Buckman Community Association

BCA Gen. Meeting Minutes; 11/12,/2001 & 01/2002

B.C.A. General Meeting Minutes; November, 2001

The meeting was called to order by Don MacGillivray at 7:00 p.m. in the meeting room at the Ritzdorf Apartments at S. E. Belmont and S. E. 12th Avenue. Board members present were, Don MacGillivray, Jim Sutherland,, Susan Lindsay, Kevin Kraus and Ann Bowling. Absent Board members were Tom Baker, Randall Howington, and Paul Iarrobino.

After introductions of everyone at the meeting, Officer Brenden McGuire gave an update on crime statistics in Buckman. He reported the there was a huge jump in car prowls in the inner Southeast area. There were 16 incidents reported in one night in Ladds Addition. The transient problems in the neighborhood seem to be disappearing as the weather turns colder. In response to our complaints last month about speeding along SE 20th near Belmont, he stationed himself in that area and wrote a number of speeding tickets for two nights in a row. Susan reported to him about the continual drug dealing going on in her block, around 16th and 17 and SE Alder. She also asked about any problems on the Esplanade. He said the issue of speeding bicycles seems to have been resolved, or at least it has not been an issue lately. He said skateboarders damaging the park is being looked into at present. He also said there is a problem with access, by transients to sheltered areas under the freeways, which they can get to through holes in the fencing along the Esplanade..

Susan next reported on recent developments regarding the Esplanade. The safety plan is not set up yet. Funding of call boxes is there, but not in place. Susan will continue to work with Parks to implement the safety items.

She reported the Holman Building, owned by ODOT and adjacent to the Esplanade and the Phase III area. The Phase III area has $8.1 million over the next five years. The Holman Building is the subject of a current conflict between PDC and Parks of its future. Neither can agree what to do with the facility. Rowers want it to become a water center for storing of row boats, etc. In the meantime, it remains empty with no future. Another problem that is not being addressed is public access to the park. Promised street improvements to link our neighborhood to the Esplanade have disappeared, despite the neighborhood being promised these links when the plan was originally presented a number of years ago.

Susan said there will be continued discussions about the Holman Building next week. There is some talk of involving OMSI in the discussion. The HANDS neighborhood, in whose area the Building is located, would like a light water craft facility, such as is being requested by local boatmen.. They want to leave OMSI out of the discussions and use the money currently available to start the renovation of the Building.

One plan is that the $8.1 million be used to buy the Holman Building, create the light water craft facility, purchase the land for the Crescent part of the Esplanade, get the studies done and then wait for future funding. Buckman, at present is supporting the HANDS position.

Kevin and Susan next reported on a meeting they had at Goodwill regarding job strategy and a zoning change CDIC would like to see for that area. The CDIC has also documented problems with alcohol sales at the Texaco station on MLK and the B-Complex, with the OLCC. Susan also reported that despite ONIs invitation to Buckman to be represented on the ONI-OLCC committee, she has run into a stone wall about getting someone from Buckman on the committee. ONI has not been at all helpful in this process.

The last half of the meeting was given over to Mike Powers, Ernie Bonner and Phil Goff who are from an organization called Riverfront for People - Eastbank Initiative. These gentlemen are urban planners and have developed a new concept for the future of the entire Eastbank area from the River to SE 7th and from about the Burnside Bridge to the Marquam Bridge eastside pilings.

They first listed some of the problems with the current configuration and use of this area. They are pollution of the air and the river, blocked access to the River, obstructed views, and adverse impact on land use. They went over a brief history of the West bank and the area prior to the development of Tom McCall Waterfront Park and the removal of the Harbor freeway.

Riverfront for Peoples first objective is to remove the current I- 5 freeway from its present location. They gave three options.

1. East bank tunnel in the same configuration that the current freeway is laid out.

2. Connect 1-5 and I-84 with an underground tunnel under SE 7th Avenue. In this plan I-405 becomes the new I-5 and there is a smaller bridge to replace the Marquam Bridge.

3. No freeway through the eastside at all. I-405 becomes I-5 and there is no new bridge and the Marquam Bridge is torn down..

