Comments

1
He plans to get all that done in 100 days. That is ambitious.
2
It hard to make any real comment on this list because it references a bunch of different projects I can't find any information on. That may have been Adams' intent, I don't know. If I was a paid reporter, I'd start requesting whatever info I could get on any of these projects, and move on from there... Here are a few quick things I noticed, though:

His education plan seems to rest largely on actions taken by Metro, which he has no real control over. It also sounds like the kind of planing every other mayor talked about during their campaign, but never got around to.

His economic plan talks about establishing a signature retail street. I have no idea what this means, but after the Burnside/Couch couplet, I can only imagine.
3
Trim your cynicism when you get that haircut - most of the items on this list are VERY much for real.
Reporters may have to adjust to reporting on a city government that really makes things happen. (Sidenote: it appears that the whole Council is energized and team-mobilized as never before, so in addition to Sam's list you'll probably see Nick doing hot new stuff with parks, Dan with progressive initiatives on policing, etc. etc.)
If I were the City Hall press corps I would (after getting that haircut) follow up on the very tangible action items on these lists and substantiate what they mean for specific neighborhoods. Simultaneously, the Mercury should cease its frequent aspersions on actress Jennifer Aniston and instead focus on the question of why the Woody Harrelson movie "Management," partly filmed in Portland's Lone Fir Cemetery in 2007, still has not been released. Thank you and now please get to work.
4
Thanks, David, for weighing in. You certainly paint a rosy picture of the next few years.

For clarification: "Dan with progressive initiatives on policing." Do you have any inkling as to what they might be, at this stage?

For follow-up: Do you have any insights as to why Management is yet to be released?
5
The list of action items fails to mention one goal that is very nearly accomplished:

Throw three separate inauguration parties within the first 21 days of being sworn in.
6
How about adding this: Hire good copyeditor to fix the writing on the 100 Day Plan.
7
The one thing that could stop him from achieving the formation, convening and reconvening of all 237 task forces, cabinets, and committees within the specified timeframe is a simple lack of sufficient numbers of real estate developers to participate.
8
Matt - re post 4
My main point was Sam's list is for real. My comment about the other commissioners is more general and I don't know much more than that in 30 years of watching Portland City Hall, I have never witnessed four Commissioners and a Major so collectively jazzed about their jobs.
More importantly, as to "Management," Woody Harrelson and Jennifer Aniston spent days filming in Lone Fir Cemetery in 2007 and the producers claimed the movie would be released in 2008. But why wasn't it? That's a tougher question than what the city's "economic dashboard" is or what Dan is going to do about exclusion zones. The film supposedly includes the infamous "You Can Touch My Butt" scene, which can be found on YouTube as a trailer only, but where is the full length film? This is an issue the new administrations in City Hall and Washington need to be addressing.
9
They have every reason to be jazzed about remaining gainfully employed as Oregon flirts yet again with double-digit unemployment rates.

I'd imagine they are similarly pleased about not having to worry about finding a place to sit or lie down in the downtown area.
10
David,

Seems Management got stalled after the premiere at the Toronto Film Festival in September. It may just be in queue for release.

See - http://tinyurl.com/9rtrue

Matt - call Steve Belber at 718-783-1463 (Brooklyn).

This is important, David. And thanks for your support of the Chinese workers and asylum inmates memorial in the SW corner of Lone Fir. That will be important too.
11
UPDATE: As of Monday morning, Jan 12, the plan is nowhere to be found on the mayor's website. More here:

http://blogtown.portlandmercury.com/Blogto…

While we're waiting for it to come back online, here's a cut-and-pasted version from the site, made by a smart reader when it went up, albeit briefly. Apologies for the formatting, for the time being:

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Sam Adams took office pledging to build on the qualities that make Portland one of America’s most likable and livable cities: its people, its progressive ideals, its practical values.

In moving forward, Sam will be working with Portland’s diverse communities to help accomplish his goals and realize his vision for the next four years. The main focus will be education, jobs and sustainability, and three other notable areas.

The launch of Sam’s plans for his first 100 days in office sets a course of action. It taps into creativity and resourcefulness, and embraces opportunity and prosperity. But Sam can’t make it happen by himself. That’s why he’s recruiting you, his most valuable asset, to help. So, don’t be shy. Let’s dig in together.

