The May 2012 Mid-county Memo is posted online. A recap of its contents:

Last month, the top three mayoral candidates debated at David Douglas High School’s Howard Horner Performing Arts Center; the new Neighborhood Prosperity Initiative areas are approved; Parkrose School District averts a teacher’s strike; David Douglas special education teacher Annie Harrell is named Outstanding Teacher of the Year; Lee Perlman interviews City Commissioner Amanda Fritz and opponent, state Rep. Mary Nolan; the Planning and Sustainability Commission endorsed the Outer Powell Conceptual Design Plan; since 2006, east Portland neighborhood associations have been operating illegally; the Portland Housing Bureau is changing tax abatement area boundaries in east Portland … again; and, longtime Gateway hairstylist June Bauer’s obituary.

It was a hot summer day the last time Metro representatives met Glendoveer Golf Course & Fitness Trail users, neighbors and lovers to discuss the facility’s future at an outdoor open house.

An overflow crowd showed up at a meeting called by Metro to discuss Glendoveer's future.

Even hotter were tempers of hundreds of Glendoveer defenders who showed up to stop what they perceived as the first step in a radical reshaping of the beloved 242-acre golf, tennis, recreation and restaurant complex, considered by many the crown jewel of east Portland’s public facilities.

Despite the Argay Neighborhood Association’s efforts, the city will go ahead and approve the partition of property across the street from Argay Park, Bureau of Development Services associate planner Sean Williams said  in a phone interview today. Williams, who is writing the official decision due out next week, indicated the city will approve the proposal, the first step before property owner Lynnia Woods could offer them for sale.

The property across the street from Argay Park will be divided for three single-family homes.

Not one of the more than fifty people attending the special meeting of the Argay Neighborhood Association on March 5 was in favor of the partition plat for three home sites on land across the street from Argay Park on Northeast 141st Avenue between Failing Street and Beech Ct.

Valerie Curry leads fight against Argay infill.

The special meeting was called to meet the March 12 deadline to respond in writing to Bureau of Development Services.

A few days after the meeting, run by former ANA chair Valerie Curry, the board met and voted to hire ($500) land use attorney and Argay resident Roger Dierking to write a letter to BDS opposing the proposed development on behalf of the association.

СВЕТИ ГЕОРГИThe Parkrose Neighborhood Prosperity Initiative wrapped up its three organizational meetings last month with creation of a seven-person steering committee for the next step: a formal commitment to the Portland Development Commission and city, then formation of an “urban renewal light” district bringing physical, permanent improvements along Sandy Boulevard, from Northeast 99th to 120th avenues.

Colleen Gifford, from left, David Ableidinger and Luke Shepard at a Parkrose Neighborhood Prosperity Initiative organizational meeting held last month. Gifford, hired by the Parkrose Business Association through a grant from the City to recruit steering committee members for the Parkrose NPI, one of six areas in Portland designated by the City and Portland Development Commission.

As part of its citizen outreach, the Portland Planning and Sustainability Commission held one of its three hearings on the draft Portland Plan at Parkrose High School Community Center last month. Several local residents gave testimony on issues the Plan should address.

The Portland Plan will set policies to guide the creation of a new City Comprehensive Plan, replacing one enacted in 1980. This will set zoning and other regulations to guide both public activity and private development.

Parkrose High School sophomore Max Denning, right, Metro representative of the Oregon Association of Student Councils, testifies at the Portland Plan hearing at Parkrose High School Community Center held last month. Mid-county Memo photos/Tim Curran

At the Argay Neighborhood Association meeting last month, planning consultant John Gessner presented a plan on behalf of an Argay property owner to divide the undeveloped property between Beech and Failing Streets, on Northeast 141st Avenue across form Argay Park. “It’s important to be a good neighbor; that’s why we’re here,” Gessner said.

This 25,000 square foot piece of property across the street from Argay Park on Northeast 141st Avenue is being platted for two, possibly three new homes. Tim Curran/Mid-county Memo

Neighbors at the meeting expressed concerns the houses will be rentals, and because of smaller lot sizes, house designs would have to be two-story, narrow houses without garages.

After two years of outreach, planners have a draft version of the Portland Plan — which will set policy for city action and private development — and the Portland Planning and Sustainability Commission has set a series of public hearings to hear feedback.

City officials care ... Let them know at the Portland Plan meeting, Tuesday, Nov. 15 at Parkrose High School Community Center.

The meetings are set for Tuesday, Nov. 8 at Jefferson High School, 520 N. Kerby Ave.; Tuesday, Nov. 15 at Parkrose High School Community Center, 12003 N.E. Shaver St.; and Tuesday, Nov. 29 at the Portland Building, 1900 S.W. Fourth Ave. All three hearings are 5:30 to 9 p.m.

You want to hold public office and represent, among others, the people of east Portland. Well, Democrat Jefferson Smith thinks there are some things you should know.

That is why, last month, District 47’s State Representative Smith — who has not ruled out a run for Portland’s Mayor himself — organized a pair of guided tours of the area, and invited candidates — whose jurisdictions if elected would include the area — to learn about it and the issues people who live there face every day. The response was considerably less than universal, but the following people showed up for the two tours: Portland Commissioner Amanda Fritz and a challenger for her seat, State Representative Mary Nolan; Multnomah County Commissioner Diane McKeel, and Alissa Keny-Guyer, who is running to earn the appointment for the remaining term of House District 46, recently vacated by Ben Cannon; State Representative Lew Frederick; Multnomah County District Attorney candidate Kellie Johnson; and Metro Council candidate Bob Stacey.

Hundreds of people showed up for an open house at Glendoveer Golf Course last month to tell Metro what they thought of proposed changes for the golf course and tennis facility. In dozens of different ways, they all told Metro pretty much the same thing: keep your hands off Glendoveer; and if you are going to do anything, upgrade the existing amenities and do more maintenance.

Joanne Lund, right, in black shirt, grew up near the golf course and went to David Douglas High School. She warned Metro’s Mary Anne Cassin, left not to make drastic changes at Glendoveer.