Sylvan-Highlands Neighborhood Association 2257 NW Raleigh St, Portland, OR 97210 503.823.4288 • [email protected]
April 17, 2013
Mayor Hales [email protected] Portland City Hall 1221 SW 4th Ave. Portland, OR 97204
Dear Mayor Hales, We formally request a repeal of the ordinance permitting meters to be placed throughout Washington Park. There was no legitimate public process prior to this being presented to City Council and a decision which affects the citizens of Portland so greatly requires one. Metering changes the entire experience of the park for all and limits access to those citizens without means. We have undertaken, and are continuing to undertake, outreach to our fellow citizens through our Neighborhood Associations. We include letters from these neighborhoods with this letter and a list of letters being drafted and pending. These letters come from neighborhoods which represent more than 185,000 citizens and more will be forthcoming in the next month. We present these now, as we are aware that Portland Parks is moving quickly to implement meters. What we have discovered during the outreach process are several things: 1. Public Awareness The greater public was completely unaware of the plan by Portland Parks to meter Washington Park. Those citizens who had heard about this, had only learned of it after the fact, through articles in the Oregonian. 2. Request for Process All of the Neighborhoods request a full and transparent public process before such a change is implemented. 3. Illegitimacy of prior "Process" All of the Neighborhoods were extremely concerned that the Financial Impact and Public Involvement Statement submitted by Parks was untrue. In brief, although the statement indicates (#3 Pg 1) that "the areas of the city affected by the Council item" are Citywide/Regional, absolutely no citywide or regional discussion or public involvement was undertaken. On Pg 2, #8 yes was checked off to the question as to whether public involvement was included in the development of this Council item. Again, not true. In question #9 b. an 18 month public process was cited as having included the public via 3 neighborhoods, Sylvan Highlands, Arlington Heights and Goose Hollow. This is completely untrue. Meetings cited were regarding a land use issue (Zoo West Lot) and development of a Good Neighbor Agreement; not the development of park-wide metering. The list of meetings submitted on page 6. were not about metering. We can provide details. The Neighborhoods are unanimous in their demand for an honest, fully transparent process. The "process' presented above cannot be considered legitimate. The basis of democracy has not been represented. 4. Public Access Neighborhoods are concerned that all citizens, regardless of their financial means, have free access to our public parks. Metering will limit this access. 5. Preservation of the Parks experience Neighborhoods hold that our public parks, paid for by our taxes, should remain unmetered. To meter Washington Park, our first and oldest park, changes the entire nature of the park experience; the nature of Portland itself.
In summary, a full and complete public process must be undertaken prior to permanently changing the character of Washington Park through the park-wide installation of parking meters" (or "the park-wide adoption of paid parking"). We would like to meet with you to work towards this.
Sincerely,
Sylvan Highlands Neighborhood Association On the behalf of Itself and the enclosed listed Neighborhoods
Arlington Heights Neighborhood Association
2257 NW Raleigh Street - Portland, Oregon 97210 Voice: 503-823-4288 - [email protected] www.nwnw.org
January 19, 2013
Portland Parks & Recreation Attn: Director Mike Abbaté 1120 SW Fifth Ave., Suite 1302 Portland, OR 97204
Dear Director Abbaté,
The Board of the Arlington Heights Neighborhood Association has voted to participate in the Washington Park Transportation Management Association; Joe Angel will be our representative. There were misgivings about the decision to participate. The fact that the Transportation Management Agreement (TMA) Ordinance was drafted in secret was profoundly disappointing. Moreover, we believe that Metro and PPR staff misled the Metro and City Councils when they characterized our months of meetings about a Good Neighborhood Agreement with the Oregon Zoo and a Washington Park Master Plan as directly related to the TMA Ordinance. How could Metro and PPR staff believe we contributed to creation of an ordinance we didn’t know existed? As you know, we did not learn about the TMA Ordinance from your office, but first received through a public announcement from Metro Council, just two days prior to their vote.
