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CAG Board Members <\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n Michael Pouncil, Chair<\/p>\n Doug Larson<\/p>\n Sarah Taylor<\/p>\n Casimira Tadewaldt<\/p>\n <\/p>\n October 9, 2024<\/p>\n Participants: 30 online, several more at PHCAG meeting location<\/p>\n Tonight\u2019s Meeting:<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n “Willamette Cove Job Analysis”<\/em> __________<\/p>\n Presentation<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n Liza Morehead<\/strong> 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\u00a0<\/span>executive summery<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>and the\u00a0<\/span>full report<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n PHCC, PHCAG and other community groups have been advocating to clean Willamette Cove for decades. PHCAG\u00a0has\u00a0worked in collaboration\u00a0with PHCC\u00a0on Willamette Cove\u00a0with DEQ, Port of Portland, Oregon Heath Authority, and Metro since the\u00a0beginning of\u00a02018. \u00a0PHCC and PHCAG were also involved with Willamette Cove when Metro voted\u00a0unanimously to remove contaminated material in Aug. of 2022.<\/p>\n This\u00a0coalition of community and government agencies\u00a0were able to improve and\u00a0simplify the initial outreach material that had been provided by many agencies. Coordinated efforts allowed for interested and impacted communities\u00a0associated with the Willamette Cove to be more fully engaged and\u00a0informed about the site.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Q&A for Liza Morehead<\/strong><\/p>\n Q: Is there an intention to provide support to help workers transition to their next employment after project completion?<\/p>\n A: We would recommend this. Miranda Mishan: Yes, this is important.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Q: Are COBID (Certification Office for Business Inclusion and Diversity) certifications being considered when bringing on small contractors?<\/p>\n Q: Union-friendly?<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Q: Do you see unions as facilitators of training?<\/p>\n A: Yes.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Q: Community Colleges involved in training?<\/p>\n A: A lot of unions work with Community Colleges with apprenticeship programs relevant to this kind of project.<\/p>\n 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 \u2013 bridge\/road construction. Need to pull in city and state leaders. I\u2019ve noticed scopes of work described as independent contractors \u2013 more temporary. Could these jobs benefit with better interventions?<\/p>\n 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\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Comment: Ranfis Villatoro: Temp workers are the most vulnerable \u2013 they\u2019re paying taxes out of pocket, no medical benefits for the toxins they\u2019ll be working with. Big picture\/scope will be essential.<\/p>\n Q: I\u2019m 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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n A: Michael Pouncil: I don\u2019t think we\u2019re 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\u2019re open to dialog with you. Nothing can happen at the expense of the cleanup.<\/p>\n Comment: Ranfis Villatoro: Construction can impact adjacent businesses. We\u2019re concerned about the short window, need better planning for harmony for all users of the river.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Comment: Scott Burr: My company helps facilitate difficult conversations. Important to identify all of the constraints so that everyone\u2019s objectives can be met. What is most ideal for most parties?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Q: Alvey Seeyouma, Hopi\/Tewa: I work with conservation\/restoration. Question about toxicity for the workers who will be out there. PRP\u2019s have been part of the pollution but haven\u2019t helped with the cleanup. I\u2019m a tribal member \u2013 the land has not been taken care of. I don\u2019t care about PRP\u2019s money. These are complex issues. I\u2019m interested in being a part of this.<\/p>\n A: Lawyer: our impact has been minimal. We can design a cleanup that takes into account a methodology that won\u2019t require harmful moves to existing businesses.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 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 \u2013 outreach, recruit, training, counseling, job placement services.<\/p>\n Q: Cassie Cohen: we don\u2019t have a lead EPA person to help us \u2013 can you help us with this?<\/p>\n A: Caleb Shaffer: Yes, we hear the need, don\u2019t have someone identified today but we\u2019ll consider this important piece.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Q: Question for Lawyer \u2013 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\u2019t that fair?