March 2024 Update  City of Portland invites community organizations to apply for Portland Votes 2024 Voter Education Grant Program In November 2024, Portland voters will use ranked-choice voting to elect one mayor, one auditor and three councilors per district (12 councilors total) by prioritizing their candidates. Portland Votes 2024 seeks to ensure that voters understand the new election method with non-partisan education. The Portland Votes 2024 grant application period is now open on the Portland Votes 2024 website. The grant program’s focus is to contract with community partners who are trusted messengers for hard-to-reach voters. The grant recipients will assist in providing nonpartisan voter education materials and activities to communities that the City of Portland has a hard time reaching, as well as those Portlanders who have historically lacked access to city decision-making. Read more  Join a community listening session to shape future city council operations The Government Transition Advisory Committee and City staff are inviting Portlanders to participate in guiding the creation of recommendations for the 2025 City Council. As Portland moves forward with implementing the November 2022 voter-approved charter amendments, the Government Transition Advisory Committee (GTAC) and City staff are preparing recommendations to the 2025 City Council to help lay the groundwork for a collaborative and responsive council. They are seeking community input to inform an initial draft of recommendations to be shared for public comment in June. Read more  Construction in City Hall council chambers and offices commence soon The City of Portland Facilities team is managing multiple projects to renovate City Hall and address longstanding deferred maintenance. On Feb. 21, 2024, council approved agenda item 174, which allows the City of Portland Facilities team to immediately move forward to finalize the construction contract with the Construction Manager / General Contractor (CM/GC), Howard S. Wright, and begin construction work. Read more About the City of Portland Transition Project In November 2022, Portland voters approved Ballot Measure 26-228 that directs the City of Portland to implement these three connected changes by Jan. 1, 2025: Allow voters to rank candidates in order of preference, using ranked-choice voting. Establish four geographic districts, with three city council members elected to represent each district – expanding city council to a total of 12 members. Establish a city council that focuses on setting policy and engaging with community, transitioning day-to-day oversight of bureaus to a mayor elected citywide and a professional city administrator. Need access to information or services? The City of Portland ensures meaningful access to City programs, services, and activities to comply with Civil Rights Title VI and ADA Title II laws and reasonably provides: translation, interpretation, modifications, accommodations, alternative formats, auxiliary aids and services. To request these services, call 311 for Relay Service or TTY: 711. Traducción e Interpretación | Biên Dịch và Thông Dịch | अनुवादन तथा व्याख्या 口笔译服务 | Устный и письменный перевод | Turjumaad iyo Fasiraad Письмовий і усний переклад | Traducere și interpretariat | Chiaku me Awewen Kapas Translation and Interpretation: 311    |
Help shape Portland’s new city council
The Government Transition Advisory Committee and the City’s Transition Team are making recommendations to the 2025 City Council to help lay the groundwork for a collaborative and responsive council. Your insights on accessing council members, staying informed about key topics, expectations for district engagement, and public input in council and committee meetings will inform our June draft recommendations.
Join us for one of the following listening session!
March 14, 5-7p.m., Virtual session on Zoom
March 19, 5:30-7:30p.m., East Portland Community Center
March 21, 5-7p.m., Register for the virtual session on Zoom
All sessions offer the same content including an educational presentation followed by an hour of small group discussion. All sessions will include interpretation in ASL and Spanish with additional languages upon request.
We will have a recording of our presentation and a survey with the questions asked in discussion posted at portland.gov/transition. The survey will open Friday, March 8 and will close on Thursday, April 4.
Get to know your new government! Sign up for transition updates!
