South Portland Neighborhood Association
Board Meeting
May 4, 2011
DRAFT minutes
Board members present:
Jennifer Daneluk, Lee Buhler, Joel Barker, Phil Wikelund, Bill Danneman, Chris Dorn, James Gardner, Ken Lay, Kerry Chipman, Jim Davis, Kelly Doyle, Norm Whitlatch, Laura Campos, Len Michon
Other attendees: Sharon Fekety, Jean Senechal Biggs: PM for Gibbs St. Pedestrian Bridge, Malea, Jim Bear (Oregon), Annie O’Brian, Louise Miller and Ross Miller
Call to order 7:04.
Approval for agenda
Kerry would like to add to the agenda the opportunity to add agenda items to future meetings.
Lee made motion to approve March minutes. Joel Second.
Jim Gardner amends that he was not present in March. Motion carried.
Jim G moves to approve April special session minutes. Chris second. Motion carried.
Jim G moves to approves April minutes. Jim Davis second. Motion carried.
Treasurer’s report: 798.37 savings. 201.46 in checking
Officer Ross was not able to make the meeting today. Any questions can be forwarded to him.
Annie O’Brian: concerned about the speed of traffic on Corbett South of Hamilton
Election of Officers
The following members were nominated on a slate:
President: Ken Love
Treasurer: Norm Whitlatch
SWNI Board Rep: Jim Gardner
VP: Jim Davis
Recorder: Lee Buhler
Transportation: Bill Danneman
Communications: Joel Barker
Parks: Ken Love
Land Use: Jim Davis.
Election by voice vote
Jean Senechal Biggs, PM for Gibbs St. Pedestrian Bridge reported:
Doing well on our 13 million dollar budget. Early on there were some delays due to utility relocation. Days have been added. Expect completion by mid February 2012.
Nearing completion of below ground work: Drilling and pouring foundations for columns.
Some above ground work, such as elevator shaft, have begun.
Bridge girder expected to be set late July to Mid August.
Sign Bridge mid June through late July.
Some expected late night closures. Detoured at Macadam and Hood. 12-4 am. Will work with their public information officer and ODOT.
Noise: night time work in order to have a safe work zone by closing the ramp. Now doing some full weekend closures. In response to the noise and shaking issues.
Public art: Artist Anna Valentina Murch chosen through RACC (Regional Art and Culture Council) has has a design approved by the designer. three elements: Art lighting across bridge. Enameled glass photo panels on elevator tower. Photo enameled panels on walls in the plaza area. Inspired by panels made by water.
Kerry: The electronic notice about weekend closures have been inconsistent. Please give a couple of days notice before closure on signage.
Norm: Seems that sign was placed after the Morrison exit. Feels that we could have a direction or suggestion.
Jennifer invited Jean to have a get together at Ross Island Grocery.
Len complimented the construction people.
Anna: Disappointed that it is not a local artist. Jean: RACC created a selection panel that included folks from the neighborhood. Bill had wanted the selection panel to explain their decision and provide some input. Jean thinks this is doable. $600,000. Artist is getting between $350,000 and $400,000 including fabricating the art.
Jean says that she can set up an open house as soon as possible, hopefully when the artist is in town.
Urban Renewal Update: Peter Englander from PDC.
Update on the Urban Renewal Area on the West Side.
Last time, Peter discussed a large area that spread throughout the West side. It has been determined that there was not support for that plan.
Mayor has now presented, from his State of the City address in February, the Innovation Distric Urban Renewal Area. Focused on research and innovation in the PSU area. The information is in draft form at this point.
Since February, PDC and PSU are working to come up with a proposal. The tool (URD) takes tax money away from city, county, and schools. This step will happen before a proposal is presented to other stakeholders.
This is a draft. Will probably present it in June July. Wet labs in Marquam 1 & 2 across from Duniway Park are the spur off of the map. Ken Love repeated his desire that a representative from South Portland is included in these hearings.
Jim notes that Marquam 1&2, as they are owned by a state agency, do not pay taxes. He believes that they are only included so that they can have the benefit.
Peter notes that in publicly owned buildings that have private tenants, taxes are sometimes paid. Some of the money will go to state owned buildings. The goal, is to increase employment and private industry.
Jim D: How do we measure the success?
Peter: What we are interested in doing is to create a partnership that includes certain performance objectives. Hopes that we learn from the experience in South Waterfront.
Jim: Would hope that SPNA are included in the construction of these performance measures. This is a long term thing. The taxes that are coming out of our neighborhood to support OHSU never come back to us.
Peter: I understand that. The idea is tha there is some direct connection to the City of Portland. The key is to see that the city gets what they are investing in.
Laura: There is an equity issue: necessary places for urban renewal, such as Cully in NE. Peter appreciates the concern. Where in the city does the investment occur.
