No Internet, three days

Last week's storm not only took out power for two hours here on Oatfield Hill, it also took out the ISP which Mrs. Clackablog and I use, for three days. Our DSL connection was fine; but, the ISP was down.

Appears that some ISPs don't take seriously the implications of storm damage where their data center is. Contained in the link above is a list for ALL the ISPs which serve DSL in Oregon and Washington customers, and the next one we choose will have multiple data centers at different locations, and multiple connections to the Internet.

Fortunately, we were able to cable from one of our cellphones to a PC and share that 82 Kbps data connection to our computers, so e-mail worked, but web browsing with modern, Javascript-laden web pages was verrrrrrrrrry slooooooooooooow and updates here impossible.

Special Oak Lodge Community Council meeting

A message from the chair of the Oak Lodge Community Council:

We need a special meeting to consider several items. A tentative agenda is below. The time and place is: 7 PM Wednesday December 20th at Oak Lodge Fire Station.
Thanks and have a nice week,
Dick J

Special meeting
December 20, 2006
7 PM Oak Lodge Fire Station
Agenda: Land Use issues for action

Z0695-04 Applicant requests a one year extension to complete the work required to file the completion of this 3-lot partition. It is located at 14420 Upper Aldercrest Dr.

Z0933-06 A request for a temporary permit to allow an otherwise prohibited use in an MR-1 zone. The temporary permit would allow continued use of a single family dwelling. This is at 14014 Linden Ln.

Z0935-06 This is 7-lot minor subdivision at 5215 Roethe Rd. It is on 1.52 acres and has both R8.5 and R10 zoning.

Calendar of Public Meetings (just received) December 2006

Thursday the 7th
10:00 AM Clackamas County Commissioners weekly Board meeting.
6:00 PM North Clackamas Parks and Rec District Advisory Board meets at the Milwaukie Center.
7:00 PM NC12 School board meets in Board offices.

Tuesday the 12th
9:30 AM Board of Commissioners Study session at Board offices.
5:30 PM Oak Lodge Sanitary work session relative to plant upgrade.
6:30 PM Oak Lodge Sanitary monthly Board meeting at Board offices.

Wednesday the 13th
No Citizens, Informed and Aware meeting.

Thursday the 14th
10:00 AM Board of Commissioner Hearing at PSB.

Monday the 18th
7:00 PM Fire District No. 1 Board meets at Mt. Scott Fire Station.

Tuesday the 19th
9:30 AM Board of Commissioners Study session at Board offices.
7:00 PM Oak Lodge Water district monthly Board meeting in District offices.

Wednesday the 20th
9:00 AM Board of Commissioner’s M37 Hearing in Board Hearing room at PSB.

Thursday the 21st
9:00 AM Land Use Hearing at Sunnybrook Service Center (SSC).
10:00 AM Clackamas County Commissioners weekly Board meeting.
7:00 PM NC12 School board meets in Board offices.

Tuesday the 26th
9:30 AM Board of Commissioners Study session at Board offices.

Thursday the 28th
10:00 AM Clackamas County Commissioners weekly Board meeting.

Note meeting times and places may change so data should be confirmed in advance.

Tonight's Oak Lodge Community Council Meeting Agenda

AGENDA
December 6, 2006
Oak Lodge Sanitary office
Oak Grove, Oregon

7:00 PM -- Call to Order: Dick Jones, Chairperson

ROLL CALL: Bill Bader, Bill Brown, Wilma Brown, Frank Budwill, Sue Conachan, Edith Coulter, Rosemary Crites, George Dietz, Lynn Fisher, Jerry Foy, Bryn Gillem, Chuck Gode, Milo Haas, Thelma Haggenmiller, Eleanore Hunter, David Jelinek, Dick Jones, Jim Knapp, Alan Koch, Gloria Koch, Elinor Kuhns, Bill Neels, Elaine Neels, Chuck Petersen, Margaret Pritchard, Paul Savas, Henry Schmidt, George Schneider, Eugene Schoenheit, Eric Shawn, Susan Shawn, Kent Squires, Julie Stanley, Blair Stephens, Charlie Stephens, Dr. Elton Storment, Bob Waldt, Leonard Waldemar, Don Wake, Suzanne Wake, Roy Wikman and Doug Woods.

7:02 PM – Introduction of Attendees

Name, area of residence and position in the Oak Lodge Community Council, if applicable.

7:05 PM – Council Reports
Minutes of the October 25th meeting are not available.
Treasurer’s Report – Sue Conachan

7:10 PM – Sheriff’s Report – Lt. Chuck Slaney

7:15 PM – Special Presentation – Possible Changes to the Essential Pedestrian Network, Karen Buehrig, Clackamas County Planning

7:50 PM – District Reports

New Urban High School-Tim King

Clackamas County Fire District #1 – Scott Weninger

Oak Lodge Water District – Jim Knapp

Oak Lodge Sanitary District – Kent Squires

Clackamas County Service District CAC – Jim Knapp

Page 2

8:10 PM Report of the Nominating Committee (See packet)

8:15 PM – Land Use Issues for Voting

Introduction of procedures by Chairperson. Eligibility for Voting, Time Limits, presentations by those in favor, the Council’s on-site review and those opposed.

Z0874-06 This is an application partition of a .51 acre parcel into 2 parcels. One parcel has an existing single family house and parcel 2 would be a flag lot parcel for another dwelling It is located at 15222 Linden Ln. It is zoned R-7.

Z0885-06 This is an application partition of a .52 acre (22,000 sq.ft.) parcel into 2 parcels. One parcel has an existing single family house and parcel 2 would be a flag lot parcel for another dwelling with access from a shared driveway at 14615 Vista Ln It is located at 14611Vista Ln. It is zoned R-10.

Z0908-06 This is an application is a minor subdivision of 4-lots, one lot with an existing dwelling. All the dwellings with have access to Hill Road from an existing private street (Haze Ct.) It is located at 4003 Hill Rd. It is zoned R-10.

Z0914-06 This is a request for a side setback variance from 15 feet to 11 feet in addition to the 20-foot access drive width. This is located at 4025 View Acres Rd.

Update on Land Use Applications:

None

8:40 PM General Matters for Discussion

Authorize annual giving to Charities

Sexual Predator update: No new information

Trolley Trail update- Thelma

FUTURE PUBLIC MEETINGS

Council meetings:
January 24, 2007, February 21, 2007

OLCC/CIA at Rose Villa unless otherwise noted
December 13, 2006, January 10, 2007, February 7, 2007

Special meetings, if required to vote on land use issues, will be held in conjunction with the monthly CIA meeting normally on the second Wednesday of each month.

9:00 PM – Meeting Adjourned

Oak Lodge Community Council meeting Wednesday

A message from Dick Jones, chair of this CPO:

This reminder that the Oak Lodge Community Council will hold our combined November December meeting on the first Wednesday in December.

We will meet as usual at Oak Lodge Sanitary office Wednesday December 6th 7PM. We will have our regular land use issues, district reports and Karen Buehrig as a special speaker from Clackamas County Planning. She will discuss proposed changes to the Essential Pedestrian Network.

I look forward to seeing everyone and have a nice week,

Dick J

Everybody hates their cellphone company, right?

Want out, because reception's become awful, or because only company "X" has that nifty new mobile phone you want?

New websites, including

Cellswapper
CelltradeUSA
Resellular and
Wirecracker

now help customers get out of contracts with cellular companies without paying the (excessive) termination fee designed to lock you in to their company. Contracts loophole let folks escape those contracts if another person will assume, take over, the contract, and a credit check induces the the wireless operator to approve the new subscriber. There's a fee (said to be $15-$50 as per today's Wall Street Journal), but it's a lot less than what the cellular carrier charges.

That story also noted

47% of cell customers would switch or consider switching cellphone companies if early-termination fees were abolished, according to a July 2005 survey by the U.S. PIRG Education Fund. However, because of the fee, only 3% of customers go ahead with terminating the contract, the survey found.

Biodiesel finder

NearBio.com is a new service which shows you your closest biodiesel pump, with hours of operation, payment terms and address. It's even accessible from cellphones as long as text messaging is enabled. Here's today's list of pumps within 25 miles of the 97222 zipcode (apologies for the ham-handed map mashup, thanks to Google for Google Maps); right-click to save the map on your computer so you can see it in greater detail. I'm printing this out to keep in my Jeep Liberty Diesel, as bio burns cleaner and lubricates the engine better than dino-diesel.

Prepared for Financial Disaster?

What would you do if every ATM in town stopped working? Here's a few good suggestions:

http://www.experiglot.com/2006/10/03/financial-checklist-for-disaster-preparedness/

http://www.redcross.org/services/disaster/beprepared/FinRecovery/FinPlan/

[National] They Just Don't Get It

"In Bob Sherwood's seat [in Pennsylvania] that would have been overwhelmingly ours if his mistress hadn't whined about being throttled," said Mr Norquist. Were there any lessons from the campaign? "Yes. The lesson should be don't throttle mistresses."

Throttling. As in attempted murder by choking. Yah, that's the kinda guy the GOP should send to the Congress.

Now, Mr. Norquist does not speak for the GOP directly, but he surely is a Fellow Traveller with those who do hold the reins. It's folks like him who have me wondering; should I become a Blue Dog or a Progressive?

