nobody who's driven in Clackamas County can doubt that the area has major transportation headaches. That also was true in the 2000s, the 1990s, the 1980s, the ... well, more or less forever. As could have been anticipated by anyone, Clackamas County officials are unhappy about the proposed allocation. It doesn't take a political scientist to know, if you're asking voters to OK a massive new tax proposal, hacking off one of three counties before you're even out of the gate is a self-inflicted wound. Now, it's worth pointing out that this proposal is a long way from being finalized, and likely will change. The elected Metro Council is not expected to finalize the measure until next spring. And the $3.11 billion total price tag is way, way smaller than the $20 billion initially suggested by Metro President Lynn Peterson. She had championed the much-higher dollar figure to address growing congestion problems in the entire region. Under that proposal, doubtless, Clackamas County would have fared better. But the higher the dollar figure in the request, the tougher it is to get voters to say"yes." Which brings us to the topic of how the money might be generated. Peterson, correctly, opposes the use of property taxes. Other options include a regional payroll tax; increasing motor vehicle fees within the region; and possibly a regional income tax. Multnomah County residents will remember their unpleasant experience with a local income tax from 2003 to 2005. The Metro Council should take that idea off the table and look for a funding source that connects more directly with transportation. Putting aside the inequitable treatment of Clackamas County and the tricky question of taxation, the preliminary ideas of where the money would be spent mostly make sense. For the new MAX line, these ideas include: a Marquam Hill connector(a proposed connection from a MAX station on Barbur Boulevard to Marquam Hill, including Oregon Health & Science University); replacement bridges for the Newbury and Vermont viaducts on Barbur Boulevard; Tigard Triangle street improvements; and the parking garage in Bridgeport Village at the southern terminus of the new MAX line. (Yes, we still think the tracks ought to end at Bridgeport). Other major Portland projects in the mix include seismic upgrades to the Burnside Bridge; rerouting the ramps at the Ross Island Bridgehead; work on the Albina Vision plan in the Rose Quarter; and improvements to the intersection at Northeast 82nd Avenue and Airport Way. Those are all worthy. There is one rabbit hole that Metro should avoid: a proposal to set aside money for planning a MAX tunnel under downtown Portland. We're not making that up. We wish we were. The $50 million for such a "study"would be better spent on actual projects that move people along the Earth's surface, not below it. A full list of where the rest of the money might be spent can be found reading reporter Jim Redden's story, which begins on Page Al. A task force will discuss these staff recommendations—and that's all they are at this stage—on Wednesday, Oct. 30. The task force is expected to approve its recommendations to the Metro council on Nov. 20. The council will review revenue options and funding considerations at meetings in December and January, and must refer the final measure to the ballot in spring 2020 to meet state election deadlines for the November 2020 ballot. We recommend sweetening the pot for Clackamas County, ditching what is sure to be a highly unpopular regional income tax, and keeping all the projects above ground. Beyond that, the project list has merit, and any local commuter can attest that the need is real. When asked about the priorities of his voters, former Tualatin Mayor Lou Ogden famously responded, "Transportation, transportation and transportation."That topic, along with affordable housing and options to address homelessness, seem to be on the lips of every metro-area resident. This list, as presented in its preliminary form, would make some progress in addressing the region's transportation woes. Muslim Educational Trust builds bridges with fourth annual conference Ray Pitz Friday, October 25,2019 MET's annual Building Bridges conference works to lessen descrimation, and tensions between police and citizens. The Muslim Educational Trust, 10330 Scholls The Muslim Educational Trust in Tigard hosted the Fourth Annual Building Bridges conference Thursday, bringing together local police, elected officials, civic leaders and people of different religions together. r A An estimated 350 law enforcement officials, government and civic leaders, and members of the community packed into Tigard's Muslim Educational Trust Thursday to listen to noted speakers, share ideas and learn about ways to prevent hate-motivated incidents. The gathering was the fourth of what has become an annual event: Building Bridges of Understanding in Our Communities. This year's opening remarks came from Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon Billy Williams,the Muslim Educational Trust's Wajdi Said, Rabbi Benjamin Barnett, Baptist Pastor J.W. Matt Hennessee and Washington County Sheriff Pat Garrett. Said, executive director of the Muslim Educational Trust, kicked off the summit, whose theme this year was "Confronting Hate," telling those gathered that while society is not the same as it was 100 years, he was still filled with hope. "There are so many individuals that love and respect one another and we need these individuals to be bold to be courageous to be loving and to be responsible as well," said Said. He noted that it's not only Muslims who are living through challenging times but those in Latino and Jewish communities as well. He urged those in attendance not to mock or despise one another. The Koran, he said,teaches followers to "meet evil with good, meet hate with kindness and love, and your worse enemy will soon become your best enemy." Later, Said made the audience repeat the words: "We refuse to be enemies." Sheriff Garrett, a co-founder of the Building Bridges event, said he always learns something each year he attends. "And I'm glad you're here today too so we can work together to improve the prevention and response to traumatic events in crimes motivated by hate and bigotry," he said. "As we know, these crimes target our communities of color, religions, sexual orientation." He noted that many hate crimes go unreported due to lack of trust or a belief that reporting such incidents could attract the attention of immigration authorities. "As civil rights investigator Ann Van Dyke said, 'Silence is the welcome mat for hate,"' said Garrett, adding that silence tells perpetrators of hate crimes that their actions will be tolerated while making victims feel they aren't valued enough for people to speak out against them. Garrett said that law enforcement will take the action available under the law to hold those responsible. "Everyone deserves our love, respect and ability to feel safe in our community." Oregon Attorney General Rosenblum said she appreciated everyone taking a day to share, learn and confront hate, emphasizing that when she travels around the state, she has heard of prejudices many Oregonians experience in both big and small towns alike. Rosenblum pointed out her new director of civil rights, Fay Stetz-Waters, who later spoke about Oregon's new "bias crimes legislation," is making a real difference in the community. The Oregon Attorney General said what's important about the legislation is it supports survivors of bias crimes, whether or not those incidents are prosecutable by the law. "We will be able to help anyone who feels they were the target of hate in their community," she said. "Let's face it, no relationship flourishes without open and honest communication, which is why looking at all of you who took the time to be here on this lovely fall morning, makes me so hopeful for the future of our state." Praising the Building Bridges series as a chance to bring together law enforcement and the community members to understand each other and address racial and ethnic disparities, U.S. Oregon Attorney Williams said he too agrees that the country is in a very challenging time when people are targeted with hate speech, violence and intolerance because of their skin color, ethnicity, religion or identity. "What is occurring is unacceptable," he said. "Together we can and must do something about it. Hateful words are able to grow acts of violence. Words matter now more than ever because they have the power to both heal and find comfort or to destroy." He acknowledged that those in marginalized communities may not trust public safety leaders,the justice system or the political process. "That is a fact that we need to acknowledge daily in law enforcement and community leaders and not be afraid to take it head on," he said. "We must acknowledge we have a shameful history of mistreatment of people of color in this country but together we are not powerless to do what is right, fair and just." At the same time, he said the U.S. Department of Justice recently announced it was releasing additional resources and training to improve law enforcement investigation of hate crimes as well as creating a hate crimes outreach and engagement program designed to address the underreporting of those crimes. "Again, one of the No. 1 issues is the under reporting of hate crimes. We're getting better at it but we need those suffer from these attacks to report them," Williams said. "I'd like to proudly assure you and I have loudly confessed this to my colleagues across the country, that this community is leading the way on addressing these very difficult issues." He said the Building Bridges event is one he's shared it with those in law enforcement who are impressed with what the annual program has done to show leadership. As keynote comments wrapped u Rabbi