[BWNA] Fwd: Important Community Meeting on Park System Development Charge

[Bill Markwart]

Bill Markwart
wemarkwart at aol.com

Begin forwarded message:

> From: Linda Robinson <lrobins at pacifier.com>
> Date: October 20, 2007 5:30:02 PM PDT
> To: Neigbhborhood Contacts <lrobins at pacifier.com>
> Subject: Important Community Meeting on Park System Development Charge
>

>
> Attention Neighborhood Assn Contacts!
>
> Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) is holding a series of important  
> public meetings, starting next week.  The topic is Park System  
> Development Charges (SDCs) and proposed changes to these fees that  
> will help PP&R respond to the population growth in then City.
>
> The meeting dates/times/locations are:
>
> Monday, October 22, 7:00-8:30 pm
> Mt Scott Community Center
> 5530 SE 72nd Ave
>
> Thursday, October 25, 7:00-8:30 pm
> East Portland Community Center
> 740 SE 106th Ave
>
> Monday, November 5, 7:00-8:30 pm
> Southwest Community Center
> 6820 SW 45th Ave
>
> Thursday, November 8, 6:00-7:30 pm
> Matt Dishman Community Center
> 77 NE Knott St
>
> Friday, November 16, Noon-2:00 pm
> The Portland Building, Room C
> 1120 SW 5th Ave
>
> System Development Charges are one-time fees assessed on NEW  
> development, at the time permits are issued, to cover a portion of  
> the cost of providing the additional parks and recreation facilities  
> needed as a result of the new development.  The current Park SDC,  
> assessed only on new residential development, covers approximately  
> 25% of the total cost of acquiring and developing these services.   
> It is one of the lowest in the metropolitan area, and one of the few  
> that assesses only residential development.
>
> Portland is proposing to increase the Park SDC so it will cover up  
> to 75% of the costs associated with acquiring and developing to  
> serve new development.  The proposal would also assess a modest fee  
> on non-residential development as well.
>
> This is a substantial, but badly needed, increase.  Because it's a  
> substantial increase, there is likely to be resistance from a number  
> of well-organized groups in the community.  That's why it is  
> important for the citizens of east Portland to voice their support  
> of the proposed changes.
>
> There will be a variety of ways to make City decision-makers aware  
> of your support.  Start by attending one of the five public meetings  
> being held in October and November.  Ultimately, there will be  
> petitions you can sign, post cards you can mail to the Mayor and  
> City Council members, email messages you can send, and more --  
> including, for those who are able, attending the City Council  
> hearing on Wednesday, December 12, 2007 at 9:30 am.
>
> For information about the proposed changes and the process, visit www.portlandparks.org 
> .
>
> -- Linda Robinson
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