Neighborhood Leaf Day Information

By Grant Morehead/Portland Bureau of Transportation

One of the joys of living in Sunnyside is our virtual urban forest of trees, especially in the next few months when they’re ablaze with autumn color.

But with autumn comes falling leaves, and leaves can’t just be left on the ground. Not only are fallen leaves a slippery safety hazard to pedestrians, bikes, and cars, they also clog sewer drains and degradeasphalt, both of which take a lot of money to fix downstream. Enter Leaf Day, the Portland Bureau of Transportation’s leaf removal and recycling service for the city’s most tree-lined neighborhoods.

Incorporating suggestions from across Portland, this year’s “2.0” version represents a significant upgrade from last year, offering a lot more value for the $30 fee. For example, sweeper crews will now take any tree leaves, not just those from trees in your parking strip. Just rake them into the street the day before the crews come by.

Because our neighborhood tends to generate a large volume of leaves, we’ll get two Leaf Days, spaced about three weeks apart. Not all of Sunnyside is in a Leaf Service Zone, so to be sure, enter your address in the new Leaf Zone Locator at www.portlandonline.gov/leafday, which will be available when the new Web site is launched this fall. You’ll also be able to find service dates for your address, tips about how to get ready, online payment information, and a streamlined opt-out process if you’d like to manage the street leaves yourself.

One of those Leaf Day tips? Be sure to move your car and any other obstacles off the street on your Leaf Days. Since the sweeper machines can’t fit between and behind cars, you’ll get a better cleaning if they can get right to the curb.

SNA Board & General Meeting Minutes

SNA GENERAL MEETING 8/11/2011

Board members in Attendance: Reuben Deumling, Gina Binole, Bill Stites, Tim Brooks, Tony Jordan, Josh Palmer, Heather Wilson

Excused absences: Karen Hery, Paul Loney

Neighbors and Guests: Valerie Strickland, David McGarry

Reuben: Calls meeting to order at 7:04

1)      PDOT canceled, will come back in the fall, but Reuben briefed the leaf program. As he understands it, within our neighborhood there are only a few blocks in the program, one block in from Stark. It is an opt-out program, so unless you do this, you are in and pay fees.

 

2)      Tim motions to approve agenda, Heather seconds, agenda approved

 

3)      Crime Prevention Report– David McGarry with E. Precinct says the neighborhood is unique because of the boundaries. He has been a district officer for just a month or so.  He noted that ever since SE Precinct closed, they do rotate people to attend SNA meetings and to patrol the neighborhood in general.  But David reports that crime is slow. The biggest concerns have been the bars on Hawthorne. Transients on the Eastside of 39th have been quiet as well.

 

 

4)      Belmont Street Fair Volunteers – Tim announces new fair hours will be from noon to 8, also shares new lineup of 6 bands because of the expanded hours. On the Main Stage expanded kids’ activity area, bouncy houses, slides, mini-golf.

Also new, which we’ve discussed, is artist alley on 34th, which has been slow to fill up, but they get a half-price booth if they are interested.

Katie from Hall of Records (Belmont St. Fair co-chair) and Tim have been meeting every week. Tim asks for help circulating posters.

 

Anyone interested in volunteering needs to contact board member Josh. There is a need for volunteers. Josh is hoping for a lot of interest within the last month for this.

 

5)      Non-conforming sewer updates – In response to neighborhood concerns, Reuben reports Commissioner Saltzman has put out a flyer explaining the issue that shows private sewer lines, the city’s main line and the city’s lateral line.

$64,000 is wanted from just Reuben’s block alone.

BES, Saltzman have stopped the program and admit that it should be done better.

At this point, people are being billed for the public portion between $6,000 and $18,000. Reuben says more will be said on this issue.

 

6)      Committee Reports:

Sustainaibilty – nothing to report

 

LUTC – Tony reports discussion of the Portland Plan, Comprehensive Plan is moving forward, City officials coming along in the fall, they would like to review neighborhood plans. There is nothing they can do right now.

 

Walgreen’s is doing what it wants to do on its private property.

If they were applying for an encroachment into the setback, neighbors would oppose it.

SNA encourages neighbors to work for creative solutions with government officials.

Tony is going to start posting a LUTC agenda online to ensure public participation in LUTC

Discussed potential to talk about GNAs, saturation and the nature of Belmont Biz in the future.

 

SEUL – nothing to report

 

Treasurer’s Report – Balance is about $7,000. Josh says everything is good.

 

Announcements – Back to School Exchange fliers distributed

 

This Friday at Sewallcrest Park in Richmond is the Japanese monster film with the orchestra performing and doing all the sound.

 

The Old Waverly School in Richmond is interested in purchasing it, developing it and tearing down that building. Maybe seeing if the building could be saved and repurposed.

Building is on Woodward, a few blocks off of Clinton.