Barnett talked about the Torah and the story of Moses being sent Yn PP p, Y g adrift down the Nile River before being found by the Pharaoh's daughter after her father had decreed all male Hebrew children should be drown. Barnett said she took the child as her own and while she may have initially thought like her father did --that these individuals are not even human -- she likely experienced compassion for the child. "And I think about that for all of us, as a blessing and challenge for all of us," he said. "No matter where we are in our lives, when we encounter someone different we have certain assumptions about who they are and who they're not ... can we be open for that human moment to sneak through and for us to have compassion regardless of whatever policies we support or how we see the world?" Barnett ended by playing his guitar, singing a song in Hebrew called "Salom" (Arabic for peace). The final participant to offer opening remarks was the Rev. Hennessee, who is pastor at Vancouver Avenue First Baptist Church. He described everyone attending the event as a "bridge builder." "Working together and confronting hate is not somebody else's job, it is our job," he said. "That's the first thing that bridge builders understand, that we are not going to stand around and wait for somebody else, we're going to stand up and do the work ourselves." Among the members of law enforcement attending the event was Tigard Police Chief Kathy McAlpine, who said what she likes about the annual Building Bridges summit is that fit continues to build upon what everyone has learned the previous year, pointing out there's "value in in people coming back." This was the third Building Bridges event McAlpine has attended. She spent the previous weekend at the Multi- City Equity Summit held in Lake Oswego, an event also designed to create communities that embrace diversity, equity and inclusion. Meanwhile, Washington County District Attorney Kevin Barton, whose office helped found the Building Bridges event, said he was pleased with Thursday's gathering. "We had record attendance and a robust, meaningful discussion about topics important to our community," said Barton, who along with Stephen Mayor, Washington County District Attorney public information officer, serve on the event's steering community. "I hope Building Bridges sent several messages to both those in the audience and those who joined us via social media." (Although there were approximately 65 "no shows" at the event, that number was offset by 60 to 70 "walk- ins.") Barton said he has found the event is well received by members in the justice system community, that the summit is a way to build trust in the community and that it requires a community effort to be a success. "In our participatory democracy, we all share a collective responsibility to get involved,to voice our opinions and concerns, and to work toward a solution," he said. "Building Bridges helps to make that connection between government and community so we can work together to our common goal." Building Bridges participants by the numbers: Community members—67 Law Enforcement—62 Government(non-law enforcement)—72 Non-governmental organization- 97 Unknown—approximately 50 Source: Washington County District Attorney's Office TriMet won't reduce lanes on Barbur to cut costs on MAX project Updated Oct 29, 2019; Posted Oct 29, 2019 By Andrew Theen I TheOregonian/OregonLive Traffic on Barbur Boulevard and throughout the SW Corridor is a growing concern, and transit options are not available aside from a few bus lines. TriMet is no longer considering removing a travel lane in each direction on Barbur Boulevard or having a train run adjacent to Interstate 5 instead of down the middle of the Southwest Portland thoroughfare as a way to cut costs on the more than $2.5 billion Southwest Corridor light-rail project to connect Portland to Tualatin. Those were some of the key recommendations released by the agency before a steering committee, comprised of local and regional politicians and transportation officials, meets Monday to discuss the latest budget situation. Spokeswoman Roberta Altstadt said TriMet had projected potential cost savings of$200 million by making those changes along Barbur, but they"did not prove to be feasible as the impacts were not acceptable to project leadership." The travel lane recommendation, in particular, marks a big victory for suburban communities like Tigard, which had protested that reducing the number of lanes for cars and trucks on the key corridor was untenable. Jason Snider, Tigard's mayor,said Tuesday that TriMet "encountered significant resistance" about the proposal. "It's a positive step toward building a project that will be effective," he said, "and meet the community's needs." The budget changes also appear to put end to speculation that TriMet would consider phasing in the line and not build all the way to Bridgeport Village