MPNA MEETING NOTES 10-Apr-2008
1. SW Police Precinct Campaign: Wes McConnell, from the Crestwood NA, requested that the MPNA support the SWNI Crime Prevention and Safety Committee, and other SW neighborhoods in asking for a police precinct/mini-precinct or some type of police station be sited in the southwest. -- Currently we are served by the downtown precinct. There is also a small office in the Multnomah Arts Center.-- A precinct of any size would require parking, showers, dressing areas, and offices.-- Cost projection for renting such a facility is from $250,000 to $750,000.-- Staff cost would not increase, since officers currently assigned to SW would simply be switching their precinct location.-- Latest redistricting plan will increase the area which SW assigned officers cover, making response times longer. -- Neighbors debated how we could justify asking for such a facility when our crime levels are so low. -- Motion to write a letter to ask for a new precinct was defeated, 4-3. However, MPNA will draft a letter to the Police Commanders expressing concern with the size of the new SW district, noting that some think the solution is a new precinct, and asking that call response times be tracked for the next year. At a mimimum, we would like to keep a community office open, such as the one currently at the Multnomah Center.
2. Crime & Public Safety-- The usefulness of the Chief's Forum is being challenged. Citizen participants would like to use the forum to present community policing ideas to the police.-- We need to get in contact with the new police neighborhood liason, to see if he can attend our meetings.
3. Parks - Maricara Natural Area-- (which borders the SW corner of our neighborhood) got trail planning underway with a public meeting on April 8th. The Parks and Recreation Bureau asked for local input. However, since part of the land was purchased with natural area funding, the city's focus is on habitat preservation. They would like to reduce the number of trails cutting through the park to lessen the disturbance of nesting birds, etc.. In particular they would like to eliminate the central East-West path. -- The public requested: a variety of dry trails for humans and dogs, including some access to the wetland; benches to facilitate communing with nature and neighbors; an East-West corridor for Jackson students, bikers, and the rest of us (to avoid having to use SW Huber St.). -- To add your input go to: www.PortlandParks.org Click on the Project tab ... Natural Area Projects ... Maricara Natural Area. -- Parks & Rec will not encourage bike usage of trails in a natural area, but they will talk to PDOT about putting a trail through the undeveloped right of way at the North side of the park. They will post their trail proposal at the above web site on April 25th.-- The next Maricara Trail Planning meeting, on May 13th, will include a tour of the proposed trail layout.
4. Parks - Marshall Park -- Marshall Park trail planning will begin in 6 weeks, the first part of June, but the exact date of the first public meeting has not been set. We've been waiting for this for years!-- The Parks & Rec Bureau has put the Marshall Part footbridge replacement out to four engineering firms for bids. Our parks representative has been asked to join the current bid review and the future design review process.-- May 8th is the next City budget forum. MPNA needs to find out if the footbridge replacement still hinges on this next budget, and if so someone needs to be there (and miss our next monthly MPNA mtg.) to make sure that bridge funding is maintained.
5. History - Our historian contacted a grandson of the Marshall's, who donated the park, and learned about the original dam, swimming pool, and cottage. -- An Oregonian reporter was contacted, to see if a story on the park would generate more momentum for repairing the bridge. Looks like they are more interested in doing a story after the bridge is done. -- Suggestion was made to put history and pictures (if we can get them) on the future kiosk.
6. Southwest Neighborhood, Inc. (SWNI) News-- Multnomah Village's Centennial will be celebrated in August 2008. See http://www.multnomahhistorical.com/ for information, volunteer opportunities.-- A SWNI sponsored Candidates Fair will be held Tuesday, April 29, 2008 from 7:00 to 9:00 PM at the Multnomah Center, 7688 SW Capitol Hwy.
7. Action Plan - we need to create an action plan for our SWNI grant before May 19th (?). -- First cut would include: National Night Out, Kiosk & bench building, Friends of Marshall Park workparty support - especially directional signs
8. Neighborhood Emergency Team (NET) - The Marshall Park NET trained folks are invited to attend the Markham NET group's meetings. Markham's are at 7 PM, the 2nd Monday of each month (i.e. April 14th), at the Capitol Hill United Methodist Church (2401 SW Taylors Ferry Rd - opposite SW Lancaster). Meetings are in the basement where the daycare is located. If enough Marshall Park people show up then we might consider organizing our own meetings.