EDUCATION

With Multnomah County Chair Ted Wheeler, launch the Education Strategy Cabinet, a group of business and education leaders who will guide creation and implementation the education strategy plan
Complete local inventory of existing youth serving programs that provide disconnected youth and youth at risk of dropping out of high school, enhanced opportunities to succeed
Mayor Adams conducts four site visits of youth programs demonstrating promising practices
Together with Chair Wheeler, Create Portland Youth Corps—a strategy for reaching a targeted list of 1500 rising 9th grade students
Launch Portland Youth Corps
Develop Marketing and Communication Plan
Recruit 30 city and county government employees as coaches to support career exposure opportunities for targeted 1500 rising 9th graders
Connect targeted rising 9th graders with Parks & Recreation summer opportunities
Identify key community partners for implementation
Garner commitments of support from 25 business, education and community partners
Create a menu of options for business and organizational support of the Portland Youth Corps. Present the menu to the Economic Development Cabinet, Education Strategy Cabinet, and 25 business leaders
Collaborate with partner Portland Schools Foundation and Connected by 25 to hone strategies for 1500 rising 9th graders
Develop partnerships with colleges, universities, Campus Compact, and the Corporation for National and Community Service
Work with Arts & Culture Cabinet to expand education opportunities and career education in the arts
Work with Chair Wheeler, school district and community partners to develop and present a draft plan for targeted attendance support at local schools
Develop and launch the parent involvement strategy
Research best practices
Expand relationships with parent groups and augment outreach efforts
Plan a Scholarship Endowment Campaign
Develop a needs assessment and cost analysis for 2500 students to attend community college and four year institutions of higher education
Recruit Local and National Support
Launch local education summit
Advocate at United States Conference of Mayors – January 17-19, 2009
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND WORKFORCE TRAINING

Reorganize City Services for Local Business Success
Merge permitting functions and change from sequential processes through multiple departments to concurrent processes
Launch online Portland’s Business Express
Pursue “One Stop Shop" single point of contact for City services for investors and developers
Establish Key Strategies
Appoint Economic Cabinet
Appoint target industry and sub committees
Advanced Manufacturing
Design and Creative Services
High Tech and Bioscience
Clean Technology (Sustainable Industries)
Tourism
Trade
Create strategic Economic Development Plan for Portland
Establish Trade (export and foreign direct investment) strategy in conjunction with economic development plan
Create task forces and launch the Mayor’s annual trip to Asia in April and to Europe in the fall
Beginning with downtown, launch citywide retail action strategy
Create Neighborhood Mainstreet program
Advertise four pilot projects City Wide (focusing exclusively on non-URA areas)
Central City
Establish signature retail street
Formalize central Portland sub-districts
Establish Annual Portland Economic Summit to review progress and pledge annual commitments to reach the goals of the ‘Portland Economic Development Plan’
Adopt economic Stimulus package for Portland
Launch new “Portland is Better Together” business-support and family-support website
Utilize Portland’s allocation of federal Neighborhood Stabilization Funds to buy foreclosed properties
Create partnerships to fund additional pre-foreclosure counseling by proven community-based homeownership organizations
Pursue public works wish list for potential federal economic stimulus package
Fast-track locally-funded public projects
Incent new development with city property tax investment program
Pursue Locally-Based Enterprise program (LBE) to ensure that Portland’s construction firms get preference for subcontracting opportunities on large-scale City Projects
Promote and partner with “Chose Local” campaign
Reconstitute Fair Contracting and Employment forum
Create a New-Opportunity Fair that would make it easier for people with business ideas to connect with funding partners
Increase financial support within PDC for small businesses
Provide scholarship opportunities for basic skills remediation, high school completion and trade-specific training
Build outreach, organizing and regional collaboration
Meet 100 employers in first 100 days
Kick off Industrial Backstreets program to help business work with the city and each other to invest in and to maintain industrial lands
Establish Regional Economic Strategy Council
Map regional economic development investments
Create Economic Dashboard
Create Prosperity Alliance focused on:
Increasing opportunities for people to find living wage jobs and help businesses meet their workforce needs
Graduating trainees from relevant training program and starting training for additional candidates.
Placing Prosperity Planner participants in jobs
Enrolling low income residents into training.
Implement Key Projects
Appoint Eco-District Development Steering Committee to set city wide standards
Create template for sustainable commercial, residential and industrial districts
Complete a feasibility study of the Oregon Sustainability Center in collaboration with the Oregon University System and the Living Building Initiative
Establish Portland + Oregon Sustainability Institute as a new organization that is being created to govern the Oregon Sustainability Center and facilitate collaboration among partners
Determine feasibility of the Convention Center Hotel
Complete evaluation of Major League Soccer/Triple AAA baseball opportunity
Kick off workforce training program for green jobs in conjunction with retrofitting pilot projects
Fund Cash Oregon, which promotes long-term saving and investment behavior to increase economic independence
Initiate external quarterly “Portland City Council Bulletin”
TRANSPORTATION

