A summary of the award winners from the IAP2 Cascade Chapter 2011 Best Practices Awards

1. 2011 Public Involvement Best Practice Awards
IAP2 Cascade Chapter
Public Involvement Project of the Year – Best Capital Project
Lake Oswego Interceptor Sewer Upgrade
City of Lake Oswego and JLA Public Involvement
The Lake Oswego Interceptor Sewer (LOIS) Project is a $110 million
multi-phased project to replace the 3-mile span of 50-year-old sewer
line below the surface of Oswego Lake. In order to have a successful
project, the LOIS Team knew it must capture the public’s attention on
the importance of this unique and complex improvement, and to
ensure all community members knew how the project construction
would impact them. Providing timely and accurate information to
citizens, groups, and the press; and simplifying the complexity of the
project were other top goals. These project goals had to effectively
address negative public perceptions regarding cost, assumptions
about the project impacts - including some residents who threatened
lawsuits, possible disruption of the boating/swimming seasons, and
the design of the project being too “innovative.”
Info: www.lakeinterceptor.com
Jeff Selby, City of Lake Oswego
jselby@ci.oswego.or.us, (503) 699-7466
Public Involvement Project of the Year – Best Planning Project
Beaverton Community Vision
City of Beaverton, Oregon
Beaverton Community Vision is the product of the most extensive
public engagement process ever undertaken in Beaverton,
Oregon. After an initial rocky start to develop a community plan, the
City started anew, focusing on community engagement at the
grassroots level under the guidance of committed city staff and a
Visioning Advisory Committee. The result completely transformed
how citizens engage with City Hall and expanded opportunities for
people to interact with one another. Over 5,000 citizens shared their
aspirations for the future in six languages through events, surveys,
forums and other venues. Today, 100+ community priorities comprise
the plan which 60 community organizations are helping to implement.
Info: www.beavertonoregon.gov/departments/visioning
Holly Thompson, City of Beaverton
hthompson@beavertonoregon.gov, (503) 526-2658

2. Public Involvement Project of the Year – Best Planning Project
North/Northeast Economic Development Initiative
Portland Development Commission
Portland Development Commission (PDC) began the N/NE Economic
Development Initiative to update plans for the Interstate Corridor and
Oregon Convention Center Urban Renewal Areas. In order to create a
successful outcome and avoid old approaches that tended to displace
traditional residents, PDC reached out to the N/NE community to
understand their concerns and points of view. Over 600 stakeholders
were interviewed to provide the basis of the PI plan. Public
involvement methods included an advisory committee, community
meetings, web tools, and print media. The end result was a series of
official recommendations to expand the Interstate Corridor Urban
Renewal Area to provide economic assistance to more businesses
and residents in the N/NE community. The extensive public
participation process helped create support among the community
that the process was genuine and would produce real results.
Info: www.pdc.us/four/nnestudy
John Jackley, Portland Development Commission
jackleyj@pdc.us, (503) 823-3315
Blue Ribbon Commission for Parks and Recreation, Clark County, Washington
In anticipation of budget cuts across Clark County programs and services, six
local jurisdictions formed a special blue ribbon commission to examine the
future of parks and recreation funding and governance. The commission
undertook an ambitious public outreach effort to ensure its recommendations
reflected the values, needs and priorities of its citizenry. The commission
conducted a series of seven stakeholder summits, several online surveys
and a telephone survey. A variety of low-cost public outreach and information
sharing tools were used, including online surveys, social media, the Web,
email blasts and the local media. More than 1,600 people participated in the
outreach effort, which allowed the commission to develop recommendations
that had been thoroughly field-tested and, in most cases, had come directly
from the discussions with stakeholders and the public.
Info: http://www.cityofvancouver.us/parks-recreation/whoweare/future.asp
Jilayne Jordan, Parks Communications Specialist, Clark County
Jilayne.Jordan@clark.wa.gov, (360) 397-6118 x4949
Corvallis Wastewater Reuse Public Survey, Water & Environment Solutions
The City of Corvallis considered producing reclaimed water to keep effluents
from its wastewater treatment plant out of the Willamette River and to provide
water to a nearby irrigation district. The City sent a survey to over 1000
residents to assess public knowledge and acceptance of reclaimed water
and to identify the best methods for further public outreach. The survey
allowed the City to assess public values and design a program the public
would support.
Info: Karen DuBose, Principal, Water & Environment Solutions
Karen@waterenvironmentsolutions.com, (425) 443-6995