[National] The Never-Ending Orwellian Emergency

Remember, remember, the fifth of November...

So you feel that the United States is in the same state of 'national emergency' that it was in a few weeks after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks? Is today's national and global atmosphere of such similarity to those dark days that legislative and executive branch contingencies designed to deal with imminent violence should continue unquestioned? The President would have you believe so.

However, some problems are real, and other 'problems' are convenient to those who would lead the sheeple.

Haven't the actions persons who 'commit, threaten to commit, or support terrorism' always been a threat to the United States? So, what's new? They have been, they continue to be, and will always be a threat, and while not wanting to diminish the seriousness of such threats, I wonder what other possible reasons for branding them with the title of "National Emergency" might be in play.

The powers of a President during a period of declared emergency are incredible, and can include the suspension of rights such as habeus corpus, which protects against unlawful imprisonment, and the Posse Comitatus Act, which forbids the use of the military against U.S. citizens. Other possible powers which can fall under the umbrella of 'national emergency' include the declaration of martial law and the seizure of property and possessions. The introduction of a 1973 U.S. Senate report on emergency powers stated the following about the powers of a President during a time of declared emergency:

"This vast range of powers, taken together, confer enough authority to rule the country without reference to normal constitutional processes. Under the powers delegated by these statutes, the President may: seize property; organize and control the means of production; seize commodities; assign military forces abroad; institute martial law; seize and control all transportation and communication; regulate the operation of private enterprise; restrict travel; and, in a plethora of particular ways, control the lives of all American citizens."

November Oak Lodge area community meetings

Many thanks to Dick Davis for this November 2006 Calendar of Public Meetings.
Note: Meeting times and places may change, so data should be confirmed in advance.


Wednesday the 1st
9:00 AM Board of Commissioner’s M37 Hearing in Board Hearing room at PSB.
7:00 PM Traffic Safety Commission meets at SSC.

Thursday the 2nd
9:00 AM Land Use Hearing at Sunnybrook Service Center (SSC), 9101 Sunnybrook Blvd.
10:00 AM Clackamas County Commissioners weekly Board meeting at PSB.
6:45 PM C-4 meets at PSB.
7:00 PM NC12 School board meets in Board offices.

Saturday the 4th
10:00 AM The County Elections Division at 825 Portland Ave. in Gladstone will be open until 2:00 pm for voters who wish to pick up or drop off ballots, have questions answered, etc.

Tuesday the 7th
7:00 AM Elections Division at 825 Portland Ave. in Gladstone will be open until 8:00 pm. Sixteen other alternate ballot drop locations are shown here.
8:30 AM Board of Commissioners Study session at Board offices.

Wednesday the 8th
6:00 PM Oak Lodge Sanitary Master Plan Advisory Committee meets at OLSD.
no Citizens, Informed and Aware meeting.

Thursday the 9th
9:30 AM Board of Commissioner Hearing at PSB.
10:15 AM Land Use Hearing at Sunnybrook Service Center (SSC).
6:00 PM North Clackamas Parks and Rec District Advisory Board meets in WES offices at SSC.
6:30 PM Bike/Ped Committee Open House addressing the Pedestrian Network at SSC.

Monday the 13th
6:30 PM Planning Commission meets at SSC.

Tuesday the 14th
no Board of Commissioners Study session at Board offices.
5:00 PM MTIP Listening Post discussion of transit projects at the Pioneer Center in Oregon City. See more about MTIP here.
6:30 PM Oak Lodge Sanitary monthly Board meeting at Board offices.
7:00 PM North Clackamas Planning Assoc. meets at Bilquist School.

Thursday the 16th
No Clackamas County Commissioners weekly Board meeting.
9:00 AM Land Use Hearing at Sunnybrook Service Center (SSC).
7:00 PM NC12 School board meets in Board offices.

Monday the 20th
11:30 AM Public Safety Appreciation Lunch at New Hope Church sponsored by N. Clackamas Co. Chamber of Commerce.
7:00 PM Fire District No. 1 Board meets at Fire Station Six.

Tuesday the 21st
8:30 AM Board of Commissioners Study session at Board offices.
7:00 PM Oak Lodge Water district monthly Board meeting in District offices.

Wednesday the 22nd
10:00 AM Clackamas County Commissioners weekly Board meeting.

Tuesday the 28th
8:00 AM Board of Commissioners Study session at Board offices.
7:00 PM Jennings Lodge CPO meets at Homewoods Heights.

Wednesday the 29th
9:30 AM Board of Commissioner’s Land Use Hearing in Board Hearing room PSB.

Thursday the 30th
9:00 AM Land Use Hearing at Sunnybrook Service Center (SSC).
10:00 AM Clackamas County Commissioners weekly Board meeting.
1:00 PM Board of Commissioners Planning meeting location TBA.

Note December 1st is the last day for Letters of Support for MTIP funding to complete the Trolley Trail. See more about MTIP here.

Oak Lodge Sanitary's Master Plan information presented at the Open House is available on the web.

[National] Energy Dependence

A recent New Yorker article notes a puzzling stance by the Bush Administration against energy independence, more than once. For the wonks among you, here's an explanation of the original issue:

A distribution transformer, much, say, like an elevator, is easy to ignore until it malfunctions. Its unromantic job, in most cases, is to take the high-voltage current transmitted over the grid and convert it—or step it down—to the lower-voltage current that emerges from a wall socket. There are an estimated three million distribution transformers in operation in the United States, and virtually all the electricity produced in the country—some four trillion kilowatt hours per year—passes through at least one of them en route from the plant where it was generated to the heating element in your toaster. Along the way, some energy is inevitably lost, and even though proportionately these losses are small, when you’re talking about four trillion kilowatt hours they quickly add up.

Last month, more than fourteen years after Congress mandated transformer standards, the Bush Administration finally got around to proposing them. (The original deadline was missed during the Clinton Administration.) To prepare the proposal, the Department of Energy assessed six possible levels of efficiency, ranging from the highest, known in bureaucratese as Trial Standard Level 6, to the lowest, Trial Standard Level 1. According to the department’s figures, the ideal balance between the up-front costs and the long-term gains was achieved at Level 4. Nevertheless, the department turned around and recommended a much lower transformer standard, Level 2. The decision obviously makes no sense on environmental grounds—in effect, the department is proposing to squander some twelve billion kilowatt hours per year, or roughly enough electricity to power all the households in Iowa—and also no sense on financial ones: the D.O.E.’s own analysis shows that the net cost of the lower standard will actually be higher over the life of the average transformer, which is estimated to be thirty years. The proposal leaves "billions in savings just sitting on the table," is how Steven Nadel, the executive director of the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy, put it to the Christian Science Monitor.

Energy dependence seems to be a priority, where it shouldn't.

500 page report shows Cleveland voting problems

Ohio, once again, is a key state in federal elections. And, once again, the integrity of the voting system there is in doubt, says this WIRED article. I am soo glad we Vote By Mail in Oregon, a Diebold-free state.

How to steal an election by hacking the vote

This ArsTechnica article shows why Oregon's vote-by-mail system is the only way to assure that elections are not a fraudulent exercise (can any say, 'Ohio?')

Our national election infrastructure is now largely an information technology infrastructure, so the problem of keeping our elections free of vote fraud is now an information security problem. If you've been keeping track of the news in the past few years, with its weekly litany of high-profile breeches in public- and private-sector networks, then you know how well we're (not) doing on the infosec front.

Over the course of almost eight years of reporting for Ars Technica, I've followed the merging of the areas of election security and information security, a merging that was accelerated much too rapidly in the wake of the 2000 presidential election. In all this time, I've yet to find a good way to convey to the non-technical public how well and truly screwed up we presently are, six years after the Florida recount. So now it's time to hit the panic button: In this article, I'm going to show you how to steal an election.

Read the whole darned thing. Now.

Oak Lodge Community Planning Organization agenda

AGENDA
October 25, 2006
Oak Lodge Sanitary office
Oak Grove, Oregon

7:00 PM -- Call to Order: Dick Jones, Chairperson

ROLL CALL: Bill Bader, Bill Brown, Wilma Brown, Frank Budwill, Sue Conachan, Edith Coulter, Rosemary Crites, George Dietz, Jerry Foy, Bryn Gillem, Chuck Gode, Milo Haas, Thelma Haggenmiller, Eleanore Hunter, David Jelinek, Dick Jones, Jim Knapp, Alan Koch, Gloria Koch, Elinor Kuhns, Bill Neels, Elaine Neels, Chuck Petersen, Margaret Pritchard, Paul Savas, Henry Schmidt, George Schneider, Eugene Schoenheit, Eric Shawn, Susan Shawn, Kent Squires, Julie Stanley, Blair Stephens, Charlie Stephens, Dr. Elton Storment, Bob Waldt, Leonard Waldemar, Don Wake, Suzanne Wake, Roy Wikman and Doug Woods.

7:02 PM – Introduction of Attendees

Name, area of residence and position in the Oak Lodge Community Council, if applicable.

7:05 PM – Council Reports

Approve minutes of the September 27th meeting.

