A record of the Southwest Hills Residential League (SWHRL) and Bridlemile neighborhood boundary overlap.
2004
The SWHRL Neighborhood Association filed a grievance with ONI regarding the overlapping boundaries it shares with Bridlemile, Homestead, and Hillsdale neighborhoods. ONI asked the neighborhoods to consider mediation; Bridlemile, Homestead, and Hillsdale agreed to mediate, but SWHRL chose not to mediate and have ONI decide the issue. When ONI decided against SWHRL, SWHRL filed a lawsuit against the City.
March 9th 2005
At theBNA meeting Jimmy Brown of the Office of Neighborhood Involvement gave a good overview of Southwest Hills Residential League (SWHRL)'s lawsuit with the City regarding its overlapping boundaries and freedom of speech claims regarding mandatory dues. Rich Williams (a neighbor and attorney who lives in the Bridlemile/SWHRL overlap) and a lawyer from Hillsdale suggested that the City should NOT go into arbitration with SWHRL since doing so would exclude Bridlemile, Hillsdale, and Homestead neighbors from participating. A motion was made for the board to take a straw vote regarding whether or not the City should go into arbitration under those terms, and for the BNA board to formally vote again at the April meeting and for the results of that vote to be put before those neighbors attending the April meeting. The straw vote recommending the City to NOT go into arbitration under the terms offered was unanimous. Rich Adelmann moved that Bridlemile establish a legal committee, and a committee consisting of Rich Adelmann, Kathy Bambeck, and Rich Williams was formed.
Since then the City has made an Offer of Judgement to SWHRL, for details please see:
• "City settles suit on overlapping neighborhoods" by Fred Leeson in the Wednesday March 23rd, 2005 Oregonian.
• "SWHRL accepts City's offer of judgment" by Sylvia Bogert on page 2 of the April 2005 SWNI News
• "City offers judgement in lawsuit" by Tracy Stepp on page 1 of the April 2005 Southwest Connection
April 13th 2005
In a letter SWHRL asked Bridlemile to make a proposal regarding the boundary overlap area.
May 11th 2005
At the 2005 BNA meeting, the Legal Committee presented a proposal letter
Proposal Letter BNASBP.pdf 52 KB / 2 pages
52 KB / 2 pages
which was approved, and sent to SWHRL the next day.
August 11 2005
Jim Thayer, President of SWHRL, met with Kathy and announced that SWHRL has accepted BNA's proposal to continue with the BNA/SWHRL boundary overlap. SWHRL is in agreement that it is best for the people in the area to choose which NA to join or to join both if wanted. He will draft a resolution to be signed and sent to ONI. This will end BNA's part of the overlap issue. When the other NA's are settled he plans to have an ice cream social with all four of the associations to celebrate.
September 14 2005
Jim Thayer, President of SWHRL, talked at the monthly BNA meeting. They have accepted our offer to continue with the overlap, but that acceptance is open for public comment for 60days before it becomes final. Also at his request, the BNA agreed to allow a six month extension of time to the negotiations until March 2006, for a boundary dispute resolution between SWHRL and the BNA.
October 20 2005
An historic event took place at OHSU's School of Nursing. Kathy Bambeck of the Bridlemile NA and Jim Thayer, President of SWHRL signed a joint resolution
Joint Resolution BNAFnlRsln.pdf 116 KB / 1 page
116 KB / 1 page
agreeing to allow the overlap to remain. Residents in the overlap area can choose to participate in the Bridlemile, SWHRL, or both neighborhood associations. With the boundary resolution now resolved Rich Williams resigned from the committee. Thank you Rich, Kathy, and Rich for the many hours you spent on seeing this resolution to completion.
• Map of the SWHRL neighborhood showing overlaps with Bridlemile and other neighborhoods, bridlemile 5 05.pdf(544KB).
Related Articles:
• "SWHRL wins 10K Judgment from city, grievances continue" by Kendall Beaudry, on page 5 of the May 2005 Multnomah Village Post.
• "SW fights and we all pay the cost" by Renee Mitchell in the Wednesday May 18th, 2005 Oregonian.
• "Residents oust Southwest Hills association president" by Fred Leeson in the Friday May 20th, 2005 Oregonian.
• "Southwest neighborhood vote draws lawsuit, two grievances" by Fred Leeson in the Friday May 27th, 2005 Oregonian.
• "Southwest Hills Residential League votes in new leadership at general meeting" by Sylvia Bogert on page 1 of the June 2005 SWNI News
• "SWHRL boundary settlement leaves number of unanswered questions" by Linda Bonder, on page 3 of the June 2005 Multnomah Village Post.
• "SW Hills board president voted out, files lawsuit" by Tracy Stepp on page 1 of the June 2005 Southwest Connection
• "Sue your neighbor? Means to a bad end" by Renee Mitchell on page B1 of the June 6, 2005 Oregonian
• "Letter by Blythe Olson" the June 6, 2005 at the Oregonian online.
• "Judge rejects suit among neighbors" by Fred Leeson in the July 19, 2005 Oregonian online.
If you have questions or comments regarding the boundary overlap resolution, please contact the BNA SWHRL Boundary Issue Committee by clicking here.