October 2025 MNA Meeting Minutes
Montavilla Neighborhood Association
October Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, October 14th 2025
Present Board Members:
Steph Cleary, Secretary
Elisabeth Litster
Sarah Hartzel, Treasurer
Louise Hoff
Lara Mulligan, President
Kristina Perry, Vice President
Laura called this meeting to order on October 14th at 6:35pm
Agenda:
1. Treasurer Report
2. Communications Committee
3. Parks and Gardens
4. Community Action
5. Land Use and Transportation
6. City Hall Update
7. Nanci Champlin from SE Uplift
8. Stone Soup
9. Unfinished Business
10. New Business
Minutes for last meeting sent out. Postpone vote to approve minutes until next month.
I. Treasurer Report:
Sarah is tracking grant money given to communications for the website. We have spent $2,000 of the $3,000. Once we have elections next month, we can schedule time to go to OnPoint and switch over our bank accounts. It’s important to prioritize this as we currently don’t have access to a debit card or checks which is challenging. DOJ is asking for a charitable report, Sarah just needs the bylaw date updated.
II. Communications Committee: Can Sarah or Kristina speak to this?
III. Parks and Gardens
Louise is requesting a grant of $3,000 for a project to pay musicians for one hour. Musicians will represent all the sub cultural groups in our community as we are the most diverse demographic in Portland. This music will be acoustic--- Sundays from 2-3. Louise is asking for suggestions to local musicians. This will rotate between Montavilla, Harrison, and Berrydale. November 2nd is the grant due date.
Louise made a motion that the board of directors approve the submission of the application. Laura seconded. All were in favor. The motion passes.
IV. SE Uplift
Kristina gave an update about the zoom call with SE Uplift. The grant went through for SE Uplift. There is a grant review committee that can give a $50 stipend to participate in the committee. There’s a zoom call to join to learn about the grant writing process.
You can sign up to get email notifications about different committees. Land Use and Transportation meeting.
V. Land Use and Transportation
Scott was not present at the meeting.
VI. Community Action Committee
Elisabeth spoke on the major concern of the committee: there have been numerous calls and reports of safety issues that are not being addressed by the city or police. The RV on _________ has been observed to participate in drugs and trafficking women. This RV is in the priority zone with the Oak Street Village, and yet nothing has happened. A community member asked what specific drugs were being sold, and what police reports have been filed.
The community member spoke to having to bypass PPB entirely and get federal agents involved for fentanyl being sold through Milepost 5.
Is there a way to access police reports other than to pay privately? When this program was launched, this is the type of problem that was supposed to be avoided. What are our next steps as a neighborhood association? Who do we contact about this?
These issues are outside of our control, and the city and county need to do something about this. They were supposed to tag the RV last Sunday and never did. This is going on week 5 or 6 that this RV has been parked here. The time lapse was supposed to be 3.5 days. There have been generic responses to concerns, such as “Thanks for letting us know, we will forward this to…”, and yet still, no action has been taken.
Neil asked if this RV is the only issue, and Elisabeth said no, this is a widespread issue.
Portland Environmental Management Organization under the City Administrator Office has “problem solver meetings” for specific geographical areas. These are weekly half hour meetings that city people come together, hear what the issues are, then report back out what they are going to do about them. If there isn’t one that includes Montavilla there should be.
There is an Inner SE problem solver meeting, one for 82nd, Foster-Powell area. Neil from METBA has a connection to these meetings and attends them. Elisabeth would like to attend. Nanci will find out and get back to the MNA about what meeting will work for us.
Richard, a community member asked if we could contact the Pearl District neighborhood association to see what they are doing, or if we could contact Kevin Dahlgren.
We will research Kevin Dahlgren and consider asking him to come and speak at a Montavilla Neighborhood Association.
Elisabeth also shared the Oregonian shared complaints about Straightway Services.
VII. City Hall Update
Spencer was not present to give an update.
VIII. Nanci Champlin, Executive Director from SE Uplift Presentation
District 3 coalition that encompasses the 19 neighborhoods. The mission is to support everyone’s social and ecological well-being. Nanci gave a presentation about the history of SE Uplift. There are 95 neighborhoods in Portland, and the city will recognize them as decision-making bodies. There are 4 district coalitions that align with the city council districts. SE Uplift runs on a grant from the office of Civic Life. Small grant cycle closes on November 2nd. Communications grant needs to be applied for, it was raised to $1,000.
SE Uplift sometimes takes advocacy stands, such as the critical energy infrastructure hub.
Core leadership positions:
President, Vice President, Secretary. Steph to submit updated bylaws to SE Uplift as well as minutes.
Roger asked how we can contact PPB to get a representative to come to the meetings. Laura shared that we have asked, and they have refused because they are “off duty.” She would like to see this change.
Nanci shared that the secret sauce
Committees and Events
IX. TriMet Presentation
There is updated bus service coming to 82nd avenue. There will be 68 station platforms like the ones on division with seating, sheltered protection, real time information, etc. There are three different entrances to busses—front, middle, back—which makes it faster to board the bus. When the bus is coming, the light will turn green so the bus can proceed into traffic. Bus lanes are currently in the engagement process, meaning TriMet is asking for community feedback on bus lanes on 82nd avenue (from Clatsop to Foster, and then from Tillamook to Lombard)
They are taking feedback for the 60% design to be entered into next May.
X. Unfinished Business
None
XI. New Business
Next meeting is Wednesday, November 12th because of Veterans Day
Halloween events?
ACLU Training
ACLU Training: Know Your Rights, De-escalation Training on 10/15 (tomorrow) at 7pm ET
https://act.aclu.org/a/no-kings-kyr-eng2
If anyone has info on Halloween events for the community, let Steph know! I’m putting together a special newsletter for all the trick or treating hot spots, etc.
Laura moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:53pm, Steph seconded.