Latest News

Portland Skate Parks
New Development Anticipated

Portland’s skateboarders, a lively group of an estimated 27,000 citywide, have sought development of public skate parks for decades. As a candidate, Sam pledged to ensure timely development of such facilities.

In 2002, Portland voters overwhelmingly supported the Parks levy, which includes a financial commitment to develop two public skate parks. Additionally, by 2020, nearly 20 new skate parks are planed to be constructed throughout Portland to meet a burgeoning community need.

The first of these planed skate parks began construction in St. Johns’ Pier Park back in May, and is expected to open for public enjoyment late September. The second, in Glenhaven Park of NE Portland, will begin construction immediately after completion of the Pier Park facility and is planed to open by the end of this year.

Lobbying Registration & Reporting
Amendments to be made by October

To remain fully accountable to the public, it is essential that City government continues to increase transparency. Portland’s first lobbying regulation is one step in this direction.

The lobbying regulation is an outstanding resource to the public, identifying those who are involved in the conversations that lead to decisions. It is also a great platform for organizations to be publicly recognized for their diligent efforts and valuable advocacy.

Specifically, Sam acknowledges the integral and necessary role neighborhood associations play in the shaping of our community.

As it is currently written, if an entity complies with State public record and meeting laws, is an Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3) Organization, and is formally recognized by the City, that entity is exempt from the lobbying regulation. This exemption, based on policy, standardizes the method by which entities are exempt from the regulation, while also providing a clear justification for the exemption.

The intent behind the 501(c)(3) aspect of the exemption criterion is to require neighborhood associations to be protected by non-profit classification. Because 501(c)(3) is a federal classification, it is more appropriate to require neighborhood associations to fall under Oregon’s Secretary of State’s non-profit classification instead of 501(c)(3) classification.

The first six months from when the lobbying regulation was initiated in April 2006, are designated as a review period. Any feedback on the regulation is welcomed, as our office continues to monitor the process of registration and reporting. Come October, when Council revisits the lobbying regulation, among other things, the matter of the 501(c)(3) classification will be addressed.

Contact: Bryan Hockaday, Office of Comm. Adams at Bryan.hockaday@ci.portland.or.us or call 503-823-1125

Noise in North Portland
A Noise Reduction Strategy Underway

North Portland has been at the center of fervent debates over noise for the past few decades, and while flight patterns have been modified, appropriate freight routes demarked, and decibel standards set, noise levels in the area are still considered by many to be at unacceptable levels.

As a fellow resident of North Portland, Sam has taken on this issue, establishing the North Portland Noise Reduction Strategy, which was approved by Council back in April of 2005.

The North Portland Noise Reduction Strategy outlines a clear plan to first quantitatively assess the situation before any direct action is taken. In addition to an acoustics study of the area, public opinion polls and a North Portland Noise Reduction Steering Committee provide a wealth of information essential to making well-informed decisions on this matter.

North Portland noise-level concerns are not exclusive to one source. Namely, the Portland International Raceway (PIR) is at the center of growing public concern. But PIR is only one contributor to this larger issue.

Beyond the usual suspects of noise producers, such as everyday street traffic, North Portland is hit by noise from Portland International Airport, interstate traffic on I-5, and freight transportation coming and going out of nearby industrial areas. This concern over noise in this area is complicated in the context of a growing metropolitan area that is keen on livability. Thus, it is essential that all of the facts are gathered before any decisions are made.

Contact: Bryan Hockaday, Office of Comm. Adams at Bryan.hockaday@ci.portland.or.us or call 503-823-1125

First Thursdays
Meet Portland’s Elected Officials and Local Artists

City Hall 1st Thursday Art Show
Thursday August 3rd 5-7pm City Hall 1220 SW 4th
Underground/DIY Art Collective Community

City Hall welcomes you to this free public event highlighting Portland’s cutting edge photographers, sculptors, illustrators, painters, and printers, including Pasha, Faulkner Short, Jennifer Hazzard, Brian Parnell, Shirley Barley, Colleen Coover, and Roll Hardy. Entertainment for City Hall’s First Thursday events is provided by Kevin Barber and His Happiness Boys.

