Aproved Minutes North Tabor Neighborhood Association 7 PM January 20, 2009 Providence Cancer Center Conference Room D – Meeting Adjourned around 8:45 PM Notes Submitted by DyLynn Robertson, Secretary C.N.A.
INTRODUCTIONS & WELCOME – Jake welcomes and asks for self-introductions of attendees.
Board Members Present: April Burris, Jacob Wollner, DyLynn Robertson, John Rusoff, Rey Ko, Joe Recker, Robert Jordan, Shirley Nacoste (Absent: Michael Blair, Sam Fuqua, Sean Besso, Adrian Russell-Falla) Committee Members & Neighbors: Lisa Gorlin, Richard Glenn, Lee Perlman (Press), Lori Kennedy, Cathy Ridell, Diane Wells, Kyle Burris, Candice Jordan. Tim O’Neil (SEUL)
SUMMARY OF ACTIONS TAKEN:
Approved November 2008 Meeting Minutes (7 in favor – Nacoste absent at time of vote). Approved request from Communications Committee for $25 per issue/ad related mailing (all in favor).
MEETING GROUND RULES – reviewed by Jacob.
NEIGHBORHOOD POLICE – No report this evening. DyLynn will confirm with Officer Pickett that they are receiving notice about our meetings.
BOARD & COMMITTEE REPORTS – as follows…
Treasurer – John reports balance as of January 20, 2009 $1,379.01 checking; $2375.06 money market with deposit from ads to be made and $1,347.62 to be paid out for Jan/Feb. issue of newsletter.
Secretary – DyLynn asks for approval of last meeting minutes. Board approves. Jake reminds that past minutes are on NTNA Google lists…DyLynn clarifies that past “approved” minutes are posted.
Land Use – Sean unable to attend meeting. Jake will ask for later submission/update from Sean.
Southeast Uplift – April reports that Executive Director, Cece Hugley Noel has resigned; SEUL Board has appointed and April will participate on a “transition team.” TACS will support the process with transition services. SEUL Board went through a “practise exercise” to help with determining the likely to come budget cuts the city will be facing. Recent hosting of “Civic Ecology” salon with Tim Smith from PSU. Efforts are underway to rename a street in honor of Cesar Chavez (Grand, 39th and Broadway are being considered) – there will be open community dialog on Jan. 29 (TBA). SEUL’s building is in need of a new heating system – has potential to be a demonstration project for green heating system. www.southeastuplift.org
Guest Tim O’Neil, SEUL will attend our meetings quarterly and reminds us that there is a Pedestrian Rights and Legal Clinic being hosted at SEUL at 6:30 p.m. on 1/22. Jake asks if Sunnyside Neighborhood’s water heating project is something that we could partner with…Tim reports it is only offered to residents who live within local area. (see http://sunnysideneighborhoodenergy.wikispaces.com/Welcome ) Brief discussion about the solar panel installation at the Juvenile Justice Center – largest of three recently installed by Mult. County (see http://www.commissionercogen.com/2008/06/facts_on_county.html ). Tim announced a “bulk buying” residential solar energy program being offered by a California company – looking for a neighborhood to take on a demonstration program. Jake will look into this further.
Friends of Trees – Robert reports registration for trees extended to 1/26/09. Trees must be paid for by March 2 to be planted! So far 60 residents have registered, he estimates that 75-80% will actually plant and illustrates with map of intended planting sites in ‘hood. NTNA will need to supply volunteers to help with mulch delivery prior to planting day (Jake volunteers his truck) as well as supporting volunteers and delivering and setting in the trees on March 21. City digs the holes. Be prepared to sign-up at NTNA’s February monthly meeting. Joe will get details on volunteering to Providence’s newsletter. Candice will ask local newsletter advertisers if they might donate refreshments for volunteers.
Communications Committee:
Newsletter – Kudos given to the stellar layout by Lisa G. and Tom W. and thanks all volunteers who contributed. General agreement that newsletter continues to be a viable tool for reaching neighbors and we are receiving more submissions of neighborhood related articles. Next issue deadline is February 10. DyLynn raises concern that the six issue per year schedule is over-taxing the volunteers. Candice, Jake and Cathy feel different and that with additional volunteers the work can be done. DyLynn states that communication among the group has been challenging and that an upcoming meeting with SEUL’s communication person, Ruthann Bedenkop is in the works. Shirley asks about how we are reaching apartment complexes. Candice reviews the process, including use of list from AdMail (DyLynn reminds that if you have had your name removed from their list to reduce “junk mail” you won’t get our newsletter either). Candice suggests using the mailing list to reach apartments and closed buildings for each issue, and rotating the mailed out portion to include those distribution “areas” where we are lacking volunteers – so each area get mailed 1-2 times per year. April suggests site distribution where people can pick them up versus door-to door delivery. Jake and Candice suggest subscription via mail or on-line. Robert reminds that our advertisers would likely prefer we continue with the delivery of paper copies. Jake states the environmental off-set related to on-line subscription and wants to be sure we include mailings to SEUL, ONI, City of PDX and elected reps. John worries that 6 issue per year cycles will tax our funds (and delivery folks too). Asks how long it will be before newsletter is self-sustaining from ad revenues and is concerned that a delivery process that becomes too complex will also tax volunteers. Rey inquires about non-profit status for bulk mailing ( we use SEUL’s non-profit bulk mail permit). Discussion also included suggestions to completely saturate the ‘hood with newsletters for the May events (board elections and clean-up event); skipping months when volunteers are few; not skipping months to “stay on track” and keep obligations with advertisers. Candice asked for $25 per issue budget to send/copy advertising packets. Robert moved that motion and it passed (all in favor).
