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October 2007 Meeting Minutes
Mt. Tabor Neighborhood Association
Regular meeting minutes
October 17, 2007
Board members present: Cascade Anderson Geller, Mark Bartlett, Nadine Fiedler, Dave Hilts, John Laursen, Paul Leistner, Justin Leonard, Bunny Marechal, Gayle Marechal, John McLaren, Nancy Norby, Bruce Treat and Bing Wong
Board members absent: Clifford Carlson, Don Jacobson, Cathy Kuehnl and Stan Terpstra
Others present: Jim Blackwood, Mike Delman, Ed Hershey, Lois Heying, Floy Jones, JoAnn Kingston, Heidi Kohne, Michael Neuman, Kevin Overby, Robert Pickett, Dawn Smallman, Greg Snider, Al Staehli and Scott Yelton
Bing Wong led introductions. Minutes from the September meeting were previously
distributed via email and several copies were brought to this meeting. With no changes, they were adopted. Bing Wong presented the treasurer’s report and mentioned that MTNA has received an allotment of approximately $1,700 for communications from Southeast Uplift (SEUL). This will be applied to costs associated with the quarterly newsletter.
Announcements
Heidi Kohne announced that Mt. Tabor Presbyterian Church is having its annual
fundraising dinner at Wongs King Seafood restaurant on Wednesday, November 7th. Cost is $50 per person for the nine course meal. The money raised at this dinner is one of the reasons that groups such as MTNA may hold meetings at the church for free. Please try to support the church and enjoy a hearty meal by calling (503) 234-6493.
Cascade Anderson Geller mentioned that the Land Conservation and Development Commission is considering adopting voluntary land use laws favored by Utah and Colorado instead of mandatory land use laws. She said that there is a Metro Committee on Selling Public Lands that is having these discussions.
New Business
Caldera
Kevin Overby, who with his wife Becky, owns Caldera restaurant visited MTNA with the news that the Overby’s are thinking of expanding the restaurant to include the second floor. The Overby’s will be seeking a revision to the their liquor license and wanted to let everyone know why. Some people complimented Kevin on the food and ambiance and all wished them well.
Portland Police Neighborhood Response Team
Robert Pickett, the new Portland Police Neighborhood Response Team (NRT) liaison, introduced himself and gave us some of his background. He talked a little bit about TOPOFF, the terrorist response operation currently happening in the Portland area. He reminded everyone that car prowls are the most prevalent crime in the area. Car prowls are when a thief sees something of value or something looks like it has value sitting in your cars and breaks into the car just for that item or items. Officer Pickett said the best way to combat this is by putting everything away and not leaving anything in plain view that may appeal to unsavory characters. He also handed out crime statistics for the most recent 30 days in Mt. Tabor.
PSU Project at Mt. Tabor Maintenance Yard and Nursery
Scott Yelton, PSU graduate student and recent MTNA transplant, is seeking the support of MTNA in doing a study of no more than six weeks at the maintenance yard and
nursery involving hypothetical permaculture and efficiencies in placement of buildings. Paul Leistner made a motion that was seconded by Al Staehli inviting Scott and another student to seek to do such a study on MTNA’s behalf. Discussion followed and motion passed.
Committee Reports
Mt. Tabor Park Task Force/Public Policy Proposal
John Laursen was pleased to announce that City Council voted unanimously on
September 26th in favor of a plan to fund a public involvement process to update the Master Plan at the park to determine whether to enhance or determine other uses for the maintenance yard and nursery at the park. Next steps will involve convening a committee of interested people to proceed with the public involvement process and Master Plan update.
Traffic: on Thorburn
Michael Neuman is talking to PDOT (Portland Office of Transportation) to try to get them to come out and talk to MTNA about the heavy traffic on Thorburn that residents complained about at the September MTNA meeting. A representative of PDOT told Neuman that the area of Thorburn between approximately 60th and 78th streets is
actually designated as a truck route but that PDOT would try to come out and speak at a future MTNA meeting.
Public Land
Mark Bartlett of MTNA and Jonah Paisner of South Tabor NA are seeking the support of MTNA in writing a letter to the City asking for public input on land use decisions in the City. Mark made a motion and Al Staehli seconded seeking that support. After some discussion, the motion passed.
Land Use
Dave Hilts spoke briefly about the interim security measures at the Landmarks
Commission and how it may affect the reservoirs.
Old Business
Hawthorne Entryway Project
John Laursen is looking into local nurseries for donating plants to put around the
entryway sign. There was talk that landscaping committee should be formed and some thought that one may have been already formed. The topic was tabled for a future meeting.
Friends of Mt. Tabor Park
Nancy Norby stated that the Friends are seeking more foot patrol members.
Tabor Commons
Paul Leistner announced that they have raised $3000 but still need over $7000 more to start work on Tabor Commons. He said that that Tabor Commons has received
donations of time and skills from organizations such as Oregon Tradeswomen
(carpentry) and GeoEngineers (oil tank removal). They also have people assisting in
architecture, electrical and HVAC but could use a plumber. If you know of a plumber who may be interested, please contact Paul at HYPERLINK "mailto:Paul.Leistner@mttaborpdx.org" Paul.Leistner@mttaborpdx.org.
WWI (Howard Ramsey) Memorial
Cascade Anderson Geller reported that the subcommittee on designing the memorial is on hold until December but that they have considered tying the memorial into other
refurbishment work at the reservoir. Lois Heying raised concerns that the subcommittee's report did not inform the group that the Ramsey family's vision for a bench memorial was at odds with other directions expressed at the committee meeting. John
Laursen noted that one of the Ramsey grandchildren is on the subcommittee for design.
SEUL
Paul Leistner said that SEUL is looking into a cultural competency program to
potentially alleviate some of the problems faced by North Portland neighborhood
associations over the potential renaming of Interstate Boulevard to César E. Chavez
Boulevard.
Status of Water Treatment Lawsuit
Floy Jones updated everyone on the City’s lawsuit against the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding the EPA’s regulation about the Long-Term 2
Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (LT2), the requirement that unfiltered systems such as Portland’s be required to build a treatment plant when no problem exists, and the elimination of the mitigation option for open reservoirs. The mitigation option existed in the draft Rule and would allow the reservoirs at Mt. Tabor and Washington Park to remain open and not covered. The lawsuit claims that the mitigation option for open reservoirs was eliminated without any new evidence and despite a
previous agreement to allow this option. Oral argument was heard in the D.C. 9th
Circuit Court on September 25. New York City filed as an Intervenor and the City of Walla Walla and Oregon Wild (formerly Oregon Natural Resources) submitted Amicus or Friend of the Court briefs in support of the City. Floy says that she has found no
evidence in support of any Cryptosporidium problems with engineered open reservoirs such as those in Portland (LT2 is basically a Cryptosporidium regulation.) Floy will
update us when the court issues a decision. She went on to say that win or lose, the community and the City should continue to make every effort to protect our historic Bull Run system and open reservoirs.
The next MTNA meeting will be Wednesday, November 21 at 7 p.m. at the Presbyterian Church at SE 54th/Belmont.
Meeting adjourned at approximately 8:30
Previous Minutes can always be found at www.mttaborpdx.org/about
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