2014 PARKS REPLACEMENT BOND ParksReplacementBond.org NO INCREASE IN TAX RATES FOCUS AREAS THE NEED Areas of focus with broad public support* and identified as Over the last century, Portlanders have created and maintained our parks system urgent needs by the Parks bureau; see additional one-pagers through a series of capital investments, including bond measures and levies. for details on each area. However, our park structures and facilities have finite life spans, and require ongoing PLAYGROUNDS investment to remain safe and accessible. Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) has Replace 10 to 20 existing structures that are nearing the end identified more than $365 million in necessary replacements and major maintenance of their useful life and at risk of closure projects that need to be completed over the next 10 years. BRIDGES AND TRAILS Preserve access to natural areas and open spaces by repairing $68M in bond revenue would pay for the most critical replacements and bridges and trails repairs, out of $365M in major maintenance needs over the next 10 years. POOLS Prevent emergency closures, stop water leaks, improve water conservation and energy efficiency PROTECTING WORKERS $365M Improve safety by making critical upgrades; fix leaking roofs, update equipment at maintenance facilities PIONEER COURTHOUSE SQUARE Replace failing structures, fix leaks and cracks, make improvements at most visited park $68M ACCESSIBILITY Remove access barriers in parks; recent report found tens of thousands of barriers across park system THE OPPORTUNITY RESTROOMS / OTHER URGENT REPAIRS As Portland’s last parks bond—passed in 1994—is paid off in 2015, we have the Prevent closures, replace and repair restrooms, roofs and other failing structures throughout the system opportunity to address critical park needs without increasing tax rates. By continuing to fund parks at the current rate required by the 1994 bond, we can raise an estimated ADMINISTRATION & AUDITS $56-$68 million in funding to address the most critical needs of our parks system. Require audits and appoint oversight committee PUBLIC SUPPORT Public support for Parks Replacement Bond 65% Parks Commissioner Amanda Fritz and PP&R hired 6% DHM Research to conduct a representative telephone SUPPORT survey of Portlanders. The survey shows that more than 19% 65 percent of Portlanders are supportive once they find 41% out that a Replacement Bond would not increase tax 11% rates and would fund some of the most critical repairs to our parks system. THE REPLACEMENT BOND 24% The proposed measure would replace a previous general obligation bond which was used to fund park improvements and expires in 2015. If the proposed new Support, strongly Support, somewhat Oppose, somewhat Oppose, strongly Don’t Know measure passes, it would not increase property tax rates. The average Replacement Bond tax rate is estimated to be $.0877 per $1000 of assessed value, which is * Source: DHM Research in a May 2014 telephone survey of 800 likely Portland the same as the current assessed rate for the expiring parks bonds. If it does not voters. Graph shows public support after negative test message. pass, the annual property tax could decrease by about $13 for a home at median assessed value of $150,000. PROPOSED TITLE: Improve park safety, accessibility; fix playgrounds, trails, facilities; issue bonds. Shall Portland fix, improve park facilities; issue $68,000,000 bonds (if approved, estimated to not increase tax rate); require audits? If the bonds are approved, they will be payable from taxes on property or property ownership that are not subject to the limits of sections 11 and 11b, Article Eleven of the Oregon Constitution. COMMISSIONER AMANDA FRITZ | DIRECTOR MIKE ABBATÉ | PortlandParks.org 2 Updated: 6/29/14 2014 PARKS REPLACEMENT BOND NO INCREASE IN TAX RATES PLAYGROUNDS FOCUS AREAS SAFE PLACES TO PLAY Areas with broad public support* and identified as Every child needs a safe and accessible place to play. Park technicians visit parks and urgent needs by the Parks bureau playgrounds almost daily to check for unsafe equipment, and playgrounds are fully PLAYGROUNDS inspected for safety each month. When equipment becomes unsafe, it is removed. More Replace 10 to 20 existing structures that are nearing than 55,000 Portland households are served by Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) the end of their useful life and are at risk of closure playgrounds or play structures that