Homestead Neighborhood Association
General Membership Meeting Minutes
DRAFT
Tuesday, September 1, 2015
OHSU – CDRC 707 SW Gaines, Portland, OR
Meeting called to order at 7:01. Introductions. Volunteer for acting secretary to take minutes:
Eric Schnell
Minutes: Accepted with only change: Margot is proper 1st name for new VA rep. Agenda:
approved.
Presentation: Stefanus Gunawan & Elizabeth Kennedy-Wong, PP&R Community Outreach;
UnderArmour Expanson & Dunaway Park. UA is moving into old YMCA building next to
Duniway Park; they are interested in investing in redevelopment of Duniway Park (in add'n to
Lents Park in E Pdx). They want to install turf fields at both parks. Lents had preexisting desire
for turf field, but there is no master plan for Duniway Park. Last corporate type dvpmt there was
signage put in by Nike ~15 yrs ago. PPR is in favor if desired by community: more playable &
less maintenance. Also a plan to increase parking there (from current 10 spaces to 45 spaces) and
add ADA-compliant bathroom/access. On Sept 24, 6pm, there will be a UA presentation to
discuss their plans, and are very open to community input. Milt expressed concern re: traffic and
suggested Wilson HS instead, as it is already heavily used and often muddy; Elisabeth suggested
that UA was more interested in improving the facility just next to their business. Susan noted the
issue re: turf at womens world cup. Eric asked if the improvements could be dissociated from
parking as that area is a major traffic mess every evening; EKW said yes. Ed asked about the
proposed new vehicle access to new parking; EKW suggested it would be from Caruthers or
Terwilliger; Ed noted that both were very bad choices for access given traffic and safety reasons:
Caruthers is a one-way street and Terwilliger has a blind turn. EKW mentioned that planning
was still preliminary and open to input, not to quote her on specifics, and urged us to attend the
UA mtg in Sept. Anton noted that there is a steep hill behind the current track, possibly in the
proposed new parking spaces... would that need to be excavated? EKW thinks no. Anton asked
about upper park area- would that get improved- EKW thinks no. Anton had asked if the
additional parking would be for UA employee use (this had been discussed at a preliminary
conference), and would be a private use of park land. Carol asked about whether a traffic study
was planned; EKW said yes, but that UA would have to pursue that via PBOT for permitting.
Anton also noted that direct access may be planned from the parking lot to UA, which again
would be inappropriate; EKW did not know. He again noted that Caruthers would a bad access,
as would Barbur and Terwilliger for that matter. Milt again reiterated his concerns re: traffic: the
city needs to address the horrendous traffic issues that already exist in that area before adding
more traffic from additional park use and a new office building.
Stefanus is engaging mult stakeholder groups to get needs/desires to summarize this as it
relates to UA's development. Plans will be avail at the Sept mtg. Someone asked about why they
are funding this project; EKW said this is not unusual for corporate philanthropy. Also asked if
native stream bed is being considered- EKW said it is being surveyed.
Regular Reports:
SWNI Board Notes: Milt Jones. Motion passed unanimously for fiscal acct for SWHRL to
reinstate road barrier that will prevent access to park via public road to prevent adverse effects on
homeowners. Motion passed to support port-a-potties placed in city parks and to consult with
neighborhoods when they do it.
Treasurer’s Report: Aaron Clemons. SWNI accounting system being simplified. Our balances
will be in equities section rather than access. Balances: Gen fund $590.50, Sign caps $90.
Membership/Outreach: Susan Egnor Picnic: Great success. Some extra food donated to food
charity. Fred Meyer no longer supporting the NA picnic, but they will do it via requests by
current rewards card holders, so she was suggesting that folks register the NA as our community
group. Susan will pursue registering the NA with them. Picnic tally: 213.74 spent on food,
prizes, coal, etc., minus a $100 donation by a resident, so 113.71 spent.
Parks: Susan Egnor Eagle point getting some illegal parking and Parks will start posting no
parking sign. Parke Diem celebration/volunteer day scheduled for Oct 9/10. This Friday tour of
Whitacre trail with Commissioner Fish, with goal of making it a safer place.
Communications: Susan Egnor Communications committee being re-energized, was willing to
train us (free) how to boost website content via Drupal or Wordpress. Also noted: Markam NA
is streaming its meetings live, which might be useful to improve access for those who cant easily
get to mtgs.
Transportation: Ed Fischer The city is making an effort to evaluate the need for drainage
improvements and sidewalk improvements, which may improve some sidewalks in Homestead.
Roadside safety audit/eval done on Barbur from Hamilton to Terwilliger; 3 day effort, report to
be written sometime this month. Stay tuned. Carol asked about the possibility of revisiting the
sidewalk discussion; Michael suggested that that perhaps PBOT would be willing to reconsider it
as better than nothing; Carol willing to pursue it as she uses this road frequently and has many
unsafe encounters with speeding drivers
Land Use: Anton Vetterlein 10th and Gaines condo project: Stormwater/environ review was
passed to allow stormwater to run down towards creek. Treehouse grand opening occurred; Ed
and Milt were impressed by quality of units, but they are small. Treehouse has acquired
temporary parking at the bottom of the Tram (Schnitzer lot?).
OHSU Liaison: Michael Harrison 2 construction projects: MRI at Doernbecher is underway.
Cyclotron land is cleared but awaiting some additional approvals. There is some mitigation
planning underway for new HVAC fans that were installed on the N side of campus, that were
louder than expected. Question at picnic about OHSU master plan rebuilding: Michael noted that
20 yr facilities master plan is online, and is mostly replacement of existing buildings, and none
are currently underway.
VA Hospital Liaison: Margot Macchiaverna: not present.
Barbur Concept Plan/SWCP: Milt Jones SWCP: 1. route still needs to be chosen, 2. how to
serve Marquam Hill is still conceptual and has not been decided, and 3. whether we build or not
at all. Not necessarily to be decided in that order.
Old Business:
Neighborhood secretary still needed.
Neighborhood bylaws update (Susan). Susan would ideally like a committee. Is working on
neighborhood bylaws vision statement. Also figuring out how to specify membership eligibilitycan this be done online. An ad-hoc committee (Ed/Milt/Susan/?) will meet to discuss updates
with eye to shortening and simplifying the bylaws.
New Business:
"Depave" is interested in making a presentation to consider removing pavement and replacing it
with open green spaces. Ed: not obvious where these places would be, no ideas from group as no
asphalt non-road spaces, so Ed will respectfully defer.
Meeting adjourned 8:56pm
Respectfully submitted
Eric Schnell