Eliot Neighborhood Association Board Meeting Minutes Monday 2/26/2024

Posted on by Serena Li

Submitted by Laura Fay – Approved March 18, 2024

Eliot Neighborhood Association Meeting Minutes – Approved

Monday 02/26/2024
7:00 – 8:30pm
Cascadia Garlington Health Center
3036 NE Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd

BOARD ATTENDEES

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

GUESTS

  • Tessa Fowler – Volunteers of America’s Men’s Resource Center
  • Danielle Higbee
  • Kai Neuenschwander – Albina Cooperative Garden
  • Tia Vafeas
  • Kerry (online)
  • Alyssa Whitesides (online)

WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS: Patricia Montgomery called the meeting to order at 7:01pm.

REVIEW MEETING AGREEMENTS: Pat reviewed the meeting agreements.

PUBLIC COMMENT: Kai Neuenschwander introduced the work of the Albina Cooperative Garden, located on North Russell adjacent to the Legacy campus. The Garden is a non-profit, volunteer-operated, urban farming project that cultivates and is cultivated by community, with the support of the Oregon Sustainable Agriculture Land Trust (OSALT). Kai inquired about the possibility of financial support from ENA. We committed to share our grant procedure and guidelines as soon as they are finalized.

APPROVE MINUTES FROM THE JANUARY 22nd MEETING: Pat called for a motion to approve the minutes. Laura Fay seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

NEIGHBORHOOD SAFETY: Laura will work on getting a representative from North Precinct to attend the March and subsequent meetings. She noted that Tri-Met’s site for reporting illegal activity seems to be effective.

Tessa Fowler provided an update from the MRC.They are currently working with two STEP clients, their previous clients having successfully graduated from the program. Those graduates are doing well. The MRC currently has a wait list, although she would not know who among that wait list are STEP participants. 

Bliss Suh volunteered to reach out to the Friends of the Children to learn if they have plans to better activate their parking lot. If not, ENA will consider engaging them about opportunities to better utilize the space. 

UPDATE FROM CO-CHAIRS’ MEETING WITH COUNTY COMMISSIONER BEASON

Cassie Muilenberg provided a report on the co-chairs’ recent meeting with County Commissioner Jesse Beason. There were several positive takeaways: Beason is willing to advocate for Specialty Courts funding in the upcoming budget cycle, and to help with funding for future expungement efforts. He was agreeable to work on scheduling a meeting with the Eliot Safety Project. Although he is not available, he will send a representative to the May housing resource fair and further hopes to provide some funding. Lastly he agreed to start a conversation with Nike around the former Community Store space, with the hope that it can be put back into active use. 

The only pushback from Commissioner Beason was around our request to support summer concerts in Dawson Park, which he felt should be city programming through PPR. Only pushback was around concerts in the park, they feel that should be city programming through Parks.

Cassie shared that she had attended a Specialty Court Advisory Committee meeting earlier today, and they were pleased that ENA had taken the initiative to advocate on their behalf with the county. 

GRANTING PROCESS: Kathryn LePore reviewed the draft granting guidelines and process, along with the documents she created. She recommends that we reimburse grantees for their expenses, rather than providing funding before expenses have been incurred. In discussion the group decided to set a $1,000 maximum for grants, and that funding should be paid out within six months. Applicants could be individuals, businesses or non-profits, as long as the project takes place in and benefits Eliot. 

Bliss Suh moved that we adopt the processes. Jennifer seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

APPROVE GRANT FROM PACIFIC POWER SUPPORTING TWO ELIOT GARDENING PROJECTS. 

Pacific Power has offered $2,000 to support gardening projects at the Knott Street substation, and at the Gladys McCoy Memorial Garden. Laura moves that we approve accepting the funding. Andrew seconded and the motion passed unanimously. 

REVIEW FINAL LANGUAGE OF THE LETTER TO OHSU: Allan presented the final version of the ENA letter to OHSU related to its acquisition of Legacy Emanuel. After some minor wordsmithing, Pat encouraged all ENA board members to add their names and support to the letter, which we did. 

NEIGHBORHOOD UPDATES

  • NECN UPDATE: Jimmy reported that district changes associated with charter reform are posing significant challenges. NECN will be adding 14 additional NAs to its district, without sufficiently increasing funding to support the work.
  • TREASURER’S REPORT: Jennifer reported that as of January 31, we had $4,397.12 in the bank.
  • LUTC UPDATE: Allan reported that the committee met recently and talked about letters. Although not official, they believe that the parking district passed. 
  • COMMUNITY OUTREACH: Cassie reported on the resource fair earlier this month. The City is engaged, and provided food. SEI performed 12 housing intakes. Cascadia was there providing vaccinations. Cassie and Jennifer are working with the City team on the next resource fair, scheduled for May 7, which will focus on the full housing spectrum and services. She also noted that the Soul District Business Association reached out about getting ENA involved with September’s MLK Dream Run.

ADJOURN: Pat adjourned the meeting at 8:41pm

Next meeting Monday, March 18, 2024

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