ENA Board Meeting
November 8, 2023, 7:00 PM
Swantown Inn, 1431 11th Avenue SE
Members Present
Sherry Chilcutt (President), Roger Horn (Vice President), Jim Sweeney (Secretary), Karen Clemens (CNA Representative), Abigail Twombly, Nathan Allan, Jim Rioux (remotely)
Agenda
1) Approval of minutes
The October 11, 2023 Board meeting minutes were approved with minor corrections as suggested by Roger and Jim R.
2) Treasurer Report
Checking $653.16
Savings $964.62
Neighborhood Signs $1308.62
Trees $153.72
Neighborhood Beautification $410.72
Total $3,490.84
Sherry made a $200 donation to the tree fund for the cider press. One of the previous owners would like to see a tree planted at the Armory.
3) Annual Meeting 11-15-23
Someone will need to check-in with Kim to make sure she can attend.
Jim S. will do an “Eastside Events” slide presentation.
Abigail handed out inserts for the sandwich board signs.
Nathan said he will provide coffee.
Karen will follow-up with others providing food.
4) ENA Officers continuing
Sherry will continue as President.
Roger agreed to continue as Vice-President
Jim Rioux agreed to be Treasurer
Jim Sweeney agreed to stay on as Secretary.
Karen agreed to continue as CNA representative.
Jim R. suggested we review the By-Laws to determine if they need to be updated.
5) RNA Grant ideas and wrap-up of 2023 grant
Sherry is working on a final report and needs to have an accounting of the hours we spent working on grant projects. New RNA grant requests are due January 15. The Board agreed to consider new grant requests at their December meeting.
6) CNA Report
City Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with CNA
Karen emailed a summary of the Council’s October 17 meeting. She described the process CNA’s representatives went through to develop a draft MOU with the City Manager, and questions and concerns individual Councilpersons expressed at the meeting. She is working with other CNA members to draft speaking points to educate the Council so they will better understand and support the City’s neighborhoods program. The CNA is lobbying for the City to increase RNA grant funding.
7) Sidewalk committee report
Jim S. described an October 12 Zoom meeting of the CNA sidewalks subcommittee. They are currently following-up on ideas from the meeting.
8) Ongoing Tree removal in Lions Park
The Board discussed a recent tree removal near the Lions Park shelter. Jim R. is familiar with the situation and said it was removed because it was determined to be a hazard tree. The Board expressed an interest in making sure trees that have to be removed are replaced.
9) Winter Holiday Event?
The Swantown Inn is planning to have a Santa Claus-themed event. After discussion, the consensus was that ENA events recognize all seasonal holidays, similar to “light celebrations” in many schools.
10) Other topics
Jim S. mentioned attending an open house on the Capital Mall Triangle plan on October 25. The comment period on the Draft EIS is closed but the Subarea Plan is still a work in progress.
Nathan reported our website cost is going up. It’s scheduled for renewal on Dec. 13 (3 years @ $9.99 per month). Nathan can move it to his Word Press server which he has already paid for and he is willing to work with Luke Bowerman to take care of it.
Sherry moved and Cheryl seconded moving the website to Nathan’s server. The motion was approved unanimously. Board members expressed high appreciation to Nathan for his work on the ENA website, and for hosting the 2023 Talent Show.
Roger asked the members about the October 14, 2023 Eastside Talent Show. It included 10 performers, and 48 people attended. ENA members said it would be okay to do another talent show next October. Nathan suggested adding comedians or dancers.
The meeting adjourned at 8:15.
