News Archive — 2019 and earlier(?)

The Bridgeton Clean & Green Team have joined a city-wide community to put the pressure on individual businesses to clean up their act. Our draft letters to EcoLube and ORRCO are being shared with the other 58+ neighborhood organizations and NGOs. They will be presented later in Feb. or March. In the mean time, we are emailing comments to DEQ regarding Columbia Steel's air quality permit.

 
REQUEST: COLUMBIA STEEL CASTING - Please email your comments
Right now, we would like you to email a comment on the Proposed Air Quality Permit for Columbia Steel Casting. DEQ’s comment period ends next week, on Dec 18. 

Ironically, DEQ is currently testing their facility now, from Dec 8 - 18th but they can’t wait because their permit is based on a 5-year cycle. The new Cleaner Air Oregon regs. require testing for fine particulate matter and green house gasses (new categories). this will be the first full-fledged data collection, testing 18 separate sites within the Columbia Steel Casting Co. the data from these tests will be released mid-Feb. The links below go to DEQ NW Regional Air Quality Program for details on regulations.

Please take a few minutes to email your comment now:

WHAT: Send written comments by email
WHEN: Written comments are due by 5 p.m. on Friday December 18th, 2020
WHERE: Email to: NWRAQPermits@deq.state.or.us

Sample Email Text (feel free to edit and personalize):
Please postpone Columbia Steel’s Air Containment Discharge Renewal until the Cleaner Air Oregon Health Assessment is publicly released.  This would allow me to make an informed public comment. I understand that DEQ found that Columbia Steel is in the top three most dangerous industrial polluters to human health.
Sincerely, _______________ 
I am a (board) member of the Bridgeton Neighborhood Association

____________________________________________________

For More Information, see this Public Notice about Columbia Steel Castings’ proposed Air Quality Permit:
https://www.oregon.gov/deq/get-involved/documents/121820columbia.pdf

BNA letter on City of Portland Resolution for Multi-Bureau Work Group
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Letter emailed on November 23, 2019
From: Tom Hickey, BNA Board Chair
To: Mayor Wheeler, Commissioner Eudaly, Commissioner Fish, Commissioner Fritz, Commissioner Hardesty,
Attached please find our position statement regarding the proposed resolution, including suggestions for amendments to the plan. 
Thank you for your efforts on this project. 

​
November 23, 2019
Bridgeton Neighborhood Association Portland, Oregon
To: Mayor & City Council
Re: Agenda Item 1053 - Resolution for Multi-Bureau Work Group
The Bridgeton Neighborhood Association continues to support the recommendations of the November 2016 Auditor’s report “Community and Neighborhood Involvement.” To the extent that the OCCL 11/14/19 resolution moves us forward on the goals of that report, the BNA supports the resolution. We are, however, concerned on several key points.
  • ●  Meetings of the proposed workgroup must be public, and the meetings must be managed using best practices for community engagement.
  • ●  The workgroup should include representatives from the public: ideally, each District Coalition should have a representative at the table, and there should be representation from a diverse range of other community groups.
  • ●  We are not convinced that OCCL has the staffing capacity to manage the complexity of the project. By way of illustration, publication of the minutes from the previous Code 3.96 Committee meetings were posted on-line as much as 9 months after some meetings occurred.
  • ●  A draft phase for the Stakeholder Engagement Plan allowing for public comment should be incorporated into paragraph 16.
  • ●  The three year extension of the District Coalition contracts in paragraph 20 should be increased to five years. This extension will allow for an orderly transition from current code to the newly proposed code, which, according to the OCCL timeline, will be presented to Council at the same time.
    Thank you for your work on behalf of all Portlanders.
    Thomas J. Hickey
    2020 Chair, Bridgeton Neighborhood Association And the BNA Board of Directors
http://www.livebridgeton.com

Bridgeton Neighborhood Association Fall Meeting
**Meeting notes can be found here: Events **

Annual Fall Meeting 

October 15, 2019
Marriott Courtyard Portland North
1231 N. Anchor Way

The Bridgeton Neighborhood Association invites all neighbors to our Fall Annual meeting.on 10/15/19. Come early, 6:30 - 7:00pm for information tables from community groups and networking. The meeting starts at 7:00pm and runs until 8:30pm. 

We recognize our generous host, Marriott Courtyard Portland North for hosting this Fall meeting!

