January 2026 MNA Meeting Minutes
Montavilla Neighborhood Association
January Meeting Minutes
01/12/26
Present Board Members:
Steph Cleary, President
Kristina Perry, Vice President
Keegan Baurer, Secretary
Sarah Hartzel, Treasurer
Adam Fiss, SE Uplift Liaison
Louise Hoff, Member at large
Elisabeth Litster, Member at large
Nedim Filipovic, Member at large
Emily Meneer, Member at large
Laura Mulligan, Member at large
Steph Cleary called this meeting to order on 01/12/26 at 6:34 after confirming that a quorum was present.
Agenda:
1. Treasurer Report
2. SE Uplift
3. Parks and Gardens
4. Communications Committee
5. Land Use and Transportation
6. Oak Street Community Action Committee
7. Harrison Community GNA Committee
8. City Hall Update
9. PEMO (?)
10. Unfinished Business
11. New Business
Vote to approve December minutes. Motion by Steph. Seconded by Kristina. In favor: all . Opposed: 0. Motion passes.
I. Treasurer Report:
a. There had not been a lot of activity in December. MNA’s application for the communications grant has been submitted and the corresponding funds have been
earmarked for MNA.
b. Motion put forth by Sarah to officialize the opening of OnPoint bank account, with Steph and Kristina as signers. Steph seconded the motion and the motion passed.
II. SE Uplift:
a. No major updates reported as SE Uplift typically takes a break this month.
b. Adam will be attending new member orientation this month and also noted that SE Uplift has a newsletter available that those interested can sign up for.
III. Parks and Gardens:
a. MNA was not awarded the grant for Music in the Park. b. Committee is taking steps to not lose the arboretum.
IV. Communications Committee:
a. The communications grant application was submitted late but funds have been earmarked for MNA.
V. Land Use and Transportation:
a. During last MNA meeting, discussions were had about the BAT lanes. Since then there has been a meeting budget and policy committee formed.
b. Nedim met with TriMet Leadership and had discussion about community and business concerns. This meeting concluded with a request by Trimet for open ended list of data and information to answer community questions and concerns.
c. A meeting will be held this Friday from 10am-12pm at PCC. The intended goal of this meeting is to review data and provide insight into community questions about diversion and impact on traffic. Public comment is an option at this meeting. An official recommendation will be made early this year.
d. Trimet is proposing service cuts. They have already reduced their budget by 150 million dollars. They have began cuts in positions and are not expanding services. There remains a 300 million dollar deficit in the budget. Trimet is proposing cuts to Max Green Line as well as possibly eliminating the 19 bus. There is an open comment period survey until the end of the month. There are also open house meetings Tuesday and Wednesday 5pm-7pm.
e. Trimet to provide an opportunity for public comment in March. Their decisions about budget cuts will take effect August 2026.
f. Transportation chairs are interested in providing letter to state representatives urging for more funding. MNA board members shared concerns regarding the wording of the letter but also expressed willingness to endorse a final draft of the letter pending revisions to language.
g. Community members expressed concerns over various transportation cutes and advocated for the MNA board to endorse the letter.
h. The MNA board agreed to solicit feedback from community and have representation from MNA at Trimet board meetings
i. Community member Terry expressed the need for some urgency to garner support for full BAT lanes.
i. SE Uplift in full support of full BAT lanes.
ii. Trimet will host a public comment period at PSU this Wednesday.
VI. Oak Street Community Action Committee:
a. Pastor Heather getting pushback from neighbors about allowing people to camp.
b. Pastor Heather wants people to know she is not letting people camp there and cannot move them by herself.
c. Campsites being reported, however it may take up to five days to be addressed by the city.
VII. Harrison Community GNA Committee:
a. Projected timeline for launch of site is late April due to excavation, electrical, and plumbing projects. On-site fencing will be established after these projects are completed.
b. GNA will be translated into into Spanish, Vietnamese, and Simplified Chinese.
c. There will be one more GNA meeting to review Exhibits section and discuss impact zones. Tentative plans for a public meeting in late February (possibly 02/26) to get this information out to the community.
d. CAC meetings will occur monthly for six months after launch of site.
e. Keegan will follow up and see if Casey can attend CAC as a community member.
VIII. City Hall Update:
a. None noted.
IX. PEMO Update (?)
a. PEMO starts 01/14 at 1:00pm.
b. Meetings are generally held on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month at 1pm.
c. The MNA board discussed the Problem Solver network, which brings in community stakeholders and will try to source solutions to various problems.
d. Montavilla residents can attend the 82nd and Sandy meeting.
X. Unfinished Business:
a. Steph proposed a motion to approve November and December minutes, Keegan and Adam second with the motion passing.
b. Community Clean-Up (Tabled):
i. Anyone in the community can head these events. ii. Total time of clean up is about four hours.
XI. New Business:
a. Steph proposed a motion for creation of Art Walk
Committee; Adam seconded the motion and the motion passed.
b. Steph proposed a motion for Emily to head the Art Walk committee; Adam seconded the motion and the motion passed.
c. Steph proposed a motion for creation of Joy Committee. Emily seconded the motion and the motion passed.
d. Steph proposed a motion for Steph to head the Joy Committee. Keegan seconded the motion and the motion passed.
e. Steph explored board and community interest in heading the Safety Committee. Elizabeth agreed to attend a meeting and assess her willingness to be involved with the
committee.
f. Community member Casey inquired as to if district representatives can join MNA meetings.
i. Steve Novak looking to set up a meet-up at a local coffee shop. The board is exploring if this could take place outside of work hours.
Steph moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:24. Adam seconded.