STEERING COMMITTEE MEETINGS 2008

All Amazon Neighbors are welcome to join us for all
Steering Committee meetings
Second Wednesdays 7-8:30pm at Amazon Community Center. 

Sustainability Committee Minutes

Notes from Amazon Neighbors General Meeting,
May 14, 2008

The theme of this meeting, which was attended by 25 people, was “How can we meet our food needs closer to home?” The agenda included three panelists, a discussion led by the Amazon Sustainability Committee, and a chance to indicate “favorite potholes” on a neighborhood map.

The panel:
Chris Girard, City of Eugene, Parks & Open Space, described the city’s Community Garden program. 6 sites, 303 garden spaces. More budget would increase the numbers of sites; the program’s current budget is stretched thin. More gardens could be situated in more neighborhoods, reducing car trips. Also the parking strips are usable as gardens as long as they did not obstruct views of the traffic.

Kevin Jones, Full Circle Community Farm, spoke to the uses and variety of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). He encouraged long-term relationships between farmers and consumers, support of local organic farmers, and the exploration of models for economic exchange. The Lane County Food Directory identifies CSAs and programs such as “That’s My Farmer” and “Eat Here Now.”

Ann Kneeland and Peter Reppe are Amazon neighbors who have worked to make their yard into a more varied and productive space. They showed slides of their gardening, fruit trees, water catchment, and general conversion of their urban yardspace.

Brainstorming Sustainable Program Ideas: Jon Belcher led brainstorming/discussion of a list of possible programs for Amazon. Ideas were added, with the purpose of implementing some of them this growing season. See notes from May 29, Amazon Sustainability Subcommittee (above).

Pothole Mapping: John Belcher had prepared a neighborhood map and invited us to put dots by potholes we thought needed fixing.

Notes by Erik Muller, 6-06

Amazon Neighbors Steering Committee Minutes
April 9, 2008

Attending: 11 Neighbors. SC Members: Randy (facilitator), Erik (minutes), Jon, Lu, Bob, Thelma, Ann. Others: Connie, Peter Reppe, Ann Kneeland, Paul Moore.

March minutes approved. Thank you, Jon.

Announcements:
Paul Moore reported that the “Walk & Roll Willamette” program will open Willamette Street to bikes and pedestrians from 9-2, on 4th Sundays in July, August, and September. Also, Paul urged us to contact Council to approve no Crest Drive plan without provisions for bicycle riders.

Connie reported that the Congregational Church will celebrate Arbor Day with plantings.

Erik reported that the Neighborhood Leaders Council requests our thoughts about road repairs (Mayor Piercy’s request), the next neighborhood summit, and our interest in helping the Opportunity Task Team develop their surveying process.

Bob reported a balance of $146.10 in our account. He raised a concern about the cost of using checks versus buying a box of checks. Bob will bring his recommendation next time.

Bob reported on the review of our application for a matching grant, Neighborhood Beautification Project (involving filling potholes on 26th between Onyx & Emerald).

Randy reported the approval of a grant to provide signs for Amazon and Rexius running trails. Amazon had sponsored this request, though the trails are not within Amazon.

Jon reported on the Neighborhood Empowerment Committee. Report from city staff touched on:
~~~~~streets safe for pedestrians
~~~~~traffic calming (with a small 30k yearly budget)
~~~~~neighborhood event guide from Isaac (passed around for viewing)
~~~~~next neighborhood summit

Bob reported that the Masonic Cemetery Sesquicentennial grant was being reviewed favorably. Erik reported that a landscaping work party, our match for last year’s Cemetery grant, would occur April 13, 12:30-4.

Sustainable Amazon
Randy opened discussion by pointing out that food sustainability was being addressed at three levels: Community Supported Agriculture, Community Gardens, neighbor gardens.

A survey of neighborhood gardening/gleaning/etc. was circulated. Questions about implementation and liability were asked. Jon asked if we could start soon in sharing food and gardening knowledge. A quick list of interrelated items followed:
~~~~~get something going soon on neighborhood level
~~~~~raise bicycle awareness and action
~~~~~help direct timing/subject of next summit
~~~~~create an electronic clearinghouse
~~~~~focus May meeting program
~~~~~organize neighborhood tour of best practices
~~~~~consult Light Treaders
~~~~~consult Mayor’s Sustainability Committee
To pull these suggestions together and to present some practical steps for how neighbors might implement sustainability or to poll opinion at the May 14 General Meeting, it was moved, seconded, and passed that we form a Sustainability Committee. Jon, Erik, Peter, and Ann K. volunteered.
Erik circulated “How Can We Meet Our Needs Closer To Home?”

