VNA minutes for October

Vernon Neighborhood Association

Oct 10th, 2006

minutes

 

7:00        Introduction by chair; Lindy

New attendees introduce themselves (and sign in)

General introductions of present board

7:05   Oma goes over minutes and correspondence that are posted on the blog

Posted on www.vernonneighbors.blogspot.com the following . . . 

VNA minutes for Sept.

Vernon Neighborhood Tree Planting

2006 Spirit of Portland Awards

Help the Coalition for a Livable Future Shift the Balance!

Mayor Hosts Neighborhood Leaders!!!

ABC of Land Use Workshop

Letter from the Clown House

Survey about the future of our city

Disaster Psychology and Trauma workshops

Small grants workshop schedule

Communication from/with NECN

Sept minutes of VNA meeting

Alberta Development Workshop


7:10   Muriel and treasurer’s report plus grant research report

$367. plus $20.00 cash
Muriel volunteered to attend a workshop being held about Neighborhood small grants program Oct 12th. It is to support for Neighborhood Association to attract new members and add diversity. The grant is due the first of this coming month.
The board will follow up and see if we can meet the deadline with a proposal.

7:15   Elections of board as follows . . .

         Chair . . . Lindy Cicada         worldwind@earthlink.net

         Co-Chair. . . Mark Downing      craftmark@gmail.com

         Secretary . . . Oma Richmond     worldwind@earthlink.net

         Recording Secretary . . . Crystal DeAlba     crystal.dealba@hotmail.com

           Treasurer . . . Muriel Wentzien     mwentzien1@peoplepc.com

          Lance Watts     Police contact       lnwatts@comcast.net

          Robert Milesnick        rmilesnick@hotmail.com

           Tara Johnon-Medinger Land Use rep.     littlemissanomaly@gmail.com

A short discussion followed about having each member on the board over-seeing a committee. It is hoped to develop that idea further in the near future.

7:25    Introduce Amy Long of Vernon Neighborhood Tree Planting

           Upcoming tree planting on Feb 17th flyer passed out. (see article) We
 plan to follow up by taking flyers to the local business that have empty tree
 wells in front of the business.      

7:35  John Fall Chair of Land Use

                Land Use Report

        John explains the zoning for the 20th and Alberta, and the concerns of
         Vernon and Concordia neighborhood associations. Two workshops were
       held and gathered the thoughts of over 50 people from the neighborhood
       about the forementioned project. Universal comment was that the building
was too big, and that the appearance was very bland. In the end the developer
 said, “We will do what you want, if it is feasible. We suggested a three story building. 
         They have to reply to what we asked for and we are waiting
for that response letter. John explained the timing frames and told us about going to the ABC of Land Use workshop. He then make a motion that the membership gives the Land Use committee permission to proceed with an appeal response, if it all comes down before the next meeting. Passed. 

7:50         Larry reports on Killingsworth business . . .                     
              When on walkthrough tour through Vernon neighborhood with the city,
 questions came up about the hub of the neighborhood. . . Killingsworth and
 14th to 17th where zoning has restricted the business that are there. Non
 comforming zoning is where business area is changed to residential, and
 existing businesses are stuck and can’t progress. Debbie pointed out where
 there is going to be a position open soon for a person to examine the zoning in
 that area. We need to help them and support them in writing a letter that this
 has come to our attention. John has agreed to write the letter.
Next year this zoning will expire and can be declared urban renew and get
 funding for improvements. James, from “One Stop Records” said what a good
 job John Fall has done. They haven’t been able to get lights or anything done. That’s why it looks so bad.

8:15   Introduce Mark Downing, for Mark Lakeman

Mark Lakeman of City Repair, gave a slide presentation that showed the importance of neighborhood’s creating meeting areas out of intersections. He also gave us some guidance on how to prepare for The Village Building Convergence that happens May 18th to the 27th, 2007. Ideas started blossoming.

        Q & A followed.

Adjournment @ 9:00

There were no suggestions for items to be added to next months agenda by the membership

Next VNA board meeting is Nov. 8th (Wed) 7:00 p.m. @ Lindy and Oma’s house, 4816 NE 19th Ave.

