Maria This Mai, Sam Adams’s office
Maria Thi Mai visited to discuss changes to the Public Utility Review Board (PURB). Paul Leistner mentioned that rumor had it that the PURB would be dismantled. She said that Adams wants the PURB to be more transparent and effective, including not just utilities CFOs but citizens, water experts, and other stakeholders. Floy Jones asked numerous questions, and Maria T. responded by saying she welcomes input on this proposal to replace PURB with a newly appointed board. Paul L. would like the PURB to be a watchdog for the community and not a vehicle to advance city council’s agenda. John Wish mentioned that two years ago city council fired many PURB members to reform it the way Erik Sten wanted. Others mentioned that it would be a shame to fire PURB members who had been good advocates for the public.

Committee Reports

Land Use
Dave Hilts introduced Sarah Nevieu, who lives on a block where a 47,000 sf four-story house is under construction on an undersized lot. Problems include lack of accountability to neighbors, noise and disruption at all hours, the misfit of the house with neighboring houses, and lack of coordination with city agencies that could possibly help solve the problems. Dave Hilts has responded by drafting a letter to the city addressing failures in the zoning code to reflect and respect the character of a neighborhood. He realizes that many huge houses are being built to cash in on inflated property values and that now is the time to create a better zoning code. His letter is a plea to begin a dialogue about the relation between height and lot coverage in single-family zones. Questions included preservation of views, historic designations, and limitations to house size. A motion to draft a letter of support for Dave’s letter to the city council and planning commission passed unanimously.

Crime
Officers Manougian and MCGuire presented the monthly crime map, noting that meth addicts are the most common perps. Manougian reminded us to lock our cars.

Environment
Sharlane Blaise said that the yard certification process has finished its first stage. Park maintenance supervisor Don McTaggart has not yet responded about pesticide use in the park.

Drive-Thru Wake-Up Deli
Paul L. reported on last Saturday’s workshop, which generated ideas that included community meeting rooms, a coffee shop, and offices. Greenworks and Opsys showed some possible designs. The sheriff has agreed to transfer the propery for $10,000, and $7,000 need to go the U.S. Marsal. The site may get $20,000 in back taxes waived.

Traffic
John Turner drafted a letter to TriMet, asking them to implement their pilot no-smoking policv at Max and bus stops in our area, in response to neighbor complaints. The motion that the MTNA redraft and sign John’s letter to the TriMet board asking that the Mt. Tabor area be included in the TriMet no-smoking pilot project passed with two opposed.

Clean-up
Gayle Marechal urged neighbors to take lawn signs home and asked for volunteers.

Hawthorne gateway
John Laursen reported on the progress of the gateway area at 50th & Hawthorne. The classical design includes a basalt wall (built by PDOT) with a plaque designed by John L., and the area includes swales to catch run-off, designed by BES. We have to commit to building it within two weeks. The wall, stonework, and bronze plaque will cost $75,000, and John requested that MTNA fund it with some seed money to leverage more funds. A motion that MTNA back the project and donate no more than $4,000, with some refund if more than the project cost is raised, passed unanimously.

Mt. Tabor Park and reservoirs
Jinx Kuehn of the water bureau talked about piping upgrades and the card key reader, and asked for input on door color. Neighbors asked her about the proposed netting by the tennis courts and about the chain link fence between the reservoirs.

—Submitted by Nadine Fiedler