COMMISSIONER RANDY LEONARD'S BLOG

Randy In the News 12.23.09

Sports Illustrated article about renovating PGE Park for Major League Soccer (MLS).

KGW story about the plans to renovate PGE Park for an MLS team.

Sneak Preview: Water Bureau Solar Array Begins Generating Power Today

In 2007, Commissioner Leonard directed the Water Bureau to construct a solar array at the Bureau's Groundwater facility to help offset the large amount of electricity that is used when Bull Run water is offline or being supplemented and the groundwater facility is pumping groundwater to help serve nearly 800,000 citizens around the region.  Today, the 267 Kw array began putting power into the grid for the first time, and you can monitor the amount of power that is being created here.

After a month or so of making sure the kinks are worked out, the Water Bureau will host a ribbon cutting at the new facility on January 26.

Alpha Broadcasting to co-locate 6 Portland Stations in the Pacwest Building this May

On December 17th, Alpha Broadcasting announced plans to co-locate its six radio properties in the Pacwest Center, 1211 SW 5th Avenue in downtown Portland.  With a target move-in date of May 1, 2010, radio stations KUFO, KINK, KUPL, KXL, KXTG and KCMD will each broadcast from the 6th floor, with the corporate offices on the 7th floor of the Ashforth-owned building.  In addition, a special performance lounge that all the stations will use will be on the street level, where artists and other personalities who frequently visit the stations will appear. 

Commissioner Leonard is particularly excited about radio personality, Lars Larson, moving so just across the street from City Hall.  The two are such peas in a pod, they plan to begin daily coffee breaks together.

According to a November, 9 2009 Time Magazine article, Larry Wilson, owner of Alpha Broadcasting, bought 2 stations from Paul Allen and 4 from CBS, and is combining them under one umbrella.  Despite declining radio profitability, Alpha is striving to turn that around in the heart of Portland's downtown.  Their December 17th press release tells us that in their search for a new home, Alpha wanted a building that is environmentally friendly and one that has easy access to public transportation.  The Pacwest Center ideally meets these criteria.  It has a LEED-EB rating and the new MAX Green line stops right in front of the building.  Getting all their employees into one location is key to their plan to achieve maximum efficiency, much like the City's efforts to co-locate all staff dedicated to development permitting. 

Posted by Anna DiBenedetto.

Commissioner Leonard completes Portland Fire & Rescue's Physical Agility Test

UPDATE: 12/18/09 KGW Video about the story.

After helping fight the fire at Marysville School last month, Randy was encouraged by Portland Fire & Rescue to refresh his firefighting skills by going through the Physical Agility Test and the Self Contained Breathing Apparatus training at PF&R's Training Center.  We are pleased to announce that he passed with flying colors!

In addition to other physical activities, Randy climbed 5 stories with a 2-inch fire hose and breathing apparatus in full firefighting gear.

Read PF&R's blog posting about this here.

      

 
 
Posted by Anna DiBenedetto.

  
 

Randy In the News 12.17.09

Oregonian article about the Minority Contracting Resolution passed by City Council yesterday.

Portland Mercury column about the so-called HIT Squad.

Portland Mercury brief about Randy passing Portland Fire & Rescue's physical agility test.

Water investigation completed; Reservoir #3 to reopen

Portland Water Reservoir #3 is back in service following an investigation to identify the source of the E. coli bacteria that was discovered in samples taken over the Thanksgiving holiday. The results of testing conducted by a Seattle laboratory confirm the strains as being avian (of bird origin), and the analysis suggests that the specific type of bird is the common seagull. The strain itself is non-pathogenic, meaning it poses no threat to humans.

For more information, please see the Water Bureau's Blog or read their press release.

Resolution to require minority oversight of City contracting passes 5-0

A Resolution to require City Bureaus to include at least one minority evaluator provided by the Alliance of Minority Chambers on all contractor evaluation and selection panels awarding City contracts passed with a 5-0 vote this morning.  Commissioner Leonard and Mayor Adams co-sponsored the resolution that makes the City of Portland the first in the United States to adopt such a proactive policy for inclusion of minorities in public contracting processes.

See our blog posting announcing the filing of this resolution here.   For the full text of the resolution including the amendments passed by the Council, click here.

Posted by Anna DiBenedetto.

Council to Honor Senator Margaret Carter Dec. 16

The Portland City Council will be honoring Portland Senator Margaret Carter, who is retiring from 25 years of service in the Oregon Legislature, by declaring December 16, 2009 "Senator Margaret Carter Day."  The ceremony will be held in the City Council Chambers in City Hall (1221 SW 4th Avenue) beginning at 6:00 PM on Wednesday December 16.

