As Metro puts the finishing touches on the budget for the next fiscal year, I want to let you know that I have proposed an amendment to fund a much-needed feature for the Tualatin River Trail. This proposal will provide planning and design funds for a boat launch on the Tualatin River, a 35-mile tributary of the Willamette River that winds through District 3 and rural Washington and Clackamas counties. This boat launch would provide access to the river for canoes, kayaks and other paddling boats on a stretch of the Tualatin that currently has few access points.

On April 1, Metro convened a Climate Leadership Summit for local governments, businesses and community leaders to identify ways to create sustainable communities and reduce the region's greenhouse gas emissions. At the center of the dialogue was how to reach targets for greenhouse gas reduction from cars and light trucks, which were proposed recently by the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development. By combining local aspirations and public opinion with international best practices, leaders across the region can determine land use and transportation strategies that best address local policies to create climate smart communities.

If you've followed the news about Metro recently, you know there have been anumber of changes this past month. On Feb. 17, the Metro Council voted unanimously to appoint former Oregon Governor Barbara Roberts to replace departing District 6 Councilor Robert Liberty, who resigned in January to take a position with the University of Oregon.

Also, on Feb. 22, Chief Operating Officer Michael Jordan announced he would leave Metro in March to become COO for the state of Oregon. Metro Attorney Daniel B. Cooper will serve as acting chief operating officer until a permanent replacement is found.

Dear Friends,

I know we're all looking forward to warmer weather and longer days in the months to come, and as we move to closer spring what better way to get outside than by attending one of Metro's or other organizations' many classes, workshops or volunteer opportunities in the next few weeks. Whether you're interested in gardening, birding or honing your skills at the ever popular Fix-It Fair, spring has several opportunities to get out and enjoy our beautiful surroundings. Please read more below and follow the links for additional information and registration.  To stay up to date with news and events, go to www.oregonmetro.gov/connect and subscribe to my personal newsfeed, e-mail updates, RSS feeds, old-fashioned mailings and more.

Happy New Year! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season filled with joy and time well spent surrounded by family and friends. As you know, this year the Metro Council will benefit from the addition of two newly elected members. Council President Tom Hughes and Councilor Shirley Craddick of District 1 joined the council after the Jan. 4 inauguration. I’m looking forward to working with both of them to protect farm and forest land, create good jobs and make the most of existing public structures and systems like roads, bridges, parks and transit. Their unique points of view will be invaluable as we embark upon what is sure to be a busy and productive year. As usual, Metro is hosting a wide variety of classes, workshops and volunteer opportunities across the region. Whether you want to watch birds at Smith and Bybee or find out more about the volcanoes surrounding the metro area, you’re sure to find something fun to enjoy. Read more below and follow the links for additional information and registration.

I hope you had enjoyable August and were able to get out and enjoy the fabulous array of summer events, concerts festivals and other opportunities we have in our region. It’s been a busy summer at Metro and I’ve been working hard on several important issues that affect our families and communities, including the Metro Chief Operating Officer's recommendation on a Community Investment Strategy that will help us plan for an economically strong, safe and livable region. Another important note is the opening of our newest nature park. Graham Oaks Nature Park near Wilsonville will open Sept. 18 with a day of activities.

On August 10^th, Metro Chief Operating Officer Michael Jordan released a Community Investment Strategy that calls for our region to invest in safe, livable communities; promote economic development and good jobs; protect our natural areas; and reduce inefficiency, foster innovation and demand accountability. The strategy is designed to make the most of existing communities, support good jobs, and protect natural areas. As a Metro councilor, I am keenly interested in your viewpoints on how and where we should invest as well as how, where and if we should expand the urban growth boundary to accommodate future residential and employment growth. As a region, we all have the ability and responsibility to shape the communities we want and the economy we need. I look forward to hearing your comments and suggestions.

During the next three decades, about 1 million more people will call the Portland-Vancouver metropolitan region home, with 700,000 of them living within the urban growth boundary. To plan for this growth, Metro and its partners have focused on an effort called Making the Greatest Place. Its focus is to help us continue making good choices so we maintain our quality of life and plan how our region grows. Learn more

In the next few months, the Metro Council and other local governments will make decisions about how much farm and forest land to protect, where we should grow during the next 50 years and the best way to invest our limited money on creating jobs and making the most of our existing bridges, roads, trails and public transit.

Yesterday, Metro's chief operating officer Michael Jordan released a set of proposed strategies to inform those decisions and to inspire a regional dialogue about our future.

Starting today, I'll be delivering Metro news to you as it occurs, sometimes on a daily basis here on my new online newsfeed. My goal is to make it faster and easier for you to stay informed about issues you and your family care about, and to provide you a way to give me feedback whenever it's most convenient for you. Please check the site regularly and take advantage of the subscription features that let you choose the way you want to stay updated. Let me know what you think of this new way to deliver information, and if you have any ideas for how to make it better.