Concordia Neighborhood Association | Portland, Oregon

Category Archives: CNA

2nd Annual Spring Alley Cleanup April 16th!

Posted on by Posted in CNA, Concordia News, Land Use & Transportation, Volunteer Opportunities

By Garlynn Woodsong Chair, CNA Land Use & Transportation Committee (LUTC)

For the second year in a row, the Concordia neighborhood is partnering with Concordia University, Metro, and SOLVE to host an alley cleanup event from 10a.m. to 4p.m. on Sat., April 16.

We learned last year that it would be particularly helpful for neighbors who own trucks and live on an alley to show up and help to transport the debris collected in the alleys to the Metro Central Transfer Station. The costs are “comped” by the event sponsors, so we just need the volunteers with trucks to show up! Last year, we did not have enough trucks or drivers, and some volunteers had to continue making the dump runs with too few trucks on into Sunday. We would like to avoid asking that of our volunteers this year.

Neighbors, students performing a day of service, and others will gather between 9:45a.m.and 10a.m. at the intersection of the 28th/29th alley and Emerson street to receive supplies and instructions, then split off to clean up various alleys around the neighborhood.

The cleanup is the first step in a long-term process of building community momentum towards alley improvement efforts. Alleys are a public right-of-way, but, like sidewalks, their maintenance is the responsibility of adjacent private property owners. Historically, alleys were used to provide automobile access to homes. There is now a growing community consensus that these spaces can be enhanced to not only serve this original function better, but also be community spaces that provide many opportunities for residents that enhance the quality of life. The specifics of the vision for the future of each alley must be developed and owned by the neighbors on each block.

There are over 120 alley blocks in the Concordia neighborhood. Of these, alleys will be prioritized for cleanup on April 16th where adjacent neighbors have reached out in advance, and/or show up on the day of the event.

Please contact Garlynn if you would like to be involved in the cleanup, if you can offer the use of a truck for the day of the event, and to learn more about how your alley could be improved to become a better community resource.

Concordia residents interested in discussing this or any other issue related to land use and transportation are invited to attend the Concordia Neighborhood Association Land Use and Transportation Committee (CNA LUTC) meetings at 7p.m. on the third Wednesday of the month, in the Community Room in the SE corner of McMenamins Kennedy School. Click here to join the LUTC mailing list.

Challenges & opportunities face our neighborhood – you CAN make a difference!

Posted on by Posted in CNA, Concordia News, Volunteer Opportunities

Hello Neighbor,
It’s been a busy month for your Board so let me take a moment to get you caught up with what your Directors have been up to.

Homelessness & Toxic Air
At the General Membership Meeting on March 8th, speakers addressed the latest events connected with the Mayor’s Homeless Plan and provided an update on Toxic Air issues. Adam Lyons, Associate Director- Neighborhoods Program and Manager- Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods, spoke to both issues. Officer Anthony Zoeller with the Portland Police Bureau’s North Precinct (and a regular attendee) gave additional perspective to the Homeless Issue.

In order to address some immediate needs , the Mayor has been active in coming up with solutions for the Homeless issue with little input from the community. However, Lyons has been very active in championing alternative solutions with a focus on neighborhood input. We expect to be hearing more from Adam regarding strategies for ensuring that the neighborhood is represented. As of this writing, no final decision has been made regarding locations of City-owned property selected for “camps”or for final policies to manage these sites. If you have a desire to get involved with this process, please let me know. I will make sure you are connected to the appropriate party.

What I know for sure is that communication within City Hall is inadequate.You can make the request, but you never know if anyone is really listening at the other end.Importantly, there appears to be a lack of understanding priorities.

St. Johns shelter challenges
 Take for instance the red tape and bureaucratic morass the St. Johns Neighborhood Shelter has been experiencing. It is apparent that City Staff is looking only at codes and regulations, not the human condition. Why else would the City not allow a variance for a 5- foot-wide sidewalk but insists on a 6-foot-wide sidewalk at the rear of the property that is rarely used. Why is the City imposing permitting fees and other charges that make shelters too expensive to build when homeless mothers and children remain on the street? Get your priorities straight, Planning Department and those Commissioners who have their hands on the steering wheel!What we should remember is that many of these “Homeless”people had homes in our neighborhood but were not as fortunate as the rest of us who survived the economic meltdown created by Wall Street.

