Joint Olympia Council of Neighborhood Associations & City of Olympia

Housing Affordability Forum

You are invited to participate on May 21st in a dialog about housing affordability and how Olympia neighborhoods and community members are affected. The City will use your input to help inform solutions. You can attend in-person or through Zoom.

The City of Olympia and Council of Neighborhood Associations are co-hosting an opportunity for community members to learn and talk about housing affordability in Olympia. The conversation takes place from 5:30 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, May 21, 2025 in Olympia City Hall Council Chambers, 601 4th Ave. E, Olympia WA.

Attendees will learn about the issue of housing affordability in our community and the actions the City and its partners are taking to address that challenge. You’ll be invited to talk with others in small groups about how neighborhoods and community members are impacted and explore how the City and broader Olympia community can further address housing affordability. City staff will collect your input to inform what solutions move forward for further analysis and possible consideration by the City Council.

Caregivers are welcome to bring children. If you would benefit from special accommodation, please contact the City two days or sooner in advance of the meeting.

Use the following link to participate through zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/…/register/l6axOD9lQF6vACoyr8YHRw

Stay informed of housing information by signing up for “Housing” e-news notices at www.olympiawa.gov/news.

April 8, 2025 Meeting Minutes

ENA Board Meeting

April 8, 2025, 7:00 PM

Swantown Inn, 1431 11th Ave SE

MINUTES

Members Present

Jim Rioux (Treasurer), Jim Sweeney (Secretary), Karen Clemens (CNA Representative), Abigail Twombly, Therese Vogel

Guest: Valerie Roberts

1) Armory update – Valerie Roberts

Valerie provided an update on progress making the Armory into a safe, accessible, functional community arts center. A full-scale audit of the facility has been completed along with phase 1 design and construction plans. The Council will be asked to approve the budget in May and construction should take 12 to 18 months.

The City negotiated with eight community arts non-profit Anchor Partners who will occupy and operate the facility under long-term leases.

2) Approval of March meeting minutes

A motion was made, seconded and passed to approve the March meeting minutes as submitted.

3) Treasurer Report

Checking                    $465.77

Savings                   $2,948.17

Total                        $3,413.94

Jim R. reported there were a couple of recent dues payments.

4) RNA grant

Jim S. asked if there is any new information about our RNA grant. Jim R. said Nathan submitted the application. Karen said the CNA expects to hear from Brittany Gillia next week about the grants. It was decided to continue this item until May.

5) CNA report

Karen reported on an Affordable Housing Forum the CNA is planning with City officials on May 21. All Board members and residents are encouraged to attend.

She also discussed the Habitat for Humanity housing project planned on Boulevard Road, and efforts to lower the cost to build affordable housing.

The City has a Middle Housing survey on the Engage Olympia website for people to tell the City what they think about housing code amendments. The survey will close on April 30th.

The CNA requested that the City keep their online construction map up to date by adding projects as soon as they are aware of them.

6) Newsletter topics

Jim S. suggested adding a feature allowing people to ask questions of the ENA to the monthly newsletters. The idea is to encourage people to ask about things they might see or hear that would be of general interest. Someone from the Board could then volunteer to research it and write an answer for the next newsletter. Examples include: What is Ziply Fiber? What was recently installed on the Fir Street water tank? Who is responsible for hazardous trees in the City’s rights of way? Why is it so hard to add a sidewalk along 7th Avenue west of Lions Park? Abigail suggested asking a neighborhood expert to answer plant and garden related questions.

The Board generally liked the idea but agreed to continue the discussion to the May meeting as we are not expected have an April newsletter.

7) May event ideas

Jim S. said he would like us to have an outside event in May if the weather cooperates. The group discussed possible walking routes, such as starting at Lions Park and ending at Beerwerks. Jim and Abigail agreed to talk later and let the group know if we come up with a feasible time and place.

8) Other

Abigail reported she met with Dan Rydholm and Emma Shaw to discuss purchasing swag. The Board agreed to continue this discussion until the next meeting, and to talk about buying a new event sign.

The next Board meeting will be May 13th at 7:00 PM.

The meeting adjourned at 8:30 PM.

March 11, 2025 Meeting Minutes

ENA Board Meeting

March 11, 2025, 7:00 PM

Swantown Inn, 1431 11th Ave SE

Members Present

Jim Rioux (Treasurer), Jim Sweeney (Secretary), Karen Clemens (CNA Representative), Nathan Allan, Abigail Twombly, Therese Vogel

Guest: Emma Shaw

1) Approval of February minutes

The February meeting minutes were approved as submitted.

2) Treasurer Report

Checking                    $427.69

Savings                   $2,943.88

Total                        $3,371.57

We need to continue reminding Eastside residents of the need to pay annual dues. Nathan suggested letting people know how their dues helps to leverage neighborhood projects, events and volunteers. Jim R. made a motion to add a reminder to the next newsletter. Karen seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

3) CNA report

Karen described the following topics which were discussed at the March 10th CNA meeting.

  • 2025 RNA grants – 12 RNAs requested $40,000 total; the next step in the process will be a City review panel
  • Changes to Intercity Transit bus service
  • Energize Thurston County heat pump program
  • Briggs Village zoning changes, Fieldstone affordable housing project, Community Planning and Economic Development staffing, and the upcoming housing forum.

4) Newsletter topics

Board members brainstormed possible newsletter topics. The aim is to generate interest in events happening in the neighborhood and the city. Some possible topics:

  • ENA membership dues
  • RNA grants
  • Armory interpretive sign
  • The Procession of the Species art studio
  • Energize Thurston County heat pump program
  • West Bay Yards development proposal
  • Ziply internet
  • Work on the Fir Street water tank

Jim R. will be featured as the neighbor profile

If you agreed to do a write-up for the newsletter please try to send it to Nathan within a week following the monthly meeting.

5) Other

Jim S. mentioned the City’s ‘Wayfinding Master Plan’. You can read more and take a survey at: https://engage.olympiawa.gov/wayfinding-plan

Jim S. talked to Valerie Roberts, the Armory building manager, about the Military Department’s interpretive sign. She agreed to attend the ENA Board meeting on April 8th to talk about this and other issues.

The next Board meeting will be April 8th at 7:00 PM.

The meeting adjourned at 8:15 PM.