We’re looking for neighbors and friends to join in a CLOTHING SWAP coming on Feb. 24th! The event will take place at the First United Methodist Church of Olympia , 1224 Legion Way SE. (More info. will follow next week.) In the meantime, start gathering your give-aways for all ages, sizes and genders! Clothes should be clean and in good condition.
ENA Board Meeting
December 13, 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, Cheryl Bayle
Guest: Sara Finkle
1) Approval of the minutes
The November 8 meeting minutes were approved as submitted.
2) Treasurer Report
Checking $748.66
Savings $964.75
Neighborhood Signs $1308.78
Trees $553.79
Neighborhood Beautification $410.79
Total $3,988.77
3) RNA Grant Wrap-up
Several things we thought we would do we weren’t able to do, but we were able to put the funding to good uses. We were also able to use a lot of donated materials and time rather than paying for it.
4) ENA Officer election
Sherry agreed to continue as President. It was so moved, seconded and approved unanimously.
Jim R. agreed to be the new Treasurer. It was so moved, seconded and approved unanimously.
Jim S. agreed to continue as Secretary. It was so moved, seconded and approved unanimously.
Roger agreed to continue as Vice President. It was so moved, seconded and approved unanimously.
Karen agreed to continue as the CNA representative. Jim R. agreed to be alternate CNA representative.
5) RNA Grant ideas
The Board discussed grant ideas for 2024, including:
After discussion, the Board decided to pursue the following grants:
1. A mural on Eastside Street, possibly at 1306 Eastside
2. Funding to buy food for 2024 block parties
3. One or two reusable event banners
The City’s RNA grant schedule is:
6) CNA Report
Karen reported no council person attended the December 11 meeting.
The annual RNA renewal request was sent recently.
Mike Ruth, TESC, is working on the 2nd alpha version of the sidewalk condition survey app.
Tim Smith reported there are about 50 development projects in review.
After Council review the draft MOU was bumped back to the City Manager.
The Urban Farms program is proceeding. Seattle had a similar program associated with earthquake preparedness about 10 years ago.
7) Meeting Dates
The Board agreed to change meeting dates for the 1st quarter of the year due to a member’s conflict; the January, February and March meetings will be held at 7PM on the second Tuesday of the month.
8) Photo Storage
A past President dropped off ENA historic photos at Sherry’s house. She will bring them to the next meeting in hopes we can put names to faces.
Nathan suggested a number of options; we could:
Whichever we do, it should be easy to access and use so people will use it.
9) Other
A resident at 429 Fredrickson Street SE reportedly has a lake in front of her house and asked for help contacting the City about maintenance. Neighbors are currently buying and spreading their own gravel, which pushes stormwater onto their neighbors’ property.
Jim R. recommended sending a letter to the City. He volunteered to draft a letter for Sherry to sign.
10) The Board considered planning a board work day in January to meet up and work on the website, map out media responsibilities, and anything else that routinely falls through the cracks. (tentatively 10AM, Saturday January 20, at Swantown)
11) By-laws
Updates will be posted on the website by Sherry and Roger.
(12) Abigail suggested drafting a 2024 calendar of events.
She, Cheryl & Sarah will work on it, and attempt to digitize a version so it can be shared on-line.
(13) Jim R. reported he has started work on the Fones Road project. He can do a presentation in the next couple of weeks.
(14) Jim S. reported he will be attending the first meeting of the Armory Partners selection committee tomorrow.
The meeting adjourned at 8:30.
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.
November 15, 7:00 p.m. at the Swantown Inn Please join us as we look back on past accomplishments and events and plan for the upcoming year. There will be a slideshow highlighting what your Eastside Neighborhood Association has been part of in the past and a call for ideas from the neighborhood for future projects. Olympia Homeless Coordinator, Kim Kondrat, will be a guest speaker.
…plus Refreshments
Let your voice be heard.
ENA Board Meeting
October 11, 2023, 7:00 PM
Swantown Inn, 1431 11th Avenue SE
Members Present
Roger Horn (Vice President), Jim Sweeney (Secretary), Karen Clemens (CNA Representative), Abigail Twombly, Nathan Allan
Guest
Kim Kondrat, Olympia Housing and Homelessness Program
Agenda
1) Approval of minutes
The September 13, 2023 minutes were approved with one correction as there was no Treasurer report in September.
2) Treasurer Report
Checking $615.32
Savings $964.49
Neighborhood Signs $1308.45
Legion Tree $153.69
Community Beautification $410.65
Total $3452.60
3) Plum Street Village
Kim Kondrat provided an overview of the housing and homelessness program and asked members about their experiences and perceptions of the homeless issue.
The Quince Street tiny houses (100 units) are almost always full.
Sergio’s day use center on Martin Way is open with limited hours.
Phase 2 of Unity Commons is under construction.
Kim made sure she had our email & contact information.
4) November Annual Meeting plan
Kim Kondrat agreed to do a presentation on the City’s homelessness response and Jim will show a slide presentation about the ENA.
5) Cider Press
The cider press is now residing at 1613 Union Ave SE. We had good help on Saturday thanks to Jim Sweeney, Tim Smythe, Hank Lamar, Sherry Chilcutt and Isaac Leff. Tim brought over 4 big boxes of Macintosh apples, Hank recruited hyper local neighbors and we produced about 9 gallons. It’s a beautiful machine and wonderfully efficient. Hank and Sherry are donating $400 to the ENA for a future tree purchase as a thanks to the donors. The press was owned by 3 families: Tim & Linda Smythe, Michael Moore and Joe Roush.
6) Eastside Talent Show
It’s going to be held at Swantown Inn on Saturday, October 14. The performance will take place from 3 to 5 p.m. We’ll set up from 2 to 3 p.m. and close up from 5 to 6 p.m.
7) CNA Report
Karen talked about the on-going sidewalks issue. The City Council, Planning Commission, BPAC and others have all weighed in. The focus is on downtown sidewalk repairs. The CNA is hopeful the program can be expanded outside the downtown area. They are interested in a phone app which would allow neighborhoods to participate in sidewalk condition surveys. A CNA sidewalks subcommittee will be meeting tomorrow.
A group has been working with the City to update the neighborhood grant procedure and to increase the available funding.
The Capital Mall Draft EIS out for review.
Multi-family tax exemptions may be expanded.
A Southeast Area annexation appears to be moving ahead; cost is a major issue.
An Urban Futures Farm survey is available online.
The meeting adjourned at 8:30.