Toxic air potential in Concordia
Toxic air in Southeast and North Portland should not be seen as some other neighborhood’s issues when the likelihood of the Concordia Neighborhood hearing about its own bad air is pretty high. Given our proximity to the Columbia Industrial Corridor, we should not be surprised to learn that we face a similar situation. Adam Lyons identified straight answers and real transparency with the Department of Environmental Quality as being the biggest obstacles in confronting the issues. He believes that once there is some real communication from DEQ and related agencies, we will learn how deep this problem really is. We will be providing additional information as it is uncovered and will keep you posted. Please keep an eye open for news; and, if you are growing your own veggies, make sure you are cleaning them thoroughly before putting them on a plate.

Use it or lose it: Other items of importance
 While this newspaper has gone through a major upgrade in professional journalism, it sits on very brittle ground. We now have a temporary volunteer Editor through June of this year. If we do not find a replacement, we will see the end of our neighborhood newspaper, i.e., the lights go out. Same can be said for our Board of Directors. Many are now in the last 6 months of their tenure with no new volunteers in sight. We need to hear from those of you who are willing to step up to the plate for all of us. We did get a Board Member to volunteer as Vice-Chair (Chris Lopez). Chris has been extremely active in our community, and we welcome his assistance in moving us forward. We are still down two Board Members, and I certainly see an under-representation of women. Use it or lose it, isn’t that the way the saying goes and never so true as today. We need to keep this paper going to make your wishes known. The alternative is to let someone in an office downtown or an unknown in government position make our decisions for us.

Thanks for listening in; let’s make this neighborhood great by YOU becoming a force of one.

Happy Spring!
Isaac Quintero, Chairman CNA

Comprehensive Plan Proposed Zoning – Neighborhood Discussion Drop-In Hours

Posted on by Posted in Archive, CNA, Events, Land Use & Transportation

Concordia_CompPlan_Map_11-18-15

Nan Stark, City Planner / NE District Liaison for the Bureau of Planning Services (BPS), will be in the McMennamins Kennedy School Community Room from 4:30 – 6:45 pm on Wednesday March 16th to talk with Concordia property owners who received Measure 56 proposed R5 to R2.5 zone change notices.

She will also be available to talk about the status of the Comprehensive Plan Update and related topics. Her contact info is:

503-823-3986
nan.stark@portlandoregon.gov
www.portlandoregon.gov/bps

These proposed changes will also be discussed during the monthly CNA Land Use & Transportation Committee (LUTC) meeting that follows from 7 – 9 pm.

Click here to join the LUTC notification list.

CNA Board & General Meeting – March 8th, 6pm

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The board of directors of Concordia Neighborhood Association will meet at 6pm on March 8th at McMenamin’s Kennedy School Community Room. The board meeting will be followed immediately at 7pm by a meeting of the general membership. The draft agendas for both meetings are below.

BOARD MEETING – 6pm

6:00 – 6:05pm Roll Call, Establish Quorum

6:05 – 6:10pm CONSENT AGENDA Approval/Amend Prior Board Meetings Minutes

6:11 – 6:15pm Treasurer’s Report

6:16 – 6:28pm Public Comment (limited to 3 min per speaker)
6:29 – 6:40pm Old Business

  1. Mark Charlesworth end of board term
  2. Policies and Proceedures Committee Folow-up
  3. Egg Hunt Status
  4. Yard Sale Event

6:41 – 7pm New Business

  1. Recruitment of Board Member to fill vacant seats
  2. Resignation from Concordia News Mary Wiley and update by Susan Trabucco
  3. Request to modify good neighbor agreement by Lorna Fast Buffalo Horse, Principal, Alliance High School
  4. Policy regarding those seeking public office campaigning at CNA meeting

