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Tag: Board Communications

  • Emergency DNA Board of Directors meeting, Friday, May 6, 4:00 pm

    Emergency DNA Board of Directors meeting, Friday, May 6, 4:00 pm

    During this meeting, the board will be asked to consider:

    1. approving a recommended motion from the Land Use / Transportation committee regarding an appeal for a River Place Master Plan project. This meeting is necessary because of the timing of a hearing on the project.
    2. approving changes to the administrator and signature authorities to the DNA checking account. These changes are imminent, and the bank requires evidence of board approvals.

    This is a public meeting that is expected to be short.

    1. DNA Objective: improve the livability and character of Portland’s Downtown Neighborhood.
    2. DNA Goal: reach out, listen, and strive to represent the opinions and interests of the DNA residents, students, and employees.
    3. DNA standards of conduct: open, dignified, respectful, civil; separating business from personal; everyone will be heard, and their thoughts considered.

    ______________________________________

    Time: May 6, 2022 04:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

    Join Zoom Meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/9263615077?pwd=RXBtL3FBL1pEYmtuK0JtSkZnSm1WUT09

    Meeting ID: 926 361 5077

    Passcode: 012749

  • CANCELED: Emergency Zoom Board Meeting: Tuesday May 3, 4:00 pm

    CANCELED: Emergency Zoom Board Meeting: Tuesday May 3, 4:00 pm

    Update: Meeting has been canceled, thank you.

    This meeting will be to consider a proposal from the LUT committee which relates to the River Place appeal.

    Time: May 3, 2022 04:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

    Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/9263615077?pwd=RXBtL3FBL1pEYmtuK0JtSkZnSm1WUT09
    Meeting ID: 926 361 5077
    Passcode: 012749

  • Urging Preservation and Restoration of the Thompson Elk Fountain

    Urging Preservation and Restoration of the Thompson Elk Fountain

    The Downtown Portland Neighborhood Association (DNA) sent a letter (below) to Mayor Wheeler and the City Council on March 24, 2022, urging the immediate preservation and restoration of the Thompson Elk Fountain.

    The Elk Fountain has been restored many times over the years and the time has come to make it whole once more. In 1974 the City designated the “David P Thompson Fountain” or “Elk Fountain” as a local Historic Landmark. It’s described as an elk statue on a granite pedestal, surrounded by a reservoir with four animal troughs served by water spouts in form of animal heads. The elk and pedestal are inextricably linked.

    As the City is well aware, it is responsible to conserve historic landmarks. The Thompson Elk Fountain is historically significant because it was designated by the City as a historic landmark, and it is eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.

    The public have tried tirelessly to engage with City staff and have been absolutely stonewalled in these efforts. Individuals and organizations that have reviewed and endorsed the findings in the letter below include Bill Hawkins, Aubrey Russell, Chet Orloff, the Architectural Heritage Center, Restore Oregon, Portland Coalition for Historic Resources, and many others. The public is desperate for a forum where the alternatives to demolition can be discussed.

    The City must not only comply with state law and local preservation program requirements but also be transparent and up front about intentions with respect to the protection of historic resources. This should be accomplished in a public forum where the public is given a formal opportunity to be heard by a politically accountable decision-maker.

    [embeddoc url=”https://cornellroad.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/2022-03-24-DNALUTLetterElkFountain-1.pdf” download=”all” viewer=”google”]

  • DNA Board Meeting , March 22, 2022, 6:00 PM via Zoom

    DNA Board Meeting , March 22, 2022, 6:00 PM via Zoom

    This message is to announce a regular DNA Member and Board Meeting.

    DNA Meeting Agenda

    This is a Virtual, Zoom meeting.  Zoom invitation appears at the end of this agenda. DNA Board members will have video and audio, but other attendees will not. Questions and comments can be raised via “chat” which will be answered as time allows.

    DNA Objective: improve the livability and character of Portland’s Downtown Neighborhood.

    DNA Goal: reach out, listen, and strive to represent the opinions and interests of the DNA residents, students, and employees.

    DNA Standards of conduct: open, dignified, respectful, civil; separating business from personal; everyone will be heard, and their thoughts considered.

