[bwna] RE: resend of 12/9/02 minutes

[mc-hk]

Sorry for reposting this. Margaret, the minutes still were unreadable on the
BWNA archives at:

http://adam.bwna.org/pipermail/bwna/

Links to the minutes for the last two years and the archives are on the
'About' page:

http://www.bwna.org/about.html

Mario
==========

Beaumont Wilshire Neighborhood Association
9 December 2002

In attendance: Margaret Davis, Roger Meyer, Helen Koba, Melissa Ritter,
Janet Baker, Patrick Sweeney, Bill Markwart, Mario Caoile, Heidi Blischke,
Jim Karlock, Sherie Knutsen (principal of Beaumont Middle School), Officer
Martin Padilla, City Commissioner Randy Leonard

Absences: Willie Nolan, Jeanne Federovitch, Dale Griggs, Janet Baker, David
Whitaker

Melissa Ritter called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.

Minutes for the October general meeting were distributed and approved.

Treasurer's report: (12/9/02)
Balance 11/11/02: $5,110.35
Less checks $1,029.
Deposits $155.
Balance $4,236.35

Police report: Officer Padilla gave a crime report and mentioned cases of
pedestrian robberies in Wilshire Park. He said officers were able to locate
the source of the problem, but that weather has dampened criminal activity
anyway. He says he patrols Fremont as much as he can to keep speeding under
control. Melissa asked about where we stood in terms of a list of areas
poised to get a ticket-writing speeding machine.

One neighbor cited speeding along 37th now that the traffic flow has been
changed. Melissa asked about drug dealing and vandalism in the stairwells
along Alameda Ridge.

Officer Padilla said the pedestrian robberies usually happened around 10 or
11 p.m., but officers have found that walking into the park has curbed the
activity.

Speaker: Principal Sherie Knutsen of Beaumont Middle School said the schools
are in difficult times. She goes to work every day amid 600 adolescents, a
very diverse group in terms of economic background, achievement and ability.

She explained that the diminishing resources for education make her job that
much harder. The student-teacher ratio has dramatically increased; teacher
numbers have dropped, as have many electives; and increasing cuts hurt the
system.

She described the fund-raising practices of the school, including
partnerships with local businesses, gift-wrap sales, etc. She welcomed
anyone with talents to come forward and talk to her. Chess clubs and ham
radio are already offered by adult volunteers.

Student behavior has been a big issue, but the school has worked to fix the
problem. She urged neighbors to compliment students when they act well
around he school.

She appreciates the parent involvement in the neighborhood. She also invited
anyone to come visit the school and/or volunteer to tutor students. The
achievement gap presents a big challenge for the school. Current plans, if
funded, are to make major changes in how instruction is organized to close
that gap. She then emphasized the idea of free, equal, and appropriate
education for everyone.

Melissa asked for an update on the proposal to cut 14 school days. Sherie
said it was part of the teachers contract negotiations and a long
complicated process. If the January tax levy does not pass, Portland stands
to lose another $9 million; it costs about a million a day to keep Portland
public schools open.

Neighbors commented about alternative funding proposals, such as a
regionwide measure to raise money. Sherie encouraged neighborhood residents
to come to her or call with any problems they might have with Beaumont
students or the school.

Randy Leonard, formerly of the city's fire bureau and the Legislature and -
long before that, a Grant High School grad -- who took office at City
Council two weeks ago, talked about his insight into city policy and
decision making. The major issue is one of economic development, including
schools and jobs. He cited the recent case of Columbia Sportswear moving out
of the city, a move that he says cost schools and the county millions. He
says the best use for the Memorial Coliseum is one that generates revenue
for the city and the schools and the county. He stressed that we need to
focus on nuts and bolts of government and to get away from the "glamorous"
stuff. One of the bureaus he's in charge of is one that pays a lot of rent
and he wonders whether the bureau shouldn't rent a school, so that the city
collects the money on the other end, too. He would like to be known for more
creative, common-sense thinking. He says he doesn't underestimate the task
in front of him.

Neighbors asked about what he thought should be done with the coliseum. One
idea is to put a few big-box stores inside it. Another idea is a
city-subsidized sports facility.

Randy said the biggest issues for the city are the long, expensive
permitting process for building and the state of our schools. The attitude
of the planning department hasn't helped either developers or affected
neighbors. The city needs to conform to the people it does business with,
rather than the reverse. Randy says he will give the Legislature six months
to come up with a permanent funding plan for schools or he will lead the
effort for a regionwide tax. Randy mentioned the urban growth boundary and
said that he supported voters' wish to protect farmland and promote infill.

Randy says he suspects there are more businesses willing to locate here than
we might expect, but we need to turn around the city's attitude toward
business first. Randy also talked about making schools matter for everyone
in the community, not just those with children. Some of the schools, for
example, could be used as community centers. He says there is a lot of
potential for merging spaces.

Newsletter distribution: Lisa Perkins said that she is taking over from
Jeanne Federovitch and that she has some routes open for deliverers and a
captain.

Meeting was adjourned at 8:40 p.m.