Our discussions over the past 18 months centered on conditional land-use permitting, a Washington Park Master plan, general parking and transportation issues in and around the park, creation of a Transportation Management Association to work out solutions, and drafting of a Good Neighbor Agreement to lay out a course for future direction. Much to our dismay, the TMA Ordinance dictates many things we thought would be worked out collaboratively by the Transportation Management Association.
There are aspects of the ordinance we find troublesome. Our principal concern is with the requirement for 1400 paid parking spaces, including approximately 400 parking spaces outside of the south end parking lots (near the Zoo). Paid parking in the north end of the park, near the Rose Garden, will almost certainly exacerbate problems with overflow parking in our neighborhood.
By characterizing our past discussions as being directly related to the TMA Ordinance, Metro and PPR staff have put members of the AHNA Board in an untenable position. Because of the testimony of your staff, some neighborhood residents are under the impression that board members support paid parking throughout Washington Park, including the north end near the Rose Garden. We know, and have always represented, that paid parking at the north end of the park is highly unpopular with neighborhood residents. We do not support this aspect of the TMA Ordinance.
We provide this history to document and clarify the events leading up to the creation of the Washington Park Transportation Management Association. Regardless of this history, the AHNA board voted to participate with the TMA in the interest of constructive engagement. We are hopeful that our participation in the TMA will provide valuable public input, and an opportunity for productive cooperation.
Respectfully,
Arlington Heights Neighborhood Association Arlington Heights Neighborhood Association
2257 NW Raleigh Street - Portland, Oregon 97210 Voice: 503-823-4288 - [email protected] www.nwnw.org
January 19, 2013
Afifa Ahmed-Shafi Public Involvement Best Practices Coordinator Office of Neighborhood Involvement 1221 SW 4th Ave, Suite 110 Portland, OR 97219
Dear Ms. Ahmed-Shafi,
The Arlington Heights Neighborhood Association (AHNA) would like to bring to the attention of the Office of Neighborhood Involvement and the Public Involvement Advisory Council the egregious misrepresentation of our discussions with representatives of Metro and Portland Parks and Recreation (PPR) during their testimony to the Metro and Portland City Councils regarding the recently-adopted Washington Park Transportation Management Agreement (TMA) Ordinance.
Over the past 18 months, members of the AHNA Board have met regularly with representatives of the Zoo, PPR, and their consultants to discuss improvements to the main parking lot at the Zoo and the temporary auxiliary lot installed during construction of the Zoo MAX station. During those discussions, traffic and parking issues throughout Washington Park were generally reviewed, and a range of possible solutions were discussed in broad terms. From the discussion it was generally agreed that there was a need for a revised Washington Park Master Plan, creation of a Transportation Management Association, and the possible need for paid parking in parts of the park, such as in the main and auxiliary parking lots at the Zoo, to incentivize visitors to the Zoo and adjacent attractions to use the MAX line. The product of the discussion, as far as we were aware, was to be a Good Neighbor Agreement that would lay out, in general terms, a future structure for joint efforts to resolve issues and develop a parking strategy.
We believe we were deceived. An ordinance for the Metro and Portland City Councils was drafted and presented to Metro Council without ever being presented to us. This ordinance contains elements (such as park-wide paid parking) that were only discussed in very general terms and never supported by neighborhood representatives. Although we had been meeting with Metro and PPR representatives for months, discussing such issues as a Good Neighborhood Agreement with the Zoo, we were never informed that an ordinance was being drafted. We found out about the ordinance only by checking the Metro voting agenda available on the internet, just two days prior to its presentation of this ordinance to the Metro Council. After crafting an ordinance behind our backs, the same individuals presented the ordinance to the Metro and City Councils publically stating that it had been created through public meetings with our neighborhood association. This is simply not correct.
This mischaracterization of our involvement with the TMA Ordinance has put members of the AHNA Board in an untenable position. Board members do not support paid parking throughout Washington Park, including near the Rose Garden, tennis courts, and Japanese Garden. This eventuality is highly unpopular with neighborhood residents (and judging from letters to the Oregonian, city residents in general). Sadly, these events have cast a pall over our relation with representatives of PPR.