Website – DyLynn wonders “where we are” at this time and if Adrian had confirmed the purchase of the new web domain. Adrian was not able to attend. DyLynn will contact him to check in. Robert brings up SEUL offer to host a page on their site. Discussion included review of goal of “one place/site” for all communications
and archiving. Candice would like to know more about the site at SEUL and will contact Ruthann Bedenkop accordingly. Jake proposed that we get more info and vote on what to do at next month’s meeting.
Sullivan’s Gulch Trail Update – Robert notes that a part-time staff has been funded for prelim work. He attend Park’s budget meeting where it was reported that at least a 5% budget cut is on the immediate horizon. However, maintenance of natural areas and trails showed up on the priority list which is good for Rosemont Bluff efforts and has no big effect on the Sullivan’s Trail project.
Rosemont Bluff Natural Area – April reported no work party in December. DyLynn stated that there was confusion about the rescheduling of the work party to earlier in month to accompany middles school students as a result of her putting the right date,wrong day in newsletter. April states that the view from atop the bluff has changed as result of many non-native trees being removed. DyLynn states there is still laurel that needs to been cut and cleaned up and April will call to remind Parks folks. April reminds that upcoming work party is on for 1/24 from 9am-12pm. Discussion about possible Earth Day event (DyLynn, April and Shirley said they’d be willing to help work on this). April will submit something to newsletter about RBNA.
SEP Update –.Quick recap of the subsidy to Friends of Trees for our ‘hood’s planting that came from Providence related to SEP. Ivy at BDS has confirmed the green street treatment at 63rd & Oregon is a go ahead and the crosswalk improvement design is nearly complete. Money from SEP has been matched by City and project will likely begin in late March or April. The apartment owners adjacent are supportive and BES will send letter to property owners in immediate area of intersection this week.
MAX Study – Richard Glenn reports that the City sponsored community work group met last week…a refined proposal for the 60th Street Station will be released 2/28/09 at a meeting at Providence (TBA). Reps from City of Pdx planning will also schedule to attend a NTNA monthly meeting in March or April to review implementation of the plan (i.e. zoning changes along Glisan). Once this planning is complete, funding
sources can be secured (hopefully!). These zoning changes will likely address the industrial area north of the station; stepping down the R1 within the neighborhood to R2 and keep the R1 zones more along the main throroughfares; and rezoning the area along Glisan to match the business that exist there now. The bike route connection on 63rd and Glisan and the area along NE 60th toward Halsey where there are very narrow sidewalks will also be discussed. Richard suggests sending comments or questions to him at richard@relicsofglass.com. Jake asks to schedule a special meeting to get more specific and submit our NTNA best recommendations to Tom Armstrong, et al . Richard states that this would be okay but feels this has already happened at the project’s open house/walk-n-talk events and NTNA November 2008 meeting.
Community Connections/Outreach Committee – Shirley reflects on the events over the past several years of her involvement that have been successful in developing are more inclusive NA. Reminds that it is important to continue this work and want to be sure we look to improve and increase our efforts to develop and environment where all people feel included in the community. Shirley comments to the Chairs and fellow board members that having “Outreach/Connections” on the agenda looks good, but that we really need to find out why people aren’t showing up. Suggests that the board appears not inclusive and very friendly and want to change that with more focused outreach to the neighborhood. Would like more follow-through from the board to see that recommendations are acted upon. Robert reminds that we do have vacancies coming up on the board and that all people are encouraged to come and serve. DyLynn proposes a work-group of the Community Connections/Outreach Committee form to recommend specific ways to broaden our efforts to draw from the neighborhood residents and increase participation on the board. Suggestions and recollections include Shogren House and Earth Day events that were and could be held to reach more neighbors. Rey feels strongly that there is untruthfulness among the board and “no transparency.” Several other board members disagree. Shirley would like NTNA to “partner” with the Immigrant & Refugee Community Organization (IRCO) of which she is a member and their delegate to SEUL. Jake suggest that she could arrange to have a member of the IRCO Board attend our next meeting to discuss the program and their projects as a way to explore how NTNA could work with the group.
Neighborhood Clean-Up Committee – it is uncertain at this meeting who will chair this event…someone will check in with Sean as he worked on this last year. Tentative date is May 13 and there is a training at SEUL coming up in March. Jake recommends that folks be ready to “sign-up” to help at next monthly meeting.
Other – Shirley and others point out that the recognition of participants from the chair is not always in order of hands being raised and wants everyone to be paying closer attention so people who want to speak are heard with ample time allotted.
NEXT MONTH – MEETING IS ON FEBRUARY 17…SAME PLACE AND TIME.
Board members, please Contact Joe and Jake at chair@centerpdx.org when you cannot attend the meeting.