Approved Center Neighborhood Association Minutes
7:00 July 15th, 2008 7 Virtues Coffee Shop
Meeting Adjourned 8:57 PM
Notes submitted by DyLynn Robertson
1. Introductions & Welcome:
Board members present: April Burris, Michael Blair, Sean Besso, DyLynn Robertson, Robert Jordan, Jacob Wollner, Adrian Russell-Falla, Joe Recker (absent: Sam Fuqua, Rey Ko, John Rusoff, Shirley Nacoste)
Neighbors: Margarette Laizure, Marsha Hahn, Robert Sackett, Officer Phil Blanchard + another officer, Gabe Frayne, Tim O’Neal, Candice Jordan, Lee Perlman, Michael Kennedy
2. Overview of Meeting Ground Rules:
New time keeping plan discussed and used at this meeting kept us on good pace. We will now have a timekeeper assigned for each meeting; reports get 5 minutes; comments/questions get 1 minute each. Stick to 1.5 hour meeting with option to extend if majority of board members vote to do so. We will also assign a board member to great neighbors & help with sign-in, etc. at each meeting.
Meeting Ground Rules generated at 6/29/08 Board Retreat are introduced and attendees were invited to add to them. We did a fair job of abiding them too. Including:
Listen actively – respect others when they are talking
Only one person speaks at a time when recognized by the Chair of the meeting – no cross talk Respect the groups’ time and keep comments brief and to the point
Respectfully challenge an idea, not a person
Be aware of your own and other’s participation – step up and step back!
Have fun and get to know your neighbors!
3. Police Report:
Officer Blanchard is new Neighborhood Liaison Officer. We can contact him at pblanchard@portlandpolice.org with comments, concerns or issues that we feel need addressing such as these shared during meeting: RBNA neighbors note transient sleeping under stars; crosswalk & other pedestrian issues at 60th & Glisan, 58th & Glisan, 47th & Glisan, 63rd & Glisan and MAX crossing. Neighbor also asked about the “This Is Your Speed” sign for use on 53rd and 47th — officer referred to PDX Police Traffic Division and PDOT to get ahold of one of those…can request to get on list. When specific areas are identified, can be directed to Traffic Division’s list for “safe zone” and then they can send motorcycle officers over to target/ticket those areas.
Officer reminds us to watch our own driving behavior; lead by example; and reminds us that…”we’re not the bad guys.”
4. Annual retreat summary – separate notes available:
Brief summary of meeting notes from 6/29/08 retreat. Questions again is posed as to how we decide about what type of projects we work on or give money — we did not get to any conclusions at retreat. April asks to include this on future agenda for discussion.
5. New Committee Structure – see also 6/29/08 Board Retreat notes:
Jake give overview from discussion at board retreat and asks for feedback as we begin setting these into action. We will hopefully be drawing in a larger group of participants to share ideas and form working groups. To get this started, we will use email, on-line groups, phone trees and/or phone buddy systems; would like board members be a liaison for each committee to coordinate monthly reports. Committees include:
• Communications
• Outreach
• Public Safety
• Neighborhood Enhancement
6. Board & Committee Reports
Treasurer: Treasurer unable to attend, balances not available.
Secretary: Minutes approved from June 2008 meeting.
Land Use: Sean reports on an addition of 6 more long-term bike parking stands at the Montessorri school necessitated by the construction of an additional room on building. And on his follow-up with neighbors concerned about 5520 NE Everett landowner’s plans to subdivide; one lots has been sold and now want to build tall/skinny house on remaining lot; concerns include set-back area but, while Sean encouraged neighbors to write letters to City planners/hearings officers, plans will likely go through.
Outreach/Connections: DyLynn mentioned, past board member, Martha Westgate, support for getting group into action again. Would like to get Providence Good Neighborhood Agreement meetings scheduled as per the agreement.
SEUL Board: Tim O’Neal is Center’s newly assigned SEUL contact. He has worked with us over the past year on sustainability issues related to C.N.A. projects and looks forward to continued work — encourages us to contact him with questions, needs, etc.
Long-time C.N.A. SEUL Board liason, Shirley Nacoste has been appointed to be the IRCO delegate to the SEUL Board. Shirley’s efforts will continue on behalf of under-represented communities as will her commitment to C.N.A.