Regardless of these events, the AHNA Board has decided to participate on the newly-formed Transportation Management Association in the interest of constructive engagement. The Board has, however, voted to call this mischaracterization of public involvement to your attention with the hopes that you can develop guidelines to help the City Council and City bureaus accurately present what constitutes public involvement. We appreciate your attention to this matter; please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any question.
Respectfully,
Board Members, Arlington Heights Neighborhood Association
From: claudia martin To: [email protected] Subject: Fwd: Metering Parking in Washington Park Date: Thursday, April 18, 2013 8:56:33 PM
Letter from Bridlemile to add to the file. Claudia
------Forwarded message ------From: Steve Mullinax
Dear Mayor Hales, Portland City Council Members and Southwest Neighborhoods, Inc. Board
The Bridlemile Neighborhood Association is concerned about the process leading to the decision to meter parking in Washington Park. Our understanding is that there was inadequate public involvement in the decision and our own experience reflects that.
We request that Council reconsider the decision to meter parking in Washington Park until there is broader publicized process of public involvement in advance of the decision. We consider Washington Park a crown jewel of both the city and believe that we all should be involved in any decision affecting the use of our parks.
We are a neighborhood of five thousand people and we join with the other Portland neighborhood associations that have expressed these same concerns to you.
By unanimous vote of the Bridlemile Neighborhood Association meeting, April 10, 2013.
Sincerely,
Steve Mullinax Chair, Bridlemile Neighborhood Association
BROOKLYN ACTION CORPS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION PO BOX 42341, PORTLAND, OREGON 97424 www.brooklyn-neighborhood.org
Mayor Charlie Hales April 3, 2013 1221 SW 4th Avenue, Room 340 Portland, OR 97204
Dear Mayor Hales,
The Brooklyn Action Corps Neighborhood Association has become aware of the issue of metered parking in Washington Park. We hereby request a repeal of the metered parking throughout Washington Park in parking spaces not previously requiring payment.
Our city parks should be free and accessible to all. This installation of meters will change the nature of the park experience and create a barrier to using the park for many people. Portland’s citizens were not notified that this plan was being promulgated nor included in its development. A full and transparent public process should be undertaken before parking fees are charged to access any of our public parks.
Sincerely
Michael O’Connor Chair Brooklyn Action Corps (971) 344-5953 [email protected]
Eastmoreland Neighborhood Association
April 4, 2013
Dear Mayor Hales and Commissioners Fish, Fritz, Novick, and Salzman:
The Eastmoreland Neighborhood Association strongly supports repeal of the Washington Park parking meter plan.
We do so for three reasons:
1. We are concerned that the parking meters will restrict access to the park for individuals and families of limited means. The park system – like the library and public schools – is at the heart of our concept of democracy. Charging for such basic services as visiting the park divides the community and discourages use by many of the residents of our city. 2. We are also concerned about the absence of public involvement. The appearance of the Parks presentation to the city council on November 14, 2012 is particularly worrying – some might even use the phrase “deceptive.” Slide thirteen of the presentation describes an extensive public involvement process, but review of the notes and agendas from the cited meetings reveals little – or in most cases – no mention of the parking meter plan. 3. The existing plan envisages a number of additional costs ranging from administration, installation of the meters, and shuttle buses. As far as we have been able to determine, little effort has been made to judge the cost effectiveness of these expenses.
Transparency is very important to us. We were not consulted. The immediate neighbors were consulted in a most cursory fashion and the Council was briefed as if widespread agreement had been reached. This was not the case.
We would ask you to review the agendas and minutes of the public involvement cited in the November 14, 2012 presentation and seriously consider whether disciplinary action is required.
Please repeal this ill-considered program so that the people of Portland can have their say in this most important park.
Yours,
Robert McCullough
President
Cc: Mike Abbaté Tom Hughes Bob Stacey
6123 REED COLLEGE PLACE ● PORTLAND ● OREGON ● 97202 ● 503-777-4616 ● [email protected]
6123 REED COLLEGE PLACE ● PORTLAND ● OREGON ● 97202 ● 503-777-4616 ● [email protected]
Mayor Hales Portland City Hall 1221 SW 4th Ave. Portland, OR 97204
April 16, 2013
Dear Mayor Hales,
The Grant Park Neighborhood Association requests a repeal of metered parking throughout Washington Park.
