Opportunity Gateway Program Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes

Meeting Minutes
May 18, 2005

In attendance:
Duke Shepard, Chair
Dorene Warner, Vice Chair
Frieda Christopher
Bob Earnest
Renee Jensen
Arlene Kimura
Jerry Koike
Fred Sanchez
Phil Selinger
Dann Wonser
Aleta Woodruff

Staff and Guests in attendance:
Sloan Schang (PDC)
Ann Griffin (PDC)
Pam Johnson (PDC)
Jon Connor (PDC)

Not in attendance:
Teena Aisle
Beth Baltz
Ron Brown
Dick Cooley
Andy Cotugno
Steve Dotterrer
Merced Flores
Mark Gaulke
Ted Gilbert
Alesia Reese
Laurel Wentworth
Carol Williams
Grace Fitzgerald

1. Welcome from the Chair

Duke opened the meeting at 6:40 p.m. and welcomed the members.

2. PAC Chair and Vice-Chair Nominations

PAC members Arlene Kimura, Renee Jensen, and Bob Earnest, comprising the Chair and Vice-Chair nominating committee told the PAC that Dorene Warner has been nominated for Chair of the PAC. If elected, Dorene would begin her term in July. There were no nominations for the position of Vice-Chair. As there was no quorum of PAC members at the beginning of the meeting there was no motion to elect a new Chair.

Dorene asked that someone volunteer to serve as Vice-Chair in order to share the responsibilities of and to provide back-up for the Chair position.

Bob asked if the Vice-Chair serves on the Gateway Leadership Committee to which Dorene responded affirmatively.

3. Gateway Storefront Boundary Expansion

Pam Johnson, PDC Program Coordinator for the Storefront Improvement Program, referred to the program materials she had included with the PAC agenda packets. Pam presented how the Storefront Program works. She said that fifty-percent (50%) matching grants up to $20,000 are available to eligible applicants. The program also offers thirty hours of architectural services.

Pam said that PDC was recently contacted by Herb Yamamoto, Axis Business Center, regarding improvements to his property located at 11104 SE Stark that was not within the Storefront Program boundary in the Gateway URA. She asked for a recommendation from the PAC for a program boundary expansion in order to provide assistance for Herb’s project. Pam will take the PAC’s recommendation to Bob Alexander, Director of PDC’s Economic Development Department, for a final decision.

Fred asked if a grant recipient would be eligible to receive additional funds after a portion of a project had been completed. Pam advised that each eligible applicant may receive up to $20,000. Therefore, amendments may be created if the previous project was less than $20,000.

Dorene urged that the program be marketed by sending letters about further property improvements to property owners. Pam responded that brochures were sent to existing storefront targeted area in 2004.

Dann wondered why businesses along 102nd Avenue were not considered for the Storefront Program. Pam responded that, in light of pending street improvements to 102nd Avenue, a decision had been made by the committee not to utilize the program along that corridor at this time.

Dann asked about future plans for storefront on Burnside and Glisan. Bob said those have been side-lined due to new interest in the Storefront Program coming from business owners in the Stark-Washington couplet.

Aleta asked if sidewalks in front of businesses can be improved through program funding. Pam said the program does not reimburse for sidewalk improvements.

Aleta commented that Halsey-Weidler needs sidewalks in some places and stated that “No matter what else we do we’re still out in the country with no sidewalks!”

Frieda hoped that the whole district will eventually be included in the Storefront Improvement Program.

Bob made a motion to accept the proposed boundary expansion of the Storefront Improvement Program within the Gateway URA to include the SE Stark and Washington couplet, which is bounded approximately by 1-205 and 111th Ave. Aleta seconded the motion. Now that a quorum of the PAC membership was present, the motion was put to a vote. The proposed boundary expansion was unanimously voted for with the exception of Phil Selinger of Tri-Met who serves on the PAC in an advisory, non-voting capacity.

Pam will submit the PAC’s recommendation for the expanded storefront area to Bob Alexander for approval.

4. June PAC Meeting

Duke said there will various updates at the June 15 PAC meeting and opened the public comment period.

Herb Yamamoto thanked others for their support with his project and the location of his business, the Axis Business Center. His intention is to bring in high quality tenants, possibly including a law firm.

Phil gave a brief update on the Gateway Transit Center Redevelopment Project.

He said the medical office building and garage projects are going forward. He added that some concerns had been expressed by the Design Commission at their meeting earlier in the month. He said the two issues were that the Design Commission wants a garage that doesn’t look like one and that Tri-Met requires a design that provides what is called “open surveillance” for added security.

Duke said he believed that the designs will go through review. Phil felt that the Design Commission is trying to “set the bar high” for the first major redevelopment project in the Gateway URA. Duke said the Design Commission likes the project.

Arlene said there are concerns regarding security issues in the darker areas of the future parking garage. Phil responded that the openness of the design would afford a degree of security to users. He added that CCTV (Closed-circuit television) in not mentioned in the design nor in the budget for the garage.

Aleta had two comments: that the plan for accessing the post office at Russelville going from north to south would be beautiful if accepted and that many testified at Metro on the importance of nature in the neighborhood. Andy Cotugno is on the committee.

Duke said there will be a review of the 102nd Avenue design at the June 15 PAC meeting. He adjourned the meeting at 7:25 p.m.

The next meeting of the Opportunity Gateway Program Advisory Committee will be Wednesday, June 15, at 6:30p.m. at the East Portland Community Center located at 740 SE 106th Avenue.

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