Block Parties June 28, 2025

This year the ENA is sponsoring 4 block parties to celebrate and get to know your neighbors! Go to one, go to all! All block parties are taking place Saturday, June 28, from 4-7pm.

Block parties are potlucks, please bring food to share with your neighbors! The ENA will be providing some burgers, dogs, and a veggie option at each party, along with a selection of drinks.

Please pack out what you pack in! Be conscious of your hosts and take any dishes/leftover food you have brought with you when you leave a party (take what you brought onto the next party!). While each party may have limited seating, please bring chairs for yourselves.

We hope to see everyone at one or all!

Locations

  • McCormick and 7th. Hosted by Abigail, Karen & Jim, Aicha & Dan.
  • McCormick and 13th. Hosted by Patricia Campbell.
  • Lions Park. Hosted by Jim Rioux.
  • Lybarger and 10th. Hosted by Sherry Chilcutt.

May 13, 2025 Meeting Minutes

ENA Board Meeting

May 13, 2025, 7:00 PM

Swantown Inn, 1431 11th Ave SE

Members Present

Jim Rioux (Treasurer), Jim Sweeney (Secretary), Karen Clemens (CNA Representative), Nathan Allan, Dan Rydholm

1) Approval of April meeting minutes

Jim S. described two minor corrections to the draft minutes. The Board approved the April minutes as amended.

2) Treasurer Report

Checking                    $514.02

Savings                   $2,048.46

Total                        $3,462.48

Jim R. reported that our insurance policy lapsed. We may need to renew it for grant projects.

3) Swag and event sign

Nathan has information on event signs similar to the Beekeepers new sign. The Board will discuss this further after we receive the signed grant approval.

Dan asked if we received grant funds for swag. The answer was we did not.

4) Neighborhood Matching Grant

Nathan has asked Brittany Gillia for a copy of our signed grant application.

Dan indicated he will apply for the Block Party Street Closure.

Current tentative block party locations are: 

1.   McCormick Street between Legion & 7th, Sponsors – Dan, Abigail, Jim & Karen

2.   McCormick and 13th – Typically sponsored by Patricia Campbell
3.   Lions Park, Sponsor – Jim Rioux

4.   10th & Lybarger, Sponsor – typically Sherry Chilcutt

5) CNA report

Karen reported there are two Council candidates who have offered to talk to RNAs. Nathan said we could invite the neighbors and do interviews at the Inn. Jim R. offered to contact them.

The Southwest and Northeast neighborhoods are organizing Map Your Neighborhood emergency preparedness programs. Karen is thinking about inviting her neighbors to a get-together to discuss the program.

Both South Capital and East Bay neighborhoods reported on their efforts to control speeding. It was suggested Eastside residents need to call the non-emergency Police number when they hear cars racing.

The Council’s Land Use and Environment Committee discussed proposals to allow commercial uses in residential neighborhoods. Jim. R. talked about commercial deserts in neighborhoods. We can address comments to David Ginther at: mailto:dg******@***********wa.us” data-original-string=”9vCmiNbB3PwjudsC5KNtug==a2dPEiku4VyX9yDOnnO/5jEHg5D6y85zsO8Hdxu/ChdGfdmi8Xh7puhIgXUIKvT7Fi3″ title=”This contact has been encoded by Anti-Spam by CleanTalk. Click to decode. To finish the decoding make sure that JavaScript is enabled in your browser.

6) Sidewalk repairs and inventory report

Jim S. briefly described repairs completed by contractors during Olympia’s 2024 sidewalk repair project, the recently completed “Sidewalk Condition Assessment,” sidewalk discussions at CNA and LUEC meetings, and Larry Dzieza’s Get Stuff Done Initiative. There are articles in Jolt about sidewalk repairs.

Karen described sidewalk repair projects completed by Lacey City crews.

The CNA and the City are preparing for the May 21st Affordable Housing Forum. Nathan suggested including an announcement in the May newsletter.

Nathan suggested Free Music Olympia may be available for the annual picnic.

7) May Newsletter topics

Suggested topics for the May newsletter included the Affordable Housing Forum and block parties. Karen will send the Forum announcement to Nathan.

8) May event

There will not be a May event. The ‘Meet Walk Talk’ event needs to be removed from the website calendar.

9) Other

Jim S. said there is one last review of the Military Department’s Armory sign underway. Once this review is completed the sign is scheduled to be installed before July 1st.

The next Board meeting will be June 10th at 7:00 PM.

The meeting adjourned at 8:10 PM.

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.