As ballots begin arriving in Clackamas County mailboxes, voters will be asked whether they want to have more influence in urban renewal planning efforts. 

With two competing ballot measures on the November 8 ballot, Clackamas County voters may find themselves a bit confused.  Urban renewal, after all, is not an easy issue to understand, and voters will be asked to decipher between two competing measures.

The passage of Ballot Measure 3-386 would result in a county wide vote anytime an urban renewal plan is proposed in the unincorporated areas of Clackamas County, which describes the majority of the county.  This would mean voters near Government Camp would be deciding the fate of urban renewal and community planning efforts in the Stafford triangle for example.

A much simpler and cost effective approach, Ballot measure 3-388, would allow local voters to decide whether urban renewal is needed in their unincorporated community. 

WEA executive director Jonathan Schlueter testified in front of the Clackamas County Commission recently in favor of Ballot measure 3-388 and explained, "Urban renewal is an important tool for economic development agencies who are trying to bring jobs and development opportunities to Clackamas County."

By creating an urban renewal district, a city is able to invest future property tax dollars from that area back into the district to pay for vital infrastructure and promote development.

If not managed property, urban renewal planning can create controversy by shifting valuable property tax revenue away from schools and special service districts.  But urban renewal planning can also be key to revitalizing blighted areas and making them more marketable for future employers and ultimately jobs, making it more livable as well. 

Urban renewal districts have funded basic infrastructure such as roads and sidewalks.   Previous examples of successful urban renewal districts in Clackamas County include Clackamas Town Center, along I-205, and the Highway 26 overpass at Government Camp.

Westside Economic Alliance has joined a number of organizations and businesses endorsing Ballot Measure 3-388, including Community Newspapers and the Oregonian.

To read WEA's endorsement published in the Clackamas County November 8 Voters Pamphlet