Next Up at City Council, 5/21/08

Really? There’s an important date after May 20 in some people’s lives? Actually, there are several in mine. On May 22, Steve and I will celebrate 26 years of marriage. May 25, Maxwell returns home from college in New Jersey. June 1 is Ali’s graduation from Wilson High School, and June 14 is commencement for Luke at Western Oregon University. Busy times in the Fritz household.

At the Portland City Council, the Agenda for May 21 includes five Citizen Communications on a variety of important topics:

651 Request of Mark Lakeman to address Council regarding The City Repair Project (Communication)

652 Request of Art Ludwig to address Council regarding State Greywater Regulations and Legalizing Sustainability in Portland (Communication)

653 Request of John Higginbotham to address Council regarding the levels of force available to police (Communication)

654 Request of Chris Knudtsen to address Council regarding the rights of homeless youth in Portland (Communication)

655 Request of Jami Schofield to address Council regarding speak my mind (Communication)

I love our structure, where citizens have direct access to their elected officials.

The items that most catch my attention this week (again, remember my attention is distracted, please check yourself):

657 TIME CERTAIN: 9:45 AM – Revise sewer and drainage rates and charges in accordance with the FY 2008-2009 Sewer User Rate Study and establish a single, consolidated and comprehensive schedule of rates and charges administered by the Bureau of Environmental Services (Ordinance introduced by Commissioner Adams; amend Code Chapters 17.24, 17.32, 17.34, 17.35 and 17.36)

658 Revise residential solid waste and recycling collection rates and charges effective July 1, 2008 (Ordinance introduced by Commissioner Saltzman; amend Code Chapter 17.102)

659 Authorize the rates and charges for water and water-related services during the FY beginning July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2009 and fix an effective date (Ordinance introduced by Commissioner Leonard; Second Reading 642)

Interesting to see fee increases in three different bureaus with three different Commissioners, on the same Agenda. I wonder if the cumulative impact on a ratepayer’s household budget will be discussed.

One of the many contracts on the Agenda:

664 Authorize contract with Brattain International Trucks of Portland to furnish 15-12/15 yard dump trucks for the Portland Department of Transportation and Water Bureau for $2,151,650.

It’s good to see the business going to a Portland company. The price works out to a little over $143,000 per truck – is that a good deal?

No items on deck for Wednesday afternoon (or evening, since this is the third Wednesday so a 6 p.m. hearing is allowed) or Thursday. I’m happy there isn’t an urgent issue requiring my participation. On Wednesday, I’ll be taking my daughter to get her hair done in preparation for the Senior Prom, and catching up on my required CPR Recertification class at PCC, in preparation for returning to work on Saturday. I am also looking forward to having time to remove the Christmas wreath from our home’s front door.