Metro Chief Operating Officer Michael Jordan speaks to the East Metro Economic Alliance on Thursday, Sept. 9. FAIRVIEW – More details emerged Thursday about a proposed regional development task force, as east Multnomah County business and government officials quizzed Metro’s staff chief about the group.
At a luncheon with the East Metro Economic Alliance at Fairview City Hall, Metro Chief Operating Officer Michael Jordan presented his proposed Community Investment Strategy to a group of about 20 people. Part of that pitch was discussion of creation of the regional task force.
Jordan has been outlining the regional task force proposal with various stakeholders groups around the region (Thursday afternoon’s was his 19th stop on the Community Investment Strategy tour so far).
Sue O’Halloran, a principal at Gresham brokerage Kohler Meyers O’Halloran, was the first to press Jordan for more details.
Jordan said the group could start convening in October, and meet every two to three months.
“We don’t want to suck up all of their time,” Jordan said.
The group would then have about three years to develop proposals for targeting public sector investments in areas where they’ll present the most private sector returns.
Troutdale Mayor Jim Kight asked about other examples of such a task force successfully achieving its goals.
“The most effective one we’ve seen so far is in Oklahoma City,” Jordan said, referring to the Oklahoma City Metropolitan Area Public Schools Trust.
“We’ve got to figure out how to work together more effectively,” Jordan said.