They also spoke about the current railroad right-of-way through the area. They believe that new high speed train development would be idea for moving this right-of-way to an underground tunnel under SE Grand or SE 7th under a new underground freeway from Option 2 above.

They touched on the need for expanded mass transit development needed on the eastside which may include a subway extension, new bike and pedestrian network of paths. According to their plans, once the freeway is relocated, a lot of prime land is opened up for development. Some of the new ideas they have for this area is a light rail between the convention center and OMSI, the building of a new aquarium and the reclaiming of wetland in areas where old creeks emptied into the Willamette in the late 19th century.

Next, the gentlemen presented three options regarding development once the freeway is relocated. There are:

1. Option A - called for intense development. From the slides shown, this development appeared to look like the present Pearl District or downtown Portland. Many high-rise building and apartments. Riverfront for People wants the area to be a mix of housing, business and home for the current light industries located there now. They said they do not want to drive any of the current businesses in the CEID out of the area because of their plans.

2. Option B - Would have a 200 ft set back from the River and would be less dense and more open spaces.

3. Option C - Was a hybrid of the first two options and would bring back the old wetlands.

Riverfront for People would like the endorsement of the BCA. Not necessarily an endorsement for any particular plan, but an endorsement for the city to study their ideas for future development of this area. They listed a web site for more information at www.riverfrontforpeople.org.

There was only a short discussion after their presentation due to time restraints. There was some concern expressed that the intense development as pictured in some of the slides could drastically alter the area in such a way that small businesses currently there would be forced out and that the Buckman neighborhood, currently the home of many renters, would because of its being adjacent to this area, would become too expensive and lower income people would be driven out. The representatives said that they did not want this to happen and that along with the plans for developing their ideas, there would need to be provisions made along the way to avoid these displacement problems. The presenters were of the opinion that changes are going to come to this area, regardless and they are coming sooner than we think. They want to have some plan in place so that when the changes come, they are orderly and not haphazzard in such a way that resembles sprawl. They believe development should be done in such a way as to benefit the entire area as well as the City itself. They also stated that their ideas of developing the inner eastside area will help take pressure off of an ever expanding urban growth boundary.

Don MacGillivray adjourned the meeting at 8:55 p.m.

Minutes submitted by Jim Sutherland.

B.C.A. General Meeting Minutes; December, 2001

The meeting was called to order by Don MacGillivray at 7:05 p.m. in the meeting room at the Ritzdorf Apartments at S. E. Belmont and S. E. 12th Avenue. Board members present were, Don MacGillivray, Susan Lindsay, Jim Sutherland, and Paul Iarrobino. Marcia Dennis, SE Crime Prevention Specialist was also present. Paul, Jim and Susan brought refreshments. Board Members absent were Tom Baker, Kevin Kraus, Randall Howington and Ann Bowling. Others present: Dan Moran, Jim Neill, Christopher Snyder, Peter Blyt, Lee Perlman, Aron Homberg, Gykokuko Carlson, Kyogen Carlson, and Kakumyo Lowe


After introductions, Officer Brendan McGuire gave a short report regarding current crime in the neighborhood. He said that in response to the rash of car prowls he reported to us about last month, the Police Department conducted an number of "special missions." Subsequent raids on several transient camps turned up stolen property from a number of earlier reported car prowls. Officer McGuire said that the reports of new car prowls are down and hopefully they will stop as a result of the raids. He cautioned those attending to be careful about leaving identification papers in cars when parked. There has been a marked increase in the "stolen identities" market by people who have sophisticated means of reproducing drivers licences, etc. He asked Susan about the drug dealing she had reported in her area last month. Susan said that she had installed some signs warning potential drug dealers that the area was being videotaped. She said she has not had time to view the tapes.

Next, Marcia Dennis reported on progress regarding the Good Neighbor Agreement she has been working on with the Delta Methadone Clinic at S.E. 26th and Belmont. She is trying to arrange a meeting with Delta, Buckman, Sunnyside, a representative from Plaid Pantry at S.E. 30th and Belmont Business Association. She is going to try to set a meeting on January 17th among the above entities. The purpose would be to discuss the draft Good Neighbor Agreement in its present form. She will get back to the BCA if and when a date is selected. Don said that he felt the it may not be appropriate for the BCA to sign a Good Neighbor Agreement with Delta, inasmuch the good neighbor agreements are usually to cover the neighbors in the immediate area of a particular facility. He suggested that neighbors in the area of Delta and who are impacted are the more appropriate people to be consulted.

