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=”I4tRYuU3be4HCOD2wWyIrw==a2dgPm28stYDsXxhIVYtyqDDsI/hZkJtPkf09mamsy9JV6X6GadLdLRACj4Xg8ohdt7″ 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.

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.