Hayhurst

3-11-03 Meeting Minutes

Guest Speaker

Alise Goforth and Peter Fry, representatives of Barbara Sedlin, presented her petition to vacate portions of SW Hillsdale Ct and SW Sunnyside Avenue at the 43rd block. Ms. Sedlin owns most of the property surrounding the streets and would like to consolidate all the property so that she may sell it to a developer. You may email your concerns regarding this proposal to our Land Use Chair, Sylvia McFarland, sylmcfar@aol.com.

Crime Report

Senior Neighborhood Officer Scott Westerman presented crime statistics for our neighborhood. We are fortunate to live in a relatively crime-free area, though Officer Westerman urges everyone to keep his/her car clean and locked to reduce the number of car prowls. Officer Westerman also educated us on the use of commercial and residential alarm systems. He reported that in 2002, there were almost 26,000 alarms in Portland, yet only 26 were valid alarms. The City of Portland has increased the alarm user permit fee for the first time in 12 years. The new residential rate is $25/year and the commercial rate is $125/year. Through the Locks Program, the Portland Police Bureau offers a free home security evaluation to eligible homeowners. You may contact Officer Westerman at swesterman@police.ci.portland.or.us.

Committee Reports

Land Use:
There is a preliminary Land Use Review application for two houses at 3611 SW Cullen. There are possible evironmental concerns with development of this parcel.

Parks and Environment:
Joe Higgins and Chris Raydon-Feeney are working on a plan to survey use of school fields to help in the discussion of the decision by Portland Public Schools to dispense of “excess” property. We will ask neighbors to help with the survey.

Transportation:
Sylvia McFarland reported that she attended another meeting with PDOT engineers to discuss the possibility of adding two or three pedestrian islands, or refuges, to the center lane of Beaverton Hillsdale Highway between 56th and 65th Avenues. PDOT is working on the design, placement and cost estimate. An informational meeting is tentatively planned for late April with the Bridlemile Neighborhood Association.

Also, the association voted to support a proposed moving violation surcharge intended to increase funding for traffic safety improvements in Portland.

Safety and Community Outreach:
Shannon Kelly reported on the Office of Neighborhood Involvement’s efforts to increase public input on liquor licenses.

Last month’s fatality outside the Southwest Community Center highlighted problems with unsupervised teens at the center. Members of the Parks and Police departments have formed a task force to try to ensure the safety of the children.

A neighborhood National Night Out picnic is scheduled for August 5th. If you would like to help plan this year’s event, contact Shannon at skelly@chnw.org.