Portland Parks Board — 2026-08-14
Supplied caption transcript; not independently audio-verified.
Names, figures and speaker changes may contain caption errors.
Bracketed M/J/A numbers identify passages in source order, not timestamps.
August material covers the regular meeting, not the later retreat.

[A0001] I'll go ahead and call roll.
[A0002] Um, Jacob
[A0003] present. Matt could not make it today. Adrienne is absent. Suen,
[A0004] yes.
[A0005] Patty
[A0006] here.
[A0007] Didn't see Bill come in. Allison
[A0008] present.
[A0009] Myra
[A0010] here.
[A0011] Sally here.
[A0012] Kitty is absent. Dominique. Andre, Ally,
[A0013] yes. Let's here.
[A0014] Are we recording?
[A0015] Yes.
[A0016] Okay.
[A0017] Just wanted to know we're next up is public comment. I don't see anyone in the lobby or in the waiting area for public comment. So I think we can move forward. We'll check later in the meeting.
[A0018] Before that, let's just quickly um so we've adjusted the agenda to include time for us to discuss any public comments internally. Uh this is something that's been raised at a couple of our past meetings. It's something that came up on the feedback survey that um went out. We'll be talking more about the feedback survey later. I just want to impress upon everybody before it ever becomes an issue because we have no public comments today. This isn't um would not be appropriate for this to be Q&A with the person giving the public comment. Um we do not want to have a back and forth with them, especially if their comment is contentious or maybe not well suited to this venue. Um instead, it's an opportunity for us to discuss the public comment internally and then to ask questions of park staff about what followup or follow we love comment looks like. So there's time added to the agenda for public comment discussion both at the front and at the end of the meeting. Um we have been pretty light on public comment in the past. So the hope is that at least for the time being this is going to condense or limit other parts of the agenda. But going forward we might need to tweak this a bit because it's going to be um I think one of the goals for this board in the coming year and for CWG in particular to solicit more public comments which is something that also came up in the feedback survey. a question. [clears throat]
[A0019] Uh in the past we have clarifying questions
[A0020] to the um public figure. Um is said that something we can continue to do just beyond that is
[A0021] yeah I think I think clarifying questions to make sure we understand their intent are one thing and an involved back and forth or god forbid an argument is what we're trying to avoid. Yeah. And in the event of like um in the event of uh like if there's a lot of public comment and then it takes up too much time, you know, the discretion of the chair, um sometimes if it's a really full queue, some people don't get to speak
[A0022] and that's just the nature of how the agenda goes. Um these types of meetings. It's
[A0023] a question here. Question. Um, so just to clarify, so there's a public comment, are we going to make sure they understand that what the action item is and when we're going to follow up?
[A0024] You're asking if the if the person giving the public comment will like be told explicitly by us like what action items are coming out of it and what follow-up is going to look like.
[A0025] No. Is it one week? Is it two weeks? Is it a month? So that they feel like
[A0026] so that they feel like they were heard heard. Yes.
[A0027] I think that's something we'll have to address on a case- by case basis with staff depending on what the public comment is. I think, you know, a public comment about like, I'm looking for information about off leash dogs and what enforcement looks like is probably easy to follow up, but a public comment of, you know, I don't want an aquatic center built in my neighborhood is going to require maybe a little bit of a different touch,
[A0028] right?
[A0029] Something that we're going to try to um be on top of is also just tracking public comments and what is being said. And if there is followup, we can we can use the time during the public comment discussion in the next meeting to say, "Hey, at the last public comment, this person gave this snack at this." And that way we can close that loop.
[A0030] Do we post public comments?
[A0031] Uh, yes. In the board minutes, I usually
[A0032] But I mean for the public to see other people's public comments.
[A0033] Um, if it's in the minutes, then yes, as the board minutes are
[A0034] I guess I'm trying to make it easier for people the public to find it, I guess.
[A0035] Yeah. Yeah. Okay. But it wouldn't like the minutes are a summar a summarization of their comment versus like their actual comments. So are you asking like if they're like could they submit like a written comment kind of I don't know explaining it to like the reading room for forest service projects where you can go and actually read each person's submission versus a summarization of what we
[A0036] I just feel like when it's buried in meeting minutes it's harder for the public to get to it. I mean I know you can say oh it's in the meeting minutes. I think if they have something written, I'm happy to attach like a full quote.
[A0037] Um, but sometimes some people come in, they just
[A0038] maybe that's something we'd consider the copy
[A0039] once we if we hopefully we start to get to understand what that should look like.
[A0040] Okay, moving on to general announcements.
[A0041] That mean now or did you want me to take that later? I was just looking.
[A0042] No, I think I think now is a good time for that. But let me just say first something that I'd like to we've been pretty loose with Robert's rules of order and I in the in the year that I've been here and I I actually think that that's like perfectly okay and a good thing. I think that using Robert's rules of order can make meetings less accessible for people because it can become hard to know like well my motion to the motion for for resending is this. Um, but I when we're when we're spitting up ad hocs, if we're inviting on exeicio members, like when we do the initial things, I would like to be a little bit more of a stickler about that just to make sure that we've got a clear record um for what we're doing and why. And with that in mind, kicking it to Alli.
[A0043] Okay, [laughter] I will be making a motion. Um, so I don't know if folks have heard, but there has been movement on the Harbertton PGE reliability project. Um we had a before actually many of you here we had an ad hoc committee um who worked on that uh and I would like to restart it so we can gather information from both the city and uh the community organizations who were involved in the mediation process so that we can see what direction we want to go. Um I don't uh I think once the committee is convened we can get in more on the detailed and hopefully invite some of those folks to be able to come and speak. Um but I am making a motion to reconvene the ad hoc committee to still be an ad hoc committee just on this singular issue since it is a pretty complex issue that would affect uh a four or five acre swath of um if folks aren't familiar with it. PG wants to develop uh power lines in a section of Forest Park that would take about five acres um and cut down about 300 something trees. Some seasonal wetlands would be impacted and it would be very disruptive to the habitat which was what we talked about last time.
[A0044] That's phase one.
[A0045] Yep.
[A0046] Um the city as well as some community organizations went into mediation about it. There have been developments there. um and so wanting to look into that further so we can see what we want our board position to be and the ad hoc committee can make a recommendation and write a letter for the board to um report. So that is uh and I can send some follow-up information if folks are interested on the PT reliability project. Um but uh it's if you're on 30 going up towards Savvi it's a section of land on the left you have to bushwhack into it. It's not trailed. It's not anything, but it is important for um red-legged frogs, which are a sensitive species here and need to cross the road actually to breed on the wetlands across the way.
[A0047] Yeah, I second the motion.
[A0048] So, I'm going to say the motion was that you move to reconvene the ad hoc PGA.
[A0049] Yes.
[A0050] With the intent of writing a letter on behalf of board.
[A0051] Yes.
[A0052] Investigating the issue and writing a letter on behalf. Yeah, I guess that was my So, the goal would be to create a fourth position on this.
[A0053] Yes.
[A0054] All right, we have seconds. All voting in favor, please raise your hand.
[A0055] Actually, hold on.