North Portland Neighborhood March 2024
| Welcome to the NPNS Newsletter. Here we highlight exciting events, valuable resources, and amazing projects taking place in North Portland. This newsletter is published the first week of the month. If you have something you’d like us to feature, share the details with NPNS by the last Friday of the month before your event so we can make sure it gets posted. |
| NEWS & EVENTS |
 A Conversation about Community Belonging, and ViolenceJoin Oregon Humanities’ Consider This, at the Alberta Rose Theater on Wednesday, March 13, for a conversation with Father Greg Boyle. Boyle is the founder of Homeboy Industries, a gang intervention, rehab, and reentry program based in Los Angeles. Learn More |
 Beach Elementary School Tree PlantingUrban Forestry is seeking volunteers to help students plant 29 trees at Beach Elementary School on Tuesday, March 19. Learn More |
 Apply Now for Community Activities Fund The Office of Community & Civic Life supports neighborhood associations and other community organizations through the Community Activities Fund(CAF). The CAF reimburses volunteer-run organizations in the southwest, north, east neighborhood districts for money spent on community-building and civic engagement activities. Eligible organizations in these areas are invited to apply.Applications are open through May 31 or until funds are gone, whichever comes first. This is a reimbursement program for expenses that are planned or have incurred from July 2023 and June 30, 2024. Learn More |
 Portland Votes 2024 Grant Program is OpenThe City of Portland has announced Portland Votes 2024 Voter Education Grant Program to prepare voters for ranked-choice voting in upcoming elections. With a focus on non-partisan education, community organizations are invited to apply for grants to assist in voter outreach, particularly targeting historically underrepresented groups. A total of $210,000 is available across various grant categories. Eligible organizations must meet specific criteria and commit to voter education activities. Apply by April 30. Learn more |
 Exciting Partnership OpportunityHabitat for Humanity ReStores is looking to team up with Neighborhood Associations for a Saturday donation event this spring! ReStores accept new and gently used home items, selling them at discounted prices to support local homebuilding programs. Habitat for Humanity will bring a ReStore truck to your neighborhood for easy drop-offs from 9 am to 12 pm. You provide a parking spot; Habitat will provide flyers and digital materials. For more information contact businessrelations@pdxrestrore.org or 503-715-7706 |
 St. Johns Spring Fling and Day of the ChildrenJoin your St. Johns neighbors on Saturday, April 27, on the plaza for a day of fun activities and local shopping. This can’t miss event includes, music, arts and crafts, a drag queen story time and more! Learn More |
 $3 Million Secured for George ParkCommissioner Ryan is teaming up with Portland Parks & Rec, Portland Parks Foundation, and The Kidz Outside to revitalize George Park. A budget of $3 million in Park System Development Charges will enhance the park’s amenities and capacity, aligning with the neighborhood’s growth. Situated at N. Burr Ave. and N. Fesseden St., George park is set for a neighborhood-friendly upgrade! Learn More |
 District Coalition Offices Model ChangingIn 2024, Civic Life will streamline the District Coalition Offices (DCO) model, consolidating from 7 to 4 service areas. Nonprofit-run DCOs will support these areas, aligned with Portland’s new voting districts for equitable representation. Civic Life’s Neighborhood Program will provide funding based on population to provide consistent staffing and services. This change aims to enhance advocacy for Portlanders, foster city council engagement, and maintain neighborhood representation. Learn More |
| Resources |
 FY 2024-25 Budget Community Listening SessionsCity Council is listening! Join the community and City Council for virtual events and hearings focused on the City of Portland budget for FY 2024-25. Learn More |
 Income-Qualified Utility Savings PGE’s Income Qualified Bill Discount Program offers a monthly discount off energy use. Eligibility is based on household and income. Learn MoreMultnomah’ County Weatherization Program can reduce energy bills and improve indoor air quality. Free service are available for people with limited incomes. Learn MoreThe City of Portland’s Bureau of Environmental Services and the Water Bureau offer several financial assistance programs to income-qualified homeowners. Learn More |
 Update your Neighborhood Association ContactsIs your neighborhood association contact information up-to-date? If there have been changes to your contact details or leadership roles within your neighborhood association, please take a moment to provide us with the latest information. Keeping our database current helps us maintain effective communication, ensuring timely updates, event invitations, and important announcements. Thank you for helping us keep our neighborhood association contacts accurate and relevant! Update Contacts |
 North Portland Events CalendarThe North Portland Events Calendar, coordinated by Kevin Micalizzi of Arbor Lodge, is a centralized Google Calendar aimed to boost community engagement by showcasing and coordinating events from various neighborhood associations. Become an editor to add your events. For invitations, email Kevin at kevin@arborlodgeneigborhood.com. Let’s make our events shine together! Thank you, Kevin, for this fantastic initiative! View Events Calendar |
 Zoning & Land UseView public notices for North Portland |
