Sellwood Moreland Improvement League

December 2025 SMILE Newsletter

Upcoming SMILE Meetings!

The December Board Meeting -- as always, open to the public -- takes place at 7:30 p.m. in SMILE Station on Wednesday evening, December 17.

The January SMILE General Meeting will be on January 7th, and as usual it will be from 7:30 to 9 p.m., at SMILE Station – on the southeast corner of S.E. 13th Avenue and Tenino Street (a block south of Tacoma Street). Everyone in the neighborhoods of Sellwood and Westmoreland is always invited to attend, and to participate in these neighborhood meetings.

The January Board Meeting, also always open to the public, will take place on the third Wednesday evening of the month, January 21st, also always open for anyone to attend. The Board Meetings also take place at SMILE Station from 7:30 until 9 p.m.

 

December 3rd Special Election fills Board Seat

 Former SMILE President and longtime Board Member Elaine O’Keefe’s decision to move to Massachusetts to be close to family was effective November 1, leaving an empty Board Seat with a term to expire in May of 2027 – which presented the need for a special election to be held to fill that unexpired term.  There were three nominations at the December 3rd General Meeting, at which the special election was to take place, and no additional candidates stepped up at that meeting – so the nominations were closed and the election began, overseen by SMILE’s new Neighborhood Coalition, NWNW, with paper ballots available at that meeting for those wishing to vote that way, and 24 hours of online voting.  NWNW closed the online voting at 9 p.m. on December 4th, and then counted the votes and announced the winner – Seth Caddy – who will complete the rest of Elaine O’Keefe’s two-year SMILE Board term (and can then then run for re-election). In the meantime, the two unsuccessful candidates, and anyone who qualifies to be on the Board, is urged to consider running for one of the four Board seats which will be open in the May annual election, or any of the Officer positions open at that time as well. The election will, as usual, be part of the May General Meeting, on the first Wednesday evening in May.

 

SMILE Community Safety Committee reports

 \At the November SMILE Board Meeting, Grant Huling, Chair of the SMILE Community Safety Committee (formerly the standing “Crime Prevention Committee”, before the recent bylaws revision), shared with the Board the minutes of the committee meeting on October 19th.  He said that the committee has long had a relationship with Multnomah County’s Willamette Center, a transitional shelter for qualified homeless individuals in north Westmoreland at S.E. Milwaukie Avenue at Mitchell Street. He reminded that the residents and employees there are also members of SMILE.

The minutes revealed that members of the committee had identified some concerns associated with the operation of Willamette Center by Transitional Projects (TPI):

“Patrick Brunette noted that people (presumably a mix of both residents and non-resident acquaintances of theirs) loiter outside of the shelter. He asked if the shelter might be able to set expectations during a resident’s onboarding process regarding good community conduct. Grant said that [Manager] Zy Lewis should be asked whether residents are being told of the CSC-Willamette Shelter Adopt-a-Block partnership, and if the offer is extended to residents to pick up litter as well, instead of shelter staff. Eric Cramer asked if a framework might be set with the current management so that a new shelter leader would not represent starting over, and potentially with a less sympathetic partner. Thavisha Tudawe pointed out the issue of drug use, loitering, and camping extending down into the entrance of [the] Springwater Corridor.”

Subsequently Grant had a meeting with Zy Lewis, manager of the Willamette Center:

“Zy provided a handout of the Good Neighbor Agreement conduct standards that all residents are held to. This applies within a 5-block radius of the shelter. Non-compliance leads to ‘separation’ from being able to stay at the shelter and use other TPI services (besides the downtown daytime resource center). Zy followed up with these disciplinary standards . . . along with the Good Neighbor Agreement. . .  An example [of the disciplinary standards]: a resident is kicked out of the shelter program for 30 days if using drugs out in the community. Zy said that while TPI will log this transgressions if they observe them, TPI welcomes reports from any members of the broader community.”