[A0056] Question. Um, just because I'm not with how we do adox. How are you thinking about who you're interacting with and choosing to discuss? And is that something that we would be like would you be updating with us on the board or like how do how do we choose who to interact with because this can be pretty controversial and once update on how we do it. So uh anyone from the board can join. We had I would I guess I would give first priority to the people who had been on the ad hoc committee last time since they have that background and then if we have additional spaces open it back up. But yes the goal is to hear from the city to hear community organizations. Um it was one of the in terms of the public weighing in, uh it was one of the most commented on issues in the history, uh if not the most comment on issue. Over a thousand people sent in their comments on this on PGE's proposal. Uh so it was very controversial. The city council just historically voted it down unanimously. Um and then they went into mediation to continue uh the process with the city. Um, so but yes, can we get like the board's previous work on this just to understand where we landed?
[A0057] We can send them for helpful. [clears throat]
[A0058] Absolutely.
[A0059] Did it go to Loopa or does it look like it's on its way a little bit?
[A0060] Yeah, the next part will be so the city
[A0061] I don't want to get too into the weeds because it is say this is not a uh are we voting to put on the ad hoc committee? Let me let me take the votes first.
[A0062] Indiana ad hoc committee.
[A0063] So debate happens before before any vote. A motion can be debated. A motion can be amended. You can also debate the amendment. Like I said, this can make the this can make everything a bit less accessible. Um number of people who can be on an ad hoc is our quorum minus one. So as long as we don't hit a quorum, we're we're okay. And by say that the chair, the board chair can appoint members to an ad hoc or the board can appoint members to an ad hoc. So since we're doing this by emotion and I'm not just saying by fiat we're doing an ad hoc, it's up to all of us to decide who goes who goes on to it. And that's that's part and parcel of the motion.
[A0064] And who was on it before? I just remind your hand if you were on it. Matt was on it. I was on it. Suen, you were on it.
[A0065] You were already on on the letter.
[A0066] Yeah. No, but that was the adhoc committee.
[A0067] Oh,
[A0068] Patty, were you?
[A0069] I don't think so.
[A0070] And then we had Okay. So, three folks, me, Matt, and Suen. Suen, would you like to continue?
[A0071] Sure.
[A0072] Okay. Um, I'll see if Matt would like to continue. Are there any folks here who would then like to also Sally? I would hop on there.
[A0073] Okay. Sally and Tom got it.
[A0074] Anybody else?
[A0075] We could take six.
[A0076] Good. You're good.
[A0077] All right. I'll right. I would join it as well. Um I'll probably be hit and miss for actual attendance, but um think that would be good. And then Michelle, I'm taking an action item down for us to summarize and send out to everybody. um the previous ad hoc work and previous interaction on
[A0078] I can pull up the letter right now just having contact there
[A0079] I can also pull up older briefing memos and presentations that we did when we presented what I think they passed
[A0080] is there a printed version of the updated agenda One more time.
[A0081] Six. Six. Excellent. I love having full staff groups. Okay. Any more de? Any more debate? Any more questions?
[A0082] Okay. All in favor?
[A0083] Anyone opposed?
[A0084] I don't vote. [laughter]
[A0085] Any anyone opposed? Anyone else?
[A0086] All right, passes unanimously.
[A0087] Give me that gavvel back.
[A0088] That's okay. Your role is to crush your arms.
[A0089] Would you like a go, Jacob?
[A0090] I'm okay. Thank you.
[A0091] Okay. Um, and there's going to be some more motions later on in this meeting because um, we want to bring some ex official members on or at least start a conversation about bringing some more ex official members on. Hope I'm pronouncing that correctly. Um, but I think for right now that's it and we can move on to approval of the minutes from June. Uh, the standard reminder that if you were not present in June, please do not uh please abstain on your vote with us. We get a motion from not the chair to approve the minutes.
[A0092] Approve. We have a second. Thank you. All right. All in favor? All opposed? Any abstensions?
[A0093] I think I was on it, but I can't remember.
[A0094] You were there.
[A0095] Okay.
[A0096] I haven't um approved unanimously. Chair not voting.
[A0097] Perfect.
[A0098] Noted.
[A0099] All right. We are 20 minutes ahead of schedule and I think based on the agenda we put together for today, that might be a theme for the day. um our portions of discussion later during the retreat about um report to council and our work plan for the year and prioritization. That's where we might go over, but that also might prove to be a pretty short discussion. We're going to find out. Um so for right now with 20 minutes of extra time for you, we get to the director's report.
[A0100] Hello, welcome.
[A0101] Thank you. Um actually, I just sent Michelle you the link. For whatever reason, it wasn't wanting me to pull it up on screen. Um so I'm Art Pierce. um interim uh director for parks of week five in this role. So really just getting my feet under me in terms of understanding all the needs of parks. Um but my background I've been with the city for 28 years starting in 1998. Um so have been around city systems understanding how to sort of curate energy and direction both politically and with community um for many many years. Portland in North Portland on the Interstate Max line was one of the first projects I worked on. Spent many years focused on South Waterfront developing out the actually in partnership with parks the parks streets and the built the aerial tram. um and then was working on additional light rail lines, the orange line to Milwaukee and other projects and then I became a planning manager for the transportation department about 14 years ago and then we grew that to combine the long range transportation planning all of the capital project delivery as well as all the people facing programs um bike share and say to school and all those things um and really framing that as the change management office for the Bureau of Transportation. So what is our long-range vision? What are the physical interventions that we do to help change and shape the city? And then what are the sort of culture um forming activities that we can curate to help people sort of um take advantage of how the city is is changing and and successfully navigate the city. Um so um big change to focus all that kind of background onto parks. So I'm really in this learning phase I guess I would say at this point um and relying a lot on the um the executive team at works to kind of get up to speed on what are the major dynamics and issues that we need to be putting energy on. Um but really excited to be to be given this opportunity to to jump in and um sort of shift my attention within um place that I've really cared about for so many years. Um, from a personal perspective, uh, parks are very formative and have been very formative to my, um, time in Portland. Um, I actually live very close to Grant Park. So, um, this morning walking my dog around Grant Park. It's always beautiful spot to be. Um, and but I've spent many years playing ultimate frisbee in uh, in in our parks and then coached ultimate frisbee for 10 years as my son went from elementary school to high school. So spent just a lot of time both on the wreck side and the nature side. Spent a lot of time in Forest Park trail running things as well. Um and my son is uh actually a longer term parks employee than I. He's in his fourth year as a lifeguard at uh great. So have a lot of lot of sort of uh interesting new connections. Um uh also I'm a um musician. So some seeing some new connections in with some of the activities around uh drugs. I play the drums, mandolin, and sing in the band. So, lots of fun little mixers. Um, so that's maybe the first topic up there in terms of introduction in background city. Any questions on that? Maybe also one one jump at a time. Um, so we thought it might be interesting to see if I can frame up sort of some initial perspectives and I was trying to think of the way to sort of frame it with the title. So um I think my observation of this first month could be titled sort of this discovery of the hidden work of hospitality. Um I've always framed my work and I've understood the work of working in public service as being in the hospitality industry. You're framing up a city to be hospitable to the people living there or the businesses that want to work there. And so from a transportation frame that's around ease of mobility for people for goods. Um but even so much more directly for parks and recreation. The way we're curating natural spaces, the way we're we're um the day-to-day care of the developed parks um and the sort of day-to-day care and opening and management of community centers and um recreation facilities is the act of hospitality. Um, and you forget how much work goes into it when you're just, you know, when someone has a a great dinner party, you're like, "Oh, that was so easy for them. They just you don't realize all the work that went into that hospitality." Um, and if they're doing that job well, that all that work is invisible because you're not you're not wondering why there are lights strung up. The lights were already strung up so when it got dark, you could all see each other. Those kind of things. And that is I guess what I'm observing is the um sort of under um highlighted work of so many staff within the parks and recreation department. They are doing this invisible work that makes all these things happen um seamlessly and fluidly. So you don't notice them because there you didn't run into a conflict because someone had already attended to the network. Um, so really impressed by um, everything I've been exposed to so far and really excited to figure out how to kind of lift up that um, work more visibly and make sure that community and council um, and others understand just how much work goes into curating spaces and curating sort of successful experiences for community. Um, so that's um, yeah, that's it's a good place to stop. any.
