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AboutHNA 
Feb
04
2009
| Febuary 4, 2009 |
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| Written by Philippe Kreiter | |
| Tuesday, 03 February 2009 | |
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Hillsdale Neighborhood Association Meeting 4 February 2009 A. Introductions: B. Approval of Agenda – It was moved and seconded to approve the agenda. The motion passed. C. Approval of Minutes– It was moved and seconded to approve the agenda. The motion passed. D. Approximately 28 present II. Ross Caron and 2 associates from the City of Portland on status of Burlingame Place slide and steps to take to reopen Burlingame Place to traffic. The site area has been cleaned and re-graded. A storm water system has been installed under the site to assure that there is no further land movement. The remaining house to the left (viewed from Terwilliger, facing uphill) is being inspected for the possibility of re-occupancy. The home to the right is still yellow taped as the land above is being evaluated for stability. The other impacted home has been occupied, only with conditions of access. On Burlingame place, the houses are going through geo-technical evaluation to determine how to stabilize them and make them safe and inhabitable. The house to the left is nearing occupancy. The slide does not seem to be expanding. The scarp where the house actually slid is not showing further signs of movement. However, the soil on the scarp is not stable, so it is covered with plastic to keep it as dry and stable as possible, thus leading to maintaining the closure of Burlingame Place. The property owner of the home that slid is responsible for maintaining the stability of their frontage on Burlingame Place –which affects the stability of Burlingame Place. In working out the needed work, the city is trying to balance the need to get the work done as soon as possible, and sensitivity to the property owner. A. Detour signs still need to be removed. B. Burlingame Dr. became a major detour during the closure, and it still is heavily used. It is requested that there be a traffic count on Burlingame Dr. to see how heavily it is being used now. C. The slide on Cheltenham (three houses from Westwood – Lotz property) is being studied and the city is working with the property owner’s engineers. III. Bob Downing of Portland Parks gave us an update on the status of the Rieke Soccer Field and how any future bond measure will be organized to be assure neighborhoods are involved in the decision making of what goes into the bond measure. The field is in poor condition. There is a description on the Parks (Portland Parks) capital improvement list above general maintenance and general budget. This project is on the one to five year list (as opposed to five to ten year or longer). It is envisaged that the project will cost in the area of $500,000 to $700,000, not including lighting, etc. Given the economy, it is probable that Parks will not see money for capital improvements this year. Parks also wants Portland Public (PPS) to be involved in the project. Park is seeking guidance from Portland Public regarding what it plans to do with Rieke school. The project will wait until PPS gives its input regarding plans for the school. A. Lighting is an important issue that will come up and restrooms as well, but that is another discussion. B. Clubs and teams do pay an hourly user fee, which goes to Parks. Revenue is added to the general fund, which is then redistributed to the diverse departments. C. There is a draft of the capital improvement list that will be published after being presented to the commissioner and taking commissioner input into account in the list. IV. Tim Hall of the Portland Water Bureau discussed changes to the MacAdam pump station and associated projects in Hillsdale. The Fulton Pump Station on SW Nevada street is a very important facility to the Water Bureau. It was built in 1912 and was the only building in the area at that time. Now, there is a whole community that has been built around it. This station pumps water to the Burlingame and Carolina water tanks. The water bureau has worked with the residents of the area who are very concerned about the effects on them. Under all circumstances the local community will be involved for function, aesthetics, and possibly amenities (e.g.: meeting room). Various options have been explored: A. Building on site. It would impact the neighborhood and require the building of a temporary pump station during the building process. A staging area would also be required and that would have to be at a fair distance from the building site, impacting streets and traffic, including on Macadam. B. Building in Willamette Park. It would be sited by a current bathroom (near the end of Nevada Street). There are already pipes under the site. Maintaining the playing fields is a priority. The SW neighborhood coalition has recommended this option. The work would be done so as not to impact the hiking and jogging trail. This option is favored by the neighborhood, Parks, and the Water Bureau. C. Condemn and tear down houses to expand the pump at current site. Aside from the cost, this would also impact traffic on local stsreets. V. Eric Vidstrand from Multnomah County will tell us about the new no smoking rules for Oregon. There is a new law that requires all businesses to be smoke free, now. Also, there is no smoking within 10 feet of entrances, exits, windows that open, air conditioning units, and vents. Excluded are cigar bars