Friday, October 14, 2011
PRESS HERALD
Posted: October 14
Updated: Today at 7:15 AM
David Marshall: A list of successes, ability to ‘get things done’
The Green Independent wants to invest in school facilities and a streetcar line, and to promote use of alternative fuels.
By Jason Singer jsinger@pressherald.com
Staff Writer
This story was updated at 7:15 a.m. to correct Marshall's party affiliation and to clarify the circumstances of the arts district tax increment financing district.
David Marshall
DAVID MARSHALL
PARTY AFFILIATION: Green Independent
AGE: 33
ADDRESS: 41 Pine St.
PERSONAL: Committed relationship with Whitney Newman
EDUCATION: Some college; fine-art apprenticeship, 2001, Plein Air Painting, France
OCCUPATION: Gallery owner, fine artist, property manager
POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Portland City Council since 2006
WEBSITE: www.marshallmayor.com
TOP PRIORITIES
• Invest in the city’s school buildings to make them state-of-the-art facilities
• Grow the population and density downtown
• Convert homes and businesses from oil to cleaner, cheaper alternatives
• Invest in a modern streetcar line that will encourage development
• Institute a 24-hour pothole guarantee
JOIN THE CONVERSATION
DAVID MARSHALL will answer questions from Press Herald readers during an hour-long live chat with the candidate starting at noon today. Go to www.pressherald.com to participate.
Editor's note: This is the third of 15 daily profiles of Portland's mayoral candidates, paired with online chats. You can find out more about other candidates in our Portland Mayor Race 2011 special section.
PORTLAND — City Councilor David Marshall is a technocrat. For his five years in office, he has a list of accomplishments that rival those of his competitors.
He came up with the idea for Portland’s first tax increment financing district involving the arts.
He helped find money for improvements to the Reiche Community School.
And as chairman of the council’s Energy and Environmental Sustainability Committee, he led the push for an energy-service contract to make city-owned buildings more energy-efficient.
When he talks about what he will do if he is elected mayor Nov. 8, he notes how he plans to pay for each item, whether it’s through TIFs, federal and state grants, revolving-loan funds, adjustments in the city budget or other financial mechanisms.
“The difference between me and the other candidates,” Marshall said at one debate, “is that I know how to get done the things that I talk about.”
Marshall’s five-point platform includes investing in the city’s school facilities, converting homes and businesses from oil to alternative fuels, and creating a streetcar line.
Those programs would cost a significant amount up front, as some opponents have pointed out. Marshall calls them “investments.”
He points to a record of saving the city money.
In 2010, he led the approval of the energy-service contract, which cost $11 million up front. It involved energy upgrades for 45 city-owned buildings, including new windows, high-efficiency lighting, roofs and other improvements.
The upgrades will save the city about $1.7 million per year, officials said. So over the long run, Marshall said, the investment will pay off.
“There’s a difference between investing and spending,” Marshall said during a recent interview at Hot Suppa!. “With investments, you get a return on your money.”
The same holds true for his streetcar plan, he said. It would cost millions up front. But Marshall said it could be funded with a mix of federal funds and a TIF district, much like the Arts District. In the end, he said, it would bring in significantly more money than it would cost.
He cited two other cities that created successful streetcar systems. In Tampa, Fla., a 2.5-mile streetcar system has spurred more than $1 billion in private investments nearby, according to the National Council for Public-Private Partnerships. One in Portland, Ore., has attracted $2.5 billion in private investments since it opened in 2001.
“A modern streetcar system is an economic tool to create growth,” Marshall said. “People invest more around a streetcar line than a bus line because a streetcar system is more permanent. It shows a long-term commitment.”
Marshall’s plans have critics, and hurdles to overcome. Mayoral candidate Chris Vail called the streetcar idea “too grand” and said there wouldn’t be money for such a project.
Candidate Richard Dodge said all of the city councilors – three are running for mayor – must take blame for the city’s current economic shortcomings.
“David should accept the blame like the rest of the council for the lack of progress,” he said. “The council as a whole has been dysfunctional the last several years. ... You have to own what you’ve done.”
In addition to being a city councilor, Marshall is a painter, a businessman and a landlord. He owns Constellation Gallery on Congress Street and property in the West End.
He is popular with progressives and young voters. He has more than 100 volunteers – mostly young – working on his campaign. The League of Young Voters named him its top candidate early this month, and his campaign team has knocked on more than 12,000 doors.
Marshall’s challenge will be to appeal to the broader electorate. He has never run for a citywide seat; he represents District 2 on the council.
State Rep. Ben Chipman, whose district overlaps with Marshall’s City Council district, said he likes Marshall’s chances.
“He’s run a heck of a campaign, a very active campaign,” Chipman said this week. “I’ve heard a lot of good things. (His team) has knocked on more than 10,000 doors, and they’ve still got almost a month to go before voting day. That’s a lot of doors.
“I’d say he’s one of the three or four people who have a really good chance to win this thing,” Chipman said.
Staff Writer Jason Singer can be contacted at 791-6437 or at: jsinger@mainetoday.com
Wednesday, October 05, 2011
WCHS 6
PORTLAND, Maine (NEWS CENTER) -- The Portland City Council's Energy and Environmental Sustainability Committee is looking into whether to ban plastic grocery bags and charge consumers for paper bags. Thursday night, the committee is scheduled to hear from the Surfrider Foundation, a non-profit out of California that encourages cities and towns to ban plastic bags and charge customers 10 cents for every paper bag they use from the grocery store.
Committee Chair David Marshall says the plan intrigues him because the city is looking for ways to reduce waste and keep the environment clean. Washington D.C. saw bag use drop 80 percent in 2010 after its plastic bag ban and 5 cent charge on paper bags went into effect. "It's a fee not to produce revenue, but to change people's behavior, and that's an interesting policy idea to me," Marshall said.
Others argue that now is not the time to put additional fees on consumers.
The committee meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. in the Portland City Council chambers. Public comment is welcome.
NEWS CENTER
http://www.wcsh6.com/news/article/175248/2/Portland-considers-ban-on-plastic-grocery-bags
PRESS HERALD
Posted: October 5
City bus system needs fixing, say mayor hopefuls
Some of the candidates offer solutions from no fares to making kids ride city buses to school.
By Jason Singer jsinger@pressherald.com
Staff Writer
PORTLAND - Nearly every candidate at Monday night's mayoral debate at the State Theatre agreed that the city's public transportation system is broken or inadequate.
But of those who spoke on the issue, each had a very different proposal for improving the Metro bus system. Ideas ranged from high-tech upgrades to doing away with fares.
The audience appeared to appreciate the various approaches to solving the problem.
