Pathways

The City launched our Neighborhood Pathways program in September. Staff is very excited about this new opportunity for neighborhoods. Pathways make walking and biking trips more efficient, and have the potential to create safer route options. 

 

Open House: Thursday, November 15, 6PM – 8PM, City Hall, Room 207

The City is hosting an open house for residents to come and talk with staff and Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee members, and have any questions answered about the program. Staff will provide maps of Olympia and potential pathway sites, notebooks with an inventory of existing pathways, and examples of pathway projects from the pathways pilot program. Join us anytime between 6PM and 8PM if you are interested in the program and would like more information.

 

Preliminary Application Deadline: Friday, November 30 (Extended)

We encourage neighborhoods to look into how pathways can benefit their neighborhoods. The preliminary application is a quick and simple process that allows neighborhoods to tell the City what their priority is for a pathway project, and how they see it benefitting their neighborhood. A full project scope and budget is not required until the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee reviews all Preliminary Applications and invite groups to submit Full Proposals. Please see the process timeline on our webpage (below).

 

New Pathways Map

We are excited to share a map of pathways in Olympia, located on our Neighborhood Pathways webpage. The pathway data on this map may not be current, but will give an idea of where there is potential for building formal pathways in your neighborhood. Please feel free to let me know if you have edits to this map, this map is a work in progress and staff knows there are likely pathways out there that we are not aware of. 

 

http://olympiawa.gov/city-services/transportation-services/plans-studies-and-data/neighborhood-pathways-pgm

 

Please feel free to contact me with questions about the program.

 

 

Kerry Tarullo Associate Planner

Public Works Transportation City of Olympia 360.753.8575 

Garfield School Reconstruction

I just wanted to pass along an invitation to a community meeting about the
Garfield Elementary Renovation Project on Nov. 14 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30
p.m. in the Garfield Library. Our design and construction team have some
preliminary plans to share along with some other updates on the project
and we want to be sure that neighbors are informed. Please let me know if
you have any questions. Thanks so much for your help and support in
sharing this information. 

Best regards, 
Ryan 

Ryan Betz 
Director of Communications & Community Relations
Olympia School District
Office: (360) 596-6104

The Rain and the Drain

HELP PREVENT LOCAL FLOODING

Date: October 31, 2012

                                                                                                                                          

Released by:

·         Gary Franks, Operations Supervisor

·         360.753.8333

·         publicworks@ci.olympia.wa.us

Crews Battling Heavy Rain to Prevent Flooding

Olympia crews worked in the rain through the night clearing catch basins and storm drains of leaves, but with approximately 10,000 storm drains in Olympia, they could use your help! If it is safe to do so, use a garden rake or shovel and remove leaves and other debris from the storm drains near your home or business. Be sure you remove the leaves and debris off the street or they will just return during the next storm. Remember, safety first – if you feel it is unsafe, or there is severe flooding, please contact Public Works Emergency Dispatch for assistance.

City Ordinance in Effect:

·         In September 2011, the Olympia City Council passed an ordinance prohibiting residents and business owners from sweeping, raking or blowing leaves into the street. Leaves, sand and other debris can clog storm drains and cause local flooding. Find out more about this ordinance on our website.

Options for Excess Leaves:

·         Turn them into Compost: Put sustainability into action – use your leaves for compost or mulch around your plants. When properly used as mulch or compost, leaves provide an outstanding organic matter and nutrients to the soil. Get more information about composting on our website.

·         Put them in Your Organics Cart: Put your leaves into your organics cart so they can be recycled and turned into rich reusable compost. Don’t have an organics cart? Call 360.753.8340 to sign up.

·         Temporary Containers: Residents can request a temporary yard waste container from the City of Olympia for leaves and seasonal yard maintenance projects. For container pricing information contact 360.753.8368, option 2.

Need Assistance with Flooding?

·         If flooding is severe and you are unable to clear the drain, please call Public Works Emergency Dispatch at 360.753.8333.

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Paint the Intersection!

Come Paint the Intersection

Of

Garfield Ave. and Thomas St.

When? Saturday, September 29th

(Rain date: October 6th)

10am-3pm

Why? Intersection murals slow traffic in

your neighborhood by making drivers

aware that this is a place where people

walk, bike and play.

Who? Everyone in the neighborhood

What? A day of painting, food, celebrating,

and fun activities

For more info contact mheiland@intercitytransit.com or

360-705-5817

Proposed site for Intersection

Painting

Forum - Boys and Girls Club

NEIGHBORHOOD COALITION WILL HOLD COMMUNITY FORUM/NEIGHBORHOOD CONVERSATION ON THE UPDATED DESIGN OF A NEW BOYS & GIRL’S CLUB ON OLYMPIA’S WESTSIDE

Date of Forum:  Monday, September 17, 2012 – 6:30 p.m.

The Olympia Coalition of Neighborhood Associations will hold a community forum/neighborhood conversation to review and discuss the updated design for a new Boys & Girls Club in Olympia on the campus of Garfield Elementary School.

