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July 24, 2020
News & Notes
Next virtual forum - talking schools & educating students this fall
   WEA's next virtual forum will be with the superintendents from Beaverton, Hillsboro, and Tigard-Tualatin school districts.
   Don Grotting, Sue Rieke-Smith, and Mike Scott will be discussing what the upcoming school year is going to look like in this COVID-19 world and the key issues their districts are facing.
   This event is presented by Kaiser Permanente and is happening the morning of Thursday, August 13.     Registration is open . 
A COVID-19 update, following the wastewater stream acts as a detector for scientists
    WEA members and guests heard from Washington County's Marni Kuyl and Clean Water Services Dr. Ken Williamson during a virtual forum last week.
   Kuyl is the director of Health and Human Services for Washington County, and Williamson is the director of Research and Innovation for Clean Water Services.
   Those in attendance heard from Kuyl about the current COVID-19 data in our region and what it means for the community.
   Dr. Williamson shared the research Clean Water Services is doing with OSU.
   Researchers are testing wastewater in different areas and can detect when COVID-19 is present, even before people start heading to their doctor.
   This allows public health officials time to prepare and take action.
   If you missed this program, you can view it here on YouTube.
   Thank you to Metro West Ambulance and Legacy Health for sponsoring this forum.
Get Moving 2020 is rolling to the voters' mailboxes come November
   The Metro Council has unanimously agreed to send the "Get Moving 2020" transportation bond measure to voters in November.
   Total it would be a $5 billion package, the largest investment ever in the greater Portland metro area's transportation system, and it would possibly bring in an additional $2.8 billion in federal, state, and local investments.
   Metro also expects it to create approximately 37,500 jobs.
   "As we recover from this pandemic and return to school and jobs, we will need a transportation system that gets people where they need to go safely and reliably," said Metro Council President Lynn Peterson. 
   The measure includes projects on the Westside consisting of the TV Highway corridor from Forest Grove to Portland; SW 185th north of Farmington Road; and the SW Corridor .
   If it passes, it would also provide funding for studies of Highway 99W , Highway 217 , and Highway 26 .
   The funding mechanism would be a payroll tax (the public sector and businesses with less than 26 employees will be excluded).
   WEA previously joined eight other business organizations, requesting Metro delay this measure because of the current economic conditions.
   Now WEA will host a joint meeting of its Government Relations (GRC), Land Use & Housing, and Transportation committees to discuss taking a position on the measure.
   This virtual meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, August 12 at 7:30 a.m. and is open to all WEA members.
   Feedback from the joint committee meeting will be taken to the WEA Board of Directors for further discussion, and the Board may vote to take a position on it.
Odds & Ends

  • Workforce Analyst Brandon Schrader also shared research on the amount of workers who can telecommute and the COVID-19 risks it has on those who can't. Click here to read more.

  • PCC has a new contact tracer training program. Click here to see more.

  • The Portland Youth Builders program in Washington County was recently featured on KGW. It sounds like a hands-on program that is working and training well. Click here to see.

  • Washington County has a toolkit for businesses looking to keep employees safe. Click here to see more.

  • The City of Beaverton has blocked off area in its downtown to open up outdoor dining options.To learn more about Open Air Beaverton, click here.

  • Clean Water Services is in the process of revising their ordinance which clarifies domestic and nondomestic wastewater definitions, which are related to the need for permits and pretreatment. Take a look here.

  • Clackamas County is taking applications for grants from nonprofits serving the vulnerable. Learn more here.

  • You can help shape shuttle service being considered in Clackamas County. The county is conducting a study to support new service on shuttles between its communities. Take the survey.

  • The Beaverton School Board is taking public input on its SRO (School Resource Officers) program.


  • Sherwood is taking a survey about its future. If you live in Sherwood, weigh in here.

  • And lastly, congratulations to WEA members Port of Portland, Hennebery Eddy, & Worksystems Inc. on the completion of Concourse E at PDX. From the photos, it looks beautiful. Below is a little snapshot video of its creation and construction.
Events coming up
Fri. 8/7 at 12:00 p.m. the Golf Committee will meet virtually. For more information, contact Teresa Dunham .

Wed. 8/12 at 7:30 a.m. there will be a virtual joint meeting of the Government Relations, Land Use & Housing, and Transportation committees . For more information, contact Pam Treece.

Th. 8/13 A virtual forum with the superintendents of Beaverton, Hillsboro, and Tigard-Tualatin school districts, starting at 7:30 a.m. To register

Wed. 8/19 at 12:00 p.m. the Land Use & Housing Committee will meet virtually. To learn more, contact KC Reinhart.

Fri. 8/28 Westside Golf Scramble - Registration is open! For more information, click here .

To see more of the WEA calendar, please visit the WEA website .