ORDINANCE NO. 177089

* Authorize an inter-governmental agreement with Portland School District No. 1 under which the school district will allow City of Portland police officers to use the Whitaker School for training. (Ordinance)

The City of Portland ordains:

Section 1. The Council finds:

 1.  Police officers require regular tactical training. Using simunition (paint ball) weapons in the training process is helpful in identifying weaknesses in tactical responses of officers.

 2.  Portland Public School District #1 has agreed to allow the Police to use the vacant Whitaker Middle School at no cost for training using simunition weapons.

3.  Whitaker Middle School is vacant due to concerns of high levels of radon and mold found in the school. Recently Wise Steps – Safety and Industrial Hygiene Consulting (Consultant) has tested the building for radon and molds. They provided a letter stating “there is no particular problem within the school that would adversely affect the health of the police officers during training programs.”

4.  Oregon OHSA conducted 14 tests for radon in the school and found all 14 samples to be below permissible exposure limits.

5.  Consultant also states “The estimated time in the school for the trainers is 6-8 weeks for 8-10 hours per day and for the trainees, 1 day for 8-10 hours. Neither group would have enough exposure to radon to result in a health problem.”

6.  Consultant refers to a report by Paul Carlson and Associates. What Consultant finds remarkable about the report is the lack of mold in the air and dust in the occupied areas sampled within the school.

7.  The Police Bureau wishes to use Whitaker Middle School for tactical training using simunition weapons.

NOW, therefore, the Council directs:

a.  The Mayor and City Auditor are hereby authorized to enter into an agreement between Portland Public School District #1 and the City of Portland as detailed in the document attached as Exhibit A.

Section 2. The Council declares that an emergency exists because delay in proceeding with this agreement will unnecessarily deprive the City of Portland and Portland Public School District #1 of the mutual benefits of this agreement; therefore this ordinance shall be in force and effect from and after its passage by the Council.

Passed by Council: DEC 04 2002

Mayor Vera Katz

Prepared by; Steven Hendricks          Gary Blackmer

November 25, 2002            Auditor of the City of Portland

                 By /S/ Susan Parsons

                 Deputy

BACKING SHEET INFORMATION

AGENDA NO. 1422-2002

ORDINANCE/RESOLUTION/COUNCIL DOCUMENT NO. 177089