Marcia spoke about the need for Block Captains and that Jenny Leis is working on a flyer. There is a desire to get some new neighborhood block watches established and to reestablish old ones that are no longer active.

Next, the Dean of Students, Aron Homberg, at Central Catholic High School gave a short report about recent developments at the school. He said that the new pedestrian island at 24th and Burnside has been a great help for students trying to cross the busy intersection. The island was recently installed after a student was seriously injured at that location. He said that it appears the parking problems involving students and nearby residents has been solved as he has heard of no recent complaints from the neighbors. He reported that the school has done some beautification around the front of the school which included planting three new trees and working on old broken sidewalks. He reported to Officer McGuire about speeding along Stark Street in front of the school. He said the speeding is a particular danger around 7:30 -8:30 a..m. when students are going to the school and again between 2:30 and 3:30 p.m when they are leaving. Officer McGuire took note of his remarks.

The next item on the agenda was a presentation representatives of the Texaco Station on MLK and Ankeny, Dan Moran and his attorney Jim Neil. Mr. Moran oversees Texaco operations throughout the State of Oregon. He was attending this BCA meeting as a result of the recent OLCC meeting which Susan reported about at our last General Meeting. The liquor licence at this site was on the agenda of that OLCC meeting because there was a change of owner/operators of the station. This stretch of MLK is in a "liquor impact area." There have been a number of problems since the original licence was approved by the OLCC (over the objections of the BCA, CEID and a number of social service agencies). Texaco would like to work with the BCA to come up with a Compliance Plan which would outline how alcohol would be sold at this station, including the questions of when and what kind. Mr. Moran said that Texaco wants to work on a Compliance Agreement that will take into account what the neighborhood and the industrial area want and expect around the sales of alcohol in their area. He outlined Texacos state wide policy and practices which are strictly enforced by the corporation at all their stations/mini marts. Both Mr. Moran and Mr. Neil said they believed part of the overall problem statewide is that the OLCC does not have a consistent policy regarding alcohol sales at outlets such as the MLK site.

Since Susan has been so involved and is the best informed member of the Board about the OLCC and the licencing issues in our neighborhood, the Board members present collectively agreed that she should be the person from the BCA working with Texaco to create an acceptable Compliance Agreement. Once one is established it could possibly be used as an example for other neighborhoods with similar issues.

We next heard from representatives of the Dharma Rain Zen Center at S.E. 25th and Madison. Three members of the Center were present, including Gyokuko Carlson, Director who acted as spokesperson. The Center is applying for a conditional use permit for the house across the street from their meditation hall. The Center has been in the neighborhood since 1987 and in 1991 they acquired a conditional use permit for the meditation hall. Conditional use permit for the house which serves as residence will be so the Center can use the house for its office, library and small meetings. While the functions of the Center are not expected to change, this is a necessary formality that the City wants the Center to go through so that both buildings will be under one permit.

Ms. Carlson gave a brief history of the Centers interaction with the neighbors since the Center started. There were initially some problems around parking in the adjacent streets by visitors to the center. The Center was able to resolve them by educating their members about respecting the residents of the neighborhoods parking needs, by encouraging alternative transportation to and from the Center, "sandwich boards" out at times of events at the Center which might attract a large number of cars to the neighborhood, and by foot patrols from the Center.

The Center sent out letters to the immediate neighbors informing them of tonights meeting and inviting anyone to come with comments. No one was present who wanted to speak to this issue. Although Don and Susan got one negative e-mail which they shared with the group. Ms. Carlson and one of the other Center member spoke to the complaints in the e-mail. After a short discussion, Don asked Ms. Carlson what the Center wanted from the Board and she replied that they would like the BCA Boards support for their permit. Don asked the Board members what they thought our role should be in this situation. While the Center has a good reputation in the eyes of the BCA, the consensus was that since none of us live in the immediate vicinity of the Center, a neutral position would be the best approach. That is the BCA neither approves nor disapproves of this conditional use permit. Don explained that the reality is that the City is more interested to hear if there is opposition from a neighborhood. We suggested to Ms. Carlson that she have the neighbors who support the Center to immediately write letters to the City with their support, as they are the people most affected by the activities of the Center. If the Center were to have some sort of issue with the City in which the support of the BCA was necessary, then we asked that they come back and we would reconsider. This answer seemed to satisfy the members of the Center who were present.

