COMMISSIONER RANDY LEONARD'S BLOG

Portland's 5th Portland Loo to be opened next Tuesday! Join us!

You are invited to the 5^th Portland Loo Inaugural Flush

PORTLAND, OR— The fifth Portland Loo will open at 1:00 pm on Tuesday, January 31^st, 2012. Located at NW Couch and 8^th Avenue in the North Park Blocks, Commissioner Randy Leonard and city staff involved with the project will be joined by nearby Emerson School children and faculty for the first flush. 

“The Portland Loo has proven to be a very popular, affordable and successful solution to a basic human need that challenges communities all over the world,” said Commissioner Randy Leonard.  “Other cities are taking notice, as we just sold a Loo that is in service to Victoria, British Columbia, and several other cities are expressing interest.”

Located in the Pearl neighborhood, close to the popular destination with both tourists and residents alike- Powell’s Books- this Loo replaces the problem-plagued bathroom that was recently closed at SW Ankeny and 8^th Avenue.  One important group of users will be the neighboring school children from Emerson Elementary that use the playground on the same block.

The fifth Portland Loo will complement current Portland Loos on NW Glisan St between NW 4th and 5th Avenues, on Naito Parkway at both SW Taylor Street. and at Ash Street, and at Jamison Square Park on the corner of NW Johnson and 11^th Avenue.  The location and installation is the product of collaboration among the Portland Water Bureau, the Bureau of Parks and Recreation, the Portland Bureau of Transportation and Emerson Elementary School. 

Designed and fabricated locally, the Portland Loo is attractive, functional, open 24 hours a day and more affordable than any other permanent toilet structure.  They are available for purchase from the City of Portland.  The Portland Loo is a modern, public urban toilet that pushes Portland into the future by making public restrooms available, safe, hygienic and sustainable. All the Portland Loos are cleaned and maintained semi-daily by Central City Concern staff.  The City of Portland received the City’s first ever design patent from the Federal Patent & Trademark Office for the Loo.   For more information on the Portland Loo, go to www.portlandloo.com.

Portland Firefighters Perform Perilous Nighttime Water Rescue in Willamette River

At 11:15 pm, Dan Sinclair was riding his bicycle along the Eastbank Esplanade headed southbound when he heard a voice calling for help from the river below. Upon scanning the water, he spotted someone splashing in the Willamette River about 25 yards off shore.

Sinclair immediately rode his bike the short distance to Portland Fire Station 21 (Eastbank/Hawthorne Bridge) to alert firefighters that someone needed help. Also on shore were two men, Sam Policar and Justin Wisdom, who were sturgeon fishing. While Sinclair went for help, Policar and Wisdom attempted to hook onto the man with their fishing lines to pull him to shore. Fortunately, the river’s current pushed the struggling man closer to shore. Wisdom took off his coat, poked one of his coat sleeves through a fence, and the man was able to grab on.

Portland firefighters responded from Station 21 with the Eldon Trinity rescue boat and from Station 1 (Old Town) with a rescue craft, which is operated by a driver and a rescue swimmer. Rescue Craft 1 spotted the man in the water where Wisdom was struggling to hold onto the man and water rushed over his body.

As Rescue Craft 1 driver Mike Held came alongside the man, Bill Schimel, a 12-year veteran of Portland Fire & Rescue, slid into the water and attempted to pull the man onto the platform of the water craft.

With the current running swift and high, Schimel began struggling to hang onto the man and pull him to safety. As the craft drifted along with the current, Held called upon Policar to assist him in steadying the craft from shore while he helped Schimel pull the man onto the rescue craft.

"I knew that if I lost my grip on him, he would drift under a massive debris field of logs that was floating just 100 yards downstream and likely be pulled under," said Schimel. "In my 12 years as a firefighter, this was the most dangerous rescue I’ve ever taken part in."

Firefighter Held immediately returned to Station 21 where firefighter/paramedics administered aid to the man and he was transported to Oregon Health Sciences University. It is unknown how the man in his 30’s ended up on the water.

Contact Info: PIO Paul Corah 503-940-6003

Read the Portland Tribune article about this story here.

Read the Oregonian coverage of the incident here.

Randy In the News 1.25.12

Oregonian op ed written by Randy in response to Steve Duin's column.

Randy In the News 1.23.12

Atlantic Cities article about the Portland Loo.

Like the Portland Loo on Facebook here.

Portland Fire & Rescue Launch Aggressive Search for Missing Person in SE Portland House Fire

Portland firefighters were dispatched at 12:14 pm today to a residential fire at 8930 SE Rural Street. The first arriving crews reported smoke and fire showing from the basement of the two and a half story home.

