Kenton Neighborhood Association
Board Meeting
7/12/06
7:05 PM Meeting called to order by Vice Chair Doretta Schrock.
Board Members Susan Abe, Rich Watson, Matt Svymbersky, Brenda Ray Scott, Janice Thompson, Tim Batog, and Larry Fellows are in attendance.
Also in attendance are Tom Griffin-Valade, Havilah Ferschweiler, Ken
Arbuckle, Arika Bunyoli, and Tom Miller.
7:10 PM Vice Chair Doretta Schrock welcomes new Board Members
Doretta distributes Kenton Neighborhood Association business cards to new board members.
7:11 PM June Meeting Minutes distributed by Secretary Matt Svymbersky.
Meeting Minutes read over by Board members. Misspelling of Kate Deane’s name is noticed by board members.
BOARD ACTION: Board Member Janice Thompson moves to accept the June meeting minutes with the corrected spelling of Kate Deane’s name. Board Member Tim Batog seconds. Minutes approved unanimously.
8:50 PM Secretary Matt Svymbersky distributes Meeting Minutes from January to May for board review.
Suggestion is made to review correct and/or approve at the August Board meeting.
7:16 PM Havala Ferschweiler presents information regarding events and area issues
National Night Out –
o Tues Aug 1st.
o You are encouraged to throw parties to celebrate the night and get to know your neighbors.
o Registration is easy. Call Havala at 503.823.4098 or apply at www.portlandonline.com/oni/index.cfm?c=28395 - They will send you a starter kit.
o Commissioner Adams would love to attend any parties that you would like him to attend.
New North Precinct Commander – Havala reports that the new commander will be Commander Ferraris and says he appears to be a good fit.
Public Safety Action Committee – Havala reports that committee meetings are the 4th Wednesday of the Month at the Kenton Firehouse. All are welcome.
Public Safety Questions/Concerns- Havala fields questions/offers info.
o Board Members ask if it is worth it to report a stolen radio. Havala reports that it is worthwhile to report thefts as stolen property has been recovered by Portland Police and can be returned to its owner if a report has been placed.
o Board Members ask if a neighbors arrest record is public record. Havala reports that it is.
o Portland Police have been reacting to teens congregating and causing problems esp. at Lombard and Interstate.
7:25 PM Board Member Tim Lyden and Sam Adams rep., Tom Miller, present info on a proposed skate park for Kenton Park.
Kenton Park has been identified as a possible park to (of 19 sites) site a Skate Park to give kids a place for skating. A very exhaustive survey was done to identify possible parks. The Kenton Park site was unique b/c of Kenton downtown and a MAX stop nearby. Tim reports that Adidas is interested in lending their support (possible funding) to the idea. Tom Miller would like formal support in the form of a letter backing Skaters for Portland. Tom also reports that money would come from a PDC if they will the grant. Cal Skate Skateboards Cal-Sports is also supportive of the plan. There would be in-kind support from engineering firms to design the park. There is also a matching grant through Tony Hawk’s Foundation. The facility would be 2000-1500 square feet. Kenton’s facility would be small and focused on smaller kids. If all the services were market rate it would cost $50,000 but it will not cost that much due to matching grants. DreamLand Skate Parks is a world-respected firm and will build the park. The facility would possibly be open in the Fall. Tom reports that Dreamland will be sure to design a facility so that kids will be drawn to it and not to other areas of Downtown Kenton. It will be a small enough facility that it will not attract kids from all over the city. The deadline for the grant is 7/21
Tom Griffin-Valade reports that the Kenton Firehouse is also going for the same ICURA grant money and encourages the Board to decide whether we think it is a good idea and let the Grant Committee decide which grant application has the best case.
BOARD ACTION: Rich Watson moves to have a letter of support written. Susan seconds. Passes unanimously. Tom Miller reports that he will send a draft letter of support to Doretta and Aaron to use in the drafting process.
7:45 PM Board Member Larry Fellows asks about the results of the Officer
Appreciation Lunch.
Vice Chair Doretta Schrock reports that it was well received and well stocked with food. There was more food than could be consumed.
7:50 PM Stand For Children representative, Arika Bunyoli, presents to the board.
Stand is trying to organize in the Kenton neighborhood.
Stand would like to hear the concerns of Kenton neighbors.
Board Member Rich Watson voices concerns about the closing of Kenton Elementary, the lack of support for Jefferson High School, the lack of a an ability to add a 6th grade to Chief Joseph and overcrowding at Chief Jo.
