Metro Council President Tom Hughes shares updates on urban and rural reserves, Metro's 2011-12 budget, international economic development trips, local economic development partnerships, redrawing Metro district boundaries and opportunities to connect with your regional government.

Clackamas County Chair Charlotte Lehan says the time is right to study transportation and governance issues for the area near Stafford. Metro still looking at an urban growth boundary expansion in 2011.

Citing "constitutional problems," Transportation committee co-chair says the bill won't be heard.

Metro Council President Tom Hughes says charging stations, low carbon homes were the highlights of a job recruitment trip to Japan.

Building housing near transit is one of the most effective ways to reduce road congestion, improve air quality and increase transit ridership. Research shows that a few key measures can strongly predict the readiness of an area to support walkable, mixed-use development and help residents live a lifestyle with less reliance on a personal automobile. Learn about the new transit orientation measure from Metro's Transit-Oriented Development Program and how it reflects a composite of these important elements in 3D imagery.

Team Oregon, an unofficial name for business recruiters from the state, will also host "Invest in Oregon" seminar, meet with corporate officials. It's the first of two trips abroad this spring for Metro Council President Tom Hughes, who heads to Germany with three mayors later in March.

The Building Tomorrow’s Jobs forum held Feb. 1 featured many ways the Portland metropolitan region can better position itself to be an attractive and competitive job market. Tuesday’s speakers, experts in developing economically and ecologically sustainable employment, highlighted clear opportunities for local employers to improve their triple bottom line, as well as tips for cities and counties that want to attract and retain business. Bert Gregory, an expert in developing resource-efficient structures and communities, noted that communities with ambitious objectives are doing great work in the region. "Employers are looking to locate in areas that are hip, urban and green," he said. 

Panelists will discuss ways planners, building departments and others can make the pre-development process easier. Forum co-sponsored by Clackamas and Washington county business coalitions.