Note: On Sept 28, 2024, Treacy Duerfeldt made a motion to approve the August and September 2024 board minutes via email vote. Gerald Apple seconded. Eleven board members voted in favor, and the motion passed.
South Capitol Neighborhood Association Board Meeting Minutes
Weds, Sept 11, 2024 6:30 – 8 pm
Lincoln Elementary School library
Introductions and Call Meeting to Order
Members of the South Capitol Neighborhood Association (SCNA) Board in attendance:
John Saunders, President
Gerry Apple, Vice President
Sue Hedrick, Secretary
Morgan Montes, Treasurer
Valerie Hammett, Scott Freeman, Lorie Hewitt, At Large members
John called the meeting to order.
Approval of August Meeting Minutes and Today’s Agenda
August meeting minutes were not voted on as there was no quorum. They and the September draft minutes will be voted on at the October board meeting.
John said one of the items on the draft agenda will need to be rescheduled. With elections coming in November, the deputy director of the Department of Enterprise Services (DES) security team had agreed to discuss campus and neighborhood safety, but was unable to attend tonight due to illness.
John said the presentation will be moved to the board’s October meeting. With that change, the draft agenda was informally approved.
Treasurer’s Report
Morgan sent a written report to the board members, which is at the end of the minutes.
The Treasurer’s report was not voted on as there was no quorum.
Committee Reports
Traffic – Gerry Apple and John Saunders
On Aug 30th, Max DeJarnatt, associate planner in the City of Olympia Public Works Department, sent an email to all those who participated in the June 25th Listening Session, letting them know that city staff had spent the week briefing the city council members on their list of near- and long-term Capitol Way/Boulevard improvements. He said that staff planned to first brief the leadership of the three neighborhood associations (South Capitol, Wildwood and Governor Stevens) on the recommendations, then after the briefing, would share the list with all listening session participants.
The one-hour briefing is scheduled for Mon, Sept 23rd. Max said it will be used to provide some context to staff’s recommendations, and answer any questions the neighborhood associations’ leadership may have.
John said that, at a recent Council of Neighborhood Associations (CNA) meeting, Olympia Councilmember Robert Vanderpool gave a verbal summary of what was decided. They plan to resurface Capitol Way/Boulevard within the next two years, and during that time, will reduce lanes from four to two and add bike lanes on both sides.
Max will send out information on what the city council and staff have decided to the neighborhood associations’ leadership a week before the briefing.
Neighborhood Barbeque/Potluck Picnic – Gerry Apple
Gerry asked John if the neighborhood association board could apply for a City of Olympia matching grant again next year to put on a picnic. John said yes, it is possible to do that. These are annual grants. Each year, prior to the start of the grant submission period, the city council votes on the amount of funds that will be available for recognized neighborhood associations to apply for.
Gerry wondered if the city council might decide to increase the amount available next year. For 2024 grants, the council increased the pot of money from $23,000 to $33,000.
As always, the board would need to match whatever amount they receive for the grant. This year, the board requested a grant of $1,850 from the city, and matched it through direct financial contributions, material donations, and volunteer time.
Gerry said he gave the picnic a score of 9.5 out of 10 and asked those present what they thought might be improved for next year. Suggestions included having more toppings for the hamburgers (e.g. lettuce and tomatoes) and more drinks, and designating volunteers to bus tables or pass along messages on what’s needed between cooks and helpers (e.g. need more forks).
Lorie suggested having the membership table on the other side of the playshed since most attendees seemed to be entering the school grounds from Franklin & 24th. This would make it easier for attendees to fill out their name tags, sign up for the drawing, join the neighborhood association and pay dues (if they haven’t already), then head off to eat, drink and socialize with their neighbors.
Scott suggested all picnic volunteers have a quick onsite meeting just before the event starts to share and make last-minute updates and decisions so everyone is on the same page.
The event proved very popular. Judging from remarks made by participants, communications about the picnic (a flier mailed directly to all 610 residences and businesses in the neighborhood, and 40+ signs placed throughout it) were helpful in promoting the event and encouraging neighbors to attend.
Gerry thanked the members of the picnic committee individually, and said he will be sending out thank-you notes to the organizations, local businesses and neighbors who supported and contributed to the event. Sue gave a shout-out and thanks to Lauren O’Malley, who though unable to attend the event due to a travel conflict, generously donated many items beforehand for the children’s activities.
Gerry suggested that South Capitol residents show their thanks by actively supporting our neighborhood businesses, particularly the Frog Pond, whose owners prepared and donated delicious Korean barbeque beef – a hit at the picnic.
Parking – Valerie Hammett
Valerie reported there are now seven members on the Parking Committee. A meeting with representatives of the South Capitol Neighborhood Association, City of Olympia and the State on parking issues is scheduled for September 20th. The last meeting with the state/city/neighborhood was held on Jan 26, 2024.
A proposed agenda for the September 20th meeting is included at the end of the minutes. The board has asked that representatives from the Legislature be included at the meeting.