Treasurer’s Report – Sue Conachan

7:10 PM – Sheriff’s Report – Lt. Chuck Slaney

7:15 PM – Special Presentation – Public Safety Levy 3-246 - Lt. Chuck Slaney

7:50 PM – District Reports

New Urban High School-Tim King

Clackamas County Fire District #1 – Oak Lodge Engine Crew

Oak Lodge Water District – Jim Knapp

Oak Lodge Sanitary District – Kent Squires

Clackamas County Service District CAC – Jim Knapp
Page 2

8:15 PM – Land Use Issues for Voting

Introduction of procedures by Chairperson. Eligibility for Voting, Time Limits, presentations by those in favor, the Council’s on-site review and those opposed.

Z0710-06 This is request for an interpretation of section 1206 regarding Nonconforming use provisions of the ZDO. One parcel where this may affect is at 14702 Rupert.

Z0783-06 This is a request to allow a two-lot partition. One lot will be about 9,000 s.f. and the other parcel containing an existing house of 17,000 sf. This is located at 17246 Oatfield Rd The area is .5 acres and zoned R-8.5.

Z0805-06-Z0807-06 This is an application partition a .94 acre parcel into 2 parcels. One parcel will be a single family house and the other 3 multifamily structures containing 14 living units. These dwelling were built in 1972. This activity will not result in any increase in density. It is located at 15512 East Av. And is zoned MR-1.

Z0810-06 This is a request for a temporary permit for a modular office at Cranston Machine (2251 Oak Grove Blvd).

Update on Land Use Applications:

The County is proposing to modify C-3 (General Commercial District).

8:40 PM General Matters for Discussion

Review letter to the BCC relative to CCSD#1 CAC report.

Sexual Predator update: No new information

Trolley Trail update- Thelma

FUTURE PUBLIC MEETINGS

Council meetings:
October 25, 2006
December 6, 2006
January 24, 2007

OLCC/CIA at Rose Villa unless otherwise noted
December 13, 2006
January 10, 2007

Special meetings, if required to vote on land use issues, will be held in conjunction with the monthly CIA meeting normally on the second Wednesday of each month.

9:00 PM – Meeting Adjourned

DEADLINE TO REGISTER TO VOTE !

Tomorrow, Tuesday 17th, is the deadline to register to vote. It's too late to mail it in, but you can print this form, complete and sign it, and hand carry it to the Elections Office from 8:30 AM to 5 PM at 925 Portland Ave in Gladstone, which is about a five minute walk off either the 32 or 33 bus lines. Here's the FAQ on registration.

Voting systems are not perfect, so call the elections office at 503.655.8510 if you want to confirm you're registered.

And, if you're curious, here's the map for our ten districts and their precincts.

Community events this week

Several events of importance to us occur in the week ahead. On Tuesday 17th 7 PM is Oak Lodge Sanitary’s Open House where they will share their Master Plan. The Open House will be held at the New Urban High School 1905 SE Oak Grove Blvd. You should have received a flyer advertising this event. When things are going to happen each of us needs get involved.

On Wednesday the 18th 6 PM at Oak Grove School on Torbank will be the Trolley Trail Design Open House. This will give us the opportunity to review survey maps, aerial photos, the 2004 Master Plan and learn about the next steps in trail design needed before construction can occur.

On Thursday the 19th the Three Bridges on the Springwater Trail will be dedicated. This will take place at SE 19th and Ochoco at 10:30 AM.

One last item John Bartley has posted on his web site: http://clackablog.blogspot.com/ the following. We as OLCC members should help him in this great endeavor.

Companies build stores with them. The USN uses them (modified with lights, ventilation) to house crew on ships. You can buy them outfitted as bunkhouses and as offices. Architects study how to use them for housing, which is increasingly common. Washington schools use them to house disaster supplies. I could go on about how they're becoming ubiquitious.

They're popping up all over the county, as we heard at the last Oak Lodge CPO meeting. And, the county has no ordinance or regulation about where they can be used in residential neighborhoods.

They're intermodal shipping containers, a system fifty years old, and we're going to see a lot more of them around home.

E-Mail me your pictures of shipping containers you find in the county, along with the time and location you took the picture. I'll make them a Flikr stream, put them all on a Google map, and once assembled, suggest the county consider looking at the issue of where they can be placed and how they can be used.

John’s E-mail address is (at the top of this web page).

Have a nice day,
Dick J

Forum: County Commission Candidates, Ballot Measures

The Citizens Informed and Aware group of the Oak Lodge Community Council is hosting a Forum for County Commissioners Candidates and County/Regional Ballot Measures.

The Discussion is scheduled for 7:00 PM on Wednesday, October 11, 2006
at the Rose Villa Retirement Center Fellowship Hall.
The location is 13505 SE River Road in Oak Grove OR.
(Parking is available on the East side of River Road or along the curb on the West side of River Road. Please do not park on Rose Villa’s property West of River Road.)

The first hour will be for the three County Commissioner Candidates. The second hour will be presentations for four ballot measures.

For residents of the unincorporated parts of the County the County Commissioners are our governing board. It is important to know what their positions are and they know our views on the many subjects they will be deciding.

More on Shipping Containers in Residential Neighborhoods

Companies build stores with them. The USN uses them (modified with lights, ventilation) to house crew on ships. You can buy them outfitted as bunkhouses and as offices. Architects study how to use them for housing, which is increasingly common. Washington schools use them to house disaster supplies. I could go on about how they're becoming ubiquitious.

They're popping up all over the county, as we heard at the last Oak Lodge CPO meeting. And, the county has no ordinance or regulation about where they can be used in residential neighborhoods.

They're intermodal shipping containers, a system fifty years old, and we're going to see a lot more of them around home.

E-Mail me your pictures of shipping containers you find in the county, along with the time and location you took the picture. I'll make them a Flikr stream, put them all on a Google map, and once assembled, suggest the county consider looking at the issue of where they can be placed and how they can be used.

[Ballot Measures] Blue Oregon misses the mark, again

The bald assertion at the head of this Blue Oregon article slamming Measure 48 misses the boat. The very purpose of this is to create a Rainy Day Fund with which to deal with such disasters.

Now, that being said, it is *especially* important to be ready to deal with the first 96 hours *yourself* as *no* relief effort is worth much in the first day, and the next three days are *so* much easier to deal with if you have your own basics. At least, that's been my observation, from personal experience on the inside of Donna, Betsy, Frederic and Hugo, plus many less memorable disasters.

Be proud of your city. Competent, realistic planning and frequent practice is a Portland hallmark. The TICOFF exercise last week demonstrated the city's committment to doing a decent job in the event of a disaster, and although I am not an official, I can say the exercise showed much forethought without the 'fairy dust' commonly seen in similar exercises elsewhere. But, they can't do everything, and self-preparedness is YOUR key to a highly less sucky result when the inevitable disaster occurs.

*Please* do not forget a solution to care for your pets, as Federal law prohibits pets (not working animals, but pets) in federally funded shelters, as per the WSJ. We have a folding cart which not only carries our water (gallon a day a person), tent, Coleman stove, pot, rations, TP, meds, books and other necessities, but also cat carriers, with a pack of kibble, dishes, litter, harnesses and leashes, litterbox and a roll of chicken wire to make a pen for our four-footed bosses. We have also chipped them so if they freak and run, we may find them again.

And, if you're concerned about the issue, the Oregon Trail Chapter provides free disaster relief training to their volunteers, including free First Aid/CPR/AED. The Portland Office of Emergency Management has free and useful courses in the NET/CERT program of light duty rescue relief. Helping people recover from disaster is addictive, and a cheap hobby in which you benefit the community while assuring the safety and well being of folks you care about.

Calendar of Public Meetings, October 2006

Calendar of Public Meetings
October 2006

Monday the 2nd
6:00 PM Dedication of Alder Creek Middle School Park at Alder Creek Middle School.

Tuesday the 3rd
8:30 AM Board of Commissioners Study session at Board offices.

Wednesday the 4th
9:00 AM Board of Commissioner’s M37 Hearing in Board Hearing room at PSB.
7:00 PM Traffic Safety Commission meets at SSC.

Thursday the 5th
9:00 AM Land Use Hearing at Sunnybrook Service Center (SSC) 9101 Sunnybrook Blvd.
No Clackamas County Commissioners weekly Board meeting.
6:00 PM Oak Lodge Sanitary Master Plan Advisory Committee meets at OLSD.
7:00 PM NC12 School board meets in Board offices.

Tuesday the 10th
No Board of Commissioners Study session at Board offices.
6:30 PM Oak Lodge Sanitary monthly Board meeting at Board offices.
7:00 PM North Clackamas Planning Assoc. meets at Bilquist School.

Wednesday the 11th
7:00 PM Oak Lodge CIA (Citizens, Informed and Aware) Candidates Forum for County Commissioner Candidates and Local Ballot measures at Rose Villa.

Thursday the 12th
10:00 AM Clackamas County Commissioners weekly Board meeting.
6:00 PM North Clackamas Parks and Rec District Advisory Board meets at the Aquatic Park.

Monday the 16th
6:30 PM CCSD#1 Wastewater study committee Open House at SSC.
7:00 PM Fire District No. 1 Board meets at Mt. Scott Fire Station.
7:00 PM Oak Lodge Water district monthly Board meeting in District offices.

