Sunday, November 15, 2009

November 16 General Meeting -- Sabin Stood Up!


Thank you to those who joined the Sabin community's general meeting on November 16th, held in the Sabin Elementary School auditorium.

About 30 Sabin residents joined the evening's activities, which started with a social half-hour from 6:30-7:00pm with coffee, juice and appetizers. Three of our own Sabin businesses contributed to the spread: Charlie Wicker provided his Trailhead Coffee, Liberty Wilson prepared appetizers from her Tastefully Simple business and Whole Foods donated a variety of juices.

The first hour of the meeting included a presentation by Sabin principal, Andrew Dauch; recognition of Diane Meisenhelter, Sabin community’s Spirit of Portland 2009 award recipient; and presentations about the work in which the community association has been engaged over the last year. This has included a wide variety of projects in the areas of community safety, traffic safety, sustainability, outreach and working with the business community. In addition, we asked for community help with action steps for the future.

From 8:00-8:30pm were board elections. We warmly welcome our two new board members, Austin Peterson and Bill Youngren.

The final half-hour was reserved for the hard core who stayed to review the SCA Bylaw revision. Thanks to those who participated in this important process. You may view the revised bylaws on this blog. Final adoption will take place at the SCA spring general meeting.

If you would like additional information, contact Naomi Lambertson, nlambertson at yahoo.com.

Saturday, November 14, 2009

Draft SCA Bylaws

BYLAWS AND OPERATING PROCEDURES OF THE
SABIN COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION
(Originally adopted 1969)
BOARD RATIFIED D R A F T 11/9/09


ARTICLE I. NAME OF ORGANIZATION: The name of the organization shall be Sabin Community Association, otherwise known as the SCA.

ARTICLE II. PURPOSE: The purpose of the organization is to:
enhance the neighborhood by communicating with members, government agencies, and other neighborhoods;
provide a structure through which residents may involve themselves in the affairs of the neighborhood;
promote livability and sustainability; and,
help to ensure safety.
The organization shall pursue other objectives as approved by the Board.

ARTICLE III. BOUNDARIES: Boundaries of the SCA shall be defined as the center line of all rights of way commencing with NE Siskiyou St. at NE 10th Ave., east to NE 21st Ave., north to NE Alameda St., east to NE 23rd Ave., north to NE Prescott St., west to NE 22nd Ave., north to NE Wygant St., west to NE 14th Ave., south to NE Prescott St., west to NE 12th Ave., south to NE Skidmore St., west to NE 10th Ave., and south to NE Siskiyou St, in the city of Portland, Oregon. [EXACT BOUNDARIES TO BE CONFIRMED WITH CITY DATA]

[INSERT OFFICIAL MAP HERE]

ARTICLE IV. MEMBERSHIP:

Section 1. Qualifications: Membership in the SCA shall be open to all residents aged 18 and over, property owners, and holders of a business license located within the boundaries as defined in Article III of these bylaws.

Section 2. Voting: All members, as defined above, shall have one vote each to be cast during attendance at any general or special meeting. One representative from each business shall have the same privilege as residents listed above. Unless otherwise specified in these Bylaws, decisions of the SCA shall be made by a majority vote of those members present at any general or special meeting.

ARTICLE V. FINANCIAL SUPPORT: Charging of dues or membership fees shall not be made; however, voluntary contributions will be accepted, and fund raising may be authorized by the Board.

ARTICLE VI MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS:

Section 1 General Membership Meetings: There shall be two (2) or more general membership meetings each year. One General Meeting will be the Annual Meeting. The Annual Meeting, which will include elections, will take place in May or June. Another General Meeting will take place in the fall.

Section 2 Special Meetings: Special meetings of the membership, board or committees may be called by the President or by majority vote of the Board as deemed necessary.


Section 3 Notification: Notification of meetings shall be by newsletter, posted notices, electronic mailings, website, telephone calls, or any appropriate means of communication apt to reach a majority of members. Notification shall require seven (7) calendar days’ advance notice to the SCA membership and a minimum of 24 hours’ notice for all individuals and news media that have requested notice.

Section 4 Agenda: Subject to the approval of the Board, the President shall prepare the agenda for general and special meetings of the membership. Any person may add an item to the agenda by:
a) Submitting the item in writing to the President at least seven (7) days in advance of the meeting or,
b) Making a motion to add an item to the meeting agenda. Adoption of that motion requires a second and majority vote.

Section 5 Quorum: A quorum for any general or special meeting of the SCA is ten (10) members.


