Calming Troubled Waters County Parks Have Begun a Multi-Year Effort to Clean up Ny Given Summer Sunday, Leave
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PortlandTribuneTUESDAY, JULY 29, 2014 • TWICE CHOSEN THE NATION’S BEST NONDAILY PAPER • PORTLANDTRIBUNE.COM • PUBLISHED TUESDAY AND THURSDAY Clackamas County now allows cops to search bags in stepped up County enforcement of an alcohol ban at parks. parks, The popular Barton to Carver parks fl oat has calmed down as a rivers get result, but litter and safety remain problems. TRIBUNE PHOTO: clean sweep JONATHAN HOUSE Litter, life jackets play big enforcement role in push for safety ■ Alcohol ban helps, but people still sneak booze onto river By SHASTA KEARNS MOORE The Tribune In conjunction with enhanced enforcement of an alcohol ban, Clackamas Calming troubled waters County parks have begun a multi-year effort to clean up ny given summer Sunday, leave. Thompson says the extra search and improve safety along the Clackamas River from Story by Shasta Kearns Moore authority has helped keep intoxication the heavily used Barton to Barton to Carver parks is and litter levels down, but he knows Carver parks river fl oat. Apacked with boats, rafts, in- people are still concealing their booze. The Clackamas River En- ner tubes, pool toys, air mattresses “All the sudden people are bringing forcement and Ecology Work- and, well, just about anything that a lot of orange juice group’s 2014 “Our River” plan fl oats. on the rivers,” he was approved in April and lists In years past, the combination of says with a laugh. “It’s not as several plans, from a life jacket tricky river conditions, hot sun, fl oat- Because the new loaner program to improved lit- ing parties and large amounts of alco- law’s authority only dangerous ter strategies. hol mixed together in a dangerous applies to the county for us “It seems to be going good,” cocktail. parks and not the says Rick Gruen, parks depart- “It became kind of a mess,” says river water or sur- anymore.” ment manager. Forest and Parks Department Manag- rounding areas, offi - — Mike Belcher, The annual Down the River er Rick Gruen. “What became kind of cers say they have parks deputy Clean-Up, led by the Clackamas troubling was the number of marine even seen people try- River Basin Council (clacka- rescues the marine patrol was doing.” ing to lower 24-packs masriver.org) and the Stash the Near-riot conditions at Carver in of beer from bridges, or tumbling Trash red bag campaign is be- 2007 sparked a push for an alcohol ban down steep, unmanaged riparian ing enhanced with six trash in Clackamas County parks, which trails. barrels the Pacific Jetboater permanently went into effect in 2010. “It doesn’t matter what you do, they Association members maintain Last August, county commissioners are determined,” Thompson says. along the route and a new took the additional step of giving law But many offi cers said that condi- Dumpster at Carver Boat enforcement the authority to look in- tions are much calmer this year. Ramp. side coolers and bags. “It’s not as dangerous for us any- A new kiosk at Barton Park Clackamas County sheriff’s Sgt. more,” says Parks Deputy Mike is expected to be fi nished this Nate Thompson says the approach is TRIBUNE PHOTO: SHASTA KEARNS MOORE Belcher, who has patrolled the area for week with volunteers staffi ng it similar to bag searches at the Moda Clackamas County Marine Services Offi cer Abigail Hunt helps ensure fl oater safety 10 years. most weekend days, greeting Center — you don’t have to partici- on the popular Clackamas River fl oat from Barton to Carver parks. Two people pate, but if you don’t, you’ll be asked to have drowned near this location in the past fi ve years. See WATERS / Page 2 See CLEAN / Page 2 Lawsuit aims to stop Roads? Transit? Poll says we city’s plan for PSU down the whole project and how Activists say Hales’ it’s going to pan out with Port- want both, but funds scarce land State,” McGuire says. increase, for example, would al- proposal violates If Breithaupt issues the de- Support for projects low Portland to issue $93.5 mil- tax limitation law claratory judgment sought by differs across state, lion worth of bonds to rebuild 31 McGuire attorney Greg Howe, lane miles of streets. By STEVE LAW that would mean any money go- but all agree on need But what other projects The Tribune ing to PSU must fall within prop- should be funded if the state erty tax caps set by the Measure By JIM REDDEN raises more money for transpor- Mayor Charlie Hales’ plan 5 tax limitation passed by voters The Tribune tation? Should the focus be on to provide urban renewal in 1990. To stay under the cap set roads and bridges, or should