KNA Minutes - April 2009

Posted May 26th, 2009 by angela.kirkman

KERNS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MINUTES

April 15, 2009

 

ATTENDEES: 

Board members:  GT Meili, Angela Kirkman, Steve Russell, Jay Harris, Jack Maynard, Steve A. Engel, Teresa Kinne, Tess Brown, Megan O’Keefe, Jim Dewson, Emily Simon, Jim Kautz, Mike Whitmore

 

Non-board members: Eric Jenson, Emily Rice, David Thornton, Emilia Biavaschi, Lee Perlman, Carol Smith, Elizabeth Kennedy-Wong

 

Chair GT Meili called the meeting to order at 6:05 PM.  The meeting started with introductions and pizza was served.  February and March agenda reviewed and approved. 

 

WAMO COMMUNITY CENTER SURVEY INFO (Elizabeth Kennedy-Wong / Angela)

§         Washington Monroe Community Center surveys to be done at the cleanup

§         Elizabeth talked about Kerns earning up to $1000 for returning 100 surveys.  She is planning to give money back to the community by getting survey input from local groups instead of hiring a consultant.  Elizabeth gave Angela a big stack of surveys to facilitate and collect at the cleanup.  Elizabeth will contact Angela concerning payment to Kerns Neighborhood Association for the surveys.  Kerns will be responsible for inputting the survey data at the Portland Parks and Recreation Office.

 

NO VACANCY (Emily Rice)

§         Portland State University Urban Planning Student, Emily, came to talk about their project called “No Vacancy” which is finding temporary uses of vacant space.

§         Emily handed out fliers for “No Vacancy” Exploring Temporary Use of Empty Spaces in the Central Eastside Industrial District with information and website (www.NOVACANCYPROJECT.WORDPRESS.COM).  They will be having some upcoming events they would like to advertise.  Angela mentioned contacting Neighborhood Notes website for some “free advertising”

§         No Vacancy is planning to work with PDC on Burside Bridgehead project as it develops over the next couple of years.  They have been in touch with Beam Contractors to explore this possibility.

 

BURNSIDE / COUCH PROJECT (Emily)

§         Emily talked about Burnside/Couch PDOT survey about transportation and safety concerns with lower Burnside and Couch streets. 

§         There will be a public meeting at the Jupiter Hotel meeting on June 10th at 5pm to discuss construction impacts of the local neighbors.

 

TREASUREER’S REPORT (Teresa)

§         Bank accounts were consolidated last month.  We have savings account with $1218.37 and checking account with $3193.13.  Last month, our Post Office box was renewed, and we paid for pizza for the board meeting.

 

PUBLIC SAFETY (Officer Andy Edgecomb)

§         Officer Andy Edgecomb passed out the crime statistics, and no new major concerns arose.

§         There is another Three Precinct Proposal meeting planned for next Monday night (April 20) at Cleveland High School at 6:30pm.  The current three precinct plan includes Kerns in the Central Precinct (up to 39th and south of I-84).  It is no longer split into two precincts.

§         City Council votes for Three Precinct Configuration April 28th.  The plan is to make the current Southeast precinct the transportation division.

 

CLEAN-UP (Jack)

§         Passed out a few posters and talked about last minute details for the cleanup to be held this Saturday April 18th from 9am-noon.

§         Volunteers should be there at 8:30am.

§         No more committee meetings, and all plans are go.

 

BIKE GRANT (Teresa / Sean / Tess)

§         Sean held a meeting with bike corrals with the city, and they have plans to put new bike parking corrals around Kerns and other neighborhoods.  The city is planning to fund them.  Current proposals include Crema, Beaulaland, Laurelhurst, 401 and Pambiche.  10-26 bikes fit in the corral.  New design can be seen on 3rd and downtown by Bijou Café. 

§         Tess reported that $5 helmets and lights are being made available from Legacy Trauma

§         There was no bike committee event this month.  The next bike event committee meeting will be May 13th, where they will discuss the location for our bike event planned for the Southeast Sunday Parkway (August 16). 

 

SOUTHEAST UPLIFT REPORT (Kevin)

§         Nothing to report.  SEUL is still looking for a new director.

 

COMMUNICATIONS (Angela)

§         Kerns website through Southeast Uplift is down

§         A few local businesses have contacted Angela via email concerning advertising space on our e-newsletter.  The board moved and approved allowing free advertising for local businesses to start out since our distribution is fairly limited (~100 people on the email distribution list).

 

LAND USE UPDATES 

§         Washington Monroe (WAMO) Community Center – Currently in planning stages and taking feedback from the community (http://www.portlandonline.com/parks/index.cfm?c=49531) until June 10th.  Mike spoke briefly about the Open House held in April to introduce the project and solicit information from the public.

§         Burnside / Couch Project – Scheduled to start construction this summer.  See Burnside/Couch section above for details for meeting scheduled to bring affected neighbors together and raise concerns during construction.  You can find more information about the project at http://www.portlandonline.com/transportation/index.cfm?c=46448. 

§         Burnside Bridgehead – Beam Construction is still planning an alternative energy campus for this project.  PDC will be holding an open meeting next Tuesday with Beam Development team.  The meeting is open to the public and will be at PDC from 3-5pm.

§         URAC – Some funds are still available for shop front development.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

§         None

 

 

Meeting adjourned at 7:55pm

 

Minutes recorded by Angela Kirkman.