Other Items
Possible South Capitol Neighborhood Flea Market
Scott brought a suggestion from a neighbor to the board for consideration. He said that those living in his part of the neighborhood often have community garage sales in the summer months. They started these off small – usually just one neighbor’s driveway – but over time, they’ve grown in size and participants.
So they wondered if the board would like to help organize and publicize a South Capitol neighborhood-wide flea market. The idea would be to hold it in early summer, either closing a street or two – similar to what block parties do – or to see if it could be held at Lincoln School.
Those present expressed support for the idea, so Scott will reach out to his fellow neighbors to come up with a plan to share with the board. More to come on this.
Council of Neighborhood Associations (CNA) Meeting Report
John and Gerry, our South Capitol Neighborhood representatives, attended the recent CNA meeting on Mon, Sept 9th. The CNA meets monthly and includes 30 neighborhood associations and homeowners associations in Olympia.
Items on the agenda included an update on city council activities from Robert Vanderpool, a report from Tim Smith, interim community planning & development director, on development in Olympia, an update on how the city is implementing state mandates for missing middle housing, issues regarding the Olympia airport, information on housing projects and a proposed Housing Neighborhood Forum, and the city’s progress on conducting a sidewalk condition survey.
John said the city is now paying a contractor to do a survey of all sidewalks in Olympia. Right now, the city has up to half a million dollars to fix the worst ones. The CNA has created a sidewalk app that residents can use to identify sidewalks in their area that are in need of repair.
Motion to adjourn
Gerry moved to adjourn the meeting, Lorie seconded, and the motion was approved. The meeting ended at 7:56 pm.
Next SCNA board meeting – Weds, Oct 9, 2024 6:30 pm, Lincoln Elementary School library
Written Reports
September 2024 Treasurer Report
Recent Expenses:
Google Suite $7.91
Mailer Postage $190.93
Mailer $618.77
Total Expenses $817.61
Business Prime Savings $20.00
Innovator Checking Beginning Balance $1,058.44
Innovator Checking Ending Balance $866.12
Difference $192.32
Recent Income:
Paypal Membership Fees less fees $209.87
Membership Fee Cash $110.00
Total $319.87
Recent Expenses:
Google Suite $7.91
Vic’s Pizza gift card $100.00
Western Meats $100.00
US Chef’s Store – Hotdog, chips, drinks $260.53
Office Depot – Signage $31.77
Franz Bakery – Gluten free buns $11.98
Total $512.19
Difference $192.32
Transactions in Process
Income:
Grant Reimbursement Income $840.30 Expense Form dated 8/27
Grant Reimbursement Income $270.00 Expense Form dated 8/28
Grant Reimbursement Income $304.28 Expense Form dated 9/5
Grant Reimbursement income $304.28 Expense Form dated 9/10
Total = $1,850
That is the total of our grant. We needed 62 volunteer hours and we have submitted a total of 79.25 volunteer hours to date. (We made it!)
Expenses:
Band payment check number 1578 $500.00
Ice reimbursement $17.94
Please bring other receipts to our meeting tomorrow or email me.
Total = at least $517.94
Triad Parking Working Group Meeting
Sep 20, 2024
Proposed Agenda
The South Capitol Neighborhood requests that a representative of the Washington State Legislative Services responsible for parking attend this next meeting of the Parking Working Group. This will help accelerate resolution of the State Agreement items below.
The South Capitol Neighborhood proposes the following agenda:
Review the status of each of the action items agreed to in the Jan 24, 2024 meeting of this group, as follows:
City Agreements:
- Reduce the number of parking zones west of Capitol Way from 3 to 2: Reduce Zone 1 to only cover streets east of Capitol Boulevard; Expand Zone 3 to include the portion of Zone 1 that is currently west of Capitol Boulevard; Maintain current Zone 2 boundary as is
- Pilot electronic paid parking along 16th Avenue SE
- Consider increasing citation fines to discourage non-resident chain parking
- Increase enforcement when events occur on Capitol Campus
- Collaborate with SCNA to educate residents about the reasons for the parking program, the permit application process, registering guests, and other parking program logistics
- Get data on non-resident use of SCN parking pressure points in Zone 2 and along Maple Park Avenue
State Agreements:
- Follow-up whether staff at parking booths provide maps showing accurate visitor parking locations and rules about parking in the South Capitol Neighborhood (SCN)
- Correct the inconsistency in visitor parking information among the multiple DES and Legislative websites
- Work with the SCNA to identify and close gaps in how visitors to the Capitol Campus find Visitor Parking areas using street signage
SCNA Agreements:
- The SCNA will work with the City to develop appropriate educational materials for residents participating in the Permit Program
- A link will be included on the SCNA website that directs residents to the appropriate City website for parking information and permit application.
Review any data available to the city or DES regarding on-street parking demand, enforcement activity for 2024 and compare to 2023 if possible.
Develop strategies for increasing the utilization of the East Plaza parking garage to reduce on street parking demand and increase revenue to DES.
Review the residential parking permit system to make it more efficient and less error-prone for residents and city staff.
South Capitol Neighborhood Association 