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2006 PORTLAND, OR

October 22-24, 107 Chamber members, community leaders and regional elected officials visited Portland in search of best practices and lessons learned on key issues facing Central Texas. Austin is often compared to Portland as we share a high quality of life, generally more liberal politics than the rest of the state and a keen environmental awareness that permeates our community decisions. We learned that Portland has achieved their success in many innovative ways, many of which may not be applicable in Central Texas, but may serve as an inspiration to think outside the box in solving our own challenges.

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Briefing materials provided to participants are available by clicking on each agenda heading below. Download copies of presentations, where available, under each speaker. And link to the various organization websites in each section.

If you did not participate in the 2006 trip, but are interested in the 2007 trip, click here to email your name, title, company name, email and phone number.

TRIP AGENDA

Welcome to Portland — Community Facts (pdf)
    Roger Mitchell 2007 Chairman, Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce
    Congressman Earl Blumenauer
    Mayor Tom Potter, City of Portland

Regional Government’s Role in Community Planning (pdf)
    Brian Newman, Metro Councilor
    Presentation (pdf)

Transit (Bus, Light Rail and Streetcars) (pdf)
    Tri-Met, Meeting the Transit Needs
    Fred Hansen, General Manager, Tri-Met

The Other Side of the Story: Is Rail the Best Use of Transit Dollars
    John Charles, President, Cascade Policy Institute
    Presentation (pdf)

Streetcars: The Final Link
    Rick Gustafson, COO, Portland Streetcar Inc
    Presentation (pdf)

Development (pdf)
    Pearl District
    Michael Powell, Owner, Powell’s Books & Chairman, Portland Streetcar Inc

South Waterfront: Building 21st Century Communities Green
    Dennis Wilde, Senior Project Manager, Gerding/Edlen Development
    Presentation (pdf)

Tools for Development, Portland Style
    Bruce Warner, Executive Director, Portland Development Commission
    Presentation (pdf)

Growing Retail Downtown
    Sandra McDonough, President & CEO, Portland Business Alliance
    Presentation (pdf)

Green Infrastructure: Integrating the Built and Natural Environments (pdf)
    Mike Houck, Executive Director, Urban Greenspaces Institute
    Presentation

The Role of the Private Sector in Affordable Housing
    Ed McNamara, Principal, Turtle Island Development
    Presentation (pdf)

Art’s Important Role in Portland (pdf)
Portland Museum of Art
    Doug Froman, Executive Director
    Bruce Gunther, Chief Curator
Regional Funding for the Arts
    Eloise Damrosch, Executive Director, Regional Arts & Culture Council
    Sam Adams, Commissioner, City of Portland
Private Support of the Arts
    Homer Williams, Chairman, Williams & Dame Development
Portland Center Stage: The Armory
    Edith Love, Managing Director
    Chris Coleman, Artistic Director

21st Century Libraries (pdf)
    Molly Raphael, Director of Libraries, Multnomah County Libraries

Education
Building 21st Century Public Schools
    Dr. Vicki Phillips, Superintendent, Portland Public Schools

Serving Portland’s Post Secondary Needs — Portland Community College
    Randy McEwen, VP of Administrative Services
    Presentation
    Linda Huddle, Director of Alternative Programs/PCC Prep
    Presentation