Neighborhood Meeting Minutes April 2019

4/17/19 Swantown Inn 7-8:30 pm

Attendees:

Board members – Sheena Pietzold, Brad Archbold, Nathan Allan, Sherry Chilcutt, Brian Brannies, Jim Sweeney, Roger Horn, Jim Rioux.

Others: Amy Hill

  1. Minutes from last month approved
  2. Website updates needed – calendar, board members/officers
  3. CNA update: Jim Sweeney –
    • The Growth Management Hearings Board had a hearing on the merits of the Missing Middle zoning ordinance and found the SEPA process wasn’t done correctly.
    • There was an overview of development projects completed downtown in the last few years due to the downtown building ordinance. 1600 dwelling units have been added downtown. The issue of property tax exemptions for these developments that now have some units being used for Airbnbs is going to the Land Use Hearings Committee.
    • Capital City Marathon is coming up on May 19th. The route goes down Eastside over the freeway, so it may impact the neighborhood.
    • Jim will share the letter the ENA wrote regarding the armory with the CNA now that it’s signed and official. Perhaps the new head/president of the boys and girls club might be interested in reconsidering if they want to use the building.
  4. Treasurer’s report from Sherry:
    • Checking: $300.59
    • Savings: $1059.07
    • Neighborhood Signs: $1301.63
    • Legion Way Trees: $152.32
    • Community Beautification: $407.76
    • The credit/debit card is definitely active now (to pay for survey monkey)
    • It’s hard to tell who is paying dues because of how it’s set up on the website, we only get email addresses.
  5. Mural update – The City’s original plan for the spraygound at Lions Park had the pump house located by the street but neighbors didn’t want to have the possible noise, so it will now be right behind the tennis court wall. The matching grant we applied for was denied because any mural on the back side of the tennis court wall would be blocked by the pump house. Perhaps we could put a mural on the pump house in the future.
  6. Variety Show update: Roger – This year it will be held on June 1st from 3-5pm at the Salvation Army Worship Center (we can use the space from 2-6 for setting up/taking down). We are partnering with the Bigelow Highlands neighborhood. Roger sent an email to those who participated last year to see if they would be interested again this year. 3 responded with yes, and one more for sure from Bigelow Highlands. Roger might put a notice on Nextdoor to see if we can get more performers. We could use 7-8 people to volunteer. It sounds like several folks that helped last year will be willing to help again this year. Roger will see if a sign company can update the vinyl sign that was made last year.
  7. Block Parties and Picnic updates – Brian reached out to the City about reserving the shelter for the picnic date, but hasn’t heard back. All 4 of the block party hosts from last year said they’d host again this year.
  8. Sub-area plan update: We are getting started on the community connections section, and planning to have a town hall meeting on June 8th from 9:30am to 12pm at the First United Methodist Church. We’re asking if Stacey from the City will be the facilitator. We have 1 survey remaining. The 3rd survey is out right now (related to crime and safety) and we may extend the deadline to April 28th.
  9. Other business:
    1. Charlie Stevens from SWONA wants a letter signed that talks about climate change. When Roger gets it from Charlie, he will distribute it to the board to review and consider.
    2. Brad and Nathan will look into possibly applying for a City Pathway Grant for a path from Central onto Madison Elementary School grounds.
    3. Discussed having a candidate forum again this year, perhaps at the Elks again in early October.
    4. Amy Hill was voted on as a new member to the ENA board.

Eastside Neighborhood Block Parties – July 12 & 13

The Eastside Neighborhood Association (ENA) is again sponsoring block parties this summer. Two of the block parties are coming up on Friday July 12 and Saturday July 13. The City has approved street closures where the parties will be held. It is possible a police rep or city council member will drop by to chat with us. The party hosts will provide some food and activities. Please bring your own potluck dish and/or beverage. People of all ages are welcome to attend. If you have a yard game to share, or a musical instrument you’d like to play, bring it! You may also want to bring a chair or two.

Friday, July 12, 5 – 8 pm
Lybarger Street, between 10th Ave & Union
Contact: Whitney 360-556-0337
Host will provide hot dogs, buns, fixings, plates, napkins, cutlery. Please bring dish and/or beverages to share.

Saturday, July 13, 4 – 8 pm
5th Avenue, between Edison & Fairview
Contact: Adrienne 360-481-6264, Roger 360-292-9152

More block parties to follow on July 19… stay tuned!

Eastside Neighbor-Tainment Variety Show

Saturday, June 1st, 3 to 5 p.m.

At Salvation Army Worship Center on 4th & Central

The Eastside and Bigelow Highlands neighborhood associations are sponsoring a family-friendly variety show that will be held on Saturday, June 1st from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Salvation Army Worship Center on 4th and Central. The doors will open at 2:30.

This is called the Eastside Neighbor-Tainment Variety Show. We want to bring neighbors together to create cohesiveness, unity, and connections in our neighborhoods, and make our City a happier and safer place to live.

Come to the show and you will see and hear performers of various ages doing poetry, piano-playing, guitar-playing, singing, and more. Our intention is to include a wide variety of performances that will appeal to people of all ages. It’s not a competition, just an afternoon of entertainment.

Anyone is welcome to attend and the event is free. In addition to performances, the program will include break time with refreshments and an opportunity for neighbors to get to know one another, and a sing-along.

We expect it to be a fun and well-attended event. Please join us. And feel free to bring along family and friends.

By the way, we still have a couple performance slots open. If you want to perform, send an e-mail to Roger Horn at rogerolywa@yahoo.com.

Hope you can make it! Thanks!!!

ENA Sub-Area Plan Survey #4- Community Connections

This is Survey #4 – Community Connections

This is the 4th and final survey based on draft Action Plans developed by the ENA Sub-area Planning Team. Thanks to those of you who have responded to earlier surveys!

This survey contains 32 action plan recommendations and three additional questions you can choose to answer. For each recommendation you can indicate whether they should be included as they are or with modifications, or left out of the Plan. A comment box is provided below each recommendation so you can propose a modification or share other thoughts. Do as much of the survey as you’d like. It shouldn’t take too long to respond to all the proposed actions.

Please submit Survey #4 by Sunday, May 18th.

Here are all four surveys, this is your last chance to complete older ones too:

  1. Neighborhood Density & Character
  2. Public Works/Infrastructure
  3. Crime Prevention & Safety Enhancement
  4. Community Connections

Our goal is to finish our Eastside Neighborhood Sub-area Plan by the end of June. We are going to hold a Sub-area Plan Town Hall Meeting on Saturday, June 8th from 9:30 a.m. to noon at the First United Methodist Church (on Legion and Boundary). We will provide background information and present the updated Action Plans. If you attend the Town Hall, we will ask you to recommend which actions are most important and should be worked on most promptly. Please come if you can!

Our overall goal is to implement actions in coming years to improve the quality of life in our neighborhood!!!