Sylvan-Highlands Neighborhood Association (SHNA)

June Newsletter

May 28, 2002

Next General Membership Meeting
July 9, 2002, 7:00 p.m.
First Church of Nazarene, Room 308, Raab Road

SHNA General Meeting (May 14th)
Rachel Jacky of Portland Fire and Rescue reported that many more volunteers are needed to establish a meaningful safety team within our neighborhood capable of providing immediate assistance during a serious emergency. All training sessions are held at the Portland Fire & Rescue Training Center, 4800 NE 122nd Ave. For more information, or to register, call 823-1260. Classes are free, but there is a small cost for the safety supplies required for certification.

Jeff Brown, representing the Sylvan Neighbors group, and John Braestrup, of the board-appointed Sylvan Tibetan Committee, brought neighbors up to date on land use applications submitted for the Tibetan Peace Center (TPC). SHNA members in attendance unanimously passed a resolution to send a letter to Jigme Topgyal, President of the NWTCA, requesting that communication and negotiations immediately resume with the aim of producing a written agreement addressing neighbors?’ concerns in advance of the Washington County public hearing.

SHNA Board Meeting (May 21st)
The SHNA Board met to develop the 2002-2003 Work Plan. A draft plan will be submitted to the entire board before the June 8th deadline.

NWTCA (Northwest Tibetan Cultural Association) Proposal
The Washington County public hearing will be held in Hillsboro on June 20 at 1:30 p.m. The hearings officer will rely on staff planners to prepare a recommendation 7-10 days prior to the hearing. Written comments from the neighborhood should be submitted as soon as possible in order to be included in the file the staff planners will review. Comments will be accepted both from residents of Multnomah and Washington counties and should be sent to:

Washington County Land Use and Transportation
Albert Boesel, Associate Planner
155 North First, Suite 350-13
Hillsboro, OR 97124
Re: Tibetan Peace Center Proposal

For a copy of the Washington County Code requirements in this matter, please contact Holly Hendricks at hollyhendricks@yahoo.com.

The revised Multnomah County application was deemed incomplete on May 15th. The NWTCA now has until June 30th to provide additional information and resubmit. The most probable scenario for the Multnomah County public hearing is a special hearing in late July or on the regular schedule in August.

Sylvan Neighbors representatives Jeff Brown and Chuck Lenard have been invited to attend a NWTCA Board Meeting on June 2nd. They hope to negotiate written agreements before the Washington County land use hearing. Responding to the letter submitted by the SHNA membership on May 17, 2002, Mr. Topgyal also invited John Braestrup to attend.

Skyline Speed and Safety
Sergeant White of Portland?’s Traffic Division, who is in charge of neighborhood complaints about speeding and the photo radar system, has agreed to assign officers to investigate excessive traffic speeds on SW Skyline. Officers will monitor traffic twice next month for 30 minutes each time. It was suggested that they monitor the problem weekdays between 7-9 a.m. or 4-7 p.m.

Crime Report
No burglaries have been reported in Sylvan Highlands or Arlington Heights since April 29, 2002. Overall, Central Precinct crime is down 6%, incidents of car prowls have remained steady, and reports of mail theft have slightly decreased.

Remember the basics: If you?’re going out of town, inform your neighbors, have mail and newspapers stopped or picked up, and keep garage door closed and locked. Use electric timers for lights and close and lock windows when retiring for the night. Remember to report every crime! For a crime in progress, call 911. The non-emergency police number is (503) 823-3333.

A special thank you to John and Phyllis Reynolds for their efforts to set up a Foot Patrol to curb the burglaries on Fairview Circus. Thanks to their hard work, their neighbors were protected from crime and no more burglaries occurred.

Zoo Concerts
The Zoo concert season begins on June 21. A schedule is available at www.zoooregon.org/News/concerts.htm. The Zoo has worked hard in the past to control traffic and parking in the neighborhoods and Zoo personnel are always receptive to citizen concerns. If neighbors encounter parking or traffic problems, they are encouraged to contact Bruce Pease, Security Director, at (503) 226-1561 x 300 (leave a message). Noise complaints should be directed to Krista Swan, Events Coordinator, at (503) 220-2454.

Thanks to the SHNA Board
It?’s been a busy year for the SHNA Board. They?’ve addressed the Strohecker property issue, the TPC proposal, ODOT construction, traffic and safety issues, crime prevention, bylaws revisions, communication, and a host of other things in the first year of the 2001-2003 term of office. The Board has done an outstanding job of attending meetings, providing positive input, and working tirelessly on the neighborhood's behalf.

Upcoming Meetings
July 9, General Membership Meeting, 7:00 p.m., First Church of the Nazarene, 6100 SW Raab Road, Room #308.

Remember:
To vote at SHNA meetings, you must be a registered member of the neighborhood association. For information about how to become a member, please contact Dave Malcolm, 221-7903, or djmalcolm@worldnet.att.net.