Next Up at City Council, 1/16/08

The Portland City Council will hold all sessions of its Agenda this week at Jefferson High School on North Kerby between Alberta and Kilingsworth. Although the vote on the street maintenance and infrastructure improvements fee is scheduled for the Wednesday morning Regular Agenda, and the Wednesday evening session will establish an Office of Human Relations that will staff a new (restored) Human Rights Commission, my guess is the most compelling item will be a presentation by Jefferson High School students on Wednesday morning soon after 9:30. I’ve heard Jefferson students present to the Portland Public Schools Board on many occasions, and every time the speakers have been excellent examples of why their teachers, families, and all who care about public schools should be proud of today’s Jefferson High School students.

Also on the Agenda: establishing the “Vision into Action” committee to work on practical outcomes from the VisionPDX project; the 2007 Report from the Regional Arts and Culture Council, and a bunch of contracts and adminstrative stuff, on Wednesday morning. On Wednesday evening, starting at 6 p.m., in addition to the Human Relations Office item, the report of the Immigrant and Refugee Task Force, and an update on the progress of the Racial Profiling Committee.

There are several other events at Jefferson High School this week, including the Portland Public Schools Board meeting on Monday evening, and the City Club presenting Mayor Tom Potter’s State of the City address on Friday lunchtime. Friend-of-this-blog Steve Rawley posts details here. Good discussion in the comments, on what practical changes are needed to support Jefferson High School, in addition to the symbolic support being offered by holding events there this week.