[bwna] BWNA board minutes 3/03

[bwna@bwna.org]

Beaumont Wilshire Neighborhood Association
11 March 2003

In attendance: Margaret Davis, Helen Koba, Bill Markwart, Janet Baker, Melissa Ritter, Jim Karlock, David Whitaker, Roger Meyer, Ted Perkins, Patrick Sweeney

Absences: Heidi Blischke, Dale Griggs, Mario Caoile, Willie Nolan (excused)

Melissa Ritter called the meeting to order at 7:31 p.m.
    
The January board meeting minutes were approved.

April meeting: Melissa talked about the full agenda scheduled for it. The time is changed from 7:30 to 6 p.m. People are needed to come set up, and several board members volunteered. Roger Meyer has leftover picnic supplies we can use. David Whitaker said he would produce signage for the tables. There was discussion about insurance liability for having alcohol, which Alameda Brewhouse wants to serve. Melissa reported that it has insurance that covers off-premises events. Other nonalcoholic beverages will be provided; Janet Baker volunteered to bring them.

Elections: We will be electing 10 board members at large, four for one-year terms and six for two-year terms. Melissa was thinking a board retreat would be two weeks later, April 28.

Speaker: Melissa mentioned that we may have to postpone him. Jim Karlock asked to invite speakers for the other side of an issue. The board voted to have groups give presentations rather than engage in debates.

Bike racks: Margaret Davis reported on the survey she did with David Whitaker to site 20 racks along Northeast Fremont Street.

Slow Down Signs: Melissa asked what we thought the status was of the issue. Board members said we should continue discussing the options, including sandwich board signs, yard signs, and signs on poles. Patrick Sweeney talked about the possibility of doing a matching program for the signs on poles. Helen Koba suggested tabling the suggestion until we have elections. Patrick suggested we start small, by building 2 sandwich board signs as a test. 
Janet asked about having signs made that could be put in people’s windows. Melissa said the best idea might be to assign a committee to the project after elections. The board still likes the idea of having students from Beaumont Middle School paint the signs.

Public safety: Bill Markwart said car prowls are still on the rise, as are residential burglaries. Don’t leave valuables in your car. Melissa asked for feedback on the CNN public safety representative, Katherine Anderson.
Bill bemoaned the lack of visits by our neighborhood police officer. Jim asked that the officer be allowed to talk as soon as he arrives. Melissa confirmed that is our protocol.
BWNA now has an engraver available.

Newsletter: Helen said everything was in except a notice about the bulky waste cleanup. Ted Perkins suggested a coupon in the newsletter to deter people from coming outside the neighborhood to use the service.

Ted recommended using the Wilshire United Methodist lot for a location, not the school. The board agreed, and Margaret will pass on the info to Willie Nolan.

Bulky waste: Margaret distributed notes Willie wrote up about the cleanup, happening May 10. This one’s a bit different than the other program, which operated curbside. For this one everyone meets at a central location. 

Land use: Patrick reported on a meeting that he and Jim attended at the Office of Neighborhood Involvement. The subject was taking the guesswork out of community involvement. The meetings are the fourth Monday of every month, with a rotating location. Patrick won’t be able to make our April meetings.

Meeting protocol: The distribution of non-BWNA generated materials was brought up. The board decided there should be a neutral location to the back of the meeting space for such materials. Exceptions are: sign-in sheets, meeting minutes, and agendas, all official BWNA business. Non-BWNA hanging materials shall be prohibited, too.

BBA: Willie wrote up minutes from a recent meeting of the Beaumont Business Association, and several people said such a liaison should be encouraged. Ted will try to go to the next meeting as the BWNA representative.

CNN: The last meeting featured a safety plan presented by the city’s Office of Transportation. They had maps showing the types of accidents happening in each neighborhood. Melissa’s trying to get a copy of ours. She passed around statistics showing speed as it relates to fatalities and injuries. There’s a new phone number for calling in dangerous intersections. The city’s working with police to monitor the intersections. Melissa distributed the phone number and e-mail contact to get on the list of dangerous intersections. 25 of the most dangerous will get lots of police attention; none so far are within CNN boundaries. Melissa said to e-mail her with intersection suggestions.

Patrick talked about recent reports of the most dangerous roads for traffic fatalities.

Melissa said there is legislation in the House to pay for traffic calming devices out of traffic ticket surcharges. We can write an endorsement letter if we want to support HB 3240. The board approved writing such a letter.

Crime report: Melissa mentioned a crime report distributed by the Sumner Neighborhood. Melissa asked what we thought of it. Ted said it showed more concern by the neighborhood. 

Oregon Humane Society is asking all Portland neighborhoods to attend a meeting on pet overpopulation. It’s March 19.

New fire station: We got certificates for the bricks we bought in honor of the NYC firefighters. 

Treasurer’s Report as of 3/10/03
Previous balance: $4,817.35
Less checks 827.
Plus deposits 150.
Balance $4,140.35

New business: David Whitaker asked about the fatal car accident he heard about near Justin’s General Store on Northeast 42nd.

Meeting adjourned at 8:50 p.m.