Following may have to occur during general meeting

Community and Committee Reports (Each Committee to please provide written Summary for each board member, prefer report submitted prior to meeting with discussion reserved for meeting)
1. Media Committee 2. Land Use Committee 3. Social Committee
4. Clean-Up Committee 5. Roles & responsibilities Committee 6. Policies and Procedures Committee

 

GENERAL MEETING – 7pm

  1. Status of Mayors Homeless Campsites
  2. Air Quality issues (Bulls Eye Glass etc.)
  3. Building the Concordia News
  4. Radon issues
  5. City of Portland NET Update and Tools for Survival
  6. Update on Planning Social Committee Spring Social Events:
    a) Egg Hunt
    b) Community Clean-up/Recycle Event.
    c) Board member vacancy

Chair’s Column

Posted on by Posted in CNA, Concordia News

Hi Neighbors,

I believe many of you found big changes in the February issue of The Concordia Newspaper, placing us on the map as far as local papers go. The Board’s “News Team” was instrumental in providing our Editor, Mary Wiley, the assistance she needed to give the Paper a new start in life. Thank you Steve Elder (News Team Chair and CNA Board Member) for organizing this effort and bringing on Susan Trabucco who has the expertise to ensure a great future. I personally want to thank them and all of the folks who put out this paper every month as it is no easy task to do so. Being Chair for CNA, I am fortunate to have this opportunity to write to you each month, and this has given me a unique perspective on the value of a local paper that I had taken too much for granted.

While watching the presidential debates, I was in awe as to how the people have taken back the process and are bypassing the establishment. Regardless if you are on the right or left side of the political aisle, the political landscape is in for big changes. Seems that “The People” have had enough of Congress protecting their own vested interest, and that appears to be a real misunderstanding of what their constituents want. So while we wait and see what comes of all this, let us remember that it is our individual voices that have power, and together we are the ones who are agents of change. Both Bernie and the Donald have realized this and are going directly to the people to make their case, but we must also make our wishes known. This starts with one person speaking up to see who else shares their belief. At one time I had made efforts to contact my local representative, but like so many others I found the cobwebs growing around my feet waiting for an opportunity to plead my case. However, I am fortunate to have become a member of the Board of Directors and now know that my voice and those of who I represent will appear in print for all to see. Not all of us have the luxury of time to become involved, much less the willingness to go through the aggravation of pounding on government’s door, but we all have the opportunity to pick up a pen or hit the keyboard and make our point by way of The Concordia News. Your opinions do matter, and when you share your beliefs and opinions in the Paper, you are calling to action other likeminded neighbors as they begin to realize they are not alone in their beliefs.

St. Francis was correct when he said to light one candle as it is that single candle which acts like a beacon for others to find and join in with you. Our Concordia Newspaper is our most important institution. It gives all of us an avenue to express our basic right of “free speech,” but use it or lose it. It is unfortunate to see how The Oregonian like many other dailies has been reduced to providing day-old news and advertisements for things we don’t need. (My main reason now for buying the Sunday paper is for the comics.) As a result, our local news and neighborhood issues are marginalized because they are not “Breaking News” or of sufficient interest to be considered in larger publications. Major events are not typically spontaneous but grow out of small issues, usually incubating in local neighborhoods. These issues only grow out of proportion when they not addressed locally. Having a pulse on local news and keeping our neighbors aware by posting current issues in our Paper is a sure way of preventing things from getting out of hand. Even more importantly, we can provide accurate information that people need in order to have a meaningful conversation for action. So regardless of your interests or concerns, write your article or series or letter to the Editor and submit it to the CNA News to begin making a difference in our world.

A couple of other things I want to mention is that we are looking for another Board Member, hopefully someone who is familiar with the responsibilities of a Treasurer. We are also shy of a Vice-Chair at the moment. For those of you who are anticipating our neighborhood community Garage Sale, please note this year we are without an organizer for this even so if you are interested in helping out with this event, please let us know. The neighborhood Garage Sale will not happen if we don’t get a volunteer.

