By Jordan Lanz and Allen Field
The Richmond Neighborhood Association (www.richmondpdx.org) held its monthly meeting on May 12, 2014 at Waverly Heights Church at SE 33rd and Woodward St. Meetings are the 2nd Monday of the month in the basement (use the NE side door).
Annual RNA Board elections took place with the following board members being re-elected: Sean Barnett, Heather Flint Chatto and Chris Flint Chatto (shared board seat), Jonathan King, Doug Klotz, Cyd Manro, Judah Gold-Markel, Callie Jones, and Elizabeth Varga. Denise Hare and Megan Light were elected to the Board and will share a board seat.
Tara Goddard, of the Sewallcrest Dog Off-Leash Site Stewardship Group, presented a proposal to simplify the off-leash schedule at the park, primarily based on the closure of Edwards grade school several years ago and to simplify the schedule to make it easier for dog-owners to remember and comply with the hours.  The proposed schedule is: Spring/Summer (Mar 15 – Sept 15): weekdays: 6 am to 4 pm & 7 pm to midnight; weekends 6 am to 10 am & 7 pm to midnight; Fall/Winter (Sept 16 – Mar 14): all days: 6 am to midnight.
All of the sports leagues using the park, as well as other stakeholder groups, were invited to present on the issue but none attended. A statement by Ricky Aker, the Program Director for Laurelhurst Soccer, opposing the proposal was read to the audience. Bryan Tierney, Portland Parks and Recreation’s Dog Off-Leash Administrator, and Jeff Milkes, PP&R’s Southeast and East Services Manager, both supported simplifying the schedule. Tierney stated that having a simplified schedule would make it easier for PP&R Rangers with their enforcement of the OLA at Sewallcrest. An online survey was posted on the RNA’s website for almost a month. The vast majority of respondents, including a majority of non dog-owners, supported the proposal. The survey results can be viewed at our website.
The Board voted to support the proposal as well as to request PP&R to install more and better signage to display the hours and delineate the boundaries off-leash area.
The Board voted to support a donation request of $150 by the Sewallcrest Community Garden for work party food and garden supplies. Liz Potter, New Seasons, offered to donate $50 gift cards for garden work parties.
The Neighborhood Tree plan is finished and will be published this summer. The Division Design Committee will meet every fourth Thursday, 6:30 – 8:30 pm at SE Uplift, 3534 SE Main St. They are leading a Division walking tour on May 29. For more information: www.divisiondesigninitiative.wordpress.com.
The annual Richmond Cleanup, Rummage Sale and Plant Sale, held on May 17 at Central Christian Church, were very successful, with an increase in attendance over last year.
The next RNA meeting will be Monday, June 14, 7-9 pm. To be added to the monthly email list to receive agendas, email richmondna@yahoo.com.