Hi Dean:
Thanks for taking the time to respond. Over the many years I have worked with BES I have been impressed with how it has evolved into becoming a good neighbor. I live within walking distance of the Columbia Boulevard Wastewater Treatment Plant. In fact, my wife and I often walk on the wonderful new trail around the plant. Steve Behrndt recently gave me a tour of the chlorine gas security measures when I became concerned about potential terrorist threats as presented by Bill Moyers's Now PBS program. I left my visit in a comforted state. The staff at CBWTP are professionals. I believe that all of us neighborhood folks who have been involved with plant issues would agree that we have mutual respect and a good working relationship with CBWTP staff. CBWTP behaves like a good neighbor and so it is.

Neither you nor BES are the object of my inquires regarding the use of excess methane to supply energy or recycled water to Columbia Villa. Those queries are directed at each individual member of the city council and indirectly to the HAP board of directors. This is a matter of public policy and process not technology. My email, Environmental Commitment and Credibility* (see below), was quite explicit about the history and commitments made by HAP staff and city officials.

All five members of Portland's city council voted to support HAP's Villa remodel project with $20 million**. Four of the five members and their staffs have all known about HAP's support of the methane and water distribution proposals and Commissioner Saltzman's $2 million contribution for more than TWO YEARS***. So what happened? That is the question. It is not your question to answer. An explanation is required from each member of the city council that voted to spend $20 million of taxpayer's money on HAP's Villa remodel project. A similar explanation from HAP's board would also be welcomed, but not expected. They are not accountable to the voters or taxpayers. Neither are you. Katz, Saltzman, Sten, Francesconi and Leonard are responsible. It is they, each individually, who must explain their actions on this matter.

Not a single member of the council has ever responded to this issue despite numerous articles, emails and several opportunities during my public testimony when not one of them chose to engage this issue if only to deny it. Your boss, Dan Saltzman's politically unnatural refusal to take credit for his contribution or even acknowledge the existence of this issue is incomprehensible. I see no evidence that Saltzman's so-called environmental concerns have made any mark on the redesign of Columbia Villa. On the other hand, evidence of my concern is substantial and public, http://www.goodgrowthnw.org . Years ago I proposed, "All structures shall be designed to be as environmentally sound and “green” as current thinking and technology allow."*** Does Dan have any idea whether the design for all the structures to be built at Columbia Villa meet this criteria? Does he care? Maybe he thinks environmentally sound and “green” low-income housing in the Portsmouth neighborhood isn't worthy of his time or his often touted (Stanford?) engineering credentials. His refusal to speak only enhances this speculation.

It seems that once again Katz, Saltzman, Sten, Francesconi and Leonard are unwilling, unable or afraid to discuss publicly their knowledge of and roles in this matter. So they have handed off their problem to staff. Although this is a common political dodge, it is noted for what it is and is NOT acceptable.

I have lived within the shadow of Columbia Villa and the Columbia Boulevard Wastewater Treatment Plant for twenty-eight years. Much of that time has been spent trying to improve the quality of life in a neighborhood that has the highest concentration of low-income HAP clients of any neighborhood in the city. For the last two and a half years I have, at great financial cost, spent from half-time to recently almost full time dealing with HAP and the Villa remodel. I'm not going anywhere. And I have no intention of letting any member of the city council get away with ignoring his or her responsibility and behavior in this matter. I expect, indeed "demand" would not be inappropriate in this case, a response from each of our elected leaders, Vera Katz, Dan Saltzman, Erik Sten, Jim Francesconi and Randy Leonard.

* http://www.goodgrowthnw.org/Methane.html
** http://www.goodgrowthnw.org/NotImpressed.html
*** http://www.goodgrowthnw.org/May2001.html

Richard Ellmyer

Wednesday, July 2, 2003, at 09:32 AM, Marriott, Dean wrote:

Richard: your message to City Council found its way to me, and since it had
to do with the relationship of Columbia Boulevard Wastewater Treatment Plant
and Columbia Villa, I thought I would contact you.

We are doing extensive methane gas recovery and energy generation at the
treatment plant. We have just completed installing some new gas turbines
which convert methane to electricity. Our experience indicates that making
use of methane probably should be done at our site rather than building a
pipeline off-site and installing turbines somewhere else. We will be
looking at the possibility of installing more turbines in the future to
utilize more of the methane generated round the clock at plant.

Using treated effluent for irrigation is something we have been discussing
for years. We have had conversations with Parks about using such water on
nearby golf courses. I'm not sure anyone is ready to use our treated
effluent in association with a residential setting...I think we should prove
its value elsewhere first.

This is just the short version of my reaction to your message of June 27th.
I would be happy to discuss the situation in person or over the phone. Give
me a call at 503-8232-5224 if you would like to chat. Dean Marriott