A presentation by a board member of the NWNW Coalition of Neighborhoods and the Sylvan Highlands Neighborhood Association our April 2013 General meeting brought to light some of the details of the process that was followed.
While some of the members had read of the accounts published in the press it was rather chilling to hear a recount of those details for those directly involved in the process.
One of the most valued aspects of the Office of Neighborhood Involvement/Neighborhood Association process is the ability of citizens to have open and clear access to city bureaus and agencies in the pursuit of community livability and safety issues. The ability for City Bureaus and Agencies to utilize this established process helps to ensure that an open and transparent process on matters impacting local neighborhoods can be followed.
In addition to the overriding issue of whether the process followed the spirit of our Citizen Involvement system we believe the installment of meters in Washington Park will change the nature of the park experience and create a barrier to using the park for many people.
It is our position that a full and transparent public process should be undertaken before parking fees are charged to access any of our public parks.
We urge you to look into this matter and help restore the faith and confidence in our Neighborhood Involvement process.
Sincerely,
Ron Laster Vice President, Grant Park Neighborhood Association
Subject: Repeal of Washington Park Transportation and Parking Management Agreement
Dear Mayor Hales,
On behalf of the Hillside Neighborhood Association this letter expresses our concern regarding public process and adoption of the 2012 Washington Park Transportation and Parking Management Agreement, ordinance number 1399.
Like all Portlanders, we recognize the significance of Washington Park as a prize jewel in the heart of the city. We also have a personal interest given the physical contiguous connection Washington Park has with the Pittock Family Estate and southern portion of Forest Park - both within our neighborhood. Any decision to dynamically change how these parks are used should be carefully considered and not rushed to decision in order to avoid public scrutiny.
Our concern is two fold. 1) The process to reach the decision did not follow city council ordinance requiring accurately documented public process for a key piece of the plan (specifically the inclusion of metered parking) and 2) Given the impact and precedence metered parking will have on the parks system the process and decision should be repealed to allow proper consideration and citizen input.
Public Process Failure. As you know Washington Park resides within Sylvan Highlands and Arlington Heights Neighborhood Associations. Early discussions between these two neighborhoods and the Oregon Zoo to develop a master plan led to discussion about transportation and parking. The Portland Bureau of Parks and Recreation, who leases the land to the Oregon Zoo, were also involved. Parks suggested metered parking at one of the meetings. Metered parking was deemed unacceptable by both neighborhoods. The topic of Metered parking was assumed dropped at that time.
Unbeknownst to the neighborhoods, Portland Parks and the Oregon Zoo developed a formal parking plan starting in May 2012 and culminating in its presentation to the Metro Council on Nov 8th, 2012. The neighborhoods were not officially notified and only heard on Nov 7th through a Neighborhood Coalition staff member that this was a Metro agenda item. Two Neighborhood representatives were able to attend, seeing a 29-page document for the first time minutes before the Council meeting. They testified that there had been no public process regarding the current "modified plan". Parks personnel then testified that there had been 18 months of public discussion about the plan. When questioned by the council if there were minutes documenting public involvement, Parks personnel said there were. However no minutes were taken nor read or approved.
The fact that staff stated there had been proper public process specifically as it related to meter parking was not only false but also counter to Portland City ordinance requiring documentation verifying proper public process.
Ordinance 1399 in support of the plan then went before city Council for approval on Dec 5, 2012. Questions were raised about the lack of public input at the first reading. Neighborhood representatives met with Commissioner Fish prior to the second Council reading and vote to request that no metered parking be implemented without a transparent public process, Commissioner Fish did not change his position and Portland City Council passed the ordinance.
The ordinance contained an official Public Involvement Statement which stated there had been a long and intense public process prior to bringing the ordinance to city council. In fact, the discussion of metered parking had been assumed to be off the table and was never discussed again, or included in meeting minutes, until the ordinance had been drafted.
