whitney

Notes from April 27 Meeting re: Crime in the Eastside

First United Methodist Church
Wednesday, April 27, 7:00 – 9:00 pm

Unrelated Updates:

Madison Elementary Plant Sale

Saturday, May 7, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
Funds raised support the school

Bike Corridor Project

Michelle Swanson, City of Olympia
Pilot project
Info available at – olympiawa.gov/bikecorridors
Changes in the crosswalk and bulb-outs
Interim materials being used. Will make more permanent.
Connects Lions Park to downtown Sylvester park.
Some portions of bike corridor will not be open until winter.
Survey will be sent out.
Kickoff event in the next few weeks.

Crime Conversation:

Attending:
Olympia Police Department: Lt. Paul Lower
Olympia City Council: Clark Gilman, Nathaniel Jones, Jim Cooper
Over 60 Eastside neighbors

Duplex 1406-1408 Central St. SE

  • 70 calls for 1406 alone
  • Neighbors expressed concern about: “non-stop” visits by people in cars on bikes; apparent drug deal went down yesterday and cops didn’t show up until 3 hours later; “creepers follow me up and down the block, prostitution, drugs, and nobody does anything”; parking in front of homes, blocking driveways; “I feel I have open carry in my yard to let them know. I don’t want to have to do anything like that, but…”
  • OPD says they have been there every day, sitting in cars, knocking on doors.
  • Recent update – bank foreclosed, new, not local management company. Amy Stull is talking to management company. Eviction process underway. September 2016 is the lockout date for these houses. They could move out sooner, but that’s when they shut the home down.
  • What is the understanding of the water being turned off and is there a deal to keep it on? Can they still live in it?

Current State of Crime in the Eastside

  • Burglaries are averaging 281 residential burglaries.
  • Person crimes are tracked separately. Robbery, we’ve had 5 that have been reported.
  • Vehicle prowls are crazy throughout the city.
  • Cars stolen in a month – February 25. This is throughout the city, but the county has been having thefts as well. They are working on curbing it. March is at 10. They’ve used bait cars.
  • Violent crimes – very little; Olympia is generally safe.
  • Drive by shooting a month ago, on 4th Ave.
  • Crime has ramped up over the last year and a half.
  • Perception is that the Eastside neighborhood is getting pillaged; data does not support this. From the map you can see that there are only a few this week in our area.

OPD Staffing and Resources

  • 5 officers for city of Olympia from 5:00 – 11:00 pm, even less at night. Wednesday night they had 172 calls for service.
  • Using social media to help and spread the word to help find criminals. OPD is on Twitter, Nextdoor, Instagram. Weekly updates sent out. 8 officers will be working the streets on bikes this summer to get out in parks and downtown area.

Concerns About Available Resources

  • Neighbors expressed concern that city ordinances don’t provide for our safety. We need more than a bandaid , we had meeting 2 years ago but OPD is not powerful enough to stop it. We need to be solution-focused to combat crime. Frustration that felons get out of jail the same day – the system is failing with people that burglarize and get caught and then they are released.
  • Homelessness and drug addiction are problems nationally.
  • There is not a lot of jail space and OPD is frustrated as well when they arrest someone and their paperwork isn’t done but the person is back out on the streets. Working with the municipal courts to make sure certain people that need to be held, should be held.
  • Social services increasing, helps out the OPD to assist persons, maybe not hardened criminals, that need mental help or otherwise.
  • OPD does not have the authority to drug test people they arrest – they can only do a breathalyzer or blood draw if there is a DUI.
  • City just received a grant to have a Community Court. To help aid in law enforcement assistance diversion.
  • Neighbor expressed concern that call rate for Olympia is 4x the number of Tacoma calls? Argument ensued re: accuracy of this neighbor’s data.

