A rare public dust up between Portland and Multnomah County was the flashpoint of a meeting where a regional committee approved spending $70 million in federal money for transportation projects and programs across the metropolitan area.
Multnomah County Commissioner Deborah Kafoury suggested delaying approval of $2 million for Portland Bike Sharing, asking that city officials take more time to address concerns raised by the Community for Equity, a coalition of seven local nonprofits. The groups want the proposed system of bike rentals to include specific goals for hiring low income and other disadvantaged workers and contractors – in operating the rental system as well as building it.
"I’ve been somewhat bothered by the concerns raised by the Community for Equity," Kafoury said. "It’s one of our priorities and commitments. We need to continue to walk that talk."
"That’s pretty gutsy on your part because your projects went through much less equity review than this project," Portland Mayor Sam Adams replied.
The tension arose at the Joint Policy Advisory Committee on Transportation, a 17-member panel of some of the most high-profile elected officials across the region and the leaders of transportation agencies. The committee was giving final approval to regional flexible funding, a program of federal money that Metro controls and allocates in two-year cycles.
Thursday’s meeting was the culmination of more than 18 months of discussion about how best to spend $23 million on transportation projects. In the summer of 2010, JPACT decided by a one-vote margin to spend 75 percent of the money on bike, pedestrian and public transit access projects, and 25 percent on freight and "green economy" projects. The Port of Portland and Oregon Department of Transportation had suggested a 75 percent share for freight.
After the contentious decision on the 75-25 split, Metro formed a citizen task force to advise JPACT on how to spend the money and a working group on environmental justice to advise on how best to meet the needs of low income and minority communities. Local officials have said they felt empowered by the new process, which allowed the three counties and Portland to develop their own lists of projects last spring. They each held public meetings over the summer to whittle down their lists in August, before a 30-day public comment period run by Metro.
The result? Bigger projects, including $5 million for a system of trails, bike paths and sidewalks in the Sherwood area that is the largest dollar amount the program has allocated to a single project. Also, more projects that build sidewalks and safe pedestrian crossings in low income areas, such as Arata Road in Wood Village and along 122nd Avenue in East Portland. Freight projects include $2.4 million for the Around the Horn project in North Portland’s St. Johns area and $790,000 for high tech improvements in the Clackamas area.
"This is an absolutely excellent package of projects," said TriMet General Manager Neil McFarlane. "As we mold this process that we have been doing overall, we are getting higher quality projects. It’s very balanced and overall looks good."
The Bike Sharing proposal, which would be a first for the region, was by far the most controversial project. Alan Hipolito, with the Verde landscaping nonprofit firm that employs low income workers, said the city had not adequately responded to the workforce and other concerns raised by the Community for Equity organizations months ago. They want to be included in shaping the request for proposals to build and operate the system, so it includes workforce goals. After the meeting, Hipolito said that Verde would refrain from bidding on Bike Sharing contracts if it presented a conflict of interest.
Adams said the request for proposals hadn’t been written. The city would continue discussion with social equity groups, and the city council would consider the contract before it is finalized.
"I don’t mind the high standards in terms of equity," Adams said. "I understand in this particular proposal, equity might not be readily apparent, but that’s a misunderstanding of what this proposal does for racial, geographic and class equity."
In the end, Kafoury’s motion to delay approving the Bike Sharing proposal by a month failed to get a second. JPACT unanimously approved the Flexible Funding projects and programs, with Kafoury voting yes.
She and other members said they were confused by how to handle a late simmering public concern at JPACT, a body that conducts public comment periods and open houses but normally doesn’t take testimony at its 7:30 a.m. monthly meetings.
The Metro Council is expected to vote on the flexible funding program Dec. 15, though the council cannot amend JPACT decisions.
The program covers money that is expected to be available in federal fiscal years ending 2014 and 2015. In addition to the local transportation projects, the allocation also includes $47 million for a variety of regionwide programs, including $26 million to help pay for light rail construction, $6 million for assistance for transit oriented development and $3 million for high-tech road system improvements.