NOTICE OF EXPLANATORY STATEMENT VOTERS PAMPHLET EXPLANATORY STATEMENT FOR ROCKWOOD-WEST GRESHAM URBAN RENEWAL

NOTICE OF EXPLANATORY STATEMENT VOTERS PAMPHLET EXPLANATORY STATEMENT FOR ROCKWOOD-WEST GRESHAM URBAN RENEWAL A Yes vote would extend the Rockwood-West Gresham Urban Renewal Plan to 2029, allowing the City more time to utilize the money that was originally approved by the voters in 2003. A Yes vote would not raise taxes. A No vote would not extend the Rockwood-West Gresham Urban Renewal Plan to 2029 and the planned investment in improvements to transportation, parks and recreation, access to quality housing options and jobs would not occur. A No vote would not lower taxes. Background: In 2003 voters approved the current Rockwood/West Gresham Renewal District. The District is 1,211 acres and extends from NE 181st Avenue, Burnside and Stark St. to just north of Interstate 84. The Rockwood/West Gresham Renewal Plan was created to use the urban renewal funding from the District to make important improvements across the community. Projects funded through the Rockwood/West Gresham Renewal Plan include: — JOBS: Helped 40 new businesses relocate into the Urban Renewal Area creating nearly 700 new jobs, averaging a $62 thousand dollar annual salary. — HOUSING: The Plan increased access to affordable housing, providing grants that resulted in the improvement of nearly 900 multi-family apartments — PUBLIC SAFETY: The Plan helped build the Gresham Public Safety Facility on Northeast 181st Avenue which helps improve neighborhood policing and access to a mental health team. — COMMUNITY SERVICES: The Plan improved access to critical community services that historically didn’t exist in the District by leveraging over $80 million dollars of public-private investment in Downtown Rockwood to bring daycare, medical services, workforce development organizations, a culturally diverse market hall and stabilizing community based organizations. Why is the City asking voters to extend the Rockwood/West Gresham Renewal Plan? Gresham is the 4th largest city in Oregon. Since 2003 the city has grown to 112,660 residents and the needs of the community have grown and changed as well. Due to the impact of the Great Recession in 2012, market trends, and COVID, urban renewal has not been able to maximize investment opportunities. The proposed extension of the current Rockwood/West Gresham Renewal Area Plan to 2029 will allow the City more time to utilize the money that was originally approved by the voters in 2003. Based off the fiscal year 21/22 budget, $37 million dollars remain in the existing urban renewal plan. Extending the existing plan will allow us to fully utilize these remaining funds over the next six years. While future community outreach will assist with identifying and prioritizing specific projects. Specific project areas that would be funded with this extension include: — transportation improvements and safer streets — access to a diversity of housing options — improving access to jobs — small business support or recovery — parks and recreation Funding and Tax Impact Funding comes from newly generated property taxes from new development and increased property values in the urban renewal area. Funding generated within the area must be spent on projects within the area. Urban Renewal is not a new tax. A copy of the Plan and Plan Amendment and additional information is available at https://greshamoregon.gov/Urban-Renewal/ An elector may file a petition for review of this explanatory statement. The petition must state the reasons the explanatory statement filed is insufficient, not concise, or unfair; and must be filed with the City Recorder, City of Gresham, 1333 NW Eastman Parkway, Gresham, Oregon 97030 no later than 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, February 15, 2022. Susanjoy Wright, CMC City Recorder Publish February 4, 2022 OL230902

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