In 1984, Senator Carter became the first African American woman ever elected to the Oregon House of Representatives, and over the course of her 25 year career she became one of the most influential politicians in Oregon, establishing an impressive record that reflects her tireless pursuit of equality, her strong advocacy for women, children, and the elderly, and her focus on making government accesible to underrepresented people.

All five members of the City Council have co-sponsored the proclamation.  Please read the full text of the Council proclamation here.

A reception will follow the Council ceremony in the City Hall Atrium.

Leonard files resolution to require minority oversight of City contracting

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:  Ty Kovatch 503.823.4682

 

PORTLAND, OR – Commissioner Randy Leonard filed a resolution that will require City of Portland bureaus to include at least one minority evaluator on all panels that review and award City contracts.  The resolution identifies Portland’s Alliance of Minority Chambers as the private sector organization that will work with a broad based group of organizations to provide City bureaus with qualified minority experts to serve on contract review and award panels.

 

“The City has tried the ‘good faith effort’ approach to including the minority community in our contracting and it has yielded only marginal results,” said Commissioner Randy Leonard, “This will establish a requirement for minority participation in the awarding of City contracts that incorporates the City’s most capable minority organizations to assist with identifying and involving members of the community in our contracting processes.  If both the City and the Alliance of Minority Chambers are successful with their responsibilities under this initiative, I think other cities across the country will quickly adopt similar approaches.”

 

“We want to make sure that minority contractors have equal access to contracting opportunities with the City of Portland,” said Mayor Sam Adams, “With a new Fair Contracting Forum, Local Stimulus Task Force, and Disparity Study now underway, this resolution further strengthens the City’s commitment to creating opportunities for increased community oversight and input regarding the City’s procurement policies.” 

 

Roy Jay, President of the Alliance of Minority Chambers, believes the approach called for in the resolution will be the first of its kind in the country. "This demonstrates that Portland's political and business leadership want to be inclusive, rather than exclusive,” says Jay.

 

The resolution is co-sponsored by Mayor Adams, and will be heard by the City Council on Wednesday, December 16, 2009 at 10:00 AM Time Certain in City Hall.

Click here to read the full resolution.

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Randy In the News 12.11.09

Oregonian article about the future of Memorial Coliseum.

Daily Journal of Commerce article about Water Bureau projects and stimulus money.

Randy In the News 12.10.09

Portland Business Journal article about Randy's Minority Contracting resolution coming to Council.

Randy In the News 12.9.09

Willamette Week article about Police Chief Rosie Sizer.

Randy In the News 12.6.09

Oregonian article about the ongoing debate around covering Portland's water reservoirs.

Meet Portland Fire & Rescue's Accelerant Canine

This is Lila, a sweet dog with deceptively puppy-like friendliness, energy and curiosity. It's hard to believe that she is a highly trained and specialized dog that detects accelerants. I like to think of her as an arsonists worst nightmare! At the scene of a suspicious fire, Lila sniffs out chemicals that make flames burn hotter and faster, and then sits and waits for a treat from her handler.

  

   

P.S.  Lila is not a lap dog!


  
 

Randy In the News 12.3.09

Portland Mercury article about the delay in notifying water customers of the water contamination.

Portland Mercury article about the fight between the Police Commissioner and Chief and the Police Union.

Portland Mercury column about likening rewarding bad behavior to Saltzman's reversal of discipline for a police officer.

Oregonian opinion column asserting that Police might resort less often to weapons if they had to pass annual physical fitness tests.

Oregonian article about Pearl residents' opposition to a Portland Loo being installed at Jamison Square Park.

Portland Tribune article about water safety.

Randy In the News 12.2.09

Oregonian article about the ongoing soccer and baseball stadium issues.

Willamette Week article about the Police Union vs. Police Commissioner debate.

Randy In the News 12.1.09

Oregonian Editorial about the need to cover Portland's open water reservoirs.

Randy In the News 11.27.09

Oregonian Spoof Editorial about a Randy action figure.

Randy In the News 11.26.09

Portland Mercury article about a police use-of-force debate.

Portland Tribune article about a police use-of-force controversy.

Oregonian opinion piece about a police use-of-force debate.

Randy In the News 11.25.09

Bee article about the new park at Marysville Elementary that now has few attendees due to a fire at the school.