New This Year! Bring good winter coats or warm clothing and donate them to the Warm Winter Clothes Collection for Dignity Village, that will take place at the Annual Fall Meeting on 10/15/19. Donate warm clothes and support the kind of proactive, membership-based community, in NE Portland, providing shelter off the streets for 60 people a night since 2001.
https://dignityvillage.org
​ 

BNA position on 3.96 Code Change proposal

​The Office of Community & City Life (formerly ONI), has proposed a code change that eliminates NA designations within the city. The proposed code 3.96 change is being considered by a committee looking for more diversity in neighborhood associations and limit their input on land use or planning decisions. They believe immigrant and people of color are being left out of NA discussions. Code Change project updates: https://www.portlandoregon.gov/civic/77951  
 
The BNA submitted our recommendation for the City Council to not approve this code change. Letter to City Council is below.. 

Floating Opera​

Walt James has a barge and is talking about creating a community floating event space for us. Right now it’s called a “Floating Opera”. He doesn’t know exactly what it means, and would like to talk with everybody who is interested about their ideas and suggestions. He is seeking discussion at an informal meeting that will takes place next Tuesday, 10/08, 12:00 noon, at the Sextant. All interested friends and supporters are welcome to come and either hear more about it or share ideas if inspired!
Floating Opera conception meeting
10/08/19
12:00 PM
The Sextant, 4035 NE Marine Dr, Portland, OR 97211
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End of Summer Picnic​

Join neighbors from Bridgeton, East Columbia and Hayden Island for an "End of Summer" picnic on the point. Only accessible by boat, this area at the eastern most end of Hayden (Tomahawk) Island has a lovely beach with big views up the Columbia River and a very friendly swimming hole. Neighbors have promised to bring a small BBQ, paper plates and wood for a campfire. Everything else is up to you. Bring beach blankets, chairs, picnic foods to share (or not if you prefer), games or whatever you like to enjoy the last bit of summer!
.
**** Rain should taper off later in the day, aim for 3:00/4:00pm start
​
Sunday, September 29
3:00 pm - 6:00pm
BYO everything. 
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Bridgeton Neighborhood Annual Fall Meeting

2019 Bridgeton Annual Picnic
​Saturday, July 27th, 4pm-8pm
Roth Estates Park at the corner of NE 4th and NE Suttle (in the green way)

Come meet your neighbors, have dinner and enjoy live music!!!  The Bridgeton Neighborhood Association is sponsoring this annual picnic and will provide hot dogs, hamburgers and music by Memphis Shorty - fresh off the Portland Blues Festival's stage!  Please bring a side dish and/or a dessert to share, drinks, lawn chairs or blankets to sit on.  

PORTLAND IN THE STREETS July Newsletter

Keep up with what's going on in Portland with these articles and event dates.  Click on, or copy and paste, this link to your browser to read what's happening the rest of this month.
https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/ORPORTLAND/bulletins/2503780

BNA 2019 Street Sale
​Saturday, June 15, 9 AM - 3 PM

Sell your stuff from your stoop on Bridgeton Road.. Everyone is invited to sell items yourself - just like a good ole' fashioned garage sale - without the garage! Enjoy the day and trade up, maybe even make some cash.
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Bridgeton Neighborhood Annual Clean Up
Saturday, May 18, 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

BNA Annual Spring Clean Up in the news: https://mailchi.mp/aac4a3374e59/bna-spring-clean-up-remindersat-may-18

​2019 Portland Community Insights Survey

From: City Budget Office [mailto:CityBudgetOffice@portlandoregon.gov] 
Wednesday, May 08, 2019 9:07 AM
2019 Portland Community Insights Survey: https://www.research.net/r/PDXspeaks
 
Dear Portland Community Member: 
 
Over the past several months, the City of Portland has been working internally and with community leaders throughout Portland on a new citywide initiative called the Portland Community Insights Survey. We designed the survey to gather insights from all Portlanders to provide local government with data that reflects our diverse city.
 
Our hope is that this survey provides an opportunity for Portland community members to make their voices heard and contribute in meaningful ways to the City’s budgeting and policy-making processes. Insights from this survey will help us build a stronger and more inclusive Portland.
 
We want to make sure that you and your community are represented in this survey and in Portland’s government decision-making. We also would love to keep the conversation going and engage with you once the results of the survey are available.
 
Please share the survey link as widely as possible and encourage those in your networks and communities to make their voices heard: 
 
https://www.research.net/r/PDXspeaks
  
Ø  The survey will remain open through May 28th.
Ø  In addition to the online survey, we have a team of student and community leaders conducting in-person canvassing of the survey in underrepresented communities. If you see them in bright blue Community Data Fellows t-shirts – please stop for a chat!
Ø  The survey is available online in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese, and Russian.
Ø  The survey will take approximately 10-15 minutes to complete.
Ø  The survey is opt-in and available to anyone who lives, works, and/or plays in the city of Portland. 
 