    Executive Session will be at 5:00 pm due to scheduling issues. 
    In order to facilitate board review and approval of attorney items this evening, the executive session discussion is being rescheduled to begin at 5:00 pm rather than at the end of the DNA Member and Board meeting. Board members will meet in a separate, earlier Zoom session.

    • The board will enter an executive session to discuss the DNA’s instructions to an attorney.
    • Board of Directors executive session call to order.
    • Executive session adjourned.

    Members of the press who are interested may call 503-490-3907 to receive the Zoom link to this session. After completing this executive session, the board will enter the DNA Member and Board meeting at 6:00 pm using the Zoom link posted in the earlier email announcement.  

    General Membership Meeting, 6:00 pm

    • Call to order
    • There are no guest presentations this evening.
    • Open forum for comments and suggestions
    • Adjournment of General Membership Meeting 
    • The DNA’s Board Treasurer position will be open. This position has the responsibility to maintain a single checking account containing modest funds and at least three sub accounts. Interested DNA members are encouraged to contact Walt Weyler, 503-490-3907.
    • The DNA’s and the DNA’s Land Use/Transportation chair position is open. This position leads the DNA’s activity to review and take positions on important physical property developments in our area. This is the basis on which Portland recognizes the DNA. This committee and its chair are important, recognized, and influential in Portland. Interested DNA members are encouraged to contact Walt Weyler, 503-490-3907.

    Board of Directors Meeting

    • Call to order and check quorum
    • Proposed revised financial/accounting practices policy
    • Web site and Social Media update – Steph Bairey
      • Proposed record management policy
    • NWNW liaison – Shirley Rackner and Darlene Garrett
    • Land Use/Transportation report – Thomas Ray
      • RiverPlace task force update – Thomas Ray and Diana Stuart
    • Special projects – Wendy Rahm
      • Willamette River Crossing
    • Safety and Livability report – Margo Howell
    • Small business liaison – Margo Howell
    • Homelessness report – Darlene Garrett and David Dickson
    • Treasurer’s report – Natasha Voloshina
    • Air Quality report – Bob Wright
    • Proposed letter regarding city offices – Kate Dickson
    • New Business/Open Discussion, Comments
    • Approval of February 22 and March 18, 2022 meeting minutes
    • The next DNA membership and board Zoom meeting will be held at 6:00 PM on Wednesday April 26, 2022.
    • DNA Member meeting adjourned.

             ___________________________________________

    Join Zoom Meeting

    https://us06web.zoom.us/j/9263615077?pwd=RXBtL3FBL1pEYmtuK0JtSkZnSm1WUT09

    Meeting ID: 926 361 5077Passcode: 012749

    Dial by your location        +1 720 707 2699 US (Denver)

            +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)

            +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)

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            +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)

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    Find your local number: https://us06web.zoom.us/u/k0rr3cYbq

  • DNA Board Meeting , March 22, 2022, 6:00 PM via Zoom

    DNA Board Meeting , March 22, 2022, 6:00 PM via Zoom

    This message is to announce a regular DNA Member and Board Meeting.

    DNA Meeting Agenda

    This is a Virtual, Zoom meeting.  Zoom invitation appears at the end of this agenda. DNA Board members will have video and audio, but other attendees will not. Questions and comments can be raised via “chat” which will be answered as time allows.

    DNA Objective: improve the livability and character of Portland’s Downtown Neighborhood.

    DNA Goal: reach out, listen, and strive to represent the opinions and interests of the DNA residents, students, and employees.

    DNA Standards of conduct: open, dignified, respectful, civil; separating business from personal; everyone will be heard, and their thoughts considered.

    Executive Session will be at 5:00 pm due to scheduling issues. 
    In order to facilitate board review and approval of attorney items this evening, the executive session discussion is being rescheduled to begin at 5:00 pm rather than at the end of the DNA Member and Board meeting. Board members will meet in a separate, earlier Zoom session.

    • The board will enter an executive session to discuss the DNA’s instructions to an attorney.
    • Board of Directors executive session call to order.
    • Executive session adjourned.

    Members of the press who are interested may call 503-490-3907 to receive the Zoom link to this session. After completing this executive session, the board will enter the DNA Member and Board meeting at 6:00 pm using the Zoom link posted in the earlier email announcement.  

