His Honor's Own Private Oregon.

How could anyone possibly object to using utility bills to pay for Randy's wilderness retreat? That is a perfectly legitimate use of utility money, no?

Meetings and overnight VIPs? WTF?
For who? Sounds more like the kind an under-the-table thing companies offer as a business deal maker.

Looks like a perfect place for "back room deals" and parties.
Wonder how many boxes of champayne bottles are stored up there to celebrate every time they "get what they want" towards their grand scheme!

Where's the water slide?

Put a wire in the place. That would be fun to listen to.

Not my idea of a cabin - but certainly beautiful even before the "renovation". I trust they use composting toilets up there....

LEED platinium? Where's the Eco wall/roof? WTF!?
Nothing is too good for the admiral.

Awesome! Shaff said last July it wasn't going to be done. Guess they must have found the $205,000 under a mattress. Or was wedged in the seat cushion of the $110,000 motorcoach?

Occupy Bull Run!!!

Here are some more photos, from August 2010. The photographer calls it the "restored dam house." Apparently there are four old log cabins nearby:

http://guy.smugmug.com/Pacific-Northwest/Bull-Run-Watershed-082010/13329457_B5jmV#!i=968916502&k=i8wvw

Putting a wire in that place would be silly. Everything would be drowned out by the sound of people patting themselves on the back.

Slap slap slap pat pat slap.

Very nice place, as part owner when can I book a weekend ?

I know a guy with a sustainable wind powered boat. That lake sure looks navigable.

Did you notice the last slide in the series? That ride is dedicated not to just the Water Bureau but specifically to Bull Run. Not only is the dacha free but the gas and the driver are too.

http://tinyurl.com/6vfcbat

And did you notice the curtains on the limousine bus? What are they hiding, the elite, the pols that don't want to be identified? Very unusual and taxpayer expense. Maybe they're rock star politicians.

These photos will play out well to the jury, if it gets that far. I hope it does, and I'm sitting on it.

That lake sure looks navigable.

I believe there is a federal law that trumps the state constitution as to that body of water.

The email is a lie. Another in a string of misrepresentations, half-truths or out right untruths this blog is increasingly known for. But, by all means, don't let that slow you down.

The picture is not the Bull Run cabin. VIP's nor anyone else are not allowed to stay in the Bear Creek House overnight (shown in the picture...the cabin is a one room cabin) or anywhere else in the watershed.

Anyone violating that prohibition, including elected officials, would be at least cited -if not arrested- and prosecuted.

Randy- thanks for update.

I look forward to when that last sentence is applied to all violations of city, state, and federal code.

Randy, if no over-nights are allowed, can I come along for a nice mid-summer 16 hour day kicking around the cabin?

And are you willing to swear on a stack of bibles at the trial that no-one has ever stayed overnight in the cabin, or any "VIP"? It will be interesting to see how you define "VIP" under cross examination.

So, that's the Bear Creek house? It kind of looks like Bull Run (rather than a creek) in the background. So the shots were Photoshopped? Is that what you're saying, Councilor?

And when she says We were told the cabin needed to be remodeled to accommodate meetings and overnight VIPs. - you claim that it's a lie? What reason do you imagine she'd have for concocting such a statement, if it is, as you claim, "a lie"?

Perhaps you could take a moment to substantiate your accusations - or did you stop by merely to throw a tantrum?

Just did a quick google search for the phrase
"bear creek house bull run"

There are a number of hits including a nice article in the Oregonian that included this tidbit:
"City Commissioner Randy Leonard started the public and school tours shortly after he took control of the bureau in 2005. He approved the purchase of a 26-person van for $110,000 in 2006 and authorized a contest for children to design the art that now wraps itself in crayon colors around the bus. "

Here's an interior shot of that totally sweet bus. Looks like you get a driver and a separate tour guide.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pdx_water/5346668003/in/photostream/

BTW, 5 views on flicker when i posted this link.

Well if Randy says it's a lie then it must be.
He's the expert in that realm...
But since the cabin was apparently remolded with city funds I'd like to see a copy of the invoices for materials and the billing from the contractor.
I mean we should get to the bottom of this lie, shouldn't we ?

Here's more complete information on the Bear Creek Houses, compiled by the City of Portland.

Bear Creek House #1, aka the Superintendent's House, referred to as a log cabin in Bull Run in this January 2011 Oregonian article as being renovated for $205,000 (done around 2008), is used for meetings and the public tours and is the one in the picture above.

Bear Creek House #2, used for storage, and appears to be the one that David Shaff says repairs are needed in this July 2011 Oregonian article and also described as a Bull Run cabin.

More on Bear Creak House #1 and Bear Creak House #2.

The house in the photos is not a log cabin. It is what the documents you have linked to refer to as Bear Creek House No. 1. Bear Creek No. 2 must be a small side building near No. 1. It is not a log cabin, either. There are log cabins on the Bull Run site, however. Apparently there are three, one of which has been restored.

And according to the flicker pictures, "charmingly decorated" too!
How nice...just one of the many reasons the water bills in Portland are 3rd highest in the nation.
I can't wait for the SamRand twins to be gone!

He approved the purchase of a 26-person van for $110,000 in 2006

You mean, that bus that was built by a limousine company and uses the chassis of (Portland-based) Freightliner's competitor International Corporation?