Section 6: Participation: Any general or special meeting is open to any person and all who may wish to be heard regarding any item on the agenda. Only members will be eligible to vote. All actions or recommendations of the general or special meetings shall be communicated to all affected parties, including minority opinion reports. Participants shall sign a roster with their names and addresses.

Section 7: Procedure: Roberts Rules of Order shall be followed in all areas not specified by the by-laws. Minutes shall be taken for all general and special meetings.

ARTICLE VII. BOARD OF DIRECTORS:

Section 1 Number of Board Members: There shall be at least six (6) elected officers and five (5) Members-at-Large. The elected officers are: the President, First Vice-President, Second Vice-President, Treasurer, Recording & Corresponding Secretary, and Communications Director.

Section 2 Eligibility for Board Service: Only persons eligible for membership shall be qualified to hold an elected or appointed position.

Section 3 Terms of Office: Officers will serve for one (1) year. Four Members-at-Large will serve for two (2) years and one Member-at-Large will serve for one (1) year. Terms of office for the 2-year Member-at-Large positions shall be staggered. At the first election following the adoption of these Bylaws, two (2) 2-year Member-at-Large positions shall have a 1-year term of office in order to begin the staggering (this sentence shall be removed from these Bylaws on July 1, 2010). Elected officers shall assume office on July 1.

Section 4 Board Vacancies: The Board may fill any vacancy on the Board or committees by majority vote of the Board. A member appointed to fill a vacancy shall serve the remainder of the unexpired term.

Section 5 Election of Board Members: Board members shall be elected annually by a vote of the membership at the Annual Meeting. The names of all candidates for the Board shall be placed in nomination by a nominating committee or by any member of the SCA. Notification shall be as specified in Article VI, Section 3. Nominations will be accepted from the floor at the Annual Meeting. All members present at the Annual Meeting must sign their name and address on a roster. Election requires a majority vote of the membership present.
[Lauren - Somewhere it says the list has to be checked before a vote and a roll call done. - R]

Section 6 Powers of the Board: The Board shall be responsible for all business coming before the SCA. The Board shall assure that members are informed of business that affects them through reasonable means of notification. The Board has the responsibility of acting in the best interest of the neighborhood but is not specifically bound to act according to the desire of the majority of members attending a particular meeting.

Section 7 Duties of the Board Members: The Board shall have the following responsibilities and powers:
a) Manage the daily affairs of the SCA
b) Make decisions and represent the interests of the SCA
c) Appoint and enable committees to perform necessary functions
d) Establish a yearly work plan of priority issues and projects. This shall include an annual budget detailing anticipated expenditures and revenues, and both shall be finalized by the Board at least 60 days prior to the beginning of the next fiscal year. Copies of the plan and budget shall be made available to the members at the Annual Meeting.

Section 8 Duties of Board Officers:
a) The President: The President shall create agendas for, and preside at all board meetings and membership meetings. The President shall perform such duties as the Board and the membership from time to time authorize. The President shall represent the position of the Board and the interests of the SCA.
b) First Vice-President: The First Vice-President shall perform the duties of the President in the President’s absence and as authorized by the Bylaws.
c) Second Vice-President: The Second Vice-President shall perform the duties of the President or First Vice-President in their absence and as authorized by the Bylaws.
d) The Recording and Corresponding Secretary: The Recording and Corresponding Secretary shall record and maintain minutes of the membership and Board meetings, assist the Board with correspondence and maintain in electronic and hard-copy forms the non-financial files of the SCA.
e) Treasurer: The Treasurer shall have charge of all funds belonging to the SCA and shall receive, deposit, and disburse funds for the SCA in a bank, financial institution, or a Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods (NECN) account in such a manner as designated by the Board and NECN. The Treasurer shall make financial reports as directed by the Board and NECN.
f) Communications Chair: The Communications Chair shall be responsible for publicity and communications to the community as well as any other duties that may be designated by the Board.

Section 9 Board meetings:
a) Regular Board Meetings: There shall be at least nine (9) regular Board meetings each calendar year. Notification shall be as specified in Article VI, Section 3.
b) Special Board Meetings: Special meetings of the Board may be called by the President or by a majority vote of the Board as deemed necessary. Notification shall be as specified in Article VI, Section 3.
c) Emergency Meetings: Emergency meetings of the Board may be called by the President or by majority of the Board as deemed necessary to address urgent problems. All Board members and NECN shall be notified of such meeting at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting time.
d) Board meetings are chaired by the President, 1st Vice President, 2nd Vice President, or the President’s designee.
e) Quorum: A quorum for Board meetings of the SCA is six (6) members.
f) Voting: Unless otherwise specified in these bylaws, decisions of the Board shall be made by a majority vote of those Board members present at any meeting at which there is a quorum.

