Neighborhood Issues and Concerns:

Bruce reported on correspondence with a city commissioner regarding the graffiti abatement line item in the proposed city budget that was scheduled to be cut. It was later discovered that the latest proposed city budget has kept the graffiti abatement program, but at a reduced amount than last year.

Elections for MTNA Board: The elections were held via paper ballot. Cascade Anderson-Geller was taken off the ballot due to the fact that she had not attended a meeting in the last year. Two new people will come onto the board: Bryan Brumley and Tom Leiner. Questions arose about filling the Secretary position, since Heidi cannot continue for next term. Bing Wong moved and Nancy Norby seconded to accept the revised ballot by acclimation (Cascade removed and Paul Leistner added as SEUL liaison); passed.

Neighborhood Crime: Officer Manougian gave us a bit of an update on the new police chief and other personnel at the police bureau. Currently the mounted patrol has been saved as well as sworn officers that could have lost their jobs; he did say that there are a few desk and other non-sworn employees who may lose their jobs because of the city budget.

Manougian stated that the citywide response time to emergencies has dropped to new lows, which is very good for citizens.

Among other crimes in the neighborhood, there were three marijuana drug busts in the last month. There were also a number of larcenies (thefts from cars), so keep your vehicles locked.

Sustainability Plan: Bryan Brumley gave us an update on a project conceived by architect Tim Smith to develop a sustainability project. The committee involved, along with Southeast Uplift, presented one plan to the Bureau of Environmental Services, which they rejected. The committee has been working on another plan since then. BES is working on a project to train people to create and maintain rainwater collection areas, including swales. Both of these projects would work in conjunction with the Tabor To the River city project. It was moved Bryan Brumley and seconded by Paul Leistner to form a partnership with SERA Architects and Southeast Uplift to be involved in civic ecology in the Tabor to the River project; passed.

TriMet #71 Rerouting: Jon Joseph of TriMet said that when 60th & Hawthorne is inaccessible for a period of time this summer TriMet will reroute #71 to 39th Avenue. Because the closure will be for a short period they will not send out any fliers to the neighbors.

Cleanup: Deb Scott gave us an update on the neighborhood cleanup this Saturday. There will be a number of students from PCC and Franklin High School who will help out. Providence Health has paid for large banners to be used for any neighborhood cleanups in Southeast Uplift, both this year and future years.

Nancy Norby reminded us of the Saturday park cleanups that happen monthly. She reported that the Board of Friends will for the first time ever not going to have an annual picnic this summer. A stewardship group will be formed to work on the off-leash dog area, which is needing some ground cover.