Fire crews from Portland Station 11 (Lents), 25 (Woodstock), and 29 (Powellhurst) arrived on-scene and quickly advanced hoselines through the front door of the home through a stairway into the basement. Crews encountered moderate heat and smoke. During this time, crews were informed that there was a possible missing person inside the home and they began an aggressive search of the basement and first and second floors of the home.

During the search, firefighters determined that the fire had extended through the outside basement wall into the first and second floors. Working together, Truck crews opened up the interior and exterior walls and ventilated the roof to allow the trapped smoke to exit. This also provided firefighters with better visibility inside the home as they conducted their search and rescue efforts.

The owner of the home arrived and was convinced that her son was still inside the home, possibly in the basement. Firefighters continued searching the home without locating any trapped victims. Portland Fire Incident Commander Dan Buckner encouraged the mother to contact her son by cell phone, and she later confirmed that her son was safety away from the home.

Firefighters from Clackamas Fire Engine 5 arrived on-scene and were designated by Incident Commander Buckner as the Rapid Intervention Team (RIT), or the team of firefighters that are dedicated solely to search and rescue of other firefighters in distress.

An additional Portland truck and engine from Station 7 (Mill Park) were requested to the scene to bring further resources and expertise.

The fire is currently under investigation and there is extensive fire damage to all stories of the home.

Portland Fire & Rescue reminds citizens that fire and smoke can race through your home in seconds. Each year more than 4,000 Americans die and more than 25,000 are injured in fires that could have been prevented. To keep that from happening and know what to do if it does, make sure you have a working smoke alarm, have a home escape plan and practice it, and consider a residential sprinkler system.　

Contact Info: Public Information Officer Paul Corah, Media Pager: 503-940-6003

Randy In the News 1.19.12

Portland Tribune story about switching from quarterly to montly water and sewer bills.

Portland Fire & Rescue Safety Advisory: Downed Power Lines

Portland Fire and Rescue responded early this morning to the report of a downed power line at the intersection of NW Skyline Blvd and NW Thompson Road, just two blocks from Forest Heights Station 27. Upon arrival Engine 27 found a car on fire as a result of a downed power line that had fallen on top of it.

Fires caused by downed power lines create additional hazards for firefighters. The car that was on fire was still energized by the power line, making the use of water to directly extinguish the fire impossible. Efforts were concentrated on protecting nearby exposures.

Portland Fire reminds its citezens that contact with downed power lines could end tragically, and snowy conditions can hide the downed power line from view. Please be sure to maintain a safe distance to avoid contact with downed power lines. If you encounter a downed power line, call 9-1-1. Dispatchers will then make sure the proper resources respond.

Contact Info: PIO Paul Corah
Media Pager: (503) 940-6003

Portland's reservoirs: A bucket of cold water on a misleading campaign

Published: Friday, January 13, 2012, 4:00 AM

By Guest Columnist The Oregonian

By Randy Leonard

On Jan. 3, the In My Opinion piece "City need not waste $137 million on new reservoir" was co-authored by Kent Craford, lobbyist for the Portland Water Users Coalition. This represents the latest in a series of Washington, D.C.-style tactics to mislead the public into believing that the Water Bureau is either wasting the public's money or is engaged in inappropriate public projects.

The Portland Water Users Coalition is actually a special interest group composed of some of Portland's wealthiest individuals and corporations, including Harsch Investment Properties, American Property Management, Widmer Brothers Brewing, Hilton Portland & Executive Tower, Siltronic AG, Sapa, Darigold and Sunshine Dairy Foods.

Through the efforts of their lobbyist, Kent Craford, they have fought anything that they believe does not benefit them directly, including water and sewer programs that help low-income and senior citizens who have trouble paying their bills.

Now they claim that the construction of a second 50-million-gallon water storage tank at Powell Butte -- which will provide essential storage to Portland's water system -- is a wasteful, federally mandated project that need not be built if Portland would fight the feds harder.

As the members of the Water Users Coalition know, the new reservoir at Powell Butte is not mandated by the federal government. The city has planned since the 1980s to construct a second reservoir at Powell Butte because of the necessity of more "in town" water storage. Portlanders must have a reliable supply of water if any of our existing major water storage facilities fail, or if they are shut down for maintenance, seismic improvements and other serious structural work. In short, whether or not we are required to cover the reservoirs at Mount Tabor and Washington Park, the construction of this 50-million-gallon storage tank is essential.