[A0102] Yeah. Go ahead. [clears throat]
[A0103] So, you say you're interrupt.
[A0104] Yeah. Jumps right into the next topic.
[A0105] Um, so this is I was asked to jump into a six-month role in this uh while um the city administrator goes through a recruitment for a broader longer term position. Um they I understand they're working with a recruiting firm to ramp up a more formal process. Um and um we expect it to commence in the next couple months, but I haven't heard a more detailed update exact timing. Um and I'll have the opportunity to apply um to um maybe try to stay longer. Um but if I'm not the right fit, we're sort of in a I guess a dating phase with like is parks good for me? Am I good for parks? Um and if not I I have a ability to go back to Peabot and continue to do the work that I was doing there as well. So
[A0106] do do you see uh any role of the parks board involved with um review or selection of interview?
[A0107] I would expect so I haven't had a conversation with the city administrator or deputy city administrator about it but I would certainly think that would be the commission. There would be a role for some of the particularly the formalized partners. So you could be one of those entities that would probably have a more formal role or maybe there be more informal socialization with the broader set of friends groups and but I yeah we'll certainly remember to highlight that as as um they're working on that sort of overall process.
[A0108] We can make that asked in the PC.
[A0109] Yeah.
[A0110] Has that happened in the past?
[A0111] I mean and Dina probably would have been
[A0112] before my time so I don't remember. I want to say there was something or at least some sort of introduction. I know the parks foundation was part of like the interview panel and I would assume the parks board would have to
[A0113] Okay, just
[A0114] there's no one here who was here before.
[A0115] I know that's what I was trying to think.
[A0116] Yeah,
[A0117] Ellie, I think you're Oh, yeah. [laughter] Des were senior. your seats. [clears throat]
[A0118] Before I go on, any other sort of questions or thoughts or or honestly suggestions as I'm sort of getting to know parks and getting to know our work with you? if you have suggestions on where I should show up and who I should be and I'm really open to
[A0119] I mean my question is kind of going kind of blending introduction and perspective but you talked a lot about change management sort of like what you're thinking about and working on right now but I'm curious like what would be your vision for parks and rep I mean the next place two to five years if you had have like a you know what would be your major goal for the
[A0120] one of the very key elements is around sustainable funding of It's very hard for a public agency to have um kind of a positive embracing posture to it when it is so underresourced. But I think that really is a is a very important first step is continuing to really stay focused on um the ability for the bureau to have the right resources to um continue with the day-to-day work make um start making headway against uh divert maintenance of those activities and then with the right resourcing in the right environments being able to embrace partnership with outside groups. You know, part of what I think has happened as a dynamic that honestly happened over at Peabot as well is with reduced resources, the the body starts to sort of retreat right into a set of core activities and it's just very hard to engage with um external parties when you're you're sort of so um in preservation mode as a sort of survival mode as a as an entity. And so with additional resourcing, I think that there's a lot of possibility for um deeper partnership and engagement with all the people that love natural spaces and the develop parks in Portland and want to have ways to contribute both their time and their resources towards that. Um so that feels like sort of in a series of steps we can focus on the the um composure and posture of the bureau and then how it's being sort of buffered to Portland or um or
[A0121] Yeah. Y and a lot of that also reason why I'm really thinking about the hidden work of hospitality is that there's also I think a a feeling from those that are doing that hidden work that they are underrecognized and underresourced and undervalued. And so there's a series of moves of helping them um understand their value and and highlight their value so that the they're not feeling um sort of extracted from as we try to do more but they're feeling adequately prepared to do that.
[A0122] Go ahead. Go ahead. Mhm. [clears throat]
[A0123] You assume you won't be engaging at a board retreat after lunch?
[A0124] No.
[A0125] Okay. Um and this is probably the opportunity for us to maybe um share something that um it for a longterm relationship whether it's six months, six years, 60 years, who knows? So um it it seems like we uh we have a body of very smart brains here um big hearts and we have always been identified as an advisory board to whom and how that's something that we will be um kind of discussing in afternoon but that kind of discussion sometimes will be um important to be able to land on someone like if you can hear us.
[A0126] Yeah.
[A0127] You will be able to amplify that to the council, the mayor. Um and and perhaps our role is also we're not just advocating for the community but as well as for staff. And I think there's a lot of times at least my perspective is that we have a lot of goals and wishes and visions but then somehow decision is coming down top down that's already decided
[A0128] right
[A0129] it's too late um and or that's too early don't worry about it so okay um who are we representing um and I think um our time and collective talent will be best uh applied when we know the purpose and the approach and venue and who is benefiting that hopefully be the staff as well as um community. Um you have a we we have a very very good pool of staff members very loyal and when people are cut away we can't even find out why um and that sometimes it hurts the sense of trust and um effort. We feel very deflated after a while.
[A0130] Um that's actually a very common dynamic amongst city agencies and advisory committees. So, PEOT has a whole number of advisory bodies as well and there's a similar um dynamic of how best to create the whole together. Um, so no, I think it's really good commentary worth some deeper. I actually don't I haven't read your charter. So if you that's like probably some background homework I should do is like what what how are you defined you know in in writing because that also helps to frame up I I think you're advisory to me but I don't actually know
[A0131] and city council says the same as some of our other bylaws had said advisory to the parks commissioner which is no longer
[A0132] oh that's interesting
[A0133] um and so there's um some need for clarity and this also goes with the advisory enhancement or advisory bodies enhancement project as it goes on, right? We'll be asking for clarity.
[A0134] So, there may be clarity coming coming down as well. But I do think um I'll I'll spend some time with Michelle getting a little bit smarter on what the how the charter is framed just to make sure I understand it and I'm not sort of mis framing this. Um but uh I guess yeah, one one thing I didn't say in the introduction um uh the the city and city agencies um need help always. And I think when we forget that we sort of lose the the the importance of the whole system of of how we are supposed to be in service but not alone in this endeavor. I think this this group and other groups particularly for parks there's so many um groups formed around supporting um but perhaps without clarity of exactly what your role and function are. Feels like there's a lot of work there for sure.
[A0135] Yeah. Great. So, building off that, um, couple of weeks ago, there was, uh, an issue that hit the news about a water slide, um, that was disallowed at a park in Portland. I reached out by email and we had a conversation about that. There was excellent turnaround time in the parks department on that. Um, is that workflow appropriate and desirable going forward where if there's hot issues or just things that we want to communicate quickly, um, we can run information from the board through the chair directly to you. Sounds great.
[A0136] Okay,
[A0137] please CC me. [laughter]
[A0138] Thank you, Michelle.
[A0139] Let me make a note of that.
[A0140] Yes, like that. Sounds great.
[A0141] Always CCH. Um
[A0142] I am technically the leazison.