Next VNA meeting is Nov 14th (Tues) 7:00 p.m. @ EnterBeing, 16th and Alberta.

 

 

 

                       

VNA minutes for Sept.

7:00 Introduction by chair; Lindy
New attendees introduce themselves (and sign in)
General introductions
Need for new board members

7:05 Oma goes over minutes and correspondence that are posted on the blog
Posted on www.vernonneighbors.blogspot.com the following . . .

Mayor Hosts Neighborhood Leaders!!!
ABC’s of Land Use Workshop Oct 7th
Update on 20th and Alberta
Wine on Wed. events
Tree planting announcement
Minutes of VNA meeting of Aug.
Community Workshops re: Alberta and 20th development
Alberta Street Fair Sept 16th
Street Car new board members announcement
Neighborhood grants from city
Zoning questions answered by Debbie
Web site address to type II Land Use Procedure
Land Use Committee Minutes
PDX Grants Celebration (Oct 14th)
Announcement from Tom Potter
King and Vernon Neighborhood Tour (Sept 7)
Alberta Condo currant Architectural Plans
Draft letter for design review
Draft of Aug. 2006 Alberta Business Report
Alberta Business Survey Nov. 2004

7:10 Muriel and treasurer’s report

Our VNA bank balance is $367.94 plus 20.00 cash.
1 check was issued to The Greater Solid Rock Church for children's school supplies for the sum of $95.00.
(There was $20.00 cashed donated toward that social cause)

7:15 Introduce John Fall Chair of Land Use
Land Use Report
John explains how we need to meet with the architect again. The workshops
Will in inform us about how those two blocks are designed for taller
buildings. They will be taking pictures and showing us maps and help us
brainstorm about what people what to see and don’t want to see.
It’s a tool to get everyone’s input so we will have a sense of what people
want when we meet with the developers.
Fliers were offered to everyone there about the workshop so members could
help pass them out.
Report on the neighborhood tour with Debbie Bishoff the city planner.
The condition of the commercial
buildings on Killingsworth are because the area was zoned residential, and the
buildings there are grandfathered in and when those business’s close, others
can’t move in. That zoning needs to be changed. (It was done 20 years ago).
Suggested by Crystal to have someone like Craig talk with the business
owners along this area and see if they would make any changes if they could.

7:30 Willie Brown was scheduled but it was a no show.

7:45 Rob presents draft letter for churches and non profits asking for a representative.
Letter from Rob is passed out to take a look at. Larry suggests we drop it off at business’s along Killingsworth. He volunteered to take the letters to those business’s. Crystal will do the churches, and Lindy said she would do the non-profits.

Mark Downing introduces a friend of his who is a architect and was involved in a Sellwood area and designed the Tea Houses and had a big hand in the ReBuilding Center. He has some ideas about what makes a community. Mark Downing will talk with him and see if his vision would help us in any way. www.Cityrepair.org is where you can find out more information about Mark Lakeman. Next general meeting is Oct 10th and Mark D. agreed to get hold of Mark L. and see if he can come to the next meeting.


8:00 Ajourned

Next board meeting is Oct 4th, Wed. evening @ 7:00 @ Lindy and Oma’s
Next general meeting is, Oct 10th, Tuesday @ 7:00 p.m. @ Enterbeing

Help the Coalition for a Livable Future Shift the Balance!

* Are you concerned about transportation and how it impacts your
family, your community and our region’s livability?

* Would you like to have your voice heard in determining how
transportation dollars are spent over the next 30 years?

Now, is your chance to make a difference!

A year from now Metro will adopt a new Regional Transportation Plan (RTP), which will guide how we spend at least $4.2 billion on transportation in the metropolitan area over the next 30 years. The Coalition for a Livable Future has crafted/ /a strategy for a balanced transportation system that will give people more choices and better access to the places they want and need to go. We want to hear what you think of Shift the Balance! and need your help making sure Metro hears from the community as it develops the new RTP.

How to learn more about Shift the Balance?

