CAG Board Members
Michael Pouncil, Chair
Doug Larson
Sarah Taylor
Casimera Tadewaldt
October 9, 2024
Participants: 30 online, several more at PHCAG meeting location
Michael Pouncil
Introduction: tonight’s meeting has been recorded.
Participating
Jennifer D’Avanzo, Metro
Laura Knudsen, EPA
Caleb Shaffer, EPA
Cassie Cohen Portland Harbor Community Coalition
Tonight’s Meeting:
“Willamette Cove Job Analysis”
Wednesday, October 9, 2024
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Presentation
Liza Morehead with Worksystems Inc. presented their report findings, and we discussed future job opportunities in the Willamette Cove project area and the broader Portland Harbor Superfund site. Here are a few lines to the executive summery and the full report.
PHCC, PHCAG and other community groups have been advocating to clean Willamette Cove for decades. PHCAG has worked in collaboration with PHCC on Willamette Cove with DEQ, Port of Portland, Oregon Heath Authority, and Metro since the beginning of 2018. PHCC and PHCAG were also involved with Willamette Cove when Metro voted unanimously to remove contaminated material in Aug. of 2022.
This coalition of community and government agencies were able to improve and simplify the initial outreach material that had been provided by many agencies. Coordinated efforts allowed for interested and impacted communities associated with the Willamette Cove to be more fully engaged and informed about the site.
Through PHCC and PHCAG we were able to have Willamette Cove receive one of the highest numbers of public comments that DEQ has ever received. These accomplishments are proof that it takes all concerned and interested parties to come together and make the biggest difference in our communities.
Willamette Cover In-Water Remedial Action labor Analysis, October 2024:
Worksystems operates as a non-profit.
Research: estimate the number of jobs generated and identify strategies for creative inclusive employment and contracting pathways. When will the work happen, where is the work, when will it happen?
What: About 80,000 yards will be removed from the riverbank
When: a span of two years, designed around a fish window, July-October
Equivalent of 32 full-time jobs estimated for 23 occupations
Target Occupations:
Significant FTE During the Willamette Cove In-Water Remedial Action
Opportunities to increase diversity
Self-Sufficiency Wage
Future Opportunities for Employment
Recommendations for Inclusive Employment Pathways
Awareness/exposure of environmental remediation jobs
Awareness/exposure of jobs available through the PHSSS cleanup
Training
Hiring
On the job Training
Continuing education/incumbent works
Retention
Some of the jobs will require more education/training than might be possible to receive before this project starts.
Best Practices in Equitable Contracting:
Unbundling Contracts
Business to Business Mentorship
One Stop Pre-Qualification
Clean and Easy to Read Instructions
Clear Instruction & Schedule
Prompt Payments
Reduction in Financial Requirements
Q&A for Liza Morehead
Q: Is there an intention to provide support to help workers transition to their next employment after project completion?
A: We would recommend this. Miranda Mishan: Yes, this is important.
Q: Are COBID (Certification Office for Business Inclusion and Diversity) certifications being considered when bringing on small contractors?
A: Not bringing on contractors yet, there are ways to identify contractors who are bidding for economic opportunity. COBID is one way to do it.
Q: Union-friendly?
A: We have been collaborating with union reps and unions for a long time. We have been pushing for this, including jobs training and ensuring decent wages and safe work conditions.
Q: Do you see unions as facilitators of training?
A: Yes.
Q: Community Colleges involved in training?
A: A lot of unions work with Community Colleges with apprenticeship programs relevant to this kind of project.
Q: Ranfis Villatoro: We need to start planning for this before contracts are out. This must include a community benefit agreement, not just for the cove but for the full river. Can even go further to transfer skills after this project, useful in a lot of construction projects – bridge/road construction. Need to pull in city and state leaders. I’ve noticed scopes of work described as independent contractors – more temporary. Could these jobs benefit with better interventions?
A: Yes, we see this too. The goal is to get the largest scope possible under the programs, agreements. Keep this effort coordinated so the longer-lasting jobs don’t slip away. There should be a lot of opportunity. Someone needs to look out for their benefits, etc. Getting an umbrella vision and plan will be the key to success.