[A0143] Um more generally though, how do you want information from the board coming to you if it's not um on if it's not on hot issues? Do you want do you want us to run information through your staff? Do you want us coming to you directly? Um like okay I I think there's kind of like a who where who what where when how and why
[A0144] I think
[A0145] continue to focus Michelle as sort of the switchboard of engagement is sometimes I'll be the best person to engage but other times I may not be and so you'd be sort of linking you directly with the um executive team member on ARCs team that might be the most knowledgeable to go deeper with you.
[A0146] Very good. Thank you. Yeah. Um, all right. Maybe should I keep going? Yeah. All right, I'll keep going. So, um, I dropped some quick hot topics that popped to mind, but there's it's been such a crazy month. I'm sure I've missed things. Um, right as I was coming on, Dell Park opened. I hope you had were either there for the opening or have got to visit it in the last month. such a great contribution to downtown recovery and revitalization is such a good example of partnership with um private parties and the downtown clean and safe in the programming and curation of that space. So really excited to see that happening. Um also thought it was interesting the farest park shuttle launching. Um it's just interesting um example of innovation and a you know sort of cross partnership with sort of understanding the importance of mobility solutions alongside the curation of space. Um, so I think that's I actually have not dug deep into that yet, but I think that's really interesting and notable that the parks department is working to create those access solutions are really important. Um, maybe more of an FYI than anything else, but the um, park rangers have relocated their office from St. John's down to the first and Davis uh, parking garage office environment to be the transit police long ago. Um but so they're able to be more proximate to downtown park location really well and they're also more centrally located in terms of their dispersement to east and west. Um we are uh really at the final final moment of negotiations with the US tennis center. Um and so we expect actually maybe even this afternoon to get the city administrators approval for that. So that's pretty exciting in terms of a lot of work went in really previous director in finalizing that process. Um I did also include the Brooklyn Park slide. It was uh maybe my first crisis. Um so [laughter] um and so it's just an interesting moment to realize um honestly about how misunderstandings happen and people derive intention into those misunderstandings. um both sort of both community and uh city staff and how we have to sort of sometimes give those moments just a little bit of grace and not take it any of that too personally. Um I really like water slides for the record. Um yeah, myself personally, you know, so like in terms of not that we're going to start a water slide initiative or anything, but um but I think it's um I think we have a good solution in terms of of sort of restarting the partnership with the um Brooklyn Park friends group um and with better clarity on terms of that it wasn't documented in the permit I guess was one of the lessons um and also their understanding of the potential uh to the sports field turf. that that's something we need their help to attend to to make sure that it doesn't lead to a sports injury or some other sort of unintended consequence. Like that's where those dots weren't fully connected, I think, in terms of what could happen if you um you know created too much damage in a big puddle at the bottom for other parts.
[A0147] Can you share a bit more about that? I I missed the news of 10.
[A0148] So um uh um the since 1972 or three um there has been a tradition of a water slide at Brooklyn Park. Um
[A0149] like a slip and slide.
[A0150] Slip and slide. You still slip and slide. Yeah, slip and slide. Thank you.
[A0151] Um uh that used to be done in partnership with the parks department. Um 2017 I think roughly. um parks department shifted its energy elsewhere, but the neighborhood um groups still kept this tradition going only when it's over 90 degrees. Um and even um a solution ran a hose from a neighbor to bring the water in because that was one of the other. So very much communityrun and was done to some level in partnership with the staff that that run that um particular park. I think even the storage of the water slide itself was in maybe a park's shed. Um the um the about just a couple weeks ago couple weeks ago um a houseless person was maybe sleeping on the slide that had been left out and started a fire on it that damaged the slide. And so another city agency, Pumo, came and removed the slide. So when community members were trying to figure out what happened and how to get it back, they ended up asking the sort of parks permit um staff about the water slide and they said, "Well, we don't permit water slides," which became
[A0152] right,
[A0153] you can't have like there's a new policy frame, which is not actually true, you know. So it sort of escalated into a whole bunch of attribution of a tent intent
[A0154] that really wasn't there. So it just took a little while to sort of unravel the various misunderstandings. But it sounds like a lot of fun.
[A0155] I know. I know. I'm uh still scheming to get out there at some point. So,
[A0156] do they get a sideback?
[A0157] I actually don't know what's the current.
[A0158] And is it Did they get a green light to bring it?
[A0159] Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. We're We're good to go. I'm not sure actually the rest of the details. [laughter]
[A0160] So, it's no longer a gorilla water slide. It's a legit
[A0161] I think. Well, um it's still not in their permit. What we asked them to do is in next year's permit highlight that that's one of the activities and that'll allow us to make sure that the best practices are documented in the permit. So just bringing it a little bit more um clearly into the process.
[A0162] I love this one was running a hose from the go.
[A0163] Cool. I live over there for a while years ago. Um we already had some discussion around PGT and Harbertton Harbertton. So I think that just highlighting that that is um sort of continued process. PGE my understanding is PGE has resubmitted their application with after additional consultation and guidance from the city administrator. Um and it's being it's in review for completeness right now is where I understand it is. Um I actually don't know more drawing yet. Can you share more about sort of where we're at with the USA negotiations like
[A0164] kind of the terms and then as city council
[A0165] I can't I struggle tracking it like city council has approved it and so now you're in final negotiation.
[A0166] This is um just going to be approved by the city administrator so it will not be a council action. Um so um we expect to assuming all the final pieces come together I'll be able to announce that transitioning uh management to USA um that u that announcement probably will come out in the next maybe days honestly. Um we're looking at the end of the month as when we'll make that sort of handoff. Then there's a um a series of series of months of of new repairs and upgrades that they'll be investing in. Um
[A0167] so they're taking on like the deferred
[A0168] they're taking on a whole bunch of deferred maintenance, making a bunch of investment, replacing the roof, those kind of
[A0169] Yeah.
[A0170] Anything else I missed? Yeah.
[A0171] Um it's uh so there's two agreements. There's a lease agreement for the USA facility that would be 25 years but with an optional fiveyear automatic renewal. So effectively 30 years if they so choose. There's also a companion agreement for outdoor fords at six sites. That's just some summertime hours and that's effectively a continuation of an outdoor partnership agreement we've already had for the last 10 years. Um so that allows them uh effectively to run some summer camps in the summer time at six uh parks and yes they will be making some initial 2.3 they million is what they think um capital maintenance repairs to the facility replacing the bubble the roof are the big ones um and they will pay for the ongoing operations of the facility so that will be some kind of ongoing budgetary savings from the bureau side um the personnel that work there are going to be affected. Um, USA [clears throat] will be offering first round interviews to all personnel. Um, and we have sort of a letter with Lyona. The laboring union represents some of those positions around kind of um how to ensure that staff are on kind of recall list that staff can be supported with benefits etc. as a result of this.
[A0172] And then the access pass still the same program?
[A0173] Nope. So, it'll it'll be entirely operated by USDA. It's not going to be like a PPNR program. They are doing all programming. Um, they do have their own scholarship program and they're very committed to offering kind of combinations of access to scholarships. They also do run a variety of just free programs and free times as well. Um, they have a lot of partnerships that they work with very interested in offering free reduced cost access for example schools using the facility. Um so they it will be their own program. They won't be it won't be you go on a parks reservation site.
[A0174] So what's the relationship of them and parks and is there any soal oversight from parks um program?
[A0175] Not on the program.
[A0176] Nope. Not on the programming side. They will be submitting annual reports. We've asked them to talk about who's using the facility, even the demographics of users that they're seeing. So, we'll be reviewing those and we'll have a chance to enter into conversations with them annually if we're not seeing kind of um that they're meeting the intent mutual intent of the agreement. Um but we are not doing kind of o oversight beyond that of their program. It usually is them taking on itself.