1) Invite a member of our speaker’s bureau to your next meeting. We’ll send a speaker who can brief your group on Metro’s RTP Update, our Shift the Balance! vision and invite your members to give us feedback. We’ll compile all of the feedback we collect and share it with Metro to help shape the new RTP they are developing.

2) Publish an article about the project in your newsletter, website or listserve. We’ll provide you with a sample article and invite your readers to take our Shift the Balance! online survey.

Visit our Website at www.clfuture.org for more information on our Shift the Balance! campaign.

Contact Jack Hallin at (503) 294-2889 or jack@clfuture.org to schedule a speaker or make arrangements for an article.

The Coalition for a Livable Future unites over 80 diverse organizations and hundreds of individuals to promote healthy and sustainable communities. By connecting issues, people and organizations, CLF empowers communities to take action together to shape the big decisions affecting the Portland region’s future.

Vernon Neighborhood Tree Planting 2007

Amy Long wrote:Date: Tue, 3 Oct 2006 19:33:30


Hello Everyone-

I'm writing to check in with all of you who were involved in the tree planting through Friends of Trees here in the Vernon Neighborhood last year. I wanted to check in with all of you to see how your trees have fared this summer. As I've been walking around the neighborhood to pass our fliers this fall for the 2007 planting, I have noticed a few of your trees have not made it, and wanted to let you know that Friends of Trees can replace a tree you planted last year that did not survive, due to disease, etc. for free. They cannot replace trees that died due to lack of water or care on your part, but if your tree died for other reasons, let me know if you would like a replacement.

I also wanted to ask if any of you would like to lend a volunteer hand this fall by doing a couple of possible things:
One-talk to the neighbors on your street who could use some trees and let them know about how to get involved in
this year's planting. The best way to get trees planted on your street is to talk to your neighbors, and let
them see how happy you are with your trees you planted last year.
Two-volunteer one hour of your time to help pass fliers around the neighborhood in general or ask your local
Vernon business if they would like to make a donation to this year's planting and/or plant a tree in front
of their business.
Third-allow me to post a Friends of Trees sign in your yard during October to create more interest in
the planting.

I've attached a copy of the flier for this year's planting for your reference-our planting date is February 17th, 2007. Please email or call if you would like to volunteer, and please let me know if you want to order another tree this year or have any other questions.
Thanks a bunch!
--
Amy Long
Vernon Neighborhood Friends of Trees Coordinator
(503) 936-5340
vernontrees@gmail.com


Stacey Roy

2006 Spirit of Portland Awards:

Nominations Now Being Solicited

Nominations are being solicited for the City of Portland's annual "Spirit of Portland Awards." The Spirit of Portland Awards, given annually to individuals, neighborhoods, businesses, and volunteers are one way the City recognizes the importance of citizen involvement in shaping the livability of Portland. The Mayor and City Commissioners will present awards in late Fall.

Awards will be given this year for Humanitarian, Independent Spirit, Community Harmony, Large Business, Small Business, Non-Profit Organization, Neighborhood of the Year, Outstanding Partnership, Employee Volunteer, and Youth Volunteer of the Year.

The selection committee - comprised of representatives from the Mayor's and City Commissioners' Offices, the Office of Neighborhood Involvement, each Neighborhood District Office, and past award winners - will determine the winners from among the nominees by evaluating them in EACH of the following five categories:
• Assistance with implementing outstanding projects
• Enrichment and revitalization of our community and neighborhoods
• Provision of a special service to citizens
• Demonstration of overwhelming responsiveness, creativity and civic values
• Raising cross-cultural awareness


Nomination forms can be obtained at the seven neighborhood district offices or at the Office of Neighborhood Involvement at City Hall, 1221 SW Fourth Avenue, Room 110, Portland, OR 97204. The forms are attached and can also can be downloaded at http://www.portlandonline.com/oni/ click on "Getting Involved!" and the information can be found under "Committees."

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Nominations are due to the Office of Neighborhood Involvement by Friday, October 27, 2006.

For more information, please contact Carol Justice at 503-823-3997.