OHA continues to revise marijuana rules, Portland revives public campaign financing and Multnomah County breaks ground on new health building.
1. Marijuana rules revised — yet again
The Oregon Health Authority revised its testing rules again Wednesday, hoping to stimulate the flow of marijuana products into the marketplace, the Oregonian reports. This set of revisions reduces the number of required tests for potency, solvents and pesticides. As the OHA adjusts its rules, medical dispensaries are approaching an important deadline. As of Jan. 1, medical marijuana shops can no longer sell to anyone 21 and older unless they have a medical card. Dispensaries looking to maintain their hold on the recreational market will have to obtain recreational status by the deadline.
2. Portland votes to bring back public financing
The council approved a proposal to publicly fund campaigns Wednesday, OPB reports. The city will provide matching funds to candidates beginning in 2019 for the 2020 election. Candidates have to qualify by first raising at least $5,000 from 500 individuals if running for mayor, or $2,500 from 250 people for commissioner or auditor positions.
3. Multnomah County building new health department headquarters
The county broke ground Wednesday on a nine-story, $92.7 million project in Old Town, the Portland Business Journal reports. The building, designed by ZGF Architects, is scheduled for completion in early 2019.
4. Zidell master plan makes a splash
Floating swimming pools, a grocery store and adaptive reuse mark the new Zidell Yards Master Plan.
5. Portland changes method for charging transportation system development fees
The city will now calculate fees based on “person trips” — trips by people either in cars, foot, bike or public transit — rather than just by car, Bike Portland reports. These fees are collected by the city to mitigate impacts a new building has on the transportation system and make needed improvements.
6. The Yard sold to Thailand developer
The 21-story tower east of the Burnside Bridge was about 50% leased when Bangkok-based Land and Houses made an offer to purchase the building, the Portland Business Journal reports. Developer Jeff Pickhardt says he wasn’t looking to sell, but the offer was too good to refuse.
7. Portland’s doughnut ecosystem
The Rose City is considered by some to be the capital of donuts, a mecca for sugar-coated fried dough in a city that reveres all that is local, natural and organic.
8. Portland’s snow shame
OB Research Editor Kim Moore thinks the city needs to rethink its snow/ice management strategy.