Tuesday the 17th
8:30 AM Board of Commissioners Study session at Board offices.
7:00 PM Oak Lodge Sanitary Master Plan Open House at the New Urban High School, 1905 SE Oak Grove Blvd.

Wednesday the 18th
9:00 AM Board of Commissioner’s M37 Hearing in Board Hearing room at PSB.
6:00 PM Trolley Trail Design Open House at Oak Grove school.

Thursday the 19th
9:00 AM Land Use Hearing at SSC.
10:00 AM Clackamas County Commissioners weekly Board meeting.
6:00 PM Clackamas Co. Fire District #1 offers CPR training for $25. For questions or to make a reservation, contact the Training Division at 503-742-2682.
7:00 PM NC12 School board meets in Board offices.

Saturday the 21st
9:00 AM Clackamas Co. Fire District #1 offers First Aid training for $40. For questions or to make a reservation, contact the Training Division at 503-742-2682.

Monday the 23rd
6:30 PM Planning Commission meets at SSC.

Tuesday the 24th
8:30 AM Board of Commissioners Study session at Board offices.
5:30 PM NCCWC Board meets at the Plant on the Clackamas.
7:00 PM Jennings Lodge CPO meets at Homewoods Heights.

Wednesday the 25th
9:30 AM Board of Commissioner’s Land Use Hearing in Board Hearing room PSB.
7:00 PM Oak Lodge Community Council meets at OLSD office.

Thursday the 26th
10:00 AM Clackamas County Commissioners weekly Board meeting including CCSD#1 Hearing.
1:30 PM Sunnyside Road Phase II dedication, location TBA.

Monday the 30th, 6:30 PM CPO’s Chairs meeting at PSB.

Tuesday the 31st, 8:30 AM Board of Commissioners Study session at Board offices.

Note meeting times and places may change so data should be confirmed in advance.

Milwaukie’s Sunday Farmers' Market from 9:30 AM to 2:30 PM across from City Hall.

Oregon City’s Saturday Farmers' Market from 9:30 AM to 2:30 PM at the PSB parking lot.

[National] Haiku du jour

The Constitution
Was cast aside by Congress.
Hideous corpus!

Oak Lodge Community Council Notes 3 of 3

8PM - Discussion continues

Jim Knapp is the new treasurer of the water board, and Dick Jones now chairs the water board. Jim noted McLoughlin down by Vinyard and the Big Five store will be resurfaced next year, may do pipeline work then.

The district has a big snow pack, much water available, much better than other districts who must promote conservation. Water not sold for revenue goes down the river, and sinc ewe're the 2d to last outfall, no one else takes it today. Tigard, last inlet, will likely take more in the future. We have a program to use when we are in drought condition.

Dick - moving land from irrigated ag to residences reduces water use. The Clackamas River is spring-fed, well above the minimum flow and of great quality. Can coordinate with PGE for their TImothy Lake hydro reservoir if needed.

Ken Squires: Sanitary sewer master planning method working towards a conclusing, Adv cmte meet here next Thiursday to rehearse for New Urban HS openhouse 7-9PM on October 19th. Encourage community at large to participate and give feedback to the 17 member CAC regarding goals values and how to implement long tewrm start in best way possible.

Construction is underway on Park Ave from River Rd to near McLoughlin, work funded in coop with Clackamas Co and with a Community Development Block Grant; only cost $190,000, instead of 290,000 without cooperation and outside funding.

Awarded Cedar Ave and River Rd crossing projects. Bids higher than anticipated (change from 5-6 yrs norm of $60/' to about $85/'). Have not yet started a project to study (the artificial) Riverforce Lake and storm drainage under Clean Water Act requirements into the Willammette. Studies take through winter into next summer, will then know how lake functions and how it affects storm water management.
Bush Admin requirement that wetland be attached to ocean or stream will ikel be challenged in court. Note: A fill permit required if > 50 cu yds.


Jim Knapp will present proposals from his CAC for Clackamas Co Service District sewage treatment options to commissioners tomorrow at 10AM, for their consideration. Despite many obstacles, the CAC is unanimous in its recommendations. One abstemption made explicit, on the basis of the report not having been made available for reading until five minutes ago. Passed 14-0-4.

LAND USE

Henry Schmidt, Leonard Walden and Dick Jones visited properties today.

Z689-06 4021 SE Risley; added to split property <20,000' in R-10 zone. County staff denied waiver. Hearings officer approved a subsequent appeal. A neighbor was concerned because sidewalk would take away from road space where it's needed for school bus load/unload safety; Dick Jones sent photos, along with code enforcement issues, as a safety concern. Approved, 15-0-2.

Z0678-06/Z0679-06 17393 SE Walta Vista. Regrade & repair a pathway, add a ramp on private property at private expense, within the Willamette Greenway. Riprap needed to hold back bank, path will allow tractor access to mitigate erosion and access to cut weeds; right now, it's a goat path. Approved, no dissent or abstention.

Z0654-06, 4025 SE View Acres, part R-8.5 & part R-10 with dwelling now there that's compliant w/ R-8.5 requirements. A sidewalk is proposed outside of the current paved road, although a sidewalk is not always required for new construction. Approved 17-0-1.

Z0715-06 15525 SE River Forest Dr. New deck over old structure of some kind, above hundred year flood plan. Prior issue when remodel desired. Some kind of deck already there, and since composite material is used, likely the requested deck has already been built. Approval with request to county to enforce any relevant fine provision, carried with two abstaining.

Z0718-06 15223 SE River Forest Dr. County approval is required before Corps of Engineers approval to build dock may be sought. Approved, one abstained.


LAST MEETING'S MINUTES Approved with no objection.

Milo Haas is out of St Vincent's after extended hospital stay.

Trolley Trail: Can now walk from the old boat to Oak Grove Blvd, with gravel added soon from the park district. Last section quite walkable. The semi-truck driver who parks there sometimes will be addressed later. Oak Grove School will host a design open house on Wed the 18th of October.

On October 11th, we will have a pre-election forum with three candidates for the county commission (David Dodd, Larry Sowa and Lynn Peterson) and discussion of four ballot measures (including 26-80 from Metro, 3-221 from the soil and water conservation district, 3-229 from North Clackamas Schools, and 3-246, the sheriff's public safety operating levy).

A LUBA appeal not filed on time regarding Dr. Anderson's property on Concord, but Dick Jones suspected a price adjustment was made.


ADJOURNED AT 8:59 pm.

Oak Lodge Community Council notes 2 of 3

John Borge, Principal Planner, Clackamas Co. Transportation and Development Dept., then spoke on Trees, Wetlands and Wildlife Protection.

Years ago, Happy Valley complained that county didn't have tree cutting ordinance; we speak of trees in development and can address them through design review, conditional use or other method. However, the absence of such an ordinance allows developers to cut before application as we have little way to enforce, (except for resource areas adjacent to wetlands, streams, corridors; they're an upper tier issue then).

A new ordinance for this would be expensive, time consuming and costly to adminster, especially given the present property rights movement. I would be very frightened if we started to propose one.

Section 1000 applies to commercial, industrial and multi-family uses, which requires us to take a land use application & notify the CPO. Other activities, such as single family residential and duplexes, are not included in requirement.

We have fixed some loopholes regarding withdrawing a application, cutting trees, refiling revised application. We worked closely with wildlife agencies who had inventories of things like breeding grounds, and then zoned sensitive bird habitat for known rookeries and other sensitive areas.

We have found those inventories were not complete. Location, Quality and Size are all required to address these issues under Oregon's Goal Five requirements, and sites not so described are very easy for developers to alter even if, say, a rookery is found.

If we find them before development, we amend the plan after evaluation against (our three known) rookeries & wetlands ,and assess the significance before legislating protection following local law and the OAR.

Developer's rights are based on what we known at the time of application, so contact Fish and Wildlife with details if you find wildlife needing protection. Note that property owners are often not pleased to have their property rights overlaid with restrictions, and such matters can be contentious.

See the county website development department, the natural resources chapter under comprehensive plan for maps of known wetland areas and rookeries, but not all wetlands may have been scanned yet. The state has equivalent maps for areas outside of the UGB.

Margaret Pritcherd noted peregrine falcons have recently been seen outside Rose Villa, even in the breezeway, and bald eagles with fledgelings nest near Oak Park.

Catherine Blosser: Who can lobby to protect urban wildlife?
John Borges: Need to do as overlay zone, preserving existing restrictions plus adding those required for preservation. Not easy to do, would be very contentious. Lake Oswego adopted a tree ordinance; six months later had to change it because the community could not live with the contention, and revision followed another six months later, with issues still not yet resolved.

John then showed the M37 map, with almost 18 thousand acres involved in filed appeals, all over the county. Over 500 have been filed, all outside the UGB, with 4 turned down; 3 died, one could not demonstate ownership. Averson Lumber, 900 acres outside Sandy is one large property, another large one outside Bull Run reservoir. One other case, within UGB, rejected on other grounds.

Two year statute of limitation not firm, and property owners who are rejected for land use applications can reopen the issue outside the two year window (December? March? Legal is still unsure of deadline.) Two full time staffers are dedicated to M37 issues plus support from other staffers.

