The GPNA Meeting Minutes

Grant Park Neighborhood Association
General Meeting
Grant Park Church
Tuesday,December 7, 2010 6:30pm

In attendance:

Board Members in attendance:: Geoff Hyde; Liz Alexander; Mary Cal Hanson
Guests:: Tony Hill and Ryan Reagan (Portland police); Brad Perkins (ICA member to talk about High Speed Rail); Christine Hyde

Meeting is called to order at 7:05 pm, Board members make introductions and the agenda is approved.

Officers Ryan and Hill gave the group a quick overview of some of the recent criminal activity in NE Portland. There has been an increase in car prowlers/break in and home robberies. Several suspects have been apprehended and connected with some of these crimes.

Brad Perkins gave a wonderful and thoroughly complete presentation of the possible Cascade High Speed Railway (HSR) that he and others are proposing to various NA and community leaders. The line would run from Eugene, near the U of O campus all the way up to Vancouver, BC. The primary trouble spot is the area between Portland and Seattle, primarily Vancouver, Wa and the Columbia crossing project.

This project doesn't take into account or include the idea of HSR. Which could significanlt reduce traffic congestion and freight issues along I-5. It is an all electric train This project would entail public and private ownership. There would be stops in Eugene, Albany, Salem, Tualatin, Lake Oswego @ Boones Ferry, PDX (very centrally located), Vancouver, Wa., and beyond. The trailblazer corp is interested in this project. It would take less than 1 hour to get from PDX to Eugene and slightly less than 2 hours to get from PDX to Seattle. The train speed is on average 110 mph. PDX ro Vancouver, Wa., would be about 7 minutes.

Mr. Perkins would like the GPNA to vote to approve a letter requesting a feasibility study for HSR along the I-5 corridor. Unfortunately there weren't enough public members at the meeting to hold a vote. We will review it the next GPNA board meeting. For more info go to www.cascadehighspeedrail.org.

Treasury Report:
The starting balance was $5,452.97 minus $57.00 in withdrawals to GPBA for the newsletter printing. This leaves a balance of $5,095.97 as of 11/30/2010.

Old Business
NECN Training session: Geoff will send out info prior to January meeting. Also there have been no inquiries into the Treasurer position at this time.

New Business:
Email from Commissioner Fish's office (Emily Hicks). The email was discussed and it was concluded that the minutes were accurate re: the info in them. No response was needed at this time.

GP Bowl/fields Update: The friends of Grant Park Athletics have been busy trying to raise the required part of the funding needed to start the GP Bowl field improvements. So far they've raised around $300,000.00. The group will need to raise a total of $3 million. Although there is some concern that the City/PPR/PPS may give the group a large "loan" similar to the one give to a private soccer club in SE Portland to make field improvements at Buckman middle school. Although this property does not belong to PPS it is PPR property.

Meeting adjourned at 8:15
Minutes submitted by Mary Cal Hanson

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