What principles would shape a regional transportation system that truly serves people?

What would our region’s transportation system look like if we put people and communities first, instead of cars? With peak oil looming and obesity reaching epidemic levels, there are new reasons to take a hard look at changing how we invest in transportation. Share your ideas about the principles and projects CLF should promote as our regional government, Metro, updates the Regional Transportation Plan during the next 2 years.
Discussion leaders:   
Catherine Ciarlo, Coalition for a Livable Future
Jeri Sundvall-Williams, Environmental Justice Action Group

How can we foster innovation, creativity, and arts & culture as part of a sustainable regional economy?

Successful regions in today's "knowledge economy" have a high quality of life, foster tolerance and possess a thriving culture and arts scene. If we want our region to have artists and cultural gathering places, we need to plan for them. What is the role of arts and culture in regional  planning and sustainability? What barriers exist to developing creative, affordable live-work spaces?

Discussion leaders:   
Bill Bulick, Creative Planning
Brad Malsin, Beam Construction

How could we bring urban designers and other experts together to integrate the built and natural environments and create healthier communities?

To make our communities great places to live, work and play, we must integrate the built and natural environment in new and creative ways. How can urban design help us create communities that are more livable and sustainable? What are the opportunities and barriers to implementing more sustainable and healthy building and site designs in our communities?
Discussion leaders:   
Mike Faha, Greenworks, PC
Marcy McInelly, Urbsworks

How can we make growth pay for itself?

How do we pay for the kind of development we want to see in our communities? New growth requires public services like parks, sewers, and schools. Debate the advantages and drawbacks of ideas that would make new growth help pay the costs of the public services it requires. CLF will use the results to inform Metro’s New Look process.
Discussion leaders:   
Ron Carley, Coalition for a Livable Future
Reed Wagner, Metro

How do we ensure that urban renewal delivers the benefits that community residents want?

Cities throughout the region are using urban renewal to revitalize “blighted” neighborhoods. There are currently 27 urban renewal areas in the 4-county region. When public dollars are used for urban renewal projects, how do we ensure that those dollars deliver community benefits, such as environmental restoration, living wage jobs, walkable neighborhoods and affordable housing?
Discussion leaders:   
Michael Anderson, Community Development Network
Deb Meihoff, Communitas LLC

How can we make our communities more child-friendly?

Fewer families with children are settling in the City of Portland. Less than 20% of households have children enrolled in public schools, and new neighborhoods like the Pearl District have attracted few families. At the same time, children living in some suburbs are forced to depend on their parents’ cars to get from place to place. Children need opportunities for physical activity, access to nature, a quality education, and an affordable place for their family to live. How can we create communities that work better for children and families?
Discussion leaders:     
Pat Rumer, Zimmerman Community Center

How can we permanently protect farmland and nurture local agriculture as our region grows?

Our state’s land use laws were designed to protect farmland, but the Willamette Valley’s fertile soils continue to be encroached upon by urban growth boundary expansions. This encroachment may become far-reaching under Measure 37. However, agriculture continues to be an important component of our regional economy. The number of metro region farms has grown in the past decade as farmers markets, community supported agriculture, u-pick farms and the nursery industry have taken off. Participate in a discussion of the strategies we might employ to protect and nurture agriculture and our regional food system in the changing economic, political and regulatory climate.
Discussion leaders:       
Mary Kyle McCurdy, 1000 Friends of Oregon
Suzanne Briggs, Collaboration