Next, we discussed the Bulky Waste project, operated by the Central Northeast Neighbors slated to happen January 26, 2002 in Buckman. We asked the Dean of Central Catholic if he thought we could have students from Central Catholic help with blanketing apartment houses in the neighborhood with door hangers on about January 12th. He will find out from the administration at the school. He said he would need more detail of how the BCA wanted the students to help with this project. Paul will be the liaison between the school and SEUL and/or CNN to get the information to Central Catholic.

We also reviewed the flyer which Jenny has prepared. We agreed to e-mail any suggestions to Jenny within the next week. Jim and Paul are going to work with CNN the week between Christmas and New Years on stuffing and sealing the envelopes for the mass mailing to Buckman residents. Other volunteers are welcome to help out too. Paul will find out from Sabrina what and where the work is to be done. There is a possibility that some students from Central Catholic may be able to help but that was not definitely determined at this point.

Next Susan gave a quick run down on the latest regarding the Holman Building and the proposed light water craft center. PDC and Parks have been at odds over whether or not this project is going to happen and whether or not the building should be torn down or remodeled . Whatever happens, money is being taken away from Phase III of the Esplanade. At present the final plans are still up in the air.

She also briefly reported on the PDC job strategy for the CEID with a focus on the lower Burnside/MLK area. PDC is supposedly planning on revitalizing this area by trying to draw in new businesses and rehabilitate old business already in operations there. A by-product is hopefully jobs paying livable wages.

Don reported that the SEUL Healthy Neighborhood Project seems to be struggling. Not all south east neighborhoods are giving the project support. What the outcome of this project is not clear at present.

The Dean of Students at Central Catholic announced that the school would be on a "practice lock down" on Friday. Neighbors might expect to see a number of police cars at the school during this practice drill. This drill is to prepare the school students and the administration for an emergency in the school or in the immediate area.

Don announced that speakers form the Good Government Initiative will be on the agenda at our January 10th meeting. He asked Jim to contact Nancy Tanler at the Southeast Examiner about getting some extra space to advertise this event.

We also need to find out which date Ann Hughes told Kevin would work for the Chili Feed. If and when we get a date from Ann Hughes, we need to start the work necessary to make the event happen.

There being no other business, Don adjourned the meeting at 8:50 p.m.

Minutes submitted by Jim Sutherland.

B.C.A. General Meeting Minutes; January, 2002

The meeting was called to order by Paul Iarrobino at 7:00 p.m. in the meeting room at the Ritzdorf Apartments at S. E. Belmont and S. E. 12th Avenue. Board members present were Don MacGillivray, Susan Lindsay, Jim Sutherland, Paul Iarrobino, Randall Howington, Ann Bowling and Kevin Kraus. Tom Baker was the only Board member absent. Also present was Laura, one of the Dean of Students at Central Catholic High School. Later in the meeting Laura said that she wanted the Board to know that Central Catholic would be willing to offer its facilities if the BCA ever needed a larger meeting area.

Note: there was no regular BCA Board meeting held on the scheduled date of January 3 due to numerous conflicts for various Board members.

After introductions, Officer Brendan McGuire gave a short report regarding current crime in the neighborhood. He passed out information charts and maps showing the crime statistics in Buckman for the last quarter. He said that from these statistics he has seen no increase or decrease in crimes in the neighborhood. A resident asked Officer McGuire about what he perceives as an increase in problems around St. Francis Church. The resident said that he noticed more camping, shopping carts and loitering in the area of the park and he wanted to know what could be done. Ann Bowling who works at St. Francis asked the resident for some clarification of what he had said. Several members of the Board suggested that the resident get in touch with Marsha Dennis, Crime Prevention Specialist at SEUL. Officer McGuire suggested that the Agreement that St. Francis signed several years ago with the neighborhood be examined to see what is to be done when problems such as these arise. Officer McGuire reported that there are the same problems on the Esplanade with the bikers and the skateboarders.