[A0177] So, Quarks has no leverage then other than just have confisations. We can enter into non-binding mediation if we need to if it rises to that level but beyond that though
[A0178] is this similar to like ECU and Buckman field does PCU take on the like maintenance the ongoing maintenance of Buckman too
[A0179] I don't personally know enough about that one to know how
[A0180] and then my last question so does this is this cost reduction on like the deferred maintenance but more more so on the operations is that reflected in the budget this year It it was okay.
[A0181] So with the construction or the maintenance for the bubble, are we expecting a closure for PTC happening this fall? Yes.
[A0182] In focus.
[A0183] Anticipated September 1st through December 1st.
[A0184] December 1st. Okay. And second question for programming. Do you expect it to or have you seen what programming will look like? Will it mirror something like the Vancouver Tennis Center? Yeah, I I have not seen their final plan, but I think that that's their intent.
[A0185] I know a comment I've had with other tennis players is that the pricing for everything will now go up like much higher.
[A0186] Yeah.
[A0187] Yeah. It is a different price.
[A0188] Yeah.
[A0189] More expensive. Okay.
[A0190] So, it's a 25-y year lease, possibly 30. Is there any sort of escape hatch before that 25 years if things really look like they're going sideways? Yeah, there is kind of a if they're in violation of terms of lease. Yeah.
[A0191] So, I know one of the concerns that's always been voiced here is about um equity and access if access pass isn't being honored anymore, but there is um like some sort of scheme around I think you called it like scholarship programs um and and like some sort of subsidy for um yeah, free and reduced cost access programs. Is there going to be tracking um for how many people are accessing the facility with these scholarship programs or free and reduced cost um schemes and comparing that to how many people were accessing the facility using access pass or something similar before?
[A0192] Yeah. So that will be part of what they submit in their annual report of kind of who they're serving, how they're serving them. Um we will still be planning on doing you know we do need these community insight surveys um of the community typically every five years or so and we ask questions more globally around who's experiencing cost as a barrier. So we'll have a chance to still ask that and on our end see kind of what the community experience around cost as a barrier to program access is and if we're seeing changes in that as well. And do we have a hard number for how much people um in the last year or last five years have um used the center access pass?
[A0193] Yes. Um last year
[A0194] yes
[A0195] was just a little over a thousand.
[A0196] Okay. So so we will be able to get an apples to apples comparison if yes um people that use the access pass uh can step in as we all know with the access pass. It can be at different levels of of access. So sometimes it's a you know uh it can be a 25 50 75 or 90% off of the rate. We don't offer any free classes at Portland tennis center currently um in there and so the access pass stays applied based on where people opt in to the access to scout program. So there's got overall totals, but we do have those broken down as well. But then uh we'll be looking at those with annual reports and looking to see what kind of free programming they're offering, what kind of uh their price structure is of the I guess their scholarship program. Very good. So advisory value advice. Um, I think making that apples to apples comparison very transparent is a way of building trust, especially if for a future where the parks department perhaps tries to offload other assets that make more sense off our off our balance sheet and trying to obscure an applesto apples comparison by saying like, oh well, thousand people used it at different levels before and now there's this like tiered scholarship program, but not making it totally clear like just what the actual impact on equity is I think would be disadvantageous and inversely I think making it making it a clear comparison so you can say either honestly you know there were some equity impacts but that was going to happen and it's it's were worth it on balance or there were no equity impacts like we were we were able to maintain you know the status quo xante um either way I think it' be very advantageous to make make that front and center in the in the annual report about this Okay.
[A0197] Um yeah, before going to the other ones, just on the left hand column, I threw in some um elements around council engagement. So what we um so before my time the urban forestry um commission appointments occurred May. Um I'm sort of brought in just through the US tenant center conversations in June along alongside director Shansky. um in sort of these upcoming ones are now me um uh one of the things that I've been doing um is doing one-on-one council priority conversations um just to better understand kind of their perspective on the proxy system where there might be priorities where there might be constituent concerns they're hearing and it's just helpful to sort of round out my understanding of each of their perspectives on the park system um and I think hopefully we find some through lines of where there's um numerous council members who have particular things they want to work on that could become essentially like a legislative agenda working with the the council offices.
[A0198] Are you able to share some like and I don't know high level takeaways from those conversations? So that's something that we're trying to better understand council and our relationship and their interests and stuff you're able to for
[A0199] sure that would be great. this point we we've done three or four of them.
[A0200] So still sort of not a through line yet but a um generally a lot of um a lot of desire for more um guess I would say um both in terms of more facilities and more services and um even more free services. So um what's always interesting about that is that that ambition needs to come back then to council and that there's then decisions they would need to make to enable that. So that's partially why I wanted to do this is just like let us know what you're hoping for and then we can figure out how to turn those into informed decisions that they may be able to make with us.
[A0201] Yeah. You're able to share some of that. See where we can plug in as well.
[A0202] For sure. Yeah. Okay. That makes sense.
[A0203] They can buck it in.
[A0204] Yeah. Yeah. I think by the time we get to this top um Riley um have you guys been introduced to Riley and Sarah?
[A0205] I was going to have them introduce themselves maybe in the next board meeting. So maybe I will introduce them in the next um meeting. They're there two staff that have joined the uh director's office particularly focused on um constituent council kind of conversations as well as parks partnerships. Um so yeah, it would be a great agenda item for future, but they've been joining me on those conversations and are going to try to sort of help me make sense of the conversations afterwards. Um uh with the urban forestry team, we did have done a number of um updates to council offices about the um tree code update um policy update work, which maybe even makes sense to have as a briefing with this group if that hasn't happened. So maybe that team come and give you a briefing on the upcoming process for title 11. Um just last week, just this week, just this week, um we went to the public works committee to talk about the South uh the Southwest Waterfront Design Competition work. Um I also got to star in a uh I'm I'm uh social media famous this week for uh uh standing in the river and talking about uh uh potential uses in the in the waterfront, which is great. It was a fun way to stir up some If you haven't seen the video, it's it's pretty silly. You should do more of those.
[A0206] Sure. I'd be happy. Yeah. They were Yeah. The team was like, "Are you sure Arnold will do it?" Arnold will do it. Sure. I like I like being silly, so happy to do. If you haven't seen it, we can send you a link to a silly.
[A0207] Um and then um next month um Kelly Torres and I will be at the public works committee to talk about parks partnerships. kind of just highlighting for them this large body of partnerships that are going on in various forms. Um and with I think um councelor Clark's desire to maybe have a resolution go to the full council that is um I think encouraging us to continue with I guess commence later this fall. back over to the right hand column. Um, uh, core services realignments, um, are underway and so it's we're sort of in the active moment of change management of people, um, moving with new teams and understanding the sort of u, uh, work program alignments. Uh, a lot of discussion amongst uh, bureo directors around service level agreements to make sure that we're still able to get the work done even if it's being done in a different way. Um and um some staffs roles um most of them have happened, some are still underway and then there's there's another round of of probably additional alignments that will happen this fall. So it's a it's a changing city as someone who's been here a long time and everything is is new again. Um but um so we can kind of keep you apprised. We I I don't think we honestly know the tradeoffs yet. those those will kind of start appearing over over time as we start discovering particularly with the um reductions that were embedded in that. So some of it is continuing to work but different pathways. The other is what what aren't we still able to do that we were able to do with a reduction overall and it's not enforced in those spaces. That could be a good conversation to keep you up to pri uh prize to because that's a great place for you to then help us give council feedback on the implications of these choices. Uh budget wrap up. Um the main upside is there was sort of a second there was a little bit of a second budget um conversation that council did a couple weeks ago and that did result in restoration of two positions in the artist. Um otherwise we the other the other proposed budget would have had a more significant restoration of parks positions that that one did not go forward. Um, I think Claudia's on vacation, but maybe at one of the future meetings we if there's sort of more
[A0208] do it more thorough. Well, I was going to bring something up and share the screen, but
[A0209] um,
[A0210] yeah, go for it.