 

Holiday crime-prevention tips

Aside from the Special Board Election, the highlight of the December 3rd General Meeting of SMILE was devoted to

the December SMILE General Meeting was devoted to a detailed report on crime-discouraging tips for SMILE residents to use for the upcoming Holiday Season, with the presentation made by the Chair of the newly-renamed SMILE Community Safety Committee, Grant Huling.  A summary of these tips follows:

1. Make your home look occupied while you are not in it
2. Secure ALL your doors and windows
3. Improve your exterior lighting
4. Be smart about handling Holiday deliveries
5. Don’t discard delivered cartons in such a way as to display what had been in them
6. Use home security technology
7. Be careful with what you disclose about Holiday plans on social media
8. Prioritize fire safety; take precautions (water real cut Christmas trees daily!)
9. Build a “neighborhood network” so others near you are watching your home
10. Always lock your vehicle(s) and make sure no valuables are visible inside

Before leaving for Holiday travel:

1. Set the thermostat to keep your residence above freezing to protect the pipes
2. Turn off your incoming water main if you’ll be gone for more than a few days
3. Unplug small appliances (some draw current even when they are turned off)
4. Ask your neighbors to keep an eye on your home

If problems arise at any time, be aware of the variety contacts you can use, depending upon just what help you need, or exactly what you want to report:

• For really low-urgency issues, call 3-1-1, or go online to: www.pdxreporter.org.
• “Portland Street Response” can be called to deal with social issues, a “well person check”, etc. – call 9-1-1 or telephone 503/823-PSR3. 
• To report “recurring problem spots” in the community, and to provide witness reports and footage, contact Central Precinct’s “Neighborhood Response Team” (NRT) Officers: laura.frear@police.portlandoregon.gov, and joey.yoo@police.prtlandoregon.gov.

 

At Sept. General Meeting – design input on apartment project

 The September SMILE General Meeting drew a  sizeable crowd, assembled to hear a design presentation on behalf of the owner of the proposed seven-story apartment building to be built on the edge of the Oaks Bottom Bluff on S.E. Milwaukie Avenue between Ellis and Insley Streets.

David Schoellhamer, former Chair of the SMILE Land Use Committee, who had been very involved with review and official SMILE comments on this development, explained this meeting, and what specifically it was to address.  Schoellhamer gave a brief overview of the history of this Bluff property, and where the city is in this process.  He explained that approval is needed for any “disturbance” in the River Environmental Zone.  He pointed out that no public meeting is required of the developers at this point, but that two gentlemen came on this evening to explain and discuss the design of the project anyway.

Then Kyle Anderson of GBD Architects and Damin Tarlow of the Trammell Crow Company stepped forward, and – with the aid of projected slides – offered details on the design elements of the large development, many of which had been added or revised based on public input at a prior presentation for the SMILE Land Use Committee.

240 apartment units are currently planned, but there could be a reduction to 238 units to increase the amenities to residents in the planned development.  50 units would be studio apartments, 126 would be one-bedroom units, and there would be additional two- and three-bedroom units as well.  A required number of units will be included to meet the “affordability” requirements of such a project by the city.  The men showed and discussed floor plans, the overall design of the project and its features, and the materials palette they are using.  The variety of designs and roof lines incorporated across the east face of the building will be intended to create an impression of a group of adjacent buildings rather than one monolithic structure.  As residents had previously suggested, there now will be mural art on some sections of the building.

It soon became obvious that some of those present approved of the project as providing needed additional housing, while others opposed it on the basis of its monolithic size being inappropriate in the setting of the existing neighborhood, its being perched on the edge of the Oaks Bottom Bluff which historically has been prone to landslides, and because traffic and off-site parking generated by its residents may be obstructive to the through streets nearby.  However, none of those points was at issue in this presentation – those details had all been accepted by the city as approved by the applicable zoning code, and comments of that sort would not be considered by the city even if submitted by the September 5 deadline. 