immediately.That notion was anathema to Washington County, which said it would not fund its $75 million share of the project if the train didn't reach the suburban shopping center from the date trains are expected to roll in 2027. As recently as July,the project faced a $462 million gap between the amount of money planners estimate they could raise from local, state and federal sources and the estimated cost of the project. Since then,TriMet planners shaved millions off the total price tag by saying it would displace fewer homes and businesses along the route, reduce the number of track crossovers that allow trains to move from one set of tracks to another and other changes. The transit agency said Tuesday it had trimmed the budget on the proposed 12-mile light-rail line and reduced the gap to $100 million. The project is more than a light-rail extension; it also calls for miles of continuous sidewalks, pedestrian crossings and bike lanes through the hilly corridor. Altstadt, TriMet's spokeswoman, said the lack of cost savings and traffic impacts on reducing travel lanes on a five-mile stretch of Barbur meant it wasn't a viable choice. "A gap of less than $100 million remains and project partners expect to close that remaining gap through refinements to design, particularly by prioritizing reduced impacts to existing businesses and residents," she said in an email. "Also, conversations continue with partners to establish additional sources of revenue." The biggest share of the budget shortfall is expected to be made up by contributions from regional residents, in the form of next year's transportation package. The precise funding source for the $3.1 billion measure has not been determined. As The Oregomans/Oregon Live reported last week, TriMet plans to ask for an additional $125 million for the Southwest Corridor light-rail project in Metro's transportation bond. Metro staff signed off on that proposal, which will not be finalized until the regional government's council votes on a project list later this year. The project also secured an additional $65 million from the state's transportation department to pay for its share of safety improvements to Barbur, which is a state highway. That contribution is separate from additional money expected from the state ($150 million) and city of Portland ($75 million). TriMet also believes it could increase its request for federal funding by$50 million. The agency had previously said more federal funding was unlikely. The steering committee meets from 6-8 p.m. Monday at the Tigard Public Library.A final steering committee decision on the light-rail budget is expected Nov. 18. Altstadt noted that the project still has many years of design work ahead of it. Early next year, the agency will release a preliminary design report. Tigard police seeking help to ID man who allegedly groped 14-year-old girl at Washington Square Mall FOX 12 Staff Updated 14 hrs ago I Posted on Oct 29, 2019 Alleged groper (Tigard police) TIGARD, OR (KPTV) - Tigard police are seeking the public's help to identify a suspect who allegedly groped a fourteen-year-old girl. The incident took place at the Washington Square Mall around 3 p.m. on Aug. 10 near a coffee kiosk located inside the mall, according to police. The suspect was captured on surveillance video allegedly groping the female from the back as she waited at a counter. Police said there were no other witnesses or reports of other similar incidents that day. Proposed MAX line: To Bridgeport, no narrowing of Barbur Ray Pitz Tuesday, October 29, 2019 A Southwest Corridor Steering Committee will hear the new recommendations in Tigard Monday night. The possibility of narrowing sections of Barbur Boulevard to single lanes as part of the proposed Southwest Corridor Light Rail Project appears to be a moot point, TriMet officials revealed Tuesday. "These refinements to Barbur Boulevard included narrowing the project footprint by removing a lane of vehicle traffic in areas where it was feasible, and/or running the train adjacent to 1-5 to avoid complex areas," Roberta Altstadt, TriMet media relations & communications manager, wrote in an email. "Barbur refinements did not prove to be feasible as the impacts were not acceptable to project leadership." The narrowing or so-called "skinnying" of Barbur Boulevard was met with strong opposition by neighborhood groups along the route as well as the City of Tigard. Meanwhile, it looks like TriMet staff supports a rail track that makes it all the way to Bridgeport Village. Altstadt wrote that TriMet has worked over the last four months to fill an approximately$460 million funding gap, having now reduced that gap to less than $100 million. "Project partners identified a number of possible reductions as well as opportunities to garner additional funding for the project, while still maintaining the project goal of reaching Bridgeport Village,"Altstadt wrote. }.a:'gM:4'(91F601p1i\IIRtM(y.:. i.