"I'm not sure which one I liked best," said Martha McNally, 62, who attended the event. "But I like that some of them are showing they're outside-the-box thinkers, and I hope whoever wins, they're not afraid to steal some of these ideas."
There are 15 candidates for mayor on the Nov. 8 ballot. The winner will be Portland's first popularly elected mayor in nearly 90 years.
Not all candidates had to answer each question at Monday's forum, so only some weighed in on the transportation issue.
City Councilor David Marshall suggested syncing buses with smartphone applications, which would tell riders exactly how many minutes until the next bus arrives.
The city also could place screens with the same technology at bus stops, he said, so riders could see how far away each bus is and the routes each bus offers.
Former state Sen. Michael Brennan said public transportation "is really a regional problem and the solution is a regional solution."
He said that having multiple bus operators crowds the downtown and reduces efficiency. The neighboring communities need to combine their resources and design one comprehensive bus system.
Light rail is also part of the future solution, Brennan said.
City officials are already considering big changes to Congress Street because of the bus traffic in the downtown section, which is used by Metro, South Portland's City Bus, the ShuttleBus and Zoom Express. The changes proposed between High Street and Franklin Street include reversing the flow of some one-way streets, removing stop lights and eliminating almost all left turns.
Former state Rep. John Eder proposed possibly the most radical idea. He said high school students should use public transportation, rather than school buses, to get to school. By combining the school's resources with the Metro system, the two could invest in more Metro buses and better efficiency.
It would also quickly increase ridership, Eder said, and "create good habits for the future."
Marshall repeated his commitment to bringing a streetcar system to Portland, which "we could also use as an economic tool."
Business tend to build more around streetcar systems than buses, he said, because streetcar systems show a permanent commitment to riders in an area.
The city could pay for it, he said, by using federal funds and establishing a transportation tax increment financing district, much as it did with the Arts District.
Candidate Markos Miller said the way to improve the city's Metro system is to make ridership free. He pointed to Boulder, Colo., -- a city with many similarities to Portland -- as an example.
Free ridership would reduce revenue in the short-term, Miller said, but increasing ridership would attract more federal dollars in the long run, which is how Boulder pays for its system.
Despite the varied approaches, all five candidates drew applause from the crowd, but not necessarily from their opponents.
Firefighter Chris Vail said he loved Marshall's streetcar idea, but with the struggling economy, the city wouldn't be able to find funds.
Charles Bragdon scoffed at Eder's idea of putting high school students on Metro buses. Metro can't run efficiently with the few riders who use it now, Bragdon said, so increasing the numbers and expecting the buses to get kids to school on time is impractical.
Staff Writer Jason Singer can be contacted at 791-6437 or at: jsinger@pressherald.com
Tuesday, October 04, 2011
PRESS HERALD
Posted: October 4
Updated: Today at 12:13 AM
Mayoral hopefuls debate role of arts
By Jason Singer jsinger@pressherald.com
Staff Writer
PORTLAND - There's apparently nothing like an arts-themed debate to splash some color on a race for mayor.
David Marshall holds up his answer to a question as the Portland Music Foundation and the Portland Arts & Cultural Center Alliance hosted the fourth mayoral forum at the State Theatre in Portland on Monday.
John Patriquin/Staff Photographer
Select images available for purchase in the
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During a debate Monday night at the State Theatre, candidates who want to be Portland's mayor read poetry, drew smiley faces and talked about their air-guitar and singing skills.
Former state Rep. John Eder said the city has largely priced artists -- who built the creative economy -- out of the community. If he's elected Nov. 8, Eder said, he will offer a tax break for affordable housing in Bayside so developers will build at least 1,000 no-frills units where artists could live and work.
The Portland Arts & Cultural Center Alliance co-hosted the two-hour event with another nonprofit, the Portland Music Foundation.
The event centered on the city's creative economy and included 14 of the 15 mayoral candidates. Richard Dodge couldn't attend because of work-related obligations, and Mayor Nicholas Mavodones and City Councilor Jill Duson left early to attend Monday's council meeting.
The debate featured two types of questions: long-form and short-form. The moderator, Sam Pfeifle of the Portland Music Foundation, started the night with 10 long-form questions. Each candidate could answer only three.
Pfeifle later asked 10 short-form questions. Candidates wrote (or occasionally drew) answers on large pieces of paper to questions like: "Name an event that has taken place at the State Theatre in the last six months?" or "How much money does the average person spend in Portland on First Friday?"
The questions, it appeared, were meant to show how engaged each candidate is in the city's creative economy.
In response to a question about housing, former state Sen. Michael Brennan echoed Eder's early comments, saying "gentrification" first pushed artists out of the Old Port, then out of the Arts District and to Munjoy Hill.
"The city hasn't made enough of a commitment to the arts community," he said.
Jed Rathband and Ethan Strimling said the city needs to switch from a "can't-do" attitude to a "can-do" attitude when housing projects come along.
Rathband pointed to a housing development at Danforth and High streets led by Peter Bass. He said it fell through because the city didn't help with funding through its various loan programs.
Strimling said philanthropist Roxanne Quimby tried to redevelop an abandoned building on Congress Street into housing, but gave up because the city made her jump through too many hoops.
Two lower-profile candidates elicited the biggest cheers of the night. In response to a question that essentially asked, "How can you prove you're a supporter of the arts?" Hamza Haadoow said he writes poetry in both Arabic and English, and read a quick poem for the crowd.
"I am an immigrant / but also a U.S. citizen," Haadoow said. "I was born in Somalia / but I'm not a pirate. I am poor / but I am rich in my heart. ... I am not a politician / but I like to check in on politics."
At another point, Pfeifle asked, "Should public money be spent to build live/work space for artists in Portland?" All of the candidates wrote "yes" on their answer cards, except for Chris Vail, a firefighter.
But Vail, to loud cheers, said taxpayers can't handle any more burdens and the private sector must find a way to fund such projects.
"That well isn't running dry," Vail said, "it's already dry."
Staff Writer Jason Singer can be contacted at 791-6437 or at: jsinger@pressherald.com
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
PRESS HERALD
September 26
Young Voters formally endorse Marshall for mayor
PORTLAND — The Maine League of Young Voters has endorsed City Councilor David Marshall as its first choice to be chosen mayor of Portland in the Nov. 8 election, the group announced today.
In a statement, Marshall said he is "psyched that the league is endorsing my campaign for mayor."
The group used ranked-choice voting and asked its most active members to vote for their top five choices. The slate of candidates who came in second through fifth, in order, were: Michael Brennan, John Eder, Markos Miller and Jed Rathband.
Dozens of the group's members who volunteered at least eight hours of time in the last year were invited to vote on the endorsements.
