Wednesday, December 19, 2007 -7 pm
President Glenn Bridger called the meeting to order at 7:01 pm
Present: Kathy Bambeck, Glenn Bridger, Kirky Doblie, Nancy Hand, Amanda Fritz, Marcia Leslie, Marianne Fitzgerald, Tye Steinbach, Ken Love, Anne-Marie Fischer, Will Fuller, Jill Gaddis, Carolyn Raz, Susan Egnor, Wes Risher, Jim Thayer, Don Baack, John Gibbon
Staff: Sylvia Bogert
Guests: Launa Rae Mathews and Laura Campos
1. The agenda was approved after adjustments to replace Communications Committee report with Grants Committee report and to move the Transportation Committee Report up. The minutes of the November Board meeting were approved. The Introduction question was to name your favorite holiday food.
2. Launa Rae Mathews from the OHSU School of Nursing thanked the Board for having students to meetings to present and to observe the Board. A certificate of recognition was given to Sylvia Bogert for special help. Appreciation was also given to Glenn Bridger for his support.
3. 4T Trail: Don Baack and Jim Thayer reported on the 4T Trail process, showed the power point presentation done for City Council. They announced the Mayor is using $45,000 in discretionary funds from the Portland Development Commission to fund the project. Don Baack reported SWHRL and Friends of Marquam Nature Park helped develop the concept. SW Trails will do the work. Details at http://www.thayers.org/html/four_t .
4. Executive Committee Reports: First Vice President’s Ken Love announced plans for the Board retreat, to be held February 23, 2008 at Umpqua Bank’s South Waterfront branch. Sylvia Bogert gave the Treasurer’s report for Tom Schaper. President Glenn Bridger announced the joint meeting of committee chairs will be last week of January.
5. SWNI Executive Director Sylvia Bogert reported good turnouts for events: Somali Resource Fair, 4T etc. The Public Involvement Contract for radio tower replacement is now signed. Work will start in February. She has submitted the Public Involvement Contract for the Halo LID project. The Budget Advisory Committee work is progressing. Ken Love recommended reviewing the relevant websites to get information about the budget.
Standing Committee Reports
Transportation Committee
- Marianne Fitzgerald reported on two projects: the Halo LID pilots and the Safe Sound and Green Streets. Neighbors are asking surveys of what to include in pilots. Ken Love suggested Transportation Committee member be involved in city’s contractor choice. It was thought this would be a conflict of interest since SWNI has applied. She reported funding sources are changing on the SS&G Streets proposal. Funds are apparently being moved away from SW projects. Council presentation is January 9 with council vote on January 16. She advised would present SWNI testimony to carry our position. Motion carried unanimously to ask for accountability and to refocus on SW Portland deficiencies, and reinstitute the neighborhood need program to prioritize how the money is spent. Discussion of response short-notice changes to plans presented earlier at great length. Don Baack motion approved that SWNI write Commissioner Sam Adams and Portland City Council asking that hearing on Safe Sound and Green Streets scheduled in January be delayed for a month or longer so the residents and neighborhood associations may clearly understand the proposal and inform our citizens.
Laura Campos: reported she had learned that several southwest area annexation agreements included infrastructure promises which have not yet been kept. Motion approved that Laura be SWNI representative to research in archives on annexation issues.
Schools Committee
– Chair Will Fuller it’s still uncertain when Portland Association of Teachers president will address committee. PPS holding hearings on facilities planning with a west side meeting to be held on January 16 at Wilson High School.
Parks & Community Centers Committee
–Chair Kirky Doblie reported on meeting with Matt Grumm, Saltzman staff person and discussion about System Development Charges. The Committee will write Commissioner Saltzman regarding the vote on the Parks Board. Kirky reported that the teen programs at SWCC are very successful, including tutoring and counseling programs with input from Wilson High counselors.
Ken love: reported on Parks Bureau’s failure to include “soft costs” in budget for new parks in South Portland, resulting in substantial shortfall in funds available actually to build park facilities.
Jim Thayer: noted Parks Bureau is proposing increase in System Development Charges for commercial entities and Task Force difficulty in agreeing on level of increase. He also noted very little time allowed for public input on the new amounts.
Trails Committee
–Chair Don Baack reported on works parties’ accomplishments and good attendance at bike boulevard meeting. Said he was concerned at decisions being made re funding for SW Projects without public input
Land Use Committee
– Chair John Gibbon urged the group to vote on courtyard housing. He reported Bureau of Development Services developing committee to address “skinny” house concerns. He also advised of concerns that zoning code being revised as they go along.
Crime Prevention/Public Safety Committee
– Chair Nancy Hand reported Ruthann Bedenkop to help brainstorm increasing involvement. Committee also discussed having a mini-precinct for Southwest to cut response times. Committee members will reach out to their neighborhoods for grass roots support for mini-precinct. Identity theft consultant will speak to March meeting.
Jim Thayer said that redistricting is happening because of increased need in Southeast Portland. He noted Southwest topography makes response times slower in area anyway and decreasing service does not help.
Grants Review Committee
- Carolyn Raz and Tye Steinbach: There were 23 applicants with projects totaling almost $40,000 and only $21,300 was available. Six projects received no funding as requests did not measure up.
Board adjourned at 8: 50 pm.