03/14/2013
Neighborhood Association Board Meeting Next Thursday
All are welcome to attend our upcoming board meeting next Thursday, March 21st.
6:30 at the Histroic Kenton Firehouse8105 N. Brandon Street
Topics for this week's meeting include neighborhood cleanup, tree inventory, movies in the park, Sunday parkways, parks and schools updates, and volunteer opportunities galore!
Hope to see you there.
03/06/2013
Please show up to support your neighborhood - City of Portland Community Budget Forums
City of Portland Community Budget ForumsPlease show up to support Neighborhoods and the Office of Neighborhood Involvement (ONI)
Now you can testify—bring yourself (and a couple of friends!)
The Forums provide you with the opportunity to offer testimony before City Council and express which service priorities are most important to Portland residents for next year’s FY 2013-14 budget which begins July 1, 2013.
ONI, and all city bureaus, were required by Mayor Charlie Hales to submit a 10% cut to each of their budgets. The ONI Budget Advisory Committee (BAC), on which neighborhood and other civic involvement groups are well represented, is proposing ‘add-back’ restoration to those cuts.
Your testimony at these public hearings will indicate to the new Council that there is community support for the restoration of funds for neighborhood and community involvement services.
Tues., March 12th6:30pm-8:30pmGeorge Middle School10000 N Burr Ave.Portland, OR 97203
Thurs., April 11th6:30pm-8:30pmMontgomery Park2701 NW Vaughn StreetPortland, OR 97210
Thurs., May 16th6:30pm-8:30pmCity Hall – Council Chambers1221 SW 4th Ave.Portland, OR 97204
What is at stake? What is proposed to be cut?
· Reduction or elimination of Neighborhood Small Grants program: The program has funded 536 community building grants over seven years totaling $1,025,554 in resources going out to neighborhood associations and other community-based organizations. Due to cuts in previous years the current year’s funding level is down to $93,855 and designated as a one-time allocation, which may be eliminated completely.
· Significant cuts to newspapers and social media communications: Most of the coalitions would likely scale back or eliminate communication allocations to neighborhood associations; coalition staff who provide support for producing websites, newsletters and other targeted outreach materials; and capacity of District Coalitions to produce coalition-wide newsletters and maintain dynamic websites and events calendars.
· Reduction or elimination in neighborhood outreach staff support: Several of the coalitions would scale back FTE dedicated to assisting neighborhood associations with community projects including neighborhood cleanups, summertime events, outreach and membership building, technical assistance on land use and transportation issues, community forums on hot-topic issues and leadership trainings.
· Elimination of two Crime Prevention positions: ONI would lay off two crime prevention specialists reducing the program’s capacity by 17% to respond to community requests for lower level problem-solving issues, trainings, enhanced property safety efforts, and Neighborhood Watch formations.
Messages City Council needs to hear about these services:
· Neighborhood Associations are getting people involved who were not before.· Small grants are making possible many more grassroots community events bringing residents together for the first time promoting community relationships.· Funding for newsletters and coalition staff support for use of new media tools – websites, Facebook accounts - are expanding the ability to reach more neighbors.· Small grants are helping District Coalitions and Neighborhood Associations engage in more partnership projects that are creating positive change in the community.· Neighborhood volunteers are developing leadership skills they didn’t have before resulting in new community building projects.· Expanded District Coalition staffing has improved their ability to be responsive to community needs, providing more effective community leadership and resolution of community problems.· Crime Prevention plays a key role in the local public safety system. Crime Prevention staff teach and assist neighbors to work closely with public safety bureaus and other neighbors to reduce and prevent crime.
Core messages about why investing in civic engagement should be a core City service:
· Now more than ever investing in people infrastructure is just as critical as brick and mortar projects – if not more so.· ONI’s mission, goals, programs and services are critical to support the City’s goal of achieving equity in delivery of services.· Community engagement is increasingly seen as a critical core function of good City governance.
03/05/2013
Land Use and Transportation Committee Meeting Tonight!
Hi folks! We had advertised an information session and discussion on the CRC project for tonight's Land Use and Transportation Committee meeting. Unfortunately we were not able to line up a representative from the project in time, so that discussion will be postponed.
We will still have our normal monthly LUTC this evening. We will talk about the ongoing Lombard Re-Imagined project, parking issues in the neighborhood and more! Hope to see you tonight and apologies for the late change of plans!
When: Tuesday March 5th, 7:00 pmWhere: Kenton Firehouse | 8105 N. Brandon
You can learn more about this committee at the Land Use and Transportation page.
03/02/2013
Are you a Tree Inventory Volunteer? Find out...
Arbor Lodge is conducting a tree inventory this summer, and we need help! Training is provided, and no previous tree knowledge is necessary.
What does a tree inventory volunteer look like? Glad you asked:
They like to explore the nooks-n-crannies of Arbor Lodge as never before.
They're interested in learning the basic skills needed to identify local tree species...and getting to practice with the help of knowledgeable coaches.
They want to meet new people in the neighborhood - connect with the community, make new friends. They also want to feel good about doing a good turn for the City and their neighborhood.
They invest in the future; a complete street tree inventory is essential to planning for and improving the local urban forest.
Does this sound like you or someone you know? Help us spread the word and please, sign up for the first training, March 16th, 9am-noon, HERE.