In our August 15, 2019 General Meeting, the South Tabor Neighborhood Association approved the following letter. It will be formatted on letterhead and mailed to each of the five members of City Council. —Pete Forsyth, President, STNA
From: South Tabor Neighborhood Association
To: Mayor Wheeler, Commissioner Eudaly, Commissioner Fish, Commissioner Fritz, Commissioner Hardesty
Date: August 16, 2019
Dear Mayor and Commissioners,
We note with some regret that the work product of the Code Change 3.96 Committee, although it reflects seven months’ good faith efforts toward laudable goals, has been met with substantial objections from numerous respected organizations, ranging from our neighbors at the Hosford-Abernethy Neighborhood District, to the Oregonian editorial board and the League of Women Voters. Rather than belabor the reasons, we simply wish to communicate clearly:
- We urge all members of City Council to vote “No” on the proposal as currently written (as of August 15, 2019).
- We strongly support the values, as derived from the Community Connect initiative, the 2016 Auditor’s Report, and the 2018 City Council resolution charging the Committee with its work. We believe it is essential that our city find ways to engage effectively with a more diverse collection of organizations.
- We urge that any proposal to modify City Code in pursuit of that goal should result from a new process, which should engage neighborhood associations as significant stakeholders and subject matter experts. This should include a robust, detailed Public Involvement Plan agreed upon by stakeholders, including neighborhood associations. This Public Involvement Plan should act as the detailed, overarching road map for this process, and adhere to the Auditor’s report recommendations, Public Involvement best practices, and the 2010 City adopted Public Involvement Principles.
Thank you for your consideration of our position,
Peter Forsyth, President
On behalf of the South Tabor Neighborhood Association
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