Minutes of the Center Neighborhood Monthly Board Meeting
September 20, 2005 7pm
Shogren House
Board Members Present: Barry Bradie, John Rusoff, Martha Westgate, Nana Nash, Jon Laufenberg
Other Attendees: Jeme Sutton, Renee Fields, Miranda and Michael Bateschell, Bert Boehm, Judy Kennedy, Lee Perlman (press)
Introductions 7:05pm
Senior Officer Brendan McGuire, Neighborhood Response Team
Brendan hadn’t heard about the rumored large-scale rash of car breakins/vandalisms.
Says trucks can drive on any road unless otherwise posted. Any restrictions usually due only to road weight limit or narrow street. Semis not allowed to park on residential streets except to make deliveries.
Willow drug house update: house was sold, new owner intends to rehab the house. City verified legitimacy of new owner and will allow the house to be re-occupied before the expiration of the court order that boarded it up.
Action: The August minutes are approved unanimously.
Committees
Connections
Martha –The Center Commons-wide bar-b-q and potluck took place as planned. Attendance was good, at least until the food ran out.
Land Use
Barry – briefly discussed the 4 LU cases from the previous month.
- 6305 NE Oregon: wrote letter providing background of neighbor displeasure, expressed concerns but did not oppose
- 60th & Willow: expressed safety concerns; opposed requested adjustment to south setback
- Petco in SE corner of Freddie’s lot: express concerns about entrance being neither convenient nor accessible. Expressed desire for perimeter landscape upgrades for the entire Freddie’s site. Didn’t ask for denial of adjustments ‘at this time’
- Proposed 8-plex at 53rd and Couch: took no action.
We received a letter from the Regional Arts Council about a program to place outdoor art in neighborhoods. Will mention this next month at the General Meeting.
Newsletter
Nana – we’ve got 8 paid ads. The owner of Commercial Refrigeration (CRI) was happy to be contacted by someone in the neighborhood. The former drug gas station is now family-owned.
Two draft copies were circulated for comments and editing.
Barry – still working on the ad for Cooper’s Coffee.
John R will be responsible for logistics between David Delk and Ad-Mail.
Tree Planting
Jemé is our new Friends of Trees coordinator! Our planting date for the upcoming winter planting season is set for Saturday March 11, 2006. The group will be meeting at the Presbyterian Church on Belmont. She plans to flyer and post on bulletin boards to generate interest. Will need volunteers to drive trucks, solicit food donations.
October General Meeting
Martha was thinking she wanted to raise the issue of emergency preparedness at the Providence Standing Committee and how the neighborhood can coordinate with Providence. (Judy talks about the NET teams and we’ll have NET represented at next month’s meeting.)
Could Providence hose NET training? Judy doesn’t think so because of the special training environment that the Fire Department uses.
Martha would like the hospital to help the neighborhood be prepared.
Agenda items for the meeting:
- Jay Sugnet, city planner will be the keynote speaker Re: the big Station Area planning study
- Name change for Center
- Revised bylaws (to be voted on next spring)
- John R to be responsible for refreshments
- RAC art lease program
- Talk about volunteer opportunities
Newsletter Ad for Nana
There’d been an email discussion concerning Nana’s request to receive a free ad for her business as compensation/recognition for her efforts selling ads.
We discuss it further, and Jon makes the following motion: “In recognition of Nana’s efforts in establishing advertising, we’re granting one free ad in this issue if space allows or the next one.” Martha seconds. The ensuing discussion makes clear that this is a one-time only deal. In the future we may consider sliding-scale for any small business.
Action: The motion is approved unanimously.
Adjourned 8:25
Next meeting 10/18/2005