Buckman Community Association

BCA Meeting Minutes: 7-10-03

BCA General Meeting minutes 07/10/03.

In attendance were: Jack Maynard, Don McGillivray, Jon-Michael Gaffney,
Issa Simpson, John Barker, Jarkko Cain, Seann Mckeel, Bethany Pratt,
Michael Pruitt, Joshua Bickle, M’Lou Christ, Lily Witham, Anne Hughes,
Susan Lindsay, Debby Schwartz, Judy Walker, Kevin Kraus, Christine Yun,
Pat Wagner, Rion Lyle, Knute Soleim, Kelli Van Norman, Charlotte Finn,
Carolina Osteraren, Michael McBride, Lee Pearlman, Ani Haines and Ann
Bowling.

There was no report from the SNO Officer as he was detained on a car chase. John Barker from the Belmont Area Business Association came to speak to the BCA about the Annual Belmont Street Fair. He also brought Vendor Booth Applications. He said that as the BCA is a NA sponsor, he will donate profits to a charity of the BCA’s choosing Debby Shwartz, a visiting speaker from Sunnyside, gave a presentation about the dangers of West Nile Insecticide Spraying, which may be
happening in Portland this summer. Debby was a victim of pesticide poisoning several years ago when living in New York City. She has done intensive investigations into pesticide-related health issues and the types of responses planned by different cities. She is also a founding-member of the Alliance for Sensible Mosquito Management. Debby
distributed a West Nile Virus Pesticide Fact Sheet, which provides some
statistical facts supporting an opposition to the use of pesticides for
the control of adult mosquito who may carry the West Nile Virus. It states
adverse effects on the elderly, those with autoimmune disorders,
asthmatics, pregnant women and pets, and long term health effects including cancer, birth defects, and other debilitating illnesses of the Central Nervous System. Debby asked the Board to sign a letter in support of using alternative treatments to the West Nile Virus. Jack Maynard made a motion that the Board sign the letter, and the motion was seconded by Lily Witham. A quick vote passed the motion nanimously.

Britany Pratt , owner of Nocturnal, asked the Board to consider her
request to increase her hours of operation and alcohol serving. Britany
stated that she and Seann (her manager) had canvassed the houses surrounding her club. She stated that none of the neighbours were in opposition to the proposed extension. She admitted however, that she and Seann only talked to about 50% of the residents. They left postcards at the houses were no one was home. These postcards were to be sent to Judith at Southeast Uplift , who would then get the postcards to the BCA for
evaluation. Unfortunately, the postcards had not been delivered to the BCA, so it was impossible to make a decision without all of the supporting facts. Two neighbours who were in opposition to the extended hours attended the meeting and spoke up in opposition. Jon-Michael Gaffney spoke about on-going sleep disturbances he suffers, caused by patrons leaving Nocturnal and then hanging out on the street, talking in very loud voices. Michael McBride added his concerns over this issue, and that of litter, noise and loitering. He also pointed out that the one concession made by Nocturnal et all was the agreement of hours of operation and he feels very
upset that they are now asking to change the hours so soon. The club opened in November, so the Good Neighbor Agreement has only been in effect less than a year. Several suggestions were offered at this point. Knute Soliem (who owns the security agency that is now handling security for the St. Francis Park and
Grounds) suggested to Bethany that she hire a security guard to patrol the
block. A suggestion was made that perhaps some signs could be prepared and
put out at night, asking club patrons to keep their voices down as neighbors are sleeping. Lily Witham asked if this were really a feasible option, given that the signs would be hard to read late at night, in the dark, possibly by people who were drunk. Kevin Krauss made the suggestion that it might make more sense to leave things as they are for the summer, and try the later hours in the fall, when people will have their windows shut and will be less likely to notice noise. There were frequent comments made by Bethany’s father, Michael Pratt, who attended the meeting with Bethany. After much debate, it was decided that as we were not in
possession of the postcards, an informed decision could not be reached at this time, and that the matter will be brought up at the August Board Meeting.

Pat Wagner from the Linton Neighborhood Association spoke up about needing
the board’s help/input about the Linton Neighborhood struggle to keep their Community Center going. It has been staffed entirely by volunteers for 2 years. The Linton community feels that it is imperative to provide a safe haven to children after school, as a child from the Linton community was killed several years ago, hit by a car while trying to cross Highway 30. Pat pointed out that a lot of money could be saved by asking the Parks and Recreation Bureau NOT to mail schedules, but to leave them in appropriate drop spots. She estimates that about $100,000+ could be saved. Lily Witham pointed out that dropping the colour areas in the brochure would result in substantial savings in the printing budget. Pat also
stated that the Linton community center could be run on a tiny budget of
$60,000 per year. Susan made a motion to write a letter asking the PPR to
help keep this vitally needed Community Center open. M’Lou Christ made a
friendly amendment to include in the letter the suggestions to find the
center with monies saved by changing the look and distribution of the PPR
schedules. Anne Hughes seconded the motion. A vote was taken and the
motion passed unanimously.

Kevin Krauss and Christine Yun asked for support of a neighbourhood letter to be written to Francesconi, asking for support of the proposed Central
Eastside Community Center on the site of Washington Monroe High School (WAMO).

Susan Lindsay reminded everyone how important it is to attend the WAMO
meetings and asked for people to come to the next meeting on Monday July
14th, 6:30 at the Blanchard Center.

Next on the agenda was a presentation on the Safe Routes to School program, given by Issa Simpson, from the Department of Environmental
Quality. This project incorporates many aspects into it; concern about the
amount of toxic emissions released by cars dropping off/picking up
students at Buckman Elementary School, the need for students to have a
safe route to walk or bicycle to school, the need for children to get some
form of exercise every day, which in turns lowers the rate of childhood
obesity. Issa gave out paperwork supporting the project, and also a
walkability survey, which she asked people to do while taking a short
walk in the Buckman Neighbourhood. Issa also provided a fact sheet of
noted unsafe intersections near the school, with suggested solutions.
These suggestions included a “car free” zone on 16th during school drop
off/pickup hours, painted crosswalks and more school signage around the
neighbourhood. Issa is also working on a Senior-assisted walk to school
program, in which neighbourhood senior citizens would walk kids to school.

Ani Haines and Joshua Bickle gave a brief St. Francis update. They both
volunteered to stay on the transitional committee, but needed 2 alternatives for substitutes. Ed Lyle and Jack Maynard were chosen.

Knute Soleim, head of the security firm hired by St. Francis, attended the
meeting and explained the current procedures in force by the firm.
Offenders are suspended from the park and St. Francis services for 30
days. Drug users and sellers, and people acting violently are banned
completely. The 24-hour dispatch number for the security firm is 503.731.0514.

Ann Bowling provided information the following information on reaching the
parish: The parish number is 503.232.5880. Someone is in the office from 9AM-5PM Monday through Friday. The office is closed on Saturday and Sunday. The dining hall is open until 6PM Mon-Fri, Sundays noon-4:30PM, and not open at all on Saturday. The phone number for the dining hall is 503.234.2028. It is best to call the parish when possible, but if the church office is closed, call and when the message comes on skip it by pressing the # sign and mark the message urgent. Valerie Chapman will be paged or will call dispatch.

Susan Lindsay made a motion to approve the minutes of the General Meeting
of July 3rd, Jack Maynard seconded the motion.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:10PM.

Submitted by Lily Witham.