    General Membership Meeting, 6:00 pm

    • Call to order
    • There are no guest presentations this evening.
    • Open forum for comments and suggestions
    • Adjournment of General Membership Meeting 
    • The DNA’s Board Treasurer position will be open. This position has the responsibility to maintain a single checking account containing modest funds and at least three sub accounts. Interested DNA members are encouraged to contact Walt Weyler, 503-490-3907.
    • The DNA’s and the DNA’s Land Use/Transportation chair position is open. This position leads the DNA’s activity to review and take positions on important physical property developments in our area. This is the basis on which Portland recognizes the DNA. This committee and its chair are important, recognized, and influential in Portland. Interested DNA members are encouraged to contact Walt Weyler, 503-490-3907.

    Board of Directors Meeting

    • Call to order and check quorum
    • Proposed revised financial/accounting practices policy
    • Web site and Social Media update – Steph Bairey
      • Proposed record management policy
    • NWNW liaison – Shirley Rackner and Darlene Garrett
    • Land Use/Transportation report – Thomas Ray
      • RiverPlace task force update – Thomas Ray and Diana Stuart
    • Special projects – Wendy Rahm
      • Willamette River Crossing
    • Safety and Livability report – Margo Howell
    • Small business liaison – Margo Howell
    • Homelessness report – Darlene Garrett and David Dickson
    • Treasurer’s report – Natasha Voloshina
    • Air Quality report – Bob Wright
    • Proposed letter regarding city offices – Kate Dickson
    • New Business/Open Discussion, Comments
    • Approval of February 22 and March 18, 2022 meeting minutes
    • The next DNA membership and board Zoom meeting will be held at 6:00 PM on Wednesday April 26, 2022.
    • DNA Member meeting adjourned.

             ___________________________________________

    Join Zoom Meeting

    https://us06web.zoom.us/j/9263615077?pwd=RXBtL3FBL1pEYmtuK0JtSkZnSm1WUT09

    Meeting ID: 926 361 5077Passcode: 012749

    Dial by your location        +1 720 707 2699 US (Denver)

            +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)

            +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)

            +1 646 558 8656 US (New York)

            +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)

            +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)

    Find your local number: https://us06web.zoom.us/u/k0rr3cYbq

  • DNA Emergency Board Meeting: Friday, March 18, 4:00 PM via Zoom

    DNA Emergency Board Meeting: Friday, March 18, 4:00 PM via Zoom

    This meeting is for the board to consider approving a contractual relationship with a land use-historic preservation attorney for potential actions regarding the Thompson Elk and Fountain. The contract is similar to the one approved for the RiverPlace Master Plan.

    Because of the short timeline due to a framework set out by the 120-day demolition delay action taken by the city, every day is important. Hence this emergency meeting.

    In the past, the DNA Board approved letters and testimony reflecting the position that urged restoration of both the elk and the fountain as a single work of public art, a beloved and iconic work of art. There is no change in that already approved position and there will be no impact on the DNA budget.
    _______________________________________________________________

    Time: Mar 18, 2022 04:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
    » ZOOM LINK

    Meeting ID: 926 361 5077
    Passcode: 012749
    By Phone:
    +17207072699,,9263615077#,,,,012749# US (Denver)
    +12532158782,,9263615077#,,,,012749# US (Tacoma)

  • DNA News: Portland City Charter Review

    DNA News: Portland City Charter Review

    This email is being sent on behalf of Walter Weyler, Chair of the Downtown Neighborhood Association
    To: DNA Members and Friends
    Fr: The DNA City Charter Committee
    Re: Charter Review Process Underway – Stay Tuned In
    Date: July 12, 2021

    Can Portland’s Form of Government be Changed?

    Former Portland mayor Tom Potter spoke about the need to replace the City of Portland’s Commission-form of government with a more effective structure at the April DNA meeting. Former mayor Sam Adams echoed that need at the May meeting. How such a change could be made is the reason that the June DNA meeting featured Julia Meier, the project manager for the Charter Review Commission. The Charter is effectively the Constitution for the city and spells out how the City operates. Her presentation is attached to this email as a PDF.

    More About the Charter Review Commission

    This appointed body will consider possible changes to the City Charter on issues such as how we elect council members, what responsibilities they have, how the city operates to ensure transparency and equity, and other key issues for Portland. Final approval of changes requires voter approval, most likely in the November 2022 election. The Charter Review Commission is meeting now in public meetings and accepting testimony.

