City shares infrastructure details for schools facing closure

City Administrator Lee delivered an infrastructure index report to Portland Public Schools Superintendent and Board members on Monday, November 2. The document was requested by Councilor Ryan, who has called for such a report since early October. The index outlines public funding already invested in schools currently considered for closure and the surrounding rights-of-way.

According to the report, Parks & Recreation has allocated more than $5 million to projects adjacent to Creston Elementary, the highest amount on the proposed closure list. These funds covered a skatepark, pool boiler replacement, and a playground. Planning & Sustainability data indicates that Maplewood and Stephenson schools have the highest percentages of missing sidewalks at 88% and 74%, respectively. Irvington and Sabin schools have the lowest percentages, at 2% and 5%.

The bureau also analyzed barrier streets, defined as those with two or more lanes, a speed limit of 35 miles per hour or higher, and peak evening traffic volume of 2,500 or more vehicles. Buckman and Beach schools have the highest percentage of barrier streets within their one-mile walksheds, at 23% and 20%. Lewis, Sabin, and James John schools have the lowest percentages, at 0%, 2%, and 3%.

Transportation data shows the largest single public investment was $2 million for the federally funded 82nd Avenue Major Maintenance Project at SE Raymond Street Crossing near Marysville Elementary. The largest non-federally funded project was an $892,000 walkway at SW Stephenson near Stephenson Elementary. James John school had the highest number of individual transportation investments with 12, while Sellwood Middle and Woodmere each had one.

Councilor Ryan stated that the documentation is intended to provide context for the Superintendent and Board as they weigh options. Ryan has asked the City Administrator to create similar indexes for all six public school districts with buildings in Portland. Ryan noted that attracting and sustaining families is key to the city's economic prosperity plan.

In a separate matter, Councilor Ryan and District 2 neighbors hosted a community conversation on Hayden Island on October 30. The meeting lasted an hour and a half, during which Ryan connected one-on-one with seven Portlanders. The primary theme was the city's lack of a plan for Hayden Island. Residents expressed concern about the negative impacts of the State's I-5 bridge replacement project, noting they were not engaged by the Oregon Department of Transportation for feedback. Ryan plans to develop a North Waterfront Plan that addresses city involvement before the bridge is replaced, livability during construction, and future development that prioritizes public space and protects affordable housing residents.

On October 30, Councilor Ryan completed a seven-hour police ride-along with Officer Samson Blakeslee of the North Precinct from 8 p.m. to 3 a.m. The minimum staffing standard for the North Precinct that evening was 19 officers. The precinct started with 15, and six were on overtime. By 10 p.m., three officers had clocked off, and by 11 p.m., two more were off duty. The lowest point was between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m., when only 10 officers were on duty, approximately 50% fewer than the minimum standard. Ryan noted that every welfare check responded to by Officer Blakeslee involved a behavioral health component, including mental health and addiction issues.

At the City Council's second reading this week, Councilor Ryan and Councilor Kanal introduced an amendment to the Lloyd Event District parking ordinance. The amendment encourages the City Administrator to suspend Lloyd Event District and Zone V Parking Permit Area boundaries along N Flint Avenue between N Russell and N Page Streets. It also requests that the Bureau of Transportation establish clearer signage for pay-to-park hours. All 12 City Councilors voted to support the amendment and pass the underlying ordinance as an emergency measure.