2) OKNA urges city council to support neighborhood associations
3) OKNA asks Air National Guard to end controversial landings
4) Greeley Avenue and the Swan Island bridge
5) Patton Square Park playground party
6) Help prevent local flooding by keeping street drains clear
1) New OKNA board elected
The Overlook Neighborhood Association held its annual meeting and elections last week. Members elected 15 board members to one-year terms. Thank you to everyone who ran for the board.
The new board members will take office at the Oct. 1 board meeting. They are (* indicates a returning board member):
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2) OKNA urges city council to support neighborhood associations
The Overlook Neighborhood Association submitted a letter to Portland City Council asking that they reject a proposed code amendment – the 3.96 rewrite – that would remove neighborhood associations from codified recognition. As noted by the League of Women Voters of Portland, the process from which the rewrite emerged lacked transparency and broad public engagement. Commissioner Chloe Eudaly oversees the Office of Community and Civic Life (OCCL).
Learn more about the proposed code revision and neighborhood associations.
OKNA’s letter to the city noted:
The Overlook Neighborhood Association (OKNA) asks that you not adopt the proposed changes to City Code Section 3.96. The current rewrite emerged from a flawed process. Portland absolutely needs to implement policies that empower all residents to become active participants in their government. However, rather than cast aside the city’s internationally lauded neighborhood association system, the city should build upon it. The first step should be clear direction from council and a new 3.96 code revision committee that includes representation of all stakeholders.
Read the letter to council about 3.96 code revision.
3) OKNA asks Air National Guard to end controversial landings
The Overlook Neighborhood Association last week sent a letter to Gov. Kate Brown asking her to direct the Oregon Air National Guard to limit using Overhead Continuous Descent Approach landings at Portland International Airport. The maneuver was recently revived after having been banned since at least 2002. During the landings, military jets come in low over neighborhood generating far more noise than other landings.
The East Columbia Neighborhood is one of those most impacted by the landings and has led the campaign for changes. OKNA joined them in asking that the practice end except during emergencies or be limited to the north runway so that jets can remain over the river.
Read the letter to Gov. Brown about Oregon Air National Guard.
4) Greeley Avenue and the Swan Island bridge
Representatives of the Portland Bureau of Transportation spoke to Overlook residents at last week’s OKNA meeting about the N Greeley Avenue multi-use path and repairs to the N Going Street bridge to Swan Island.
Repairs to the bridge will likely take months. City Council this week will consider a resolution to authorize an estimated $1 million emergency contract for repairs to the bridge. In the meantime, three lanes will remain closed and drivers should anticipate delays, especially during rush hours.
Construction on the Greeley multi-use path began this month, but could be delayed due to work on the bridge. We’ll know more in coming months. We also learned that the concrete lane separator for the bike lanes will extend the length of Greeley. That means parking north of the Hazelnut Grove homeless camp will no longer be possible. With luck this will reduce the amount of illegal dumping along Greeley. PBOT also will install a bollard to prevent vehicles from entering the path from N Interstate Avenue.
Finally, Council this week will vote on a measure to grant adidas a $1 million system development charge (SDC) credit for installing a Greeley Avenue cycle track.
5) Patton Square Park playground party
We had a great turnout for the grand opening of the new Patton Square Park playground last weekend. Dozens of kids and their adults enjoyed Ruby Jewel ice cream, cupcakes, face painting and music by Ants Ants Ants. OKNA Board Member Cynthia Sulaski and Portland Parks & Recreation Deputy Director Todd Lofgren spoke about the history of the project and acknowledged the many donors who made it possible.
Finally, children officially opened the park by cutting the ribbon with giant golden scissors. Thank you to everyone who attended and who helped bring this great project to completion.
6) Help prevent local flooding by keeping street drains clear
The leaves have started to turn and the rain is back. With the return of wet weather, now is a great time to adopt your neighborhood storm drain to help clear water quickly and efficiently and keep our streets safe.
When drains get clogged with fallen leaves and other debris, it can lead to ponding water on streets and at intersections. That makes it harder to drive, walk and bike around town.
The Portland Bureau of Transportation works to keep drains clear, but the city has nearly 60,000 of them. If there’s a drain near your home in Overlook, please check on it to make sure it’s clear of leaves and other debris.
PBOT offers these tips for clearing street drains:
- If possible, clear the drain before it starts raining.
- Clear about 10 feet on both sides of the drain.
- When working, clear from the sidewalk side, not the street. Wear reflective clothing so people driving or biking can see you.
- Always wear gloves and be careful of sharp objects!
- Use a rake, shovel, or broom – not your hands.
- Watch out for traffic. Only clear drains that are along the curb. Don’t clear drains in the middle of a street – leave that to us.
- Be careful of standing water to avoid slipping or stepping on sharp objects.
- If children are helping, make sure adults are supervising.
- Don’t lift storm drain grates. They are very heavy.
- Clear surface debris only. Let our crews handle garbage or any hazards in the catch basin.
- Don’t put leaves in the street! Place leaves in your yard debris roll cart for curbside pickup. If you have too many for the cart, simply bag them and place them next to the roll cart for pickup.
- Snow or ice blocking the drain? Clear a 10-12 inch path along the curb, for melting snow and ice to reach the drain.
If the drain is still clogged after you’ve removed the surface debris, please report it online at www.pdxreporter.org, call the 24/7 maintenance dispatch at 503-823-1700, or email pdxroads@portlandoregon.gov to report it.