Develop a four-year strategic vision for Portland’s transportation investments and infrastructure
Appoint a Transportation Cabinet
Initiate development of a strategic transportation investment plan as a component of the Portland Plan
Advocate for federal stimulus package
Conduct a snow and ice storm readiness assessment for the city and region; develop a plan of action for future efforts and investment
Provide leadership and support to secure passage of a transportation funding package at the State Legislature
Expand Portland’s transit network to provide transportation options and leverage development opportunities
Identify the local funding match necessary to secure federal funds for the Milwaukie to Portland light rail line
Release the draft of city-wide Streetcar System Plan
Advance the funding and development of a new Eastside Streetcar line
Enhance the safety and accessibility of bicycling for everyone
Announce the release of an updated Bicycle Master Plan for the city
Unveil the City’s first Cycle Track in a high-visibility, high-use location to promote safety and increase bicycle use
Identify 15 miles of Bicycle Boulevards for implementation in 2009
Complete the next link in the Bike Boulevard network on N Wabash, connecting N Willamette Blvd to the bike path along the Columbia River
Deliver on-street bike parking corrals in four or more high-demand locations
Improve safety and mobility on Portland’s roadways
Promote state legislation to give cities jurisdiction over speed limits within city limits
Identify funding for high-priority arterial paving projects
Support a Columbia River Crossing bridge project that truly serves Portland’s needs and interests
Achieve a high-quality, aesthetically appealing bridge design that is appropriate for Portland’s “front door”
Secure world-class bicycle and pedestrian accommodations on (and accessing) the bridge
Ensure the bridge supports the city’s land use and transportation goals as set out in the Portland Plan
Prioritize projects that offer high-impact improvements for moving freight
Showcase “green” transportation technologies
Develop a “Get Charged Portland” strategy to increase electric car availability and use
PLANNING AND SUSTAINABILITY

Establish Key Sustainability Strategies
Integrate the functions of planning and sustainable development into one bureau.
Appoint and convene Planning and Sustainability Cabinet
Northwest progressive Cities coalition: Formalize a collaborative partnership with San Francisco, Seattle, and Vancouver, B.C. and identify priority issues.
Portland Plan
Complete the baseline, indicators of a more sustainable, resilient city
Define and assess opportunities/barriers to 20 minute neighborhoods
Identify Neighborhood Plaza opportunities throughout city
Complete an initial assessment of barriers, opportunities, and key issues for each of a short list of potential pilot locations.
Appoint an eco-district steering committee
Convene task force to establish shared understanding of eco-districts
Define and assess initial barriers, opportunities, and key issues for each of a short list of potential pilot districts.
Release Farmers Market Assessment and Economic Analysis
Partner with Portland Farmers Market to improve sustainability practices.
Launch Climate Protection Strategy
Complete assessment of public spending within city of Portland boundaries
Convene cross-jurisdictional leaders to discuss investment effectiveness and efficiency
Improve sustainability practices in City government
Complete assessment of City of Portland’s existing sustainability practices
Establish specific City resource efficiency and sustainable practice goals, targets and performance measures
Complete an assessment of car sharing benefits for all city employees
Pilot the use of green cleaning products
Complete assessment for a City Hall ecoroof
Outline government commitments to environmental, economic and social responsibility, by Bureau & Citywide
Sustainable City Code
Green Code Revisions - Initiate a “green building” rewrite of Zoning Regulations (including water cisterns, small wind turbines, solar panels, green roof Design Review exemptions, allowances for larger eaves, etc.)
Create a comprehensive "Tree Policy" - consolidate existing regulations, requirements, and incentives
Improve Energy Efficiency
Launch Clean Energy Investment Fund in partnership with the Energy Trust of Oregon and local utilities
Pilot residential retrofits to reduce energy use in at least 500 Portland homes
District wide energy - Complete a study evaluating the technical and economic feasibility for a district energy system to provide heating and cooling
Divert Solid Waste from Land Fills
Work in partnership with Metro to identify site for a Commercial Composting facility in Portland
Appoint Re-usable Bag Policy Task Force
Launch single-use bag education program
Partner with private sector to locate 30 solar powered trash compactors.
Identify best practices for public recycling bins
Sustainable Community Engagement
Collaborate with ONI to establish a Sustainability/Green Chair position in each neighborhood association
Convene a citywide Green Team to share neighborhood-based solutions (similar to Citywide land use group)
Announce a backyard gardening and urban food production series collectively called “Urban Growth Bounty” that will begin in spring 2009
ARTS AND CULTURE