CONCLUDES TOMORROW

Oak Lodge Community Council notes 1 of 3

(Arrived at 7:04 PM after meeting started, due to ARES radio testing network session at 7:00 PM.)

John Borge, Principal Planner from County Transportation and Development Planning Division, was discussing the new social trend of using shipping containers for uses other than shipping. He admits the county did not anticipate the proliferation of shipping containers (aka PODS). They are not built, not fastened to the ground, so to regulate their use, the county need to describe them and then list, in each section, whether containers are allowed or denied. Design review process will discuss type of materials and construction method, but rarely describes where materials may be stored. Containers are showing up in farmland for storage. We'll proably have to get after them at some point.

Bartley: Customized JMICs (Joint Modular Intermodal Containers) are used in USN experimental littoral ship designs as living space.

Jerry Foy: Containers are used all the time in commercial areas. Containers are specifically allowed in C-3 such as FM, Lowe's, Meyer and Frank, to store goods on property exterior of uilding. Have seen them unloaded. Stacking six units high is pretty obnoxious. Has no plumbing, ventilation, electric, sanitary, so should not allow living in them,

Dick: Are they included in allowed storage space in existing ordinance?

Margaret Pritcherd: Have seen containers parked for several days even in blue tag areas. They're using space dedicated for pulic parking. also seen one right up against property line in residential area.

John: Also a chronic problem with other businesses using mandated parking to store inventory.

Don't know if shipping containers can they be placed on private property and used for storage with no special requirement, and there is no clear answer to that. Depends as to whether or not you classify them as a structure. Seems structure standards for sheds, garages should be applied to objects as big as a shed. There is no permit, no proces at present, not in a position to regulate them. At some point will have to enforce something and end up in front of a hearing officer. If we are clever enough and have resources, will modify existing ordinance.

Chuck: Why?

John: If we add to ordinance, will have to enforce it. Many things not in ordinance we can enforce as well (permanently parked motor home used as residence). Residential uses are in top tier of enforcement. We deal in many grey areas, even though ordinances seem to be in black and white.

Catherine Blosser: This is starting to be an issue, why not be proactive? Why not get ahead of the issue?

John: We develop work plans yearly, contact CPOs and assemble wish list, including these types of things we should do to get ahead of these issues.. Wish list at present is 40+ items and goes back several years. M37 consumes staf ftime, all we can do to process 1100-1500 normal land use plus 500+ M37 apps.

Bartley: Could independent development funds, perhaps a grant, permit CPOs or other NGOs to develop and propose an ordinance, which would be researched to survive legal challenge, before submission, coordinating with zoning & development?
John: (In addition to legal and research expenses) it would cost 18-25 kilobucks to notify all who might be involved. Tremendously expensive to mail notices to all property owners of modification to property rights, required since 1998. That expense holds us back because we have finite resources. A grant would have to be very specific to show achievment and awkward to do it that way, don't think grants are a good solution.

Jerry Foy: BOMA, ICSE, and the Retail Task Force groups get involved to see how changes would affect them; if opposed, will spend against; if in favor, will spend in favor, Big, well funded groups and effective.

Thelma: Why are mobile home relocation issues moved from Item E under Development Standards, to prohibited and preexisting uses?
John - Moving to prohibited uses could make sense but I have not seen the change (until now). Have had in county comprehensive plan since the 80s.

TO BE CONTINUED

Oak Lodge Community Council agenda for Wednesday night

AGENDA, Oak Lodge Community Council
Oak Lodge Sanitary office, 14611 SE River Rd, Oak Grove, Oregon

Wednesday, September 27, 2006, 7:00 PM -- Call to Order: Dick Jones, Chairperson

ROLL CALL: Bill Bader, Bill Brown, Wilma Brown, Frank Budwill, Sue Conachan, Edith Coulter, Rosemary Crites, George Dietz, Jerry Foy, Bryn Gillem, Chuck Gode, Milo Haas, Thelma Haggenmiller, David Jelinek, Dick Jones, Jim Knapp, Alan Koch, Gloria Koch, Elinor Kuhns, Bill Neels, Elaine Neels, Chuck Petersen, Margaret Pritchard, Paul Savas, Henry Schmidt, George Schneider, Eugene Schoenheit, Eric Shawn, Susan Shawn, Kent Squires, Julie Stanley, Dr. Elton Storment, Bob Waldt, Leonard Waldemar, Don Wake, Suzanne Wake, Roy Wikman and Doug Woods.

7:02 PM – Introduction of Attendees

Name, area of residence and position in the Oak Lodge Community Council, if applicable.

7:05 PM – Council Reports
Approve minutes of the August 23rd meeting.
Treasurer’s Report – Sue Conachan

7:10 PM – Sheriff’s Report – Lt. Chuck Slaney

7:15 PM – Special Presentation – John Borge, Clackamas County Planning

7:50 PM – District Reports

New Urban High School - Tim King

Clackamas County Fire District #1 – James Nowlin

Oak Lodge Water District – Jim Knapp

Oak Lodge Sanitary District – Kent Squires

Clackamas County Service District CAC – Jim Knapp

8:15 PM – Land Use Issues for Voting

Introduction of procedures by Chairperson. Eligibility for Voting, Time Limits, presentations by those in favor, the Council’s on-site review and those opposed.

Z0689-06 This is a request to allow a flexible size lot, two-lot partition. This is located at 4021 SE Risley. The area is .44 acres and zoned R-10 with the allowance for two dwellings.

Z0678/Z0679-06 This is a request to regrade and repair a pathway within the Willamette Greenway. This is located at 17393 SE Walta Vista. The area is .94 acres and is zoned R-10.

Z0591-06 This is request to rezone a site from a combination of R-10 and R-8.5 to R-8.5, then partition the property into two parcels. It is located at 4025 SE View Acres on 17,500 sq.ft.

Z0715-06 This is a modification of an earlier land use action to enlarge the deck in the Greenway. This is located at 15525 SE River Forest Dr.

Z0718-06 This is for construction of a dock in the Greenway at 15523 SE River Forest Dr.

Update on Land Use Applications:

The County is proposing to modify C-3 (General Commercial District).

8:40 PM General Matters for Discussion

Sexual Predator update: No new information

Trolley Trail update- Thelma

FUTURE PUBLIC MEETINGS

Special meetings, if required to vote on land use issues, will be held in conjunction with the monthly CIA meeting normally on the second Wednesday of each month.

Council meetings: October 25 and December 6, 2006

OLCC/CIA (at Rose Villa): October 11 and November 15, 2006


9:00 PM – Meeting Adjourned

[Crime] Scrap metal thieves steal from volunteers

Bruce Bjerke, K7BHB, and the Emergency Coordinator for West Lane county's amateur radio volunteer emergency responders, reports:

Herman Peak was burglarized last night. West Lane ARES/RACES lost our two meter and 220 MHz packet nodes (Ed. note: These are automated systems, radio transmitter-receiver-computer combinations which receive weak digital signals, then rebroadcast them at high power over large areas), and Central Lincoln PUD lost about $15,000 of gear and had the doors on their building beat to bloody hell.

Our flush lock-less, hinge-less inner steel door worked as planned, and their typical entry attempt was foiled...so they went up on the roof, ripped of a roof ventilator, then pried up the plank roof until they had a big enough hole to climb through.

Thought you might all want to know so you can take whatever steps can be taken now that we know there is a new group running around our mountaintops.

Volunteers assembled the cash, bought the gear, refurbished it, programmed it, tested it, installed up on a mountain at 2,200', and kept it running, just so folks who need emergency communications and tracking of emergency volunteers would have a connection to the world if needed.

This is reminiscent of incidents in Portland (see item 8) of copper and scrap metal theft. Does a state law to require verification for scrap metal sellers need enacting?

[Trimet] Choices for Federal mass transit $$

We're invited to comment on projects totalling $111.7 million already preapproved by Metro's Joint Policy Advisory Committee to fund through Metro's Transportation Priorities 2008-11, a regional process to schedule distribution of approximately $45.4 million in federal transportation funds.

So, there's funds for 40.6% of the total proposed. Many projects will be left by the wayside, typically those not supported. Look these over and make sure to tell Metro, your city and county government transportation departments what's important to you.

Projects in the chronically underserved and underfunded Clackamas County are:




Bike and Trail

6 Springwater Trail-Sellwood Gap: 19th to Umatilla – $1,237,000
Completes the .9-mile missing link in the existing Springwater multi-use path, providing a continuous 19-mile trail between Gresham and downtown Portland.

7 Trolley Trail: Jefferson to Glen Echo – $1,586,000
Constructs the northern section (4.75 miles) of a 6-mile, multi-use path that follows an abandoned streetcar right of way between Milwaukie and Gladstone.

9 Multi-Use Path Master Plans: Lake Oswego to Milwaukie, Tonquin Trail, Mt. Scott – Scouters’ Mtn. Loop Trail – $300,000
Prepares master plans for several multi-use paths to define alignments, preliminary designs, right-of-way impacts, environmental assessments and cost estimates.

Pedestrian

12 Milwaukie Town Center: Main and Harrison Streets – $450,000
Improvements include bike lanes, 15 foot sidewalks, planter strips, lighting, benches and ADA-compliant sidewalk ramps along four blocks in downtown Milwaukie.