Our next General Meeting will be on March 8th in the Community Room in the Kennedy School beginning at 7pm ending at 8:30pm. We will be discussing the Mayor’s plans for siting homeless camps in our neighborhood. This should be a very interesting meeting for all, and I believe you will not be alarmed by the proposals but should attend to get properly informed.

Happy Daylight Savings on March 13th!

ISAAC QUINTERO
President
Concordia Neighborhood Assoc.

CNA Board Meeting Draft Agenda Jan 12th, 2016

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Concordia Neighborhood Association
Board Meeting
January 12, 2016
Kennedy School Community Room 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM
 
Agenda

7:00 – 7:05 pm Roll Call, Establish Quorum
 
7:05 – 7:10 pm
  
     7:11 – 7:20 pm
 		 CONSENT AGENDA Approval/Amend Prior Board Meetings Minutes
 
Treasurer’s Report
7:20 – 7:35 pm Public Comment (limited to 3 min per speaker)
7:36 – 7:45 pm Old Business
1.      Policies and Proceedures Committee Folow-up
  2.      LUTC Committee follow-up
3.
7:45 – 8:15 pm New Business
1.      Installation of New Board Members
2.      Determination date for next General Meeting
3.      Recommendations for 2016 Goals and Objectives
4.      Recommendations to Portland Public Schools to rename Faubian Elementary School?
5.      Board Member assignment to committees and programs to take place in 2016 (i.e. who will serve on neighborhood clean up or summer concerts
6.      Review of Board Member Participation and Attendance Requirements.
 
8:00 – 8:30pm Community and Committee Reports (Each Committee to please provide written Summary for each board member, prefer report submitted prior to meeting with discussion reserved for meeting)
1. Media Committee   2. Land Use Committee   3.   Social Committee
4. Clean-Up Committee   5.   Roles & responsibilities Committee 6. Policies and Procedures Committee
 
  Meeting Guidelines
1.      Stay within agreed time (Option: Decision to add time)
2.      Stay on topic (Option: Parking lot)
3.      Voice a solution if you voice a concern (Upgrade: Seek solutions to address ALL concerns)
4.      Avoid personal attacks (Upgrade: Notice and care about the effect your words have on others)
 
 
 

CNA’s 2015 HOLIDAY PARTY – Tuesday, December 8th, 7pm-9pm, Cerimon House

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CNA’s 2015 HOLIDAY PARTY
Tuesday, December 8th
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Cerimon House
NE 23rd & NE Sumner

Concordia Neighborhood Association will have its biggest & brightest Holiday Party on December 8th. There will be no shortage of food, fun, amazement and holiday wonder!
Hosted by our newest community partner; Cerimon House in their beautiful, newly renovated digs, the former Masonic Hall at NE 23rd and NE Sumner. The dust has settled, the paint has dried. The stage is set and our new friends at CH are eager to invite the neighborhood in to have a look.

An additional, extra-special holiday bonus: Cerimon House’s wildly successful inaugural exhibit; Charles Addams Family & Friends will be available for us to view that night. This is the West Coast premiere of a world class exhibition of 52 original panels by the famed New Yorker cartoonist.

This year’s party will feature a mostly dessert buffet, with some savory treats. Purely non-alcoholic beverages will be provided, including a hot holiday cider. So be sure to feed your little monsters (and your big ones too!) something nutritious beforehand.

We will have a cookie decorating station(icing, sprinkles & jimmies galore). Raffles, giveaways, and as always; a donation bin to benefit a local non-profit. This year we partner with the HIV Day Center in Concordia (NE 30th & NE Ainsworth). Now in its 25th year, our HIV Day Center is the oldest multi-service drop-in center for low-income individuals in the US! We need your help to provide their clients with winter coats (new or used), new underwear (in all sizes) and bath towels (new or used). Please consider rummaging through your closets for any items you could spare.

That’s it folks! Sounds good right? Hope to see you there!

If you have any question about our extravaganza, or would like to help out please contact Katie Ugolini at ktugolini@gmail.com.

