It’s Your Neighborhood!

Information About Your Neighborhood Association

All are welcome. Todos son bienvenidos. Tất cả đều được chào đón.

The Mt. Scott – Arleta Neighborhood Association is a volunteer-powered group dedicated to improving this southeast neighborhood for current, past, and future residents. We believe in the power of community and work together to create a welcoming, vibrant, and connected place to call home.

The Mt. Scott-Arleta neighborhood is between 60th and 82nd Avenue, and Duke Street and Foster Road in southeast Portland, Oregon. We are not an HOA. Membership is free and open to all residents who live or are regularly involved in the neighborhood. Support us with a tax-deductible donation to our fiscal sponsor SE Uplift Neighborhood Coalition or text MYARLETA to 44-321.

MSANA_boundary map

The Board of Directors

General Correspondence
MSANAhello@gmail.com

President/Chair – Eric Esqueda
MSANA.chair@gmail.com

Secretary – Sarah Carpenter-Peck
MSANAsecretary@gmail.com

Treasurer – Matchu Williams
MSANAtreasurer@gmail.com

Land Use Contact – Chase Bradbury
MSANAlandusechair@gmail.com

SE Uplift Board Member – Daniel Portis-Cathers
mtscottarleta@gmail.com

At-Large – Isaac Gervais

At-Large – Sherry Hanrahan

Mt. Scott-Arleta Neighborhood Association Bylaws

(View on Google Drive)

ARTICLE I – NAME

Mt. Scott-Arleta Neighborhood Association is a public benefit with members nonprofit corporation organized under the laws of Oregon, hereinafter referred to as “the Association.”

ARTICLE II – PURPOSE OF THE ASSOCIATION

The purpose for which this Association is organized are: 

  1. To actively maintain and improve the Mt. Scott-Arleta neighborhood for past, current and future members as defined in Article III.
  2. To work with adjacent neighborhood organizations, governmental agencies, and our board in areas of joint concern.
  3. To make recommendations to the City Council, County Commission, State Legislature, Metro Council and other appropriate agencies cornering legislation or actions which will affect this community.
  4. To inform people within this area of actions and plans affecting our community.
  5. To do and perform all of the activities related to said purposes, to have and enjoy all of the powers granted, and engage in any lawful activity for which nonprofit corporations may be organized under Oregon Revised Statutes Chapter 65 “Nonprofit Corporations.”
ARTICLE III – BOUNDARIES

Boundaries of the Neighborhood Association shall be defined as: 

  • Northern boundary: South side of Foster Road from 61st to 82nd Avenue 
  • Eastern boundary: West side of 82nd Avenue, from Foster Road to Duke Street
  • Southern boundary: North side of Duke Street, from 82nd to 60th
  • Western boundary: East side 60th Avenue, from Duke to Holgate, and 61st from Holgate to  Foster Road  
ARTICLE IV – MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Membership Qualifications

The membership of the Association is open to residents, property owners, individuals who regularly work or engage in activities, business licensees and representatives of governmental agencies and nonprofit organizations located within the neighborhood boundaries. Members must be individuals. To qualify as a member of the Association, one must meet the requirements of this said section and have confirmed their membership on a meeting sign-in sheet. The Board of Directors, hereinafter referred to as “the Board,” shall adopt a policy for the maintenance of the membership list and Board roster, which the Secretary shall implement.

Section 2. Voting

All neighborhood members as defined above, sixteen (16) years of age or older, shall have one vote each to be cast during attendance at any general or special meeting. The Board shall adopt a policy for guardian consent for members under eighteen (18) years of age. Only one representative from each business, government agency or nonprofit organization located within the boundaries shall have the same privilege as the residents listed above. There shall be no voting by proxy. All neighborhood members are eligible to vote when approving by-laws and electing board officers.

Section 3. Duties

The Board shall endeavor to promote the objectives of the Association to the best of their ability, and shall have the duty of care, duty of loyalty, and duty of obedience as defined and required by Oregon law, including the duty to make decisions in the best interests of the Association and its purpose, and the duty to comply with the Association’s Bylaws and all policies. Once elected, the Board is charged with oversight and care of the Association and in that role they vote on financial matters, endorsements, etc. that the entire neighborhood membership does not receive a vote on.

Section 4. Quorum

  • General Meetings: A minimum of three (3) Board members and three (3) general membership members shall constitute a quorum at a general meeting.
  • Board Meetings: A minimum of three (3) Board members shall constitute a quorum at a board meeting.
  • Special Meeting: A minimum of three (3) Board members shall constitute a quorum at a special meeting.
  • Emergency Meeting: A minimum of three (3) Board members shall constitute a quorum at an emergency meeting.
ARTICLE V – FINANCIAL SUPPORT

Charging of dues or membership fees shall not be made; however, voluntary contributions will be accepted and the board may authorize fund-raising. Charitable contributions and funds must be made to a tax-exempt organization who will hold the funds on behalf of the Association.