� Eight rail options for atgnmems. C^"' $" stations, parts-and-rift tots and an aK►. �^�^�"' operating and maintenance facility t.. .r '•'. tAmupA•mvmdw YFFM:4Fd nYr . . ro�fgwauwintgrd -�- ' ++WW �•... r.r�F ty► F! _...•• � •n �y stew MulF+•d ` - wrfpwna[a}S ,t ti r Asti AvM..a � Wall SumMMMft"W to f9N ' 4drFIMl pl trF•aFf � Y�•++•�av 1 mle.dt lmE3 fe,un revs AR yi .�.L y4 fA.� G4MiFYbIF 2 P � .'. uaa M•r• N4..- ! .... NT 4.WM•M Na.. COURTESY OF TRIMET-A Southwest Corridor Light Rail Steering Committee will hold a public hearing on the proposed light rail route and new recommednations from Trivet. Over the weekend, Tigard Mayor Jason Snider, Tualatin Mayor Frank Bubenik and Tualatin City Councilor Robert Kellogg issued a joint statement, saying each city was in favor of the other's goals. For Tigard, that meant not narrowing Barbur Boulevard; for Tualatin it meant going all the way to the transit center adjacent to the Bridgeport Village shopping complex. "Both Tualatin and Tigard remain committed to seeing the Southwest Corridor project built to Bridgeport Transit Center,"according to the joint statement. "Tualatin continues to oppose a project that ends short of Bridgeport. Tigard continues to oppose eliminating travel lanes on Barbur(Boulevard) and/or a terminus in downtown Tigard that is east of Hall (Boulevard)." Both Snider and Kellogg sit on the Southwest Corridor Light Rail Project Steering Committee, a group comprised of mayors, elected officials and others. "Both Tualatin and Tigard remain committed to seeing the Southwest Corridor project built to Bridgeport Transit Center," according to the statement. "Tualatin continues to oppose a project that ends short of Bridgeport. Tigard continues to oppose eliminating travel lanes on Barbur (Boulevard) and/or a terminus in downtown Tigard that is east of Hall (Boulevard)." The comments were made as a decision on where the 12-mile light rail route will end will be made by the Southwest Corridor Light Rail Steering Committee later next month. In order to reduce the estimated light rail budget, TriMet trimmed approximately $129 million from the project by lessening property impacts at several locations, reducing the storm water treatment footprint and reducing track crossover that move trains from one set of tracks to another, Altstadt said. In addition $240 million to $270 million in additional funding has been identified, coming from a jurisdictional transfer of$65 million in funding from the Oregon Department of Transportation to the City of Portland, an increase of$125 million in allotment from a proposed 2020 Metro transportation package which will be sent to voters next year. The overall measure would provide $975 million in funding for the Southwest Corridor Light Rail Project. Meanwhile, the Southwest Corridor Light Rail Project Steering Committee will meet Monday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Tigard Public Library to discuss the new developments and hear from the public. Then, a final meeting by the committee to vote on the final preferred route is planned for Nov. 18 at Tigard City Hall. That meeting begins at 9 a.m. Tigard man arrested for sex abuse involving juveniles Ray Pitz Tuesday, October 29, 2019 Louis Howard Johnson was indicted Monday by a Washington County Grand Jury and taken into custody at Greenburg Oaks Apartments where he is employed COURTESY OF TIGARD POLICE DEPARTMENT-Louis Howard Johnson was indicted Monday by a Washington County Grand Jury and taken into custody at Greenburg Oaks Apartments where he is employed. A 56-year-old Tigard man has been arrested on numerous sex abuse charges related to multiple female victims who were juveniles at the time of the alleged abuse, which police believe spanned five years. Louis Howard Johnson was indicted Monday by a Washington County Grand Jury -� and taken into custody at Greenburg Oaks Apartments where he is employed, according to a Tigard Police Department news release. He was later lodged in the Washington County Jail, charged on six counts of first- degree unlawful sexual penetration and seven counts of first-degree sexual abuse. Tigard police say the investigation involved multiple female victims who were juveniles at the time of the alleged abuse. For a number of years, Johnson had been employed at two known rental properties in Tigard, both the Tigarden Court and the Greenburg Oaks apartments. The crimes for which Johnson is charged occurred approximately fifteen years ago, according to police. Based upon the suspect's employment and its inherent access to residents over the years, including children, investigators are questioning whether there may be additional victims. If anyone has information regarding contact with the suspect or information relative to this investigation, they are urged to contact Tigard Police. Tips can be provided via email at: tips tiaard-or.gov or by telephone at 503-718- COPS (2677).