Submitted by Laura Fay – Approved January 22, 2024

Eliot Neighborhood Association Meeting Minutes APPROVED

Monday 11/20/2023
7:00 – 8:30pm

Board members attending

• Pat Montgomery – Co-Chair
• Jimmy Wilson – Co-chair
• Jennifer Wilcox – Treasurer
• Cassie Muilenberg – Community Outreach
• Laura Fay – Recorder
• Andrew Champion
• Kathryn LePore
• Serena Li
• Cassie Muilenberg
• Alice Newman
• Allan Rudwick
• Bliss Suh

Guests

• Jona Davis – NECN
• Tessa Fowler – VOA MRC
• Officer Gericke – North Precinct
• Richard Hunter
• Officer Mark Kelly – North Precinct
• Sargent Jorge Mendoza – North Precinct
• Stanley Ong – PBOT
• Alyssa Whitesides

Pat Montgomery called the meeting to order at 7:02pm

Welcome and Introductions: Attendees introduced themselves.

Review Meeting Agreements: Meeting agreements were posted for attendees to review.

Approve Minutes from October 16 Meeting: Pat called for a motion to approve the minutes from the October 16 meeting. Kathryn LePore seconded and the motion passed with one abstention.

Agenda Additions: Jennifer Wilson conveys that the Cascadia team wants to support the neighborhood, but is unable to attend meetings. She encourages us to reach out for introductions to other organizations, and other needs. She will share the results of their survey when they have them.

Neighborhood Safety: Sgt. Jorge Mendoza gave an update. Recently NRT conducted missions on Stanton Street environs, resulting in several arrests for the offense of selling drugs within 1,000 feet of a a school.

Officer Kelly reported that two stolen vehicles were recovered from the Knott/Mississippi area. They have been involved recently in cleanup efforts in the southern part of Eliot. The area south of Boise-Eliot/Humbolt school, adjacent to the onramp, is becoming an encampment. Related to Stanton Street, they continue to put out the message that drug dealing is not welcome. There was another injury shooting there a week ago Sunday.

He introduced Officer Gericke, who was previously with the Central precinct. She has experience working on crime reduction in Old Town, and previously worked in the Public Information Office.

Pat encouraged people to report what they see through to pdxreporter.org

North East Coalition of Neighborhoods Update: Jona Davis, NECN Interim Executive Director, provided an overview of their recent work. With the city’s voter-approved charter changes coming, their work has focused on outreach to keep every resident fully informed. Further, they have facilitated engagement so that every resident has a voice.

They have increased neighborhood association communications funding to $1,000. That could be used for whatever helps a neighborhood association get the word out.

NECN’s small grants program increased to $4,500. The deadline for the first round of grants is November 30, and the next round will open in January.

PBOT Parking Study: Allan Rudwick introduced Stanley Ong from PBOT.

Stanley Ong presented PBOT’s plan for residential parking in Eliot [see slides]. He noted that Eliot has requested a permit program for a long time. The southern part of the neighborhood is deeply impacted by events at Moda Center. Stanley reviewed PBOT’s activities to date, which includes refining PBOT’s parking permit program in response to community input.

Recognizing the flow of events at the Moda Center, the proposal for permitting in the southern part of Eliot would be in effect during the months when largest events take place at Rose Center, Oct 1 – May 31, and limited to 5-10pm. PBOT finds that there is no issue with parking during the day.

After these blocks of Eliot have a vote on residential parking permits, Stanley reported that the next stage will be a similar balloting of mixed-use developments along N Williams.

Elect Additional Board Members AND Board Officer Elections:There were no additional board members to elect.

The board held a vote to elect co-chairs, and re-elected Jimmy and Pat.

Allan nominates Jennifer as treasurer, she accepts and the motion carries unanimously.

Jennifer nominates Laura Fay as recorder, she accepts and the motion carried unanimously

Pat nominates Cassie Muilenberg and Serena Li for community outreach, they accept and motion carried unanimously.

Board Priorities: Pat asks each Board member to come to the January meeting with something they’ve accomplished to better the neighborhood, and something the intend to do in the coming weeks to make Eliot a better place.

Neighborhood Updates

Community Outreach: Cassie drafted a letter to our representative with the Board of County Commissioners, requesting stable funding for specialty courts. Jennifer moved we send the letter. Pat seconds and the motion carried unanimously.

Public Comment: 

Pat moves that the ENA board not meet in December. Jennifer seconds and the motion carried unanimously. The next ENA meeting will be January 22, 2024.

Pat wants our group to meet with the Immaculate Heart church to share ideas and align with the goal of improving Stanton Street. She, Andrew, Laura, Kathryn and Alice are all interested in participating. Laura will facilitate.

Tessa Fowler shared an update from the Volunteers of America’s Men’s Resource Center. Their final STEP court client graduated today, providing a 100% graduation rate. They currently have no more referrals waiting, but hope for more soon. They do not know the status of court funding.

Andrew is going to hold ENA leadership accountable in the coming year.

Adjourn: Pat adjourned the meeting at 9pm.

NEXT MEETING Monday, January 22, 2024