Repeal. This ordinance should never have been approved without proper public involvement. Since neither neighborhood nor the greater Portland public was involved, the decision to include meters lacked public process as required by City Ordinance. Further, staff records indicating there was Public Involvement in this decision were false. This point was noted during testimony by Sylvan Highlands on the morning of the council vote and can be part of the argument to repeal the ordinance. We believe the lack of public process in this case creates a precedence that could lead to other “staff decisions” to draft other significant ordinances without public involvement. Even worse it appears in this case, staff adjusted the Public Involvement Statement to their benefit – essentially lying to Metro and City Council. On principal alone this ordinance should be repealed.
Thank you for your time and consideration on this matter.
Sincerely,
Gary S. Berger
Gary Berger Hillside Neighborhood Association, President.
Copied: Commissioner Nick Fish Commissioner Amanda Frirtz Commissioner Steve Novick Commissioner Dan Saltzman Parks and Recreation Director Mike Abate Oregon Zoo Director Jani Iverson
Mikal Apenes N e i g h b o r h o o d A s s o c i a t i o n President 503-705-9777
Duane Hunting March 13, 2013 Vice President 503-417-4409 Honorable Charlie Hales 1221 SW 4th Ave, Room 340 Lynn Rossing Portland, OR 97204 Secretary Re: Proposed Metered Parking in Washington Park Don Baack Treasurer Dear Mayor Hales:
DIRECTORS Hillsdale Neighborhood Association requests a repeal of the decision to meter parking throughout Washington Park in the parking spaces not previously Robert Hamilton requiring payment. Our city parks should be free and accessible to all. This installment of meters in Washington Park will change the nature of the park and Corinne Paulson create a barrier to using the park for many people.
Peter J. DeCrescenzo Moreover, Portland's citizens were not notified that this plan was being formulated, nor included in its development. A full and transparent public Glenn Bridger process should be undertaken before parking fees are charged to access any of our public parks. Aloha Wyse Sincerely, Carolyn Raz
Sheila Greenlaw-Fink
Mikal Apenes President
C/O SWNI, 7688 SW Capitol Highway, Portland, Oregon 97219 (503) 246-2088 Hillsdale Neighborhood Web Site http://www.hna-pdx.com
4408 SW Hamilton Terrace Portland, OR 97239 503-432-6936 [email protected]
April 14, 2013 Mike Abbaté Director, Portland Parks and Recreation
Re: Washington Park Meter Plan
Dear Director Abbaté,
The Homestead Neighborhood Association Board has reviewed the preliminary plan developed by the City of Portland to install parking meters throughout Washington Park. Based on the information that we have received, we currently oppose the installation of parking meters in Washington Park.
Homestead is well known for its wonderful parks, and we strongly believe that city parks should be accessible to all. Our parks currently have time-limited parking, which has been effective in preserving parking for park users. However, we would expect that the consequence of adding meters in general would be to increase the use of neighborhood streets by park visitors seeking to avoid paying meter fees, and/or the avoidance of park visitation. Both of these are wrong.
Additionally, we are confused by the apparent lack of public input into the decision making process regarding this parking meter plan. It is clear that the majority of city residents (and in particular, immediate park neighborhoods) have felt blindsided by this plan. We would expect, at a minimum, significant input at the neighborhood association level, including visits to NA meetings resulting in procedural motions in support of the plan. This should be coupled with an outreach effort specifically related to the plan: as you are surely aware, the prospect of adding meters throughout Washington Park is not a minor change, and deserves greater attention than it had previously been given.
Given the outcry regarding the plan as currently proposed, we urge you to halt implementation of the plan to revisit the public input process. We understand that the goal of the parking meter program is to increase revenue for park maintenance, but there already is a fee structure for zoo parking, and it is not clear why meters are now imperative for other, more distant, sections of the park. We hope that you are able to provide an open process and we look forward to learning more and providing our input.
