Board Minutes Nov 2024

South Capitol Neighborhood Association Board Meeting Minutes
Weds, Nov 13, 2024 6:30 – 8 pm
Lincoln Elementary School library

Minutes taken by Helen Johnston and typed by Gerald Apple

Introduction and Call Meeting to Order – John Saunders
Members of the South Capitol Neighborhood Association (SCNA) Board in attendance:
John Saunders, President
Gerald Apple, Vice-President
Morgan Montes, Treasurer
Gordon White, Valerie Hammett and Scott Freeman, At Large Members

Approval of October Meeting Minutes and Today’s Agenda
We had six board members attend the SCNA board meeting. Thus, there were NOT enough members available for a quorum. We need nine board members present to have a quorum. To approve the October minutes, the board will need to vote by email.

Two items were added to the agenda:

• Proposal to create a dog park
• Recommendation to have the gate to the Lincoln Elementary bus circle locked sooner after school is let out.

City of Olympia Residential Parking Program Update
Garth Edwards, Parking Services Supervisor
Brooke Ison, Customer Service Center Supervisor

Many of the SCNA board members and guests asked these two individuals great questions concerning parking in the South Capitol Neighborhood.

Property owners and their spouse or partner must provide a current official mail sent to their address (such as a bill or statement) to get a parking permit for 2025. The following vehicle information needs to also be provided:

• Valid driver’s license
• Proof of current vehicle insurance
• Current vehicle registration in owner’s name
• A signed affidavit.

Affidavits are available on the city’s online parking permit portal. The fee for the first two registered vehicles is $25.00 and the third registered vehicle is $35.

There are now three parking zones in the South Capitol Neighborhood – Zones 1, 2 and 3. Make sure you are registered in the correct parking zone. If you park in the wrong zone, you may get a ticket. A resident may ask for a visitor parking permit, which is good for up to ten days.

Many South Capitol Neighborhood residents ask the question, “Why do I need to fill out so much paperwork and provide three items when registering for a parking permit? The reason is that more parking spaces will be available for the residents and their guests. Thus, it will be harder for lobbyists to get permanent parking spaces. But there are a lot of parking spaces available in the East Plaza parking lot where legislators and their staff may park.

The board members thanked Brooke and Garth for attending the meeting, sharing information, and listening to their concerns about parking in the South Capitol Neighborhood.

Treasurer’s Report – Morgan Montes
The SCNA savings account has $20
The SCNA checking account has $1229

In 2024, we had $670 more in expenses over revenue. The cost of the picnic was $1100. This amount paid for the band and food. We were $550 over expenses. The City of Olympia required us to have insurance for this event and the unexpected cost was $440. Plus, we had to pay for mailing to 611 households (which included renters) to advertise the social/barbecue.

2025 Annual Meeting planning discussion
Last year, the annual business meeting was held on February 15th in the Lincoln Elementary Cafeteria. We had a large turnout of South Capitol Neighborhood residents. This was due to great advertising.

There needs to be a nominating committee with at least three people on it. Gordon White and Scott Freeman volunteered to be on this committee.
Terms of at least six members of the board expire at the annual meeting in 2025, including the president and secretary. They can choose to run for re-election to another two-year term. The vice president’s and treasurer’s terms expire in 2026.

Two motions were made at tonight’s meeting to establish a date for the 2025 annual business meeting. The second motion surpasses the first motion that was made. Since there wasn’t a quorum at the meeting, any motions made will need to be voted on by email.

The first motion was made by Gordon and seconded by Scott to hold the annual business meeting on Feb 13, 2025. A mailing that will cost approximately $800 will be sent out to advertise this meeting.

Morgan noted that we now have 130 members in our neighborhood association. She said that we received $320 in new membership dues at the social/barbecue in September, and we received $381 in new membership dues at the 2024 annual meeting.

Scott suggested that we move the annual business meeting to April when the weather is better. Plus, we will know by March if we have received a matching grant from the City of Olympia. Morgan then made a motion that we move the annual meeting to April and Scott seconded. If the motion passes, there will need to be a change made in the SCNA bylaws for the annual business meeting to be held later in the year. [Note: the motion was passed unanimously by email vote of the board on November 19, 2024.]

2025 Olympia Grant Application planning discussion
Gerry and Morgan volunteered to be co-chairs in completing a 2025 matching grant, which is due on December 31st. Gerry said he was happy to be co-chair again because he had a wonderful committee made up of over 10 members last year. He thanked John Saunders for his guidance in completing last year’s grant, which totaled $1850.

The matching grant for 2025 will help pay for a third annual social/barbecue in September at Lincoln Elementary School. Major costs will be food, a mailer, music and insurance.

Bus area behind Lincoln Elementary School
Two members of the South Capitol Neighborhood Association spoke about the bus zone behind Lincoln Elementary School. They said that the gate should be locked sooner after school lets out. They added that the light overlooking this bus area stays on all night and is certainly a waste of energy. The gate is NOT being closed until approximately 6:30 pm.

There are several afterschool programs at Lincoln Elementary School: Oaks Afterschool Program and the Outdoor Kids Adventure Program. The parents/volunteers leading these two afterschool programs should NOT park in the bus circle but in the designated parking lot next to the school.

John and Gerry said they are willing to talk to Marcela Abadi, principal of Lincoln Elementary, concerning the light and the bus circle. Marcela has been very cordial in working with the SCNA.

Dog Park – Rachel Neese
Rachel mentioned that several people would like to have an off-leash dog park behind the tennis court next to Stevens Field. She noted that the City of Bellingham has 25 dog parks throughout the city where the dogs are off-leash.

One of the park rangers mentioned that our dogs need to be on leash and stay out of the Stevens Field baseball and fastpitch fields. After this situation happened, the number of dog owners and their pets dropped from approximately 12 to five. They want Stevens Field to be a safe place for the city workers and still have a nice area for the dogs to socialize and run.

Rachel asked if the SCNA board would be willing to set up a committee to determine what the wishes of neighborhood residents are concerning fencing off the section between the tennis court and the area that leads down to Interstate 5. Morgan said she is very willing to be on this committee.

Rachel made a well-taken concern/point about not allowing dogs into this temporary play area unless they are willing to obey their owners’ commands. The dogs need to have good recall with the help of treats sometimes.

Rachel said she will study the City of Bellingham’s ordinances concerning unleashed dog parks.

Committee Reports

Traffic – Gerald Apple
Gerry mentioned that several of the 10 short-term solutions have been completed on Capitol Way to make the road safer.

• Crosswalk repainted at 18th and Capitol Way. Plus, a staggered stop line was added 20 feet before the crosswalk.
• The traffic signal at 21st and Capitol Way next to the Frog Pond has been reconfigured.

Communications- no report provided

Next SCNA board meeting – Weds, Dec 11, 2024 6:30 pm, Lincoln Elementary School library