November 2008 meeting minutes

Mt. Tabor Neighborhood Association (MTNA) Regular
Meeting Minutes for November 19,2008

Board Members present: Mark Bartlett, Jim Blackwood, Nadine Fiedler, Heidi Kohne, Paul Leistner, Bunny Marechal, Gayle Marechal, John McLaren, Nancy Norby, Stephanie Stewart, Bruce Treat and Bing Wong.

Board members absent: Cascade Anderson Geller, Don Jacobson, Cathy Kuehnl and John Laursen.

Others present: Gary Brannan, Sanjane Ceesay, Cathy Dolan, Tom Dolan, Barb Gamelgard, Eric Hagstette, Don Holden, Susan Kelly, Kim Lakin, Dan Loder, Leila Loder, Sara Maier, Officer Gary Manougian, Dan Marchand, Michelle Miller, Bryan Olson, George Polas, Lisa Renard, Mike Shaver, Greg Snider, Steve Strode and Michael Van Kleeck

Bing Wong led introductions. Minutes from the October meeting were previously distributed via email and also at this meeting. The minutes were adopted upon motion by Bruce Treat and seconded by Jim Blackwood. Bing Wong presented the treasurer’s report.

Announcements

Gayle Marechal is still looking for articles for the newsletter. The newsletter cannot be published until we have enough articles. Gayle commented that you should submit stuff even if you think you aren’t a good writer as editor Nadine Fiedler can spruce it up. You can reach Gayle at bgmarechal@comcast.net.

Officer Gary Manougian visited to say that there are still thefts happening in the neighborhood. He says that thieves are taking whatever they can even if nailed down. A big help would be just not leaving stuff out in the open. Officer Manougian relayed a story about a thief who climbed up an apartment complex balcony with wire cutters and was attempting to steal a bicycle chained there when the owner discovered him.

Sanjane Ceesay from the Bureau of Environmental Services visited to inform neighbors about the Portland’s Brownfield Program which helps evaluate and potentially clean up environmental damage caused by businesses. The resources are available to residents either already owning property environmentally damaged by businesses or to those seeking to purchase property potentially damaged environmentally by businesses. The program is not, however, available to residents with residential oil tank issues. This program was used by the Tabor Commons people to help clean up that site. Questions should be directed to Mr. Ceesay at the Portland Brownfield Program (503) 823-9805, via email at sceesay@bes.ci.portland.or.us and by perusing www.brownfield.org

Old Business

The MTNA appeal before the Adjustment Committee of Bureau of Development Services (BDS) on the property at 50th and Taylor was denied. Participants seemed to think that the Committee took the stance of favoring BDS’ position and that the appeal had to show serious BDS error to overturn their findings. The neighborhood participants are exploring other options.

Susan Kelly of the Water Bureau says that the construction project around Lincoln and Hawthorne Streets and 60th is ahead of schedule. However, due to potential inclement weather, the paving on Lincoln may not be done until Spring. The paving on 59th between Lincoln and Hawthorne is completed.

Jim Blackwood reported that the Ramsey family had written the Water Bureau a letter supporting the bench in the park in honor of Howard Ramsey. Jim said that the bench will be near the kiosk at the NW corner of reservoir 5. Don Holden has received pledges for $100.00 from several Veterans for Foreign Wars (VFW) organizations to help pay for the bench and Don is also exploring seeking a grant which would pay for 80% of the costs. Jim Blackwood made a motion seconded by Nancy Norby that MTNA also pledge $100 towards the bench and also support the grant proposal letter. Motion passed.

Sara Maier of the Water Bureau visited for the third of three meetings to discuss the Mt. Tabor Historic Structures Report being prepared by the Water Bureau. Sara is seeking feedback by December 1st on Technical Memo #2 which can be found at http://www.portlandonline.com/water/index.cfm?c+49021&. We also heard from a citizen representative, Kim Lakin, and lead architect Rob Dortignacq that generally for the structures being so old that they are in good shape. Mark Bartlett asked if whether the reservoirs were put to other use if that would change Dortignacq’s assessment and was informed that it would. However, both Dortignacq and Lakin said that structures would still need to be addressed but perhaps with different priorities.

New Business

Stephanie Stewart was appointed to the MTNA board upon a motion made by Bruce Treat and seconded by Jim Blackwood. Stephanie will serve as MTNA’s Land Use chair. The Land Use Committee will consist of Stephanie and Cathy and Tom Dolan.

Jon Joseph and Dan Marchand of TriMet informed us that the 71 bus line will return to service in both directions on Lincoln when the Water Bureau work is done. Some neighbors have previously expressed the hope that at least one direction of the bus would move to Division Street to alleviate safety concerns with bicyclists and pedestrians. Mr. Joseph said that TriMet left surveys at over 600 neighbors’ homes and received just 34 responses. Of the 34 responses, 18 favored moving one line to Division and 16 opposed. Based on the small number of respondents, TriMet has decided to not move the line. Mr. Joseph went on to say that TriMet didn’t take into consideration the fact that Lincoln is a city designated Bicycle Boulevard. He said that while the issue is decided for now that the door isn’t necessarily closed on moving one line in the future.

MTNA received an inquiry from the city of Portland asking for input by December 31st on proposed streetcars in the future that may go along 50th between Hawthorne and Division, on Belmont between 50th and 60th and possibly on Burnside from 50th to about 72nd. Bunny Marechal made a motion, seconded by Paul Leistner that MTNA write a letter stating that we are generally in support of streetcars in Portland but that we may have concerns in the future as these projects get closer to fruition than they are currently. Motion passed. Bruce Treat will write letter.

George Polas, who lives near 50th and Burnside, came to discuss a cell phone transformer or antenna that was placed on a telephone pole in front of his house. He distributed pictures showing what an eyesore it was and explained that it was also very noisy. Another neighbor, Michelle Miller, talked to the man installing it and was told that this was the first one he’d installed in a residential neighborhood. Stephanie Stewart made a motion, seconded by Paul Leistner that MTNA appoint George and Michelle as MTNA’s representative and investigate if anything can be done to move the antenna/transformer to a business area as opposed to more non-residential area.

Committee Reports

Southeast Uplift (SEUL)

Paul Leistner says that Mayor-elect Sam Adams is asking City bureaus, including the Office of Neighborhood Involvement (ONI) which oversees SEUL to potentially cut at much as 5% of their budgets. However, Adams may provide leeway to bureaus that go above and beyond in providing extra community service. Paul also said that incoming Commissioner Amanda Fritz may seek to put ONI under her direction.
Paul went on to say that the City will have an ABC’s of land use workshop on Saturday, January 24th.

Friends of Mt. Tabor Park

Nancy Norby says that new benches will be installed in the off-leash dog park. No word on exactly when though

Mt. Tabor Park Master Plan Update

Nancy Norby reported that the group will go before City Council on December 17th. Portland Parks recently held open houses at Gigi Bar at 60th/Division to show the Option B design and seek more public input. Some neighbors of the long block between Lincoln/Harrison Streets and 60th/64th Avenues have expressed reservations about putting a community garden in there while others were in support of it as Portland has a waiting list of over 1000 people wanting community garden plots.


As is our regular practice, there is no December MTNA Meeting

Meeting adjourned at approximately 8:50

The next MTNA meeting will be Wednesday, January 21 at 7 p.m. at the Presbyterian Church as SE 54th /Belmont.

Previous Minutes can always be found at www.mttaborpdx.org/about