Sincerely,
Eric Schnell President, Homestead Neighborhood Association cc: Peter Stark, President, NWNW Marianne Fitzgerald, President, SWNI Claudia Marin, Sylvan Highlands Neighborhood Association Anton Vetterlein, President, Friends of Terwilliger Robin Jensen, President, Friends of Marquam Nature Park
April 17, 2013
Dear Mayor Hales,
The Mt. Tabor Neighborhood Association would like to add its name to the growing list of organizations requesting a repeal of the plan to meter parking in Washington Park. Fee‐parking in our city’s public parks runs painfully contrary to the values of Portlanders, who have secured equitable access for all citizens to some of our city’s best public spaces.
Additionally, we respectfully request an immediate, independent evaluation of the particular public process surrounding this issue. From our perspective, it neither met the technical standard nor did it even graze public expectations for conduct from stewards of our public spaces.
Should there be any doubt as to how our neighborhood would have weighed in on this idea had we been given the opportunity, let us be clear now that the Mt. Tabor Neighborhood Association opposes fee‐parking in Portland’s public parks. We do not believe the added revenue provided by such a move will ever be worth the loss of equitable access to our treasured, publicly owned and publicly funded spaces.
Sincerely,
Stephanie Stewart On behalf of the MTNA board [email protected]
NOR-rHWEST DISTRICT ASSOCIATION EI 2257 NW Raleigh st. PORTLAND, OR 97210 503.823.4288 northwestdistrictassociation.org Ilpiq.'41
Mayor Chari ie Hales 1221 SW 4th Avenue, Room 340 Portland, OR 97204
Dear Mayor Hales:
The Northwest District Association passed the following motion on March 18,2013:
"The Northwest District Association requests a review of the outreach process for installing metered parking throughout Washington Park in parking spaces not previously requiring payment. Affected neighborhood associations must be part of the decision process.1I
We look forward to working with you on this issue and others during your term.
regards,
Phil Selinger Acting President, Northwest District Association
cc: Josh Alpert
Northwest Heights
NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION 2257 NW Raleigh Street | Portland, OR 97210 | 503-823-4288
February 12, 2013
Dear Mayor Hales,
Northwest Heights Neighborhood Association requests a suspension of metered parking throughout Washington Park in parking spaces not previously requiring payment. Portland’s citizens were not notified that this plan was being formulated, nor included in its development. A full and transparent public process should be undertaken before parking fees are charged to access any of our public parks.
Sincerely, Charles Clark President Northwest Heights Neighborhood Association
Mayor Hales [email protected] Portland City Hall 1221 SW 4th Ave. Portland, OR 97204
April 16, 2013
Dear Mayor Hales,
The Overlook Neighborhood Association requests a repeal of metered parking throughout Washington Park. Our city parks should be free and accessible to all. This installment of meters in Washington Park will change the nature of the park experience and create a barrier to using the park for many people. Portland's citizens, including those of the Overlook Neighborhood Association, were not notified that this plan was being formulated, nor included in its development or discussion thereof. A full and transparent public process should be undertaken before parking fees are charged to access any of our public parks.
The Overlook Neighborhood Association ([email protected]) A,d~!t7t~h,· , t)/(;1/A Mr/ R'-11"L~tt/L
! !! ! ! ! BOARD OF DIRECTORS! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! February!5,!2013!
Chair ! Felicia Williams To:!Portland!City!Council! ! Vice-Chair Jim Werner Re:!Parking!Meters!in!Washington!Park! ! Treasurer Dear!Mayor!and!City!Council!Members:! Wendy Rahm !
Secretary The!Portland!Downtown!Neighborhood!Association’s!Board!of!Directors!requests!a! Bob Wright repeal!of!metered!parking!throughout!Washington!Park!in!parking!spaces!not! previously!requiring!payment.!!Our!city!parks!should!be!free!and!accessible!to!all.!! Members at Large Daniel Friedman This!installment!of!meters!in!Washington!Park!will!change!the!nature!of!the!park! Jennifer Geske experience!and!create!a!barrier!to!using!the!park!for!many!people.!!Portland’s! Jon Joiner citizens!were!not!notified!that!this!plan!was!being!formulated,!nor!included!in!its! Mary Loos Marvin Mitchell development.!!A!full!and!transparent!public!process!should!be!undertaken!before! Steve Trujillo parking!fees!are!charged!to!access!any!of!our!public!parks.! Erik Tucker !
