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.
ENA Board Meeting
September 13, 2023, 7:00 PM
Swantown Inn, 1431 11th Avenue SE
Present
Roger Horn (Vice President), Jim Sweeney (Secretary), Karen Sweeney (CNA Representative), Abigail Twombly, Jim Rioux, Nathan Allan, Cheryl Bayle
Agenda
1) Approval of the minutes
The August meeting minutes were approved with minor changes.
2) Treasurer Report
There is no treasurer’s report as the Treasurer was not present.
3) Annual Meeting
Roger reviewed the comments received via e-mail.
The board decided on the following date time and location for the Annual Meeting:
November 15,2023
7:00 PM
Swantown Inn, 1431 11th Avenue SE
Nathan suggested an update about the Plum Street Village as a potential agenda item.
Nathan has learned that the City has put out an RFP for new management of the facility. John Brown from LIHI does not think LIHI will get the contract.
Nathan outlined some key changes to the village management that should be of concern to the Board.
Nathan thinks there should be a call to action. The village is very well managed at this time, and he is concerned that there will be detrimental impacts to the community. Others agreed.
The board considered including this as an agenda item for the annual meeting. Several Board members expressed concerns about having something that is likely to be negative as part of the meeting.
Jim R. expressed concern about having City staff simply recite their talking points then possibly feel attacked if the discussion turned negative.
The board thought it might be best to invite City staff to our October Board meeting then provide a report out at the Annual Meeting.
Jim R. will contact Darian Lightfoot to see if someone from the homeless program can attend the October meeting.
The Board discussed how to showcase the events we have held in the past. Abigail thought that she could pull together a slideshow if people could provide her with pictures. Jim Sweeney agreed to moderate/narrate the slideshow during the meeting.
Roger thought we should spend some time talking about upcoming events and advocated for re-starting the caroling event. Roger agreed to lead the discussion of upcoming events at the Annual Meeting.
Nathan agreed to lead the discussion of the Plum Street Village changes.
Jim R. offered to put together a draft agenda for the Board to review.
4) Fall Festival
Sherry decided to get the press offered by Tim Smyth.
Jim Sweeney mentioned that it may need cleaning once we take possession.
The board reviewed volunteer needs and discussed event logistics.
Abigail agreed to get the sign board inserts and everyone agree that we should advertise soon.
Nathan suggested that we reach out to youth groups like the Boy Scouts for volunteers.
Note: On Friday 9/15 Jim Sweeney decided to cancel the festival feeling that we needed more time to prepare and ensure that we held a great event.
5) Eastside Talent Show
Roger reminded the board that it will be held at the Swantown Inn on Saturday October 14 from 3-5 pm.
He has 6 confirmed performers, and he is waiting to hear from seven other. He feels confident that we will have ten performers.
The board discussed advertising. Nathan and Roger will look at the banner that was used in the past to see if it can easily be modified for reuse.
6) CNA Report
7) December Holiday Events
Roger discussed the events that we have held in the past, caroling and a winter walkabout to judge decorations. He felt the caroling was a great event and we should consider restarting. The walkabout was ok but did not really bring people together.
Cheryl and Abigail reminded the board that we intentionally agreed to not hold a December event because everyone is very busy at that time of year.
The meeting adjourned at 8:15.
The Eastside Neighborhood Association is sponsoring a free, family-friendly variety show that will be held on October 14th from 3-5 p.m. at the Swantown Inn, 1431 11th Ave. SE in Olympia. People of all ages are welcome to attend. In addition to performances, the event will include an intermission with refreshments, and a chance to get to know one another in a friendly social setting.
Our goal is to include a wide variety of performances that will appeal to people of all ages. It is not a competition, just an afternoon of entertainment. The show will include performances such as poetry, singing, guitar, story-telling and piano.
We expect it to be a fun event, and hope you bring your friends!
If you have questions, or would like to be one of the performers at the event, contact Roger Horn at [email protected].
ENA Board Meeting
August 9, 2023, 7:00 PM
Swantown Inn, 1431 11th Avenue SE
Present
Sherry Chilcutt (President & Treasurer), Roger Horn (Vice President), Jim Sweeney (Secretary), Karen Clemens (CNA Representative), Abigail Twombly, Jim Rioux, Nathan Allen, Cheryl Bayle
Agenda
1) Approval of the minutes
The July meeting minutes were approved with changes submitted by Roger and Mark Foutch. Thank you to both.
2) Treasurer Report
$ 571.57 – Checking
$ 964.23 – Savings
$1308.12 – Neighborhood Signs
$ 153.60 – Trees
$ 410.51 – Neighborhood Beautification
$3,408.06 Total, including a recent $50 dues payment.
3) Doughnut Crawl Debrief
Board members agreed the event was a success and if we do it again more people are likely to attend. There were positive comments on the ENA Facebook page.
4) August Picnic planning
The Board discussed the following assignments:
5) RNA Grant purchasing Apple Press
After purchasing the grill and ice cream maker the grant will fall short of covering the cost of an apple press and a fruit grinder. It was decided to purchase the “Maximizer” press ($699±) and grinder ($299±) with various Board members agreeing to make up the difference.
6) CNA Report
The August meeting is next Monday. The MOU has been approved and the quarterly neighborhood meetings will be scheduled.
7) Fireworks
Sherry received an email response from OPD. Lisa Parshley is expected to bring it up with the City Council.
8) Possible music focused event at Swantown Inn cosponsored by ENA
Nathan said Bradford Loomis is scheduled Wednesday August 30 at 7 PM.
9) September Event
The Fall Festival will be held at Lions Park Saturday September 30 from 10:00 to 2:00.
We will not have an event at Beerwerks in September, but may hold the annual meeting there in November.
We have 10 signs plus Nathan’s bulletin board.
10) Other:
Sherry described the problem accessing Mail Chimp. Nathan will try to access our account using two-factor authenticator.
Roger is going to invite some additional performers. There was general discussion about the using the Armory for the October 14 Talent Show. Roger agreed to contact the Armory manager about the acoustics. He will also meet with Salvation Army Worship Center as a changed location for Talent Show.
Roger, Karen and Jim S. described this morning’s Lions Park sprayground dedication.
Tim Smyth, who lives on 10th Avenue across from the Halloween house, has indicated interest in closing the street to hold a block party. The Board discussed where it would be best to set up, how best to deal with the traffic, and the best time — early evening a few days before Halloween.
Sherry will not be here for September meeting, so Roger will be the acting President.
The meeting adjourned at 8:15.
