March Meeting Minutes
Kernside Business Association
Meeting Minutes Summary
Date: March 10, 12pm
Location: Rose City Guitar Company
1. Introductions
Name
Business/Affiliation
Thomas
Lone Fir Fitness (Stark)
Economist, in the neighborhood for almost three years.
Samantha
Rose City Guitar Company
Co-owner of the event space.
Amber
Rose City Guitar Company
Co-owner of the event space.
Karin Edwards
Rolfing practitioner (Belmont)
Lives near Lone Fir, experience with Hawthorne Boulevard Business Association.
Alyssa
Turning Point Acupuncture (28th & Flanders)
First-time attendee.
Rebecca
Kerns Neighborhood Association (KNA)
KNA Board Member, 15-year resident.
Daniel
Kerns Neighborhood Association (KNA)
KNA member, 3-year resident.
Kris McDowell
Southeast Examiner
Owner of the community newspaper, learned about the association via Instagram.
Travis Price
Gorges Beer Company (Ankeny Tap & Table)
Owner, key person behind the Rainbow Road project (4 years of experience).
Toby
Rose City Guitar Company
Staff member.
Jude Brewer
Brewer Audio
Recording the meetings and creating a short-form audio documentary.
Nicole
Revamp Salon (NE Sandy Blvd)
Scott
Vino Wine Shop
Purchased the shop 6 months ago (established over 15 years).
Note: Thomas thanked the Kerns Neighborhood Association for their support and for generating the genesis of this group.
2. Identity and Promotion Updates
Instagram: Going well. Currently, 81-82 followers after about six weeks. Thomas will continue to repost and highlight business content 4-5 times daily.
Printed Maps:
Size/Printing: Tabloid (A3+), to be printed using Risograph by a member on Sandy (two-color limit).
Map Details: Features all businesses, color-coded (Food/Beverage vs. Other Services). The main icon is the Laurelhurst Theater.
Phases:
Test Run: 10 prints will be made to show all businesses and confirm participation.
Initial Print Run: 100 copies printed. Businesses will be asked for a small contribution (e.g., $5-$10) to cover costs and receive 1-2 copies for their windows.
Future Phase: Develop a Neighborhood Passport on the map's reverse side (potential cost of $3 to customers, with $1 going to the organization's funds).
Color Vote: A vote was held on the color scheme:
Blue & Green: $\approx 9$ votes (Concerns raised about the green being too faint).
Pink & Blue: Voted as the preference for the initial test print.
Design Feedback:
The legend placement should be adjusted for better visibility.
Space constraints make adding individual business logos difficult; a general icon (e.g., beer glass) for categories was suggested but noted as potentially confusing.
Suggestion to potentially differentiate members on the map.
The empty space on the map could feature a stylized mural or art instead of logos.
Suggestion to number the first print run of 100 for posterity/collector's items.
3. Formalizing/Incorporating the Business Association
Thomas outlined the necessary steps to incorporate as a formal 501(c)(3) business association.
Requirement
Status/Discussion
Determine Geographical Scope
Proposal for the entire Kerns Neighborhood boundary (Burnside to 28th/32nd/33rd, up to highway/Sandy). This would encompass several hundred businesses (minimum of 75 needed).
Define Purpose/Mission
Draft presented (see Mission Statement below).
Authorize Steering Committee
Need to be established.
Register with Oregon (501c3)
$50/year.
Write Bylaws
Thomas is close to completing a draft.
Apply for Tax Exempt Status
Pending.
Set up a Bank Account
Pending.
Elect Board Officers
Pending.
Join Venture Portland
Option: Grant availability is now limited to staffing, which affects the ability to fund event costs (e.g., street fair insurance). A decision is needed regarding the benefit of joining now.
Geographical Scope & Branding
The proposed scope is inclusive, particularly in preparation for the Burnside Bridge closure (2027), which may provide activation grant opportunities.
The current organization's energy/marketing focuses on 28th and tributaries (Kerns Village).
The broader scope would require someone to volunteer to manage the west side (likely referred to as the TriVista Triangle).
The map design is conveniently tessellated to accommodate two separate maps for the East (Village) and West (Triangle) sides.
Discussion on Naming/Identity:
Proposal to use the names "Kerns Village" (East) and "TriVista Triangle" (West) to avoid "East/West" confusion with the river.
The area is noted as the geographical center of the city, which could be a unique focal point (e.g., "The Heart of Portland," "True Center").
The Rainbow Road was also cited as a unique feature.
Mission Statement (Draft Proposal)
Goal: Mutual support, collaboration, promotion of visual identity, positive storytelling, and speaking up to city policymakers.
Objective: To raise awareness and excitement, bring in more customers, and foster a lively, friendly, safe atmosphere for all.
Feedback:
Change "further afield" to "and beyond" for better flow.
Need to adjust wording to be inclusive of other neighborhood associations (like Buckman and Sunnyside) since they fall within the business area.
Suggestion to add a unique, original focal point to the mission statement to differentiate from other neighborhood associations.
4. Audio Stories Update
Jude Brewer (Brewer Audio) is recording the meetings and will be conducting one-on-one recordings to create a short-form audio documentary (with potential video in the future).