The league held a mayoral debate Sept. 8 in which 15 candidates answered questions and challenged one another. In a less formal poll of 109 attendees after the debate, former Maine Rep. Brennan was the top choice, followed by Marshall, Miller, Rathband and Mayor Nick Mavodones.
In other contests, the League of Young Voters endorsed Zeke Callanan for City Council District 4; Josephine Okot for the at-large School Board seat; and Justin Costa for School Board District 4.
The league also says it is supporting the Yes on 1 campaign to save same-day voter registration and opposing questions 2 and 3 about gambling. The league also supports a “Yes” vote on Question 4, the Constitutional amendment, and a “Yes” on the county bond question about revamping the Cumberland County Civic Center.
For more information, go to the league's website.
Friday, August 26, 2011
PORTLAND DAILY SUN
City buildings, schools get energy upgrades
Aug 19, 2011 12:00 am
A majority of Portland students returning to the classroom this fall will be in buildings recently renovated with millions of dollars worth of energy efficiency upgrades.
Work is under way to convert 10 schools to natural gas heating, and a number of other projects are in motion or scheduled across the city, all aimed at making Portland's schools and public buildings cheaper to maintain. These projects are part of an $11 million bond package approved by the City Council about a year ago after plans were set in motion in 2008.
"It's taken three years or so to get to this point, but we're going to start seeing the results," said Councilor David Marshall, chairman of the Energy and Environmental Sustainability Committee.
"We're doing a lot of different things," he said.
About $9.4 million of the bond is being spent with the energy services company Ameresco. It's overseeing the lighting system and boiler plant upgrades, as well as various other heating control upgrades and other efficiency improvements.
"A large part of the savings on this project is natural gas conversions," said Ian Houseal, the city's sustainability coordinator.
He estimated that once the conversion for the the 10 schools and eight city buildings is complete, it will mean nearly $900,000 in annual savings, based on current fuel prices.
"The bright side of higher fuel costs is higher savings," he joked.
The remaining bond funds are almost entirely going to pay for new roofs and windows for city schools, he said.
Peaks Island, Lyseth Elementary and Presumpscot Elementary schools are getting new windows. King Middle, Peaks Island and Lyseth are receiving roof upgrades.
"It's been a very comprehensive overhaul of the school systems," said James Morse, the district's superintendent.
"We're very excited," he said. "Obviously, there's a lot of reasons to want to divorce yourself from fossil fuels. … It just makes incredible sense."
http://portlanddailysun.me/node/27712/
City buildings, schools get energy upgrades
Aug 19, 2011 12:00 am
A majority of Portland students returning to the classroom this fall will be in buildings recently renovated with millions of dollars worth of energy efficiency upgrades.
Work is under way to convert 10 schools to natural gas heating, and a number of other projects are in motion or scheduled across the city, all aimed at making Portland's schools and public buildings cheaper to maintain. These projects are part of an $11 million bond package approved by the City Council about a year ago after plans were set in motion in 2008.
"It's taken three years or so to get to this point, but we're going to start seeing the results," said Councilor David Marshall, chairman of the Energy and Environmental Sustainability Committee.
"We're doing a lot of different things," he said.
About $9.4 million of the bond is being spent with the energy services company Ameresco. It's overseeing the lighting system and boiler plant upgrades, as well as various other heating control upgrades and other efficiency improvements.
"A large part of the savings on this project is natural gas conversions," said Ian Houseal, the city's sustainability coordinator.
He estimated that once the conversion for the the 10 schools and eight city buildings is complete, it will mean nearly $900,000 in annual savings, based on current fuel prices.
"The bright side of higher fuel costs is higher savings," he joked.
The remaining bond funds are almost entirely going to pay for new roofs and windows for city schools, he said.
Peaks Island, Lyseth Elementary and Presumpscot Elementary schools are getting new windows. King Middle, Peaks Island and Lyseth are receiving roof upgrades.
"It's been a very comprehensive overhaul of the school systems," said James Morse, the district's superintendent.
"We're very excited," he said. "Obviously, there's a lot of reasons to want to divorce yourself from fossil fuels. … It just makes incredible sense."
http://portlanddailysun.me/node/27712/
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
PRESS HERALD
Posted: August 16
Updated: Today at 7:51 AM
Seven turn in signatures to run for mayor
Candidates have until Aug. 29 to have at least 300 of them validated in order to get on November's ballot.
By JASON SINGER Staff Writer
CROWDED MAYORAL RACE
THESE ARE the 20 residents who registered with the city as potential mayoral candidates:
• Erick Bennett
• Zouhair Bouzrara
• Charles Bragdon
• Michael Brennan
• Peter Bryant
• Ralph Carmona
• Richard Dodge
• Jill Duson
• John Eder
• Hamza Haadoow
• Nicholas Hall
• Jodie Lapchick
• David Marshall
• Nicholas Mavodones
• Markos Miller
• Jed Rathband
• Paul Schafer
• Ethan Strimling
• Christopher Vail
• Jay York
PORTLAND - Shortly after 9 a.m. Monday, City Councilor Jill Duson submitted 481 signatures to the city clerk's office. And with that, the race to become Portland's first popularly elected mayor in 88 years had its first official candidate.
Six candidates, from a field that could grow to 20, handed in signatures Monday. Among them was Nicholas Mavodones, a city councilor who was chosen by the rest of the council in December to serve his fourth one-year term as Portland's part-time mayor.
Candidates for the new full-time position have until Aug. 29 to turn in at least 300 valid signatures to get on November's ballot.
Duson didn't return a message seeking comment, but said in a news release that getting her signatures in early "reflects my commitment to action."
Mavodones, who handed in 500 signatures -- the maximum allowed -- called it the first step in a long process.
"I'm going to continue what I've been doing," he said. "That's build a grass-roots organization -- I had volunteers help collect signatures -- and also knock on doors, meet with people and let the voters get to know me."
Mavodones said he will run on his long record of public service.
In addition to Mavodones and Duson, City Councilor David Marshall, former state Rep. John Eder, retired merchant seaman Peter Bryant and Somali immigrant, businessman Hamza Haadoow and Portland Democratic Party vice chairman Ralph Carmona turned in signatures Monday.
The city clerk must determine how many of the candidates' collected signatures belong to registered Portland voters. That process will likely take several days, although the clerk had verified Duson's signatures by Monday afternoon.
Any candidates who don't have 300 valid signatures after the clerk's inspection will have until Aug. 29 to collect more. Eder, who turned in 310 signatures, and Bryant, who turned in about 350, welcomed the early turn-in date.
"It's helpful they've got this, so you can figure out where you stand, how many signatures are valid," Eder said. "Some residents might think they're registered, but they may not be. So I'm going to continue to collect signatures until I hear back."