and certain stand alone smoke shops. Also, the 10 foot exclusion zones include exclusion of ash trays and ash cans. The first complaint that is made to Department of Human Services (DHS), leads to a letter. The second to unannounced visits. If the problem is found to be present, they must be brought into physical compliance (signs, no ash trays, etc.). Continued non-compliance leads to a $500 fine. The smoking ban and 10 foot exclusion zone includes all three sided and roofed structures, such as bus stops. A. Hotels are allowed to have 25% smoking rooms, but all public areas as smoke free. B. There is an adolescent tobacco cessation program that could be available for $500 to $700 that can be offered at schools if there is community support and funding. Contact Heidi Barz This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or leave a message at 503-916-5460 ext. 71008. VI. Pamela Kambur, probable changes coming at Hillsdale Terrace. Public housing apartment community off of Vermont (near 26th). There will be a design process and a charrette process. Hillsdale and Multnomah neighborhoods will be very active in the process. Hillsdale Terrace is Public Housing, meaning that there are strict income limits for the community. Juliel@HCPX The board will discuss the site Feb 17, and take action on March 17, and it is thought that the board will recommend redevelopment with a “Hope 6” grant. The site has been evaluated for redevelopment and improvements, including accessibility, and the preliminary estimate is $16,000,000. Currently, the site has 63 units, and with redevelopment there would be at least 118. The site now is the most inefficient and expensive to operate of all Public Housing in Portland. Redevelopment would reduce this expense. Construction would develop $28,000,000, and total development costs would be $45,500,000. Part of the plan, as required for “Hope 6” grants, would include affordable housing home ownership on part of the site or in the surrounding area. Ideally construction would begin in 2011, and residents would be back on site in the spring of 2013. Residents would have to be temporarily relocated during construction. There would be a mix of housing sizes geared to families and seniors. Currently, there are only three bedroom units. Service providers in the area will be sought out to develop partnerships in providing services to the residents. A tour of Humboldt Gardens and New Columbia could be arranged for HNA representatives. HNA commends the Housing Authority of Portland for informing the neighborhoods so early in the process. A. It is moved that the HNA send correspondence to the appropriate leadership to require home ownership as part of the Hope 6 grant for Hillsdale Terrace redevelopment. This letter will be brought to the next meeting for consultation. B. The motion was seconded C. The motion passed. D. Wes Risher and Sheila Greenlaw Fink will write the letter. VII. Michael Brown: Brown Broadcast Services –KGON “Stonhenge Tower” -- There is a seasonal hazard there because there can be ice fall from the area. It is thought to put up permanent signs warning of the danger, and giving signs to neighbors to put up in the event of a winter ice event. A. It is suggested that KGON make this hazard part of its broadcast when it is present. B. Permanent signs might not help because people stop seeing them. However, folding signs that could be opened for the winter season might be a good option –neighbors could be involved in the opening of signs. C. It is also suggested that this is a public safety problem, so neighbors should not be relied upon (they might be away or unavailable.) VIII. Update by Lisa Broten on efforts to get speed bumps on SW Capitol Hill Road. IX. Boyscout is seeking support –work and financial, on a Nicolai Woods project. X. SWTrails proposed SW Bike Plan on the web at http://swni.org/story/2008/nov/4202 or try http://tinyurl.com/b2ypys Should there be changes? Please look at the plan. Next meeting we will discuss and make recommendations. XI. Feb 12th, 4:00, go to metro meeting if you want to testify on behalf of the red-electric work to improve sidewalks and bicycle access. XII. Suggested letter to Tri Met requesting neighborhood associations be contacted and involved in any future detour planning of bus routes. A. It is moved that the letter be sent. B. The motion was seconded. C. The motion passed. Aloha will draft the letter. XIII. Update on the Hillsdale Alliance Glenn Bridger. XIV. Update on the SW Trails liability issues discussion Don Baack. XV. Snow removal update. Did you see the Sunday obituary for Thomas Cunningham who died a day after slipping on an icy street! XVI. Schools: SWNI schools committee has contacted every school in the area, and all have agreed to provide tours. Call Will Fuller 503-246-2328 if you are interested in a tour. He will try to coordinate them for efficiency for the schools. Rieke currently has one portable that offers two classrooms. Another similar portable will soon arrive. XVII. There seems to be a follow up problem with our actions. We send letters and make recommendations, but we never know what happens. We should ask Leonard to do the follow up for the SWNI neighborhood coalition and ‘bird dog’ our issues. Maybe we need to think bigger and ask that our portion of tax money come to us so we can manage the projects ourselves. XVIII. Other business and new business. XIX. The meeting was adjourned at 9:14 Respectfully submitted, Philippe Kreiter |
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