If you’re in public relations, and let’s face it, most of us end up there, the thing you’re always thinking is: How can I create a spectacle? So congratulations to Portland’s city council this morning, for managing to corral virtually all the local media to the announcement by Mayor Sam Adams of his $503 million-plus “Portland Job Creation and Business Stimulus Package,” which aims to produce an estimated 4,985 private-sector jobs over the next 12 months, by fast-tracking, over the next 12 months, city public works and construction projects originally slated for the next five years.

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Projects like the “River District Fields” —a $3.1m, 2 acre park using PDC resources, are part of the plan. Then there’s a $4m Greenway slated for the South Waterfront, not to mention a $2.8m neighborhood park down there. Adams’ darling project, the East Burnside and Couch Couplet, is prioritized, with a $25m price tag, and the potential creation of 351 jobs. Then there’s the Gibbs Street Pedestrian Bridge, at a cost of $11m, creating 157 jobs.

When I get back to the office, I’ll scan in the list of city-funded projects, so you can take a look. Update, 12:46 pm: I’ve posted two documents after the jump, first, the list of city-funded capital projects that are going to be jumped forward to the next 12 months, and second the process document for the city’s stimulus initiative. Wonk away!

The first thing that comes to mind, however, is that where in the past, public outreach and community input was valued highly in the process towards executing city-funded projects, now, it’s likely to take a back seat, instead, to the argument that construction workers need jobs, now. City Commissioner Amanda Fritz, who stood for election on the grounds that she would ensure basic services for all of Portland’s neighborhoods, didn’t seem to be protesting the $7m of investment in the South Waterfront this morning, however.

Commissioner Randy Leonard said the plan is all about creating an economic impact on Portland. For every construction worker given a dollar worth of work, he expects to see $2 worth of economic impact on the city.

Adams said the plan does not mean putting the city further into debt, since the money for all these projects already “exists.” But there is a risk that by borrowing from the city’s budget for the next five years over the next 12 months, that if the economy doesn’t improve after 12 months, then, where else does he borrow money from?

“This city council is going to stay incredibly agile on this issue,” said Adams.

Here’s those two documents. First, the list of city projects…
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Second, the city’s process document for the stimulus initiative…
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Matt Davis was news editor of the Mercury from 2009 to May 2010.

9 replies on “Adams Launches $503m PDX Economic Stimulus Package”

  1. Matt –

    I agree that the pubic process should not be unduly sidelined, and I haven’t read the plan, but…

    Just looking solely at the projects you itemize (“River District Fields”, South Waterfront Greenway and neighborhood park, _East_ Burnside and Couch Couplet (not West), Gibbs Street Pedestrian Bridge), I believe these are projects with complete or mostly-complete public processes, and little opposition. (The east-side couplet idea is far less controversial than the west-side couplet.)

    Given that short list of projects, are we just talking about an acceleration of things which are largely ready to go, rather than a sidelining of public input?

    That being said, the whole $500m+ list needs scrutiny, and I wouldn’t be surprised if your point holds true — I just don’t see it in the short list you mentioned.

  2. Hi Bob,

    I agree that the list needs scrutiny, and have scanned it in and posted it after the jump for the benefit of policy fiends like yourself.

    The plan is huge and far-reaching, and it’s difficult, especially on press day, to go through it all in all its subtleties. But I’d really appreciate your insights into the documents.

    I’m especially interested in figuring out if there are any unintended consequences to the plan, or if there are any consequences that might surprise Portlanders.

    On the other hand, the plan does seem bold and aggressive—two traits I tend to admire in political leadership.

  4. All we need now is for the City Council to run a sham election for a new Auditor so that the only person who has legal oversight is in their pocket…

    Oh-wait, that is already in the works.

  5. I’m particularly intrigued by the “Support small and start-up businesses” section. This seems to be the most concrete and action-oriented of any of the plan’s sections.

    As both Matt and Bob have said, this is a lot to figure out in a short period of time. But I guess there’s money to be made if you’re a landscaper right now.

  6. All of these jobs are for short term projects. When the project is done what’s next. The plan is bullcrap. No new ideas, nothing “bold”.

  7. There is also money to be made if you own Hoffman Construction, or are a subcontractor thereof. Of course, there would have been anyway.

    There do appear to be a lot of decent ideas here, though, along with a few duds (subsidizing building permit fees for developers?).

    Exactly how many affordable housing projects are “construction ready,” by the standards of this announcement?

    This is also the first I have ever heard of a localized stock exchange — that sounds very promising. And city-issued microfinancing for local business startups? Tell me more.

    The foreclosure prevention fair sounds very promising.

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