In the end, few if any of the offered comments from attendees addressed the specific matters subject to the comment deadline in Friday.  However, SMILE through its Land Use Committee did submit relevant design comments on those specific points by the September 5 deadline.

 

Speed concerns on neighborhood main streets

Scott Kelly, Chair of the SMILE Transportation Committee, says that SMILE’s Transportation Committee has requested a traffic study on S.E. 17th in Sellwood and Westmoreland, but the city is ruling out speed cameras on neighborhood streets; at this time they are only installing these costly cameras on “high crash corridors”.  (The city is just now changing vendors for these cameras.)  That has led to some discussion of possible temporary placement locations for one of the city’s two PPB mobile speed camera trucks (such as are occasionally seen parked beside S.E. McLoughlin Boulevard near Bybee Boulevard).  Kelly says that we have requested placement of an automated speed reader in our neighborhood for six months.  The discussion concluded with talk of a possible “resident-funded improvement program” through PBOT.

 

Success for SMILE activities this summer

 At the August SMILE Board Meeting, SMILE Board Member Jim Friscia reported on the successful SMILE Summer Concert Series. He reviewed the venues these concerts have been presented in over the years, and said that the current Moreland Presbyterian Church parking lot, on S.E. 19th just south of Bybee Boulevard in Westmoreland, overall seems to be the best one of all.  Attendance has been good at all of the concerts this summer, he said.  There followed a discussion of details.  Moreland Presbyterian has been an excellent partner in this.

Jason Sturgill next reported on “Sundae in the Park”, a longtime SMILE Celebration in Sellwood Park on the first Sunday afternoon in August, which originated in August of 1979.  He said it went very well this year; and due to the generosity of the new ice cream store in the “Meetingplace” apartment building on S.E. Milwaukie Avenue in Westmoreland – Dairy Hill Ice Cream – which donated all the ice cream for the sundaes and cones this year, and then served it all to the many attendees that day in Sellwood Park, SMILE did not have the expense of providing the ice cream this year.

SMILE President David Dugan agreed that all of the annual promotions and events that SMILE participated in went very well – including our four-decades-old annual neighborhood cleanup, which this year for the first time had to be postponed from the usual mid-May date to the middle of August, due to a permit issue with the city.  He said that despite this date change, it seemed to have been just about as successful as it always had been in May.  Nonetheless, we expect to return to having the cleanup on the third Saturday in May once again next year, “if it works out”.

As for all of the SMILE events of the summer now ending, Dugan said, “Many thanks to the community volunteers who made it all happen – as well as to our sponsors, the businesses who donated, to Heiberg Garbage for the cleanup, and to Moreland Presbyterian Church for hosting the summer concerts.”

Dugan also announced that Ben Trimm has volunteered to be the new Chair of the SMILE Land Use Committee.

Rosarians tip hat to SMILE for “Milk Carton Boat Races” support

At the July 16th SMILE Board Meeting, Connie Shipley – the Royal Rosarian who has helmed the last two years of the Milk Carton Boat Races in the Westmoreland Park casting pond – presented a plaque to SMILE in appreciation of its financial support of the annual event, which is the last official event each year of the Portland Rose Festival. The major supporter for the past two years has been Alpenrose Dairy, with additional support from SMILE, Les Schwab Tires, and the Sellwood Community House.  The members of the SMILE Board in attendance reported that they really enjoyed the races again this year – participation was up considerably from last year’s “high water mark” of some 1,000 spectators, and there were roughly twice as many entries as last year as well.

SMILE History Committee reports to SMILE Board

Eileen Fitzsimons, who is a longtime leader of the neighborhood’s historical committee, and some of the members of the committee, were in attendance at the July Board meeting. The committee, revitalized by more new members, is now meeting monthly, conducts periodic free walking tours of Sellwood and Westmoreland each year.  They are trying to make more people aware of these tours, and it was suggested that they be given their own page on the SMILE website – www.SellwoodMoreland.org – on which to build a calendar and post news and activities involving the committee.  It appeared that that idea will be incorporated into the website soon.

