Seen a Rogue on the loose? Get in touch with our Roguemeister: JOHN SCHRAG jschrag@wweek.com (503) 243-2122 FAX: (503) 243-1115 With "friends" like these, who needs enemies? That's what longstanding members of Friends of Smith and Bybee Lakes are asking since newcomers to the group recently staged a one-night hostile takeover. For 10 years, the small group has advocated for the North Portland lakes, the largest protected urban wetlands area in the country. Late last year, when Multnomah County selected the area as a possible jail site, the Friends weren't exactly happy. They knew, however, that the property, which is zoned heavy industrial, would eventually be developed. Figuring the county would be more likely to include environmental protections--such as a large buffer--than a private developer would, the Friends gave their qualified support for the proposal in December. Then along came a group of about 25 North Portland residents, the vast majority of whom had never been to a Friends' meeting. Many of the newcomers were members of the Concerned Citizens of North Portland, a group that originally formed in opposition to the siting of a parole office in St. Johns. They tried to convince the Friends to change their position on the jail. When that didn't work, they did something Roguish. The group, led by Kevin O'Sullivan and Raymond and Eleanore Piltz, scrutinized the Friends' bylaws, which include the provision that anyone can be a voting member. They also discovered that a general meeting of the Friends could be called at any time with a petition from 10 people. So that's just what they did. In late March, they held their own general meeting and voted to change the Friends' position on the jail. "We are in total opposition to the County Jail being built [in the area]," the new Friends wrote to the county. "They just don't want to have a jail out there," said Frank Opila, the old Friends' president. "I think it's a valid opinion for them to have, but I certainly wish they could be a little more respectful of other groups." - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Willamette Week | originally published March 31, 1999