ENA Board Meeting

July 8, 2025 7:00 PM

Swantown Inn, 1431 11th Ave SE

Minutes

1) Approval of June 10^th Minutes

The minutes were approved as submitted.

2) Treasurer Report

Checking             $400.16

Savings             $2,949.04

Total                $3,349.20

Jim R. said he discussed grant funding with Brittany Gillia. The City will reimburse expenses right away but prefers that we bundle all receipts for an event. The ENA can also use its own funds to reimburse individuals. Jim will send around a form for us to record volunteer hours.

3) CNA report

Karen described a new ‘WhatsApp’ tool allowing members of neighborhood associations to share information. She and Jim met with Grace Fletcher, Southwest neighborhood secretary, who created a group named “ONA Board Members.” They discussed potential uses for the app, including emergency preparedness. The information will be shared with the CNA at their meeting on July 14.

4) Block parties reports

Board members described the four block parties and how many attended. It was suggested we do short write-ups and provide pictures for the newsletter and the website.

5) Upcoming events

Sherry volunteered to work on the annual calendar. Nathan suggested we send it out at the beginning of each year.

The matching grant includes $1,000 for the winter snowflake project. It was agreed we should start on this soon and Nathan offered to host an August workshop.

6) July newsletter topics

• Block party reviews
• August snowflake workshop
• Sherry said there is a new business on 4^th
• Sherry will forward contact info for her new neighbor to Nathan as a potential interviewee.
• CNA report

7) Annual Picnic/Cider Press Sept 20^th

Jim R. will reserve the shelter from 2:00 to 8:00.

Setup will start about 2:00.

We will start apple pressing about 3:00.

There will be live music starting about 5:00.

Jim R. will start grilling food about 5:00, and possibly sooner if we finish apple pressing.

Ask everyone to bring apples.

Let everyone know it’s a potluck.

Jim S. will contact Parks about access to water.

We may need to arrange to have a canopy over the apple press in case of rain.

Sherry will check with the balloon guy from the Farmers Market, and possibly Timberland library.

Cheryl will bring a bucket of sidewalk chalk.

Sherry will reach out to Tim Smythe.

Nathan will look into ordering a Vista print sign.

8) Support Soup movement ongoing

Chris Hyde is asking for help with funding and a delivery vehicle.

9) Sea Level Rise walks meet at City Hall

• Tuesday, July 15 from 3:30–5 p.m.
• Wednesday, July 30 from 4–5:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, August 19 from 9–10:30 a.m.

9) Other

Cheryl announced the Olympia Historical Society and Bigelow House Museum is sponsoring an event November 8^th on Legion Way. They are asking for help with funding. Sherry said she will donate $100.

Our new mailbox address is:

1910 East 4th Avenue PMB 140

Olympia, WA 98506-4632

Sherry and Jim S. described the June 11^th collision which destroyed one of the Gateway Art pieces on 4^th and Pacific. OPD provided a case number and the City’s Claims Department is pursuing damages to replace the art. Jim S. suggested it as a future newsletter item: “What happened to the Gateway art at 4^th and Pacific?”

The meeting ended at 8:35.

The next Board meeting will be August 12^th at 7:00 PM.

ENA Board Meeting

June 10, 2025, 7:00 PM

Swantown Inn, 1431 11th Ave SE

MINUTES

Members Present

Sherry Chilcutt (President), Jim Rioux (Treasurer), Jim Sweeney (Secretary), Karen Sweeney (CNA Representative), Nathan Allan, Cheryl Bayle, Therese Vogel

Guest

Brittany Gillia, CP&ED Associate Planner/Historic Preservation Officer

1) Historic Preservation & Neighborhoods Program

Brittany discussed her background and her work in historic preservation and as the Heritage Commission’s liaison. In response to a question about historic trees, she said they need to be listed on the Heritage Register to be protected. A tree can be nominated for listing with the property owner’s approval.

Board members asked about neighborhood matching grants for various future projects and events. Jim S. suggested updating the Eastside brochure with a walking map. Brittany suggested the City may be able to help with GIS expertise. Jim R. asked if the ENA has a contract to allow us to spend grant funds. Brittany said the grant is approved. It was generally agreed that the ENA can reimburse individuals from our funds and request grant payments from the City at a later time. Brittany said the City prefers that we bundle receipts for payment. Also, none of our events will require insurance.

