This content was published: February 18, 2002. Phone numbers, email addresses, and other information may have changed.
PCC Board to Consider Rezoning Proposal
Photos and Story by James Hill
PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Community College Board of Directors will consider a district rezoning proposal at its Thursday, Feb. 21 meeting. The meeting is set for the Rock Creek Campus, 17705 N.W. Springville Road, in Building 3, room 122. Oregon statute requires certain school and community college boards to redraw zone boundaries following each federal census to align zone boundaries to be "as nearly equal as feasible"in population represented. The board considered several different options over the past few months. The proposal on the agenda will divide the district’s seven zones into roughly equal numbers of residents. When the work began, the largest election zone was 22 percent greater than the smallest. Director of Public Affairs Jan Coulton, who conducted the zone-redistricting project, said the board requested that each zone represent the district as a whole rather than certain geographical parts. The proposal forwarded for their vote complies with this request and according to Coulton, "is board members’ desire to offer more comprehensive representation to the PCC district."Coulton added that the target number for each zone is 138,967. PCC’s 1,500-square-mile district contains all or parts of five counties, including all of Washington County and parts of Multnomah, Clackamas, Yamhill and Columbia counties. The college serves 970,000 residents and enrolls approximately 100,000 credit and non-credit students annually.By zone, highlights, including current directors, are:Zone 1, represented by Norma Jean Germond of Lake Oswego, will include 137,581 individuals from parts of Clackamas and Yamhill counties; Zone 2, represented by Harold Williams of Portland, will contain parts of Multnomah and Columbia counties and 134,930 individuals. Bob Palmer of Portland represents Zone 3. Palmer’s district will include Multnomah County and a small section of Clackamas County, representing 136,697 people. Other changes include Zone 4, represented by Dana Anderson of Portland, which will contain portions of three counties – Multnomah, Washington and Columbia – with More PCC Rezoning Proposal – page 2140,306 people. Doreen Margolin of Portland represents Zone 5, which will include parts of Multnomah and Washington counties and 142,601 people. In addition, Mike Hereford of Beaverton represents Zone 6, whose boundaries will include portions of Washington and Multnomah counties and 141,279 individuals. Karen McKinney of Hillsboro represents Zone 7 whose area will include Washington County and a portion of Columbia County. There are 139,391 individuals within Zone 7. Candidates for the PCC board must live within the zones they represent. They hold four-year terms. The next election will be held in May 2003 for zones 2 and 7.
About James Hill
James G. Hill, an award-winning journalist and public relations writer, is the Director of Public Relations at Portland Community College. A graduate of Portland State University, James has worked as a section editor for the Newberg Graphic... more »