are rated in poor or very poor condition, and need to BRIDGES AND TRAILS Preserve access to natural areas and open spaces by be renovated or replaced. Currently, there is no funding to replace these structures. repairing bridges and trails The 2014 Parks Replacement Bond will renovate, replace and remediate 10 to 20 POOLS Prevent emergency closures, stop water leaks, improve playgrounds or play structures that are at risk of failing, without raising the tax rate. See water conservation and energy efficiency the back of this page for more specific examples > PROTECT WORKERS Improve safety by making critical upgrades; fix leaking Due to impending failure, Couch Park’s beloved play structure had to be removed. roofs, update equipment at maintenance facilities PIONEER COURTHOUSE SQUARE Replace failing structures, fix leaks and cracks, make improvements at most visited park ACCESSIBILITY Remove access barriers in parks; recent report found tens of thousands of barriers across park system RESTROOMS & URGENT REPAIRS Prevent closures, replace and repair restrooms, roofs and other failing structures throughout the system ADMINISTRATION & AUDITS Require audits and appoint oversight committee * Source: DHM Research in a May 2014 telephone survey of 800 likely Portland voters. THE REPLACEMENT BOND The proposed measure would replace a previous general obligation bond which was used to fund park improvements and expires in 2015. If the proposed new measure passes, it would not increase property tax rates. The average Replacement Bond tax rate is estimated to be $.0877 per $1000 of assessed value, COUCH PARK is adjacent to the Metropolitan Learning Center (MLC) K-12 public which is the same as the current assessed rate for the school. In the 1970s, the community helped design the park’s much-loved wooden play expiring parks bonds. If it does not pass, the annual structure. The structure had to be removed in 2014 property tax could decrease by about $13 for a home at median assessed value of $150,000. after an independent engineering firm warned Every child needs a place to play. of impending structural failure. The Replacement Bond would fund a new play structure at Couch, designed to serve hundreds of neighborhood youth, and MLC students. See back for more > PUBLIC SUPPORT The Portland community is committed to youth. A 74-76% recent survey reveals that 74 percent of Portlanders are more likely to support a bond that includes the replacement of aging playground structures that pose a safety risk. Further, 76 SUPPORT percent of Portlanders are more likely to support a Replacement Bond that would pay for the replacement of playgrounds and community center structures to make them accessible to people with disabilities. ParksReplacementBond.org Source: DHM Research in a May 2014 telephone survey of 800 likely Portland voters. PROPOSED TITLE: Improve park safety, accessibility; fix playgrounds, trails, facilities; issue bonds. Shall Portland fix, improve park facilities; issue $68,000,000 bonds (if approved, estimated to not raise tax rate); require audits? If the bonds are approved, they will be payable from taxes on property or property ownership that are not subject to the limits of sections 11 and 11b, Article Eleven of the Oregon Constitution. COMMISSIONER AMANDA FRITZ | DIRECTOR MIKE ABBATÉ | PortlandParks.org Updated: 6/29/14 3 t N d h W t S b v Lo E l 205 7 R n d w d 0 B 3 iv e i 0 n e -5 n 1 r R a r r i Poor Quality Playgrounds e R 5 a 2 S l e d 500 Wb E y r- M S v d P 6 v t v e h e i 1 N h l t A l r A t u t l W B v u Fourth n Fo 1 Playground i 8 E r a s NE a th A n r 3 F V Plain Blvd S h E Fou NE 28th St N o d NE 25 Rd 1 th v St n e t J Bl NE Burto E Plain v S G n A N B 2 Playgrounds r e d W h 1 a 5th l r N St s E 18th St v t n a e d 2 t h d r d t N 1 b S d N n 1 6 M E A n 2 m M 3 E C i a l Park Service Av reas l E P 9 A 1 o r l a i e d S i n 1 1 e n N B A L l e N v E E 6 The Replacemente Bond would address critical safetyv and access issues at 10 to 20 R d v E D 4 v N A 1 N e r E M t N S ill P A lain 3 Sr-14 Eb Blvd h d 6 r t h a g N d playgroundsr acrossR Portland. In addition to Couch Park, here are a few examples: C u o d Sr- e d 1 v B lu n 4 W n 2 b A d m a e N 9 b tl v r h R 1 i t 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 a A N 4 B Po E St l Playgrounds and play areas needing improvements or replacements. 6 I v S v d N 1 VENTURA PARK a n Miles E h The Replacement Bond will fix, replace or improve 10 to 20 of them.