Further,!decisions!of!this!nature!affect!the!entire!city!and!should!be!open!all!of! Portland’s!citizens.! ! !
Sincerely,! ! ! ! Felicia!Williams! Chair,!Downtown!Neighborhood!Association! ! ! ! ! ! !
......
From: claudia martin To: [email protected] Subject: Fwd: Washington Park parking meters Date: Friday, April 05, 2013 12:08:35 PM
------Forwarded message ------From: Mat Millenbach
No, this was a straw vote of the people at the meeting and is not the position of SMILE. I am consulting with our board as to whether we want to consider this at our next board meeting on April 17. Only if the Board passes a resolution dealing with this issue would it become a position of our neighborhood association.
If we decide to consider this further, we will ask the City, presumably the Parks Bureau, for information on this issue, including an opportunity to come to our Board meeting and discuss it with us.
Thanks for getting back to me. I'll keep you filled in as things move along on this.
Mat
On Apr 5, 2013, at 11:28 AM, Commissioner Fish
> Mat-- > > Thanks for your email. > > As you may know, the Council voted unanimously to proceed with parking meters after a robust public process and two Council hearings. > > A number of changes were made to the Council ordinance in response to community concerns. > > Was anyone from the City, including the Parks Bureau, offered the opportunity to present at your meeting? > > I have high regard for your work and certainly hope that any action was taken after a full and balanced consideration of this issue. > > Thanks again. > > Nick Fish > > -----Original Message----- > From: Mat Millenbach [mailto:[email protected]] > Sent: Friday, April 05, 2013 10:49 AM > To: Hales, Mayor; Commissioner Fish; Commissioner Fritz; Novick, Steve; Commissioner Saltzman > Cc: claudia martin; Abbaté, Mike; SMILE Board > Subject: Washington Park parking meters > > Dear Mayor Hales, > > At our general neighborhood meeting on April 3, 2013, Claudia Martin of the Sylvan Heights Neighborhood Association did a presentation on the recent City Council decision to install parking meters at Washington Park and on the public process used to develop information for the Council to approve this action. > > A vote of the the SMILE members at attendance at the meeting was taken on a motion requesting repeal of the Council decision. Nine members voted in favor of the motion, one voted in opposition, and four abstained. > > I am uncertain at this time whether the SMILE Board is going to take action to send a formal board resolution to the City on this issue but, if we do, it will be done at a regular SMILE Board meeting and we will ask you for input from the City staff in addition to the information available from Dr. Martin. > > Sincerely yours, > > Mat Millenbach, President > Sellwood Moreland Improvement League 18 April 2013
Mayor Charlie Hales City of Portland 1221 SW 4th Avenue Room 340 Portland, OR 97204
Dear Mayor Hales,
I am writing to you as Transportation Chair of the Southwest Hills Residential League (SWHRL) with questions about the new policy to put parking meters in Washington Park, which forms much of the northern border of our neighborhood association.
How will this new policy affect our neighborhood? The Marquam Trail is a popular and direct connection between the heart of SWHRL and the Oregon Zoo. Will people begin parking in our area in order to avoid the meters? Will this policy be extended to Council Crest or other park that are within SWHRL?
Just last night, board members of SWHRL were told that the city asserts there was an intensive public involvement process during the formulation of this policy. Those of us who were at the meeting are not aware of any contacts with SWHRL. I cannot offer you any statement about SWHRL’s position on the new policy, because we have not been included in the process, even though we are next door to Washington Park.
SWHRL should be fully informed and involved before any such substantial changes are made to park policies.
Sincerely,
Andrew Holtz Transportation Chair Southwest Hills Residential League (SWHRL)
Home address: 4723 SW Humphrey Ct. Portland, OR 97221 503-292-1699 [email protected]
SWHRL PO Box 1033 Portland, OR 97207 [email protected] www.swhrl.org