The forum will be Monday, September 17, 2012, 6:30 p.m. at Olympia City Hall Council Chambers, 601 4^th Avenue E.

It will be moderated by a representative of the Coalition. Board members and staff from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Thurston County will be present to share information and answer questions about the latest design. The forum is open to the public.

About the Coalition of Neighborhood Associations:

The Olympia Coalition of Neighborhood Associations (CNA) was formed in 2006. Its primary purpose is to provide a forum for individuals and community organizations to discuss important topics with neighborhood association leaders, and to ask individual associations for support and help.  The Coalition also helps associations connect with and learn from each about other how to organize and advocate more effectively. 

This summer, the Coalition of Neighborhood Associations and the City of Olympia signed a Memorandum of Understanding to formalize the CNA’s role, including coordination by the CNA of neighborhood issues forums on timely topics of community interest. 

Questions? Contact Bob Jones, Chair, Olympia Coalition of Neighborhood Associations (CNA), 360.867.0867; email: bobjonesmilitary@comcast.net.

Coalition website:  www.olympianeighborhoods.org

_________________________________________

Cathie Butler | Communications Manager

City of Olympia WA | PO Box 1967 | Olympia WA 98507-1967

phone:  360-753-8361

email:  cbutler@ci.olympia.wa.us

FIVE ARRESTED FOR BURGLARIES OF NORTHEAST AND WESTSIDE HOMES

FIVE ARRESTED FOR BURGLARIES OF NORTHEAST AND WESTSIDE HOMES

Date:  August 28, 2012

                                                                                                                                          

Released by:

·         Laura Wohl, Public Information Officer

·         360.753.8214 – desk

·         360.951.8889 – mobile          

·         lwohl@ci.olympia.wa.us

Police make arrests in recent burglary cases

Olympia Police arrested five people associated with two different residential burglaries yesterday.  In the first incident, a computer, game consoles and other items were stolen from a Westside home on August 17, 2012.  One of the victims contacted Olympia Police and reported that the stolen computer had shown up for sale on Craig’s List.  Yesterday, Detectives contacted the sellers, pretending to be interested buyers.  The Detectives met with two juveniles who showed them the computer.  The two were arrested when the computer they were offering matched the stolen computer.  Two more juveniles were arrested later in the day, having been identified as also participating in the Westside burglary.  Detectives believe the group may be responsible for other Westside burglaries that have occurred in the last month.

In another incident, police were called to a Northeast home at around 3:00 am this morning for a burglary in progress.  The caller reported that someone was inside the home’s detached garage, which had been locked previously in the evening.  While the resident watched, a person left the garage, pushing a wheel-barrow full of tools, and headed towards the street.  Police responded and found Kraig Czapiewski with the stolen goods.  Mr. Czapiewski was arrested for burglary.  Police are investigating whether Mr. Czapiewski, who has a history of burglary and theft, may have been involved in several recent Eastside burglaries. 

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BURGLARIES ON THE RISE IN OLYMPIA

BURGLARIES ON THE RISE IN OLYMPIA

Date:  August 2, 2012                                                                                                       

Released by:

·         Laura Wohl, Public Information Officer

·         360.753.8214 – desk

·         360.951.8889 – mobile          

·         lwohl@ci.olympia.wa.us

Olympia Sees Increase in Residential Burglaries

Crime data from the Olympia Police Department shows that the residential burglary rate has climbed in 2012 and is currently 48% above the 2011 rate.  The number of burglaries in the City took a sharp jump during the month of July, particularly in the Westside and Southeast areas.  63% of the burglaries have involved unsecured homes and garages.  In several cases, items of value were visible from windows and the burglar simply opened a door or window to steal the items.  In other cases, suspects have walked through neighborhoods checking homes for unlocked doors and windows.  Upon finding an unsecured home, they enter and steal easy-to-carry items such as laptop computers and jewelry.

The Olympia Police Department is concentrating its efforts on solving these crimes and stopping the people responsible.  The police department is asking for the public’s help:

·         Secure your windows and doors. Thieves are opportunists who look for easy targets. If you feel you must leave windows open due to the warm weather, use a wooden dowel to limit the amount of distance the window can open.

·         Be vigilant. Be aware of your own surroundings and of what’s happening in the neighborhood. If you are the victim of a break-in, call 911 immediately and let the police search your home and the surrounding area.

·         Report suspicious activity quickly. If you observe suspicious people or activity in your neighborhood, call 911 and report this to police without delay. 

Police and the public, working together, are a proven tool for reducing burglaries and catching burglars.  Police are also tracing stolen property, increasing patrols in the affected areas, and using crime analysis to find the people responsible for this crime trend.

If you have information that might lead to the identification and apprehension of the persons responsible for these crimes, please contact the Olympia Police Department at

(360)753-8300 or Thurston County CrimeStoppers at (360)493-2222.