Meetings of 2005
Wednesday December 14th - No Meeting - Happy Holidays
Wednesday November 9th -Diaster Preparedness
Keturah Pennington gave a summary of things to consider in planning what your family will need to have done in advance, and be ready to do, when the next earthquake, windstorm, flood or other disaster strikes Portland. Your plan needs to be custom fit to suit your situation. The most important tool you have in a disaster is your ability to think flexibly and creatively; those present talked about some creative solutions to typical situations. Keturah passed out a handout with suggestions of what to include in your Disaster Kit, which as we have learned recently, you may have to depend on for much more than 72 hours.
Contact: Kathy Bambeck,
kathybambeck@spiritone.com,503-245-2634
Wednesday October 12th - Safe Routes to Schools(SR2S); Pedestrian Safety
Lynne Mutrie, from the Alliance for community Traffic Safety in Oregon, and Lillie Fitzpatrick SWNI Transportation Chair, spoke about the pilot
Safe Routes to Schools program at Bridlemile Elementary School. They are actively seeking interested parents who can meet once a month thru the school year to help with this pilot effort. If you would like help or just participate, please
Contact: Lynne Mutrie,
lynnem@actsoregon.org, 503-656-7329; and Lillie Fitzpatrick
See also
walkNBike.org
Wednesday September 14th - Neighborhood Projects 2005-2006, Jim Thayer
Jim Thayer, President of SWHRL spoke about the future of SWHRL and its relationship with Bridlemile, Homestead and Hillsdale. SWHRL looks forward to working with its neighbors on issues that we all share, such transportation OHSU affects on transportation loads on our streets, pedestrian improvements on Dosch, and other issues that affect neighborhoods in common. He also suggested that we try to find someone in our overlap area who would serve on both boards. Lynne Mutrie, from the Alliance for community Traffic Safety in Oregon, and Lillie Fitzpatrick SWNI Transportation Chair, talked about the pilot SR2S program at Bridlemile Elementary School (come to October 12th BNA meeting to learn how to participate or help). Kathy and Jim Thayer talked about the SWHRL Ice Cream social (see October 2 on Events page for details). Rich and Greg talked about tree mitigation plan at one of the Sempler properties.
Contact: Victor von Salza
Tuesday August 2nd - BNA Annual National Night Out Potluck Picnic
Bridlemile neighbors engaged in lively conversation over good food at our most fun event of the year at Albert Kelly Park.
Contact: Kathy Bambeck,
kathybambeck@spiritone.com, 503-245-2634
July - Gone Fishiin'
Traditionally the BNA does not meet in July. Hope to see you in August at our Annual National Night Out Potluck Picnic.
Wednesday June 8th - Hamilton Park, SWHRL, BNA walking tours
Committee reports: Bridlemile Elementary School has been chosen as a pilot Safe Routes to Schools school. Now that the issue of the parking restrictions is closed, some members of the Hamilton Foot Patrol, Scott Westerman, and Stephanie Reynolds, had an open discussion with those present to help find other potential solutions and how to go about implementing them. More foot patrol members are needed, a committment of even just once this Summer would help. The BNA Legal Committee reported that SWHRL acknowledged receipt of our letter (proposing to continue the existing SWHRL/BNA boundary overlap) saying that it was going to their boundary committee, and new elected/contested SWHRL president Jim Thayer also wrote saying that resolving the boundary issues is one of his top priorities once the election is resolved. The meeting ended with discussion and ideas for neighborhood walking tours based on different themes (history, architecture, parks, points of interest) etc. Walking tours of Bridlemile four parks, of significant trees, of homes that have been naturescaped, and a tour of Bridlemiles developments were suggested as initial themes for walks. If you have suggestions for one or more stops that could be featured on such a walk, please contact: Ginger Danzer, ggdanz@comcast.net, 503-292-9460
Wednesday May 11th - Affordable Housing, SWHRL, BNA Elections
In addition to our monthly committee reports regarding on going projects...
Martha McLennan (Executive Director of
Northwest Housing Alternatives ) gave a very informative presentation and excellent answers to questions regarding affordable housing in the Portland area. For information on affordable housing in the greater Portland area visit
www.housingconnections.org
Rich Adelmann of the Legal Committee presented the draft proposal letter regarding the SWHRL boundary issue.
Elections were held, and the BNA Board were unamiously relected. The BNA Board are still looking for a Transportation chair; and co-chairs for each committee.
