2009 12 14 St. Johns Neighborhood Association General Meeting

Board Members Present: Hiedi Bauer, Babs Adamski, Mark Stinnette,
Matthew Weidner, Ryan Diebert, Lorelei Diebert.
Thomas Ebert, Darlene Foye,

Call to order: 7:08

Jeff Cogan, Multnomah County Commissioner

· Public safety, caring for vulnerable people are the primary responsibilities of the Multnomah County commissioners.

· Have been facing significant budget cuts and will be facing tough budget next year as well. Jeff proposed tax increases on rental cars, which raised $6 million. Programs have been restructured in a way that cut administration costs. One cut that directly affects N. Portland is the neighborhood district attorney program. One piece of good news: a library will be opening in Kenton in February.

· Hunger is a huge problem here. Through private donations and community service and volunteers, 10,000 pounds of food have been farmed and donated to local food banks. This is one way that a community can pull together and help meet a need without government funding. Another way is the recent partnership with a private company to put a solar power plant on top of Multnomah county buildings. Savings on electric bills, creates jobs. Sarah Anderson: is there a way to structure this program in a way that benefits both building owners and businesses who lease these buildings?

· Shamus Lynsky: Transportation, what is the county’s role in transportation decisions? Jeff: the county runs many of the bridges, has a seat at the proverbial table, but has limited input into transportation decisions.

· Robin Plance: What’s happening with the empty jail? Jeff: working to try to open it, struggling with issues of funding and also with lack of need. It would be a place for local inmates at the end of their sentence, just before transitioning out of the jail system. Neighborhood resident: how is it that the state can build another jail but our precinct gets shut down? Jeff: yes, it is ridiculous to build a prison. This was a decision at the state level that the county is trying to influence. $450,000 a year, a galling amount, is spent every year just to keep that jail empty. Resources would be better spent elsewhere. Resident: what can I do? Jeff: Contact your state representative. Also, vote “yes” Measure 66 & 67, which affirm the taxes that were passed last year, which will help with funding.

· Babs Adamski: We have a county health clinic here; however, folks who use it tend not to be local and those with insurance seem to have disproportionate priority. Jeff: There’s more demand for the clinics than space in the clinics. We also have school-based health clinics, like the one at Roosevelt. These clinics are a safety nets for the uninsured. Sarah: The delays in care for the uninsured provided too heavy a burden. Jeff, yes that shouldn’t be happening.

Planning for the January 16th New Years Social

· If you are interested in helping, please get in touch with Lucinda or Babs.

St. Johns Liquor License applications In general, if any community member has any concerns, email to Babs, who will forward the name of the person taking the comments.

Robin also notes that the language of the OLCC should be tightened and encourages any interested parties to contact Babs who can forward their information to Robin.

Plew’s Market

· Has applied for an off premises sales license and for a wine tasting room that would allow customers to sample local and organic products. Is hoping to turn the store into a beer and wine superstore, to supply craft beers around the world. Have also applied for an entertainment license for beer tastings, home brewing classes. Sees it as fitting into the spirit of St. Johns. Plans to begin carrying cheeses, to open a deli. Wants to shift away from a discount store. Plans to extend hours until 9:00 p.m.

Blue Bird Tavern

· Closed now, would like to reopen. Applying for a limited on premises sales license. Owner not present at meeting. Several community members expressed concerns about Blue Bird because historically it has been a place where people have been over served and where minors have been served.

The Fixin’ To.

· Marli Blasengame, co-owner expressed strong interest in a good neighbor agreement. Has applied for a full on site sales and has received a positive recommendation. This is a southern style bar in the old Greg’s building with the goal to create a cozy, inviting environment. Joe Adamski: Leisure didn’t have a full on license for at least a year. If the full on license isn’t granted, does it destroy the business plan? Marli: no, good whiskey with southern food is important but won’t kill the business plan. Sarah: what is the seating capacity? Marli: 34 excluding bar stools. Marli has been in the industry for about ten years, feels confident in her ability to bartend and manage a bar.

Johns:

· Community members note that this establishment should not be encouraged to expand liquor sales. Historically, the owners and managers have not demonstrated that this would be a good idea. Losing a few bars in St. Johns might be a good thing. So many bars aren’t really economically sustainable.

New Business:

Roosevelt High School Redesign

· The plan is to have six or seven community high schools, standardized. Those schools would have 1200-1400 students. There would be no transfer option. Two or three current high schools would close. Developing criteria for school closure. Concerned that one of the schools might be Roosevelt.

Lombard safety:

· Between Tyler and Oswego on Lombard. Traffic causes safety concerns. Babs: will search out a contact at ODOT and will speak on behalf of the Neighborhood Association.

· Concerned about alcohol sales, knife sales, “water” pipe sales at little minute marts in the area. Babs: any alcohol sales need to go through OLCC and will come to this association for discussion.

Community character:

· Some community members would like to see more non-alcohol related entertainment and businesses. Would like to see the neighborhood’s working class roots embraced rather than discarded.

Some discussion/recap of the recent Board decision to withdraw the storage facility appeal.

Central Street from Ida to the Skate Park has been budgeted in 2010 as a bike boulevard.