Since 1923, Portland's mayor, chosen from among the city councilors, has held a largely ceremonial position. Under a city charter change approved by voters last year, voters will now elect a slightly more powerful, full-time mayor to a four-year term and a $66,000-a-year salary.
The mayor will have the power to veto the city's annual budget, but a veto can be overridden by a vote of six councilors.
One of the potential candidates, Jay York, has protested the new position. He says he's running only to point out the fiscal irresponsibility of making a mayor with only a few powers a full-time employee. He has asked voters not to vote for him.
Mavodones and Marshall, who began pushing for an elected mayor four years ago, disagree with York.
Marshall said a full-time mayor can lobby for Portland in Augusta, something the city has sorely lacked.
He pointed to reduced school funding, as well as Gov. Paul LePage's reported remarks about not wanting to work with Portland on a new fishing port, as proof that Portland needs a full-time advocate.
"We haven't had the leadership connections in Augusta," said Marshall, who handed in about 420 signatures. "If we started with diplomacy on Day One with LePage and the Legislature ... I think we'd be in a better situation today. We need them to understand that Portland is the central economic engine that drives Maine."
Haadoow did not return a message seeking comment Monday.
Staff Writer Jason Singer can be contacted at 791-6437 or at:
jsinger@pressherald.com
Showing 14 comments
Anthony M. Zeli 10 hours ago
Nick Mavadones did not support creating the elected mayor position, and I continue to wonder why he is running for a job he didn't think was worth creating. It sounds like he has changed his mind, which is okay, but this story doesn't address this. Councilor Marshall has indeed pushed for this change for many years now, and his position has remained steady.
Jason Shedlock and 2 more liked this
boobyjojohn 2 hours ago in reply to Anthony M. Zeli
mavadones didn't support the elected mayor, until he found out how much money they were going to be paid.
1 person liked this.
JuraA 3 hours ago
Based on this article it's pretty clear that the only one in the bunch with an actual agenda is David Marshall. He proposed the elected position of mayor with a clear understanding of the issues and a genuine concern for what is good for our city.
1 person liked this.
MrAWalker 54 minutes ago in reply to JuraA
He's also capable of working with the City staff (who are actually the power-players in this town). None of the other candidates have that experience - which will be essential for the Mayor.
Tommi 9 hours ago
Councilor Marshall is 100% right that we need a full time prominent person lobbying for us. Whether we are losing school money to rural districts or being insulted by our governor, a full time mayor will be a boon for us across the state. Marshall's mixture of experience and willingness to take on the failing status quo make him my 1st choice for mayor.
Jason Shedlock and 1 more liked this
Jason Shedlock 13 hours ago
Councilor Marshall has got it right. We need to make sure we not only look within the city's borders to affect change, but also work to forge partnerships where possible on the regional and state level.
2 people liked this.
William Ethridge 11 hours ago in reply to Jason Shedlock
I agree. David Marshall has already shown foresight in working to create the position, and I think he is the right candidate to achieve its full potential.
Jason Shedlock and 3 more liked this
Stephanie Vesey 10 hours ago in reply to William Ethridge
I agree with Councilor Marshall as well. We need a full time, people elected mayor to promote Portland. I look forward to hearing more from the candidates.
Jason Shedlock and 2 more liked this
Jake_007 12 hours ago
Where's Herb Adams when you need him.
Electing Jill Duson would be like watching the Bill Murray movie "Groundhog day".
1 person liked this.
Black 6 hours ago in reply to Jake_007
Diss'ng groundhogs? Good thing you didn't pick a hippo movie.
Ralph Carmona 17 hours ago
I wish you folks would have waited for closing day on this. I completed by 500 signatures three weeks ago, but was told to wait until this date. I got focused on a number of issues and turned in my signatures yesterday before 4:30PM. I was more focused on being the first candidate to publicly support the $33 million civic center bond measure. I was also focused on later today or tomorrow, announcing a key endorsement of my candidacy.
1 person liked this.
Peter Bryant 13 hours ago in reply to Ralph Carmona
Giood start - - Trying to whine your way in. ?
Now your sounding like the "Finger Pointer in Chief"
2 people liked this.
Ralph Carmona 17 hours ago
For the record, I had my 500 signatures over three weeks ago and was told about to wait for that date. I was more busy focused on issues, like a press release as the first candidate to support the $33 million civic center bond initiative. When I realized the date I turned in my signatures at 4:20PM yesterday. Ralph
Black 6 hours ago in reply to Ralph Carmona
No body outspends Ralph Carmona! is that $33m a firm pledge or will it go up as the campaign heats up?
boobyjojohn and 1 more liked this
http://www.pressherald.com/news/six-turn-in-signatures-to-run-for-mayor_2011-08-16.html
THE FORECASTER
7 turn in papers to become Portland's first elected mayor
By Randy Billings
Aug 16, 2011 11:40 am
PORTLAND — Seven of the 20 residents to express interest in becoming Portland's first popularly elected mayor in more than 80 years have turned in their nomination papers, as of Tuesday morning.
Now, the candidates must wait as the City Clerk's office works to validate each petition.
This November, voters will choose a full-time mayor who will serve a four-year term, draw a $65,000 annual salary and have veto power over the city budget.
Currently, the mayor is selected by the City Council and plays a largely ceremonial role.
Monday was the first day residents could turn in nomination papers.
City Councilor Jill Duson, one of only two women interested in the position, was the first person to take out nomination papers and the first to turn them.
Other candidates to turn in their papers include Hamza Haadoow, Councilor David Marshall, Mayor Nicholas Mavodones, John Eder, Peter Bryant and Ralph Carmona.
Elections administrator Bud Philbrick said petition signatures will be verified in the order they are received. He estimated it would take a couple days for two and three staffers to verify the petition signatures for each candidate.
Unlike citizen-initiatives, the City Charter allows candidates to continue collecting signatures if they fall short, which Philbrick said will motivate staff to verify the signatures as quickly as possible.
"I expect to roll through this pretty quickly," he said.
Residents must collect between 300 and 500 valid signatures from registered Portland voters to be placed on the ballot.
Voters will be asked to rank their choices in order of preference, so if no candidate gets more than 50 percent of the vote, an instant run-off can take place until a winner emerges.
Duson, a 57-year-old Democrat, has served on the City Council since 2001. Her campaign theme is "Leading by Listening." She believes Portland has been a "successful city in a challenging time."
She believes her experience as an elected official — both on the council and School Board, and as the former state Director of Rehabilitation Services — makes her the best candidate for the the job.
