Boys and Girls Club in Neighborhood - Community Meeting

The City of Olympia has scheduled another community meeting to provide an opportunity for the public to both learn about and comment upon the proposed construction of a Boys and Girls Club in the neighborhood.

The meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 15 at 6:30 at Garfield School.

The intent of the meeting is to provide new information about the several alternative sites that have been proposed for the Boys and Girls Club facility and to receive comment from the public about these alternative sites.

Storm Debris Drop-off Extended

Note:  Neighbors with trucks willing to help neighbors with debris but without a truck could post a note under "Comments" 

STORM DEBRIS DROP-OFF SITE DATES EXTENDED

Date: February 15, 2012                                                                                           

Drop-off Site Open Weekends through February 26, 2012

The City of Olympia will keep two drop-off sites open for the next two weekends. Olympia residents can bring storm-related tree and yard debris to the following locations at no charge:

·         City of Olympia Yard Waste Drop-off Site at 1401 Eastside Street, SE, Olympia, and

·         Yauger Park Parking Lot by DirtWorks (entrance off Capital Mall Drive).

Both locations will be open at the following times and dates:

·         Saturday, February 18, 9am – 4pm

·         Sunday, February 19, 9am – 4pm

·         Saturday, February 25, 9am – 4pm

·         Sunday, February 26, 9am – 4 pm

Check our web site for more information and resources.

olympiawa.gov­­­

Brenda Vance

360.753.8272

bvance@ci.olympia.wa.us

ALERT! TWO PUBLIC MEETINGS ON PROPOSED BUILDING ON GARFIELD PLAY-FIELD

The Boys and Girls Club of Thurston County has submitted an application to the City of Olympia for construction of a major recreation building on the northwest quarter of the Garfield Play-field.

A public meeting on the proposal is scheduled for Wednesday, February 22, at 6:30 at Garfield School.

The City's Design Review Board will meet to discuss the proposal on Thursday, February 23 at 6:30 at City Hall.

Additional details regarding provisions for public comment and written comment have been requested from the City and will be posted when we, the Northwest Olympia Neighborhood Association (NWONA) receive them.

The parcel proposed for the structure is 38,330 square feet, approximately one quarter of the play-field. The actual structure will occupy 19,850 square feet.  According to the application, the building will contain classroom and activity areas, a teen center, and a gymnasium, plus storage and office space.  The proposal includes 16 on site parking spaces.  The play-field is owned by the Olympia School District which has agreed to lease the parcel to the Boys and Girls Club for $1.00 per year. 

Concerned local residents met with representatives of the City, the School District, the Parks Department, and the Boys and Girls Club on February 1 to discuss alternative locations adjacent to Garfield School that would not result in the loss of this community open space.  There was agreement that the City and the Boys and Girls Club would review at least three alternative options: incorporation of a facility within major improvements planned at Garfield School; construction at the site of Police sub-station, with incorporation of Police facilities; construction wholly or partially within the City's Woodruff Park.  This review is currently in process.  

Despite the apparent conflict of two public meetings on one proposed site while alternative sites are under consideration, the City has determined that by code, it must proceed to conduct the public meetings on the current application. 

The Northwest Olympia Neighborhood Association is encouraging your comments to this blog and at the two meetings scheduled by the City.

LOOKING OUT FOR THE HERONS

Breeding activity at the Great Blue Heron colony located about three blocks northeast of the Food Co-op ought to commence in late February.  However, last year, after about 20 nests were constructed and occupied by breeding pairs, bald eagles began preying on young herons, such that no herons were seen successfully fledging from the nests.

The site is currently slated for development: six townhomes will be built just east of the heronry, and the driveway to these homes will pass through the heronry itself.  In fact, it seems that the right-of-way that was created for the future road improved access for both herons and eagles, as its construction led to an increase in nest construction by herons and then an increase in heron mortality.  However, development of the site has been stalled for several years, though the construction permit remains active.

If the herons return this year, residents may begin to see somewhat large flocks of them roosting in the trees along Rogers Street in the vicinity of the Co-op.  Sightings can be reported to the blog.

Storm Debris Drop-off

The City of Olympia has identified two locations where recent storm debris can be deposited at no cost to Olympia residents.  The location and hours of operation are provided at the following web site:

http://olympiawa.gov/en/city-utilities/garbage-and-recycling/organics-and-yard-waste/storm-debris-drop-off.aspx

The City will contact neighborhood associations (e.g. NWONA) in early February to determine if neighborhood collection sites for the remaining debris need to be identified.

The City is also evaluating the condition of trees on City of Olympia right-of ways.  Residents are invited to report possible "hazard" trees to Julie Mongey at the City by e-mail or phone during office hours:

·         cpdinfo@ci.olympia.wa.us

·         phone:  753.8391.

Home Security

The January 18 edition of the Olympian had a long article on home security.  It quoted both Amy Stull of the Olympia Police Department and Darin Reedy, a security consultant to the Department.  To read the article, go to:

http://www.theolympian.com/2012/01/18/1953297/missing-headline-for-18burglarys.html

Officer Stull said she would be willing to meet with interested residents of the Northwest Neighborhood to discuss home security measures.  Please post a comment to this note if you would be interested in such a meeting.

At our December meeting, Officer Shelby Nutter of the Olympia Police stated that residents can access a web site that contains infomation on all crime within a neighborhood.  The address of the site is:

https://www.crimereports.com

I have visited the site.  It is a bit slow to load.  You may enter any address (in Olympia) and a map will show crime by type, location, and date.

Jerry Parker

Ideas for Neighborhood Grant?

The following notification was sent by Jennifer Kinny, the City liaison with NWONA.
Please put suggestions on the blog (comment) and send me an e-mail to assure the Board can consider the idea for submission on behalf of NWONA. (my e-mail address: jerome.parker@comcast.net)

The "Mad Tom" pocket park at Madison and Thomas was funded by a similar grant.

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2012 Neighborhood Matching Grants Annouced! 

Good Afternoon,

It’s a new year and that means a new opportunity to create something wonderful in your neighborhood. The 2012 Neighborhood Matching Grant applications are now being accepted! They are offered earlier this year so that you have more time to work on your projects.

Need ideas? Past projects include community gathering spots through our Neighborhood Nooks program, walking paths through the

Public Pathways Project, murals, welcome signs, community bulletin boards, a sustainability fair, rain gardens and many other creative ideas!

The criteria and application are available HERE! Just scroll down to the bottom of the page to the heading “Grants.”

While you’re there, check out the many resources for neighborhood associations.

The deadline to apply is February 1^st at 5:00pm.

Jennifer Kenny, Associate Planner

City of Olympia Community Planning & Development

601 4th Avenue East

PO Box 1967

Olympia WA 98507-1967

Tel: 360-753-8031

Fax: 360-753-8087

jkenny@ci.olympia.wa.us