Treasurer Brenda Ray Scott reports that these issues have made the area less desirable for families.
Board Member Susan Abe reports that many Kenton residents feel that public input is frequently unheard.
Treasurer Brenda Ray Scott reports that meetings are run poorly and little ability for a public voice given.
Many residents say that they have attempted to get their voices heard.
Vice Chair Doretta Schrock reports that PPS has agreed to do things and then they have not followed through with their agreements.
Board Member Rich Watson reports that questions abound about large grants that were to go to North Portland schools.
Arika reports that Stand for Children is a group trying to leverage support to influence politicians.
Arika reports that Stand For Children is looking to prevent further cuts and do lobbying on issues such as the Minimum Corporate Tax.
8:00 PM Board Member Tim Batog reports on the Kenton Rose Garden.
Tim reports that he may rotate the rose garden weeding schedule from Saturdays to a weekday evening due to feedback that Saturday mornings do not work for everyone. Tim reports that he will be working with Tom Griffin-Valade, Ronna Seavey, and Brenda Ray Scott to coordinate work crews etc. If you know someone who is a rose person, we need one on the committee. Tim Batog would like to erect a sign to illicit help. A Rose Garden sub-committee will work on a master plan. Brenda, Tim, and Susan will begin discussing ideas. Tim will also send info to northportlandonline.
8:05 PM Board Member Janice Thompson reports on the Kenton StreetScape Committee.
Janice reports that no decisions have been made regarding the proposal to place pedestrian refuges at various points down the Denver Ave. turn lane. PDC is proposing that the committee be extended for one more year as the Sera Architectural firm will be brought in. PDOT is looking to use 3 pedestrian refuges along Denver from Lombard down Watts. Eventually they will put in about 20. They plan to put one of these at the point where the gateway was to be placed announcing that motorists are entering Kenton. Sera Architects do not know if a full traffic circle is possible and will be studying it. PDOT is having 2 meetings to get out info. If we oppose the refuge at Watts we need to act fast. We could ask that they be built with paving stones in the middle that could be removed at a later date for plants or signs. Tom Griffin-Valade reports that talking to PDOT may not be helpful b/c they have already gone to bid. Tom suggests that KNA approach this from a political standpoint than from a bureaucratic standpoint. Tom suggests that Sam Adams’ office be contacted.
BOARD ACTION: Board Member Tim Lyden moves that a letter of recommendation be drafted asking that the Northern-most pedestrian refuge be able to incorporate a sign and landscaping and have all of the pedestrian refuges include pavers. Board Member Rich Watson seconds. Board Member Janice Thompson agrees to draft the letter and have the letter sent to PDOT and Sam Adams. Janice will email to all board members. Passes unanimously.
8:15 PM Board Members Janice Thompson and Tim Batog report on additional Kenton StreetScape issues.
They report that many members of the committee would like the downtown to move forward but are reluctant to make decisions without more information. The next meetings will include field trips to other areas of town and get experts to come in and offer opinions on what is feasible. Susan votes to thank the delegates to the Streetscape committee. All agree.
8:20 PM Treasurer Brenda Ray Scott reports on the Bank of America Award Application.
She publicly thanks Ronna Seavey for her assistance with the application. She says that no word is known on the outcome of the application.
8:25 PM Treasurer Brenda Ray Scott reports on Kenton monetary issues.
Brenda reports that we will be bank shopping. Matt suggests Wells Fargo.
Brenda reports that she will have more info on finances and changes to the treasurer’s functions in upcoming meetings.
8:30 PM Board Members Larry Fellows reminds board members that they can take a free transportation class hosted by the city at PSU.
8:35 PM Tom Griffin-Valade presents the topic of Goals and Budgets for discussion.
Tom suggests that we take time to determine what we want as the goals for our Neighborhood Association and what the budget would need to be for those committees.
We need to talk to each other about the different areas of focus currently on the radar.
We need to talk about our beliefs about what the Neighborhood Association is for. Answer why we are all spending our time volunteering in this capacity.
Should plan this discussion for September.
Could percolate ideas over internet to get the discussion going.
Some people express the desire to have this be a separate day to allow more time for discussion. Others suggest that we keep it at the same meeting day and make it a potluck and start at 6pm.
BOARD ACTION: Board Member Susan Abe moves that the meeting be on the same day but start at 6pm with a potluck. Board Member Janice Thompson seconds. Passes unanimously.
8:55 PM Meeting Adjourned by Vice Chair Doretta Schrock
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