HostickaAprNewsletter

April 2008 newsletter for District 3

This monthly newsletter includes some of the latest events and programs brought to you by Metro.

District 3 includes portions of Washington and Clackamas counties and the cities of Beaverton, Durham, King City, Sherwood, Tigard, Tualatin and Wilsonville.

Metro and partners begin work on urban and rural reserves

Metro and Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington counties are leading a regional effort to designate urban and rural reserves to accommodate future growth and protect valuable farmland, forest land and natural areas that define the character of this region. Urban and rural reserves will provide greater predictability for the region as to where future growth may take place inside and outside the current urban growth boundary (UGB) over the next 40 to 50 years, while protecting important farmland and natural areas from urbanization for that same period of time. The process for designating these reserves offers the region greater flexibility in determining which areas are more suitable for accommodating growth than others.

To assist with the study and development of urban and rural reserves, a Reserves Steering Committee has been formed, consisting of officials from local cities, counties and Metro, as well as representatives of various business sectors, the agricultural community, the environmental conservation community, and social and economic equity organizations. The Steering Committee will advise the Metro Council and the commissions of Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington counties on the eventual designation of reserves. Designation of urban and rural reserves will be made through agreements between Metro and the counties in 2009.

Reserves Steering Committee meetings are held once each month and are open to the public. In addition, Metro and the counties are embarking on a coordinated public outreach effort to seek public input throughout the process of studying and designating reserve areas.

More information on urban and rural reserves, including the schedule and materials for Reserves Steering Committee meetings, can be found online at www.metro-region.org/reserves or by calling 503-797-1508.

Metro debuts new illegal dumping signs at SOLV IT

Since 1990, SOLV IT volunteers have removed more than 13 million pounds of waste and litter from illegal dumpsites, neighborhoods and natural areas. This year at SOLV IT, one of the largest Earth Day events in the nation, Metro will debut signs for the Report Illegal Dumping (RID) Patrol program.

Illegal dumping of household garbage, old tires, hazardous waste and other refuse threatens human health, wildlife and the environment. Metro's RID Patrol program partners with local government agencies, law enforcement and community members to ensure that illegal dumps on public land are quickly cleaned up and investigated. New signs to deter dumping and provide information about how to deal with dump problems will be posted at public areas throughout the region.

On Saturday, April 19, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., thousands of volunteers will converge on approximately 100 sites throughout the region, including Metro natural areas. Other Metro activities include trail maintenance at Cooper Mountain Nature Park in Beaverton, ivy removal at Newell Creek in Oregon City and plantings at Metro's Native Plant Center in Tualatin.

For more information about Metro's RID Patrol, call Metro Recycling at 503-234-3000 or send e-mail to
mri@metro.dst.or.us. To become a SOLV IT volunteer, register online at www.solv.org or call 503-844-9571.

Metro to unveil winners of Earth Day billboard designs at April 5 celebration

On Saturday, April 5 Metro will announce the winners of this year's Earth Day billboard design competition. Students from Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington counties were invited to design a billboard that encourages people to conserve and protect resources through waste prevention, recycling, composting or using fewer toxic products. Approximately 200 entries were selected as finalists. That artwork is displayed in the lobby at Metro's Regional Center.

Grade-level category (K-2, 3-5, 6-8 and 9-12) winners have been selected to have their artwork and name, and the name of their teacher and school displayed on billboards throughout the metro region for Earth Day. Winning and honorable mention artists will be announced for the first time and presented with their framed original artwork at an art show and unveiling ceremony on April 5.

For more information about the elementary school participants, call Freda Sherburne at 503-797-1522 or send e-mail to
sherburnef@metro.dst.or.us. For more information about the middle and high school participants, call Amy Wilson at 503-797-1521 or send e-mail to wilsona@metro.dst.or.us.

Metro Council on the road!

Every year, the Metro Council chooses locations for offsite meetings to enable people around the region to more easily attend. Four offsite meetings are planned for April and May and you are invited to attend. Download agendas and meeting packets

2 to 5 p.m. Wednesday, April 16

Greatest Place Metro Council Work Session

Tigard Auditorium

Public Works Building

8777 SW Burnham St., Tigard

2 p.m. Thursday, April 17

Metro Council Meeting

Wilsonville Council Chamber

29799 SW Town Center Loop East, Wilsonville

2 p.m. Thursday, April 24

Metro Council Meeting

Native American Youth Association

5135 NE Columbia Blvd., Portland

2 p.m. Thursday, May 15

Metro Council Meeting

Forest Grove Community Auditorium

1915 Main St., Forest Grove

District 3 events of note

Free naturescaping workshop in Sherwood

9 a.m. Saturday, April 12

Learn how to protect our rivers while beautifying your yard. Get ideas for your garden, a guide book and a native plant to get you started. To register, call 503-797-1842 or send e-mail to naturescaping@yahoo.com.

Tualatin River paddle and hike

10 a.m. Saturday, April 19

Join Metro naturalist James Davis and the Tualatin Riverkeepers for a brief walk and leisurely three-hour paddle through the Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge, starting from one of Metro's future river access points west of Tigard. Advance registration and payment are required. The registration fee is $5 for members of the Tualatin Riverkeepers and includes free canoe use. Non-members pay $10 to register for the trip with their own boat and can rent a canoe for an additional $30. Call 503-620-7507 to register.

Need assistance?