April, is Center’s newly appointed SEUL Liaison, and reports that SEUL”s upcoming “new Board member” training for all NA’s in the SEUL Coalition will be held in August but specific date yet to be confirmed. Last meeting focused on the upcoming streetcar projects: survey will be coming up soon; neighborhood concerns include loss of bus service; loss of traffic lane. April encourages all to participate in the survey with awareness of connectivity; link to site is on C.N.A. Google forum.
Communications Committee:
A. Newsletter – Jake reports lots of learning in developing the recent July/Aug issue; used NitroPrint services and soy-based ink/recycled content paper; 21 ads were sold for for newsletter; continue with goal to publish every two months with relevant themes; will also send newsletters to ONI, SEUL, etc. in addition to distribution by hand for neighbors and local businesses.
Discussion of whether to accept political advertising in newsletter included the importance of free speech issues through point/counterpoint discussions; concern about topics/issues that may come up in the future that we might not want to support; several people talk of the slippery-slope fallacy; concerns that we may run-afoul of city policies; questioning whether ballot measures issues require same policy as political candidates, and so on.
Motion was made to not accept politic ads (meaning – candidates) but was withdrawn as second motion to form a working group to make more inquires via ONI, SEUL, etc. was passed. Working group, that includes neighbor Gabe Frayne, Adrian and DyLynn will bring proposal next meeting for vote.
B. Website – Adrian notes that our site was down for a few hours due to server issues and summarizes continuing efforts such as: mapping local businesses; need a banner with images of art 970x 200 pixels (please send to Adrian); meeting minutes and newsletters are in searchable format now; one forum is up and running; work continues on site navigation and CiviCRM system to help connect people to groups. SEUL’s webmaster has offered training on Drupal for us as well. Rob says good job Adrian and looks forward to using site in coming months.
Sullivan’s Gulch Update: Robert reports that recent PDC leader (in resignation speech) stated that most important things Portland should work toward includes building Sullivan’s Gulch Trail! Imagine a bike commute from beyond Gateway to downtown without traffic! It’s on the radar, folks!
Rosemont Bluff: April reports that the last work party was small but did fair amount of watering and weed pulling around the native plants that were put in last Spring. Next work party is 7/26/08 9-12pm.
Supplemental Environmental Project: Jake asked for vote from board to formalize the SEP project. April reflected that while the SEP project is a good project, Her concern is that we have not been following our By-laws with respect to adopting proposals formally. This conversation was quite muddled by stumbles in communication, misunderstandings about the project and the C.N.A. process for making decisions, etc.
A motion was made and passed to continue with SEP project with support of the members of the working group. (1 abstained/ 7 yes).
7. Meeting Location
Small committee formed at June meeting and options are still being explored. Michael graciously allows us to meet again at Seven Virtues for August meeting. (Bring money for libations!)
8. Name Change Process Summary:
DyLynn attempted to summarize what is happening next based on discussion at 6/29/08 Board retreat.
Motion made and passed to make September’s meeting general meeting. (5 yes/ 1 against/ 2 abstained). At this meeting we will 1) vote on May’s General Meeting motion to change name to Rosemont (needs 2/3 majority vote to pass as this reflects a change in our By-laws).
Motion can be put forth to vote on other possible names if the above fails to pass. Motion could also be put forth to table any further discussion/votes on name change for certain period of time.
Questions about the process remain and motion to form a working group to review name change process passed. (1 abstained/ 7 yes) DyLynn; Adrian; Rob Sackett and Sean will work on this for next meeting.
10. New Business was not addressed due to time constraints.
Actions Taken:
I. Minutes approved from June 2008 meeting.
II. Motion was made to not accept politic ads (meaning – candidates) but was withdrawn as second motion to form a working group to make more inquires via ONI, SEUL, etc. was passed. Working group, that includes neighbor Gabe Frayne, Adrian and DyLynn will bring proposal next meeting for vote. (all in favor) III. Motion was passed to continue with SEP project with support of the members of the working group. (1 abstained/ 7 yes).
IV. Motion to form a working group to review name change process passed. (1 abstained/ 7 yes) DyLynn; Adrian; Rob Sackett and Sean will work on this for next meeting.
Thanks again to Michael Blair and Seven Virtues Coffeehouse for hosting.
Adjourned 8:57pm-ish
Next monthly meeting is
Tuesday, August 19, 2008 7PM @ Seven Virtues Coffeehouse