3. Damascus Comprehensive Plan Public Involvement, City of Damascus
The City of Damascus, the first new city in Oregon in over 22 years, has
undertaken a tremendous effort to involve the community in the
Comprehensive Planning effort. Led by Community Development Director,
Anita Yap, the City has received numerous awards for innovative and cutting
edge programs and community engagement. The key to public engagement
in this new city included holding meetings at people’s homes, leading tours of
the community and engaging new leaders in community involvement.
Info: Anita Yap, Community Development Director, City of Damascus
ayap@ci.damascus.or.us, (503) 658-8545
Envision Eugene, City of Eugene
In 2007, the state legislature asked the City of Eugene to complete a
buildable lands inventory and adopt a new Urban Growth Boundary, separate
from the City of Springfield. The Envision Eugene project sought to avoid the
familiar winner-takes-all outcome of the typical land use process and create a
true public involvement process. A large, broad-based Community Resource
Group was established and spent many hours working to overcome
entrenched positions on growth and discuss future outcomes. Youth art
contests, social media, an interactive website, and videos were used to raise
community awareness and involve people who may not typically participate
in land use discussions.
Info: www.eugene-or.gov
Laura Hammond, Community Outreach Coordinator, City of Eugene
Laura.A.Hammond@ci.eugene.or.us, (541) 682-6021
EWEB Riverfront Master Plan, Eugene Water & Electric Board
Designed with input from more than 1,000 community members over a 12-
month period, the EWEB Riverfront Master Plan creates the framework for
redeveloping a 27-acre brownfield site in the heart of Eugene into an active,
vibrant, riverfront district. The community-developed design balances and
integrates the natural and built environments, with 8 acres of new riverfront
open space, re-use of historic structures, and several acres of mixed use,
green development. Extensive public engagement led to a vision that gained
consensus approval from decision-makers and broad public support.
Info: http://www.eweb.org/riverfront
Jeannine Parisi, Eugene Water & Electric Board,
Jeannine.Parisi@eweb.org, (541) 685-7451
Horizons, City of Vancouver
The City of Vancouver began the Horizons process to refocus and realign the
city’s services and programs based upon community values in the midst of
financial challenges. A variety of opportunities were provided for citizens,
businesses and employees to get detailed information about budgeting
challenges ahead, explore and discuss values, and identify priorities for what
programs and services were needed to meet the city’s six Strategic
Commitments. Outreach included an online survey completed by more than
1,000 citizens, eight focus groups, and stakeholder and community meetings.
Info: http://www.cityofvancouver.us/horizons.asp
Loretta Callahan, PIO/Community Relations, City of Vancouver
Loretta.Callahan@cityofvancouver.us, (360) 759-4479

4. Oregon City/West Linn Arch Bridge Rehabilitation Project, ODOT Region 1
The Oregon Department of Transportation’s planned two-year closure of the
Oregon City/West Linn Bridge caused alarm and anger among local business
owners, commuters, residents and elected officials. The closure of the main
route into downtown Oregon City was a blow to downtown’s struggling
businesses. ODOT turned the community’s anger to acceptance by involving
the public in developing solutions for bicyclists and pedestrians and
communication strategies for the community. ODOT staff took to the streets
and talked with every downtown business to address their questions and
concerns. In addition, ODOT assisted the City in securing funds for
downtown street improvements. The success of these efforts was clear when
the bridge closure event was attended by more than 750 people on a cold
January day. Media coverage has been positive and ridership on the detour
shuttle continues to exceed expectations.
Info: www.archrehab.com
Susan Hanson, Community Affairs Coordinator, ODOT
Susan.C.Hanson@odot.state.or.us, (503) 731-3490
PDX Airport Futures: Charting a Course for PDX, Institute for Conflict Management
Airport Futures was a collaborative process to create a long-range (through
2035) master plan for Portland International Airport (PDX) and a city land use
plan governing the Airport and its environs. It involved a diverse 30-member
Planning Advisory Group (PAG) and other stakeholders. 231 public meetings
were held with 3,732 stakeholder contacts, creating a comprehensive
community discussion about sustainable development. This discussion
resulted in the identification of the community’s vision and values, the
integration of sustainability principles into the Airport’s long-range
development plan, and the commitment to develop Portland International
Airport in a manner that contributes to the long-term economic,
environmental, and social health of the region. The open discussions and
exchange of ideas led to increased mutual respect and a shared
understanding among stakeholders.
Info: www.pdxairportfutures.com
Lisa Glancy, Port of Portland Public Engagement Manager
Lise.Glancy@PortofPortland.com, (503) 415-6519
Powell Butte Reservoir 2 Project, Portland Water Bureau
This project successfully engaged the public in determining the architecture
of three public facilities and an enhanced trail plan at Powell Butte Nature
Park in Portland. Powell Butte Nature Park is considered a "jewel" in
Portland's park system and due to this popularity, it was important that the
park improvements reflect the special relationship that visitors have with the
trail systems and facilities. The project team convened a Project Advisory
Committee, held public meetings and used various public engagement tools
to create design concepts. The design concepts generated by the PAC and
public have been described as "exceptional" and meet the goals and
objectives set forth by both the PAC, public, and City bureaus. Park interest
groups like the Audubon Society, Northwest Trail Alliance and Johnson
Creek Watershed Council are enthusiastic project supporters.
Info: www.portlandonline.com/water/index.cfm?c=53622
Tim Hall, Senior Public Outreach Coordinator
tim.hall@portlandoregon.gov, (503) 823-6926