Approved Minutes Center Neighborhood Association 7 PM October 21, 2008
Providence Cancer Center Amphitheater Meeting Adjourned around 8:55PM
Notes Submitted by DyLynn Robertson, Secretary C.N.A.
INTRODUCTIONS & WELCOME – Jake welcomed everyone and thanked folks for participating in neighborhood affairs. All introduce selves and say which street they live on.
Board Members Present: Sam Fuqua, April Burris, Jacob Wollner, DyLynn Robertson, Shirley Nacoste, John Rusoff, Sean Besso, Rey Ko, Adrian Russell-Falla, Joe Recker (Absent: Michael Blair, Robert Jordan) Committee Members & Neighbors: Lisa Gorlin, Richard Glenn, Lee Perlman (Press), Martha Westgate, Jim Hunt, Kathy Schassen, Mark Davis, Krystofer Milton, Terry Dublinski, Lori Kennedy, Randy Stenquist, Ken Moholt-Siebert (Developer), Cameron Clemens, Peter Connor Ford, Eli Loehrke, Dula Baker, Cathy Riddell, Ellen King, Diane Wells, Drew Livesey, Joella Livesey, Kelli Kessler, Andrew Stock, Judy Kennedy, Ney Photyiuongsa (?) (PPB), Jim Tyhurst, John Bean, Suzanne Anderson, Renee King (Providence), Tom Wilburn, Chuck Sites, Terry Quinn, Greg Mustard, Zeke Cessna, Kaity Tammen, Bert Boehm, Kevin Matson, Mindy Norenky (?), Leslie Kochin, Dave Taylor, Kori Giudici, Aimee Ford Connor
SUMMARY OF ACTIONS TAKEN:
I. C.N.A. Board approved September Meeting Minutes (9 in favor; 1 abstained – Nacoste). II. General Membership voted in favor of North Tabor as neighborhood and reflection of such in our bylaws. (37 votes for North Tabor, 11 votes for Center, no abstentions).
III. Approved motion to continue with direction of SEP project as outlined by Recker’s 10/14/08 memo (Stock abstained).
IV. Approved motion to place item on agenda for Spring 2009 General Membership meeting related to tabling future discussions of name changes for the neighborhood (Rusoff, Ko opposed; L. Kennedy, Westgate abstained).
V. Approved motion to write letter of support for Ken Moholt-Siebert’s development at 47th & Burnside (Clemens, Taylor opposed).
MEETING GROUND RULES – reviewed by Jacob.
NEIGHBORHOOD POLICE – Officers from SE Precinct report that crime states are available online and that they don’t see any “trends” in our area to be greatly concerned about. Community members ask about the 82nd Ave. Prostitution Free Zone and whether the push off 82nd is moving this activity closer in and toward our neighborhood; about noise complaints; and about drug house locations being indicated by shoes hanging in wires. Other neighbor points out that while safety is a concern, there are broader societal ills to address and to keep a compassionate eye toward the downtrodden. The SE Precinct based officers emphasized their training and commitment to looking out for all people in the ‘hood and request that all non-911 calls be directed to our Neighborhood Response Team officer, Robert Pickett.
BOARD & COMMITTEE REPORTS – As follows…
Treasurer – John reports balance of $2,375 in money market account; $1,297 in checking.
Land Use – Sean briefs on history of the property being developed at 47th & Burnside. Ken Moholt-Siebert states he is planning to go ahead with development of three townhouses with retail. He is seeking adjustments to the floor area ration, overall building coverage area and issues with landscaping. No off-street parking is required at this time, although he is considering rooftop parking on commercial portion and the townhouses have their own off-street parking. Sean sees no neighborhood concerns to delay this project nor has he heard such from nearby residents.
Meeting on November 6 @ 5:30 PM with Providence re: signal timing issues at 60th and 58th on Glisan.
Sean talks about possibility of urban garden on NE 49th between Glisan & Flanders. PDOT needs to sign-off of such a project that would create pedestrian/bike/rain water enhancements.
Fence codes and other neighbor-neighbor concerns were briefly discussed. Rey asks for more info to be shared neighbors about city codes.
SEP Update – Joe reported the proposed use of funds for both the Friends of Trees Neighborhood Tree Planting and a Glisan Green Street Treatment have been okayed by DEQ & Providence. Friends of Trees Neighborhood Tree Planting – an allocation of up to $3,000 will result in a significant reduction in the individual out-of-pocket cost to individuals participating in the tree planting. Joe encourages folks to sign-up for tree planting! Glisan Green Street Treatment –a total allocation of $9,000 ($8,000 from SEP with an additional $1,000 from Providence), the Portland Bureau of Environmental Services (BES) would substantially match Providence’s SEP funds to construct a $30,000 “green street” improvement on NE Glisan Street at NE 63rd Avenue.
MAX Study & Sullivan’s Gulch Trail Update – Richard Glenn reports that the next opportunity for residents to share their ideas and concerns with the MAX Station Review team will be on 11/12 at the Banfield Pet Hospital. And that the City’s rep/project leader, Tom Armstrong will be attending our next neighborhood association meeting on 11/18/08. No updates on the Sullivan’s Gulch trail tonight.
Community Connections/Outreach Committee – Shirley reports on efforts to re-energize and organize our Community Connect/Outreach committee. Possible that a work-group will form to focus intense outreach toward under-represented groups of people in our neighborhood. This is an issue that ONI and SEUL are seeking compliance with from all N.A.’s at this time. Shirley will offer her experience to this process of reviewing communications, decision-making and our overall accessibility by all neighborhood residents. For example, she just worked with ONI & IRCO to acquire a Somali language translation of the City’s Community Connect executive summary for inclusion in upcoming issue of newsletter.
Southeast Uplift – April briefly explains of the purpose and goals of SEUL and reviews issues addressed at a recent SEUL Board retreat; including a review of the group member’s unique skills and shared values. They talked about utilizing organizational structures that support taking the “long view” in planning and that are open to a “bottom-up” style of agenda setting. April reports that ONI is also working to establish new guidelines to increase public participation.
Communications Committee: Newsletter – Lisa Gorlin reports newsletter issue is on schedule but has a smaller crew this time. Website – Adrian reports he has performed several security updates and again requests that folks send in photos of ‘hood and invites participation in use of site. Brief discussion of the unique features of our site.
Rosemont Bluff Natural Area – April reports that work parties continue on 4th Saturdays of month from 9am 12pm. Describes small but enjoyable/successful “Volunteer Recognition” picnic on 9/27/08 and encourages neighbors to take in the new look of the area as there has been a large portion of the laurel hedge removed.
NEW BUSINESS:
Name Change Discussion – Residents used opportunity to discuss the impact of changing the name with including the “paperwork” and “branding” issues. Some felt the name change would be expensive and time consuming. DyLynn reported that at this time there is only a $50 fee for the State to change our registry name. Adrian wondered about tax-payer costs associated with City related changes and points out again that the time neighborhood volunteers and board members have spent on this issue could have well been used on other projects. General debate of the merits of “Center” and “North Tabor” was brief and poignant. In the end the voting itself ended up 37 in favor of a change to “North Tabor” and 11 in favor of remaining “Center.”
NEXT MONTH –
Monthly Meeting Tuesday November 18, 2008
7PM Portland Providence Cancer Center Conf. Room A/B
Board members, please Contact Joe and Jake at chair@centerpdx.org if you cannot attend the meeting.
Or contact them to help!!!!! For each meeting we need a timekeeper; a “host” to greet and sign-in folks before & once meeting has started: and someone to help with refreshments (and store the supplies).