Commissioner Leonard announced his selections for this years Spirit of Portland Awards. This years honorees will receive their awards on October 27th from 7-9 pm, with a reception preceding at 6 pm in City Council Chambers in City Hall, 1221 SW 4th Avenue.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Sara Petrocine 503.823.3005
Commissioner Randy Leonard will not seek re-election
Portland, OR— After careful consideration, I have decided not to seek re-election to the Portland City Council.
At the end of my current term, January 1, 2013, I will have worked for the City of Portland for 35 years starting as a front-line firefighter and ending my service 18 months from now as a Portland City Commissioner.
I will have served on the City Council for 10 years at the end of my most recent term. I also served 9 years in the Oregon Legislature in both the State House of Representatives and the State Senate. I was the President of the Portland Firefighters Association for 12 years, nearly half of the time I worked at the Portland Fire Bureau.
Since my first election to the city council in 2002, I have strived to make the city a better place for all Portlanders. Some of my accomplishments that I am most proud of include:
When I ran for the City Council, the City's permitting agency was so dysfunctional that it was driving good employers like Columbia Sportswear out of town. During my campaign, I promised to reform the City's permitting system to make sure that everyone who needs a permit for a deck, a remodeling project, or a skyscraper finds a helpful professional at the City who is empowered to help them achieve their goals. When I became Commissioner in Charge of the Bureau of Development Services in 2002, I made sweeping changes to the leadership of the organization, and directed the creation of a culture that emphasizes customer service as the foundation of how the City's permitting bureau does business. Since that time, Portland has been recognized both locally and nationally as an excellent model for permitting, and I was very proud that the City received an award from the Home Builders Association for the permitting system improvements I implemented.
Service Coordination Team/Project 57
I led the effort on the City Council to open a wing of the Justice Center jail for the exclusive use of the Portland Police Bureau to help address rampant drug related crime in the Downtown core that was exhausting the city's resources as offenders would be arrested and released within a matter of hours because of a lack of available jail space. Coupled with the newly available jail beds, we secured drug and alcohol treatment services for offenders, and instituted regular missions in parts of the City where crime was its highest. This innovative effort yielded unprecedented success in reducing crime by helping the offenders treat the underlying issues that were drawing them into drug use and crime. Today the program boasts many "graduates" who have turned their lives around because of this program.
A universal challenge that cities around the country face is how to provide public restrooms in a cost effective way that is also safe and sanitary. In Portland when people had no place to go, businesses in the downtown area would regularly find urine and feces on the sidewalk. The circumstance was both a nuisance to small businesses, and a failure on the part of the City in providing an outlet for the most basic human need. To address these issues, I worked with a designer to create a durable, low-cost restroom design that provided a minimum level of privacy and a maximum level of security, and received the City’s very first patent ever, Patent # US D622, 408 S for the unique design. Today, there are 4 Portland Loos in service in the City with several more planned, and the Cities of San Diego and Victoria, B.C. are in talks to purchase several loos from the City of Portland.
I led the two year effort that resulted in an agreement to renovate Jeld-Wen Stadium and bring a Major League Soccer team to Portland. The protection for the City embedded in the structure of the deal were heralded around the country as an outstanding deal for the City of Portland, and the Portland Timbers are already exceeding expectations on the field and in ticket sales. I am very proud to be known among Timbers fans as "The Negotiator."
Strengthening Police Oversight
When it became clear to me that the City's Independent Police Review function lacked the necessary authorities to provide strong oversight of the Police, I wrote and passed an ordinance that gives the City's Office of Independent Police Review the access and authority necessary to make sure that Portland's police are held to a high standard of accountability.
Here is a list of just some of the other accomplishments I am proud of:
I have been honored to serve Portland in the variety of capacities I have. I still have much work to do in the next 18 months.
Thank you….Randy Leonard
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Download the release announcing Commissioner Leonard's decision
Today marks the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day, a day of celebration of the political, economic and social achievements of women all over the world, past and present. The first International Women's Day events were held in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland in 1911. 100 years later, International Women's Day has become a globally celebrated day across many countries. However, activity has not always been on the increase. Australian entrepreneur and women's campaigner Glenda Stone said:
"A decade ago International Women's Day was disappearing. Activity in Europe, where International Women's Day actually began, was very low. Providing a global online platform helped sustain and accelerate momentum for this important day. Holding only a handful of events ten years ago, the United Kingdom has now become the global leader for International Women's Day activity, followed sharply by Canada, United States and Australia. 2011 will see thousands of events globally for the first time."
Today, social networking has been a helpful tool to fuel International Women's Day activities. International Women’s Day become a mainstream celebration of women's achievements around the world.
Visit www.internationalwomensday.com for more information about International Women’s Day.
The State of Oregon’s food industry has been operating under food codes that have not been updated since 1999.
The Oregon Health Authority (OHA), the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) and food service stakeholders are working to update the statewide food code for Oregon. Whether you are a food processor, grocery store or restaurant, everyone will be held to the same food safety standards and criteria, including food carts.