Neighborhood Summit
The Neighborhood Leaders Council wants ideas from each neighborhood.
We suggest the following:
~~~~~focus on a few issues
~~~~~include sustainability
~~~~~plan for December/February
~~~~~keep it open, a la the Second Bicycle Summit: dispense with staff reports, allow participants to brainstorm and create, resolve to act

May 14 General Meeting Plans
~~~~~Dessert potluck, beverages (Lu)
~~~~~Amazon Neighbors Report (Erik)
~~~~~Panel of three-four presenters (Erik)
~~~~~CSA/Community Gardens/Green Neighbor Yard
~~~~~Neighborhood Food Actions (Sustainability Committee)
~~~~~Street Repair Poll (Jon)

Opportunity Citing Test Neighborhood
After divided discussion, we agreed to notify Patricia Thomas that Amazon Neighbors would consider becoming the test neighborhood for developing process if 1) no other neighborhood were forthcoming, and 2) we got approval at the next General Meeting (not May, but the fall).

Next SC Meeting June 11: Consider street repair, Bob’s recommendation about checks

Amazon Steering Committee
Minutes of March 12, 2008

Attendance:
Steering Committee: Eric Muller, Ann Muller, Randy Prince, Wilma Crowe, Linda Lu, Randy Prince, Bob Cassidy, Larry Robidoux, Jon Belcher
Neighbors:  Sue Prichard  (10 neighbors total)
Others: Alan Zelenka (City Councilor Ward 3)

Announcements:
Lu reported that Haliana’s house is for sale – she is looking for a villager to buy.

Carlos Barerra (Friendly Area Neighbors) urged attendance at the Eugene Police Dept. Awards – Eric attended.

Mike Kinnison of the Eugene City Neighborhood Program is mailing notices of land use applications to each affected Neighborhood.

A representative to the Neighborhood Empowerment Initiative, a City committee, is needed. Jon Belcher volunteered.

Report from our city councilor – Alan Zelenka:
City Manager – Alan related the qualifications and the selection process for Jon Ruiz.
Olympic Trials – Alan suggested that we invite the Olympic Trial Committee Chair to a meeting.
U of O Basketball Arena – Alan recounted the issues, including traffic from 60 to 100 events annually within a 12,500 capacity venue.
McKenzie Willamette Hospital – There are 3 potential sites in Eugene.
Alder Commons – A seven story 212 bedroom building is proposed for the NE corner of 19th and Agate.  It is a permitted use but neighbors feel it is out of scale with the predominately single story neighborhood.
Gasoline Tax Referral – didn’t receive enough referral signatures to get on the ballot.
West Broadway Development – Council directed staff to pursue an agreement with Beam.
Rental Housing Code – up for renewal/revision in April.

Report from Sue Prichard, Infill Compatibility Standards Working Group: They will be having their fourth meeting next Monday. They have completed their groundwork and are looking forward to getting down to specifics.

Treasurer’s report: 
Bob will have a more complete report next meeting but we have a balance of approximately $176.
Grants: Our request for alley gravelling has been submitted but needs more petition signatures.  Several attendees added their names.  The Masonic Cemetery gate is almost complete.  There is a landscaping workday on April 12. The Eugene ’08 Grant for signage along the Amazon Trail is still on track. We should monitor impacts of the Trials to anticipate needs for future events.

Green Summit: Eric recounted the discussion on local sustainability.  We discussed possible ties to our Neighborhood.

Potluck Evaluation: Tabled.

Upcoming Events: Discussed next general meeting, possibly in May or June.

Submitted by Jon Belcher

Amazon Valentine Potluck and Social
February 13, 2008

Our Valentine Potluck saw 25 neighbors enjoying good food and company. Neighborhood Services money helped in providing some main course dishes. It was great seeing some of our children there.

Amazon Steering Committee
Minutes of January 9, 2008

Attending:
Wilma Crowe, Larry Robidoux, Bob Cassidy, Jon Belcher, Ann Muller, Randy Prince, Connie Berglund, Karen Seidel, Lynette Saul, Larry Norris and one other grant petitioner, name not recorded (8 Amazon Neighbors attending)

The minutes of December 12, 2007, were approved.

Larry Norris of the Oregon Track Club presented a proposal for grant monies which are available to several neighborhoods (including Amazon) in conjunction with the Olympic track and field trials to be held on the UO campus in June-July of this year. The proposal is for the installation of permanent, vandal-proof signage at the north and south ends of the Adidas Oregon running trail in Amazon Park and at the head of the Rexius trail which runs along East and West Amazon Parkway south of 33rd Ave. The signs would be helpful to out-of-town attendees who are likely to use the Eugene running trails, and would also be a long-lasting addition for local users. The response of the Steering Committee was positive.