Section 10 Termination for non-attendance: Board members failing to attend three (3) consecutive unexcused Board meetings may be terminated from the Board upon written notice.

Section 11 Resignation of a Board member: Any Board member may resign from his/her position with written notification to the board.

Section 12 Procedures: Roberts Rules of Order shall be followed in all areas not covered by the bylaws. Minutes shall be taken for all board meetings.

ARTICLE VIII COMMITTEES: There may be standing committees that meet throughout the year as appointed by the Board, and ad hoc committees may be established by the President. All committees must serve the interest of the SCA Board.

ARTICLE IX CONFLICT OF INTEREST PROCEDURES:

Section 1 Definition: A conflict of interest is one in which the personal financial interest of a member or their immediate family directly will be impacted by the action or inaction of the SCA. If this situation exists, it shall be deemed a “conflict of interest.” Personal financial interest involves any monetary or other kind of material or existential gain achieved from a proposal that is before the board of the SCA.

Section 2 Declaring the Conflict of Interest: Whenever a member of the board determines that they have a conflict of interest, they must inform the board hearing the proposal in which the conflict of interest exists. If the conflict is not declared, that board member will be released from his/her position.

Section 3 Abstention from Voting: Members shall not vote on matters concerning which they have a conflict of interest. Members who declare a conflict of interest shall remove themselves from the meeting room during discussion and vote of the proposal.

ARTICLE X GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES:

Section 1 One-on-One Dialogue and Mediation: Individuals and groups are encouraged to reconcile differences, whether inside or outside the scope of these grievance procedures, through one-on-one dialogue or mediation.

Section 2 Eligibility to Grieve: Any person or group may initiate this grievance procedure by submitting a grievance in writing to the Board. Grievances are limited to complaints that the grievant has been harmed by a violation of the Office of Neighborhood Involvement (ONI) Standards or these by-laws that has directly affected the outcome of a decision of the SCA. Grievances must be submitted within 45 days of the alleged violation.

Section 3 Processing the Grievances: The Board shall arrange a Grievance Committee, which shall review the grievance. The committee shall hold a public hearing and give the grievant and others wishing to present relevant comment an opportunity to be heard. The committee shall make a recommendation and forward it to the Board

Nov 2009 Community Calendar

Here are some upcoming events that might be of interest to local Sabin residents. (as published in the SCA monthly newsletter)

For more local activities see: Neighborhood Notes

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

The 20-year Bicycle Plan folks are asking for public comment before Nov. 8:
Portland Online.

Mon, Nov. 16 - SABIN COMMUNITY ASSN. GENERAL MEETING AND ELECTIONS – 6:30-9 P.M. Sabin School - Prospective Board members and ALL Sabin residents invited.

Tuesday, November 17 - PORTLAND PLAN COMMUNITY WORKSHOP (NE workshop) - 6:30-9 P.M. Beaumont Middle School, 4043 NE Fremont (For workshops in other areas, see here.)

The Portland Plan will be our City's strategic plan for the next 25 years, ensuring that Portland is a thriving and sustainable city and our people are prosperous, healthy and educated. All Portlanders are urged to attend!

Saturday, November 21, time & location TBA - COLUMBIA RIVER CROSSING COMMUNITY FORUM -This community forum will provide straightforward information about the CRC bridge planning process and the current status of the project, as well as information on the potential impacts on the health and livability of Portland's east side. Contact Shoshana Cohen at shoshana@necoalition.org or (503) 823-4575.


ALBINA LIBRARY EVENTS

Wednesdays, 11:30 a.m.-noon - TODDLER STORYTIME
Story time for children 24-36 months with adult.

Thursdays, 9:30-10 a.m. - TINY TOTS
Story time for children 12-24 months with adult.

Fridays, 9:30-10 a.m. - BOOK BABIES
Story time for children 0-12 months with adult.

Fridays, 11-11:30 a.m. - FAMILY STORYTIME
Story time for children 0-6 years with adult.