Given the proliferation of food carts, the parties are focused on regulations that promote health and safety for food cart owners and patrons alike.
For more information on Oregon’s food code review, click here.
Commissioner Leonard wrote the following letter to his Council colleagues Wednesday outlining the protocols that were agreed to by the City, the US Attorney, and the FBI when the City withdrew from the Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) in 2005. The protocols were developed to insure the free flow of information and resources as necessary to thwart terrorist threats. The resolution outlines those protocols, which led to a successful partnership among the City, FBI, and US Attorney in apprehending the suspected Pioneer Courthouse Square terrorist.
Colleagues-
What would have happened that didn’t happen in the successful apprehension of the Pioneer Courthouse Square suspect if the City were a member of the Joint Terrorism Task Force?
That is the first question that should be asked before anyone in a position of responsibility should suggest that the attempted bombing of the tree lighting ceremony in Pioneer Courthouse Square demands that the City re-join the Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF).
I am deeply concerned at the near universal mischaracterization of the City Council’s decision to withdraw from the JTTF in 2005.
The resolution passed in 2005 (attached) contained thoughtful protocols within which the Portland Police Bureau, the FBI and the US Attorneys Office will work as partners to investigate any terrorist threat made towards the City of Portland.
Here is the list of those protocols, taken directly from the 2005 resolution:
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this resolution does not prohibit the cooperation and collaboration between the Portland Police Bureau and Federal Government on specific cases or investigations; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that with respect to the Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF), the Mayor and the FBI have agreed that the Portland Police Bureau officers currently assigned to the JTTF will be removed from JTTF and reassigned to the City’s Criminal Intelligence Unit (CIU) with direct oversight and supervision of City officials within 90 days after passage of this resolution;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that to ensure Citizen Security and Safety
• Portland Police Bureau officers will continue cooperating with all federal partners to insure the security and safety of the city,
• Portland Police Bureau/CIU officers will contact the FBI immediately with any information regarding possible terrorist threats,
• The Police Chief will remain a member of the JTTF Executive Group, which is briefed on the work of the JTTF.
• The Police Chief will brief the Mayor immediately after each Executive Group meeting, and
• The FBI Special Agent in Charge has agreed to immediately contact the Mayor and Police Chief for briefings regarding terrorist threats.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that regarding Security Clearances
• Portland officers currently assigned to JTTF will retain Top Secret clearances, however, those clearances will not be used except during a critical incident or imminent terrorist threat, as determined by the FBI,
• The FBI has agreed to brief the Mayor the Police Chief regarding any such incidents or threats, and
• The Police Chief will retain Secret clearance, and
• The Mayor will apply for Secret clearance.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that regarding Communication and Collaboration between City and Federal Agents
• The need for assistance from PPB/CIU officers on JTTF terrorism investigations will be determined by the FBI on a case-by-case basis,
• The participation of PPB/CIU officers will be limited to Secret-level investigations and will be consistent with ORS 181.575 and ORS 181.850,
• The Mayor and Police Chief will provide oversight of PPB officers during these investigations,
• The City and the FBI have agreed that if the City determines that participation by PPB/CIU officers may violate ORS 181.575 or ORS 181.850, the City may withdraw its officers from participation, and
• Terror Alert information will continue to be shared with City officials by the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that regarding Training and Assistance
• The FBI has agreed to provide PPB officers with roll call training, supervisory and management training on terrorist-related issues.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that regarding the Portland Criminal Intelligence Unit
• The CIU will not conduct independent terrorist investigations,
• The CIU will contact the FBI immediately with terrorism information, and
• The CIU will consult with the FBI on questionable cases as to who has jurisdiction and the FBI will determine jurisdiction.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Mayor, the Police Chief and the FBI will meet in six months to review and evaluate their operations under this Resolution.
It is clear from the 2005 resolution that the same coordination between the FBI and the Portland Police Bureau is required when a specific terrorist threat exists whether the City of Portland is a member of the JTTF or not.
In fact, the Portland Police Bureau did cooperate and work with the FBI beginning this past September when it became clear to the FBI that Portland was the target of a potential terrorist act.
Given this information, I hope that we can each do our part to dispel the myth that has been promoted by some to the public that the Portland Police Bureau was not fully engaged with the FBI in the investigation and arrest of the suspected Pioneer Courthouse Square terrorist.
If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact me.
Thank you….Randy
See the full text of the Council's 2005 resolution on the Joint Terrorism Task Force.
The sign will be officially unveiled November 26!
The inaugural lighting of the new Portland Oregon sign is a week away. The City of Portland anticipates the new sign to light up, warm up and kick off the holiday season.
Did you know?...
Back in November 26, 1896 (114 years ago), citizens of Downtown Portland, stood at the corner of SW Third Street and SW Yamhill to watch letters light up letter by letter to spell out the name “Cordray” by electricity. It was an electrical phenomenon at the time and an amazing attention grabber for the owner of the Cordray Theater.
This little tidbit came straight from the Oregon Almanac 1940. No lie!