Planning

15 Milwaukie Light Rail Environmental Impact Statement: Portland central city to Milwaukie town center – $2,000,000
Federally required work prior to completing negotiations with the Federal Transit Administration to receive federal transit funding for construction of the project.

16 Powell/Foster Corridor Plan: Phase II – $200,000
The outcome of this planning process will be a set of feasible transportation improvements for the corridor with implementation, phasing and funding strategies.

17 Willamette Shoreline – Highway 43 Alternatives Analysis: Portland South
Waterfront to Lake Oswego – $688,000
Explore options for enhancing bus service, pedestrian, bicycle, water transport or passenger rail in order to broaden access and improve travel opportunities.

Road and Highway

Boulevard

20 McLoughlin Boulevard: I-205 to Highway 43 Bridge – $3,000,000
Constructs the first phase of a boulevard retrofit of McLoughlin Boulevard in Downtown Oregon City.

Freight

24 I-5 to Highway 99W Corridor Study – $500,000 Completes planning work for a proposed four-lane, limited-access highway between Highway 99W near Sherwood and I-5 near Tualatin and Wilsonville.

25 Southwest Kinsmen Road Extension: Barber to Boeckman – $1,400,000
Extends Kinsman Road to provide a direct north-south connection for freight access to I-5 for the industrial areas in West Wilsonville.

Road Capacity

34 Southwest Boeckman Road: 95th to Graham’s Ferry Road – $1,956,000
Extends Boeckman Road to provide a multi-modal link from the Villebois Village in Wilsonville to industrial and employment areas, the Wilsonville Commuter Rail Station and Transit Center, I-5 and the Wilsonville Town Center.

36 Southeast 172nd Avenue: Sunnyside to Highway 212 – $2,000,000
Improves access to the proposed Rock Creek industrial area by widening 172nd to five lanes and adding sidewalks and bike lanes.

Transit

45 I-205 Light Rail – $17,700,000
Project extends light rail from the Gateway regional center to the Clackamas regional center along I-205 and (in a spirit of pork for everyone) adds light rail to the transit mall between Union Station and PSU in downtown Portland.

46 South Metro Amtrak Station: Phase II – $900,000
Project provides parking spaces and relocation of old Oregon City Southern Pacific railroad depot building to the site to serve the new station.

48 Wilsonville to Beaverton Commuter Rail – $4,467,000
Provides track and station improvements and rail vehicles to begin transit service on existing freight rail tracks.

* Frequent Bus Improvements: regionwide – $5,400,000
Increases safe access to transit service and improves customer amenities at bus stops along Frequent and Rapid Bus Corridors identified in the Regional Transportation Plan.

These are "regional flexible funds" from the Surface Transportation Program and the Congestion/Mitigation Air Quality (CMAQ) program. The funds are disbursed every two years for a wide range of local planning and construction projets that typically lack other dedicated sources of funding.

A 45-day comment period will open with release of a first cut project list on October 13, 2006, and end on December 1. Comments may be submitted in writing by e-mail, fax (503-797-1911), phone (503-797-1900) or postal mail

Ted Leybold
Metro Planning Dept.
600 NE Grand Ave.
Portland, OR 97232

The list of projects will be posted on the Metro website beginning October 13, 2006.


The four listening posts shown below will be held in different parts of the region where people may comment in person. To ensure that oral testimony is accurately recorded, we encourage people to also submit their comments in writing.

5 p.m. Thursday, November 9
East Multnomah County
Gresham City Hall Building, Springwater Trail Room
1333 NW Eastman Parkway, Gresham
(on the Blue MAX)

5 p.m. Monday, November 13
Westside
Beaverton Community Center
12350 SW Fifth St, Beaverton
(bus lines 57 and 76)

5 p.m. Tuesday, November 14
Southside
Pioneer Community Center
615 Fifth Street, Oregon City
(bus lines 76, 78, and 88).

5 p.m. Thursday, November 16
Central
Metro Regional Center
600 NE Grand Avenue, Portland
(bus line 6 and Blue/Red MAX).

More detail on process via the Comments link below.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Safety Fair in Oregon City

Yesterday, Clackamas Co. Fire District No. 1 organized a 'Safety Fair' in the parking lot of the strip mall next to the Thriftway, above the bluff in Oregon City. Various and sundry folks had booths to educate the public on safety issues.

Here's one firefighter posing at my request, after demonstrating how to turn a Mercedes into a convertible with a Sawzall. Behind him is CCFD-1's 1.2 megabuck heavy duty rescue truck.

Of course, there's only one of those, and 370 thousand or so folks in Clackamas County who might need extracating. Since that one truck might be a wee bit busy after a major earthquake, you might consider learning how to perform Do-It-Yourself rescue with free training from CCFD-1.

At very least, get certified First Aid and CPR training from CCFD-1, the Red Cross or elsewhere. CCFD-1's courses are offered through their Training Division:

CPR: Every third Tuesday evening for $25.
1st Aid: Every third Saturday morning for $40.

For questions or to make a reservation, contact the CCFD-1 Training Division at 503-742-2682.

Enhanced Law Enforcement District board meeting

Agenda:
Approval of Minutes of last (18 May) meeting
Old business
New business: ELED Funding Distribution Issues, Public Safety Levy set for 7 Nov, Advisory Board Recruitment Update, and Captain's report.

Click on the Comment link for details.

[Portland] Your Rescuers, the Very Thin Line

Major disaster comes with an expectation that all the Portland Fire Bureau rescuers will quickly be fully tied up. Not my expectation, but what the pros believe. So, the city Office of Emergency Management recruits and trains Neighborhood Emergency Teams, modeled on the Community Emergency Response Teams.

How many NETs are there? Portland's 545,000 people have 851 volunteers to save them. Do the math.

This map of Portland Fire Stations shows how many Neighborhood Emergency Team members there are for each station. The first number in the oval shows how many fully trained members there were at one time (not currently verified) and the second number shows how many candidate members started, but have not completed the training.

Resume, two years in advance

One wonders where, two years from now, our Maximum Leader will find himself.

In preparation for that day, I, using the resume writing skills provided to me by the Oregon Un/Employment Department, suggest he start shining up his resume, especially since Fatherland Security wants to shred the First Amendment to prosecute this WTC-survivor/blogger... but, I digress. Let's focus on those important issues, as documented below (click on the Comment link to see the resume).

What if disaster strikes while you’re at work?

What if disaster strikes while you’re at work? Do you know the emergency preparedness plan for your workplace?

While many companies have been more alert and pro-active in preparing for disasters of all types since the September 11, 2001 attacks, a national survey indicates that many employees still don’t know what their workplace plan is for major or minor disasters. If you don’t know yours, make a point to ask.

Portland's Office of Emergency Management supports Business Emergency Teams (also see page 73), similar to the CERT-like Neighborhood Emergency Teams I've mentioned before, so if you're in a large buiding, there can be help on the scene from folks you know in a major emergency which delays Fire Bureau response.

Know multiple ways to exit your building, participate in workplace evacuation drills, and consider keeping some emergency supplies at the office. The Ready Business link has more information about business preparedness.

PORTLAND FIRE & RESCUE DEDICATES NEW FIRE STATION

Posted: September 7th, 2006 7:54 AM



What: Grand Opening for Portland Fire & Rescue Station 27

When: Sunday, September 10th

5:00PM to 7:00PM

Where: 3130 NW Skyline Blvd.



Photo opportunities: Ribbon "chopping" (we use a fire ax, of course) PF&R color guard, tours of the station, unveiling of featured art in station, community BBQ, comments from Commissioner Erik Sten, Chief Dave Sprando, Station 27 Captain Phil Dearixon, and representatives from the community.



Portland Fire & Rescue, in partnership with the City's Bureau of General Services, is opening a new fire station. The crew and equipment of Station 27 will improve response capabilities in our City, and provide additional community resources.



A station-location study conducted in the 1990s found that the City needed to build a fire station in the west hills to improve response capabilities, which in turn will help save lives and property. Last summer's five-alarm apartment complex fire, which occurred on the boundary of Forest Park, provides a timely illustration of the need for Station 27. The facility will house one fire engine and a crew of four, which includes a firefighter/paramedic, an officer, and two firefighters.



PF&R worked with a Station Advisory Committee (SAC), and hosted a series of public meetings allowed the neighborhood to provide input into the siting and design of the station.



The station features art- a waterfall made of stacked wood- by Malia Jensen, a nationally recognized Portland artist currently working in New York.





Background of Improvement Program -



PF&R built Station 27 because a station location study determined that this move would enhance emergency response in the area. The construction project is funded by a Fire & Rescue Bond, passed by voters in 1998. The ten-year program (now in the 8th year) will improve public safety in numerous ways:



• Strengthen existing Fire & Rescue stations to survive an earthquake, according to Oregon's essential facility code. For some stations, it is more cost-effective to relocate rather than renovate.

• Build new stations to provide quicker response times for the growing population and under-served areas. Others are relocated for this purpose.

• Upgrade the facilities to accommodate men and women firefighters, and provide more community features.

• Install fire sprinklers into all fire & rescue stations.



#PF&R#

Calendar of Public Meetings for September 2006

Sorry for lateness much of my data comes from the County and due to retirements and workload changes this info has become very difficult to obtain - Dick Jones.