Also, come be part of the fun by walking, skating, biking or riding in a parade with Commissioner of Transportation Sam Adams! Join us on your favorite mode of transportation to greet parade watchers and connect with your community. Two upcoming parades include the following:

Mississippi Street Fair and Parade, Saturday July 15th; and

Division/Clinton Parade, Saturday July 22nd http://www.divisionclinton.com/.

For more information about getting involved with parades or other events contact Pollyanne Birge, Community Outreach Coordinator in Sam’s office at 503-715-7946 or pbirge@ci.portland.or.us.

Tram Construction
Portland Icon Takes Shape

If you haven’t noticed, Portland’s new South Waterfront district has received a new addition- the first visible signs of the Portland Aerial Tram. The 197-foot tall tower has been installed and has already gotten many inquisitive looks as the tram project and the district come together. The steel tower, weighing more than 560,000 pounds, was constructed locally by Thompson Metal Fabricators in Vancouver, Washington and barged into Portland on June 9.

In the coming months, the tower- designed by Portland native Sarah Graham and described by many as “a piece of sculpture,” will be fitted with the cable that will eventually carry the tram cars from the South Waterfront to the OHSU Marquam Hill Campus. Thompson has been in business for over 65 years and employs over 150 people at its plant located on the Columbia River across from the Portland International Airport.

For more info about the tram, please contact David Gonzalez in the Portland Office of Transportation at (503) 823-4325.

Helpful City Numbers

Transportation Safety Hotline
Do you have concerns about speeding in your neighborhood? Other traffic safety concerns? Call 503-823-SAFE(7233).

Graffiti Abatement Program
This ONI program works with concerned neighbors and business-owners to locate, report, and remove graffiti from public and private spaces. Call 503-823-5860

Does your neighborhood association need help with a Portland City government issue?

We want to help: Contact Sam by at 503-823-4046 or CommissionerSam@ci.portland.or.us or contact Bryan Hockaday at 503-823-1125 and Bryan.Hockaday@ci.portland.or.us.

Neighbors Night Out

Neighbors Night Out is going to be huge this year - our concert series is quickly becoming the best in all of Portland. The very first one had almost five hundred folk in attendance, with children's activities, food booths, in addidition to an evening of music.

If you would like to participate in either the parade or the "big wheel" to promote your business, please contact Peggy Alter - pegalter@msn.com

The big wheel requires about 30 small prizes or coupons that winners can pick up or use at your store.
Thanks!

Peggy
303 442 6559

minutes of June 13th

Vernon Neighborhood Association
June 13th, 2006



Minutes

Introductions

Oma announces correspondence

Introduce Guest Saj Jivanjee, Architect for OTAK Inc.

The proposal by OTAK, INC to develop a 59 unit, 6 story condominium project with 3 commercial spaces on 20,000sf at the corner of NE 20th and Alberta was presented by Saj Jivanjee. Since then efforts to assess the opinions of neighborhood residents have moved forward. 3 neighborhood associations (Concordia, Vernon, and King) are involved in what happens on Alberta so they are working together and once they have a clear mandate from the people, they can take action if that is warranted.
About 35 people from all 3 neighborhoods were present and discussion was intense.
The project’s site is part of a 2 block area on Alberta between 20th and 22nd that is zoned EXdh, very different from the rest of the street. EX zoning allows residential, commercial, and industrial uses of the properties. d means that there will be a design review by the City and h indicates a height limit of 65 feet which translates roughly to a 6 story structure. This zoning came about during the development of the 1993 Albina Community Plan and the Concordia and Vernon Neighborhood Plans, a year’s worth of resident participation and visioning as to what folks wanted their neighborhoods to look like. Probably because at the time Alberta Street was a deteriorating area, they wanted to reserve space for larger businesses or developments that would increase employment or be an economic boon to the street. The idea made sense at the time when few saw today’s art galleries and restaurants.