Potential Solutions

  • We need to work together and get to know neighbors. We all have to do our part. The best way to deter crime is to know your neighbors.
  • Crime prevention through environmental design. Are there places for people to hide? Find out when your neighbors go to work.
  • Neighbor: threat indications – organic vs. non-organic activity. We can create groups and identify how to articulate things we’ve seen to the police. Initial force protection deterrents, soft target or a hard target? Get on Amazon, get alarms, bells and whistles. Try to beef up your security and make your homes look like they are a “hard target”.
  • Is there any legislation to be passed that can get people evicted more quickly, especially when there’s a criminal element. How far on the property can the code enforcement people come onto the property without a court order? Does WA state have stricter laws or more lenient laws?
    OPD has to protect everyone.There are many laws out there dealing with property and civil rights. Can’t just open their doors or their trunks.There used to be a time where you could and stake out a house or car, find a reason to pull them over and arrest them for something else and end up with a drug bust. 9th circuit has moved the authority away from cops to do that.
  • Code enforcement goes to properties to check up on homes that look likes they’re running a business.
  • Neighborhood night out?
  • Maybe organize a community clean-up. We need to bring something to the table to the maintenance people to find out about cleaning up the neighborhood. Maybe we need to approach it from a neighborhood association standpoint, but ENA participation is sorely lacking.
  • Block Watch. Amy Stull can give presentations. Notes from previous Block Watch presentation can be found here. This idea has fallen through in the past because neighbors have not stepped up to the plate to captain blocks. There needs to be a block captain.
  • Maybe we need more officers in the City of Olympia? There are many funding issues. Each officer is $100,000 per year for training and benefits. Through the budget process we can talk about how we can bring more resources to our police department. Currently, they are trying to pay for cameras in more areas to be able to monitor areas.
  • Some Seattle neighborhoods have private security firms in their area to patrol. According to one neighbor, in our area it costs $20 an hour to patrol the street. Sometimes these private security forces include people with lengthy criminal records – they are not the same as police officers.
  • City needs to put together a City wide crime task force to work on solutions.
  • Chief Roberts is open to how to pool resources but everyone in the neighborhoods to be more involved.
  • Councilman Nathaniel Jones- Fairly extensive outreach to see if the police force is reacting the way we want them to. Awaiting a report in the next month from the chief of police and their strategic plan to respond to the community. Budget of $500K was added for the OPD. Council is engaged and making efforts.
  • Get involved: Citizen advisory committees, know your neighbors, be in your yards more.
  • Brian – president ENA will help anyone install lights on their house.

Next Steps

  • Another meeting on Thursday, May 12, 7:00 pm at the First United Methodist Church to discuss where to go from here.
  • Have a liaison with the city at the next meeting. To “try to fix the broken window” we need to know what we can legally and not legally do to make a difference.

Thank you!

  • Thanks to all who attended, and offered input!
Nathan Allan

March 2016 Board Meeting Minutes

Swantown Inn Bed & Breakfast, 1431 11th A15ve SE (corner of Central)
Wednesday, March 16th, 2016, 7:00PM – 8:15PM
Monthly Board meeting of the Eastside Neighborhood Association
Board Members in Attendance: Brian Brannies, Sheena Pietzold, Nathan Allan, Rita Sammons, , Susan Herring, Jim Sweeny, Sam Green, Charlotte Claybrook.

Others: Roger Horn, LouEllyn Jones

Absent (Excused): Sherry Cillicut, Melissa Bluestein

Minutes

  • Master Calendar updates
    • Agreed to keep board meetings on third Wednesday at 7pm. Also to keep them to an hour if possible.
    • Annual Picnic set to 20th August (unless another major event is found to fall on that day)
    • Neighborhood Garage Sale to be held week after Lakefair, Susan Herring taking charge of organizing
  • Nuisance Houses
    • There is continued displeasure within the neighborhood about the Duplex on Central, and a home on Sawyer.
    • The Sawyer street property appears to be more of a code enforcement issue and efforts have been made with OPD and Code Enforcement to make the property a better neighbor.
    • The Central Street Duplex is more of an OPD issue. OPD and Code Enforcement are both well aware of the problems. Activity is being tracked by officers. It is highly recommended that neighbors call in all suspicious activity to 911.
    • It has been suggested by members of other neighborhood groups that some or all of the following actions be undertaken;
      • reaching out to landlords
      • calling in every single little disturbance or illegal activity to 911
      • the addition of signage that notes “Neighborhood Watch” is in effect in the area
      • legal action against landlords to seize or penalize the property if problems are not fixed.
    • A number of board members noted similar problems in past residences. Board embers also offered assistance in undertaking the before-mentioned actions.
  • CNA Update from Sam Green
  • Treasurers Report
    • A motion was made by Nathan and seconded by Susan, to remove Luke Bowerman from the ENA Bank Account and to add Brian Brannies. Vote was taken and passed unanimously.
    • ACTION ITEM: Sherry to provide Brian with necessary documentation to facilitate this.
    • Checking $339.26
    • Savings $1061.00
    • Neighborhood signs $1298.05
    • Legion way trees $151.53
    • Community beautification $505.86