Tuesday, November 17 and Tuesday, December 15 - WORD BUGS - 2-2:45 p.m.- Preschool. Word Bugs are Trinity Lutheran School students who love to read with others.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009 - WINTER DIORAMA (Arts & crafts) - 5:30-7:30 p.m. Registration necessary: 503.988.5234

Wednesday, December 9 - MUSICA FEMINA FLUTE & GUITAR DUO - 5:30-7:30 p.m. - Families, Grades K-5, Adults, Seniors

Wednesday, December 9 - PAGETURNERS BOOK GROUP (read Life of Pi: A Novel by Yann Martel) - 7:15-8:15 PM at Studio 2, Whole Foods Market

Oct 2009 SCA Land Use and Transportation Committee Meeting Minutes

Sabin Community Association, Land Use and Transportation Committee
Meeting Notes October 12, 2009; 3739 NE 16th Ave.

Present: Jeff Strang, Trent Thelan, David Sweet, Clay Veka, Ric Alexander, Rachel Studer, Elise Scolnick, Kirke Wolfe

Bike corral/pedestrian crossing at 13th/14th and Fremont—We discussed the City’s Traffic Investigation reports for Fremont. For some years now, Sabin residents have asked the City to install crosswalks, and the City has said that:
1. Crosswalks do not increase pedestrian safety
2. Crosswalks serve primarily to show pedestrians where to cross at complex crossings.
3. Every corner is legally a crosswalk under state law.
Trent says that in his discussions, the City favors 13th over 14th for a crosswalk. David suggests that rather than asking for a specific design (crosswalk) we should ask for increased safety and see what they suggest. He will call Mark Lear, head of Traffic Safety Programs and ask him to meet with us to discuss.

Green Streets/pedestrian crossing at 9th or 10th & Fremont—Trent has package of preferred design details and will request bids from contractors. We still don’t know how much money will be in our Green Streets grant. If it is not enough, we can ask the East Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District for a matching grant under their Partners in Conservation Program.

Mason Street Fruit Tree Project—Jeff reports that he met with a City Forester at the site, and was told that we would not be allowed to plant fruit trees in the right-of-way. This contradicts what David was told by the Mayor’s Office, and the latter is more likely correct. Jeff and Rosemarie are seeking funding for this project through the Neighborhood Small Grants program, and intend to plant trees by Spring 2010.

Bicycle Plan 2030—David reports that the City has released a comment draft of it’s new 20-year plan for bicycles. Read it online at: http://www.portlandonline.com/transportation/index.cfm?c=44597&a=265909 Public comments are due by November 8. David suggests that we write a letter suggesting that the proposed 9th Avenue bicycle boulevard should run on NE 11th between NE Schuyler and NE Beech. This would avoid the exposed aggregate surface on 9th as well as skirting Irving Park. There is consensus. David will draft a letter.

RICAP-5—The Planning Commission is considering a code change that would ease the rules for accessory dwelling units (ADUs). Currently, an ADU can be 33% the size of the primary dwelling or 800 square feet, whichever is smaller. The proposal would make it 800 square feet maximum regardless of the size of the primary. David proposes that we support the change. Elise and others are opposed. No action taken.

Respectfully submitted,
David Sweet

October SCA 2009 Board Meeting Minutes

MINUTES OF SABIN COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION BOARD MEETING, Monday, 12 October 2009, Cooking Classroom, Whole Foods.

Naomi Lambertson, Jeff Strang, Iam Lomax, Liberty Wilsom, Chika Saiki, David Sweet, Elise Scolnick, guest Kaarin Smith, Ric Alexander, Barbara Conable, Helen R. Sherman, Rachel Studer, presiding.

INTRODUCTIONS.

Clay moves to temporily appointment David Sweet to the Board to fill the unexpired term of Judy Harrison who resigned because of time conflict. . The motion passes unanimously.


WELCOME TO GUESTS.

Guest Kaarin Smith, Grants Manager of Big Brothers, Big Sisters has a child in Sabin Elementary and lives in Alameda. Her new Grants project is “neighborhood friendly,” a “Coalition project,” as she described it. There is a shortage of Big Brothers, so recruitment is vital, especially of African American men to help in one parent families, ninety percent of which are below the poverty line. She asks for neighborhood help with marketing. She mentions our newsletter. Ian says we would be happy to put something in the newsletter. Liberty talks about door to door outreach in the neighborhood, suggesting that if Big Brother Big Sister could provide some volunteers, the canvassing could be done together. We could include Big Brother Big Sister literature in the bags for outreach. The organization will contact Liberty for further planning. Their first event is in January, so they will want something in the newsletter in December.

SEPTEMBER MINUTES. David moves they be accepted as amended. Passes unanimously.

