GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING – May 5, 2008
MINUTES
I. Reception – Exhibits
The meeting began at 6:30 pm with a reception during which time members viewed the following exhibits;
· Bend Area Transit – local usage, etc. (our area has the most ridership)
· City of Bend Public Works – upcoming sewer projects for 27th Street, etc.
· City of Bend Transportation Engineering – how to navigate double lane roundabouts
· City of Bend Fire Department – new fireworks ordinance and illegal fireworks display
· Bend Metro Parks & Recreation – Pine Nursery park, parks & trail systems in MVNA
· Let’s Pull Together – Noxious Weed Pull – Saturday, June 14, 2008 – to work on Pilot Butte.
MVNA would like to thank the following exhibitors for their participation; Nicki Pistacchio (BAT), Mike Magee (Public Works), Robin Lewis (Transportation Engineering), Dan Derlacki (Fire Dept.), Norm Ziesmer (BMPRD) and Alan Eames (Let’s Pull Together). Members reported that they felt having the exhibits were a valuable addition to the program.
II. Introductions & Welcome to New Members
Jeanne Newton, MVNA Chair, began the formal meeting by welcoming approximately 30 attendees and introduced the current Board members. Members were given a copy of the agenda, a note card to record questions they might have and an evaluation card which included a raffle ticket. Returned evaluations entitled the member to enter the drawing for a $25. Shell gasoline card courtesy of our business sponsors, The Forum Shops, MidOregon Credit Union and Clear Choice Health Plans.
III. Business Meeting – Association Update
Jeanne reviewed MVNA’s mission statement and provided an update on the current membership which is 420; this is an increase of 90 members since last spring. She reviewed the MVNA website at www.bendneighborhoods.com and encouraged members to visit the website for the minutes of monthly Board meetings and for resources on common interest areas like starting a Neighborhood Watch, Homeowner Associations (HOAs) information, handling Code Enforcement issues and Avoiding Identity Theft.
Jeanne reported that one of the ongoing major issues for residents is traffic and safety issues and MVNA is represented at the City’s Traffic Safety Advisory Committee (TSAC) monthly. Currently the City’s Transportation Engineering staff has over 55 requests for local street projects. With only limited funds, ranking criteria including traffic counts, speed, pedestrian traffic, crash history, etc. have been used to prioritize future projects. Jeanne reported that three of the highest ranking streets in the city are in our geography: Holliday Avenue, Daggett Lane and Tucson Way. Daggett Lane made the cut for design analysis, the next step in the process.
Review of future developments is one of the functions MVNA performs when developers apply to build subdivisions or buildings in our geography. MVNA maintains a database of Land Use applications for our geography: only 6 have been received in 2008 reflecting the current downturn. MVNA is invited to participate in developer public meetings for large scale projects and signs off on meeting attendance as part of the application process.
Jeanne indicated that perhaps the most significant issue facing the City is the economic downturn and the reduction in revenue resulting in department budgets being cut 10-30% for the 2008-2009 fiscal year. She reported that significant personnel layoffs are expected. The impact will be felt among neighborhood association residents as the Transportation Engineering department has lost 2 staff and the Code Enforcement staff is proposed to be cut to 1 Code Enforcement officer for the entire city. Jeanne explained that Code Enforcement is funded out of the General Fund which supports the Police and Fire Departments – of the three functions, Code Enforcement was third in priority.The 2008-2009 budgets for the City’s 13 Neighborhood Associations will be cut 10%. The NA Chairs propose forgoing the 3% annual increase and will cut back on all but meeting notice expenses hoping to return approximately $17,000 to the General Fund. Neighborhood associations are scheduled to be funded at $1.25 per tax lot; for MVNA, with 4602 tax lots, an increase of 12% over 2006, the ‘08-‘09 budget should be $5753.
IV. Nomination and Election of MVNA Board Members
Jeanne reported that four current Board Members are willing to continue serving and two others will see their current terms end in October. MVNA needs 3 new Board Members for full Board of 9 positions. Two areas where MVNA is looking for members to serve as our liaison are Bend Metro Parks & Recreation and the Traffic & Safety Advisory Committee. No nominations were received for new Board members, however a motion to nominate Joseph Brinkley, Carolyn Clontz, Alan Eames and Jim Mazziotti was made and seconded and they were re-elected with no opposition.
V. Open Forum – Questions, Concerns from Members
Jeanne invited the members to provide feedback on where MVNA should focus its efforts and various members commented that without active participation from residents, the NA will become ineffective. Jeanne commented that NA Chairs address the City Council annually and our turn is June 4. She asked what residents want to tell the Council. Some of the concerns that were identified are the following:
- traffic on Tucson – too fast
- how serious is the drug problem in Bend with the recent incident on Wichita Way
- Purcell – Holliday area – vandalism
- Purcell – Wells Acres – speeding, running stop signs at night
- Neighborhood Watch – need to put those in place
- Bend Police – tips on making your house more burglar proof
- Owners of vacant lots taking responsibility for maintenance
- section of Butler Market going west from Deschutes Mkt. to 27th is too fast at 45 mph
- what about volunteer clerical help with Code Enforcement to help stretch resources
- impact of the eastside Urban Growth Boundary expansion – traffic, branch library in NE?
- Pilot Butte State Park and BMPRD working together to put playground equipment on the east side of the park near the apartment buildings
- suggest the 13 NAs consider doing a city-wide clean up – perhaps more than 1 day now that SOLV is no longer doing it
VI. Return Evaluation Form to enter the Raffle for $25. Shell Gas Card
The raffle for returned evaluation forms was held and the winner was present. Jeanne commented that Clear Choice is moving into their new building on Conners Avenue on May 12 and have invited the neighbors to their Open House on May 27 from 4 – 6 pm. She encouraged all to attend and thanked Clear Choice for the color copies of the handout distributed at the meeting.
VII. Adjourn
The meeting adjourned at 8:20 pm.
Mountain View Neighborhood Association thanks St. Charles Medical Center for their generous gift of meeting space for our meetings.