Minutes submitted by Nathan Allan, Joint ENA Secretary

sheena

December 2015 Board Meeting Minutes

Swantown Inn Bed & Breakfast, 1431 11th Ave SE (corner of Central)
Wednesday, December 16th, 2015, 7:00PM – 8:00PM
Monthly Board meeting of the Eastside Neighborhood Association
Board Members in Attendance: Nathan Allan, Brian Brannies, Sheena Pietzold, Rita Sammons, Sherry Cillicut, Susan Herring

Minutes

  • Dog waste bag stations update
    • Supplying bags will cost the ENA around $500 a year. This is not sustainable unless we have more dues-paying members. We have had a lull in members paying dues, so Nathan made laminated signs to attach to the dog waste bag stations to solicit members to pay dues.
  • Newsletter
    • We’ve had numerous comments regarding how long it has been since the ENA has put together a newsletter. One option is to do a postcard advertising our upcoming general meeting and perhaps things we have accomplished over the past year.
    • Brian will send the address spreadsheet we have to the group so we can check the addresses by foot. Each board member will claim an area of the neighborhood to walk and double check to see if actual houses match the street addresses in the spreadsheet. Hopefully this effort will increase the accuracy of the addresses and reduce mailing cost waste.
  • Matching grant update
    • Brian has a meeting set up with the City on Friday, December 18th to sign paperwork for the matching grant to improve traffic calming devices (round-abouts and bump-outs) throughout the neighborhood. The City will be paying for general liability insurance to protect the neighborhood association in the event of a lawsuit. All volunteers will need to sign an agreement with the City to protect the ENA. The City is allowing us to carry the funds over until the end of 2016.
  • General meeting
    • We’d like to try to have the general meeting January 27th. Topics could include Olympia School District Superintendent speaking about the proposed school levy (special election vote scheduled for February 9th), Thurston Transportation Oriented Development (TTOD) presentation, soliciting for volunteers to improve traffic calming devices for the matching grant, soliciting for new board members, and electing new board of directors.
  • Treasurers Report
    • $169.26 in Checking
    • $1360.83 in Savings
    • $1297.87 in Neighborhood Signs fund
    • $151.49 in Legion Way Trees fund
    • $505.76 in Community Beautification fund

 

Minutes submitted by Sheena Pietzold, Joint ENA Secretary

sheena

August 2015 Board Meeting Minutes

Swantown Inn Bed & Breakfast, 1431 11th Ave SE (corner of Central)
Wednesday, August 19th, 2015, 6:30PM – 7:30PM
Monthly Board meeting of the Eastside Neighborhood Association
Board Members in Attendance: Nathan Allan, Brian Brannies, Sheena Pietzold, Rita Sammons, Sherry Cillicut