Reorganize Existing Programs
Create collaborative framework for First Thursday Art Show involving city bureaus and other office. Establish measurable outreach and collaboration goals.
February—4th Annual Black Heritage Celebration “Seeds of Change”
March—Murals/Grassroots/Immigrant experience
April—3rd Annual Comic/Illustration/Animation Show
Finalize transfer of Art Spark to Regional Arts and Culture Council (RACC) and set plan for collaboration on outreach, formatting and goals
Establish Key Strategies
In coordination with Creative Advocacy Network and Mayor’s Economic Development and Education Teams, appoint Arts and Culture Cabinet
Appoint target industry and sub-committees
Visual Arts
Performing Arts
Creative Industries
Literary Arts
Venues/Festivals/Museums
Education
Stimulate public and private sector support of arts and culture.
Work with granting organizations to encourage an increase in grants for bridge and emergency funding to maintain health of current arts organizations during economic downturn.
Market Work for Art participation when contacting businesses in Portland
Integrate Arts & Culture opportunities within Economic Development Strategies
Co-create Creative Industries portion of Annual Portland Economic Summit to review progress and pledge annual commitments to reach the goals of the ‘Creative Capacity Strategic Plan’ and ‘Portland Economic Development Plan’
Work in conjunction with Economic Development staff to establish metrics for Creative Industries in the Economic Dashboard.
Integrate Arts & Culture opportunities with local/state educational opportunities
Explore joint strategies between Right Brain Initiative and Mayor’s Education team on cutting dropout rate.
Help solicit local and national private sector support for The Right Brain Initiative.
Integrate Arts & Culture into Planning and Sustainability
Establish process and goals for integration of public art in the Portland Plan.
Explore opportunities for integration of arts in public outreach for neighborhood planning projects.
Build Outreach, Organizing and Regional Collaboration
Create Creative Advocacy Network (CAN) Board Announcement and participate in finishing and unveiling Creative Capacity Strategic Plan.
Explore feasibility of establishing a city office that coordinates community spaces, markets, supports the community’s creative assets and attract additional resources into the area
Partner with CAN in determining scope and other deliverables from Creative Capacity Strategic Plan
Promote results of RACC State of the Arts report
Announce Creative Capacity Strategic Plan
In coordination with Creative Advocacy Network and Mayor’s Economic Development and Education Teams, Mayor to meet with 25 Arts and Culture Organizations spanning Visual Arts, Performing Arts, Creative Industries, Literary Arts, Venue/Festival/Museum, Arts Education (including visits to several Right Brain Initiative sites)
Create avenues for City participation in Oregon 150 celebration—Feb 28th
Establish workplan to pursue federal and state policies through advocacy and outreach efforts:
Federal—support an increase in incentives for artists to donate their works by creating full tax deductions for charitable donations where artists donate under the same conditions as art collectors and should receive a deduction for the fair market value of the work
Federal—support national healthcare reform to provide affordable healthcare to artists
Federal—Explore partnership opportunities with national level initiatives: Musician Corps/Artists Corps
Federal—Support an increase in NEA, NHA and arts education budgets:
National arts advocacy day in Washington DC is March 30, 2009, and Lobbying Day on the Hill is 3/31/09
Support greater federal agency coordination as recommended by the Office of Presidential Transition
State—Explore best practices for creation and use of state-designated cultural districts from across the country
State—work with Cultural Advocacy Coalition to support arts legislative package
Implement Key Projects
Work with RACC and artists to determine market need for a website dedicated to being a central resource and calendaring tool for Portland’s art community
Work with RACC to update inventory of performing arts venues and venue needs
Work with Portland Development Commission and Economic Development staff to establish points awarded for aesthetic innovation in urban design for development bidding process and review related role and procedures
Foster progress of Mural Working Group and synthesize public and design commission recommendations into draft code
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

Conduct implementation, outreach and building collaboration
Begin implementation of Homeland Security, Risk Reduction and Preparedness Act of 2006 by re-branding the Portland Office of Emergency Management into the Portland Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security
Establish an annual summit to review protocols of the Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan
Appoint an Emergency Management Cabinet
Reconvene Emergency Disaster Policy Council

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