While members of the Water Users Coalition are focused on improving their bottom lines, the Water Bureau is continuing a proud heritage of preparing for our future water needs by constructing projects that will ensure the reliable delivery of our most precious resource ... Bull Run water.

The Water Bureau also has a proud tradition of community service and involvement. From the early 1900s, when the Water Bureau's Dodge Park was a regular gathering place for Portlanders, until today, the Water Bureau has utilized its many assets to maximize public benefit of our facilities. Key examples include the bureau's seven Hydro Parks, which have been converted from fenced areas into open community spaces in neighborhoods all over Portland, and the bureau's partnerships with the East Portland Neighborhood Coalition and the Rose Festival, who both now use previously derelict Water Bureau buildings as their headquarters.

What the Portland Water Users Coalition calls misuse of the Water Bureau's assets is in reality community partnering. Using our assets to maximize public benefit and, simultaneously, to preserve prized community institutions should be a model for other utilities to follow, rather than touted as examples of how the wealthy might save money.

Portlanders should know the facts and the special interests behind "messaging" intended to manipulate our important public assets.

City Commissioner Randy Leonard oversees the Portland Water Bureau.

Portland Fire & Rescue Responds to an Early Morning Apartment Fire in NE Portland

At 4:23 am, Portland Fire & Rescue was dispatched to reports of smoke and flames coming from an apartment at 109 NE San Rafael. Firefighters from Portland Fire Station 13 (Lloyd District) arrived at the scene in less than four minutes. Firefighters immediately deployed hoselines and ladders to gain access to the second floor apartment and aggressively attacked the fire.

The occupant of the apartment reported that he was in the shower at the time of the fire. When he emerged, he noticed smoke and flames coming from the heating unit in the living room of his apartment. He immediately evacuated and called 9-1-1. The man suffered smoke inhalation and was treated by Portland firefighter/paramedics before he was transported to Emanuel Hospital for evaluation.

There are over 30 units in the apartment complex. During the fire, the main electrical line coming into the complex was compromised due to fire so the utility company shut off power to the complex.

"With temperatures dropping into the 20's, we are concerned for the well being of residents who will not have electricity or heat for an undetermined amount of time," said Battalion Chief Craig Funk. "Portland Fire is working with the Red Cross to temporarily relocate residents until electricity is restored."

Fire Investigators determined that the cause of the fire was electrical in nature. Damage is estimated at $30,000.

Portland Fire & Rescue reminds citizens to make sure all receptacles, switches and electrical components in your home are in good working order. Also, consider consulting a licensed electrician to provide an evaluation of such components. Worn receptacles and cord ends can provide resistance to electrical current creating excessive heat which can cause a fire.

Contact Info: Contact Public Information Officer Paul Corah, Media Pager: 503-940-6003

Portland Fire & Rescue responds after a man climbs a 50 foot tree in SE Portland

At 4:25 pm Portland Fire & Rescue responded, per police request, to SE 44th and Stark to reports of a man in a tree. At 4:30 pm, fire crews from Station 9 (Hawthorne District) and Station 1 (Old Town) arrived to find a man who had climbed roughly 40 to 50 feet up a tree and was yelling that he was Tre Arrow, a known activist.

Truck 1 positioned their apparatus for use of the aerial ladder, which has a bucket on the end that is used to transport firefighters and patients. After getting close to the man he claimed that he wanted media attention regarding a message he wished to communicate about nature and he did not want to leave the tree with the firefighters.

Crews quickly called for a representative from Project Respond, who works with mental health patients, to confirm that he was not suicidal. Once the representative was on scene firefighters accompanied her in the bucket back up to talk with the man. It was determined that he was not suicidal nor was he a danger to himself or others.

"Our number one priority is safety. Once we determined the man was not suicidal we did not want to take any action that could cause harm to him or to firefighters." said Chief Dan Buckner.

The owner of the property was contacted and gave permission for the man to be in the tree. Because he was not trespassing or a danger to anyone, fire crews soon returned in service but remain ready in case any changes occur at the scene. It is important for crews to return in-service and available for other emergencies as soon as an incident is stabilized. When a fire company is unavailable because they are on an incident in their own area, response times from adjacent stations increase due to travel times and other factors.

Fire crews cleared the scene at 5:47 pm. It was later confirmed by the man’s girlfriend that he was, in fact, Tre Arrow. More information will be given as it becomes available.

Pictures are courtesy of Dick Harris, Portland Fire & Rescue photographer.　

Contact Info: PIO AJ Schaffer, Media Pager (503)940-6003.