All posts by barneyworth

Parking Management, Projects

Salem Downtown Parking

Barney & Worth, in partnership with Rick Williams Consulting, completed the development of a comprehensive parking management plan for two areas of Salem’s downtown.  Plans were made for the “core retail zone” and the State Capitol Mall.  The study was based on an extensive utilization/capacity and turnover study of nearly 10,000 on- and off-street parking stalls. The work involved extensive public outreach, meetings with leadership groups, and lengthy work sessions with City Council and City staff.  The full plan was unanimously adopted by the Salem City Council.

“Barney & Worth and Rick Williams Consulting prepared a comprehensive project plan and executed the plan on time and within budget.  The process and materials were, at all times, professional and of a high standard.  Their work provided the data that defined the problem, and the public involvement helped share the guiding principles and strategies.”

– Tony Mounts, Administrative Services Director/CFO, City of Salem

Funding Strategies, Projects

Safe, Smart, Sustainable Schools

Portland Public Schools retained Barney & Worth to provide public engagement and communications services in support of the district’s long-range plan to renovate and rebuild their entire portfolio of more than 90 educational facilities.  Consultant tasks include:  collaborating with the in-house communications team to develop and implement a public engagement plan, facilitating team meetings to monitor the plan activities and results, focus groups, outreach to key stakeholder groups, developing communication points and strategies, writing informational materials including video scripts, organizing and updating the project website content, and supplying information to the upcoming bond measure campaign to fund priority capital projects.

Client Website

Funding Strategies, Projects

Salem Police And Parks Funding

Barney & Worth recently completed an evaluation of the public’s awareness of current conditions of police and parks facilities and gauged support for possible future facilities improvements including: a new police headquarters; development and rehabilitation of existing parks; and expansion of the softball complex.  Stakeholder interviews, focus groups and a telephone survey were conducted.  The results of the research were presented to the Salem City Council and are being used to inform facilities and funding strategies.

Facilities Planning and Siting, Projects

Skamania Lodge And Conference Center

Barney & Worth assisted Skamania County, Washington, and private resort developer John Gray to prepare the successful proposal that led the Columbia River Gorge Commission to designate the Stevenson site for a conference/meeting facility funded partially with federal funds.  State and local land-use approvals were coordinated and expedited allowing the Skamania Lodge to open ahead of schedule.

Facilities Planning and Siting, Projects

Oregon Convention Center

Barney & Worth participated in the Siting and Planning Study for the Oregon Convention Center, which has become one of the nation’s most successful and highly sought convention and conference facilities.  The firm completed a community leader survey for the Metropolitan Exposition Recreation Commission to assess the current status and future plans for the Center, in anticipation of a proposed expansion of the facility.  The firm conducted more than 40 interviews of prominent business and community leaders in the Portland metropolitan region, providing advice that helped shape the expansion.

Community Planning and Visioning, Projects

Salem Vision 2020

To Barney & Worth:

“You’ve really gone above and beyond to help create a true sense of ownership in our community for Salem Vision 2020 – as evidenced by the high volume of community survey responses, innovative approaches to outreach and community forums, and the number of community participants at each of our forums. As we look forward to the next few months and the next year of implementation, I think we are perfectly positioned for success.”

– Mayor Janet Taylor, City of Salem

Barney & Worth facilitated the creation of Salem Vision 2020 – a community action plan for the City’s core downtown center. Over a six month period, 3,500 surveys were completed, 35 community briefings were conducted and two community forums were held. Through this very successful public involvement process, Salem community members identified 24 priority action items.  More than 40 supporting organizations and 200 people are currently playing leadership roles to turn the vision into action.

Project Website

Community Planning and Visioning, Projects

Pierce County Agriculture Strategic Plan

U.S. agricultural lands are disappearing nationwide. This trend is accelerated on the urban fringe of many regions, and Pierce County, Washington has lost thousands of acres of agricultural land in recent decades. In response to these changing conditions and the emerging needs of the agriculture sector, Barney & Worth assisted Pierce County to create a strategic plan designed to better understand and boost the industry’s competitiveness.

The first-ever Pierce County Agriculture Strategic Plan includes a systematic examination of the local agriculture sector from an economic development perspective, and provides effective strategies to promote the agriculture industry and enhance its competitiveness. The Pierce County Council adopted the plan, and enacted many of its key provisions: creating a “farmbudsman” position within County government to serve as liaison with the agriculture community; establishing a “Buy Local” preference program for County institutions to purchase local produce; funding a program to assist in marketing local agriculture projects; forming a “farm team” of specialists within the Department of Planning and Land Services; and revising building codes to make them more “farm friendly”.

Parking Management, Projects

Tacoma Downtown Parking

Barney & Worth and Rick Williams Consulting are assisting the City of Tacoma to evaluate the best system for paid parking in the downtown area.  The consultants are working with the City staff and an Implementation Committee on an extensive outreach effort to reach key stakeholders including business operators, neighborhood leaders, residents and employers.  Stakeholder input is helping to identify issues and determine the parking management strategies and equipment choices.

Clark Worth and Rick Williams are also contributing to refinement of the financial model and revenue estimates, planning and implementing the system rollout, and advising the City throughout the multi-phase implementation process.

Client Website

Funding Strategies, Projects

Keep Salem Moving

Barney & Worth led public opinion research, outreach and multi-faceted education program to engage the Salem, Oregon community in determining critical transportation funding needs and possible solutions.  Consultant tasks included: development of effective messaging; two telephone surveys, focus groups and management of an on-line survey; planning and implementing a Mayor’s Forum utilizing electronic polling technology; and organizing a speakers bureau of city staff and community advocates. The consultant team also supported the communications efforts for the resulting transportation bond measure 24-248, approved by voters in November 2008 – the first transportation measure passed by Salem voters in 13 years.

Additionally, Barney & Worth, Inc. is in the seventh year of a renewable multi-year contract to provide public involvement and strategic communications services for the City of Salem’s Department of Public Works and Urban Renewal Agency.  In this capacity as Consultant-of-Record, the firm guides public outreach processes, researches and writes position papers and public information materials, and acts as news media liaison for several projects.  The firm also works on assignments with other City of Salem departments, including:  City Manager’s office, Fire and Police, Engineering Division, Salem Airport, Transportation Division, and the Utilities Planning Division.

Community Planning and Visioning, Projects

Cully-Concordia Community Assessment and Action Plan

“A touchstone and guide for City bureau and other agency work programs, and a participatory and advocacy tool for community stakeholders.”

– Portland City Council Resolution
Adopted November 20, 2008

Barney & Worth led an extensive public outreach effort to involve community members in an assessment of two neighborhoods in NE Portland.  The Cully-Concordia Community Assessment was, from the start, a partnership effort involving the City of Portland’s Planning Bureau, Portland Public Schools and numerous community members.  This collaborative effort was designed to assess the educational, economic, public facility and service needs of families and children in this diverse and growing area.

Outreach efforts successfully engaged a full range of area organizations, residents, business people, students and school staff.  A diverse community discussion group continues to meet regularly to identify and tackle priority actions to make the neighborhoods better places to live, work and play.

Recognized as a successful model for building community partnerships to take positive action, the Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability presented the Cully-Concordia project in an educational session at the American Planning Association’s 2009 National Planning Conference.

Project Website