the money for Portland State Uni- by Measure 5, opponents to the One reason Mayor Charlie state put more money into mass versity has been socked with plan argue, any property tax Hales and Commissioner transit and other methods of a legal challenge even before money that goes to PSU would Steve Novick are pushing moving people around? The an- the City Council passes it. have to be taken from public their street fee so hard is to swers to those questions may Southwest Portland schools schools. pressure the 2015 Oregon depend on where you live — as activist Teresa McGuire and 10 City and PSU offi cials, howev- Legislature to increase trans- Portland-area residents continue fellow citizens fi led suit in Ore- er, say they believe the latest plan portation funding. to favor trains and buses, while gon Tax Court last Wednesday, complies with the requirements Some legislators are consider- many other areas in Oregon TRIBUNE FILE PHOTO: JOSH KULLA asking Judge Henry Breithaupt of Measure 5 and would not affect ing increasing the state gas tax want to see better roads for their Should we build more roads and highway lanes or should we pay for to rule that urban renewal public school funding. in the 2015 session to pay for personal automobiles. mass transit projects? That’s the question many people across the projects supporting PSU should If the judge rules against the more transportation projects. Those conclusions can be state answered in a 2013 Oregon Values & Beliefs Project survey by be construed as going toward city, the decision also might af- Hales and Novick have repeat- gleaned from the 2013 Oregon DHM Research. education. fect Hales’ complex plan to re- edly said if the City Council ap- Value & Beliefs Project survey, “I hope this kind of shuts structure six of the city’s urban proves the street fee in Novem- which asked thousands of state respondents that the priorities ways, which was rated very im- renewal districts, one of the ber, they will have more leverage residents to say how they would they chose meant they were will- portant or somewhat important mayor’s top initiatives. Hales to push for an increase in Salem. spend transportation dollars. Un- ing to raise taxes or reduce other by 72 percent of poll respondents. proposed scrapping the $169 mil- The state, in turn, would share like most polls, this survey asked services to fund them. Public transportation such as the additional revenues with lo- questions about priorities with The top priority overall was See PSU / Page 7 cal jurisdictions. A 5-cent gas tax cost implications — informing maintenance of roads and high- See POLL / Page 6 “Pamplin Media Group’s pledge is to Portland Tribune deliver balanced news that re ects the stories of our communities. Thank you for reading our newspapers.” Inside GIVING, SOULFULLY — SEE LIFE, B10 — DR. ROBERT B. PAMPLIN JR. OWNER & NEIGHBOR Media Sponsor Pamplin Media Group 481445.072314 A2 NEWS The Portland Tribune Tuesday, July 29, 2014 Waters: Floaters still take too many risks ■ From page 1 Dangerous cocktail Scott Stafford, the lead instruc- “It has made a difference,” tor of American Medical Response’s agreed Thompson. “Are we River Rescue program, says alcohol where we want to be? Absolute- and the rivers don’t mix. ly not. But we’re getting “The physiological features (of closer.” alcohol) — slow response and lack of coordination — greatly impairs Slowly tackling issues you in the water,” Stafford says. According to numbers from the Many of those getting ready Centers for Disease Control and for the three-hour float on Satur- Prevention, 70 percent of accidents day, July 19, say they were more on the water are alcohol-related, concerned with litter than alco- Stafford says, adding that 85 per- hol. Andres Gomez of Portland cent of drownings are preventable. was surprised to learn of the al- AMR advises anyone on or even cohol ban and says it takes some near the water to be wearing a per- sonal otation device (PFD). of the fun out of the activity. “Especially with our rivers with “I have never felt unsafe,” Go- how cold and fast they move, they mez says. “People are just trying still have a lot of dangerous fea- to have a good time.” tures to them,” Stafford says. David Ford of Milwaukie shrugged about the alcohol ban. “Maybe it’s working.” But, he Rock. Thoroughman spends adds: “There’s still lots of much of his shift hauling people litter.” out of the whirlpool with a motor “It’s a littering issue,” agrees boat. Two people have drowned Lisa Sellers of Canby. “People there in the past five years. can drink and be responsible The next issue several officers about it.” want to tackle is the lifejacket Sellers laughed about an eddy loophole.