Comment: Ranfis Villatoro: Temp workers are the most vulnerable – they’re paying taxes out of pocket, no medical benefits for the toxins they’ll be working with. Big picture/scope will be essential.
Q: I’m a lawyer, representing tugs and barges in Portland Harbor. We provide 50-65% of ship assist activities in the harbor. Concern about the potential impact that the cleanup could have on other businesses on the river. Interested in analysis of the potential impact on this business. Do PRP’s have to shut down for 4 months, which would equal lost jobs and a ripple effect throughout the community. Do you believe that these impacts should be considered and evaluated? Are you interested in engaging with us to discuss this? Would you support our inclusion in the community mitigation plan? We are also interested in a successful cleanup.
A: Michael Pouncil: I don’t think we’re opposed to any of that. We want a clean and healthy river, would love to have a conversation and we can go from there. Cassie Cohen: we’re open to dialog with you. Nothing can happen at the expense of the cleanup.
Comment: Ranfis Villatoro: Construction can impact adjacent businesses. We’re concerned about the short window, need better planning for harmony for all users of the river.
Comment: Scott Burr: My company helps facilitate difficult conversations. Important to identify all of the constraints so that everyone’s objectives can be met. What is most ideal for most parties?
Q: Alvey Seeyouma, Hopi/Tewa: I work with conservation/restoration. Question about toxicity for the workers who will be out there. PRP’s have been part of the pollution but haven’t helped with the cleanup. I’m a tribal member – the land has not been taken care of. I don’t care about PRP’s money. These are complex issues. I’m interested in being a part of this.
A: Lawyer: our impact has been minimal. We can design a cleanup that takes into account a methodology that won’t require harmful moves to existing businesses.
Comment: Caleb Shaffer, EPA: these are important conversations. Community Impacts Mitigation Plan can be helpful here. We look forward to engage in all of this. Our jobs training initiative – outreach, recruit, training, counseling, job placement services.
Q: Cassie Cohen: we don’t have a lead EPA person to help us – can you help us with this?
A: Caleb Shaffer: Yes, we hear the need, don’t have someone identified today but we’ll consider this important piece.
Q: Question for Lawyer – my concern is for workers who have experienced situations on the river where regulations have been horrifically overlooked. Many river businesses have made money by not using good practices to eliminate toxic waste. Can some of the money saved over the years be used to get those PRP businesses through this cleanup period? Isn’t that fair?
A: My clients don’t generate a waste stream. What you’re proposing is a question for EPA. I can’t comment on the businesses you’re describing. 1) Would Ranfis and Michael be open to a conversation with me and my client? Michael – yes. 2) Caleb Shaffer, would EPA be open to having a representative of my client serve on your impacts mitigation committee? Caleb Shaffer: yes, we’re open to having this conversation with you.
Comment: Laura Feldman to Lawyer: Next Collaborative meeting, we’d love to see you there.
Comment: Miranda Mishan: For those who haven’t had a chance to download, here is the labor market analysis and the executive summary:
Willamette Cove Project Area Remedial Action Labor Market Analysis (portofportland.com)
WillametteCoveLaborAnalysisExecutiveSummary.pdf (portofportland.com)
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Upcoming Events
Rumble on the River, October 16, 7pm – a proposal for a fuel terminal on the Columbia River:
https://www.columbiariverkeeper.org/event/rumble-on-the-river/
Willamette Cove Field Day
https://www.oregonmetro.gov/events/willamette-cove-field-day/2024-10-26
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News on the River
Willamette Cove In-Person Workshop #2
Recently METRO held its 2nd Workshop on Willamette Cove on September 28th at St. Johns Community Center. In the previous workshop, community helped create a vision for the park. In this recent engagement, community reviewed the three park designs the Willamette Cove team at METRO made based on initial input from the previous workshop.
Community members, offered feedback on the three designs for the nature park, picking out which elements they like best from each. This input will help METRO create one design for the nature park, which they’ll share next year.
If you wish to be a part to the future design of Willamette Cove, reach out to
Jasiel Lopez jasiel.lopez@oregonmetro.gov for more information about future events.
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