SouthEast Uplift Board Meeting
Monday 1/3/11

Meeting called to order at 7:05 pm; Declaration of Unity read by Paul Leistner

Introductions

Approval of Nov 1 2010 Minutes
Motion by Moshe, seconded by Jane. Passes unanimously with 0 abstentions

Small Grants Report: Kristin Hagstrom   
The 2011 Small Grants program is funded by ONI with the goal of building community and sustaining neighborhoods. SEUL received 40 applications requesting a total of $142.000, and has $22,500 to distribute. A committee of SEUL board members and staff have recommended 15 for funding (see board memo) based on questions answered in the proposals, and submits them for board approval.

Some projects receiving less funding than had other options available, and the committee believes that all can be completed. Last year funds were given to 27 projects funded, all were done at least in some way. Kristin meets with groups upon receiving funds to help plan how to best use them.
Motion by Pete to approve grants as recommended, second by Moshe.

Discussion: the Lifehouse Church Feast event went very well in past. The Lake Carlton project sought this grant for only a portion of its total needed funding. There is a good diversity of projects. Kristin has the full applications if anyone would like to read them. Passes unanimously, 0 abstentions.

Kristin will be sending out the press release and notification letters tomorrow.

Volunteer Appreciation Bowling Party: Tim O’Neal
SEUL is organizing a bowling party for neighborhood boards, SEUL board and SEUL staff on Wednesday April 13 from 6:00-9:00pm at Powell Lanes. There will be prizes, and 2 games for each team. Teams can have 4-6 members and can represent neighborhoods or groups of neighborhoods. Final information and deadlines for signing up with a team will be announced.

Committee Reports
There was minimal activity over holidays, and no updates to report.

Portland Bureau Of Transportation Budget Advisory Committee Update: Linda Nittlekoven
PBOT’s Budget Advisory Committee (BAC) is composed of stakeholders from business, neighborhood, freight, bike and pedestrian groups.

The criteria for allocating Capital Improvements Budget funds were revised over the summer to incorporate ideas from the Portland Plan, 20 minute neighborhoods, and a greater focus on safety. SE and inner SE have the most dangerous interactions as measured by maps of car crashes, and work has been done on 82nd and 122nd to improve road safety.

The aim of the budget outreach is to develop a more ongoing process for feedback rather than a rush in the weeks before the budget is due, which coincides with the holiday season. The Mayor has asked to look into the equity of the geographic distribution of spending; the Public Involvement Advisory Committee is looking at the budget processes of each bureau and how to standardize and improve them; and the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability has asked for a team of PSU students to carry out community needs assessments.

Anne has sent a spreadsheet of city budget info by email, and can sent further information with projections through 2050. Contact Linda by email with feedback about potential transportation needs.

Per questions from HAND Board: The discretionary funds which are available to neighborhoods are very limited, and tend to be from federal grants which go through Metro and for which all three counties compete; support from neighborhoods can help get these funds. The data the city uses for considering safety are based on accidents involving cars, which do not include near misses. The city chooses federal grants to apply for based on which would be the best match for the city’s goals, and Linda is still looking at how they choose priorities. PBOT’s funds come from a variety of sources. Division St in South Tabor has many near misses and a crosswalk that is not abided by drivers, and it blocks residents’ access to the Park. The diverse stakeholders impacted by the safety issues of this road include the Parks Department, the nearby school, Trimet bus users, and residents.
   

Finances: Pete Jacobsen
Pete notes considerable improvements in the state of the budget reports and the accounting and reporting that make them easier to interpret, after the concern he expressed in his November report.

Bathroom Renovation Report: Pete
SEUL had $12,000 in its budget for building repairs and maintenance, which came in part from ONI in recognition that SEUL does not need funds from it for rent. Improvements on the bathrooms were accelerated due to a new tenant (moving in around this time), which has a federal grant requiring it to have an ADA accessible bathroom (the ground floor itself is ADA accessible through back door). The former women’s room on the ground floor will be fully renovated and ADA compliant as a single unit unisex bathroom by January 15. The ground floor men’s room will be renovated next.

The budget for both bathrooms is around $8,500. Building funds have also been used for repairing the furnace and replacing the front door, after which around $1300-1400 will remain of that fund. SEUL still has $25,000 in cash reserves and $7,000 in building reserves.

Seat new Director: Ajai Huja
Pete moves to seat him, and Moshe seconds. Passes unanimously.
Chris Hart from Brentwood does not yet have signatures on his nomination paperwork.

Executive Director’s Report: Anne Dufay
The ONI Budget process proceeded without large needs of staff time or large cuts.     SEUL is currently looking for a part-time receptionist through Seniors Make Sense, a nonprofit that helps adults 55 and older learn skills and re-integrate to the workforce; please refer recommendations to Anne.

Rain gardens are in place in two of the building’s corners, and a bioswale is installed in the parking lot, both funded by grant from East Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District. The gazebo was taken down by the Oregon Tradeswomen, and tables and benches made with the wood. Further grants are being pursued to continue work on grounds.

Resignation of Roy Hartley (Richmond), Kevin (Kearns) and Alison Starkey, board succession planning, need to solicit help in search for next treasurer

Consider recruiting one’s replacement upon resignation from the Board, and give notice if one has moved.
There is
 a spot open for a Board Member on the Land Use Committee, which filling will restore its executive authority. It usually meets on the third Monday of the month, and see Dan Weiland if interested.

Pete will not be continuing as treasurer after this term ends in June. Financial information is now in Hosted Quickbooks, and the Executive Committee has been revising and clarifying role. The role would be easier to do with a financial background, and an at-large Board position might be appropriate for someone with the right skill set. Please refer anyone who is eligible for SEUL membership and might be interested.

New Business/Neighborhood Announcement
The group updating the Board Binder is making progress, and some completed sections have been presented to the Executive Committee. Marianne expects that it will be ready to bring to the Board next month.

The Northwest coalition has completed a pilot project with the City of Portland Archives to organize all of its own and its neighborhoods’ records into a searchable online database. The process went very smoothly, and took a few weeks; the archivists prefer to do all of the sorting themselves. SEUL stores some materials in building, and there is much elsewhere in neighborhoods, though it is not known what all is in SEUL’s archive. A potential drawback to the format would be the need to view the original items at the Archive facility. The offer is open to all neighborhoods—bring to own meetings.

Paul Leistner: the East Portland coalition is thinking of hosting a summit for involved neighbors for their region, organized by ONI. It could be a combination of workshops and opportunities for neighborhood leaders to speak of their concerns and meet one another informally. Would SE want to do something like this for our region or for the city as a whole?

Meeting Adjourned at 9:00pm