TREASURER’S REPORT. Chika Saeki.

Balance as of September 14, 2009, $3805.79.

Total Income: $605.00

Expenses: $210.00

BALANCE AS OF OCTOBER 12, 2009, $4200.79.

Elise moves to approve. Unanimous.

Next guest is Helen R. Sherman, a past Board member of SCA, now active in the Farmers’ Market, NECN and the NAACP. She informs the Board about ORS Bill 9.460, the law about what an attorney, as licensed by the state, should provide. SP 818 would have amended the law to read that lawyers must provide “unbiased and effective representation for all clients,” but that amendment did not pass.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

ADMINISTRATION. Rachel Studer presides over a discussion of whether to conform the Sabin election to the NECN requirement of a July to July term for Board members and, if so, how to deal with the transitional year. One reason NECN wants this is so that Board tenure corresponds to the financial year so that disbursements to the neighborhoods and reports to the state go out at the same time in all the neighborhoods. Another is so that Board Orientations can be coordinated. The annual meeting would be in April or May.

Liberty makes motion to continue with the Board as it is for another half year and elect the next one at the first springtime general meeting. Unanimous.

BYLAW REVISIONS.

Rachel Studer reports on revisions made by Judy Harrison, Lauren McCartney, and Rachel. Rachel wants a meeting before the November Board meeting to arrive at a final draft. It is set for 26 October at 7 at Elise’s house, 4546 NE 21st Avenue. Elise, Rachel, Barb, Liberty, Jeff, and Clay in attendance. Rachel says, “Do your homework.” Comments by others should be sent to her before 22 October. We will vote on the final draft at November Board Meeting to approve it and send it for ratification to the general meeting on 16 November.

BUSINESS LIAISON. Liberty Wilson has talked to advertisers and collected payment for ads. Four spots are left and filling up. Hardy thanks were expressed for that good work.

Member lists were discussed. Elise will continue to work on ours. Barbara informed the Board that at the NECN Board Orientation, Lauren had expressed the intention that NECN will become a keeper of member lists for all the neighborhoods. NECN hopes to set it up so that the neighborhoods immediately know of the information that comes to NECN about interest in participation and that information also flows in the other direction, the NECN providing back-up for our member lists. Ian volunteered to create a Sabin version of the sign-up card the Coalition uses so that data entry is facilitated in the effort to keep good member lists.

CLEANUP. Not present.

EVENTS. Liberty is working on the Fall General Meeting for Monday, 16 November 2009 at Sabin School Auditorium, 6:30-9. - Liberty had written the newsletter article called the event Sabin Stand Up.

ENVIRONMENT. Trent not in attendance but his activities are reported by David Sweet in his report of the Land Use Committee meeting.

LAND USE & TRANSPORTATION. David Sweet. Committee meeting earlier in the evening had full attendance. See full report at end.

COMMUNICATIONS. Ian reports the next newsletter will be out in plenty of time to announce the general meeting.

FINANCES/GRANTS. Naomi Lambertson is eager to write grant proposal for Neighborhood Small Grants, due 2 November. What projects for Sabin? SCA submitted an application for the grant last year to fund our web site but it was not granted. Naomi will resubmit it. Rosemarie is working on the application for an orchard. Ian moved that the Board approve these applications. Unanimous.

PUBLIC SAFETY. Barbara Conable announced that the committee of herself, Ric Alexander, and Lance Mayhew will have their first meeting Wednesday morning at 10. A committee member will attend an OLCC precinct meeting on 20 October. Rachel asks about the Good Neighbor Agreement for the new bar opening on Fremont. Ric speaks to the “toothlessness” of the Agreements and the sequence of what is allowed on premises, including gambling. He recommends a Board policy on the matter. Naomi moves that the Board will propose a Good Neighborhood Agreement with any new liquor license. Passed with one abstention.

Ian speaks about taking Neighborhood Watch training with Celeste Carey, recommends it for everyone.

NEW BUSINESS. Lauren McCartney announces a Local Leaders Institute, Friday 6 November 2-6 pm and Saturday 7 November 9 am-4 pm. $35. Scholarships or work-study are available.

David asks Lauren about the Coalition and the Columbia River Crossing. She says there will be a forum on the effects of it: air quality, traffic, economic effect, etc., still in planning stage because it may piggyback a Hayden Island forum set up by Willamette law students. Tolling is at issue, she reports.

Barbara Conable will be a second representative of SCA on the NECN Board.

ADJOURNED 9 pm.