AGENDA
Council of Neighborhood Associations (CNA)
Monday, January 14, 2019
6:30 – 8:30 PM
- 6:30-6:35 PM Welcome and Introductions
- 6:35-6:45 PM Update from Councilmember Gilman
- 6:45-6:55 PM IAP2 – TENTATIVE
- 6:55-7:10 PM Transportation Master Plan (Sophie Stimson)
- 7:10-7:30 PM Artesian Well Update and Downtown generally (Jonathon Turlove)
- 7:30-8:00 PM New Year’s Resolution for your Neighborhood
- 8:00-8:10 2019 RNA Renewal Process and NMG OPTIONS: training, liability coverage, other?
- 8:10- 8:20 PM Elections vacancy: Communications Coordinator, Event Coordinator
- 8:20-8:30PM Agenda items for next meeting and adjourn
Council of Neighborhood Associations (CNA), Minutes
Date: Monday, January 14, 2019 Time: 6:30 – 8:30 PM
Location: Olympia City Hall, 601 4th Ave, Room 207, Olympia WA
Attending:
Council of Neighborhood Associations: Officers: Denise Pantelis (CRANA); Secretaries Jennifer Davis (SCNA) & Marty Worcester (REHOA). Members: Angie Warner-Rein (BHNA), Clydia Cuykendall (WLH), Randy L (Lakemoor), Mark Toy (SWONA), Darrah Johnson (Wildwood), Jim Sweeney (ENA), Bob Jacobs (GSNA), Stephanie Malham (NENA), Jim Sweeney (ENA), Jacque Ellis (Castlewood), Katherine Davis-Delaney (NENA), Cindy Gaddis (BHNA).
City Representatives: Leonard Bauer (Community Planning), Clark Gilman (City Council), Mark Russell (Public Works), Jonathon Turlove (Parks), Mike Reid (Economic Development), Marygrace Goddu (Community Planning), Sophie Stimpson (Transportation Planning and Public Works).
Dave Marty, Vice Chair (ICNA) was out of town but available to call in. However, a connection to the speakerphone provided could not be made.
1. Call to Order: Chair Denise Pantelis called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
2. Approval of Minutes: Minutes of the December 10, 2018 meeting were approved. Clydia noted a
favorable story on NPR of City of Olympia’s homelessness approach. She also mentioned the
nonprofit homeless backpacks program providing 600 weekend meals to homeless middle and high
school students in Thurston County.
3. Approval of Agenda: Agenda was approved.
4. Updates from Clark Gilman: Councilmember Gilman provided an update of Council activities. Had a council retreat on Saturday, where current activities/priorities were discussed: Continuing to implement gateways and neighborhood crossings project; continuing with spray park development; code enforcement, with interest in new ways to deal with neighbor-to neighbor disputes; potential expansion of the multifamily tax exemption beyond downtown into eastside and westside nodes; short-term rental (e.g., AirBNB) regulations; homelessness response strategy, including roll-out of a public process- this will be a major focus of council. There was a brief discussion of the multifamily tax exemption and how it works, and how it can be adjusted to incentivize affordable housing. Housing developments downtown have been able to have an exemption from paying property taxes for 8 years (the added value of these residential units is tax exempt).
5. International Association for Public Participation (IAP2) and how it works: Denise encouraged members to look at the IAP2 spectrum (shown on a slide) and consider the different levels of public participation, outreach, and community involvement. IAP2 principles are part of the CNA/City Memorandum of Understanding. As we hear about issues, consider whether our involvement is at the appropriate level and having the appropriate impact. Leonard noted that IAP2 doesn’t apply to project-specific issues, such as those requiring permits. But this spectrum is considered by the city for major policy decisions. Angie asked for a copy of the spectrum to be linked to the CNA web site.
