RESOLUTION No. 36405

Endorse the River Concept as guidance for the development of the River Plan / North Reach (Resolution).

WHEREAS, in November 1998 the Portland City Council (Substitute Resolution 35742) directed the Bureau of Planning to do a comprehensive update of the Willamette Greenway Plan and implementing regulations; and,

WHEREAS, in September 2000 Mayor Vera Katz launched a community conversation to develop a vision for the Willamette River, and more than 1000 Portlanders from throughout the city participated; and,

WHEREAS, in March 2001 the Portland City Council endorsed the River Renaissance Vision (Resolution 35978) as a call to action for City government, businesses and industry, community organizations, neighborhoods and other agencies to revitalize the Willamette River as the centerpiece of Portland. The vision includes five themes: a clean and healthy river; a prosperous working harbor; Portland’s front yard; vibrant waterfront districts and neighborhoods; and partnerships, leadership and education; and,

WHEREAS, in December 2004 the City Council adopted the River Renaissance Strategy (Substitute Resolution 36276 as amended) that called for the update of the Willamette Greenway Plan, established policy guidance and the following River Renaissance principles:

▪  Consider the interrelated nature of the city and region’s economic, natural, social and cultural systems, striving to optimize benefits in each of these areas;

▪  Allocate the responsibility for the costs and impacts of accomplishing the River Renaissance Vision among public and private stakeholders in an equitable way;

▪  Develop meaningful measures to monitor progress and success;

▪  Consider the effects of current decisions on future generations, to preserve their choices and opportunities, and to reduce future costs and liabilities;

▪  Rely on civic leadership to demonstrate the River Renaissance approach through words, actions and public investments; and

▪  Target investment to maximize benefits and spur innovation; and,

WHEREAS, in February 2005 the City hired the first River Renaissance Initiative Manager to develop and manage an integrated river work plan for the City; and

WHEREAS, in August 2005 Planning Director Gil Kelley and Planning Commissioner and River Plan Committee Chair Don Hanson appointed a 7-member River Plan Committee to guide the development of the River Plan, an update to the Willamette Greenway Plan, zoning map, zoning code, design guidelines, a working harbor reinvestment strategy, and other implementation strategies; and,

WHEREAS, throughout Fall 2005 the River Plan Committee reviewed, provided comments on the River Concept and on January 17, 2005, voted to forwarded the River Concept to the Planning Commission; and,

WHEREAS, on February 28, 2006, the Planning Commission held a public hearing and endorsed the River Concept; and,

WHEREAS, by the date of filing, Bureau of Planning staff had reached out to hundreds of Portlanders in person and thousands of Portlanders electronically as noted in Exhibit B; and,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that City Council endorse the River Concept, Exhibit A, as amended by Exhibit C, as a guide for the development of the River Plan / North Reach; and,

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council ask the Bureau of Planning to revise the River Concept as part of the planning for the South and Central Reaches; and,

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council asks the Bureau of Planning to include in the River Plan an update of key Comprehensive Plan Goals and Policies to reflect the essence of the policy guidance;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this resolution be classified as non-binding city policy by the Auditor's Office".

BACKING SHEET INFORMATION

AGENDA NO. 538-2006

ORDINANCE/RESOLUTION/COUNCIL DOCUMENT NO. 36405