If you have any additional questions, please contact the City Budget Office at CityBudgetOffice@portlandoregon.gov.
 
Thank you in advance for your support with this important initiative.

Bridgeton Triangle Restoration Project
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​The BNA Green Team committee, under the direction of Laura Miller and Sebastian’s Landscaping, a local Hispanic professional crew, is working on improving the design and restoring the habitat of the Bridgeton Triangle. We want to build a strong community-with a conservation program using the Triangle as a model. 
Starting with our annual Spring Clean Up in May, we are showing the benefits of planting sustainable plants, gardening methods and conservationism. We invite neighbors to participate in learning about the benefits of a sustainable habitat by working on the Triangle together throughout the year. 

Learn more at the Annual Spring Clean Up on May 18th
Volunteer Sign Up: Volunteers.BNA.PDX@gmail.com

North Portland Neighborhood Services Silver Anniversary

April 29, 2019. Celebrating Tom Griffin-Valade's public service with North Portland Neighborhood Services http://www.portlandoregon.gov/?c=41819&a=729576

BNA Board Statement on Cannabis Dispensary at 207 N. Bridgeton Rd.

Just as the neighborhood is divided over the pending sale of 207 N. Bridgeton Road to La Mota, a cannabis retailer, so is the Bridgeton Neighborhood Association Board of Directors. Some are in favor, some are neutral, and some are opposed. The Board has therefore agreed to refrain from taking an absolute stance on the topic.

There are, however, certain points that many of us agree on:

1. Many are disappointed, angry even, that current regulations allow no place for public comment or guidance over this issue. We support, encourage, and will be engaging in a campaign of objections to this state of affairs directed at the City Council and other elected officials.

While many believe that a cannabis retailer is far from the best use of this property, the board recognizes that La Mota has the legal right to purchase it, and, upon regulatory approval, operate a retail facility at the site.

All of our neighbors have the right to express themselves on this or any other other topic, including the board. The board actively encourages civil dialog on the topic, including helping to arrange conversations with regulators, elected officials and with the owners of La Mota. In addition, we have added a public comment form on Livebridgeton.com to collect appropriate feedback on this issue and will submit comments to the city council and related city departments.

We've added a public comment section on the site.

BNA respectfully offers this online public forum to comment on neighborhood issues. We want this to be a useful tool so please be respectful, clear and concise. All comments are reviewed before posting. We will not post overtly antagonistic or hate speech in any form. 

April 17th All Neighborhood Meeting Agenda Change
From the BNA board...


MARIJUANA DISPENSARY IN BRIDGETON


Nathaniel Werner is the Marijuana Code Compliance Officer for the Portland Office of Neighborhood Involvement. I spoke to him yesterday (Thursday) to confirm his attendance at our general meeting on April 17. He informed me that earlier this week, La Mota LLC resubmitted their application to establish a marijuana dispensary at 207 N. Bridgeton Rd. the site previously occupied by The Channel’s Edge. 


Mr. Werner has confirmed his attendance, and has offered to invite the owner of La Mota to join us to answer questions. 


The Meeting will take place at the Portland Yacht Club, 1241 NE Marine Dr. 
Doors open at 6:15, and the meeting will begin at 6:45. 


We have several other invited guests who are scheduled to present on the 40 Mile Loop Trail, MCDD Levee Ready Columbia, and Cleaner Air Oregon. These are significant topics for the neighborhood, and we look forward to hearing about their projects. 


The Board has expanded the time allotted to ONI and the dispensary conversation to 40 minutes, from 7:50 - 8:30 adjournment. Please recognize that this isn’t much time, and will probably leave many questions unaddressed. As we know from February’s experience, this is a hot-button topic, so discipline and social courtesy will be required. 


We look forward to a productive meeting next week.

​Karen Kane, Chair BNA Board of Directors

Beautification of Bridgeton
​The committee has arranged for our landscaper to remove leaves and weeds as well as spread new mulch at the triangle at N. Marine Drive and N. Gantenbien towards the end of December. In February, we'll be planting more native perennials and shrubs to add to the ones that were installed last year. If you are interested in becoming involved in the Beautification Committee, contact Karen Kane at​ kmkane123@gmail.com
Speed Cameras to be installed on Marine Drive in January 2018 to Reduce Accidents
The Bridgeton Neighborhood Association in concert with PBOT and our neighboring communities has worked to reduce average speed along Marine Drive and improve safety.  One of the steps to calm traffic is to install a Speed Camera to ticket drivers exceeding the speed limit.  This ever vigilant policeman will take a photograph of any vehicle exceeding the speed limit and issue citations to  owner of the vehicle.   A police officer is not required to be present to write the traffic citation and judges find the evidence to be compelling.