Monday the 11th
6:30 PM CCSD#1 Wastewater study committee meets at SSC.

Tuesday the 12th
8:30 AM Board of Commissioners Study session at Board offices.
6:30 PM Oak Lodge Sanitary Budget monthly Board meeting at Board offices.

Wednesday the 13th
7:00 PM CIA (Citizens, Informed and Aware) meets at Rose Villa, 13515 River Rd. The program is a Candidates forum: County Commissioner Candidates and discussion of selected state ballot measures.

Thursday the 14th
10:00 AM Clackamas County Commissioners weekly Board meeting.
1:00 PM Code Compliance Hearing at Sunnybrook Service Center (SSC).
6:00 PM North Clackamas Parks and Rec District Advisory Board meets at the Milwaukie Center.

Saturday, September 16th (and every third SAturday thereafter)
9:00 AM, Clackamas Co. Fire District #1 offers First Aid training for $40. For questions or to make a reservation, ontact the Training Division at 503-742-2682.

Monday the 18th
9:00 AM Board of Commissioners Planning meeting discussing CCSD#1 CAC recommendations in Board offices.
7:00 PM Fire District No. 1 Board meets at Mt. Scott Fire Station.

Tuesday the 19th
8:30 AM Board of Commissioners Study session at Board offices.
6:00 PM North Clackamas Parks Kick off location tba.
7:00 PM Oak Lodge Water district monthly Board meeting in District offices.

Wednesday the 20th
9:00 AM Board of Commissioner’s M37 Hearing in Board Hearing room PSB.

Thursday the 21st
9:00 AM Land Use Hearing at Sunnybrook Service Center
10:00 AM Clackamas County Commissioners weekly Board meeting.
6:00 PM Stringfield Family Park “Park Plan” at Oak Grove Fire Station.
6:00 PM (and every third Tuesday thereafter), Clackamas Co. Fire District #1 offers CPR training for $25. For questions or to make a reservation, contact the Training Division at 503-742-2682.
7:00 PM NC12 School board meets in Board offices.

Monday the 25th
6:30 PM CCSD#1 Wastewater study committee meets at SSC.

Tuesday the 26th
8:30 AM Board of Commissioners Study session at Board offices.
6:00 PM Alder Creek Middle School park Dedication.
7:00 PM Jennings Lodge CPO meets at Homewoods Heights.

Wednesday the 27th
11:30 AM State of the County presentation at Monarch Hotel.
7:00 PM Oak Lodge Community Council meets at OLSD office.

Thursday the 28th
9:00 AM Land Use Hearing at Sunnybrook Service Center (SSC).
10:00 AM Clackamas County Commissioners weekly Board meeting.

Note meeting times and places may change so data should be confirmed in advance.

Oregon City’s Farmers' Market, Saturdays from 9:30 AM to 2:30 PM at the Clackamas County Public Service Parking Lot, 2051 Kaen Rd. at Beavercreek Rd.

Milwaukie’s Farmers' Market, Sunday from 9:30 AM to 2:30 PM across from City Hall, SE Main between Harrison & Jackson.

[Portland] NETs and Fire Management Zones

Portland's Fire Bureau has made a very wise move and realigned the Neighborhood Emergency Teams to match the fire stations, instead of the hundred-plus Neighborhood Associations. Now, NETs will work closer with their fire stations, and that's very good.

Here's a map of the PFB Fire Management Zones, a higher resolution (and larger) FMZ map for the entire county and a (huge) interactive drill-down find-your-location map. These links connect to the Portland Fire Bureau website, and require the free Adobe Acrobat viewer.

Portland's 545,000 people have 851 volunteers to save them when the big one hits. If you'd like tto be #852, contact the Portland Office of Emergency Management for the free and lifesaving training, or Multnomah ARES if you have an amateur radio license.

Wish to acquire an amateur radio license? See this guide to study opportunities, classses and testing sessions in the area.

Here's a numerically ordered list of
- stations
- their area
- how many fully qualified NETs there are for it, and
- how many parially trained candidates are enrolled but have not completed training.



Stn Area NET Candidate
1 SW 8 3
2 NE 8 0
3 NW 26 3
4 SW 12 2
6 NW 0 0
7 SE 19 1
8 N 14 1
9 SE 63 10
10 SW 25 2
11 SE 21 1
12 NE 26 1
13 NE 31 3
14 NE 42 5
15 SW 8 0
16 SW 14 0
17 N 7 0
18 SW 77 8
19 E 47 12
20 SE 18 3
21 SW 47 6
22 N 34 2
23 SE 11 0
24 N 23 2
25 SE 47 5
26 N 20 2
27 NW 23 2
28 NE 47 5
29/42 SE 18 0
43 NE 23 2
45 SE 9 2

851 768 83

[National} NASCAR-izing politicians

What would happen if your local pol had to SHOW you who paid for their campaigns? Take a look at this US Senate race retold in corporate loglo (hint; One's Hilary, One's Not).

Tualatin Traffic Enforcement Blitz Begins Monday the 11th

Tualatin Police announce another safety enforcement blitz starts next week, to focus on the use of seat belts and on speeding violations. From the 11th through the 24th, traffic patrol efforts will aim at increasing the use of seat belts and violating speed laws.

Tualatin Police will join with police agencies nationwide to encourage the use of safety belts and speed enforcement with the goal of educating the public and saving lives. These efforts are funded by the State of Oregon's Three Flags Campaign and are a part of the National Click it or Ticket & Buckle Up America programs.

Since October of 1993, the Three Flags Campaign has sought to reduce the number of motor vehicle related deaths and injuries by increasing public awareness of laws regarding safety belt use and other traffic issues including DUII and speed.

During the 2005 grant year, 25,104 enforcement contacts were made for safety belt and child restraint violations throughout the state using $757,776 of federal highway traffic safety funding. To put this expenditure into perspective, consider that safety belts are 45% to 65% effective in preventing fatalities/injuries and that the combined social costs of one traffic death are estimated to be $1,090,000 (National Safety Council, 2002.)

In addition, statewide enforcement contacts made during safety belt overtime for other violations are tallied as follows:

10,958 speed
465 DUII
2,270 suspensions
460 felonies, and
23,718 other violations.

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death and disability for all Americans age 1 through 34 years old, according to the National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

For more information on the programs, visit nhtsa.gov, www.odot.state.or.us/transafety or www.actsoregon.org.

North Clackamas area sewage plant community values survey available online

North Clackamas area sewage plant community values survey available online

An online survey has been designed to poll interested and impacted citizens on their preferences and values regarding needed sewage treatment upgrades and expansion in the North Clackamas area. More background is available here.

The Kellogg sewage plant located in Milwaukie provides wastewater treatment services for approximately 46,000 residents in the communities of Happy Valley, Johnson City, Milwaukie and portions of the unincorporated North Clackamas area. The Kellogg facility cleans more than 8 million gallons of sewage per day.

The Kellogg sewage plant is over 30 years old and reaching capacity. New federal wastewater treatment regulations, along with projected growth in the North Clackamas service area require the development of a wastewater treatment strategic plan.

Interested citizens are encouraged to visit www.co.clackamas.or.us/wes/contact/citizenmin.htm#advisory to take the survey and learn more about this project. Surveys must be completed by midnight September 10.

To request hard copies of the survey e-mail Rob Hungerford or call him at 503-353-4576.

Looking for a mailbox? Or a pay phone?

Here's a site which shows you all the mailboxes in a given zip code. Cross reference that with the Postal Service site which shows you all the zip codes for a given city, and you can find a mail box. So, I genned up a list of mail boxes in 97222 and 97267.

Mrs. Clackablog and I were out of town last weekend, and needed to mail something. Sure would be nice to know how many there were, say, 20 years ago, as I feel there's a lot less mail boxes and mail drops around these days, just like there's a lot fewer payphones these days. There's even a movement to legislate retention of payphones, as one out of 13 households in the US don't have a cellphone, landline or Internet phone.

August Oak Lodge CC meeting

AGENDA
August 23, 2006
Oak Lodge Sanitary District office
Oak Grove, Oregon

7:00 PM -- Call to Order: Dick Jones, Chairperson

ROLL CALL: Bill Bader, Bill Brown, Wilma Brown, Frank Budwill, Sue Conachan, Edith Coulter, Rosemary Crites, George Dietz, Jerry Foy, Bryn Gillem, Chuck Gode, Milo Haas, Thelma Haggenmiller, David Jelinek, Dick Jones, Jim Knapp, Alan Koch, Gloria Koch, Elinor Kuhns, Bill Neels, Elaine Neels, Chuck Petersen, Margaret Pritchard, Paul Savas, Henry Schmidt, George Schneider, Eugene Schoenheit, Eric Shawn, Susan Shawn, Kent Squires, Julie Stanley, Dr. Elton Storment, Bob Waldt, Leonard Waldemar, Don Wake, Suzanne Wake, Roy Wikman and Doug Woods.

7:02 PM – Introduction of Attendees

Name, area of residence and position in the Oak Lodge Community Council, if applicable.

