Metro now accepting applications for inaugural Trash-to-Art program

Every day, workers and machines at Metro's Central Transfer Station go through more than one and a quarter million pounds of trash. Recycling and composting programs help reduce the amount of waste that heads to the station but there are still items that aren't or can't be recycled, at least until now. Metro has joined with other organizations to start a new recycling program; making art out of trash. Metro has partnered with Cracked Pots and the new operator of Metro Central transfer station, Recology, to choose artists in the Portland metropolitan area to participate in the inaugural 2011 Pacific Northwest Art Program.

For the fifth year in a row, and the sixth time in the past seven years, the Oregon Zoo has broken its annual attendance record, with 1,645,843 visitors in 2010. This marks the second time zoo attendance has topped 1.6 million in a calendar year. The previous record, set in 2009, was 1,612,359 visitors. The zoo is a service of Metro and is dedicated to its mission of inspiring the community to create a better future for wildlife.

Metro’s Regional Travel Options program works closely with businesses, non-profit groups and public agencies across the region to promote and support the use of travel options to reduce pollution, decrease congestion and help create a healthier community. Read about some of the accomplishments Metro and its travel options partners achieved during 2010.

Council expects to appoint new Councilor by end of February

The Metro Council today opened the formal application period for appointment as Metro Councilor for District 6. Robert Liberty resigned this position on Jan. 15 to lead the Sustainable Cities Initiative at the University of Oregon.  Citizens who have been registered voters in District 6 for at least one year may apply for consideration for the position. District 6 is located entirely within Multnomah County and includes portions of Southwest, Southeast and Northeast Portland. Application materials are available to download from Metro’s website at www.oregonmetro.gov/district6 or can be picked up at the council office at Metro Regional Center, located at 600 NE Grand Ave. in Portland.

Today Metro and three community partners launch Opt In, an online research panel that will gather public opinion among residents of the Portland-Vancouver metropolitan area. Opt In is a new way to let decision-makers know what is important to you. The goal of the new panel is to create an easy, cost-effective way for you to provide input into decisions affecting you and your communities.

Metro Councilors recently joined students at several schools around the region as part of the Reaching and Empowering All People (REAP) "Future is Now Tour." The tour, which brought students from diverse backgrounds and decision makers together to discuss Metro’s role in the community and brainstorm solutions to the region’s problems, paired Metro Councilors with students in their district.

A citizen task force advising the region on how to spend $23 million in Regional Flexible Funds has agreed that money for active transportation projects should focus on building complete corridors a few at a time. Some refer to this as “the light rail model” because of the way the MAX system grew by building one corridor at a time and simultaneously planning for future corridors. This would differ from the more scattered, piecemeal approach that Portland-area policymakers have typically used, which helped many communities across the region with small street, sidewalk, trail or bicycle projects. That approach has drawn criticism because it generated incremental improvements but not a complete new route.

Students from Oregon City High School's construction class visited Metro last night to make a presentation to Council on the students' work at Wesley Lynn Park.

Since 2008, students in the class have used grants from the Oregon City Community Enhancement Fund to build a pathway, pergola and other covered structures at the park. With this year's grant of $24,770, the students will build restroom, storage and concession areas to match the other buildings.