Connie brought up the question of whether the fact that the trails are actually outside our neighborhood boundaries might make this project ineligible. (The neighborhoods in which the trails are located – Friendly and Southeast – are not eligible for the grants.) The Steering Committee agreed that, if the project is eligible for grant funding, we should apply for the full $2000 available to us. Randy agreed to take responsibility for initiating the grant application process.

Announcements:
Connie brought up the issue of gravel debris from the new street surfacing, which had been mentioned at a previous SC meeting. It was agreed that we would monitor the situation through the winter before reporting it to the city.

Neighborhood Matching Grant proposals:
Karen Seidel and Lynette Saul, on behalf of the Masonic Cemetery Association, presented a proposal for funding of a neighborhood picnic in the cemetery on Memorial Day, 2009, as part of a Sesquicentennial celebration of the cemetery’s founding. The Steering Committee endorsed this proposal, for an amount not to exceed $2000.

Bob Cassidy presented a proposal for E. 26th St. between Onyx and Emerald Sts. to be rolled and graded. The Steering Committee endorsed a proposal of between $250 and $300 for the cost of gravel. Jon suggested that Bob get pledges from neighbors for volunteer labor for the spreading and maintenance of the gravel.

Jon Belcher presented a proposal-in-process for a more organized sharing of neighborhood gardens, garden spaces, and fruit trees. He is hoping to find a university student to do a survey of the neighborhood garden resources, and to have a completed proposal ready in the fall.

Planning for Valentine Potluck, Feb. 13
Lu has agreed to provide tablecloths, flowers, juice, etc. It was suggested that, on the flyer, attendees be encouraged to bring their own dishes, flatware, cups, and so on, to minimize the use of disposables.
Ann will try to please all tastes as she spends the $100 allotted to us by the city to buy a variety of main dishes.
Connie will be in charge of set-up. Wilma and Connie will greet, dispense name-tags, have people sign in, collect email addresses.
Flyers for the event will be hand-delivered.

Changing of the Guard:
Connie handed over the Amazon key to Ann.

Thanks for cookies, Wilma.
Minutes: Ann

Next SC Meeting: March 12, 7 pm

Amazon Steering Committee
Minutes December 12, 2007

Attending:
Wilma Crowe, Jon Belcher, Bob Cassidy, Ann Muller, Connie Berglund, Erik Muller, Sue Prichard (7 Amazon Neighbors attending)

Announcements:
* Cemetery entryway project begun; we will supply volunteers later to help with landscaping.
* Harris Street dance studio rumored to be closing
* Martha Osgood will not be attending SC meetings, yet will continue as our webmistress
* Linda Lu may have a conflict with our Wednesday meetings

SC Work Assignments:
We discussed the range of SC work and had the following categories and volunteers (Those SC members unable to attend this meeting are called on to volunteer where they might be of help):
Showing up: Everyone!
Facilitating meetings: Co-chairs Erik and _____.
Randy will be asked about being co-chair; Jon said he would serve
Minute taking: Rotating among Ann, Erik, Randy, Jon
Newsletter: Melissa Takush
Website & E-mail list: Martha Osgood
Planning socials: Lu
Baking: Wilma
Banking/Finances: Bob
NLC Representative: Co-chairs
Infill Working Group: Sue (Larry Robidoux agreed to be alternate)
Keybearer: Connie
Attendance Reports: Connie to Amazon & Martha; Co-chairs to Neighborhood Services
Anything else? Rounding up Newsletter articles?

Connie observed how valuable Dwight, a student and a renter, had been as an SC member, suggesting that we should recruit for such representation.

Neighborhood Matching Grants:
This program is starting for 2008.
With a February deadline for preliminary applications and our committee role in approving them, we might expect to see applicants at our January 9 meeting or in February (at a special meeting because our Valentine Neighborhood Potluck is tentatively scheduled for February 13).
Bob is interested in investigating possible grant projects. He will approach neighbors near the 26th Avenue link between Emerald and Onyx, where the unpaved way is full of potholes, and the Masonic Cemetery Association about the 25th Avenue muddy pathway on the north side of the cemetery.

Valentine Party:
February 13 looks like a good date. Erik will check on the use of the Amazon Main Hall and the availability of city funds for social activities, as well as getting a flier generated by Melissa and calling Lu about heading up the event; Ann will check on what $100 might buy toward supplementing main dishes.

Infill Compatibility Standards Working Group:
Sue Prichard reported on two meetings of the group that the Planning Commission has authorized to develop land use recommendations for limiting the negatives of infill and encouraging its positive impacts. She acknowledged the tension in these two outcomes and also expressed concern about accommodating infill and still retaining the character of neighborhoods.
Sue has toured our neighborhood and taken pictures of infill examples, good and bad. As our representative to the working group, she invites SC and neighbor input.

Thanks for cookies, Wilma!

Minutes by Erik Muller
Next SC Meeting: January 9, 2008 7pm