7:05 PM – Council Reports
Approve minutes of the July 26th meeting.
Treasurer’s Report – Sue Conachan

7:10 PM – Sheriff’s Report – Lt. Chuck Slaney

7:15 PM – Special Presentation – Ken Spiegle & Andrea Hall Community Environment

8:00 PM – District Reports

New Urban High School-Tim King

Clackamas County Fire District #1 – James Nowlin

Oak Lodge Water District – Jim Knapp

Oak Lodge Sanitary District – Kent Squires

Clackamas County Service District CAC – Jim Knap
Page 2

8:20 PM – Land Use Issues for Voting

Introduction of procedures by Chairperson. Eligibility for Voting, Time Limits, presentations by those in favor, the Council’s on-site review and those opposed.

Z0588-06 This is a request to build an accessory storage building in the 100 yr. Flood plain of the Willamette River. It is located at 15015 River Forest Rd. The parcel is 1.02 acres and is zoned R-10.

Z0589-06 This is a request to construct the garage in Z0588-06 in the Willamette Greenway. This is located at 15015 River Forest Rd. The area is 1.02 acres and is zoned R-10.

Z0591-06 This is an alteration of a non-conforming use with a side set back of 1 foot contining to allow the replacement of a two-story building with a single story structure. It is located at 15000 Woodland Way. It is .49 acres and zoned R-20.

Update on Land Use Applications:

Other issues:
The applicant appeal of a denial of a variance because the lot was undersized, the Hearings Officer agreed to the reduced area in a R-10 zone.

The Hearing Officer approved Head Start’s expansion proposal on River Rd., however is requiring design review approval.

8:40 PM General Matters for Discussion

Sexual Predator update: No new information

Trolley Trail update- Thelma

FUTURE PUBLIC MEETINGS

Council meetings:
August 23, 2006
September 27, 2006
October 25, 2006

Oak Lodge CC/CIA at Rose Villa unless otherwise noted
August 9, 2006
September 13, 2006
October 11, 2006

Special meetings, if required to vote on land use issues, will be held in conjunction with the monthly CIA meeting normally on the second Wednesday of each month.

9:00 PM – Meeting Adjourned

Foot Bridge Over Clackamas River Burns

Press Release from: Clackamas Co. Fire Dist. #1
Posted: August 14th, 2006 7:58 AM

Monday August 14th, 2006 Clackamas County Fire District #1 and Gladstone Fire Department responded to a reported brush fire at 0240 AM. When fire crews arrived they found flames shooting 40 feet in the air surrounding the foot bridge between Oregon City and the City of Gladstone just below High Rocks above the Clackamas River. Crews quickly requested additional resources to include 7 fire apparatus. The fire engulfed one end on the bridge and the adjacent brush.

The flames and heat damaged the bridges heavy timber posts, beams and decking. The fire was deemed under control within 1 hour. Crews remained on scene until 0730 ensuring that all of the hot spots were out. Complications to this fire included the bridge decking burning under the 2 inch thick asphalt roadway. Crews had to use specialized cutting saws and pry bars to expose the heat and flames.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation. No injuries were reported and the foot bridge is closed to all pedestrian traffic.

These types of fires spread quickly and can be very dangerous. Please call 911 immediately to notify emergency responders.

A Reporter's Guide to Education in Oregon

Every state's uniue, and Oregon sometimes seems more unique than most, because we're a little idiosyncratic. Must be something in the water.

I know that government here has a few more rules and wrinkles than Down South, and understanding how things work here is an opportunity for mind expansion sometimes. So, when I found A Reporter's Guide to Education in Oregon from the Oregon School Boards Association, I thought it worthy to share.

Let's Talk Sewage - Monday and Wednesday

Here's a message from "Bulldog" Dick Jones, ever-vigilant watchdog over those who tax us:

The Citizens Informed and Aware group of the Oak Lodge Community Council are hosting an Open Public Discussion centered on the topic of “SEWAGE.”

The Discussion is scheduled for 7:00 PM on Wednesday, August 16, 2006 at the Rose Villa Retirement Center Fellowship Hall. The location is 13505 SE River Road in Oak Grove OR.

Parking is available on the East side of River Road or along the curb on the West side of River Road. Please do not park on Rose Villa’s property West of River Road.

(Ed. Note.) This meeting follows after the Monday, August 14 meeting of the Citizens Advisory Council for the Clackamas County Service District No. 1 in the Water Environment Services office at the Sunnybrook Service Center, 9101 SE Sunnybrook Boulevard in Clackamas. The link to that meeting holds a wealth of information about what will also be discussed Wednesday night. (Ed. Note ends.)

There will be brief presentations on “Sewage” as it relates to the environment, as it relates to the economic development of the area and some of the new technology that is now available, etc. There will also be brief presentations on the current studies going on, in both Clackamas County Service District No. 1 and in Oak Lodge.

After the presentations, there will be ample opportunity for questions from the audience. Seize this opportunity to become a better informed Citizen about this topic that affects all of us. -- Dick Jones

Folks, this is especially important, for, unlike Multnomah County, we have no Tax Supervising and Conservation Commission to serve as a watchdog over our government's plans to spend (and therefore, tax. Local reporters have an independent analysis on Multnomah County and its cities and agencies spoon fed to them... but for Clackamas County, no such source. So, we must do it ourselves. Why? Take it from a guy who knew all about it....

Government is not reason; it is not eloquent; it is force. Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master. -- George Washington

These meetings lead to ballot measures, which lead to bonds being issued (after large lawyers' fees, paid for by you and me) and taxes levied. The interest on those bonds is handled by investment houses.

Ever wonder why lawyers and investment houses contribute frequently to political campaigns? Well, now you know.

Here's how bonding is supposed to work in Oregon. In other states, the bonding process has been (when inadequately competitive) a source of great opportunity for wealth transfer (from your pocket to theirs). In Oregon? Good question, deserves an answer.

Sheriff's Deputy In WA Ignores Call For Help

Hikers, beware: Here's a cautionary take from rural Washington state, where a sheriff's deputy ignored a call for help from Skagit Mountain Rescue because it was relayed though ham radio. Must we all carry satellite phones everywhere, now?

Tualatin Police Traffic 'Enforcement Action' Tomorrow, Thursday 8-10

The Tualatin Police will be hosting an eight (8) hour traffic enforcement detail on Thursday August 10, 2006 between the hours of 7:30am and 3:30pm. During that time the Multi-Agency Traffic Team (MATT) will be in Tualatin assisting with the enforcement. The detail will focus on community education, speeding violations and controlled intersections in both the core area and residential areas.

The MATT includes members from the Tualatin Police and the Washington County Sheriff's Office as well as other Washington County police agencies.

The MATT operates on an as needed basis and focuses their efforts on specific locations, problem areas and traffic issues throughout Washington County.
Tualatin Police have prioritized the enforcement of speed limits and traffic control devices within the community. This effort will focus on compliance through enforcement.

Got Curry?

Call it yellow ginger, haldi, turmeric or E100, the yellow root of Curcuma longa, a staple ingredient in curry, is turning out to be gratifyingly healthy. Now Tze-Pin Ng and colleagues at the National University of Singapore have discovered that curry eating seems to boost brain power in elderly people.

Curcumin, a constituent of turmeric, is an antioxidant, and reports have suggested that it inhibits the build-up of amyloid plaques in people with Alzheimer's. Ng's team looked at the curry-eating habits of 1010 Asian people unaffected by Alzheimer's and aged between 60 and 93, and compared their performance in a standard test of cognitive function, the Mini Mental State Examination. Those people who consumed curry "occasionally" (once or more in 6 months but less than once a month) and "often" (more than once a month) had better MMSE results than those who only ate curry "never or rarely" (American Journal of Epidemiology, DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwj267).

"What is remarkable is that apparently one needs only to consume curry once in a while for the better cognitive performance to be evidenced," says Ng, who says he wants to confirm the results, possibly in a controlled clinical trial comparing curcumin and a placebo.

Steam Up - Last Day Today

Today's the last day for the 36th annual Great Oregon Steam-Up in Brooks. I'll just quote from their website:

Gates Open at 7:00 A.M. -- Close at 6:00 P.M.
Operating Steam, Gas and Oil Tractors, Engines and Machines
Steam Sawmill Operation- twice daily
Wheatfield Threshing, Baling and Binding- twice daily
Street Car and Miniature Rail Rides
Kids Pedal Tractor Pulling- 11:00 A.M.
PARADE - 1:30 P.M.
Blacksmithing
Country Store/ Flour Milling
Trucks, Cars, Street Cars, Local History – Museum Exhibits
Fire Service Demonstrations
Operating Models and Miniature Farm Display
Progressive Tractor Pulling- afternoons
Traditional Tractor Pulling- 4:30 P.M.
Flea Market and Vendor Sales
Live Musical Entertainment- schedule to be announced
Food Concessions- Breakfast available at 7:00 A.M.
Church Service- Both Sundays of the Show at 8:00 - 9:00 A.M.

_____________________________________
ADMISSION - $8.00* (Children 12 and under - Free)
SENIORS (age 62) - AUGUST 6 - $6.00*
RV Campsites - $20.00* per night
Limited Dry Camping - $12.00* per night
FREE TRANSPORTATION ON GROUNDS
CLEAN MODERN RESTROOMS
For more info call the Steam-Up Office (503) 393-2424

* All prices are subject to change