When the architect said that “This is the zoning you folks wanted and this is what I was working with” there was a major disconnect with the audience of local residents and business people. Very few attending were around in 1993 to be part of that public input, and fewer still knew the history of the zoning or understood zoning implications. Likewise, current association land use committee chairs are all resident-volunteers who are not experienced in all the nuances of many facets of zoning. So it was the knowledgeable professionals vs. the ordinary citizen which led to much misunderstanding and frustration during the meeting.

It was clear that OTAK,INC had purchased the property with the EX zoning in place and that the zoning cannot be changed retroactively. (Zoning can be changed and modified – and there are several local efforts to do just that underway currently. Please contact Gail if you wish to get involved). Mr. Jivanjee has studied the buildings and homes in the surrounding blocks and has repeated the local front porch and store front pattern on the lower floors, he has put the garage basically undergrade, and he has broken up the building with pass-through corridors and set-backs, and there will be 5 stories instead of 6 (but still 65 feet high).

It became obvious to the audience that a lot of decisions had already been made, but by the architect and developer, and despite good intentions and close work on their parts, there seems to have been little, if any, public input or feedback.

But the development does have to pass muster with local residents and their neighborhood association land use committees before they are approved, and we have been able to form a Land Use Committee since that meeting that we will hear from at this meeting and that you can now contact the chair (and new board member) Gail Meredith @ meredith@imagina.com


Lindy introduces guest Ron Laster from NECN

We need to maintain an open communication. Development has a positive and a
negative aspect. Development is a fact of life. It is happening everywhere. At
the end of the day we have to maintain our dignity. City wide Land Use is being
organized. We need to address the our hot spots. We need to know what to tell
the commissioners.
Grant park has sent up a separate committee to set up communication
with developers and city and be kept in the loop.


Items to be added to the next agenda
Construction Contractors Board Nancy Weber





Next board meeting is July 5th Wed @ 7:00 p.m. Lindy’s and Oma’s house
Next VNA meeting July 11th (Tuesday) 7:00 p.m. @ Enterbeing

Public Meeting Notice

Seeking input on changes to Portland Solid Waste Management Plan

What: Public meeting to discuss changes to the collection, handling and
disposal of residential and commercial waste. The City has adopted new
aggressive goals for waste prevention and recycling and innovations in
garbage and recycling services are necessary to reach these targets. These
changes will impact future garbage collection and recycling options at the
curb and at Portland businesses.

When: Thursday July 20, 2006, 12:00-1:00 pm

Where: Portland Building, 1120 SW 5th Ave., Meeting Room B

Why: Input from both Portland residents and businesses will be vital as the
City moves ahead with changes to the solid waste management system. The
plan outlines a critical roadmap to meet City goals related to local
environmental quality, energy and natural resource savings, greenhouse gas
reduction and job creation.

For residents: The City of Portland is considering changes in curbside
garbage and recycling services to expand the materials collected, enhance
convenience and participation and improve overall efficiency of the system.
For businesses: Businesses produce 75% of the waste in Portland so their
efforts are essential to meeting City goals for waste prevention and greater
recovery. The City is looking for ways to improve garbage and recycling
services to give businesses the tools and incentives they need to be
successful.

The Office of Sustainable Development will lead a discussion that will
include national and local trends in waste and recycling, new goals for a
new Solid Waste Management Plan and the process for gathering input from
residents and businesses in the City.

For questions about the Solid Waste Management Plan process, contact Babe
O'Sullivan, 503-823-9582. For more information about the City's Solid Waste
and Recycling programs, visit www.sustainableportland.org.

Be There and Show you Care!