[A0211] Maybe while you're doing that, the other thing I just want to highlight, there's so much happening right now in terms of summer events. Um, so if you haven't gotten out with friends and family, there is just constantly something going on in our parks and the be for all series. It's just so great.
[A0212] Um P, if you don't mind, I'll just briefly share this. So, Jacob shared with me kind of the talking points that folks that spoke with council on that were in the proposed budget. Um I just wanted to give you a visual on some of the things that was asked by the folks doing the advocacy this budget cycle. Um, I had one of our financial analysts go through what if there was any change. I uh regretly regretfully informed that every single ask was not reinstated for the cut and that they were kept in during the adopted budget. So
[A0213] you say they what they
[A0214] uh council voted to keep those proposed cuts that were asked by council.
[A0215] So there were no changes. There's no changes.
[A0216] Little little bit of like extra background here. Um when there was this like second bite at the apple on the budget and there were these two computing amendment packages. One of them yes did not add any of these back in. The other one added about half of these um back like the funding for about half of these line items and then a handful of other line items that we had not flagged as high priority. And to be clear, we prioritized these in the ad hoc, not based on um impact, but based on like these being really easy to understand, hard and fast items. Like one of them on here is um some tens of thousands of dollars for replacing playground equipment. We just we thought like going to city council, this is an easy one to say like, hey, your budget is stripping playground equipment funding. Like maybe we can have a conversation about getting that back in. So there were a lot of deserving programs that are not included on this list. So, we did reach out to counselors around this second round of um second bite of the apple on budget. Um that was actively solicited by counselors reaching out to us which is a very positive sign because it means that our our prior advocacy was noticed and we were like counted as as a stakeholder. Um, but this is where it ended up uh kicking it back to the city because I had
[A0217] just like my personal perspective is that this is the board's first time really diving into this budget cycle and it was kind of also our the bureau's first time. Amanda could probably attest since she helped kind of lead the bureau on how we approached the budget this year. A lot of things were new and different. And so I want to say like please don't be discouraged by the fact that there were no changes. I think keeping on what you're doing. It's a new thing that they're not used to. But I think persistence would be there could be some change in the future.
[A0218] Yeah. This is how advocacy work goes. You fight and you lose and you fight and you lose. You fight you lose and then you fight and you win and it's great. And then you fight and you lose again. It's a it's an exercise. It's an exercise of persistence. That's
[A0219] right. Um, do we have any statements from parks about what the impacts of these are going to be since they're all going to happen? Now,
[A0220] I think we're still figuring that out.
[A0221] Okay, that's the line that we would like to have communicated.
[A0222] Okay, I will um just
[A0223] ask the finance
[A0224] a little comment. Um, from the public's perspective, it's all about optics and people don't dive into the weeds to figure out the nuance. So, the big picture when everything on the news is about the deal with blazers
[A0225] and meanwhile we also see things are falling apart or not open and things like that. people just see like left side or right side and it's very hard as as a public um community side uh to be able to appreciate a lot of hard work a lot of hard work city council everybody is trying to make something happen but I think a [clears throat] lot of times is really need to look at what does that mean to a general public how do they It's it's it's hard when people it's like no I lose hope.
[A0226] Yeah. Something so part of why we chose the specific line items that we did is we were looking for things that would be hyper vvisible. Degradation of park assets is something that I think people will really be able to notice with their eyes as they even just walk by parks. Um two of the line items on there were cutting funds for watering grass fields and that hasn't that's kicking in now. So, it's not going to be immediately noticeable, but this time next summer, if people go to their park and the field is all dead, dry grass and they think back and they'll be able to say, "Wasn't like this in the past. What happened?" Um, yeah. So, that's that's something that I think is very front of mind for us and that we were really trying to impart on city council.
[A0227] Just trying to find a way to be more effective. I mean, I think our hearts are there. It's just how how can our work be more effective? And when you're always given the hand, it's like I we got other things to worry about
[A0228] or communicate it. I think you know
[A0229] because no one knows what we what we're fighting for that we're fighting for them and how how do they know
[A0230] because you see the results doesn't look like that.
[A0231] Can I jump in?
[A0232] Yeah, please.
[A0233] So, I don't know why this came into my mind. I don't know how it fits in here, but when we're talking about tennis, my mind goes back to the pools
[A0234] because buying North Portland's going to get full eventually, but we have pools that are end of life and that's going to be another one of those things. Is that going to be something that becomes so-called privatized too to make it more economical? I just feel like we can't let that kind of okay, we got our North Park pool, but we have a problem with pools and they are used in Portland. You know, you're in lifeguarded granite. they're all kind of at that end. And so I feel like we need to put that keep that on the radar too because I, you know, I think privatizing will start to be something that becomes the solution
[A0235] and then you lose control and you know and then that um equity
[A0236] comes in. So
[A0237] yeah, I think that's what I mean I use the pool all the time. So yeah. Um, but and kind of getting back to what you said, son, I feel like, and I don't know where this fits in our conversation today or not, but I I don't want to lose um touch with the fact that I think this board doesn't necessarily or shouldn't necessarily lean into like here's one side and here's how we're going to back up or not without really highlighting the impacts of process. And so I think that's where where your point really is on like how do we highlight the process that goes into decision- making, the different perspectives that go into decision-m um the impacts that we're seeing and the lessons we learned. And so that's where I hope we can really lean in and help with that communication around what not necessarily what is the out outcome and yeah people see it and uh oh this is where it comes from but how did we get here and that can help shape then where are we going. Um, so it it's very similar. I think there's a really thin line on how we do it. And I just want to make sure that we are constantly using that as a compass to think about the sort of gray and messy area of just all the complexities that go into these things and putting them into the larger perspective of okay, so if we did cut this and sometimes I think we do have to recognize that they're going to be cuts and maybe that's a hard decision, but it has to be done. And so how are we going to stand up as a board behind decisions like that and say okay like this was hard and that grass is dead but in the bigger picture we save this or you know that grass is dead we stop watering it because we are in fire season and we don't want to do or like you know we're in f drought right now and so how can we elevate all those other messages and I just want to make sure we don't lose
[A0238] yeah I I political decision-m 101 like I'll tell you the first thing in class is every single policy choice has winners and losers There there is there's always tradeoffs and yeah clearly communicating that I think is crucial because if it turns out this was the best possible packaging cuts that we could get. Hey, phenomenal governance. Great job everybody for getting us there. But [clears throat] that but explaining why that was the case will help buy will help buy the public's trust, right?
[A0239] Um
[A0240] don't want to like lose that that like this is rough but sometimes we're going to have to be behind the rough.
