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. Be sure to include
contact information so we can credit
you accordingly. We will include photos
in the next edition. Thanks!
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