 

E Station office on the lower level of the building (north staircase entrance) – in the dropbox there.

 

2025 Board Members and Officers

The 2025 SMILE General Meeting for May took place on Wednesday, May 7th, 7:30-9 p.m., at SMILE Station, at S.E. 13th and Tenino (one block south of Tacoma Street), in Sellwood.  SMILE Station’s January ice-storm repairs are completed, and meetings are again being held there.

At the conclusion of the SMILE Board Election process, supervised and counting the vote for which was Neighborhood Association Coalition Neighbors West Northwest (NWNW), it was announced that all four SMILE officer positions were won again by those seeking re-election; this year none was opposed in the election.

In the at-large Board Member election, two incumbents were re-elected for a two-year term:  Elaine O'Keefe and Jason Sturgill.  Two incumbents chose to retire from the Board, and receive applause for their service to SMILE:  Bob Burkholder and Tracy Fisher. As it happened, there were only two at-large Board Candidates, and no further candidates volunteered at the May 7 meeting to be added to the ballot, so those two candidates were elected to the two remaining open seats:  Scott Kelly and Eli Fabens.

Those who live in, work in, or own property in, either Sellwood or Westmoreland are automatically considered “members of SMILE” (unless they specifically don’t want to be, for some reason; there is no card to carry or dues to pay) – and only SMILE members can vote on motions in General Meetings, and only SMILE members can run for seats on the SMILE Board each May.

 

SMILE strives to serve everyone in the neighborhood

A message from the President of SMILE: Over the last several months, the SMILE Board had been meeting to create a set of beliefs and values for the organization that will guide all our efforts to engage with, support, and represent, our growing and ever-diverse Sellwood-Westmoreland neighborhood. We are grateful for the guidance and support we received from the Southeast Uplift Neighborhood Coalition in this process. We are proud to share an abridged version of our Beliefs and Values here, and we encourage you to visit us online -- http://www.sellwoodmoreland.org -- to read more.

Inclusion and Representation: At SMILE, we believe a strong and healthy community requires a diversity of voices, particularly in leadership roles, and we believe in representing all voices in our community.

Accountability: At SMILE, we believe that our policies, practices, and procedures should be consistent, transparent, and align with our values. We commit to being flexible and adaptable to community needs.

Equity: At SMILE, we believe in and are committed to being anti-racist. We recognize that our practices may have resulted in excluding some members of our community, and we pledge to learn from and correct our mistakes with humility and honesty.

Connections: We believe SMILE is only as strong as the community we represent, and the partnerships we nurture. We believe in prioritizing accessibility and fostering relationships among all residents to create a cohesive community. At SMILE we provide opportunities for our community to hear from one another and from a variety of perspectives. We commit to facilitating a safe space for respectful dialogue

Empowerment: We believe SMILE's role is to actively serve and inform the neighborhood.

Joy: At SMILE we use talents and resources, and collaborate with our community partners, to create opportunities for joy and celebration.

We hope our Sellwood and Westmoreland neighbors will join with us in these efforts.

Elaine O'Keefe, SMILE Past President
Simon Fulford, SMILE Past President

SMILE is a 501c3 nonprofit

Of the 95 recognized neighborhood associations in Portland, SMILE is one of the few to be authorized by the IRS as a nonprofit 501c3 organization. This means that donations made to SMILE are tax-deductible -- and are very welcome!

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THE 2025-26 SMILE BOARD OFFICERS (1-year terms)

President -- David Dugan  (Now serving a two-year term ending 2027, after bylaws update)

Vice President -- Elizabeth Milner

Treasurer -- Pat Hainley

Secretary -- Eric Norberg

 

AT-LARGE BOARD SEATS (2-year terms)

TERM EXPIRES 2026:

Zack Duffly

Jim Friscia

Grant Huling

Suzanne Kruse

TERM EXPIRES 2027:

Scott Kelly

Eli Fabens

Jason Sturgill

Seth Caddy