Foster-Powell Neighborhood Association

January 2000 Minutes

Feb 07, 2000

Foster-Powell Neighborhood Association
Cynthia Peek, President
Bruce Clark, Vice-President
Candace Murray, Secretary/Treasurer
Unfilled, Delegate to Southeast Uplift
Ken Pliska, Neighborhood Land Use Chair
To: Camilla, Officer Manager at Southeast Uplift (fax 232-5265)
Re: Minutes of Meeting held on January 4, 2000
Members Present:
Candace Murray, Janelle Geddes, Randy Von Tungeln, JoAnn Von Tungeln, Cathlin Clark, Jennifer T, Bruce Clark, Jim Barrett, Cynthia Peek, Elaine Clark, Gordon Clark, Steve Witter, Kathleen Witter, Mikal Stampke, Myrtle Bloomfield, Ethel Lewis, Ken Pliska, Heather Peek, Duke Kirschner, Nick Drew
Visitors Present:
Jim Squires, Ted Piccolo, Josh Alpert, Kyle Ash, Connie Thiel, Lisa Kendall, Polly McBride, J. Young, Officer Georgioff, Officer Libbey
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m.
Announcements:
There are a lot of land use partitionings happening in Foster-Powell with 25-foot lots
Brochures for Oregon Women?’s Caucus
Need delegate to SEUL ?– ?“We need voice over there.?”
Transportation newsletters
Community Policing
Bicycle Transportation

The minutes from the December 7 meeting were approved unanimously. Motion to approve by C. Murray; seconded by Ms. VonTungeln

Letter of Support for Rose in Lents:
Rose CDC is asking for a Foster-Powell letter of support for the project in Lents Town Center. There was discussion about drafting a letter that would recognize their effort to make the project fit in the community and the hope that the project they are doing in Foster-Powell will receive the same kind of care and attention. Ms. VonTungeln moved to draft such a letter. Mr. Witter seconded. The motion was carried unanimously.

Guest Speaker ?– Charlie Hales:
Issues: Safety, parks, light rail, open process, public schools. He wants a salary increase for the police department. Crime rate has fallen due to staffing higher numbers. Parks ?– supervised indoor pool. Light rail, September 2001. Funded by port. Access to government ?– He is speaking to neighborhoods. He wants nighttime meetings in neighborhoods once a month. As far as the problems with public schools, City Council has no responsibility, but he says he is taking a role. He manages building permit process and transportation. Susan Descamp works with building codes (on staff).

Guest Speaker ?– Ted Piccolo:
He runs a small community newspaper in North Portland and is a small businessman and community activist. He says citizens are being ignored downtown.
1. Value of citizen input ?– people saying one thing and the city saying another and using neighborhood associations as a sales tool. He wants it to be reversed to be more responsive to citizens. Re light rail ?– precincts bordering line didn?’t want it.
2. More open government. Referred to Civic Stadium deal which excluded citizen input and cost a great deal of money. He wants citizen oversight of budgets.
3. More efficient services. Look into the marketization of city services. Need to look at that before we go into departments.
4. Cleaning the Willamette River. High density housing creates a burden on the system. The ?“rack ?’em & stack ?‘em?” idea needs to be re-examined.

Questions and Answers to both Speakers:
Discussion of water quality vs. density vs. open space as habitat
Stop sign discussion (directed to Mr. Hales) at 76th & Center. Traffic said ?“There?’s only been a couple of accidents.?” Mr. Hales will get back to us on the question. The real battle is between elected officials and bureaucracies. Mr. Batson is the person in Traffic who rejected our request for a stop sign.

Trolley Station in Lents:
Connie Thiels ?– Bruce Clark has done an awful lot for our neighborhoods. He is trying to fix up the trolley building and is getting a ?“raw deal.?”
Bruce Clark ?– Put $30,000 to pay city liens and $2,000 to owner. Discussion followed regarding permits.
Duke Kirschner: Spoke on behalf of Mr. Clark and asked Mr. Hales to get on top of this! Mr. Hales pledged that if Mr. Clark showed up with appropriate paperwork and filing fees that he will make sure it gets processed.
Mr. Barrett said outer southeast went through a planning process and a lot of zones got changed. That could be some of the problem.
Mr. Hales said any citizen can apply for a zoning change.
Mr. Piccolo said that the permit process needed to be streamlined.
Mr. Hales said that the new permit center opened four months ago and that there are no longer any problems. He committed to doing what he could to assist Mr. Clark through the process. Mr. Clark?’s family was there to support him.
Mr. Witter said that historic buildings are important to neighbors. They want to keep them and it is becoming a huge battle with the city.

Mr. Pliska moved to write a letter of support to assist Mr. Clark. Neighbors believe that the building has historical relevance. Mr. Clark is donating a great deal to the community.
A letter was read in support of Mr. Clark.
Mr. Barrett seconded the motion.
The motion was carried unanimously.

Bylaws amendment:
In accordance with wishes at previous meetings to address the question of the age of voting neighborhood members, it was recognized that there was a quorum present and that a vote could be taken on the question of lowering membership age from 18 to 15. Mr. Pliska moved to have 15-year-olds and up recognized as voting members of the neighborhood association. Ms. Witter seconded the motion. There was discussion and a vote was taken. There was one dissenting vote by Mr. Drew. The motion carried.

Continuation of discussion between Mr. Hales and Mr. Piccolo:
Ms. Peek proposed a question to the candidates for discussion on light rail. How it is that the line to the airport is underway when the people voted against north-south light rail?

Mr. Piccolo lead the campaign that voted down taxes for light rail. Mr. Hales said the airport project was put together with tax increment financing, passenger facility charges, and funds from existing Tri-met development fund. It will cost $150 million and will be done next September. Operating costs will come through regional payroll, taxed through Tri-Met and fares. They will offer 3-day passes for $10 to visitors coming for conventions. It is suggested, for instance, that passengers could be dropped off at the Gateway Park & Ride rather than going all the way to the airport. Mr. Piccolo said that 2% of the community will use that line. He said you can'?’ weigh freeways vs. light rail. People will adapt commuting patterns if given information and options. We need creative answers with minimal cost and impact.

Mr. Piccolo was asked his personal position on the parks bond measure that was just approved and open spaces acquisition. He opposed open spaces plan. He said it lacked oversight and fiscal responsibility. Mr. Hales proposed the bond measure.

Crime Report from Officer Georgioff:
It has been pretty quiet lately. No Y2K problems. They like the new chief and there?’s not many problems.
Mr. Stampke said that there is a problem with someone going around the community representing that they are from St. Anthony Village (they aren?’t) and asking to borrow tools, etc., and not returning them.

St. Anthony Announcements:
Mr. Stampke said that the child care center is taking applications. Angel?’s coffee shop is opening at the center. It will be open in the morning and profits will benefit the child care center.

Land Use:
Mr. Barrett is concerned about curb cuts on Holgate and will look into it further.
80th & Francis will be cut into three lots from one.
4303 SE 76th is proposing a flag lot.
62nd & Powell is developing more commercial

The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m.