ARTICLE VI – BOARD OF DIRECTORS 

Section 1. Number of Board Members 

The Board shall determine the exact number of board positions annually. There shall be at least three (3) and no more than fifteen (15) board members.

Section 2. Eligibility for Board Service 

Any member of the Association, as defined in Article IV, Section 1, who has attended at least two (2) board, special or general meetings within the past twelve (12) months is eligible for Board service.

Section 3. Board Vacancies 

Any vacancy shall be filled by a majority vote of Board members holding office. Board members so appointed shall fill the office of the unexpired term appointed to.

Section 4. Election of Board Members and Officers 

Board members and officers shall be elected by the general membership at the annual meeting in May. Election requires a majority vote of the members present. Board members shall serve for a term of one (1) year.

Section 5. Duties of Board Members 

The Board shall have the following responsibilities and powers: 

  • Manage the daily affairs of the Association. 
  • Make decisions and represent the interests of the Association on all matters for which it is impractical to present to the membership in advance. All such actions shall be reported to the membership at the next regular meeting.
  • Appoint committees to perform necessary functions and represent the Association on specified topics. 

Section 6. Resignation

A director may resign at any time by giving written notice to the President. Any such resignation shall take effect at the time specified, or if not specified shall take effect immediately upon its receipt by the President. The President shall notify the Board of the director’s resignation.

Section 7. Removal of Board Members

Any elected or appointed director may be removed, with or without cause, by a majority vote of the members at a membership meeting called by the Board for that purpose.

A director who has missed three (3) consecutive board meetings without prior communication to the President shall no longer be a member of the Board.

Section 8. Board Officers

Officers of the Association shall be: President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Past President, SE Uplift Board Member, Land Use Contact and delegates-at-large. Such officers shall constitute the Board of Directors.

Section 9. Election of Board Members

Directors shall be elected annually by a vote of the membership at its annual May membership meeting, except for the committee chairs, who shall be appointed by the Board.

Section 10. Election Process

The Board shall adopt a policy for the election process. A representative of the District Coalition Office, hereinafter referred to as “SE Uplift,” can be requested to oversee the election process and verify results.

Section 11. Duties of Board Officers

  • President: The President shall convene and conduct all Board and general meetings, shall create the agenda with input from the Board, shall have the power to call special meetings, shall follow-up with sign-in sheet (new) members, and shall represent the Association in matters requiring representation before appropriate agencies unless such responsibility is assigned by the President to another Board member.
  • Vice-President: The Vice-President shall act in the absence of the President with the same responsibilities held by the President.
  • Secretary: The Secretary shall keep written minutes of all meetings of the Association and Board and report them to the appropriate meetings. The Secretary shall provide a copy of the minutes to the President and all members upon their written request of the Secretary within a week following the meeting and shall notify the Association of the meetings in an appropriate manner. The Secretary will also promptly submit approved minutes and supporting materials to SE Uplift. The Secretary shall maintain the membership list and Board roster, in accordance with a policy established by the Board (see Article IV, Section 1).
  • Treasurer: The Treasurer shall receive and disburse all funds of the organization including those held on behalf of the Association elsewhere, shall keep complete records and make reports at every meeting. The Treasurer shall develop a budget in collaboration with the Board for adoption at the beginning of the fiscal year.
  • Past President: The Past President shall serve as a guide and assist the current President in transition.
  • SE Uplift Board Member: The SE Uplift Board Member shall represent the Association at all meetings of the SE Uplift Board of Directors and shall have the duty of care, duty of loyalty, and duty of obedience as defined and required by Oregon law, including the duty to make decisions in the best interests of SE Uplift and its purpose, and the duty to comply with SE Uplift’s Bylaws and all policies. The SE Uplift Board Member shall issue a report on SE Uplift to the membership at the next regular meeting.
  • Land Use Contact: The Land Use Contact shall represent the Association on matters pertaining to land use and transportation. This includes but is not limited to review of land use cases, liquor licenses applications and related policies. They shall convene a committee with appropriate notice and issue recommendations to the Board. In limited cases, the Land Use Contact may file official comments on behalf of the Association when Board approval is not feasible (see Article IV, Section 5). All such actions shall be reported to the membership at the next regular meeting.
  • At-Large Members: Additional At-Large members may be added to the board to serve as committee chairs, plan events and perform other duties as deemed necessary. 
ARTICLE VII – MEETINGS
  • Board meetings of the Association shall be held at least quarterly at a time and place established by the Board.
  • General meetings of the Association shall be held at least one per year at a time and place established by the Board.
  • Special Meetings of the neighborhood membership or the board of directors may be called by the Board as necessary.
  • Notification and the purpose(s) of the meetings shall require seven (7) days advance notice. Parties with a stake in the subject of the special meeting will be personally invited. The Association will follow procedures listed in Open Meetings VIII, E of the City of Portland’s Standards for Neighborhood Associations, District Coalitions, Business District Associations, And the Office of Neighborhood Involvement (now Office of Community & Civic Life), hereinafter referred to as the ONI Standards.
  • Emergency meetings of the neighborhood membership or the board of directors may be called by the Board as necessary. Notification and the purpose(s) of the meetings shall require a minimum of twenty-four (24) hours advance notice. The meeting discussion is limited to the topic for which the meeting was called and the minutes must state the reason for the meeting.
  • Agenda: Any neighborhood member may request an item for inclusion on the agenda of the general meeting fourteen (14) days in advance of the general meeting. The member proposing the agenda item must be present at the general meeting for the item to be considered and discussed. Failure to attend may result in the removal of the proposed item from the agenda at the discretion of the Board. Any member of the Board may make a motion to add an item to the board, general or special agendas at those respective meetings.
ARTICLE VIII – COMMITTEES

