May WENA Meeting Minutes

West End Neighborhood Association

General Meeting
Wednesday, May 14, 2025

6:30 pm

Reiche Community Center

Present:
Kip DeSerres, President; Rosanne Graef, VP; Mark Tappan, Secretary; WENA Board
Members: Katherine Charbonneau, Barbara DeSerres, Gregory Farino, Ian Jacob,
Christine McHale, & Ethan Shrestha; 20+ members of the public
Call to Order and Introductions:
Kip called the meeting to order at 6:35 pm and invited all in attendance to briefly
introduce themselves.
Treasurer’s Report
None
Announcements
Grant Updates:
MMC Neighborhood Advisory Committee Grants:

$3,000 awarded to WENA for traffic calming on Brackett Street.
$4,800 awarded to State Street Church for volunteer coordination software and
background checks.
Community Programs & Announcements:
Swim for Life:
WENA will again fund free open swims for youth at the Reiche pool this summer (6
days planned).
Donations are welcome to support ongoing programming.
Graffiti & Traffic Calming Projects:
Greg Farino to lead volunteer projects using updated methods; more info
forthcoming.

Ongoing Events:

“Die Well” series: 3 sessions left.
On Tyrrany Study Circle: 2 sessions remaining.
Sign painting nights continue (Mondays) – repurposing campaign signs for traffic
calming.
August picnic planning underway.
Panel Discussion on Pedestrian and Traffic Safety
Guest speakers included Andrew Zarro (Bicycle Coalition of Maine), Maggie Johnson
and Cashel Stewart (Greater Portland Council of Governments), and Tom Meuser
(Mature Driver Safety Project).
1 Vision Zero Initiative (Andrew Zarro):

Explained Vision Zero principles: treating traffic deaths as preventable through
system design, not user perfection.
Provided data from DOT crash tools highlighting high crash numbers in Portland.
Discussed practical solutions like flashing beacons, pedestrian flags, speed bumps,
better signage.
Encouraged using checklists and tools to audit neighborhood walkability and
bikeability.

Safe Streets for All & Regional Planning (Cashel Stewart):

Reviewed federal funding for pedestrian safety (Safe Streets for All program).
Shared local demo projects on Washington Ave and Allen’s Corner.
Emphasized need for structured channels for neighborhoods to suggest and prioritize
safety improvements.

Mobility for All & Community Engagement (Maggie Johnson):

Outlined programs including Community Transportation Leaders, Ride With Me, and
Bus Ambassadors.
Described multilingual, equity-driven efforts to improve public transit access.
Proposed new programs for seniors to learn and use public transit confidently.

Mature Driver Safety (Tom Musser):

Discussed Maine’s robust medical fitness-to-drive evaluation system (14,000+ drivers
assessed annually).
Emphasized planning for driving retirement due to age-related changes.
Shared personal stories and data on aging and crash risk.
Discussion
Concerns raised over high crash intersections (e.g., State & Danforth, Spring & State).
Frustration expressed about lack of city response to repeated documentation and
complaints.
Calls for more flashing red lights, enforcement, and pedestrian-centered redesigns.
Community pushback on temporary installations not being maintained; support
expressed for permanent upgrades.
Discussion of the importance of involving neighbors in flexpost maintenance and
pushing for permanent improvements via city capital planning.
Demonstration Project Feedback:
Data is collected before and after installations (e.g., crosswalk pressure, vehicle
behavior).
Volunteers play a key role in maintaining temporary infrastructure.
City now recognizes some projects as proven and considers permanent updates when
roads are next under construction.
Infrastructure & Visibility:
Concerns raised about lack of clear paint on crosswalks outside the Old Port.
Need for visibility upgrades, better sightlines (e.g., near schools and intersections),
and reflective elements.
Solutions and Advocacy:
WENA members are encouraged to advocate for flag programs and low-cost solutions
(e.g., planters to block illegal parking).
City’s traditional petition process critiqued as restrictive—organizers bypassing it in
favor of administrative approvals.
Strategic opportunity to align advocacy with road repaving schedules for lasting
improvements.
-WENA members are encouraged to stay engaged, volunteer, and continue advocacy
for safer, more equitable streets.
Next WENA event: Annual Picnic, August 12, 2025, 5 pm, Harbor View Park.