Draft Minutes Center Neighborhood Association Monthly Meeting
October 17, 2006 7:00 P.M. @ The Shogren House Museum
INRODUCTIONS:
Board Members Present: Robert Jordan, Cameron Clemens, Shirley Nacoste, Judy Kennedy, Barry Bradie, Sean Besso, John Rusoff, Don McElmurry, Theresa Benton, DyLynn Robertson
Neighbors & Guests: Rob Fagliano (Architect) Charles Moseley (Fred Meyer), Kim Kramer (Kroger), Lisa Gorlin, Martha Westgate (Outreach Committee), Lee Perlman (Press), April Burris, Paul Adcock, Susan Adcock, Nana Nash, Ken Moholt-Siebert
ACTIONS:
Minutes amended with spelling correction and approved for C.N.A. September 2006 meeting.
Approved motion to pay Lisa Gorlin $100.00 for music at the upcoming General Meeting.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Treasurer:
John Rusoff reports that the checking account has $2,238.75 and the money market account has $5,000.72. Our visionPDX grant may require some C.N.A. contribution (our Board previously authorized up to $1,000).
Land Use:
Eastide MAX Review: Sean Besso relays news from Jay Sugnet, SE District Planner, that the grant for the Eastside MAX Station Area Planning project was not submitted as the budget was not completed on time. They are still working on the budget and have 18 months from March 2007 to do the project via the next grant cycle. The City of PDX seems to like what planning has been done so far.
Background Info: The project will focus on land use and transportation planning for six transit "station community" areas that are located within one-half mile of MAX. These station areas are: 60th, 82nd, Parkrose/Sumner, 122nd, 148th, and 162nd. The project will evaluate and recommend changes to land use, building and station design, transit and multimodal transportation facilities at and connecting to station areas.
The CENTER Neighborhood community will be a partner in planning for the future of the 60th station area with opportunities for participation via representation on a Citizen Working Group, which will provide input on issues and ideas to the project team. There will also be public workshops and open houses throughout the planning process to engage the public. In the future, there will be an opportunity to tour the neighborhood with officials and submit our concerns on issues such as infill and transportation. Richard Glenn, a CENTER neighbor, is a citizen rep.
Penumbra Kelly Building: Project planners got the “okay” from Laurelhurst NA to go ahead with plans to develop the property according to the “land-swap” plan. CENTER Board will continue to follow this process.
Fred Meyer: Three members of the Fred Meyer development team were present to share information about the remodel scheduled to begin this coming winter. Requests for two land use permit adjustments have been submitted. One is regarding a possible gas station with a kiosk that should be set closer to street than developers would like and the other for relocation of the bottle return area. Fred’s suggested moving key repair kiosk to front of the proposed gas station area or building a bus shelter in front of the area. At this time the fuel station is not “officially” part of the upcoming remodel project but the city asked Fred’s to apply for adjustments in a “package deal.” This lead to neighbors expressing concern is that a gas station can later be developed without public input.
Landscape upgrades must constitute at least 10% of the total cost of the project – this also includes bike parking and internal walkways. Which means that increasing bike parking can take away from tree planting.
The concerns of neighbors and C.N.A. Board members include: The addition of a fuel station on site where one used to be and was later removed with two other gas stations within a 10 block radius of the property. Fred Meyer reps were asked if they were looking at other locations for a fuel station such as Hollywood or Gateway. A fuel station is not supportive of a “mass transit” community. The proposed entrance/exit for the fuel station will cross a main pedestrian walkway.
In general, the feedback to Fred’s reps was that CENTER neighbors would like to see improvements to the store and improved landscape but that plans designed to work in other states or neighborhoods may not be appropriate to ours. Concerns about the loss of the clothing section at the Glisan store were also noted.
Reps from Fred’s are invited to come to General Meeting on 11/21 with info about the upcoming remodel.
SEUL:
Shirley Nacoste reports that SEUL is reviewing their direction and strategies to support/strengthen neighborhood associations while recognizing and engaging the full diversity of each community. Ideas such as Neighborhood Association new Board member orientations and how to make the neighborhood boards “more visible” were also discussed.
Staff changes coming up are a result of long-time, dedicated staff members moving on to college or other community minded jobs as well as positions being cut due to expired financial grants.
There has been discussion about the “SUN” newsletter costs and the Marketing Committee at SEUL wonders whether or not to continue publishing it.
The Diversity Committee continues to meet and follow-up on projects that have been started.
Outreach:
Martha Westgate and Susan Adcock discussed the Outreach Committee’s review of National Night Out, visionPDX, and the Center Commons picnic. Also brought up the need to increase opportunities for neighbor involvement by looking at other locations for meetings and events. In the past some churches have been considered, but we should look again keeping in mind locations, accessibility and parking. Please e-mail Susan at psadcock@aol.com with your ideas.
DyLynn Robertson and April Burris are working on the SEUL Neighborhood Grant, which is due December 1. Our grant seeks to fund additional issues of the CENTER newsletter as well as funds to continue a neighborhood wide summer picnic at Center Commons.
Next C.N.A. Outreach Committee meeting is December 5, 6:30PM at Center Commons.
Newsletter:
Cameron Clemens was elected chair of the committee and is supported by neighbors, April Burris, Lisa Gorlin and DyLynn Robertson. Longtime newsletter editor David Delk is focusing on other social and community projects.
NOVEMBER 2006 GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING:
Next General Membership meeting is 7:00 PM Tuesday, Nov. 21. at Shogren House. Metro Councilman, Robert Liberty and a rep from the Coalition for a Livable Future will speak about “sustainability issues” for our neighborhood. Lisa & Larry will provide acoustic music. Robert will open Shogren House “early” and make sure the heat is on! DyLynn and Judy will organize refreshments. Board and Committee members will be on hand to talk about our neighborhood association and invite others to participate.
Meeting adjourned at 8:40 PM
Notes submitted by DyLynn Robertson, C.N.A. Secretary
November 13, 2006