CNA Annual Meeting and Elections – November 10th, 2015

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CNA’s Annual Meeting & Board Elections
Tuesday, November 10 at 7 p.m.
Kennedy School Community Room
 
Join with other members of our Concordia neighborhood community at our Annual Meeting to fill openings on the Concordia Neighborhood Association (CNA) Board of Directors, and find out how to become involved in the exciting and worthwhile projects and events that the CNA has planned for the coming year.
 
The Concordia Neighborhood Association elects approximately half of its Board members annually, for two-year terms, at our Annual Meeting in November. Board candidates must be members of the Concordia Neighborhood Association (that probably includes you if you live or own property in the neighborhood). The CNA nominating committee has already received several applications for Board candidates. However, there is still time and opportunity to throw your hat into the ring! if you have a passion for volunteering and know that you want to make a positive change right here where you live, please contact Steve Elder, our Nominating Committee Chair at East1@concordiapdx.org. Additionally, if you are unsure, want to know more, or moved by the electric nature of CNA Election Night to become involved, you can always be nominated or even nominate yourself at the meeting!
 
Concordia Neighborhood Association members must be a resident, own property, or a business within our boundaries. You will be asked to sign in at the meeting and confirm your membership in the neighborhood association. At this time, there is a minimum age limit for election; 14 years of age and nominees under 18 must have written permission from a parent.
 
Terms begin in January 2016 and run 1-2 years depending on the position being filled. Board members commit to attending board meetings each month, attending regular and special membership meetings, attending CNA-sponsored events, and becoming a contributing member of a CNA committee. A CNA board member represents our community on issues such as land use, livability, and safety. We partner with local government through our association with the Office of Neighborhood Involvement (ONI), Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods (NECN), and other local community groups.
 
 
Here are the open positions eligible for election November 10th:
 
CNA Chair (1 year term)
NW District position 1 (2 year term)
SW District position 1 (2 year term)
SW District position 2 (1 year term)
CNA at-large position 1 (2 year term)
CNA at-large position 2 (1 year term)
CNA at-large position 3 (2 year term)
CNA at-large position 6 (2 year term)
 
Thanks to all past, serving and future CNA Board Members. Hope to see YOU on CNA Election Night!

If you care to come early (6pm), there will also be a public meeting of the CNA Board of Directors. All are welcome. Full agenda for the evening is:

6:00 – 7:00 pm CNA Board Meeting
7:00 – 7:05 pm Roll Call, Establish Quorum
7:05 – 7:10 pm CONSENT AGENDA and Treasurer’s Report
7:11 – 7:15 pm Introduction of Board Members and Board Members to provide brief profile
7:16 – 7:45 pm Presentation by Neighborhood Emergency Teams (NETs). The NETs are Portland residents trained by PBEM and Portland Fire & Rescue
7:46 – 8:30 pm Nomination and Election of New Board Members

Concordia Neighborhood Association Board Meeting – September 8, 2015

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DRAFT AGENDA
Concordia Neighborhood Association
Board Meeting
September 8, 2015
Kennedy School Community Room 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM

 

7:00 – 7:05pm Roll Call, Establish Quorum

Chair – Isaac Quintero
East 1 – Steve Elder
East 2 – Mark Charlesworth
Southwest 1 – Chris Lopez
Southwest 2 – Bill Leissner
Northwest 1 – Isham “Ike” Harris
Northwest 2 – Ashley McKinney		 At Large 1 – Robert Bowles
At Large 2 – Craig Voigt
At Large 3 – Daniel Greenstadt
At Large 4 – Ali Novak
At Large 5 – VACANT
At Large 6 – Truls Neal
7:05 – 7:10pm

7:10 – 7:15pm

 

 Selection of volunteer to take minutes.