Haadoow is 37-years-old and unenrolled in a political party. Haadoow emigrated to the U.S. from Somalia 10 years ago. Since then, he has opened two businesses: a transportation company and a small grocery store.
Haadoow, who is currently the assistant manager of Goodwill's recycling and sustainability program, said he is running to unify city. He believes there are too many divisions between immigrants and natives, the homeless and the middle class, and Muslims and Christians.
Marshall, a 33-year-old Green-Independent who owns an art gallery on Congress Street, has served on the City Council since 2006.
But Marshall said he is anything but a status-quo candidate. Over the years, he said he has been working to change the way the city does business, especially in the areas of supporting the arts, environmental sustainability and transportation.
He is running a platform of bolstering green jobs, the creative economy and sustainable development.
Mavodones, a 51-year-old Democrat and longtime city councilor, is the operations manager of the Casco Bay Island Transit District. The former School Board member said he has a track record of bring people together and focusing on economic development.
Mavodones, who opposed the creation of the popularly elected mayor position, said he is seeking the post because he believes the city is on the right track and can continue to prosper with only a few minor tweaks.
This is the second year in a row Mavodones has served as the council-selected mayor for the city.
Carmona, a 60-year-old Democrat, is new to the city, having moved here from California last August. The current vice chairman of the Portland Democratic Committee, his campaign theme is "Portland on the rise."
Carmona, who is retired from the utilities industry, said he is passionate about civil rights. He said he could advocate for the city in Augusta, noting his past experience as a lobbyist for Bank of America.
Eder, a Green-Independent, and Bryant, a Democrat, could not be immediately reached for comment.
Other residents who have not turned in their nomination papers are: Republican Erick Bennett, Zouhair Bouzrara (unenrolled), Charles Bragdon (unenrolled), Democrat Michael Brennan, Republican Richard Dodge, Green Independent Nicholas Hall, Democrat Jodie Lapchick, Markos Miller (unenrolled), Democrat Jed Rathband, Democrat Paul Schafer, Democrat Ethan Strimling, Jay York (unenrolled) and Christopher Vail (unenrolled).
Residents have until Aug. 29 to turn in their petitions.
Randy Billings can be reached at 781-3661 ext. 100 or rbillings@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @randybillings
http://www.theforecaster.net/content/p-portland-mayor
7 turn in papers to become Portland's first elected mayor
By Randy Billings
Aug 16, 2011 11:40 am
PORTLAND — Seven of the 20 residents to express interest in becoming Portland's first popularly elected mayor in more than 80 years have turned in their nomination papers, as of Tuesday morning.
Now, the candidates must wait as the City Clerk's office works to validate each petition.
This November, voters will choose a full-time mayor who will serve a four-year term, draw a $65,000 annual salary and have veto power over the city budget.
Currently, the mayor is selected by the City Council and plays a largely ceremonial role.
Monday was the first day residents could turn in nomination papers.
City Councilor Jill Duson, one of only two women interested in the position, was the first person to take out nomination papers and the first to turn them.
Other candidates to turn in their papers include Hamza Haadoow, Councilor David Marshall, Mayor Nicholas Mavodones, John Eder, Peter Bryant and Ralph Carmona.
Elections administrator Bud Philbrick said petition signatures will be verified in the order they are received. He estimated it would take a couple days for two and three staffers to verify the petition signatures for each candidate.
Unlike citizen-initiatives, the City Charter allows candidates to continue collecting signatures if they fall short, which Philbrick said will motivate staff to verify the signatures as quickly as possible.
"I expect to roll through this pretty quickly," he said.
Residents must collect between 300 and 500 valid signatures from registered Portland voters to be placed on the ballot.
Voters will be asked to rank their choices in order of preference, so if no candidate gets more than 50 percent of the vote, an instant run-off can take place until a winner emerges.
Duson, a 57-year-old Democrat, has served on the City Council since 2001. Her campaign theme is "Leading by Listening." She believes Portland has been a "successful city in a challenging time."
She believes her experience as an elected official — both on the council and School Board, and as the former state Director of Rehabilitation Services — makes her the best candidate for the the job.
Haadoow is 37-years-old and unenrolled in a political party. Haadoow emigrated to the U.S. from Somalia 10 years ago. Since then, he has opened two businesses: a transportation company and a small grocery store.
Haadoow, who is currently the assistant manager of Goodwill's recycling and sustainability program, said he is running to unify city. He believes there are too many divisions between immigrants and natives, the homeless and the middle class, and Muslims and Christians.
Marshall, a 33-year-old Green-Independent who owns an art gallery on Congress Street, has served on the City Council since 2006.
But Marshall said he is anything but a status-quo candidate. Over the years, he said he has been working to change the way the city does business, especially in the areas of supporting the arts, environmental sustainability and transportation.
He is running a platform of bolstering green jobs, the creative economy and sustainable development.
Mavodones, a 51-year-old Democrat and longtime city councilor, is the operations manager of the Casco Bay Island Transit District. The former School Board member said he has a track record of bring people together and focusing on economic development.
Mavodones, who opposed the creation of the popularly elected mayor position, said he is seeking the post because he believes the city is on the right track and can continue to prosper with only a few minor tweaks.
This is the second year in a row Mavodones has served as the council-selected mayor for the city.
Carmona, a 60-year-old Democrat, is new to the city, having moved here from California last August. The current vice chairman of the Portland Democratic Committee, his campaign theme is "Portland on the rise."
Carmona, who is retired from the utilities industry, said he is passionate about civil rights. He said he could advocate for the city in Augusta, noting his past experience as a lobbyist for Bank of America.
Eder, a Green-Independent, and Bryant, a Democrat, could not be immediately reached for comment.
Other residents who have not turned in their nomination papers are: Republican Erick Bennett, Zouhair Bouzrara (unenrolled), Charles Bragdon (unenrolled), Democrat Michael Brennan, Republican Richard Dodge, Green Independent Nicholas Hall, Democrat Jodie Lapchick, Markos Miller (unenrolled), Democrat Jed Rathband, Democrat Paul Schafer, Democrat Ethan Strimling, Jay York (unenrolled) and Christopher Vail (unenrolled).
Residents have until Aug. 29 to turn in their petitions.
Randy Billings can be reached at 781-3661 ext. 100 or rbillings@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @randybillings
http://www.theforecaster.net/content/p-portland-mayor
THE FORECASTER
Portland council denies marijuana petitioners extra time to collect signatures
By Randy Billings
Aug 16, 2011 8:50 am
PORTLAND — A petition effort aimed to make enforcement of marijuana laws the Portland Police Department's lowest priority has been snuffed out — at least for now.
But proponents of an ordinance that would have codified marijuana laws as the city's lowest enforcement priority said they are ready to try again.
