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Minutes Archive April 1, 2009
Minutes Archive April 1, 2009 
Apr
01
2009
| April 1, 2009 |
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| Written by Robert Hamilton | |
| Tuesday, 31 March 2009 | |
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Hillsdale Neighborhood Association Minutes of April 1, 2009 St. Barnabas Church Note: The May 6 meeting of the HNA will begin at 7 p.m. at The Watershed at Hillsdale facility, located at the intersection of Bertha Court and Capitol Highway. I. The meeting began at 7:00 p.m. and was chaired by Don Baack, president. The minutes were recorded by Robert Hamilton and Glenn Bridger. A. President Baack asked members to introduce themselves and to describe their “most memorable outdoor experience during the past year”. B. The agenda was amended with the addition of two speakers. C. The minutes of the March meeting were approved. II. The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) provided a two-page handout describing the “I-5 Iowa Street Viaduct Replacement Project”. The project “is located at mile post 298.2 on I-5 just north of the Terwilliger curves” and is designed, according to spokesman Mike Mason (503-731-8246), to replace the bridge rather than just the decks which “are in poor condition”. Ron Kroop (503-229-5266), Rich Watanabe (503-731-8528), Shelli Romero (503-731-8231), and Brett Richards (503-731-8482) described the details of the project due for completion in 2012. It will receive $40 million in federal funds earmarked by Rep. Peter DeFazio. HNA members: A. (1) expressed concerns regarding the replacement of trees cut on the trail beneath the viaduct, which will be closed for 30 months, and consequent drainage problems; B. (2) recommended adding an on-ramp to I-5 south, using pre-cast material, using the fill dirt to solve flooding problems along the Willamette River and berms to mitigate night-time blasting noise reflected uphill, eliminating tree ivy during construction, and retaining the Highway Patrol parking spot and replacing the Jersey barriers there with a gate to facilitate trail maintenance and repair; and C. (3) recommended use of the waste material excavated from the project as fill for part of the Red Electric trail section approved to the immediate west of the Capitol Highway/Beaverton Hillsdale Highway intersection. The approval of Mayor Sam Adams will be needed for the Red Electric project to be rescheduled earlier in order to use part of the fill-dirt from the Iowa Street viaduct project. III. The new culvert/bridge on the Hillsdale-Lake Oswego trail project was discussed. The goal is to better accommodate pedestrian traffic as well as bicycles IV. The members passed a motion to invite the Portland Bureau of Environmental Services to the May 6 HNA meeting to discuss the Multnomah sewer project and how best to deal with engine noise from trucks which will be using Bertha and Vermont. V. Glenn Bridger reported that the nominating committee is still searching for candidates interested in replacing Don Baack as president of the HNA. The election will take place May 6 at The Watershed of Hillsdale at Bertha Court and Capitol Highway. VI. HNA members were reminded of a number of car robberies recently and advised to lock their cars at night. VII. Glenn Bridger reported on future improvements along Barbur Boulevard as well as Capitol Highway. On Barbur, a state highway with Oregon Department of Transportation responsible for improvements, the goal is to improve functionality by adding sidewalks and a transportation plan among other things. The Southwest Community Plan excluded the Barbur “envelope” from its rezoning 10 years ago, but the Southwest Neighborhoods, Inc. (SWNI) has been pushing for that part of the plan to be completed both with regards to zoning as well as transportation needs in the corridor. The present SWNI committee is pushing for both immediate construction including sidewalks (at, as yet, undesignated locations), with their associated storm water runoff resolutions, and for completion of the transportation planning study to identify long-term needs. VIII. Glenn also reported that on Capitol, Wes Risher, Marianne Fitzgerald, Kay Durtschi, Leonard Gard, and Sue Keil (PDOT) met to discuss (and walk) Capitol Highway, focusing upon the planned improvements from Taylors Ferry north to Multnomah Village. They also looked at the needed improvements at Hoot Owl Corner and sidewalk improvement from Hillsdale east to Terwilliger Boulevard. IX. Glenn Bridger reported that a SWNI team plus those from other neighborhood coalitions, ODOT, and PDOT are working collectively on a snow removal plan to eliminate problems which became obvious during the snowstorm of December 2008. X. Don Baack reported that while there is no official plan to add light rail on Barbur Boulevard, there is a Tigard committee and students from the University of Oregon who are jointly studying the possibility of one. An HNA volunteer is needed to monitor these efforts and keep the membership informed of developments and recommendations. XI. A SW Trails and Hillsdale work party will be removing the roots of invasive species from Himes Park on April 4 from 9 a.m. to noon; and at the same time on April 18. They will meet at SW Nebraska and the intersection of SW Terwilliger and SW Burlingame Place. XII. Mike Rheinert reported on the work of the Schools Committee. They are asking whether there is racial tension in local schools; and, if so, what to do about it. He also asked members to consider how to support our schools financially. Rieke Elementary School is growing and is adding modular classrooms for the K-2nd grade levels. Also, an investor has been recruited who will invest in the solar panels to be built on the west side of Rieke facing Bertha Court; the panels will be built in 2010. XIII. Rick Seifert proposed a motion that “The Hillsdale Neighborhood Association opposes the placing of communication towers on rights of way and encourages the location of obscure sites on private property.” The motion passed unanimously. XIV. Arnold Panitch introduced a letter of thanks from the residents of The Watershed at Hillsdale and its nonprofit developer, Community Partners for Affordable Housing (CPAH), thanking the HNA for its support in the addition of “the full-block crossing of Capitol Highway at Bertha Court …”. XV. Rick Seifert proposed a motion, seconded by Aloha Wyse, that “The Hillsdale Neighborhood Association sponsor the annual neighborhood book sale, including solicitation and the sale of the books.” The motion passed unanimously. XVI. Shasta Kearns Moore reminded members of the Volunteer Fair & Forum, which will be held April 13, from 4 to 7 p.m. in Wilson High School cafeteria. XVII. Rick Seifert informed members of the “Hillsdale Cleanup,” the second Saturday of each month; 9-10 a.m. with coffee and cookies provided by Food Front, the meeting site. XVIII. Don Baack announced a “walk-around” with Tri-Met board representatives, the date to be announced later. A hearing on proposed Tri-Met service cuts will be held at Wilson High School on Monday, April 6, beginning at 4 p.m. XIX. The HNA members paused to honor the memory of Phil Pennington, long-time resident of Hillsdale, physicist, adventurer, inventor, photographer, mapmaker, and contributor to the organization and the community. He died March 31, 2009. XX. The meeting was adjourned at 8:55 p.m. Respectfully submitted: Robert Hamilton and Glenn Bridger Edited and formatted by Philippe Kreiter –with gratitude to Robert and Glenn--, secretary, Hillsdale Neighborhood Association |
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