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About The Southwest Portland Post. (Portland, Oregon) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 1, 2014)
6 • The Southwest Portland Post NEWS October 2014 Commissioner Fish and Water Bureau staff discuss surplus property policy MULTNOMAH NOTEBOOK By Erik Vidstrand The Southwest Portland Post Over 60 residents, community activists, and government officials attended the Sept. 9 meeting of the Multnomah Neighborhood Associa- tion. City Commissioner Nick Fish, Water Bureau director David Shaff, and other city folks were on hand to discuss the new city policy on surplus property. “We sold the Water House—a proj- ect launched by Commissioner (Ran- dy) Leonard in 2009—to demonstrate the benefits of water-efficient homes. We also curbed water rates to below five percent,” Fish said. “Tualatin’s rate is 12 percent.” “We also created a statewide inde- pendent advocacy group to monitor water bureau actions.” “The Freeman Water Tank was the catalyst,” Fish went on. “I wasn’t satisfied with the current policy. I was obliged to honor the contract.” Editor’s Note: For background, see letters and story in the November 2013 edition of The Post. Fish went on to say that in the future, the Water Bureau will not ad- vertise on Craigslist, ask a fair value price, have no advertising or signs, and notify the neighborhood and business associations. “We appreciated the public’s input, but let’s test drive the revamped policy first,” Fish said. Fish complimented the group for “turning lemons to lemonade.” Writer April Henry Questions came next. Neigh- bors questioned everything from pending lawsuits against Fish and the Water Bureau, Superfunds, and gouging rate payers for unrelated projects. “It is illegal to use funds from every bureau to help pay for water services,” Shaff explained. “Was it appropriate to charge ratepayers money to move pipes?” a Multnomah resident asked. “Yes, it was fine,” Shaff an- swered. “But we need to shift the cost of the superfund to taxpayers, not the water rate payers.” Shaff explained the new surplus property policy. “First of all, all bureaus will be notified. The property is no longer needed and will ask if four or five other bureaus Commissioner Nick Fish discussed the city's want to purchase the land.” After ten days, the property new surplus property policy at the Multnomah sale will be put into writing, Neighborhood Association meeting on Sept. 9. then public notice to all includ- (Post photo by Erik Vidstrand) ing Metro, the county, and state. will not accept any offers for 30 days. “It will then be listed on the city’s Randy Bonella said that 30 days website, and not buried, hard to find,” is not very long since business and the director continued to explain. neighborhood associations meet only The property will then be listed once a month. with a sign for intent to sell for at least “Sixty days is much better,” Bonella a minimum of 45 days. Community said. newspapers would be utilized, and “Ask the (City) Auditor to audit the then an emergency ordinance will be property,” someone else suggested. enacted, after a second hearing, by the “We’re committed to doing bet- city council. ter,” Fish conceded. “We’re going to If the council says yes, then the fine tune this model and export it to property will be listed on the NMLS all bureaus. This will be a consistent (Nationwide Mortgages Licensing policy that everyone can use.” System and Registry) and the city (Continued from Page 5) Unlike some writers, who agonize before a blank computer screen, Henry said she “likes writing,” and rarely has writer’s block. As for her inspiration? Henry keeps a huge file of potential book topics. She thinks life itself is full of great ideas. “Don’t you think the news is filled with stories?” she said, smiling. When asked how her writing has grown since she finished her first book, she didn’t hesitate. “Oh, I can write a book in a really short amount of time and have it be good.” Henry had two new books come out last summer. A young adult mys- tery, “Body in the Woods,” for which she accompanied search and rescue teams for background research, and “Deadly Business,” co-written with Lis Wiehl, a former reporter and federal prosecutor. Henry doesn’t get many rejections anymore. But she will never forget her determination to achieve her childhood dream. In fact, her advice for would-be au- thors is pretty simple: Don’t give up. “I think tenacity is more important than talent.” Fortunately for Henry, she has an abundance of both. April Henry has a wonderful web- site where you can contact her, read about her books and more. Visit www. aprilhenrymysteries.com. If you took photos of Southwest Sunday Parkways on Sept. 28, please email high resolution images to The Post news@ multnomahpost.com. 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