9/22/20 Board Meeting

  1. Call to Order – President Rodriguez called the meeting to order at 6:10pm
    • note: At the previous membership meeting, the group voted to approve moving this meeting (originally scheduled for 9/15) to the following week (9/22)
  2. Roll Call
    • Board members present: President Isabel Rodriguez, Vice President Patrick Sullivan, Secretary/Treasurer Kaitlin Hakanson, At-large member Minea Miss (and kiddo Aiden). Absent: None.
    • General members present: Ellen O’Donnell, Toby Rodriguez, Efren Gutierrez
    • Guests: Judge Alycia Kersey
  3. Treasurer’s Report – A Treasurer’s report was not provided.
  4. Approval of Minutes – No minutes were provided.
  • Introduction of Judge Alycia Kersey
    • Judge Kersey had reached out to MNA board members via email, and we invited her to be a part of our meeting. She discussed a number of topics, including the following:
  • how the court can support the neighborhood
  • info about the neighborhood
  • cameras on E. Main, working with police
  • when booked, mental health, drug/alcohol counseling on Klamath Works Campus
  • task group of KF neighborhoods (community forum)
    • will meet periodically, starting October
  • resources for parents
  • police advisory council – would be involved in the process of hiring a new police chief
  • job training and skills training instead of incarceration
  • Klamath Works – recycled/upcycled mattresses
    • have work crews available again
      • can bill the work to the property owner
  • she is a Council on Aging board member
  • likes to be out in the community
  • kids were at Mills Elementary, but switched to homeschooling to avoid distance learning

Note: Judge Kersey is currently running to keep her seat in the upcoming November election. Her presence at our meeting should not be construed as an endorsement by Mills Neighborhood Association. We are a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation and do not use any funds or resources to promote political candidates.

Business

  • Review of member At-Large Application – Tabled Brian Weissmeyer’s application because he was not present at the meeting. The annual meeting is coming up, and the informal consensus was to wait until then, and for Brian to considered a nominee for the position.
  • Grant for Sustainable Projects – tabled due to time

Public Comment

  • Mills Neighborhood Association received an official proclamation from the City of Klamath Falls on 9/08, acknowledging tulips as the official flowers of the neighborhood. This update was included in the MNA email newsletter.
  • Because our annual meeting falls on the second Tuesday in October, the board discussed the option of canceling the Board meeting for October, scheduled for 10/20. Motion to treat our annual meeting as the official business meeting for October (Minea). 2nd: Kaitlin. Unanimous approval.
    • After the annual meeting, our next meeting will be our November Membership meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 3

Adjourn – Meeting adjourned by President Rodriguez at 7:04pm

9/01/20 General Meeting

  1. Call to Order – President Rodriguez called the meeting to order at 6:06pm
  2. Roll Call
    1. Board members present: President Isabel Rodriguez, Vice President Patrick Sullivan, Secretary/Treasurer Kaitlin Hakanson, At-large member Minea Miss. Absent: None
    2. General members present: Maria Duran, Tabita Rodriguez, Christa Crone, Brian Weissmeyer
  3. Guests: Dr. Glenn Gailis, Kendra Santiago, John Bellon, David Roman

Business

  • Jenny Reed – Klamath Area on Aging – Jenny was not able to present at the meeting. Guests present indicated that her presentation discusses the Village Model of elder care.
  • Kendra Santiago – Blue Zones – Kendra provided the group with copies of Living Well magazine, which includes several articles about mental health awareness and coping techniques. Her organization received a grant from OHA for communicating relevant info about COVID-19 to the community. She also provided copies of “best practices” cards for preventing the spread of COVID-19, as well as cards with information about their resource hub (page of the Blue Zones website). It includes information about ODE, housing, business resources, food access, which businesses are providing curbside service, and other valuable information. Will also be providing information about “safe routes to school”, which includes general walking and biking safety for kids. Free screening of “Mindfulness” film offered by Sky Lakes and Blue Zones.
  • Feedback on Community Sale – Brian W. and Secretary/Treasurer Hakanson – The event was well-attended and went well. Some suggestions for making it better next time was more food options and better advertising. Several vendors expected more advertising on facebook, specifically.
  • Board member at large positions – President Rodriguez – Reminder that we still have multiple vacant board positions available.
  • “Act it Out” – Everyone at the meeting played a short game of charades. We’re all pretty good at it!
  • Coupon for local restaurant – President Rodriguez – President Rodriguez created a new handout about the free dinner certificates being provided by Stephanie Shrum. The front of the flyer has the details of the offer, and the back has a list of restaurants in Mills Addition.

Public Comment

  • In regard to the business on the corner of E. Main and Vine, owners of neighboring businesses had a meeting with the City Police. The occupant has responded to Code Enforcement rules, but continues to cause policing and aesthetic issues for other businesses and residents of the East Main corridor.
  • John Bellon – New concrete pads have been poured at Mills-Kiwanis Park, ready for benches to be re-installed. New porta-potty cover and water bottle fill station installed at the park. New dog park being constructed at Kit Carson Park.
  • Christa – The Children’s Museum will be hosting rummage sales every Saturday in September, from 10 – noon. They have many different types of items, including clothes, furniture, toys, craft supplies, and school supplies.
  • General discussion about handling nuisances, criminal activity, and property damage in the neighborhood. The board collectively suggested that if there is something going on, it’s best to reach out to the police or code enforcement directly, on your own.

