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
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
Brian Newman, Metro Councilor
Presentation
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
Streetcars: The Final Link
Rick Gustafson, COO, Portland Streetcar Inc
Presentation
Development
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
Tools for Development, Portland Style
Bruce Warner, Executive Director, Portland Development Commission
Presentation
Growing Retail Downtown
Sandra McDonough, President & CEO, Portland Business Alliance
Presentation
Green Infrastructure: Integrating the Built and Natural Environments
Mike Houck, Executive Director, Urban Greenspaces Institute
Presentation
The Role of the Private Sector in Affordable Housing
Ed McNamara, Principal, Turtle Island Development
Presentation
Art's Important Role in Portland
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
Molly Raphael, Director of Libraries, Multnomah County Libraries
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
The Austin metro population expanded by 41% from 1999 to 2009, while Texas grew at a rate of 21% and the nation at 10%
