2007 WENA Annual Meeting Highlights

Wilkes Neighborhood Association
Annual Meeting Minutes
Monday, August 27, 2007

I. Call to order

Brian Heerwagen called to order the annual meeting of the Wilkes neighborhoods Association meeting at 7:05 pm on Monday, August 27 at St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church, 17405 NE Glisan Street, Portland, Oregon.

Calling meeting to order
Brian Heerwagon

State of Affairs
Brian Heerwagon

II. Open issues

State of Affairs – Brian Heerwagen

Our Association is about the neighbors first and the organization/business second.
We have many specialists helping our neighborhood organization

How to adopt change

Neighbors first – get to know each other.
Doing something is better than nothing.
Encouragement to staring a neighborhood watches groups within WENA.
Get together, work together and make change happen.
Farm to the fences – make a difference not fighting over issues.
Crime – unity will show that we care and criminals will notice.
It will take time to change things.

Successful events

Potlucks – 3 times per yr.
Neighborhood clean-up
Garage sale event

Nadaka Fence Removal

Adela Genoves, Parks & Recreation Volunteer Coordinator spoke about the removal of Nadaka’s Nature Park fence removal. There was quite a bit of discussion and many concerns were presented by neighbors.

Adela Genoves,
Parks & Recreation Volunteer Coordinator

Ric Catron,
Gresham Parks Planner

Topics of discussion included:

Reasons for fence removal.
Open up park on the Pacific (north side).
Safety feature - additional exit points and escape route.
Add to the natural quality of the park by adding split rail fencing.
Enlist volunteers, scouts, to help.
Volunteers have done a lot of work on invasive species removal and replaced it with natural area plants. Split rail fence will add distinction of the park but appear more open and natural.
Neighbor Concerns - 4th of July concern for fire – In the past the park was locked and the split rail fence would eliminate that option.
Police activity – a resident was robbed and is concerned.
The city promised to build up the road many years ago with sidewalks, etc… Concern about foot traffic.
Youth hanging around the gate, not a police presence.

Why was the fence installed. What is the history?

Ric Catron, Gresham Parks Planner responded: Gates were installed in 1963, when it was used for camping.

People who walk in the neighborhood already come into the park (and would like the park to) feel more open. Send the message that we are involved in the park and there is a community involved, and bring light to a dark park.

The City of Gresham is not proposing the change, the neighbors are.

Survey proposed. It was decided that a survey should be conducted to gather input and make an educated decision. Residents were asked to sign the Nadaka Interest Sheet on the City Parks table.

Wilkes East website

Wilkes East's new website (www.WilkesEastNA.org) will deliver community information to our neighborhood residents. Neighbors are encouraged to use it. Thanks to Bob Lundbom for developing the website.

III. New business

Election of New Officers:

Kris Freiermuth
2008 WENA Chair

Kris Freiermuth 2008 Chair
Brian Heerwagon 2007 Chair

Chair: Kris Freiermuth
Vice Chair: Mark Thornsbury
Land Use Chair: Lee Dayfield
Land Use Co-Chair: Bill Stuart
Secretary /Treasurer: Daphne Mathew

Official By-Laws

Changes approved as proposed.

Mayor Shane Bemis – Q and A

Q. Schools and EDU – How much input do you get from schools about vandalism, traffic, etc?
A. School resource officers are getting info from kids to city officials.

Q. Are we looking at high density housing in our area, and is Mayor Bemis addressing this?
A. It’s on everyone’s radar and it’s a very difficult subject.

Q. What are we doing about Illegal Aliens?
A. On the Immigration issue – it seems nobody is dealing with it. Mayor Bemis asked, Gresham Police Chief Carla Piluso to respond: We are all taxed and ICE is to be involved with immigration violations and high level felony crimes. Chief Piluso is glad to have an involved neighborhood. Mediation services can help with these issues, but the neighborhood concept is at the root of the solution.

City of Gresham Mayor Shane Bemis	City of Gresham Mayor Shane Bemis
City of Gresham Mayor Shane Bemis	City of Gresham Mayor Shane Bemis

In closing, Mayor Bemis said, the basic concept of neighborhood watch is supported by the City and we are here to help and grow our neighborhoods. The city counsel wants to hear from you.

Neighborhood Faire

Each of the vendors for the Neighborhood Faire were introduced and all attendees were encouraged to gather information about available services.

Guests and Topics

Brenda Butler
Neighborhood Watch
Information concerning forming Watch groups in your neighborhood
Kathy Harrington
Crime/Graffiti
Find out how to manage Graffiti<
Kelle Landavazo
Map Your Neighborhood & Citizens Police Academy
Emergency planning for our neighborhoods
Ric Catron
Gresham Parks Planner
Future projects for our Parks & Recreation
Adela Genoves,
Parks & Recreation Volunteer Coordinator
Nadaka Park Removal of fence
Tamara Driscoll
Department of Environmental Service
Come & find out about Freeze your Grease
Sandra Doubleday
Transportation Planner
Street Connectivity Study & Future Street Plan
Anndy Wiselogle
East Metro Mediation Services
Solving problems between people
Gresham Tree Preservation Committee
The importance of Trees in our neighborhoods & in our lives
Johnson Creek Watershed Council
Preservations & enhancement of this vital resource
Joseph Shockley
Oregon Chapter of the American Red Cross
Overall preparedness, disaster, fire, CPR, blood and platelet donation