Meeting highlights include: Closing neighborhood schools, electing an new vice chair and neighborhood matching grants
January 8, 2024 CNA Minutes
Location: Zoom
Attending:
Bob Jacobs, (Gov. Stevens NA). Jeffery Showman (Wildwood), Jim Rioux (ENA), Judy Bardin (NWONA), Larry Dzieza (Nottingham NA), Karen Sweeney (Eastside NA), John Newman (Burbank/Elliott), Ben Edwards (Wilderness), Dave Marty (Indian Creek), Gerald Apple (South Capitol), Sue Hedrick (South Capitol), Michele Horaney (Evergreen Pointe). Guest Speakers: Mindy Swedberg, Miriam Hathaway, Dune Ives
6:30 – 7:00 Neighborhood Reports
Jefferey Showman, of the Wildwood Neighborhood Association discussed the decision to not pursue a neighborhood matching grant for a speed limit sign. However, they are pursuing a neighborhood matching grant to put new bark on the surface of a pathway that connects Governor Stevens and Wildwood. The application is coming together and they think it’s going to be successful.
Karen Sweeney and Jim Rioux will be applying for a grant for a banner and supporting their regular events. The Board President is working with a local artist on the banner for events at Lions’ Park.
Dave Marty of Indian Creek from Indian Creek said they are not looking to do any matching grant at the moment, and there was nothing new to report.
Bob Jacobs reported that they had a Governor Stevens RNA Board meeting. In addition to working with Wildwood on improving the pathway. In March they plan a progressive dinner and the annual egg hunt that we’ve been doing for decades. In September they plan a barbecue.
Judy Bardin said they decided to apply for more matching grants, but they have not yet decided on the details but will probably be about neighborhood activities and improving Volunteer Park.
The meeting attendees also discussed a party that was held on December 28th with about 40 people from the neighborhood with hors d’oeuvres served and there was music. They also hired a local artist to do an art installation by their planter boxes at Volunteer Park, which was part of last year’s matching grant. Their Board meeting is in mid-January.
Judy observed that different kinds of events draw different people.
Ben Edwards from the Wilderness HOA spoke about being recently elected to their Board and came to see what the CNA was about.
John Newman from Burbank/Elliott is looking forward to working with the City on the sidewalk on Elliot. He said he is looking forward to working with the city on Saturday to address issues from Division on Elliot over towards Cooper Point.
Larry of Nottingham talked about his HOAs dues and the replacing of a vandalized mailbox. He also suggested that there is an opportunity for the grant requests include greater outreach efforts and listed some of the potential items, such as postage for rental units that are difficult to contact, sandwich boards and other communication efforts as well as outreach to other community groups.
7:00 – 7:05 Call for CNA Election for Vice Chair
Larry requested that CNA members volunteer or talk with their members about their willingness to fill the upcoming vacancy for CBA Vice Chair as Melissa will be stepping down. Melissa could not attend because of illness and the discussion will be held over until next month.
7:05 – 7:15 JOLT Article on Increasing Awareness of Neighborhood Associations – Karen Sweeney
Karen Sweeney talked about the article that that she wrote for the JOLT. She encourages other RNAs to do write ups about their activities and send them in. Pictures are really encouraged. Larry emphasized the many benefits that come from a greater awareness of neighborhoods and their contributions to the quality of life and visibility to bring greater engagement from new and more diverse residents.
7:15 – 7:50 Closing of Neighborhood Schools
Miriam Hathaway and Dune Ives and Mindy Swedberg shared information and urged engagement by neighborhoods to protect their neighborhood schools. The directed those wanting more detailed information and how to get involved to go to the website: https://www.osdforall.com.
The School Board is looking at closing Madison and McKenny elementary schools and the 90-day period for review has begun. The schools are low-income, high poverty, high diversity, and high performing schools. They are also very walkable. The school administration says this is necessary to close a 3.5 million dollar deficit equal to 1.8% of the budget. The presenters then discussed some of the options for closing the gap that were not being considered and the lack of justification for moving so quickly.
The group then discussed ways to engage in the issue.
MOU Rewrite
Larry reviewed the latest word on the redo of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). He was told by staff that they want a simplified and straightforward version which will require some rewriting. Like the previous draft, it will focus on quarterly updates. There would eventually be some changes to Olympia Municipal Code (OMC) relating to CNA.
Neighborhood Matching Grant Increases
There was a $10k increase to the matching grants and Larry reminded the group to submit their grants by January 15 to get our grants proposals in the new nifty online grant system called Submittable.
Funding Outreach Efforts
Larry shared some of the takeaways from his conversation with Stacey Ray who is Director of Strategic Planning & Performance for Olympia and is working to develop recommendations on how to better engage with underserved community groups. This pilot project is anticipated to take 3-4 months (first quarter 2024). Her the pilot project will be used to inform the MOU on outreach strategies.
Larry urged all RNAs to consider what they can do to improve outreach to renters and low-income folks in their neighborhood to become engaged in RNA activities. Examples could include mailing costs, signage, community events that attract a wide variety of folks.
Release the Sidewalk Application
The smartphone app is ready, and Larry will be sending out the instructions and offering an introduction Zoom session for those who would like assistance in the next week.
SE Annexation
Reported that the annexation effort is offline now — on hold at least while the city works with the county officials and staff. There were a lot of questions by Councilmembers about whether the long-term costs made sense, the timing, whether those being annexed wanted to be annexed and what the County’s position was. In particular, the new county commissioners need to become more familiar with it.
Report on Olympia Developments
Working from Tim’s notes, Larry reviewed a list of developments in the pipeline including:
- Drive-Through Code Amendment Application
- Middle Street Townhomes Subdivision Application
- 10-Acres on Boulevard Road Neighborhood Land Use Application (Habitat)
Larry also suggested that members review Parks, Arts, & Rec Chapter Comp Plan Update and the Economy Chapter Plan update.
Volunteers for monitoring topics via subscribing to the newsletters
Larry suggested that RNA members with an interest in city affairs subscribe to the news the City makes available and he provided the link. https://www.olympiawa.gov/info/news/index.php#archive. He said it would be great if we could get reports from those tracking these areas of activities for posting to the CNA membership.
8:10 – 8:25 Discussion on Ideas for February and Beyond
Some of the topics to get the discussion going included:
- Comprehensive Plan Update from City (link to city website)
- Understanding Olympia’s Trends – demography & economics (Mike Reid, ESRI, TRPC)
- City’s New Rental Program
- Proposal for Urban Agriculture discussion with Dani Madrone
The issue of how the timing of the neighborhood matching grants program does not allow for funding outreach efforts in the first quarter of every year was raised. Larry said that he will follow-up on the problem.
Other ideas were discussed including:
Following up on the status of the city’s hiring process for a sidewalk project planner and the process to apply for grants for sidewalks.
Michele suggested considering creating a registry of volunteers to help with snow shoveling and other tasks in neighborhoods. She also said she would check on the status of the CERT program in Olympia.
8:25 – 8:30 Approval of Minutes
Minute were approved.
Council of Neighborhood Associations 
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