Jim S. suggested the CNA could play an important role in reviewing next year’s RNA grant proposals. Brittany said involvement by the CNA would need to happen before grant applications are submitted to avoid a potential conflict of interest.

The Board thanked Brittany for attending and we look forward to fresh ideas and a re-invigorated neighborhoods program.

2) Approval of May 10^th Minutes

Jim S. described two minor corrections to the draft minutes.

The Board approved the May 13th minutes as amended.

3) Treasurer Report

Checking            $406.19

Savings            $2,948.75

Total                $3,354.94

Jim R. reported one new $70 membership was paid.

Our new mailbox is at Ralphs Thriftway. We will need to circulate the new address.

4) Affordable Housing Forum

The May 21^st forum was well attended thanks to everyone who helped promote it. The City is compiling the comments which were received. The CNA intends to follow-up with a second forum, likely on the subject of sidewalks.

5) Land Use and Urban Design Comp Plan chapter

CP&ED (Community Planning & Economic Development) completed a major re-write of the chapter before the June 4 public meeting. A new Urban Residential land use designation was unveiled, along with a policy to allow small scale commercial uses within neighborhoods through conditional use permits to limit impacts.

6) CNA report

Karen reported on the issues discussed at the June 9^th CNA meeting.

Olympia neighborhoods are hearing more complaints about speeding and noise.

The East Bay neighborhood is selling oyster seed to plant in Budd Inlet.

The Governor Stevens neighborhood will be holding a neighborhood garage sale.

ONNA (Olympia Northeast Neighborhoods Alliance) has made good progress on emergency preparedness and the Southwest neighborhood has appointed block captains.

Airport noise and a lack of transparency by the Port in their master plan update is an issue, and some would like to see it on the City’s radar.

Peter Guttchen would like neighborhoods to be able to get ahead of development proposals on large vacant parcels through subarea planning.

Councilmember Vanderpool talked about wayfinding signage. He also expressed interest in speeding, particularly in school zones. The Council will be looking at increasing costs and funding for the Yelm highway park and the Armory.

7) Block parties

Currently there are four block parties being planned for Saturday June 28^th.

1.  McCormick Street between 7^th & Legion, sponsored by Dan & Aicha, Abigail, Jim & Karen.

2.  McCormick & 13^th, sponsored by Patricia Campbell.

3.  Lions Park, sponsored by Jim Rioux.

4.  10^th & Lybarger, sponsored by Sherry Chilcutt.

If sponsors have not applied for street closure permits, this needs to happen right away.

We’ll plan to start by 4:00 and be finished by 7:00.

Each sponsor is allocated up to $125 for food and supplies – keep your receipts!

Event locations will be advertised on sandwich board signs, on the ENA website, and with handouts, at the discretion of sponsors. Jim and Karen will ask Abigail about signs at our planning meeting on Thursday.

Please save leftover non-perishable food and supplies for the annual picnic.

8) June newsletter topics?

For “Ask the ENA” – What is the new restaurant at 1001 4^th Avenue E, where doughnut shop used to be?

Suggested “neighbor spotlight” – David Bellefueille Rice

9) Other  

A Council candidates’ forum is being planned but we don’t yet know the date.

A School Board candidates’ forum is scheduled July 12 at Capital Theater.

The following comprehensive plan chapters and meetings are from Olympia’s June update email:

Introduction Chapter – A public hearing is tentatively scheduled for June 16.

Community Values & Vision – Apublic hearing is also scheduled for June 16.

Housing – A briefing for the Planning Commission is scheduled for July 15.

Utilities – The Council is scheduled to review and accept the draft chapter at its meeting on June 17. 

The annual picnic is scheduled for August 9^th. Nathan is looking into live music.

In response to a question about serving alcohol in City parks, these are the terms & regulations for City park shelters:

Alcohol is prohibited at most City facilities and in adjoining parking lots unless a City approved permit has been granted. If approved, liability insurance, a banquet permit and a $50 alcohol permit fee are required and must be submitted/paid at least 45 days before event. Banquet permit must be posted during your event.

The meeting adjourned at 8:45 PM.

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