[A0241] Yeah. Remember last last year in the past year several times we were questioning why there aren't more public comments. Um how can we make it more enticing for people bringing comments? People will only make the trouble, go through the trouble to make comments to someone when they know their effort is hurt. And when they come here and we can't really go back and forth or make decisions um and they they don't see the the result of how they why they come and how can they get results. And so it it's a little bit of a conundrum here because we have two opportunities to give public comments per month and yet I think in the past we just have handful of people coming in. Um and and it really begs the question of our our role, our identity, um our advocacy, um and who are we advising? Um and it it's very important to to kind of sort this out because it also can center how we do things. Um, but now group was just looking for ways to have more meetings.
[A0242] I got you back on schedule by
[A0243] Well, really quick, how are we looking for public comment? Um, on the back end, no one's in the room. Is anyone online?
[A0244] Because if no one's online, that means we've got 20 more minutes to to job it before we need to end on time. No, no one's in the lobby right now.
[A0245] Okay, I think we can keep going then.
[A0246] Um, just a kind of comment on public comment and some of the challenges there. Um, I think one of the harder parts on getting people to want to be present here is most of the time the board has no role in what people are saying. It tends to be a smaller thing that needs to be handled by a staff member. We are not involved at all. we hear them, but it doesn't impact what we're doing as a board really in any way for 90 plus% of comments. At least that's what I've experienced, right? They're usually Now, I think as a community member coming in and knowing you're going to be hearing you're, you know, going to have the top folks of park staff in the room is more than you're going to get in most other instances in terms of your problem being heard. So I think that's a big draw but us as a draw. We're not doing anything for them. So in their current issue, right? So um one of the things that I would love is how are we what is the topic of the day? Do people want to comment on that? What are upcoming topics? Do people like I would love to hear community input around the things that we are talking about. Uh I think that would be helpful. But it means a lot more outreach that parks would have to do uh and social media and whatever or getting stuff up earlier. Here's the thing and here's what we would like to hear from folks on or if there's a big issue surrounding parks, right? Like that we should be engaged on flagging it for us or whatever. But I understand why community doesn't come to us. We don't give them much on the issues that they experience in the dayto-day. So uh and honestly there's a lot of other mechanisms that parks has to gather input which are way easier than coming to a once a month meeting at a very specific time. We are not super convenient and there are better ways for the public to be able to comment. I would also love us to do a better job at how is parks gathering input from the public on the issues that we're talking about and how do we incorporate the public's input and understand it in addition to the presentations coming from parks. What outreach have they done and can they synthesize that for us so we can hear from the community because the community doesn't have to come to us for us to hear them. Parks is doing a ton of outreach that we could be engaging with and learning the outcomes from as well. So that's my little just to respond to you quickly. Um this is kind of that's all all what you said is what we've been discussing in community engagement working group and I think Alison and I did a good job of combining two groups that you learn about soon and I think we're going to get most of the points that you just highlighted. So just enough to think about that. Can I make also one comment and you'll see this probably in the next meeting when we have Riley and Sarah come and kind of introduce themselves briefly with their work. Now that we have a dedicated person as like a response coordinator on behalf of the director's office, perhaps we can have some of their work and kind of a summary brief report out of their work included in the director's report monthtomonth. Um, I think that would be at least something to show what community and partners are coming to the director's office about and how we've responded.
[A0247] That sounds great. Um, they're already proving so invaluable and it turns out there's a lot that comes in on a daily basis. Um, I quickly discovered having having them be able to run them to ground that I actually think it would be smart to have a report out what they're what they're hearing, what's happening out there.
[A0248] So, we're we will continue to improve.
[A0249] It's great to meet you all. Um definitely um open to to you know suggestions on where you think I should be putting time and energy. So you you know the system at this point far better than I do. So if there's specific um issue areas or you know topics that you think I should be myself or team should be looking to welcome back.
[A0250] Thank you.
[A0251] Thanks.
[A0252] Okay. Um, to end on time, we've got 17 minutes to go through the working reports.
[A0253] Before we do that, Michelle, can you send us an update on who's on each committee and what committees need people because I think some have, you know, we've had people leave and I feel like there's some holes and it would be nice to know where we need some bandwidth.
[A0254] But we So, I've got I've got a roster that I put together myself. I would actually love to just say all of this out loud really quickly and have people shout out if I say something wrong. Then I can update it here and I can kick it to you.
[A0255] Perfect.
[A0256] All right. Board of affairs, myself, Matt, Swen, Adrian, Allison, uh, CWG liaison, parks foundation leaison, question mark, Myra as the PPA liaison. CNR, Sally, Myra, Tommy, Allison, Bill. Good. Lane, use infrastructure. Matt, Adrien, Kitty, Patty, Myra, Jessica,
[A0257] and I am
[A0258] Wait, which one? I'm sorry.
[A0259] Land use and infrastructure.
[A0260] I am rejoining that one.
[A0261] Alli is on that one.
[A0262] And I'm the chair.
[A0263] And you're the chair.
[A0264] And I'm I'm still on that one.
[A0265] Too many.
[A0266] Tommy and Myra.
[A0267] Okay. Community engagement. Sally, Tommy, Patty, Bill, and Myra.
[A0268] Yep.
[A0269] Financial sustainability. Andre, Kitty, Swen, Jessica, Ally. Um, parks levy leaison question mark and PBA leaison board question mark.
[A0270] I've been stepping out because I'm on the pack for the crop.
[A0271] Okay, cutting you off that one.
[A0272] And I was
[A0273] Adrian.
[A0274] Cheers.
[A0275] She's Adrian's the chair.
[A0276] And Adrian's the chair. Yes.
[A0277] And I was considering joining that one. I joined part of one. I don't know if I have the
[A0278] bandwidth [laughter]
[A0279] and math brain for it. So, I'm just going to go there.
[A0280] I will tell you. Let me just tell you that this year is going to be heavily focused in part on like engagement.
[A0281] Okay. The part that I attended was all just spreadsheets and I'm like I'm not useful at all.
[A0282] So there's a lot of that as well. But there will also be if you are interested in playing a larger role in like the community engagement portion on the long range financial sustainability and also thinking about how we advocate for the special district changes.
[A0283] This would be your place.
[A0284] Let me talk Adrian because I'm doing ad hoc and land use. So let me talk to Adrian and see what's what and where I'm with the equations. Can we talk more about that? Because especially after today's uh working group uh after the board retreat here, I think we're talking a lot about like how do we find alignment between groups and themes that we should really be leaning into. And so understanding that engagement is going to be really part of finance. We I think will be critical for how we weave together our work through these groups and how we're thinking about that. And so I really I'm glad you brought that up so that we can like make this a little bit more cohesive in what we're trying to achieve and how we're doing it. Okay. Um, reports from reports from working groups. Uh, I would like to move board affairs to the back because I've got some motions that um to hit everybody with that I think will make the most sense after the other working groups have reported. So, can we have um land use and infrastructure go first, please?