CONSENT AGENDA

Approve/Amend Prior Board Meetings Minutes
7:15 – 7:20pm Treasurer’s Report
7:20 – 7:30pm Public Comment (limited to 3 min per speaker. If, at 8:20 and time permitting, there are additional public comments, additional comment/discussion will be heard.
7:30 – 8:00pm Old Business

1.      Appointment of CNA Secretary.

2.      Concordia news delivery schedule rotation update

3.      CNA banner/flag and popup tent pricing.

4.      Community Room update. Assisting Ashley and remodel.

5.      Nominations and appointments to fill open board member seats.

6.      Committee Bylaws Update: Regarding new charter for the LUTC; an updated committees section of the CNA bylaws; and an update to the CNA charter (Garlynn Woodsong, see attachment).

7.      Spirit of Portland Award Nominations.

8.      Planning for next General Meeting in November (suggest topics, dates, aging in place, etc.)
  New Business

  1. Update from Binks (Bianca Youngers, Binks) [rescheduled to 7pm]
  2. CNA reimbursement of costs for street mural at 32nd and Sumner.
  3. CNA support/recruitment of volunteers for Park Diem. http:/www.parklandia.org/parkediem
  4. Potential partnership & sponsorship with Cerimon House regarding west coast premiere exhibition of Chas. Addams Family & Friends; an exhibit of 52 original panels of New Yorker covers and Addams Family cartoons.
8:00 – 8:30pm Community and Committee Reports (Each Committee to please provide written Summary for the board. Please submit reports prior to meeting with discussion reserved for meeting.)

1. Media Committee   2. Land Use Committee   3. Social Committee 4. Clean-Up Committee     5. Roles & responsibilities Committee 6. Policies and Procedures Committee

Meeting Guidelines

1.      Stay within agreed time (Option: Decision to add time)

2.      Stay on topic (Option: Parking lot)

3.      Voice a solution if you voice a concern (Upgrade: Seek solutions to address ALL concerns)

4.      Avoid personal attacks (Upgrade: Notice and care about the effect your words have on others)

 

 

CNA Board Meeting Tuesday, August 11 – 7-8:30pm

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Concordia Neighborhood Association

Board Meeting – All are welcome. Bring a friend.

August 11, 2015

Kennedy School Community Room 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM

Agenda

7:00 – 7:05pm Roll Call, Establish Quorum
7:05 – 7:20pm

   7:21 – 7:25pm

 

 Selection of new CNA Board Secretary OR …. Schedule rotation duties to board members

CONSENT AGENDA

Approval/Amend Prior Board Meetings Minutes
7:25 – 7:35pm Treasurer’s Report
7:36 – 7:55pm Public Comment (limited to 3 min per speaker,(If at 7:20 there are additional Public Comments, time permitting, at end of board meetings, additional comment/discussion will be heard)

Health and Safety report. Latest update by Portland Police Department
7:56 – 7:20pm Old Business

1.      Concordia News delivery Schedule Rotation Update

2.      NA banner/flag and popup tent pricing

3.      Media Team

4.      Community room update. Assisting Ashley and remodel
  New Business

1. Nomination and appointment to fill open board member seat.

2. Committee Bylaws update: regarding new charter for the LUTC; an updated committees section of the CNA bylaws; and an update to the CNA charter… Garlynn Woodsong

3. Nomination for Spirit of Portland Award

4. Going St Greenway Letter. Attempt to improve safety at crossings

5. Portland Tool Bank Membership Approval. Join or not join

6. Request for Board member volunteer to lead a Concordia Alley Improvement Project and fiscal sponsorship campaign.

7. Planning for next General meeting (suggest topics, dates, aging in place, ideas anyone?)
8:00 – 8:30pm Community and Committee Reports (Each Committee to please provide written Summary for each board member, prefer report submitted prior to meeting with discussion reserved for meeting)

1. Media Committee   2. Land Use Committee   3. Social Committee 4. Clean-Up Committee     5. Roles & responsibilities Committee 6. Policies and Procedures Committee

Meeting Guidelines

1.      Stay within agreed time (Option: Decision to add time)

2.      Stay on topic (Option: Parking lot)

3.      Voice a solution if you voice a concern (Upgrade: Seek solutions to address ALL concerns)

4.      Avoid personal attacks (Upgrade: Notice and care about the effect your words have on others)