Fixed speed safety cameras planned along NE Marine Drive near NE 33rd Drive and NE 138th Avenue as part of Vision Zero will be installed this month (January 2018).  The safety camera near NE 33rd Drive will enforce the eastbound traffic along NE Marine Drive; whereas the safety camera near NE 138th Avenue will enforce the westbound traffic along NE Marine Drive.  A speed reader board, speed limit sign and TRAFFIC LAWS PHOTO ENFORCED sign are posted in advance of each fixed speed safety camera system. Once the cameras are activated, there is a 30-day warning period during which warning letters are mailed to those who receive a notice of speed violation. Thereafter, citations will be mailed.
Above illustration (2017 safety projects): The arrows point out the respective general locations of each camera system and speed reader board assembly.
 
Why is the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) doing this?  Speeding is a top contributing factor to deadly crashes across the Portland region.Traveling at excessive speeds has been consistently linked to higher crash risks. The faster people drive, the longer it takes them to recognize a dangerous situation and to bring their vehicle to a stop once they have hit the brakes. The Vision Zero action item for speed includes a speed safety cameras pilot. The pilot encompasses four high crash corridors in the first two years (and to expand the program after the pilot). The first three fixed speed safety cameras are currently operating along Southwest Beaverton-Hillsdale Highway, SE 122nd Avenue and SE Division Street.
 
To learn more about… The Bridgeton Neighborhood Association welcomes community involvement particularly when it involves public safety.  If you have any suggestions on how to improve traffic safety in our neighborhood or would like to get involved in other traffic related issues, please contact Erik Molander, Chair, Land Use Committee.  The next meeting of the Land Use Committee is scheduled for Monday February 5th at 6PM at the Marriott Courtyard 1231 N. Anchor Way Portland OR.  We welcome your input and involvement.  
BNA Green Team House Parties

Neighbors along Bridgeton Road and Anchor Way are asked to host house parties in order to share information about new curbside recycling, energy savings and waste reduction. Plus find out about the Neighborhood Emergency Team (NET) resources in our own neighborhood about what to do, and where to go, if (or when) an earthquake or any other emergency strikes.

No more searching online or reading countless emails only to find outdated answers. Attending a party at your neighbor’s homes will get you up to date in a relaxed setting. Get the skinny on new recycling programs in the City of Portland, Metro’s find a recycler, reuse and refined products plus lifestyle choices to eliminate having as much garbage in the first place. Property owners will learn ways to contain trashcans and increase safety in containment areas.

“Are you sick of looking at trash along our roads? Did you know there is a new curbside recycling, energy saving and a waste reduction program? Do you know what to do if we have a cellphone alert to announce a missile, an earthquake, a fire, a flood? Me either. The Bridgeton Road Green Team is organizing house parties (not that kind) to share information about all of the above. This will be a great time to learn some important and easy steps that we can take immediately to help our beautiful neighborhood,."
- Laura Miller, BNA Green Team member.

BNA House Party hosts are wanted throughout the Bridgeton Neighborhood, in houses, apartments, town homes or floating homes.

Contact Bridget Bayer to find out more about scheduling one in your home this Spring.


Congestion pricing on I-5 open house (Jan. 27)​
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The Oregon Department of Transportation invites public input on the use of congestion pricing to help improve travel times and reliability on Interstate 5 and Interstate 205 in the Portland metro area.

The public is invited to share their experiences with congestion and views on congestion pricing at three upcoming open houses. The one in Multnomah County will be at the Lloyd Center on Jan. 27.

Congestion pricing, also known as value pricing or variable rate tolling, refers to tolling options that are specifically designed to improve traffic flow. Congestion pricing systems charge higher prices for driving on a road when demand is greater, in the morning and evening rush hours, for example. Some drivers choose to travel on other routes, at different times of the day or on other modes of transportation.

The open houses will be informal, drop-in events with ODOT project team members stationed throughout the room to provide materials, discuss the options and answer questions.
A second phase of public input will take place in March, which will focus on specific concepts being considered for development of congestion pricing on I-5 and I-205.

Learn more.
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Congestion pricing open house
Saturday, Jan. 27, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Lloyd Center (Level 1 between Ross and the ice rink)
Volunteers Needed For Emergency Training

Portland is looking for neighborhood volunteers who can staff the local BEECN site during an emergency. Training for the program requires attendance at a 90 minute presentation, which the city hosts on a regular basis, or, we as a neighborhood can set a time and place and the city will bring the training to us. If you are interested in attending a training session in the neighborhood please fill out the form. Thanks.