The Portland Plan Advisory Group (PPAG)

February 8^th, 2010

The key issues represent a synthesis of the Background Reports. The purpose of this meeting is to tap the collective knowledge of the PPAG to determine if these are the trends, issues, and opportunities that will matter to Portland’s future?

Prosperity & Business Success

Create jobs, support neighborhood prosperity and promote economically, environmentally and socially sustainable industries.

•  Portland lags in share of regional job growth – we have 40% of the jobs, but recently have only captured 11% of the new jobs.

•  Metro’s midrange forecast is for 150,000 new jobs by 2035; an average annual growth rate of 1.3%.

•  Institutional sectors (e.g., hospitals and universities, etc.) are growing fastest. In the 2035 forecast, the institutional sector continues to be the leading growth sector.

•  Traded sector firms drive the region’s prosperity by bringing income and jobs into the region that serve markets elsewhere.

•  Four target industries in the Economic Development Strategy: advanced manufacturing (metals), software, active wear and clean technology.

•  Shortfalls in developable land for industrial and institutional growth to meet 2035 demand.

•  Portlanders spend a lot of money on energy, and much of that money leaves the local economy because almost none of energy is produced in Oregon.

•  Still, energy utilities are one of Portland’s biggest traded sector specializations, which bring income and jobs into the local economy.

•  Portland’s median household income lags other comparable West Coast cities

•  Household income differences from the median disproportionately impact minority households and have declined in real terms from 2000-2008.

Education & Skill Development

Provide opportunities for Portlanders to develop skills and knowledge needed for satisfying lives and create a well-trained and educated workforce.

•  There are six school districts in Portland.

•  High school graduation rates are low – 61% of students graduate on-time.

•  Low-income and minority students face an achievement gap.

•  ‘Mid-County’ districts growing rapidly.

•  Signs over the last two years that the pattern of declining enrollment for Portland Public Schools may be ending.

•  Student populations at Portland metro area schools are diversifying.

•  School facilities suffer from years of deferred maintenance.

•  Schools and neighborhoods benefit from city/school district collaboration.

•  Community access to school facilities is important issue.

Neighborhoods & Housing

Promote affordable and diverse housing options in livable neighborhoods

•  Portland captures a big part of the regional housing market (36% market capture 1997-2008).

•  Metro forecasts 105,000 - 136,000 new households for Portland by 2035.

•  Housing development requires both zoning and infrastructure capacity and market need. City has more than enough zoning capacity to meet demand. We are checking on the infrastructure capacity of all of those places with zoning capacity.

•  We also need to confirm market and community acceptance/desire for level of development in the existing Comprehensive Plan.

•  Metro forecasts suggest that the Central City will see the highest growth in demand for housing – nearly 277% growth.

•  For the last five years, 66% of new construction has been multifamily apartments, condos, and townhouses. This trend is likely to continue.

•  The neighborhoods with best access to jobs, transit and services have become the most expensive.

•  Since 2003, housing prices have risen faster than incomes; putting the median priced home out of reach of households with the median family income.

•  Between 2000-2007, monthly rental housing costs increased 23 percent and renter’s incomes increased only 5 percent.

•  The combined housing and transportation costs leave lower income households “cost burdened”

•  Weatherization of housing units is not just about "sustainability”. Retrofitting older homes for energy efficiency will be an important aspect of maintaining affordable housing in coming decades.

Equity, Civic Engagement & Quality of Life

Continue Portland’s legacy of civic engagement and active community life.

•  Portlanders value community connections.

•  There is a general recognition that public services and facilities are not equitably distributed.

•  Inequity is described in terms of income, ethnicity and geography. There is not a measuring system to assess equity nor is their agreement about the relative significance of different forms of inequality.

•  Civic engagement and volunteerism are core values.

•  One type of civic engagement does not fit all.

•  The role of neighborhood associations in decision-making is a common question.

•  Prosperity gap - minorities are not benefitting as much when Portland has economic success.

•  City bureaus are improving methods to assess infrastructure needs, including new facilities, maintenance of existing as well as the inequitable distribution.

•  Portland Plan can help to update or redefine the division of urban service responsibilities between the City of Portland and Multnomah County.