The City Council on Monday rejected a proposal that would have allowed the marijuana advocacy group, Sensible Portland, additional time to collect signatures that would have placed the ordinance on the November ballot.
Sensible Portland collected 2,100 signatures and turned them in to the City Clerk's office on July 15, a month ahead of schedule. But the group fell 93 signatures short of the 1,500 needed after the clerk culled the list for registered Portland voters.
Councilor David Marshall called the 35 percent rejection rate "unprecedented," and asked the council to considered giving the group an additional 10 days to collect the signatures.
"This group thought they had 10 (extra) days and plenty of signatures," Marshall said.
Marshall, along with Sensible Portland members, noted that the city's petition gathering process is not only at odds with the state, but also an exception within its own local laws.
The state allows petitioners extra time to gather signatures if they fall short. So does the city where a group is trying to change the City Charter, but not the code of ordinances.
"It's actually easier to change the City Charter than it is the City Ordinance," Marshall said. "That just doesn't seem to make a lot of sense to me."
Sensible Portland, which believes the city wastes time and money on marijuana enforcement, said they acted in good faith to comply with the existing rules.
Anthony Zeli, of Sensible Portland, said the grassroots effort relied completely on volunteers, most of whom had never before petitioned. That group worked closely with city staff on both the petition and the proposed ordinance, he said.
"This is definitely a complex process," Zeli said. "It's not easy for a group of citizens to go through."
To deny the group additional time, some said, would be to disenfranchise the 1,000 Portland residents who supported putting the question on the ballot.
"Those signatures are not just ink on paper," resident Jason Shedlock said. "They represent voters across the city who have engaged, to one extent or another, in the civic process. Whether or not one agrees with the underlying goal, we as a city should be fostering that engagement any chance we can."
But resident Robert Haines said the issue had nothing to do with civic engagement.
"This is about sour grapes," Haines said. "You don't change a process once it has started to bail out a group that didn't do their homework."
The majority of councilors agreed that it was unfair to change the rules midstream to help a specific petition drive.
Councilor Cheryl Leeman said she served on the council when the ordinance was changed to prohibit additional time for ordinance petitioners. That action occurred because the city lowered the signature threshold, she said.
"The state ... threshold is much higher with regard to how many signatures you have to have, which is why they allow you that extra 10 days," Leeman said.
But councilors were open to a comprehensive review of the petition process as it compares to state law, directing staff to collect information for an early October workshop.
While it takes 1,500 signatures to place a citizen-initiated ordinance on the ballot, the state standard for changing Portland's charter is upwards of 4,500 signatures.
But Leeman cautioned that the group's effort to align state and local laws might backfire.
"I think you will find it will make it more difficult," she said.
http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
After the meeting, Sensible Portland immediately began collecting more signatures for a new petition effort.
Zeli said the group was not giving up on the effort and is eying the June 2012 or November 2012 ballot.
"It's a setback for for this petition drive," he said, "but it's certainly not the end of the issue."
Randy Billings can br reached at 781-3661 ext. 100 or rbillings@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @randybillings
http://www.theforecaster.net/content/p-council-taps-out-marijuana-petition
Portland council denies marijuana petitioners extra time to collect signatures
By Randy Billings
Aug 16, 2011 8:50 am
PORTLAND — A petition effort aimed to make enforcement of marijuana laws the Portland Police Department's lowest priority has been snuffed out — at least for now.
But proponents of an ordinance that would have codified marijuana laws as the city's lowest enforcement priority said they are ready to try again.
The City Council on Monday rejected a proposal that would have allowed the marijuana advocacy group, Sensible Portland, additional time to collect signatures that would have placed the ordinance on the November ballot.
Sensible Portland collected 2,100 signatures and turned them in to the City Clerk's office on July 15, a month ahead of schedule. But the group fell 93 signatures short of the 1,500 needed after the clerk culled the list for registered Portland voters.
Councilor David Marshall called the 35 percent rejection rate "unprecedented," and asked the council to considered giving the group an additional 10 days to collect the signatures.
"This group thought they had 10 (extra) days and plenty of signatures," Marshall said.
Marshall, along with Sensible Portland members, noted that the city's petition gathering process is not only at odds with the state, but also an exception within its own local laws.
The state allows petitioners extra time to gather signatures if they fall short. So does the city where a group is trying to change the City Charter, but not the code of ordinances.
"It's actually easier to change the City Charter than it is the City Ordinance," Marshall said. "That just doesn't seem to make a lot of sense to me."
Sensible Portland, which believes the city wastes time and money on marijuana enforcement, said they acted in good faith to comply with the existing rules.
Anthony Zeli, of Sensible Portland, said the grassroots effort relied completely on volunteers, most of whom had never before petitioned. That group worked closely with city staff on both the petition and the proposed ordinance, he said.
"This is definitely a complex process," Zeli said. "It's not easy for a group of citizens to go through."
To deny the group additional time, some said, would be to disenfranchise the 1,000 Portland residents who supported putting the question on the ballot.
"Those signatures are not just ink on paper," resident Jason Shedlock said. "They represent voters across the city who have engaged, to one extent or another, in the civic process. Whether or not one agrees with the underlying goal, we as a city should be fostering that engagement any chance we can."
But resident Robert Haines said the issue had nothing to do with civic engagement.
"This is about sour grapes," Haines said. "You don't change a process once it has started to bail out a group that didn't do their homework."
The majority of councilors agreed that it was unfair to change the rules midstream to help a specific petition drive.
Councilor Cheryl Leeman said she served on the council when the ordinance was changed to prohibit additional time for ordinance petitioners. That action occurred because the city lowered the signature threshold, she said.
"The state ... threshold is much higher with regard to how many signatures you have to have, which is why they allow you that extra 10 days," Leeman said.
But councilors were open to a comprehensive review of the petition process as it compares to state law, directing staff to collect information for an early October workshop.
While it takes 1,500 signatures to place a citizen-initiated ordinance on the ballot, the state standard for changing Portland's charter is upwards of 4,500 signatures.
But Leeman cautioned that the group's effort to align state and local laws might backfire.
"I think you will find it will make it more difficult," she said.
http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
After the meeting, Sensible Portland immediately began collecting more signatures for a new petition effort.
Zeli said the group was not giving up on the effort and is eying the June 2012 or November 2012 ballot.
"It's a setback for for this petition drive," he said, "but it's certainly not the end of the issue."
Randy Billings can br reached at 781-3661 ext. 100 or rbillings@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @randybillings
http://www.theforecaster.net/content/p-council-taps-out-marijuana-petition
KENNEBEC JOURNAL
August 9
Panel recommends Portland prohibit sale, use of fireworks
The city considers the action because a new state law legalizes fireworks except where locally prohibited.