 

7)      Bill motions, Gina seconds, motion carries to approve July minutes, Tim abstains

8)      Tony motions, Josh seconds, motion carries, Heather abstains minutes from June

 

Meeting adjourned at 7:44 P.M.

SNA BOARD MEETING MINUTES 8/11/2011

Board members in Attendance: Reuben Deumling, Gina Binole, Bill Stites, Tim Brooks, Tony Jordan, Josh Palmer, Heather Wilson

Excused absences: Karen Hery, Paul Loney

Reuben: Calls meeting to order at 7:50

1)      Belmont Street Fair Agreement – Tim feels the street fair could definitely raise some funds for the SNA.

 

There was discussion of BABA’s emphasis that the agreement cover the 50/50 sharing of any profits or losses from the fair, but concerns were raised that BABA continues to fall short of its commitment to share responsibilities for the work that is needed. Board members noted that the lion’s share of the tasks that are not being completed by Tim and Katie and paid contractor TSG are being done by SNA board members and volunteers.

 

Bill moves to support the draft agreement Tim has brought forth this evening, Tony seconded.

Heather amends the motion to reflect that enables Tim has the leeway to make minor adjustments as necessary.
Bill accepts the amendment, Tony seconds it.

 

Motion passes unanimously

 

2)      Belmont Street Fair Volunteer Status – Josh, maybe we could approach biz directly. Hey, could we get one volunteer from your biz for this day? Give them shifts, tasks, etc. that they could sign up for.

 

General discussion on how best to recruit volunteers, give them shifts, specific tasks, etc.

 

3)      Succession planning – write up descriptions, put things online as much as possible for the treasurer.

 

Will get to this by fall, some sooner, some later

 

4)       Need to loop back with George to discuss grant for our neighborhood group for the unemployed

 

5)      SNA agreed to write a letter of friends in support of community gardens – Gina will write the letter

 

 

6)      Update on Walgreen’s letter, which is still in the works as we await Walgreen’s latest proposal.

 

7)       Heather asks for a Blair Community Garden update on signage updates. Tim says we are looking for an artist who would design and make such a sign.

Discussion begins whether SNA should vote to decide whether to seek bids, match Dane’s $1,000 pledge (or contribute some amount) for the SNA sign at Blair Community Garden

 

Heather will measure the dimensions, take pictures put this on the agenda for October.

Send out a call for bids in the next newsletter

Minimum things we need on there, put all of that together, and we can vote on. Take a picture of one at HAND, TABOR, etc. so we can decide what we like, not like, etc.

 

Meeting adjourned 8:40.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Neighborhood Grants Up For Grabs

The Office of Neighborhood Involvement and SE Uplift are excited to offer the sixth year of the City of Portland’s Neighborhood Small Grants Program. They invite neighborhood associations and community-based organizations in Portland to apply.

This year, a total of $46,058 is available to neighborhood and community-based organizations in the Southeast Uplift coalition area. Grant proposals may range from $1,000 to $7,500. The submission deadline is Nov. 1. A grants writing workshop will be held at SE Uplift Thursday, Sept. 29.

To find out more about the grants program and to apply, please visit www.southeastuplift.org

 


One-Week Closure on SE Belmont Begins Sept. 29

The City of Portland Bureau of Transportation advises the traveling public that a closure will be necessary on SE Belmont Street between SE 33rd Avenue and SE 34th Avenue beginning Thursday, Sept. 29, through Friday, Oct. 7, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays. The closure is necessary for sewer construction, old trolley track removal, and street repair work. The public is advised to expect delays, travel cautiously, and observe all work zone signage.

Traffic will be flagged through this section of SE Belmont on Sept. 29 and Sept. 30 while the sewer work is completed. Beginning Oct. 3 through Oct. 7, two detours will be in effect to accomplish the trolley track removal. Eastbound trafficon SE Belmont St will be detoured onto SE 30th Ave, south to SE Hawthorne Blvd or north to SE Stark St, east to SE Cesar Chavez Blvd, and back to SE Belmont St. Westbound traffic will be detoured onto SE Cesar Chavez Blvd, south to SE Hawthorne Blvd or north to SE Stark St, west to SE 30th Ave, and back to SE Belmont St.

Local access will be provided to residents and businesses. Both sidewalks will be kept open for pedestrians and bicyclists.

Visit www.portlandonline.com/transportation for updates.  This work is weather-dependent, and the schedule may change.

If Your Child is Nuts About Nature, PP&R has a Program for You

Portland Parks and Recreation is offering nature classes at Mt. Tabor and Sellwood parks for children ages 3 to 8.

Classes are designed to be engaging, experiential programs that combine nature themes with developmentally appropriate skills and concepts. Children spend 2 to 3 hours exploring in small groups with teachers who introduce ecology, read stories, sing songs, make projects and engage in free play.

Programs contain a framework but also remain flexible to accommodate the needs and interests of the group. For more information, find the full brochure at www.portlandonline.com/parks/preschool. To register, visit www.portlandparks.org, or call the reservation center at 503-823-2525.