The board may choose to appoint committees as needed. Committee members must be eligible members of the Association, and each committee will include at least one officer of the Board. Committees may be formed to plan an event, to make recommendations or propose policies. All recommendations or plans involving the expenditure of Association funds will be reported back to the Board for approval.

ARTICLE IX – CONFLICT OF INTEREST PROCEDURES

Whenever a board member determines that they have a conflict of interest relating to an item under discussion, they must inform the body (general membership or board) hearing the proposal that the conflict of interest, which may result in a financial benefit or gain to them, a family member, or close associate, exists and this must be recorded in the minutes. The board member with the conflict of interest may elect to abstain from voting on the transaction. The Board shall adopt a policy addressing disclosure and management of a conflict of interest.

ARTICLE X – GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES

Section 1. One-on-One Dialogue and Mediation

Individuals and groups are encouraged to reconcile differences, whether inside or outside the scope of these grievance procedures, through one-on-one dialogue or mediation.

Section 2. Grievance

Any member may file a complaint based upon an alleged violation of the Association’s bylaws or the ONI Standards. The complaint must be made in writing to the Board within forty-five (45) days of the alleged violation.

Section 3. Grievance Components

The petition shall include the name and address of the petitioner, the nature of the grievance and suggested remedy.

Section 4. Grievance Committee

Within seven (7) days after the receipt of the written grievance, the President will establish a grievance committee of three to include: one representative appointed by the Board, one representative appointed by the petitioner, and one representative from SE Uplift. The committee shall investigate the matter and hold a public hearing to give the grievant and others wishing to present relevant comment an opportunity to be heard. The committee shall then forward its recommendations to the Board.

Section 5. Final Resolution

Within sixty (60) calendar days from receipt of the grievance, the Association shall render a final decision on the grievance and notify the grievant of their decision. Deliberations by the grievance committee on a recommendation and by the board on a decision may be held in executive session.

Section 6. Appeals Process

Only upon unsatisfactory resolution of a grievance with the Association may the grievant appeal to the District Coalition and the Office of Community & Civic Life as indicated in the ONI Standards. The grievant has fourteen (14) calendar days from the date the decision is rendered to appeal.

ARTICLE XI – PROCEDURE FOR CONSIDERATION OF PROPOSALS 

Section 1. Submission of Proposals

Any person or group, inside or outside the boundaries of the Association may propose in writing items for consideration and/or recommendation to the President and Board. The Board shall decide whether proposed items will appear on the agenda of the Board, committees, general or special meetings.

Section 2. Notification

The proponent and members directly affected by such proposal shall be notified in writing of the place, day and hour the proposal shall be reviewed not less than seven (7) days in advance. 

Section 3. Attendance

The proponent must attend this meeting to make a presentation and answer questions concerning the proposals.

Section 4. Dissemination

The Association shall submit recommendations and dissenting views as recorded from the meeting to the proponent and other appropriate parties.

ARTICLE XII – PUBLIC MEETINGS/PUBLIC RECORDS REQUIREMENT

The Association shall abide by all the requirements relative to public meetings and public records as outlined in ONI Standards. Official action(s) taken by the Association must be on record or part of the minutes of each meeting. The minutes shall include a record of members and guests in attendance and the results of any vote(s) taken. A brief summary of dissenting views should be transmitted along with any recommendation made by the Association to the City of Portland. Official records will be kept on file at SE Uplift.

The President, or chair of a meeting, may have anyone removed who disrupts the meeting after receiving at least one warning during the same meeting.

ARTICLE XIII – NONDISCRIMINATION

The Association will not discriminate against individuals or groups on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, legal citizenship, national origin, income, or political affiliation in any of its policies, recommendations or actions.

ARTICLE XIV – ADOPTION AND AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS

Bylaws shall be read and reviewed in full once annually at the May membership meeting. All amendments to these bylaws must be proposed in writing and submitted to members at least seven (7) days before voting on their adoption may proceed. Notice of a proposal to amend the bylaws, specifying the date, time and place for consideration, must be provided to all members at least seven (7) days before voting. Adoption of and amendments to these bylaws shall require a two-thirds (2/3) vote by the members present at a general meeting.

Amended: May 2001
Amended: May 2010
Amended: April 2011
Amended: May 2021
Amended May 2025

Privacy Policy
Top