In a weekly report dated November 13, 2025, City Administrator Jacque Betz outlined several new initiatives in Gladstone. The city has adopted a new color palette and logo as part of its tourism branding. The colors were chosen to represent Gladstone’s location at the meeting point of the Clackamas and Willamette rivers. Blue was selected to symbolize the rivers and to help distinguish Gladstone from nearby cities. The new logo is inspired by local landmarks, including the crosswalks at Portland Avenue and Dartmouth. Its design suggests a river, the letter ‘G,’ and a stone from the riverbanks. This branding will be used by University of Oregon graduate students as they help develop architectural guidelines and a wayfinding system for downtown Gladstone. The goal is to create a visual identity that reflects local history.
November is Native American Heritage Month. The report notes Gladstone’s historical connections to Indigenous communities. It highlights the Pow Wow Tree, a bigleaf maple that was used for tribal ceremonies and councils. By recognizing this tree, Gladstone acknowledges its Indigenous heritage and the relationship between the land, rivers, and original inhabitants.
The city is also working with Portland General Electric (PGE). This week, PGE executives met with Mayor Michael Milch and Jacque Betz to discuss issues such as affordability, street lighting, and the effects of the federal government shutdown. Gladstone’s low demand on PGE’s system was mentioned. The meeting also covered the costs and challenges of moving power lines underground and the need to prepare for extreme weather…