March 2008 board meeting minutes

Eastside Neighborhood Association
Monthly Meeting
March 20th, 7:00 PM

In attendance: Ann, Nathan, Casey, Sam, Tim, Whitney, Jessica

Elaine is really sick and unable to attend.
We went through introductions
We discussed old business. The garden committee didn’t get a chance to meet last month so no progress has
been made.  The first step is to just document everything.
SW Neighborhood has meetings twice per year and the entire neighborhood is plastered with signs.  We
discussed in depth doing something similar for our neighborhood meetings.
Elaine has been working on the website
Whitney talked about how we need to find ways to better read the pulse of the neighborhood. We all
agreed that if we could get more folks at the meeting that could help quite a bit.  We need to have a ‘hot
topic’ at each meeting.
Traffic – Whitney brought up traffic issues and we all agreed that traffic is something that everyone can get excited about.  We talked about previous efforts by the neighborhood to deal with the speeding on 11th. The city loaned us a speed sign to clock people’s speed.  It didn’t work well because it could be seen from the bottom of the hill and had to be manned at all times.  It worked as a speed deterrent, but not as a tool for elucidating the problem.  We agreed to discuss traffic at the next meeting.  Jess will write an article to gather information about traffic problem spots.

We also discussed problems with the church parking lot.  We agreed to write a letter to the church asking them to use the parking lot rather than the street.

Newsletter tasks – Whitney has broke down the newsletter tasks and we divided them up amongst ourselves :
Secure advertising (Elaine database)
Article selection ?
Layout (Whitney)
Distribution (Jess)
Printing (Nathan)
General Meeting signs (Sam will check in sign shop)
Meet you neighbor (Jess)
Distribution – We discussed the distribution in depth and there are questions about whether we are hitting
every house.  Whitney suggested we use GIS to delegate the routes.  Jess suggested that although the routes
are variable, it may be hard to replace dedicated delivery folks if the routes are working.  In the end
we decided not to redo the routes right now, but Jess will talk to delivery folks to see if they think we
are getting everything.  We could also map out the hand written directions that we do have and take a
look to see if we have any gaps.
We also want to add “100% recycled paper” to newsletters. We should order some more Ralph’s cards. Whitney will email everyone the new basecamp site.
This newsletter’s items
Nathan forming committee
meet the neighbors
announce general meeting
traffic issue
light and life church
be a member
highlight traffic issues, here’s a quick list: 11th suicide, central speeding, any street from Eastside,
5th speeding, fredrick to big tom’s, 3 way 7th and union
Open mic
Welcome package – we talked about doing a welcome package for new folks coming into the neighborhood
with a map and coffee or something
Next meeting will be at Whitneys house at 1222 9th Ave

September Board Minutes

ENA minutes from the board meeting on Thurs Sept 19, 2007  at Luke’s House.

People present

  • Ginny Smith
  • Eddie Willingham

Board members present

  • Nathan Allan
  • Casey Allan
  • Jessica Archer
  • Luke Bowerman
  • Carol Wilson
  • Elaine Nelson

Meeting was called to order at 7:05 by president Elaine

Update on the sign project. It is moving forward Elaine will go look at the location sights and decide on the final ones. She will meet with the city and they will get installed. We will have extra signs and posts. A decision will be made on what to do with them.

The grant deadline for the neighborhoods is approaching. The maximum is $4,000 and needs to be applied for asap. We would like to pursue the possibilities for Madison Scenic Park.  It was decided that we would talk to the Pea Patch group and get their ideas.  The school district needs to be approached about selling the property to the city of Olympia. Nathan and Elaine will talk to Willow with the pea patch group and work on the grant. Perhaps it could involve fencing and raised planting beds. The grant could be written to state that the school district needs to move forward with the city.

The next general meeting is in November  on the 8th  and the upcoming newsletter. Ideas for both:

1. Scott Homes could come and address the concerns about cutting down the woods for their development and the increase in freeway noise as a result. Jessica will put together an article for the newsletter and approach them about come to the general meeting.
2. Elaine will give a final sign report. Hopefully with pictures and progress.
3. Information on the grant submittal and explain what we are trying to do. Perhaps Willow could come and help explain the plans for the Madison scenic park pea patch.
4. Update on the neighborhood churches.  The progress on the St. Mike’s project, the opening of New Bridge at old Madison, and Camp Quixote at United Methodist.
5. Something about the completion of the new walking trail off of Eastside Street.

The general meeting will be at New Bridge. Elaine will contact Light and Life  Church and let them know of our location change.

Carol will bring the Ralph’s rebate cards to the general meeting.

Jody gave a report on the Active Community Walking project. All kids at Madison will get a map of the safe walking routes to the school, a water bottle and a pedometer. There are also 2 new banners put up at the school and on Legion. It looks like we will get funding for another year of this project. Christine Watts will continue with the active lifestyle project. A motion was made to donate money ( not to exceed $100.00) toward the cost of 8 blowup maps (one for each class) to use in the classrooms. Nathan made the motion and Luke seconded it—the vote was unanimous to donate the money.

Ginny Smith, from the United Methodist church on Legion across from Madison School came to answer questions about the arrival of Camp Quixote ( a homeless tent city) at the church’s property. She explained to us that it will be a fenced in area by their lower parking lot.  The camp will operate with very strict rules. It is a well managed resident ran camp. Everyone will have background checks. There will be a screening process for each tenant. There will be no one under the age of 18, no pets, no weapons, no violence, no loitering, no littering and no drugs or alcohol. Lights are out at 10:00. There will be an average of 20 people living there. The gathering will be there for 3 months and there will be port a potties but no shower facilities. She is looking for volunteers to help man the common area. It will be manned 24 hours a day and guests must check in and out.  She asked if any of us would like to volunteer to call her at 491-1540. The camp will move in the first of October.

Eddie wanted to announce that New Bridge Church was moving in on Sept. 30,2007 and the grand opening service would be on Sunday October 7th.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:00.

Respectfully submitted
Carol Wilson

Special Board Meeting minutes

On August 18, 2007 the ENA board had a special meeting at the picnic. The subject of the meeting was a change in presidents.

Chad Akins has resigned as president but will stay on the board as a board member.

Elaine Nelson was elected as the new president for 2007-2008.

Board members in attendance were Chad Akins, Elaine Nelson,Nathan Allan, Casey Allan, Carol Wilson, Mark Bergeson, Jessica Archer, Luke Bowerman, Jody Suhrbier

The vote was unanimous

Respectfully submitted

Carol Wilson

[Note: more picnic info coming soon!]