Linnea Nelson, policy coordinator

nelsonl@metro.dst.or.us

503-797-1886



	April 2008 newsletter for District 3 This monthly newsletter includes some of the latest events and programs brought to you by Metro. District 3 includes portions of Washington and Clackamas counties and the cities of Beaverton, Durham, King City, Sherwood, Tigard, Tualatin and Wilsonville. Metro and partners begin work on urban and rural reserves Metro and Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington counties are leading a regional effort to designate urban and rural reserves to accommodate future growth and protect valuable farmland, forest land and natural areas that define the character of this region. Urban and rural reserves will provide greater predictability for the region as to where future growth may take place inside and outside the current urban growth boundary (UGB) over the next 40 to 50 years, while protecting important farmland and natural areas from urbanization for that same period of time. The process for designating these reserves offers the region greater flexibility in determining which areas are more suitable for accommodating growth than others. To assist with the study and development of urban and rural reserves, a Reserves Steering Committee has been formed, consisting of officials from local cities, counties and Metro, as well as representatives of various business sectors, the agricultural community, the environmental conservation community, and social and economic equity organizations. The Steering Committee will advise the Metro Council and the commissions of Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington counties on the eventual designation of reserves. Designation of urban and rural reserves will be made through agreements between Metro and the counties in 2009. Reserves Steering Committee meetings are held once each month and are open to the public. In addition, Metro and the counties are embarking on a coordinated public outreach effort to seek public input throughout the process of studying and designating reserve areas. More information on urban and rural reserves, including the schedule and materials for Reserves Steering Committee meetings, can be found online at www.metro-region.org/reserves or by calling 503-797-1508. Metro debuts new illegal dumping signs at SOLV IT Since 1990, SOLV IT volunteers have removed more than 13 million pounds of waste and litter from illegal dumpsites, neighborhoods and natural areas. This year at SOLV IT, one of the largest Earth Day events in the nation, Metro will debut signs for the Report Illegal Dumping (RID) Patrol program. Illegal dumping of household garbage, old tires, hazardous waste and other refuse threatens human health, wildlife and the environment. Metro's RID Patrol program partners with local government agencies, law enforcement and community members to ensure that illegal dumps on public land are quickly cleaned up and investigated. New signs to deter dumping and provide information about how to deal with dump problems will be posted at public areas throughout the region. On Saturday, April 19, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., thousands of volunteers will converge on approximately 100 sites throughout the region, including Metro natural areas. Other Metro activities include trail maintenance at Cooper Mountain Nature Park in Beaverton, ivy removal at Newell Creek in Oregon City and plantings at Metro's Native Plant Center in Tualatin. For more information about Metro's RID Patrol, call Metro Recycling at 503-234-3000 or send e-mail to mri@metro.dst.or.us. To become a SOLV IT volunteer, register online at www.solv.org or call 503-844-9571. Metro to unveil winners of Earth Day billboard designs at April 5 celebration On Saturday, April 5 Metro will announce the winners of this year's Earth Day billboard design competition. Students from Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington counties were invited to design a billboard that encourages people to conserve and protect resources through waste prevention, recycling, composting or using fewer toxic products. Approximately 200 entries were selected as finalists. That artwork is displayed in the lobby at Metro's Regional Center. Grade-level category (K-2, 3-5, 6-8 and 9-12) winners have been selected to have their artwork and name, and the name of their teacher and school displayed on billboards throughout the metro region for Earth Day. Winning and honorable mention artists will be announced for the first time and presented with their framed original artwork at an art show and unveiling ceremony on April 5. For more information about the elementary school participants, call Freda Sherburne at 503-797-1522 or send e-mail to sherburnef@metro.dst.or.us. For more information about the middle and high school participants, call Amy Wilson at 503-797-1521 or send e-mail to wilsona@metro.dst.or.us. Metro Council on the road! Every year, the Metro Council chooses locations for offsite meetings to enable people around the region to more easily attend. Four offsite meetings are planned for April and May and you are invited to attend. Download agendas and meeting packets 2 to 5 p.m. Wednesday, April 16 Greatest Place Metro Council Work Session Tigard Auditorium Public Works Building 8777 SW Burnham St., Tigard 2 p.m. Thursday, April 17 Metro Council Meeting Wilsonville Council Chamber 29799 SW Town Center Loop East, Wilsonville 2 p.m. Thursday, April 24 Metro Council Meeting Native American Youth Association 5135 NE Columbia Blvd., Portland 2 p.m. Thursday, May 15 Metro Council Meeting Forest Grove Community Auditorium 1915 Main St., Forest Grove District 3 events of note Free naturescaping workshop in Sherwood 9 a.m. Saturday, April 12 Learn how to protect our rivers while beautifying your yard. Get ideas for your garden, a guide book and a native plant to get you started. To register, call 503-797-1842 or send e-mail to naturescaping@yahoo.com. Tualatin River paddle and hike 10 a.m. Saturday, April 19 Join Metro naturalist James Davis and the Tualatin Riverkeepers for a brief walk and leisurely three-hour paddle through the Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge, starting from one of Metro's future river access points west of Tigard. Advance registration and payment are required. The registration fee is $5 for members of the Tualatin Riverkeepers and includes free canoe use. Non-members pay $10 to register for the trip with their own boat and can rent a canoe for an additional $30. Call 503-620-7507 to register. Need assistance? Linnea Nelson, policy coordinator nelsonl@metro.dst.or.us 503-797-1886