This should be up on Mayor-elect Sam Adams’ website at some point today, but here’s a sneak peek at some of the details of Adams and Commissioner Randy Leonard’s newest task force–the one that’s going to analyze a proposal to build a new minor league soccer stadium, and revamp PGE Park to entice a major league soccer franchise to Portland.
First up, here’s who’s on the task force:
Billy Barquin, Attorney, Kootenai Tribe
John Bradley, Chair, Land Use Committee, Northwest Neighborhood Association
Elisa Dozono, Attorney, Miller Nash
Lindsay DeRoche, Vice President, Portland State University
Mike Houck, Executive Director, Urban Greenspaces Institute
Drew Mahalic, President, Portland Oregon Sport Authority
Brad Malson, Beam Development
Steve Maser, Dean, School of Business, Willamette University
John Mohlis, Commissioner, Portland Development Commission; President, Columbia Pacific Building Trades Council
Conrad Myers, Myers & Company
Cora Potter, Chair, Lents Urban Renewal Advisory Committee
Jerry Powell, Chair, Planning Committee, Goose Hollow Neighborhood Association
Tony Stacey, Oregon Veteran Association
Keith Thamajan, Chair, Parks Board, City of Portland, Executive Director, Campfire Inc.
Jackie Thomas, Vice President, Global Brands, Nike Inc.
Mark Williams, Former Director, Metropolitan Exposition and Recreation Committee
TBA, Lloyd District Community Association
Maser, who, helpfully, “teaches MBA courses on business-government relations and on conflict management,” is chairing the Task Force. The meeting schedule hasn’t been announced, but their meetings will be public. They’ll be deciding if it’s feasible to move ahead with the project, and if so, under what parameters the city will get involved with a new stadium (and, where it’ll go–Lents, the Rose Quarter, or Terminal 1?).
Check out the task force’s “guiding principles,” after the cut, and the outlined schedule.
Guiding Principles
Financial Principles
Existing City programs will not be cut to help fund the project.
Taxpayers should see a return on the public investment in the project in 3 to 5 years.
To the extent possible, revenues from the MLS/baseball enterprise will be used to finance the project.
The City should have mechanisms in the agreements that provide a financial upside to the City should the teams’ profitability exceed projections. The City should also build in mechanisms to protect the City’s financial position on the downside.
The City will identify any amenities or program expenditures it wants the project to address at the front-end of the discussions with the proposer
The more financial risk the City assumes on the project, the City will need to have more control over those risks.
Financial data and projections developed by the proposer and given to the City will be a public record. All meetings of the task force will be open to the public. The task force will take public testimony prior to finalizing any recommendations.
Social Principles
MLS and baseball facilities will be required to enter into Good Neighbor Agreements to minimize impacts on surrounding neighborhoods due to activities at these facilities. The City and proponent will initiate discussions with adjacent neighborhoods and properties over the project and keep affected parties informed over the course of project development and execution.
The City will work with Portland Statue University to ensure that changes to PGE Park meet the needs of the university.
The City and proponent will strive to find ways to benefit area high school sports activities and facilities and bring attention to these activities.
There will be no net loss of outdoor athletic fields within the neighborhood(s) where the project is developed.
City goals and requirements for M/W/ESB participation and for Workforce Training and Hiring will apply to the project
State Prevailing Wage requirements will apply to project construction activities
The City and project proponents will make efforts called for in the Local Business Initiative to promote the growth and economic health of locally based businesses.
The City’s Fair Wage policy will apply to employees at PGE Park and the new baseball park.
Environmental Principles
For any remodeling of existing facilities, every effort will be made to reuse and/or recycle all materials removed from the facilities.
The project will strive to meet the City’s Green Buildings Policies and will meet a LEED Silver Certification and strive to achieve a LEED Gold Certification.
The team owner/stadium operator will commit to implementing sustainable practices for facility management and operations.
And here’s the current schedule outline for the project:
November-December
Task Force
Start-up – background on City sports facilities, presentation on MLS proposal, facility siting alternatives, affirm project guiding principles
Review consultant product on projected team financial performance, project funding strategies, projects in other markets
City consultant work of project funding options, evaluation of team financial performance, research on MLS projects in other markets
Formation of City negotiating team
Determine specifics of what is required by MLS for March franchise award
January
Task Force
Updates on project costs, funding options; form tentative position on project feasibility and funding strategy
Review progress report from City negotiating team and outline of deal points
February
Task Force
Review final products from consultant team
Prepare draft recommendations and take public testimony
Prepare final recommendations and present to City Council for consideration
March
If project determined to be financially feasible, prepare binding agreement between City and proponent
In conjunction with proponent, prepare final submittal to MLS
“… proposal to build a new minor league soccer stadium, and revamp PGE Park to entice a major league soccer franchise to Portland.”
That should read build a new minor league baseball stadium.
Thanks for reporting this. It is good to know that our giveaway to Hank Paulson will be at least be transparent in nature — oh, and sustainable.
Note they are saying no net loss of sports fields. Should be NO NET LOSS OF GREEN AND/OR OPEN SPACES.
Time for a no-net-loss of green and open pledge by all elected officials. One would imagine that Portland wouldn’t need that. One would imagine that elected officials would be immune to inducements to betray greenspaces. Not anymore!
The whole purpose of these kinds of blue ribbon committees is to give the elected officials cover to do something they know that the majority of those who voted for them would abhor.
Write and call City Hall, early and often on this one. No sacrifice of green and/or open space. Not negotiable.
My question is simple. The last time Mayor Vera and Sam Adams tried to dump one of these outdoor venues in a North Portland Neighborhood, only one reasonable person was involved in the dialog. It was the City’s Noise Patrol Manager , whose name i forget. He was a nice jewish guy from New York named something like Saul Ordans.
The City’s Park’s staff were not trustable, the J issaic’s from the Blazers was a bully, so why are there no real community minded people invited to the table? This Task Force, just like the Alberta Plan before it is, a complete sham. This committee is as much BS as the Paul Allen attempt at dumping a stadium in the middle of Delta Park 8 years ago.
I count 17 members on the committee and maybe two that the community should trust. Don’t build that white elephant in North Portland or NE Portland.
Build it in Randy’s backyard!!!!! I hear from friend’s in Lents they are already getting pushed out of their properties.
In my opinion, Merrit PAulson is like a junior George Bush jr.. I don’t care what schools he went to, what car he drives,or any other green washing bs. DONT give him my hard earned dollars to build any sports venue!!!!