KNA Minutes 2/08/06
Board members present: Doretta Schrock, Brenda Ray Scott, Larry Fellows, Rich Watson, Susan Abe, Vivian Smith, Monique Snyder, Aaron Gray, Matt Svymbersky
Others present: Mark Kirchmeier, legislative candidate; Patrick Street, UP journalism student; Amanda Barry & Matt Hoffman, interested in PIR noise; Nathan Roelofs, Piedmont neighborhood; Tina Kotek, legislative candidate; Kerry Hampton, Portland Public Schools; Havilah Ferschweiler, crime prevention program coordinator; Matt Powell, president of De La Salle North Catholic High School; Kert Wright; Mary Hanlon; Pam Arden, 40-mile Loop activist
Announcements:
Superfund tree planting event Saturday afternoon
Monday 6:30 Noise Review Board meeting on PIR’s noise variance requests for this year
Business Ass’n wondering if KNA is planning anything like a Festival in the Park for this year; would be interested in working together. Brenda and Outreach Committee will open talks. Mark Kirchmeier suggests talking to Metro Enhancement Committee(?), which has funds to help with such projects.
Legislative candidates:
Mark Kirchmeier and Tina Kotek introduced themselves.
Pam Arden issued a call for people to run to be Democratic precinct-people.
Call to order at 7:23 p.m. upon Aaron’s arrival.
Chris Primus resigned his position on the board as he is moving out of state. His position is now vacant.
Kenton School – Kenton was closed last year and PPS put out a request for proposal and is wanting to lease it out. Currently, De Lasalle North is looking to lease the building on a long term basis. It would be a 20 year lease with option for renewal. They have 230 students in 9th -12th grades. They offer a college prep curriculum for North Portland community members. They offer a corporate work study program with 60 corporations. They go to school 4 days a week and work one day a week. They travel often by Max to their jobs. Their pay goes into tuition paying for 75% of the operating costs of the school. They feel the students receive valuable life skills. They have no guarantees of the security of any new building if they built at their current location due to bankruptcy filled by their current landlord (the Arch-Diocese of Portland of the Catholic Church). PPS would need to go through a public process before any lease would be approved. PPS hopes to keep the grounds available to the grounds on weekends and after hours. PPS reports that they have no current plans for the eastern half (the field) of the property. Lasalle would have up to 35 cars on site per day. They may look to disassemble the portables and create a parking lot.
Discussion surfaces about competition with North Portland Public School. Unlike charter school, private schools do not take funds from PPS and PSU demographers have indicated that private schools do not significantly impact public schools.
Rich Watson raises concerns about the fact that Chief Joseph, the school where Kenton children were sent, is not able to accommodate K-8 and may not even be able to accommodate a 6th grade. He says that with changing demographics appear that more families with kids are moving into the area and will not have a viable K-8 option. He argues that a long term lease of the Kenton building would limit the options especially if there are population increases. Many members of the Neighborhood Association asks for a PPS representative to talk to the KNA about keeping Chief Joseph a viable option to which parents want to commit. Many members of the KNA report not wanting these concerns to throw a wrench in the proposal of the lease agreement for DeLasalle. Monique argues that it would not be fair to undermine the DeLasalle plan by asking for a shorter lease agreement.
Pam Arden recalls community hopes for a community center/senior center/childcare center for the Kenton school property that were documented with the city. She wonders if their would be any hope of a collaboration on these sorts of issues with De Lasalle. She also advocates for keeping the green space intact.
Office Christensen – Reports on a local drug bust at a house where the neighbor was dealing marijuana and had many guns and ammunition. This was brought to the attention of PPB by neighbors. Other drug houses are being watched currently. New crime – people are stealing Catalytic converter for recycle as well as stealing licenses for the tags. More reports of potential stolen checks. DeLasalle has experienced gas being ciphened from the gas tanks of their buses. Officer Christensen encouraged people to keep reporting crime even if it feels that the criminal justice system isn’t able to accommodate the need. Complaints surface about speeding along Hunt and Farragut Streets over by Penninsular. Non-emergency phone # is 503.823.3333. Doretta encouraged people to be aware of the current city budget process as in the past there have been proposals to merge the North and Northeast Precincts.
Brenda moves that a general board meeting in April be held with the Kenton Downtown Re-development Group in addition to second general meeting where the KNA partners with PPS/DeLasalle in April to discuss the Kenton School proposal. Doretta seconds. Passes unanimously.
Discussion of the I-5 Project – Some area neighborhood associations have differing opinions on the preferred proposals. Some favor “No Build”, some favor option 2, some favor option 4. Discussion is opened to taking a KNA position on one of the proposals. Many voices for not taking a stand b/c of the diversity of opinion of the community.
Larry Fellows makes a motion to support the widening project. Aaron seconds. Passes unanimously.
KNA will decline choosing an alternative for Phase II of the project at this moment.
A PDC communication with Aaron Gray indicated that of the 150 list (of projects where funding has only been identified for 100 of 150% of the projects on the table) Phase II of the I-5 project (the reconfiguring phase vs Phase I the widening phase) currently does not have designated funding.
Doretta moves that KNA supports ensuring funding is available for Phase II ( which includes any of options 1-4) and that ODOT keep phase II on their list of 100%. Brenda seconds. Passes unanimously.
Aaron agrees to write a letter of support for the widening project.
Brenda agrees to write a letter of support to ensure funding of Phase II of the project.
I-5 Community Enhancements – Monies will be available to fund enhancements in the project area.
The 10 projects on the table were presented.
Susan moves that the KNA supports 3 projects 1. The Friends of Trees tree planting, 2. The 40 Mile Loop proposal for a trail and canoe launch, and 3. the 40 mile loop sidewalk project. Brenda seconded Passes 7 yes, 1 no.
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