6. Transportation Master Plan: Sophie Stimson provided an update briefing on the master plan development. A “storymap” was available online last fall. The briefing covered the role of the 20- year master plan, schedule, project priorities, public outreach results, and funding, including changes to impact fees. Adoption of the plan will be in Fall 2019. Sophie covered in some detail the project identification and prioritization phase (e.g., paving priorities, locations of pathways, sidewalks, creating a low stress bike network). The city is investing in data and mapping in GIS to inform the plan. The storymap allowed people to respond online to the project’s ideas and answer questions about. Sophie covered the highlights of public input from the storymap. Results are available online at the City’s web site. Now the City is developing project lists. City spends about $6 million in capital expenses each year- primarily on street repair/construction and sidewalk improvements. Will be going to council with project lists soon and can also update CNA. Brief discussion about light rail in the future; see the Regional Transportation Plan on Thurston Regional Planning Council web site for a discussion of that.
7. Artesian Well/Commons Update and Downtown generally: Jonathon Turlove, Olympia Parks and Mike Reid of Economic Development gave an update on the Artesian Commons Park clarifying that public access and use of the Artesian Well has not been impacted. Not a lot to report—was closed in August and remains closed, with no plans to reopen as a park. It first opened in 2014, and the city had 1392 calls for police service while it was open, had to staff it every day, but it became unsafe. The well is still open. City can’t reopen it as a park the way it was. Challenging to develop because of the well. Did have previous success with the Bridge Music Project working with local youth using the space. The city will continue to work with that group in a different space. Noted that their energy has shifted to the ice rink location, which will be a bicycle pump track in Spring. Mike has been working with neighboring property owners to the Artesian Commons Park and has heard that local employees feel safer since the park has closed. The city has also asked them what a positive future could be for that site. Neighbors don’t want it fenced off forever, but don’t want it reopened as a city-owned park. Very cautious about public ownership and operation. The restroom on site has been working. The well continues to be very popular. No specific effort is underway to transform the Commons space at this time. Just having conversations about possibilities.
8. New Year’s Resolution for your Neighborhood: The group broke into a more informal circle to have a conversation about what their neighborhoods were working on and sharing of ideas and information. Ideas/activities/issues discussed included: how to encourage subdivisions within a larger neighborhood area to represent themselves to the association; map-your-neighborhood (see City web site for resources) emergency planning as a coalescing exercise; pushing back on a specific development in SW Olympia and how expensive and time consuming it is to fight a local project; how organizing against major development projects can be difficult; increasing attendance at association meetings (provide food!); work on new pathways and sidewalks; trying to recruit more board members; dealing with problem properties; discussion of meetings and organizing events in neighborhoods; subarea planning and public outreach.
9. RNA Renewal Process and NMG Options: The city has sent out a form to renew Recognized Neighborhood Association (RNA) status—if you haven’t received it, give Leonard your email. Leonard passed out a 2019 matching grant flyer. An application support workshop is February 13, 2019 from 5-6p.m. Submittal deadline is March 18, 2019, with contracts signed in May and projects completed by the end of the year. Additional information will be mailed out next week to RNA contacts. Marygrace Goddu is the new staff administering the grant program. Discussion about insurance coverage needed—a policy can be included as a cost in the grant application (this is for projects on city property, physical improvements in rights of way). Possible CNA could apply for a grant for a project to benefit multiple associations, such as a training for IAP2.
10. Elections vacancies: We have two vacant positions on CNA- Communications Coordinator and Event Coordinator. Discussion of events that CNA could involve themselves in throughout the community. Need someone to ensure that our communications are flowing properly would also be helpful. Denise asked who is responsible for the Olympia Neighborhoods Google Group and how that is intended to function. Job descriptions are in the by-laws (but are brief). Other RNA members (other than the CNA rep) could participate.
11. What do we want to talk about in February: Members suggested a tiny house project update (note a community meeting on Thursday at the Olympia Center and open house at the site at the end of the month). Logo design update (Stephanie Malham is working on it).
The next meeting will be February 11th at 6:30 at this location.
The meeting adjourned at 8:20 p.m.
Submitted by Jennifer Davis, Co-Secretary
Council of Neighborhood Associations 