<\/p>\n A: My clients don\u2019t generate a waste stream. What you\u2019re proposing is a question for EPA. I can\u2019t comment on the businesses you\u2019re describing. 1) Would Ranfis and Michael be open to a conversation with me and my client? Michael \u2013 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\u2019re open to having this conversation with you.<\/p>\n Comment: Laura Feldman to Lawyer: Next Collaborative meeting, we\u2019d love to see you there.<\/p>\n Comment: Miranda Mishan: For those who haven’t had a chance to download, here is the labor market analysis and the executive summary:<\/p>\n Willamette Cove Project Area Remedial Action Labor Market Analysis (portofportland.com)<\/p>\n WillametteCoveLaborAnalysisExecutiveSummary.pdf (portofportland.com)<\/p>\n __________<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Upcoming Events<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n __________<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n __________<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n News on the River<\/strong><\/p>\n Willamette Cove In-Person\u00a0Workshop #2<\/strong><\/p>\n Recently METRO held its 2nd Workshop on Willamette Cove on September 28th at St. Johns Community Center. In the previous workshop, community helped\u00a0create\u00a0a vision for the park. In this recent\u00a0engagement, community\u00a0reviewed the three park designs the Willamette Cove team at METRO made based on initial input from the previous workshop. If you wish to be a part to the future design of Willamette Cove, reach out to<\/p>\n Jasiel Lopez\u00a0\u00a0jasiel.lopez@oregonmetro.gov<\/a>\u00a0for more information about future events.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n __________<\/p>\n<\/h1>\n
Michael Pouncil<\/u><\/h1>\n
Introduction: tonight\u2019s meeting has been recorded.<\/h1>\n
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Participating<\/u><\/h1>\n
Jennifer D\u2019Avanzo, Metro<\/h1>\n
Laura Knudsen, EPA<\/h1>\n
Caleb Shaffer, EPA<\/h1>\n
Cassie Cohen Portland Harbor Community Coalition<\/h1>\n
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Wednesday, October 9,\u00a02024<\/p>\nThrough 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\u00a0proof that it takes all concerned\u00a0and interested parties\u00a0to come together and make the biggest difference in our communities.<\/h1>\n
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Willamette Cover In-Water Remedial Action labor Analysis, October 2024:<\/h1>\n
Worksystems operates as a non-profit.<\/h1>\n
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?<\/h1>\n
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What: About 80,000 yards will be removed from the riverbank<\/h1>\n
When: a span of two years, designed around a fish window, July-October<\/h1>\n
Equivalent of 32 full-time jobs estimated for 23 occupations<\/h1>\n
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Target Occupations:<\/u><\/h1>\n
Significant FTE During the Willamette Cove In-Water Remedial Action<\/h1>\n
Opportunities to increase diversity<\/h1>\n
Self-Sufficiency Wage<\/h1>\n
Future Opportunities for Employment<\/h1>\n
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Recommendations for Inclusive Employment Pathways<\/u><\/h1>\n
Awareness\/exposure of environmental remediation jobs<\/h1>\n
Awareness\/exposure of jobs available through the PHSSS cleanup<\/h1>\n
Training<\/h1>\n
Hiring<\/h1>\n
On the job Training<\/h1>\n
Continuing education\/incumbent works<\/h1>\n
Retention<\/h1>\n
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Some of the jobs will require more education\/training than might be possible to receive before this project starts.<\/h1>\n
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Best Practices in Equitable Contracting:<\/u><\/h1>\n
Unbundling Contracts<\/h1>\n
Business to Business Mentorship<\/h1>\n
One Stop Pre-Qualification<\/h1>\n
Clean and Easy to Read Instructions<\/h1>\n
Clear Instruction & Schedule<\/h1>\n
Prompt Payments<\/h1>\n
Reduction in Financial Requirements<\/h1>\n
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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.<\/h1>\n
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Rumble on the River, October 16, 7pm \u2013 a proposal for a fuel terminal on the Columbia River:<\/h1>\n
https:\/\/www.columbiariverkeeper.org\/event\/rumble-on-the-river\/<\/a><\/h1>\n
Willamette Cove Field Day<\/h1>\n
https:\/\/www.oregonmetro.gov\/events\/willamette-cove-field-day\/2024-10-26<\/a><\/h1>\n
Community members,\u00a0offered feedback on the three designs for the nature park, picking out which elements they\u00a0like best from each. This input will help METRO create\u00a0one\u00a0design for the nature park, which they\u2019ll share next year.<\/p>\n