 Portland COAD The Portland Community Organizations Active in Disaster (COAD) is a network of community organizations that prepare for and respond to emergencies and disasters like heatwaves, winter weather and earthquakes. Many COAD partners are a trusted source of information for their communities and are providing lifeline services every week. Virtual meetings are held the first Tuesday of the month from 3 – 4 pm. Sign up for the COAD Bulletinto get the link. |
 PSACPublic Safety Action Committee (PSAC) is a monthly meeting held to address local North Portland resident and business concerns related to public safety and livability issues. Virtual meetings are held the third Thursday of the month from 7 – 8:30 pm. Subscribe to mailing list to get link. |
 Interested in Hosting a Candidate Forum? Get the step-by-step Nonprofit’s guide to planning, publicizing and hosting a candidate forum. |
 Beyond North PortlandWant to stay up to date with other parts of the City and Civic Life? Click on the links to subscribe to East Portland Community Office Newsletter, Southwest Portland Newsletter and the Office of Community and Civic Life Newsletter. |
| Neighborhood Association Meetings |
| 2024 meeting schedules for all Neighborhood Associations have been posted to the Civic Life website which satisfies Public Meeting Notice requirements of Neighborhood Association Bylaws, Civic Life Standards for Neighborhood Associations and Oregon Statutes Chapter 65 – Nonprofit Corporations. Your help in maintaining a current and useful Neighborhood Program website is appreciated. Please use the link found on your neighborhood page to submit a request to add or update your neighborhood association meeting(s) to the City Events Calendar. |
| Confirm scheduled meetings, locations, and instructions to join virtual meetings by clicking on the neighborhood |
| Arbor LodgeThursday, March 21, 7 pmOverlook Monday, March 11, 6:30 pm |
| BridgetonTuesday, March 12, 6:30 pm (Board Meeting)PiedmontThursday, March 21, 7 pm |
| Cathedral Park Tuesday, March 12, 7 pm PortsmouthMonday, February 11, 5:30 pm (Board Meeting) |
| East ColumbiaWednesday, March 13, 7 pmSt. JohnsMonday, March 11, 7 pm |
| Hayden IslandThursday, March 17, 7 pmUniversity Park Monday, March 11, 7 pm (Board Meeting) |
| Kenton Wednesday, March 13, 7 pm (Board Meeting) |
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 Copyright (C) 2024 Office of Community & Civic Life. All rights reserved. |
Bridgeton Neighborhood news
1. Plant Share – In case you didn’t see this on our FB Page, we have an upcoming event on March 16 in our Western Half, outside Wake Cafe/Josie’s Grocery. Attached flyer can be printed and posted around our neighborhood. We are not printing flyers for a full neighborhood delivery so if you know of a neighbor who loves gardening – or even likes it – please share this invitation with them.
2. Levee Design: Please take the 2024 PEN 2 Landowner Outreach Survey. There are a couple of key questions that ask for a narrative answer. Besides the obvious requests for flood & earthquake safety, consider adding requests for: • Full sidewalk on Bridgeton Rd. & levee path to I-5; • Bury power & utility lines; • Public water access. Share the survey!
3. The City Repair Project email message below has ideas for making neighbors more communal. While we already have so many community events, we are lacking in community spaces. Maybe something might get triggered by attending this meeting? Feel free to check it out yourself or share with a neighbor who might be interested. Let us know your ideas!
4. BNA Communications – We are starting a campaign to increase newsletter subscribers in our neighborhood. SUBSCRIBE HERE
Waterside newsletter: Clare is gathering items for the March edition. Please email her pictures or ideas directly at: baxterclare@icloud.com.
BNA Website: http://www.livebridgeton.com – Barbara has been organizing and improving our site including adding Board meeting minutes here
FB/BridgetonPDX – Like the group page, Share with neighbors, post pics and neighborhood items.
BNA Board members – Let me know if there are any additional Board agenda items you would like to add to our next meeting. It will be at Clare’s house – in person and on Zoom – on March 12, 6:30 – 8:00pm.
Thanks all, enjoy Spring!
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  Dear community champions, City Repair is thrilled to invite you to submit your proposals for this year’s Village Building Convergence (VBC), our annual weeklong gathering to celebrate and transform our city through placemaking projects! Placemaking are projects that inspire people to collectively reimagine public spaces and create gathering spaces at the heart of your neighborhood. We are looking for community projects that will bring vibrancy, connection, and uniqueness to our neighborhoods. We welcome proposals at all levels, whether you already have a project in mind or are just starting out. We will be kicking off this season with a VBC Placemaking Project info session and potluck March 10 from 2-4 pm at Bridgespace. Come mingle, meet your neighbors, and hatch plans for our communities! RSVP Now  Cost?Free (Just bring a snack or beverage to share!) When? Sunday, March 10 from 2-4 PM Where? Bridge Space 133 SE Madison St Portland, OR 97214 Learn more or submit your project at https://villagebuildingconvergence.com/2024-projects Reach out to us at info@cityrepair.org Let’s turn our neighborhoods into vibrant hubs! Cheers, City Repair ©2024 City Repair | 1421 SE Division Street, Portland, OR 97202 |
East Columbia Neighborhood Association 