Buckman Community Association

BCA Board Mtg Minutes 06/05/03

BCA Board Meeting Minutes for June 5th, 2003.

The meeting on June 6th, 2003 was held at Anne Hughes’ Kitchen Table Caf?©, which will be our new meeting pace as of this month. Present were Board Members: Susan Lindsay, Ani Haines, Jack Maynard, Joshua Bickle, M’Lou Christ, Anne Hughes and Lily Witham. Neighbours Ed Lyle and Sarah Nolte (aka Blossom Bee) were also in attendance, along with Marcia Dennis from Office of Neighbourhood Involvement, and two non-neighbourhood guests; Jim Mayer, representing SHIFT (a local bicycle group) ad his friend Carie Wesisenbach-Folz.

Officer Randy Butler gave the Buckman Crime Update as our usual SNO- Officer Jim McMurray was on vacation. Crime statistics are rising, which is common during the summer. Officer Butler feels that some types of crime activities are moving east, as he has seen several prostitutes familiar to him from Buckman working on 82nd. Avenue. The Police Department has cleared the St. Francis Park for re-opening, as of June 5th. The Church is planning re-opening ceremonies for June 14th.

More discussion on St. Francis continued with a report from Ani Haines, who served on the Ad-Hoc Committee that worked extensively on defining parameters for St. Francis to observe. Ani provided copies of the new Park Rules and Prohibited Activities, as set by the Ad-Hoc Committee. There are 22 Rules and prohibited Activities. Several members of the Board voiced their concerns about the Park re-opening during the summer, as that is when park usage is at it’s highest and crime activities escalate.

The President of the security firm that handles the St.Francis Campus was identified as Knute Solem and his cell phone and dispatch numbers were given to everyone at the meeting. (Dispatch 503.731.0514 and cell 971.235.4417.) Anne Hughes made the suggestion that the BCA invite Mr. Solem to attend one or more of our meetings.

Jack Maynard invited everyone to attend his party on June 27th, potluck dinner at 7PM, with movies to be shown after dark (on the wall of the methadone clinic next door to his house!)

Guest Jim Mayer made an announcement of a bicycle event to be hosted by the group SHIFT. The event will take place at the Multnomah County Bike Fair on Saturday June 28th at Colonial Sumners Park (20th and Belmont) from 2-7PM. There will be bicycling events, presentations and vendor demonstrations. More information on SHIFT can be found on their website www.shift2bikes.org.

Neighbourhood resident Sarah Nolte/Blossom Bee asked to be put on the agenda and spoke at length about some perceived personal issues with some members of the community. The BCA offered to help unofficially with mediatation.

Discussion began about Board positions and interested areas of work. The following is an unofficial breakdown of tasks (finally decisions to be made at the General Meeting on June 12th.

Susan Lindsay is interested in remaining as Chair of the BCA.
Ann Bowling offered to remain as Treasurer.
Lily Witham is interested in acting as Secretary and in doing any graphic design work needed.
Ani Haines offered to continue as Editor of the Neighbourhhood Newsletter, with an offer of help by Lily Witham, after August 2003. Ani would also like to continue to work with Public Safety and Livability Issues.
Anne Hughes is interested in acting as Events Coordinator and working on Fundraising. Anne also offered to assist Joshua Bickle in Membership Drive Efforts.
M’Lou Christ offered to work on Environmental Issues.
Jack Maynard is interested in Land Use issues.
Ed Lyle will continue to function as our St. Francis Liaison and Don McGillivary will continue to attend City Meetings and report to the Board with his impressions.

Other topics brought up for consideration-

The Federal Weed & Seed program. After some discussion, it was decided that as the application process is both lengthy and complicated, that the Board should use our time and energy on other issues.

Lily Witham asked that a letter be sent to Commissioner Francesconi regarding the operating hours of the pool at Buckman Elementary School. The pool has never been open on weekends, and there is a great need for weekend access to the pool.

Lily also reported that she had applied and been granted Fiscal Sponsorship for the Buckman Foot Patrol by Southeast Uplift. This account can be split up into categories for various neighbourhood activities and committees so that donations can be tax-deductible.

Susan passed out copies of the BCA By-Laws. The meeting was adjourned at 9PM.

Submitted by Lily Witham.