Susan next reported on a liquor licence request for a proposed wine bar called "The Noble Rot" to be opened at 28th and Ankeny. Susan said the only problem at this point is that it appears that 30 to 40% of the sales will be "out-the-door" sales. While the 2 owners say the cost of the wine will be expensive, the neighborhood is concerned about the possibility of this establishment becoming one more place for homeless and street people to obtain alcohol. Susan said that the owners seem to be reasonable and want to be accommodating, so she is going to contact Marsha Dennis to see about crafting a simple agreement with the owners regarding the sale of their packaged items. Susan has notified OLCC about our concerns.

Next, came a discussion about what is being done by Board members in regards to promoting the Bulky Waste Pickup scheduled for Buckman on January 26. Stuffing of the envelopes has been done by various Board members and the mailings have gone out to home owners. On Saturday, January 12, Board members will be meeting at Central Catholic High School to coordinate the 16 high school volunteers who will be passing out the flyers to all apartment houses and other rentals in the neighborhood.

Next, we discussed plans for the upcoming fund raiser in the form of the Chili Feed to be held at Anne Hughes Kitchen Table Caf on February 23rd. Kevin is taking the lead on this and he is having a meeting at his house on January 16th for Board members to work out the details and assign various duties. The graphic for an ad to appear in the SE Examiner publicizing the event was passed around by Jim. Money to pay for the ad was approved and Jim will get the graphic to Nancy Tannler this week.

Susan gave a brief update on the latest money problems around finishing the Esplanade. It seems now there is no money available to renovate the Holman Building. There is also a debate about how many cameras to put in for security on the Esplanade. Besides the cost, there is concern about privacy issues. CEID wants a lot of coverage. There has been some patrolling by the Security officers, but not the Portland Police Department. There is also some concern that shifting to cameras and away from actual security patrols will lessen the security in that area.

Don reported that the Healthy Neighborhood Project seems to be stalled at present. It is functioning but does not seem to be able to drum up interest or support among the various neighborhood associations. He would like to have a discussion of the is topic at the next Board meeting.

The last half of the meeting was turned over to Robert Ball who is the chief petitioner for the Good Government Initiative (GGI). After introducing himself, Mr. Ball gave the meeting a overview of his plan to change the city government of Portland through his initiative. According to Mr. Ball, the GGI would bring district representation and balanced government to Portland. He sees a conflict in the present system where each elected official has two jobs. They vote on ordinances and they manage several bureaus. He feels that experience managers who are not elected officials would do a better job managing the current bureaus. He alluded to the recent computer mess in the Water Bureau. The mayor would become the head of an executive branch overseeing experienced bureau managers, under the GGI.

Under the GGI, the city would be divided into seven districts. Residents living in those districts would elect a council member from their own district. Two council members would be elected at large. District representatives would be required to have an office in their district.

Mr. Ball spoke about the costs if the GGI were to pass in the May election. He said that the costs would not go up compared to the present system, but would possibly go down as there would be fewer staff people because council members would no longer manage the city bureaus. Also, the bureaus would be working together, something he feels they do not do now.

He said that the GGI offers more efficiency than the present system because the bureaus and city offices would be working together sharing resources in a cost saving manner. In answer to the question of whether or not the GGI would create a mayor who could become too strong, he said that written into the GGI is a provision which makes the mayor no longer a council member, but could veto ordinances. However, the council could with six of the nine votes override the mayors veto.

Mr. Ball would like the support of the BCA for the GGI. He will be turning in 40,000 signatures next week. Since only 26,000 are required, it appears that this measure will be on the May ballot. After his presentation, Mr. Ball answered questions from various Board members and other residents.

At the next Board meeting, it was decided that we need to coordinate the sign in sheets and refreshments, so that there is no confusion about who is responsible for these items at the General Meetings.

There being no other business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m.

Minutes submitted by Jim Sutherland.