By Dennis Hoey dhoey@mainetoday.com
Staff Writer
PORTLAND — A City Council committee is recommending that Portland prohibit sales and use of fireworks in the city once a new state law legalizing fireworks takes effect.
Fire Chief Fred LaMontagne said the city is too densely populated and built up to allow people to use fireworks.
“We really have grave concerns around a fire starting, as well as personal injuries,” he told members of the council’s Public Safety Committee.
City Councilor Ed Suslovic, who chairs the committee, and Councilor David Marshall voted to support the prohibition. The committee’s other member, Councilor John Coyne, was unable to attend Tuesday night’s meeting.
The committee’s recommendation is scheduled to go to the City Council for adoption in September.
L.D. 83, which was enacted by the Legislature on June 29, will allow sales and use of consumer fireworks except in cities and towns that decide to prohibit them.
Consumers fireworks are considered to be less potent and smaller than those used for public displays. Federal regulations define them as any device that’s designed to produce a sound and contains as much as 130 milligrams of explosive material.
Sponsors of the bill said people in Maine already use fireworks but there are no safety programs because they are illegal. By legalizing their sale, supporters said, fireworks will create jobs and generate revenue for the state through the sales tax.
But, in Portland there appears to be little, if any, support for allowing fireworks to be sold or used.
Marshall noted that a major Portland fire was started in 1866 by children setting off fireworks near a molasses factory. He said he will lobby for a comprehensive prohibition of their sale and use.
“I’ve already had a lot of complaints from people in Parkside about fireworks going off at all hours of the night,” Marshall said.
Helen Andrews, who lives on Chester Street, said she heard fireworks going off in her neighborhood two nights ago, around 9:30 p.m.
“I wasn’t sure who I was supposed to call, but I hear (fireworks) going off all the time,” said Andrews, who told the councilors that she supports prohibiting fireworks in the city.
“The only fireworks we’re going to allow will be in this chamber on Monday nights,” Suslovic said.
Also Tuesday, committee members discussed a potential revision to the city’s ordinance governing the raising of domestic chickens.
Marshall said he wants to reduce the setback provision in the two-year-old ordinance, which is now 25 feet, to let people who live in densely populated neighborhoods such as the West End have the opportunity to raise chickens.
The ordinance permits a resident – for a $25 annual fee – to raise as many as six hens as pets in their backyard.
Under the ordinance, a henhouse must be at least 25 feet from any residential structure, including any building on an adjacent lot. Marshall feels that provision is too restrictive.
“Being able to domesticate chickens adds to the food options of people,” he said.
The issue will be discussed at the Public Safety Committee’s meeting on Sept. 13.
Staff Writer Dennis Hoey can be contacted at 791-6365 or at: dhoey@pressherald.com
http://www.kjonline.com/news/Panel-recommends-Portland-prohibit-sale-use-of-fireworks.html
August 9
Panel recommends Portland prohibit sale, use of fireworks
The city considers the action because a new state law legalizes fireworks except where locally prohibited.
By Dennis Hoey dhoey@mainetoday.com
Staff Writer
PORTLAND — A City Council committee is recommending that Portland prohibit sales and use of fireworks in the city once a new state law legalizing fireworks takes effect.
Fire Chief Fred LaMontagne said the city is too densely populated and built up to allow people to use fireworks.
“We really have grave concerns around a fire starting, as well as personal injuries,” he told members of the council’s Public Safety Committee.
City Councilor Ed Suslovic, who chairs the committee, and Councilor David Marshall voted to support the prohibition. The committee’s other member, Councilor John Coyne, was unable to attend Tuesday night’s meeting.
The committee’s recommendation is scheduled to go to the City Council for adoption in September.
L.D. 83, which was enacted by the Legislature on June 29, will allow sales and use of consumer fireworks except in cities and towns that decide to prohibit them.
Consumers fireworks are considered to be less potent and smaller than those used for public displays. Federal regulations define them as any device that’s designed to produce a sound and contains as much as 130 milligrams of explosive material.
Sponsors of the bill said people in Maine already use fireworks but there are no safety programs because they are illegal. By legalizing their sale, supporters said, fireworks will create jobs and generate revenue for the state through the sales tax.
But, in Portland there appears to be little, if any, support for allowing fireworks to be sold or used.
Marshall noted that a major Portland fire was started in 1866 by children setting off fireworks near a molasses factory. He said he will lobby for a comprehensive prohibition of their sale and use.
“I’ve already had a lot of complaints from people in Parkside about fireworks going off at all hours of the night,” Marshall said.
Helen Andrews, who lives on Chester Street, said she heard fireworks going off in her neighborhood two nights ago, around 9:30 p.m.
“I wasn’t sure who I was supposed to call, but I hear (fireworks) going off all the time,” said Andrews, who told the councilors that she supports prohibiting fireworks in the city.
“The only fireworks we’re going to allow will be in this chamber on Monday nights,” Suslovic said.
Also Tuesday, committee members discussed a potential revision to the city’s ordinance governing the raising of domestic chickens.
Marshall said he wants to reduce the setback provision in the two-year-old ordinance, which is now 25 feet, to let people who live in densely populated neighborhoods such as the West End have the opportunity to raise chickens.
The ordinance permits a resident – for a $25 annual fee – to raise as many as six hens as pets in their backyard.
Under the ordinance, a henhouse must be at least 25 feet from any residential structure, including any building on an adjacent lot. Marshall feels that provision is too restrictive.
“Being able to domesticate chickens adds to the food options of people,” he said.
The issue will be discussed at the Public Safety Committee’s meeting on Sept. 13.
Staff Writer Dennis Hoey can be contacted at 791-6365 or at: dhoey@pressherald.com
http://www.kjonline.com/news/Panel-recommends-Portland-prohibit-sale-use-of-fireworks.html
Monday, July 18, 2011
THE FORECASTER
Housing developer seeks different shade of green for Portland-funded project
By Randy Billings
Jul 12, 2011 12:00 am
PORTLAND — Avesta Housing wants the city to waive a requirement for energy efficiency certification at the Mirada Adams School property on Munjoy Hill.
If granted, the waiver would be third under the ordinance, which was adopted two years ago.
The frequency of waivers has prompted a review of the policy.
Avesta plans to build 16 townhouse condominiums at the site of the former school at 48 Moody St. The school building has been demolished and development plans are scheduled for Planning Board review next month.
Development Officer Seth Parker said the nonprofit, affordable housing agency is seeking the waiver to reign in the costs of each condo. The units will be sold, not rented, which makes it more difficult to absorb the costs, he said.
