Board Members present:  Mark Bartlett, Don Jacobson, Cathy Kuehnl, Paul Leistner, Gayle Marechal, John McLaren, Nancy Norby, Bruce Treat and Bing Wong 

Board members absent:  Cascade Anderson Geller, Clifford Carlson, Nadine Fiedler, Dave Hilts, John Laursen, Justin Leonard and Bunny Marechal 

Others present:  Jim Blackwood, Barbara Grimala, Don Holden, Leslie Karlson, Heidi Kohne, Carl Larson of BTA and Eden Sky 

Bing Wong led introductions.  Minutes from the February meeting were previously distributed via email and several copies were brought to this meeting.  Mark Bartlett had one correction and after the corrections was incorporated, the minutes were adopted upon motion by Paul Leistner and seconded by Nancy Norby.  Bing Wong presented the treasurer’s report. 

Announcements 

Heidi Kohne said that Michael Allen Harrison and the Mt. Tabor Middle School Jazz Band will be holding a concert on Wednesday, April 9^th at 7:00pm at Mt. Tabor Presbyterian Church.  It is a benefit for the Mt. Tabor Middle School.  Tickets can be purchased in advance either at the church or at the school, or they can be purchased at the door.  $15 for adults, $10 for students and seniors. 

Bruce Treat handed out some materials about Bike Boxes from the City.  Gayle Marechal or Bruce will write an article about the Bike Boxes for the next newsletter. 

Heidi also mentioned that the church will be having Easter morning services and invited everyone to them.  She also handed out handouts re the services 

Gayle is seeking submissions for the May newsletter.  Send those in to him at gayle.marechal@mttaborpdx.org. 

Bruce received a request for sponsorship of the Mt. Tabor Concert Series from Mary McWilliams.  After discussion, on motion by Paul Leistner and second by Nancy Norby, MTNA will write a check for $500.00 to sponsor the series in July. 

Gayle reminded everyone that the annual clean up will be Saturday, May 10 at Mt. Tabor Middle School from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m..  Gayle had a volunteer sign up sheet at the door and also had another for yard signs announcing the clean up. 

Bruce also received a request from the organizers of the annual Mt. Tabor 5K and 10K run for approval of MTNA for the run.  After some discussion regarding its history and mention of a beer garden that no one previously recalled, tentative approval was granted on motion by Paul Leistner and second by Don Jacobson pending Nancy Norby’s investigating further.  Nancy was also authorized to sign the approval form on behalf of MTNA once questions were answered.  Nancy will contact Aaron Montaglione, one of the organizers. 

Mark Bartlett says that Warner Pacific is doing some remodeling and that their Master Plan is currently on hold due to the remodeling. 

New Business 

After much discussion about citizen oversight and involvement, and motion by Paul Leistner and second by Nancy Norby, MTNA will write a letter to Mayor Potter similar to one recently sent by SEUL expressing concern about lack of true citizen oversight to review and guide the development of the Portland Plan involving the future of our city.  Citizen oversight for the Plan currently consists of the Planning Commission.  MTNA strongly recommends that the City implement a Portland Plan Community Advisory Committee inclusive of more neighborhoods, businesses, cultural, ethnic and community based organizations as well as youth, elders and special interest groups to make up that citizens’ oversight 

Eden Sky visited seeking MTNA’s approval to hold an event at the Mt. Tabor amphitheater on Friday, July 25^th from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. celebrating peace through culture featuring kids events and live music.  The event will be alcohol free but will have amplified noise.  The park’s amplified noise is usually only until 8:30 p.m. due to noise traveling.  After much discussion and on motion by Nancy Norby and second by Don Jacobson, a one-time variance to allow amplified noise until 9 p.m. was granted.

Carl Larson of Bicycle Transportation Alliance presented a report on making routes to Atkinson Elementary safer.  Some of the proposals involved the neighborhood.  After some discussion and no motion being needed, general verbal approval of the audience was acknowledged. 

Committee Reports 

WWI/Ramsey Memorial 

Bruce Treat was told by John Laursen, who was ill, that Portland Parks would prefer to refurbish old benches in the park rather than purchase news ones.  Parks would also work with citizens on wording on the bench.  Bruce recommended to Don Holden who is particularly interested in the bench that the contact John Laursen on the issue. 

Southeast Uplift (SEUL) 

Paul Leistner says that work on Tabor Commons, next to the Dairy Queen on Division, is coming along.  Students will contribute work on it in May.  Also, on May 10^th, the fruit stand in front will donate a portion of their proceeds to Tabor Commons.  SEUL is continuing to receive requests from community groups to get more information on getting the public involved in the Public Plan. 
 

Entryway Project 

Bruce Treat passed along a message from John Laursen who said that damage to the entryway marker will be covered by the City and the driver’s insurance. 

Friends of Mt. Tabor Park 

Nancy Norby told everyone that that their winter meeting on March 18^th was a success with about 80 people turning out.  Nancy said that there is a new gate in the off-leash dog area at 68^th.  She also said that the off-leash dog area would eventually get the kiosk from the Water Bureau that is currently being used near the north end of Reservoir 5.  Nancy also said that the blue/green/red trails should be finished by summer. 

Tabor Public Land Task Force 

Mark Bartlett presented a motion to transform the TPLTF from a Tabor area task force into a new organization called Southeast Public Land or SEPL with the express purpose of protecting public land for use by all citizens for generations.  If granted, Mark was also seeking reimbursement of up to $75.00 for startup costs of SEPL.  After much discussion about the potential for misuse of public land by some in the city and on motion by Paul Leistner and second by Don Jacobson, motion passed. 

Mt. Tabor Park Master Plan Update

Nancy Norby reported that the participants are still working on a mission statement and haven’t determined if there will be an Executive Committee.  Some citizens have asked Portland Parks for a Service Delivery Plan, which details duties of Parks employees, and have been told that there isn’t one.  Some citizens would also like the project to have a Horticultural subcommittee but have apparently met resistance from Parks on creating one.  Meeting agendas are apparently set by Parks staff and the facilitators and have thus far had little citizen input.  Participants will be meeting twice a month for at least the next few months and some of the citizens would like more input in the collaborative process.  The next meeting, always open to the public, is on Monday, April 7^th at 7 p.m. at the church. 

Meeting adjourned at approximately 8:30 

The next MTNA meeting will be Wednesday, April 16 at 7 p.m. at the Presbyterian Church as SE 54^th /Belmont.

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