[A0285] Yeah. Um, so the last time we met was on um June 23rd. We did not meet in July. And then our next meeting is August 25th at 800 a.m. Um, and we last time we we talked about um the neighborhood study um that was um presented by Karine and Brad. Um and that that was very eye openening just looking at how how we look at um data and then um the next uh we actually I I kept the the topics very simple so that we actually have more time for discussions. Um and then we talk about policy for park bench removal u because of all the vandalism and uh um discussions were uh robust. um there wasn't a lot of um it's more about factf finding on trying to find out what are some of the halves that we can massage a little bit but otherwise uh to be continue today's um retreat will um identify maybe some sense of the meeting agenda for the meeting end of this month so that our new group with alias um joining us how we we can kind of realign some of what what is our role in that group other than getting just like there's a fire oh let's look at that so I think um that's that's not very effective if we just keep looking at things that needs our attention
[A0286] be more proactive
[A0287] thank you um community engagement Um, I'll keep this brief and I'll let you take lead on the rest. But, um, I don't think we really met last time. We've been thinking about what does this really look like and what are some of those goals moving forward to that I'm Thanks. Um, yeah, our last meeting was in June as well. Um, we actually received the same presentation as uh, land use and infrastructure from Brett and Karine u from parks planning department. Um the neighborhood park study was something that interested um I think me mostly and kind of brought it to the group um in that our focus has been a lot around accessibility um and the study being around whether or not parks initiate gentrification. Um apparently there was a word on the street that parks were initiating gentrification. So they wanted to dig in and do some data collection and their conclusions were that um neighborhood parks do not initiate gentrification. there were some marginal increases to monthly rents um very close to parks apparently less than 1% um and they found that existing parks don't data wise impact um vulnerability or displacement. So we peppered them with some questions around kind of the impetus for the study their work with Eco Northwest which was the the consultant um and that was just very interesting to hear from them. Um but since then we've been talking some at the board of bears um working group committee around the future of culture nature recreation since our we have a lot of overlap uh not only with um topics but members with um community engagement we've been looking a lot at accessibility trying to get more of a pipeline to community data and then more access to community itself like through public comment and other means. So with all of that overlap and a few of our members recently stepping down with um Corbin and someone else recently
[A0288] Sabrina uh we thought to strengthen
[A0289] community engagement we could combine the groups um
[A0290] and still keep alive some of the priorities that we had with culture nature recreation mostly being the accessibility and access to community data pieces. Um so we'll be digging into that more this afternoon. Um and really look forward to um talking with folks who we haven't really tal you know discussed this as a group. So determining how we can focus and prioritize and um put together a strong group.
[A0291] Yeah. That brings it to board affairs where this was also a topic of conversation. Um I'm not going to be making a motion for that um at this meeting. And I think the idea is that we can discuss it all as a group at the retreat and then if it's land that we want to proceed with um we could do that at the next meeting. I had some trepidation about this because of how much um community engagement is specifically called out in our in the underlying empowering ordinance for the parks board and in our bylaws. Um but I was successfully convinced that this would be a way of actually enhancing that work. And I think that there is a good case for it because both CNR and CWG have five members on them right now. And you know in any given month one or two people are not available. That just does not leave a very deep bench for conducting this work. Especially if we're trying to task this group with really being our lead on soliciting relevant public comments, making sure that we have people signed up and ready and willing to do advocacy and to show up to community events. um like that's just a lot of work to put on you know the two three four people who can make themselves available on a regular basis. So I think for that reason alone it's something that I support but I'm looking forward to discussing in a larger group. Um other things we talked about at board affairs um you'll notice that financial sustainability is kind of conspicuously absent from the retreat agenda and from our board agenda today. The discussion there was just that until we get more information from parks, until they kind of call the ball on which direction they want to go, what advice do we have to give beyond you guys need to make a decision and actually like get the ball moving on this? Not to overuse sports metaphors. Um and then just discussion on what we wanted the agenda today to be um for both the board meeting and the retreat. Um so then a couple motions that we also discussed um Portland Parks Alliance ran a parallel outreach effort to city council um during all the conversations around the budget. That's something we talked about when I attended their meeting. Something that we discussed was that we would get a lot of benefit out of having a liaison between arts board and PBA. Someone who can just be our point person for keeping a line of communication open and can be the point person for when the inevitable next outreach campaign to city council starts. um can help coordinate our two groups. Myra volunteered for this. Thank you.
[A0292] Thank you.
[A0293] Um so I would like to make a motion to officially appoint Myra as the liaison between parks board and PBA um term of one year and uh duties as just said.
[A0294] Can I get a second?
[A0295] A second.
[A0296] All right. Any any discussion debate? Hearing none. All in favor?
[A0297] [laughter]
[A0298] Thank you. All opposed and all abstaining. Motion carries unanimously. Um what else? There was one other thing. Um exeicio members. So per our bylaws, we can have four exeicio members on the board. We already have one and I I think I speak for all of us when I say that it's really beneficial for all of us to have you here. And I think that we can expand that a bit. the levy oversight committee was flagged as an area to have um input from an exeicio member. I would want to uh it means that they are not an official member of the board. They don't go through the normal appointment process through city council. They just join essentrally as our guest, but they have all the same um privileges minus voting as board members do. Um so public levy oversight committee having an exhibition member join from them with their duties being to attend the financial sustainability working group and um if they want also attend board meetings. I would want to keep the terms for any exeicio members except for Jessica um shorter than we currently do set to just one year so that if for whatever reason we need to pivot we're not locked into like a three or a fiveyear time frame. That was a concern that was raised. So I would like to make a motion to invite um a PL PLC member onto the board as an exeicio member on financial sustainability working group.
[A0299] All in favor? All opposed? All abstaining? Motion carries unanimously. Chair not voting.
[A0300] Andre,
[A0301] have you talked to them?
[A0302] Um they have reached out to us about or Michelle, can you can you speak to that? I think they reached out to us about that, right?
[A0303] Yes. And Sarah,
[A0304] they actually reached out to you about that.
[A0305] So they they haven't we didn't want to invite them unless we knew it was a possibility. So
[A0306] do you know who?
[A0307] No. No, we haven't raised it with them.
[A0308] Oh, okay.
[A0309] Yeah. We didn't know if you all would be interested in the idea.
[A0310] Yep. Interested. Confirmed.
[A0311] Do you also say there?
[A0312] I do. Yeah.
[A0313] And also I'm on the financials, so I'll see all of them all the time. [clears throat]
[A0314] Interesting. Okay. Um, and then I think we've also discussed having someone from PBA come on as an ax officio member, but that's an area where I think we want to have some more discussion before Portland um parks ppa, Portland parks alliance that you're the um I said PBA. Uh but we're going to have some more discussion there before we proceed with that. But that was also a topic of discussion for affairs. Okay, we have three minutes left.
[A0315] Yes. Um, in terms of someone coming over from Portland Parks Alliance, uh, I just want to say there's some great former board members who are a part of it who would be great candidates who already know how we work like Erin. And
[A0316] already thrown her hat into the
[A0317] I would say that that's a very like low risk level to bring someone like Aaron on, especially if we can be choosy with folks because a lot of former Portland Parks um, board members are a part of the alliance.
[A0318] Is she Is she interested?
[A0319] Oh, yeah. Oh, and Erin's great.
[A0320] Yeah,
[A0321] I I also kind of say that if we are sending someone from less over, I think it makes sense that they would be open to having that be exeicio as well. So, I mean, I don't know how much more discussion or what questions you specifically have on this, but I'd be happy to just move forward with that.
[A0322] Very good. looking at the agenda. Um, confirming again, do we have any one online for public comment?
[A0323] No one in the lobby.
[A0324] Nope.
[A0325] Nope.
[A0326] Okay. Um, quick review of action items that I took down um just during this F action item. Um,
[A0327] oh, looks like you already sent out the PGE Harper 10.
[A0328] He did.
[A0329] thing. Okay. Um, with that, do we have a motion to adjurnn?
[A0330] I don't think we need to have a motion.
[A0331] Oh, we can just adjurnn.
[A0332] Yes. [laughter]
[A0333] Yay. So, what I'll do is I'll stop. Okay. No.