5. Rainbow Road and Event Ideas
Rainbow Road (Travis Price): Travis, the person who originally permitted and painted it, is available to answer questions about the four-year long process. This is an asset for the association.
This topic, along with event ideas and the discussion on a physical sign, was tabled due to time constraints (the discussion stopped at the 36-minute mark)
6. Formalizing/Incorporating the Business Association (Cont.)
Venture Portland Discussion
Cost/Benefit: Dues are approximately $450 per year. The value of membership is currently questioned, as recent grant availability appears limited only to staffing costs, not events/insurance as previously hoped.
Thomas will speak with Venture Portland outreach staff to clarify the grant situation before making a final decision on membership.
Steering Committee
Current Members: Thomas, Owen, Colin, Shay, and Daniel.
Purpose: To guide the organization from its informal stage to a legally registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, including writing bylaws and completing registration.
Open Invitation: Anyone interested in assisting with the incorporation process is invited to join.
Leveraging Neighboring Associations
Inquiry: Karin asked if neighboring business associations (like Belmont or Hollywood) have been consulted to share successful practices, bylaws, and event details (e.g., how to handle street fair insurance).
Resource Identified: Kris McDowell (Southeast Examiner) is a member of the Belmont and Hawthorne business associations and offered to share contact information and relevant details.
KNA Support: Rebecca (KNA) will investigate if the Kerns Neighborhood Association's liability insurance could potentially be leveraged or partnered with to cover the business association's street fair events.
Vote on Incorporation
Benefits of Incorporation:
Grant Access: Ability to apply for grants (e.g., a potential $10,000-$50,000 for events/activation projects, including Travel Portland grants).
Financial Structure: Provides an official, supervised bank account for collecting funds, moving away from ad hoc financial handling (e.g., Venmo).
Governance: Establishes formal bylaws and rules for decision-making and conflict mediation.
Motion: To authorize the Steering Committee to move forward with the initial incorporation steps (spending the $\approx \$50$ filing fee, setting up a bank account).
Vote Result: The motion passed with a unanimous "Aye" from those present. (The vote will also be sent out to the email list for a 72-hour absentee vote).
Timetable for Formalization
The group agreed to delay the official vote on board officers until the next meeting to allow time for:
Bylaws to be finalized and reviewed by the group.
Nomination process (including self-nomination and nomination by others) for board positions to be discussed and implemented.
Goal: Have the organization fully set up by the second week of April.
7. Rainbow Road and Event Planning
Rainbow Road Repair Update (Travis Price)
Sewer Work: Starts tomorrow (Wednesday); expected to be done in two weeks (by approx. February 28th).
Repaving: The sewer work requires repaving, which cannot happen until May ("asphalt season"). This means the road will be paved, but potentially unpainted, until summer.
Stage/Seating: The stage and seating must be moved off tomorrow. Travis is optimistic they can be returned while waiting for final repaving/painting, though the area may be temporarily inconvenient.
Painting: Travis can personally repaint the road quickly (8 hours or less), potentially with volunteers. The group can decide to paint it once, or paint it before the final asphalt and then again afterwards.
Event Activation Discussion
The group agreed that events should not wait until the road is completely finalized.
Event Type
Details & Ideas
Frequency
Live Music/Poetry/Comedy
Amber has contacts ready to book as soon as dates are confirmed (e.g., Curbside Serenade, local poets, Kickstand Comedy).
Monthly focal date suggested for top-tier events, with potential for smaller weekly events.
Event Day/Time
Consensus was reached to focus on Second Sunday as the primary, heavily promoted monthly event (Late afternoon through early evening: post-brunch, pre-Monday work). This avoids competition with Saturday events and other city happenings.
Monthly (Second Sunday)
Existing Events
Bike Wednesday (hosted by Gorges) is a huge weekly gathering (up to 200 people) that the association can piggyback on to highlight local businesses.
Weekly (Wednesday)
"One-Off" Events
Gorges Reopening: Ideas include a Ribbon Cutting (inviting elected officials) and a Strongman Competition (beer keg lifts) and a Beer Mile (running and drinking) with Lone Fir Fitness.
Ad Hoc
Slow Day Activation
Suggestion to host low-key music or busking on a business's slowest day (e.g., a Tuesday) to drive incremental traffic.
Ad Hoc
Communication/Signage
Physical Signage:
One large, high-up, permanent sign on Rainbow Road.
Several portable sandwich boards to be placed on different corners and brought in nightly for security.
Promotion: Utilize Instagram and flyers (with Rose City Guitar's existing "scooter" system) to reach residents 10-15 blocks away who may not frequent 28th.
Maintenance: The group noted Portland's swift Graffiti Removal service (usually within hours) as a resource for keeping signage clean.
Next Steps
Thomas will finalize the Mission Statement and continue the incorporation process.
Rebecca (KNA) will follow up on the potential to utilize KNA's liability insurance for street fair events.
Thomas will coordinate with Travis Price to visit the Rainbow Road construction site tomorrow (Wednesday) to determine the exact scope and timeline for repaving and the stage area.
Would you like to confirm the Second Sunday activation date so the Rose City Guitar team can start reaching out to artists for the monthly headliners?