    How is the DNA involved?

    The DNA Board approved the following testimony of Chair Walter Weyler, which subsequently was presented to the Charter Review Commission on June 28th in public testimony stating our priorities:

    I am speaking on behalf of the Downtown Neighborhood Association. We are a dense, diverse neighborhood, housing not only the downtown business core, but PSU and about 15,000 residents.

    We are very aware of problems our Portland City Commissioners face due to the current Commission form of government. As residents of the city we are impacted by these problems too. Problems become intractable and hard to resolve in the siloed structure that exists because Commissioners are bureau administrators with budgets to defend.

    We believe that for this city to work, an appointed, non-political professional city manager must be hired and given day to day responsibility for operational management, oversight and coordination. Elected officials must give final approval to the City’s budget and operate as a legislative body.

    We believe that there are too few Commissioners and that geographical representation is vital. Each part of this city has distinct needs and deserves an elected official who answers to them at the ballot box and can take their concerns to the Council as a whole.

    We are following your work and are grateful that you have volunteered to do this very important task. We support you, and are ready to assist in providing input, educating our membership on your work and helping to get out the vote when you have referred new Charter language to the ballot.

    How Can You Get Involved

    The DNA Portland Charter Review Committee encourages you to become informed about the Charter Review Commission’s work by visiting their website. We also encourage you to educate yourself on what is working well with city government and what is not, to identify the problems a new structure should address, and to let us know what is of particular interest to you on this topic. We are planning input for upcoming meetings. We welcome your involvement.

    Informed Citizens – Ready to Vote

    Our goal is that when election day, November 2022, comes we have done all we can to make sure that the recommendations of the Charter Review Commission for Portland’s structure of government are worthy of our support; and that we all feel knowledgeable, ready to vote and ready to encourage others to vote.

    We hope this information is helpful to you and look forward to your ongoing involvement in the DNA’s response to the Charter Commission’s work.

    walter weyler signature

    Walter Weyler
    Chair, Downtown Neighborhood Association

    DNA City Charter Committee
    Chris Neilsen
    Linda Mantel
    Darlene Garrett
    Hank Schottland

    All Charter Review Commission meetings are open to the public. A full listing as well as minutes of previous meetings can be found on their website. Upcoming meetings include:

    July 14 Charter Learning Session
    July 20 Operations Meeting
    July 22 Information Session with Public Comment

  • DNA Policy on Public Representation

    DNA Policy on Public Representation

    All Board members and Committee chairs must sign and abide with the public representation policy approved by the DNA.

    [embeddoc url=”https://portlanddowntownna.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/DNA-Board-Policy-Public-Representation-2021.05.pdf” width=”80%” height=”80%”]

  • DNA Policy on LUT Executive Status

    DNA Policy on LUT Executive Status

    Executive Status is defined as representing the DNA Board of Directors on its behalf. No board, committee or individual member is authorized to speak on behalf of, or to represent the DNA without specific approval of the DNA Board of Directors.

    The DNA Board of Directors grants its Land Use Committee executive status under these guidelines:

    1. Each committee member shall be a DNA member and shall have signed a Conflict of Interest form.
    2. Representations shall be confined to land use and transportation issues affecting the DNA.
    3. Proposed representations must be approved by a majority of Land Use Committee members.
    4. Representations shall be brought to the DNA Board of Directors for approval, prior to their release except in cases of important issues that require representation prior to the next Board meeting.
    5. In cases where there is not time for full board approval, the matter must have the approval of the DNA President prior to any release.

    In the May 28, 2019 Minutes:

    Walter Weyler, DNA Board Chair presented a proposed limited executive policy for the LUT and moved its approval. The Board voted 7 for and 1 against; the motion passed.

    Signed July 17, 2020 as a substitute for the missing signed document from May 28, 2019.

  • DNA Conflict of Interest Statement

    DNA Conflict of Interest Statement

    Each Director, Officer and Land-Use Committee Member is to sign and submit this form annually.

    Report any conflicts of interest or potential conflicts of interest between the DNA and you, a family member or a business or corporation with which you are connected within the meaning of the Conflicts of Interest Policy.

    All indicated members have an ongoing obligation to notify the Board promptly of any such conflicts of interest that subsequently arise.