July 11th (second Tuesday of each month) is here again. Vernon Neighbor Association is the vehicle through which we can not only become a community, but can help design what we want to look like. Lindy and I have been attending meetings all week and the evidence is everywhere that people are really coming together, and that there are people who want to help create the kind of community we all have been longing for.
Join us at Enterbeing (corner of 16th and Alberta) @ 7:00. Last months meeting was unusual in that we suddenly had so many people attending and we went over our normal timeframe. We are serving you to help identify the process of becoming a community. That is our only agenda. We are here to help you organize and to be a conduit for information. We want you to have a voice.
This happens only by your participation.
Be there and show you care!

National Night Out! Tuesday August 1st 6pm-9pm

Brought to you by Freinds of Alberta Park.
Once again this free event is open to all and is a crime prevention awareness night that is held every year across the nation.

During the event neighbors will recieve crime prevention packs and information and learn about our scheduled Neighborhood Watch training.

If you would like to help with setting up the event or with cooking hot dogs, or handing out our neighborhood crime prevention pack your help is welcome. Volunteers should email Stee at usliens@yahoo.com.

To submit an agenda item please email Steve at usliens@awest.net.

The Latest on 20th and Alberta’s Mega-Building

The Latest on 20th and Alberta’s Mega-Building

The proposal by OTAK, INC to develop a 59 unit, 6 story condominium project with 3 commercial spaces on 20,000sf at the corner of NE 20th and Alberta caught CNA’s attention several months ago when its realtor displayed their plans at our Land Use, Livability and Transportation Committee meeting. Since then efforts to assess the opinions of neighborhood residents have moved forward. 3 neighborhood associations (Concordia, Vernon, and King) are involved in what happens on Alberta so they are working together and once they have a clear mandate from the people, they can take action if that is warranted.

As we go to press in mid-June, the latest event has been the presentation of Saj Jivanjee, the project’s chief architect, at Vernon Association on June 13th in the Enterbeing Meeting space at 16th and Alberta.(1603 NE Alberta) About 35 people from all 3 neighborhoods were present and discussion was intense.

The project’s site is part of a 2 block area on Alberta between 20th and 22nd that is zoned EXdh, very different from the rest of the street. EX zoning allows residential, commercial, and industrial uses of the properties. d means that there will be a design review by the City and h indicates a height limit of 65 feet which translates roughly to a 6 story structure. This zoning came about during the development of the 1993 Albina Community Plan and the Concordia and Vernon Neighborhood Plans, a year’s worth of resident participation and visioning as to what folks wanted their neighborhoods to look like. Probably because at the time Alberta Street was a deteriorating area, they wanted to reserve space for larger businesses or developments that would increase employment or be an economic boon to the street. The idea made sense at the time when few saw today’s art galleries and restaurants.

When the architect said that “This is the zoning you folks wanted and this is what I was working with” there was a major disconnect with the audience of local residents and business people. Very few attending were around in 1993 to be part of that public input, and fewer still knew the history of the zoning or understood zoning implications. Likewise, current association land use committee chairs are all resident-volunteers who are not experienced in all the nuances of many facets of zoning. So it was the knowledgeable professionals vs. the ordinary citizen which led to much misunderstanding and frustration during the meeting.

It was clear that OTAK,INC had purchased the property with the EX zoning in place and that the zoning cannot be changed retroactively. (Zoning can be changed and modified – and there are several local efforts to do just that underway currently. Contact us if you wish to get involved). Thankfully the architect has modified the original plans we published last month with a more “local façade.” Mr. Jivanjee has studied the buildings and homes in the surrounding blocks and has repeated the local front porch and store front pattern on the lower floors, he has put the garage basically undergrade, and he has broken up the building with pass-through corridors and set-backs, and there will be 5 stories instead of 6 (but still 65 feet high).

It became obvious to the audience that a lot of decisions had already been made, but by the architect and developer, and despite good intentions and close work on their parts, there seems to have been little, if any, public input or feedback.

But the development does have to pass muster with local residents and their neighborhood association land use committees before they are approved. So the associations plan to call for a major public session to air all issues soon at Redeemer Lutheran Church. The date and time tba. Watch for a leaflet at your doorstep or get on our email notification list (gbruender@comcast.net) for Concordia.