Joel: Will these metrics be publicly viewable?
Peter: Yes. Set up metrics on the front end and periodically and often there would be a sharing of how the performance is occurring. This should be in the investment strategy. This district is looked at differently. We are looking for performance in areas other than just assessed value. Will not have the same growth strategy.
JimG: this only contains two buildings in our district. The previous URD had metrics built into it. The bigger question: Should there be an URD and if so should it be in South Portland, not NE (for example). One of the questions on the table is “should there even be an URD.”
Peter: 1) We are looking at expanding the Interstate Renewal Area. That does not address outer NE. This sort of URD is inneffective because you must have grab a large area. Example: Alberta is 3700 acres whereas this proposed is 100 acres. The interest: Address the needs of other parts of the city. Neighborhood economic development strategy.
Laura: SPNA is not just concerned with our own state, concerned about the larger city.
Bill: This (innovation district) is so short sighted its terrible. The line to connect to southern spur does not even cross a bridge. The only people that benefit is OHSU. URD are supposed to improve blighted areas. To say that those parking lots are blighted is unreasonable. At least give us safe pedestrian access.
Peter: I will carry that message. It is also effective when citizens carry that message.
Lee: Why were these sections dropped off?
Peter: This is specifically drawn to attract companies to PSU area. Those two buildings are complimentary to the kind of attention we want to attract. When SPNA board members made a proposal, there was some question of whether SP wanted a larger area or not.
JimD: 90% of the jobs created in this area require an advanced degree. We are making an enclave of mobile people who move frequently. I don’t see that we are getting a whole lot out of it.
Peter: would you like me to continue to work with a small group or continue coming to meetings. Restated that he heard the message:
* equity.
*benefits to neighborhood, including transportation over freeway.
Bill: moves that we support improved pedestrian and bicycle access over I 405 through this proposed URD. Second by Lee. Motion passed all in favor except for Laura abstaining.
Peter took that motion as saying that the URD must be expanded to have better connections.
Ken proposed we push bylaws changes to next meeting.
Kerry proposes that agenda includes an opportunity to have a topic for future meetings.
Kerry would like to propose that we call parks down to have them explain the monies that they have collected from Willamette Park and what they are doing with it?
Bill: Would like to have time for public comments on the agenda as well.
Committees
SPBA Melea: Have releases the maps. are in 75 businesses. Will soon be in more locations.
SPBA meetings are in May on May 25th.
The check from last year’s concerts will be taken care of tomorrow.
Trails Sharon: Leading hike week from Saturday 9 am from Wilson High School. Look at Gibbs Bridge and Tunel
Cross walk on 4900 block of Barbur.
NCNM came to their meeting. Worried that a lot of bus lines will be removed when the Milwaukie Light Rail is completed.
Possibility of widening sidewalks on Barbur and Vermont at the overpasses.
Laura: Pedestrian Decoy program at June 7th.
Parks Ken: City purchases 147 acres at cemetary. will be some trails and natural areas. Will go from Macadam to Lewis and Clark. Across Macadam from Sellwood Bridge.
Next month there will be a representative from Multnomah county to talk about bridge.
Trees: There will be 12-20 trees in the Broadway Dr triangle.
Bill: would like there to be public input and an open house.
Land Use JimD: Had a developer talk to us about a development on 7400 block of Corbett. 2 $500,000 houses.
Transportation Bill: Wants RACC to talk to us about the art on Gibbs St. Ped Bridge.
Streetcar meeting today, presentation by Streetcar Inc about different proposals for 2012. Different operation policies: 12 to 13 minutes in S Waterfront. Fare structure also discussed.
Presentation by the Portland Plan regarding the streetcar.
Thinks we need to get involved with Barbur Highcap transit study. Wants Barbara Roberts from Metro to come talk to us.
JimG: Reporting from SWNI board meeting: Still a police investigation of the missing monies. Every month the officer is almost ready to take information to DA. Insurance claim was made. Insurance company has sent a forensic accountant to review claim. Also, the previous insurer is processing the claim, though not yet approved it.
SWNI transportation: working to prioritize transportation improvements SW needs to compete for funds. Street improvements, bicycle, and sidewalks. How do we among ourselves decide what our top priorities will be.
Safeway will be torn down and replaced.
SWNI Schools: Debriefed on April 15 forum. Announced that they are still doing school tours during the day. If interested, call SWNI office and ask. Neighborhood school survey is available on SWNI website or in hard copy.
SWNI Spring Clean up 5700 SW Dosch RD. May 14.
Communications Lee (for Joel): Will not do an 8 page flyer this year, just a postcard emphasizing the picnic.
Also working on the sign cap project: We can only have one line. Do people prefer “South Portland” or <Your Neighborhood>
Each one costs $50.
Adjourn: 8:56
