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47th Conference in Portland

47th International
Making Cities Livable Conference on

TRUE URBANISM:
CITIES FOR HEALTH & WELL-BEING

& Exhibit on

SUCCESSFUL URBAN PLAZAS & NATURE SPACES

Co-Sponsors: City of Portland, Portland Metro Council

The Governor Hotel
Portland, OR
May 10-14, 2009

David Bragdon On behalf of my colleagues at the Metro Council, I am pleased to welcome you to the Portland metropolitan region for the 47th International Making Cities Livable Conference. We are pleased that our region continues to serve as a model for urban planning and smart growth. We hope that you will find time to explore some of the neighborhoods and communities that make us known for livability and smart planning.

The Portland metropolitan region comprises 25 cities in three counties. The Metro Council, responsible for land-use and transportation planning, regional facilities and parks, is committed to a thriving region that invests in community and quality of life. From curbing sprawl to protecting and investing in natural areas, we believe that the best way to plan for our future is to create it now. Plans must be implemented to create great places.

I hope you will enjoy the range of amenities offered by Portland, our region's vital core, and the surrounding cities and town centers. While there's a lot to be proud of in our region, we have challenges ahead. Just as you are here to study our example, I look forward to gaining my own fresh perspectives from your visit here.

David Bragdon
Metro Council President

Thank you!

We just wrapped up the 56th Conference in Portland, a huge thanks to those of you who attended and made this conference so special. We’re working on making the slides and photos available to the attendees, and we hope you’re connecting with those you met on social media.

"I know of no other conference which provides the international expertise."

Sylvia Sutherland, former Mayor, Peterborough, Ontario

"A wonderful Conference. I truly believe this is the best Conference on cities."

Mayor Joseph P. Riley, Jr., City of Charleston

"The most important continuous conference dialogue on making the world's cities and towns more livable for all of their inhabitants."

Dr. Sven von Ungern-Sternberg, Governor, State of South Baden, Germany

"The conference holds a magnifying glass to the world's best cities, revealing why, and how they work."

Benjamin Thompson, FAIA AIA Gold Medalist

"Love for our cities unites all of us in this unique, impressive conference, with participants from different countries, with different professional backgrounds, but with one purpose: making our cities more livable."

Antonio Casellati Former Mayor, City of Venice, Italy

"Ive learned more from this conference than any other conference that I've ever gone to. I've been a city councillor now for twenty years, and I'm so glad I went to that first one twenty years ago."

Kim Richter, City Councillor, Langley, BC

"Well-structured, extremely well-organized and super-high quality of both the presenters and materials presented."

Dr. Mirela Newman, Coordinator, Urban Studies Graduate Program, S Conn St. University

What people say about the IMCL....

“The best conference on cities.” - Joseph P. Riley, Jr., former Mayor, Charleston, SC

“The most important continuous conference dialogue on making the world's cities and towns more livable for all of their inhabitants.”
- Dr. Sven von Ungern-Sternberg, former Mayor, Freiburg, Germany

“I know of no other conference which provides the international expertise.”
- Sylvia Sutherland, former Mayor, City of Peterborough, Ontario

“The Conference holds a magnifying glass to the world’s best cities, revealing why and how they work.”
- Benjamin Thompson, FAIA, AIA Gold Medalist

“Love for our cities unites all of us in this unique, impressive conference, with participants from different countries, with different professional backgrounds, but with one purpose: making our cities more livable.”
- Antonio Casellati, former Mayor, City of Venice, Italy

“These conferences were and I’m sure are still game changers. My first conference was in around 2003 or 2004 in Sarasota. It was pivotal for me as a new CAO of an Ontario municipality having emerged from the public works and engineering area. It helped to shape our town, Newmarket.”
- Bob Shelton, CAO, Newmarket, Ontario

“I've learned more from this conference than any other conference that I've ever gone to. I've been a city councillor now for twenty years, and I'm so glad I went to that first one twenty years ago.”
- Kim Richter, City Councillor, Langley, BC

“A truly invigorating event. I was inspired by being able to connect with so many wonderful people from around the world who are all passionate about the creation of great places."
- James Dougherty, Director of Design, Dover, Kohl & Partners

"The diversity of the audience, the excellent presentations - and importantly, the passion of the movement - have influenced my thinking and next steps.”
- Candance Kokinakis, Ph.D., Sr. Director of Safe Routes to School, Michigan Fitness

“One of the best professional events I have ever attended. Well-structured, extremely well-organized and super-high quality of both the presenters and materials presented.”
- Dr. Mirela Newman, Coordinator, Urban Studies Graduate Program, Southern Connecticut St. University

“The lively exchange of ideas and the opportunity to communicate with colleagues as well as civic decision makers made the sessions extremely successful… Both new and, I am sure, lasting friendships have been formed.”
- Professor Derek Drummond, McDonald Professor of Architecture, Vice Principal, McGill University

“Architects, community organizations, city administrators, planners, urban designers, landscape architects, social scientists and developers committed to making cities livable, all attended. Participants came from places as close as San Francisco and the U.S. Eastern seaboard, to as far away as Samarkand, Russia; Prague, Czech Republic; Germany; The Hague; New Guinea; Switzerland; Australia; Venice, Italy; Austria; United Kingdom; Canada; Belgium; and Hong Kong. These international forums provide the yeast and inspiration to apply ideas to one’s own hometown.”
- M. Elizabeth Martin, Director, San Francisco Beautiful

“Mr. Speaker, I would like to call to the attention of the Members of this body the work of the International Making Cities Livable conference… a forum for hundreds of speakers and participants from 37 states and 11 countries to present ideas.”
- The Hon. Walter E. Fauntroy, U.S. House of Representatives