Comments on: Donations requested for storm-water facilities

By: Jayson

Jayson — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 21:22:20 +0000

“nativePDX”, you attempt to inject ridiculous accusations and conclusions into every comment you make. The conclusion is always – density mandates are ill-planned and ill-advised. You can make whatever false conclusions you want, but this story has nothing to do with it. The City of Portland is moving forward with the Big Dig project, which was planned some time ago) and simultaneously doing what it can to minimize the need for future expansions of the sewer pipes (for the next 50-100 years – very, very long range). Ironically, the two most intense redevelopment areas you cite – South Waterfront and the Pearl (both on the west side of the river) have little to no impact on the sewer overflows, which have chronically plagued the eastside. There has been little population growth on the inner eastside because of declining household sizes.

I would suggest researching this topic of density to a normal person with an open mind, but with you? What use is it when you approach a topic with a set conclusion?

By: nativePDX

nativePDX — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 12:39:39 +0000

The problem is the density mandates and infill that Portland and Metro are forcing on us.
This was poorly planned and the sewers are over flowing because the Sewers should have been built before the all the infill, the Pearl and South Waterfrount etc.

It seems to be ok when Portland dumps raw sewage into the river because of the Poor Planning choices.

By: Nathalie Weinstein

Nathalie Weinstein — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 18:51:53 +0000

Brenda, You can check out the plan for rolling out Greenbucks here: http://www.portlandonline.com/auditor/index.cfm?c=50265&a=303648 Like you said, I just didn't have the space to fit it all in. It looks like BES will have the school districts register each stormwater facility, and then it will determine how much funding each district gets based on the amount of stormwater facilities.

By: Michael McCulloch AIA

Michael McCulloch AIA — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 18:27:25 +0000

Now that these rain gardens are in place there is a teaching/learning opportunity for the students and volunteers at each school. I hope we can encourage the local beneficiaries – the school and community surrounding – to take responsibility for their local environments.

In addition this volunteer force could add plant propagation to the rain gardens. By establishing another community project based at the school it could strengthen the neighborhood while it educates. Let’s not abdicate the responsibility for making these rain gardens viable to the school district. And the teaching staff are already overloaded. Why not work with the PTAs and community organizations to adopt these gardens and engage the students?

By: Brenda Ray Scott, CFRE

Brenda Ray Scott, CFRE — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 17:34:29 +0000

While I applaud the initiative taken to keep the school maintenance funded especially around the bio-swales and green roofs, I am strongly opposed to BES managing this program. If the program benefits the schools, then it should be managed by the schools with the donations being managed by a conservation organization or some other 501(c)(3) operating foundation i.e., nonprofit.

“About 5 percent of the money from the Greenbucks program will be diverted for program administration and community education.” I think a better word to describe this part of the process is allocated i.e., ” . . . Greenbucks program will be allocated . . . ”

I also have concerns about creating confusion for residents paying their utilities bills:

To the best of my knowledge, BES is not eligible to offer donors a receipt – as required by the IRS – substantiating the “donation” as a contribution made to a charitable organization i.e., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

Some will perceive that they must donate and that not donating will somehow impact their water service and the status of their account.

Also, how will the funds be distributed? Is there an RFP process in place where the school districts are asked to prepare proposals requesting a particular amount of funding for a particular project. Will the funding be delivered based on a ratio or formula based on the number of students in a district or the number of properties?

Perhaps these details were addressed in the program planning and were not included by the reporter or editor because of space considerations.

I’d be delighted to read a response to my post. Mr. Marriott? Ms. Weinstein?

By: Brian

Brian — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 16:38:43 +0000

You’ve got to be kidding me!!!

When the “donations” don’t come flooding in, will this be yet another CofP excuse for raping the water/sewer bill?

Where is the waste of space Blogmistress on this one?