"Adams is sort of a different model for us, being a for-sale condominium," Parker said. "It's a really tight budget, and we're really trying to preserve the affordability of those units up there the best we can given the market conditions."
Parker estimated it would cost about $47,000 for consultants, reporting and registration fees to certify the Adams School project under the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program, as required by the city.
That would add about $3,000 to the cost of each condo, Parker said.
The ordinance requires LEED certification for construction projects that receive more than $25,000 in city funding. The Adams School project has received $1.71 million in Neighborhood Stabilization Program funding.
Avesta formally submitted its waiver request last week to Planning and Urban Development Director Penny St. Louis, who is responsible for administrative waivers.
When reached on vacation Monday, St. Louis said she hasn't had a chance to review the request. But she expects to make a decision soon after she returns.
Waivers may be granted when projects negatively impact a historic building, or when certification would be cost prohibitive.
City Councilor David Marshall said he is disappointed that the certification requirement may be waived.
"I guess the waiver has become more of the rule rather than the exception," Marshall said.
The Pierce Atwood law firm was granted a waiver last year for renovations to the former Cumberland Cold Storage building on the waterfront. That project triggered the ordinance because it received $2.8 million in tax increment financing from the city.
The Baxter Library renovation, which received a TIF, also received a waiver. But Marshall said that one was appropriate, since the project would have lost historic value, and tax credits, because of LEED certification.
"After seeing a couple of these go through, like the Cumberland Cold Storage, it became clear to me we needed to revisit the ordinance," Marshall said.
Parker said Avesta is committed to the LEED program and plans to build green and energy-efficient buildings. He said the group is not seeking waivers for two other developments.
"We are fully behind the LEED program," he said.
Parker said the agency is pursuing LEED Gold certification, at a cost of about $78,000, for Phase II of Pearl Place. The year-long project is slated to get started this fall, he said.
Platinum certification is being sought for 37 artists lofts on Oak Street, at a cost of about $20,000. That project is already underway and should be fully leased by next spring, he said.
Parker said additional costs of removing and disposing of contaminated soils have also driven up the Adams project costs.
But the waiver requests have prompted a general review of the ordinance.
The Green Building Incentive Task Force has recommended several changes to the council's Energy and Environmental Sustainability Committee.
In a July 7 memo, the task force (composed of city officials, developers, business leaders and a green building expert) recommended increasing the trigger for LEED certification from $25,000 to $200,000.
It also recommends, among others, removing renovations from the ordinance and allowing any third-party green certification, rather than requiring LEED.
http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
While discouraged that the Green Building Code has not worked out as well as anticipated, Marshall said he remains committed to developing policies that ensure that tax-funded developers are building energy-efficient buildings.
"Especially when most of our buildings are heated with home heating fuel, it's just so important we change the ways in our construction to create better performing buildings," he said.
Randy Billings can be reached at 781-3661 ext. 100 or rbillings@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @randybillings.
http://www.theforecaster.net/content/p-adams-school-developer-seeks-leed-waiver-city-funded-project-portland
Housing developer seeks different shade of green for Portland-funded project
By Randy Billings
Jul 12, 2011 12:00 am
PORTLAND — Avesta Housing wants the city to waive a requirement for energy efficiency certification at the Mirada Adams School property on Munjoy Hill.
If granted, the waiver would be third under the ordinance, which was adopted two years ago.
The frequency of waivers has prompted a review of the policy.
Avesta plans to build 16 townhouse condominiums at the site of the former school at 48 Moody St. The school building has been demolished and development plans are scheduled for Planning Board review next month.
Development Officer Seth Parker said the nonprofit, affordable housing agency is seeking the waiver to reign in the costs of each condo. The units will be sold, not rented, which makes it more difficult to absorb the costs, he said.
"Adams is sort of a different model for us, being a for-sale condominium," Parker said. "It's a really tight budget, and we're really trying to preserve the affordability of those units up there the best we can given the market conditions."
Parker estimated it would cost about $47,000 for consultants, reporting and registration fees to certify the Adams School project under the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program, as required by the city.
That would add about $3,000 to the cost of each condo, Parker said.
The ordinance requires LEED certification for construction projects that receive more than $25,000 in city funding. The Adams School project has received $1.71 million in Neighborhood Stabilization Program funding.
Avesta formally submitted its waiver request last week to Planning and Urban Development Director Penny St. Louis, who is responsible for administrative waivers.
When reached on vacation Monday, St. Louis said she hasn't had a chance to review the request. But she expects to make a decision soon after she returns.
Waivers may be granted when projects negatively impact a historic building, or when certification would be cost prohibitive.
City Councilor David Marshall said he is disappointed that the certification requirement may be waived.
"I guess the waiver has become more of the rule rather than the exception," Marshall said.
The Pierce Atwood law firm was granted a waiver last year for renovations to the former Cumberland Cold Storage building on the waterfront. That project triggered the ordinance because it received $2.8 million in tax increment financing from the city.
The Baxter Library renovation, which received a TIF, also received a waiver. But Marshall said that one was appropriate, since the project would have lost historic value, and tax credits, because of LEED certification.
"After seeing a couple of these go through, like the Cumberland Cold Storage, it became clear to me we needed to revisit the ordinance," Marshall said.
Parker said Avesta is committed to the LEED program and plans to build green and energy-efficient buildings. He said the group is not seeking waivers for two other developments.
"We are fully behind the LEED program," he said.
Parker said the agency is pursuing LEED Gold certification, at a cost of about $78,000, for Phase II of Pearl Place. The year-long project is slated to get started this fall, he said.
Platinum certification is being sought for 37 artists lofts on Oak Street, at a cost of about $20,000. That project is already underway and should be fully leased by next spring, he said.
Parker said additional costs of removing and disposing of contaminated soils have also driven up the Adams project costs.
But the waiver requests have prompted a general review of the ordinance.
The Green Building Incentive Task Force has recommended several changes to the council's Energy and Environmental Sustainability Committee.
In a July 7 memo, the task force (composed of city officials, developers, business leaders and a green building expert) recommended increasing the trigger for LEED certification from $25,000 to $200,000.
It also recommends, among others, removing renovations from the ordinance and allowing any third-party green certification, rather than requiring LEED.
http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
While discouraged that the Green Building Code has not worked out as well as anticipated, Marshall said he remains committed to developing policies that ensure that tax-funded developers are building energy-efficient buildings.
"Especially when most of our buildings are heated with home heating fuel, it's just so important we change the ways in our construction to create better performing buildings," he said.
Randy Billings can be reached at 781-3661 ext. 100 or rbillings@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @randybillings.
http://www.theforecaster.net/content/p-adams-school-developer-seeks-leed-waiver-city-funded-project-portland
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