Contact: Greg Schifsky, gregl@q.com, 503-246-2714
Wednesday April 13th - Offer of Judgement to SHWRL
Since the March BNA meeting the City has made an Offer of Judgement to SHWRL. Jimmy Brown, Director of the Office of Neighborhood Involvement, was to discuss the Offer of Judgement at our April Meeting, but due to family issues he was not able to come.
For details on the settlement please see: "SWHRL accepts City's offer of judgment" by Sylvia Bogert on page 2 of the April SWNI News, "City offers judgement in lawsuit" by Tracy Stepp on page 1 of the April 2005 Southwest Connection, "City settles suit on overlapping neighborhoods" by Fred Leeson in the Wednesday March 23rd Oregonian, and the BNA Legal Committee web page for a complete history of the issue.
Wednesday March 9th - Jimmy Brown regarding SWHRL, Hamilton Park Closing Hours, Land Use and Transportation Issues
At an ONI meeting on Monday Feb 28th reps from the BNA board were briefed on whether to go to arbitration verses a trial regarding SWHRLs claims. The city is leaning toward arbitration which would bring this matter to a close. It is quicker than a trial, which would take years, and be more intimidating to the witnesses. Jimmy Brown will visit Bridlemile NA on March 9, to get our opinions and concerns from us.
How Would Arbitration Work?: There is one arbitrator in a conference room, usually a retired judge chosen by our attorney and SWHRL's attorney together. Each attorney brings witnesses. They are questioned by the attorneys like in a courtroom. The arbitrator listens then decides in favor of one side or the other, and that is binding. It is like at a round or oval table, not intimidating like you see on TV, no jury, no cross, etc. It eliminates the emotions found in a federal courthouse trial. And it is easier to do.
The Hamilton Park Foot patrol and Public Safety Chair of the Bridlemile Neighborhood Association (BNA) is preparing a proposal regarding the closing hours of Hamilton Park to discussed at the meeting. This Proposal is to permanently change the closing time from midnight to 10pm, all nights. This is in response to continuing problems at the park with drinking, speeding on streets around the park, loud music from cars parked at the Park. The recently formed Foot Patrol has been very effective at discouraging the problem behavior but the Patrol can not always be on duty. Other parks in Portland have earlier closing times to address public safety concerns. If you plan to speak (versus comment) at the meeting regarding this topic, please contact Tom Doberstein by March 4th.
Also what Land Use or Transportation issues in Bridlemile are of most concern to you? The BNA is collecting input to forward to the city and to help plan our own efforts for this year.
Contact: Tom Doberstein, t.doberstein@comcast.net,
503-319-5884 Safety & Crime Prevention Chair
Thursday March 10th - Saving the Trees of Bridlemile and SW Portland
The remaining streams in upland areas of SW Portland are listed as "degraded" by EPA and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. These stream reaches do not function under Oregon's Goals for clean water and are limited in their ability to sustain fish populations. A Large tree canopy helps mitigate storm water power, provides cool water that is necessary for maintaining water quality in streams, and provides humans with cleaner and cooler air and also aesthetic beauty. Please join in an exploration of the ways and means to save and protect our remaining urban forests.
Contact: Greg Schifsky,
gregl@q.com, 503-246-2714
Wednesday February 9th - School Community Connections
We met with Debi Bradway principal, and Melinda McCrossen librarian and media specialist at Bridlemile Elementary and talked about how we can help each other and thereby students and parents of the neighborhood. For information about Bridlemile Elementary School please visit the
Bridlemile Elementary School web page.
Contact: Ginger Danzer,
ggdanz@comcast.net, 503-292-9460
Wednesday January 12th - Neighborhood Projects 2004 & 2005
Accomplishments of our ongoing, and plans for future, neighborhood projects were discussed. New projects that were proposed included: listing current LURs on the BNA Land Use page; Walking Tours of Bridlemile based on different criteria, e.g. architecture, trees, history, cool places; Trees, getting better enforcement of current codes, improving the codes, and encouraging neighbors to plant appropriate trees on ther properties. Watch for new and updated web pages here at the BNA website for these projects in the coming months... and please any suggestions you may have regarding them to Victor. To learn how the BNA can help you start and promote your own project via the SWNI news, BNA website, and other methods
Contact: Victor von Salza,
victor@vonsalza.com, 503-246-2146
For events prior to 2005 please see the SWNI News Archives