Sidewalk Management Plan
Managing Portland's Downtown Sidewalks
Thu, September 17, 2009 3:15pm
Request for Comments:
Downtown Draft Sidewalk Management Plan Concepts
Please take the time to learn about this issue and reply with your comments, questions or ideas.
Each member of the Portland City Council is working on an element of this issue. We need your input as we work to craft the right solution moving forward: samadams@ci.portland.or.us
Portland’s thriving urban culture and economic success depend on sidewalks that serve the needs of all our community’s members. This is especially true in our downtown core and city center. And it takes the entire community to make our public spaces work well.
It is not an easy task to balance sometimes-changing and ever-competing sidewalk user needs so we must constantly be looking to monitor and improve our efforts.
Portland has 4,804 miles of sidewalks, including 37,744 street corners; the Westside of downtown Portland alone comprises 152 miles of sidewalks and 1,778 corners.
Bicycle racks, signal controller boxes, drinking fountains, fire hydrants, parking meters, transit shelters, light poles, mail boxes, telephones, retail and commercial doorways, garbage cans, newspaper boxes, benches, permitted carts and cafés, “A” board signs, public art and people must all share sidewalks that can range from five to 15 feet wide.
Federal, state, county and city law and court decisions govern different aspects of how sidewalks must or can be managed. For example:
- Roulette v City of Seattle: http://www.precydent.com/citation/97/F.3d/300
- City of Chicago v Morales: http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/97-1121.ZS.html
- 12/13/06 Street Access for Everyone (SAFE) Final Report: http://portlandonline.twi.bz/a
- Portland Pedestrian Design Guidelines: http://portlandonline.twi.bz/b
- State v Robison: http://www.publications.ojd.state.or.us/A123659.htm
- Oregon Vehicle Code (pedestrians/sidewalks): http://www.leg.state.or.us/ors/814.html
Three reasons demand a thoughtful look at the issue of sidewalk management:
- Increasing media reports and community concerns about aggressive panhandling.
- Recent Court ruling that indicates cities must manage conflicting uses of the sidewalks rather than obstructive behavior if they wish to assert local control over sidewalks (Sit-lie law ruled unconstitutional: http://oregonlive.twi.bz/a).
- Significant budget cuts to government safety net and human service programs.
That is why the Portland City Council is working on a new comprehensive “Sidewalk Management Plan.”
We welcome your questions, comments and ideas about these initial concepts:
- Align City Codes: Better manage sometimes competing legal uses of public sidewalks by integrating all city codes that regulate sidewalk uses such as café outdoor seating and “A” board signs.
- Criminal Zero Tolerance: The Police will continue proactive zero tolerance law enforcement for criminal behavior such as aggressive panhandling and littering.
- Improve and Expand Homeless Services: Provide more effective homeless services by constructing and funding the operation of proposed Resource Access Center (RAC). This is in addition to the hundreds of millions of dollars in combined TIF, general fund, and block grant money the City of Portland will spend in the next 5 years to provide a range of day shelters and other resources for homeless people, including, critical services to homeless youth.
- Designate Sidewalk Throughway Zones: Much as an auto is not able to use a street by parking or idling in the middle of the street, the space 4 feet from any building, all corners, doorways and the pedestrian throughway in the middle of the sidewalk are designated for moving pedestrians only. At the same time, those who stand or sit on the sidewalk but outside of the throughway zone are able to do so.Increase Charitable Giving: Create a “Give Real Change; Not Spare Change” public education and donation program where donations, including, “Would you like to round up your purchase amount to help the homeless?” can be made at retail check out counters through out Portland.
- Establish and fund a Downtown Signature Retail District Strategy: A plan to make the heart Portland the west coast’s premiere place to shop, visit, work and live.
- Increase the Number of Public Toilets: A comprehensive siting and management plan for restrooms will provide clean, cost-effective and accessible facilities. Portland’s “Loos” are already nationally recognized for their innovative design. We plan to fast track the Loo siting process, implement visible signage identifying places to “go”, and create a plan for long term funding and maintenance.
Working together with all stakeholders, we will forge a solution that respects everyone’s rights and makes Portland an even better place to work, live and visit.
Again, please reply with your comments, questions or ideas: samadams@ci.portland.or.us
Thank you.
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