Adjourn – Meeting adjourned by President Rodriguez at 6:39pm

8/18/20 Board Meeting

  1. Call to Order – President Rodriguez called the meeting to order at 6:18pm
  2. Roll Call
    • Board members present: President Isabel Rodriguez, Vice President Patrick Sullivan, Secretary/Treasurer Kaitlin Hakanson, At-large member Minea Kiss. Absent: None
    • General members present: Brian Weissmeyer, Amie Bashant
    • Guests: None
  3. Treasurer’s Report – $1,847.42. No new expenses or income. No upcoming expenses.
  4. Approval of Minutes – 7/07 meeting minutes amended, approved unanimously. 7/21 minutes approved as written. 8/04 meeting minutes approved as written.

Old Business

  • Last Day for School Lunch Program/Handouts and swag – President Rodriguez will have an MNA table set up at the last IYS summer lunch event. She will be providing agendas for our next meeting, and the custom MNA pens that were ordered.
  • Banner Ordered – The MNA banner arrived earlier than expected. It is solid red with our tulip logo on each side of white lettering. The banner will be used at the Community Market.
  • Flea Market/Yard Sale/Sidewalk Sale – Aug. 22 – For the upcoming event this weekend, Brian printed pet charm coupons. Most of the heavy lifting on arranging the event is done.

New Business

  • Newsletter for Sept, Oct, Nov, Dec – We will be using Mail Chimp to create an email newsletter for MNA. Two things we’d like to include in the first issue: no green waste with the county this year (due to COVID), and it’s a good time of year to change the battery in your smoke detector.
  • Board Positions/Application – President Rodriguez created an application for joining the MNA board. A copy was given to Brian as he has expressed an interest in serving on the board. Discussion about how to recruit more members for our organization. Several vacant board positions right now.
  • Annual Business Meeting – Date of the meeting is Tuesday, Oct. 13. Discussion about what we need to cover at the meeting. Will remain a standing agenda item until the event.

Public Comment

  • Member Hakanson introduced an agenda item via email: consideration of Recreation Park as a community garden/mixed use area. Lots of interest in the motion, and discussion about various projects that could utilize the space, ranging from moving the property into a community land trust to bringing a developer in to construct low cost housing. Discussion about new 3D printing equipment that can produce modular housing from concrete. Discussion by Member Weissmeyer to approach the County to secure funds for a prototyping project using this specialized equipment. Motion to table discussion of this item was approved.
  • Discussion about taking field trips to various places of interest in the neighborhood, including Mills School.
  • The Ross Ragland Theater is hosting their Lighting of the Tower event on August 27.

Adjourn – Meeting adjourned by President Rodriguez at 7:40pm

Mills Community Market

Details below!

There will be a Flea Market taking place on Saturday, August 22 from 10 am to 4:00 pm at 1114 East Main Street. If anyone is interested in having a table, please contact Kaitlin at 541-363-7044 or email events@millsaddition.org There is no cost for a table. You will be responsible for providing and manning your table and providing seating, shade and change.

We are also asking if you prefer to have a yard sale at your own location to let us know by August 20 and we will have a handout of the various locations the yard sales are happening.

If there are businesses along East Main Street that would like to participate, either by having their own parking lot sale or perhaps restaurants may want to have a “Sidewalk Special”, please let us know so we can get the word out.

Happy Bargain Hunting!

8/04/20 General Meeting

  1. Call to Order – President Rodriguez called the meeting to order at 6:07pm
  2. Roll Call
    • Board members present: President Isabel Rodriguez, Vice President Patrick Sullivan, Secretary/Treasurer Kaitlin Hakanson, At-large member Minea Kiss. Absent: none
    • General members present: Maria Duran, Tabita Rodriguez, Vanessa Serrato, Jonah Hakanson.
    • Guests: none

Old Business

  • Aprons purchased – Following board approval at a previous meeting, President Rodriguez has purchased black aprons. The plan is to customize the aprons with our logo to be worn at events.
  • Association pens – Also for events, President Rodriguez has purchased 700 red pens with “Mills Neighborhood Association” in white text.
  • Banner – Groupon is offering a sale on vinyl banners. Discussion comparing prices, sizes, and features. The final decision was on an 8’ x 2’ outdoor banner with a red background and white text. Jonah is offering to set-up the images for the banner.
  • final school lunch give away – August 25 – IYS will be doing their last food distribution event at Mills-Kiwanis Park on August 25. President Rodriguez will be attending the event and will be providing pens to participants. She will also be encouraging people to sign-up to receive our email newsletter.
  • piano in Mills-Kiwanis Park – A lot of attention was on the damage done to the piano that was placed in Mills-Kiwanis park by the Piano Project. After members of the board met with a representation of the Klamath Falls Downtown Association, it was agreed that the piano would be repaired and brought back to the park. The work was completed in about 2 weeks, and park visitors are able to play on the instrument once again.

New Business

  • Flea Market/Sidewalk Sale/Yard Sales – Secretary Hakanson discussed the planning that has been done for the Mills Community Market, scheduled for Saturday, August 22. Fellow board members recommended more signage for the event be created.
  • Vacant Board Positions/Treasurer’s Position – Several people have been approached by members of the board to fill our vacant board positions. No bites yet!
  • Ideas for expenditure(s) or project(s) for Grant Funds Received – President Rodriguez asked the entire group what they would like to see us spend our grant funds on. The only comments related to fixing sidewalks in the neighborhood. President Rodriguez stated that those types of improvements are handled by the City. The MNA will definitely give them a reminder to consider replacing the sidewalks in our neighborhood.

Public Comment

  • none

Action items

  • Our first email newsletter should go out before September, and cover September through December. The newsletter should also be published to our website and Facebook group.
  • “Snacks and Craft Time”, using the decor items donated to us. October: foam pumpkin carving. November: Christmas/holiday wreath. December: Christmas/holiday ornaments.
  • Our annual meeting is scheduled for October. Need to start planning.
  • Is there going to be a Snowflake Festival this year?

Adjourn – Meeting adjourned at 6:43pm