Minutes

  • June/July Minutes approved.
  • Annual Garage Sale
    • We heard from several people saying it didn’t go very well this year. Coordination was not great, so we should work on improving it next year.
    • We have a possible volunteer to help coordinate next year.
  • Annual Picnic Planning
    • Insurance ended up costing $101.
    • Reservation of Pavilion was $25.
    • OPD and OFD sending officers and Fire truck during the event.
    • Recycling and Organics to be provided (Nathan will pick-up).
    • Food and Drink: Burgers being provided completely byEastside Big Tom.
    • The Eastside Co-op donated $100 and Ralph’s donated $50 gift cards. Brian and Rita will shop and bring side dishes, deserts, etc. from these stores.
    • ENA will purchase hot dogs, buns, and beverages. Nathan will pick-up.
    • Entertainment: Live music confirmed. Donated by Brian Brannies and Sheena Pietzold
  • Treasurers Report
    • $367.15 in Checking
    • $1360.47 in Savings
    • $1297.53 in Neighborhood Signs fund
  • New business
    • Update on matching grant: working on finalizing agreements to be able to move forward. The City will be paying for general liability insurance to protect the neighborhood association in the event of a lawsuit. All volunteers will need to sign an agreement with the City to protect the ENA. The City will provide appropriate safety equipment necessary (with the main foreseeable hazard being traffic). The City is also working on provisions to allow us to carry the funds over to 2016 since this process has taken so long.
    • Medela rezone update: the city hearings examiner recommended to the city council to upzone the area. Next steps: city council will vote on whether to upzone. Doug Deforest (representing TTOD) would like to come to the September board meeting to talk about TTOD and their ideas for the future of the area.
    • Nathan met with Lt. Holmes from OPD about a house in the neighborhood that the neighbors have been complaining about. There are proposed changes to city ordinances to make it easier for OPD and code enforcement to take care of these kinds of issues. Until then, we should try talking with our neighbors and telling them our concerns.
  • Minutes submitted by Sheena Pietzold, Joint ENA Secretary
Nathan Allan

June/July 2015 Board Meeting Minutes

Swantown Inn Bed & Breakfast, 1431 11th Ave SE (corner of Central)
Wednesday, July 8th, 2015, 6:30PM – 8PM

Attendees: Nathan Allan; Brian Brannies; Kathleen Blanchette; Susan Herring; Rita Sammons; Sherry Chilcutt; Melissa Bluestein; Theresa Goen-Burgman

 

  • Approval of May Minutes
  • Dog waste stations update
    • $160 per year for bags; buying twice a year
    • Most are being managed, except the Union Fairview walkthrough.
    • More bags were ordered and distributed as necessary.
  • Neighborhood Matching Grant Update
    • Grants need to be exempt from having to hire unions.  Extra reporting requirements if affecting public land.
    • 2/3 of grants approved don’t meet the city requirements
    • Traffic circles meet the requirements.
    • Beautification grant planning.
      • Might be delayed do to funding
  • Annual Garage Sale
    • Extra signs were ordered.
    • Signage should go up after the meeting.
    • Banner for the picnic is here as well.
    • Nathan will resend the event info to print out!
    • Signs should go up ASAP!
    • KAOS has community board.
  • Annual Picnic
    • Planning
      • Reach out Olympia Co-Op for donations: Brian (last year Co-op $100; Ralphs $75
  • Are we still swapping the time, considering the Neighborhood Matching Grant did not come through?
    • We are going to leave the time from 4-7pm; Park is rented out for day by Nathan
  • How many attendees should we plan for?
    • 40-50.
  • Should we try and find cheap or free entertainment, trying to increase the appeal of the event?
    • Brian is reaching out to someone at Evergreen who know other musicians.
    • Susan knows a band with former city councilman Pat Cole.  She will look into the this more.
    • Budget
  • Should we set a budget?
    • Last year was $200
    • This year for $300 – vote by board members – approved.
  • Food and Drink
    • Brian: Beerwerks (no response yet)
    • Coolers for drinks?
    • Nathan to speak with Big Tom’s about possible donations
  • CNA – Report from attending CNA meetings.
    • No report for this meeting
  • Treasurers Report
    • Sherry says we are a little low on funds but we need people to be paying their dues.   Sherry/Nathan will send something out to members.

 

New business

  • Defaced sign at 9th and Boulevard for Medella rezoning.
  • Sound barriers:
  • Medella project: Borders of area are of concern.  Overlap into cemetery.  Deeded land in 1857 so not a lot of surveying has been done.  No recorded surveys for the Medella property.  Should be adverse possession for cemetery.  Still considered non-project so city said to wait until it becomes a project.