Port of Olympia Seeks Clearer Vision

Above: The Port of Olympia has launched a new initiative, Vision 2050. A 27 member task force, which includes Chris Richardson, Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation, and Rhys Roth, Center for Sustainable Infrastructure, above, met for the first time on Tuesday.

By Janine Gates

Little Hollywood

http://www.janineslittlehollywood.blogspot.com

Eager for a fresh start after ousting executive director Ed Galligan last month, the Port of Olympia has embarked upon a public outreach initiative called Vision 2050. 

A 27 member task force is charged with helping port staff and consultants interpret public feedback that will help shape how the port will look, feel and function in the years ahead.

Task force members were handpicked by port staff, its project consultant, and Thurston Regional Planning Council staff. They met for the first time Tuesday afternoon at the Lacey branch of South Puget Sound Community College. Eighteen task force members were in attendance, and one called in on speaker phone.

The public process is off to a rocky start. 

Notice for the meeting was sent out at 2:20 p.m. on Monday afternoon only to those who were already on the port commission agenda email list. A press release, social media postings, and links on the Port's website announcing the initiative will be posted Wednesday, said staff.

“While I understand the short notice wasn't ideal, it still fell within the 24-hour notice required for public meetings,” Jennie Foglia-Jones, Port of Olympia communications manager, told Little Hollywood on Tuesday morning.

The port's website for Vision 2050 is www.portolympia2050.org and is expected to go live on Wednesday.

No port commissioners were in attendance, but acting executive director Rudy Rudolph was present throughout the meeting. One member of the public was present. 

Vision 2050 Purpose

The meeting agenda included an overview of port functions and financing by Eric Johnson, executive director of the Washington Public Ports Association.

“We are fundamentally about community control of important assets such as waterfronts, airports and industrial areas,” he said.

Throwing the doors wide open, Johnson said ports have a lot of flexibility in what they choose to do, adding that ports now have the authority to own and operate tourism facilities.

It was Marc Daily, executive director of Thurston Regional Planning Council, who asked about the elephant in the room – port acceptance of controversial cargo such as military cargo and ceramic proppants - and asked whether or not the port has a choice in what it decides to accept.

Johnson walked back his comments saying the port has to abide by certain laws such as the Federal Shipping Act of 1984 which states that terminal operators cannot unreasonably discriminate in the provision of terminal services.

Throughout the two hour meeting, task force representatives asked questions, obviously unclear about their role, what they were being asked to do, and why.

Staff responded that the project’s scope of work was approved by the commissioners. 

While the commissioners adopted its current strategic plan in 2017 and like it, they are open to feedback. Depending on the feedback, the commissioners may go back and revisit the plan, said Foglia-Jones.

“The primary responsibility of the task force is to ensure we design a comprehensive and inclusive engagement process, interpret community input accurately and translate those ideas into a vision and action plan that ensures the Port remains prepared, impactful and sustainable in the years ahead,” she said.

The task force is anticipated to meet approximately five times between June 2018 and August 2019 and will be responsible for presenting a recommended vision plan, with strategies and actions to the commissioners for consideration and adoption.

It is unclear when the group will meet again, but it may be several months or up to a year.

The consultant and his team will interview selected community members, conduct an online survey, offer presentations and forums, and use social media to collect public feedback.

Questions posed will include: 

When you think of the Port today, what's the first thing that comes to mind?

The Port funds operations through multiple business lines. What do you consider priority areas for future revenue growth?

Looking forward, what do you perceive as the Port's most significant barriers to success?

Over the longer term, where do you think the Port should focus direction and/or investment?

Public Involvement

With fifteen minutes to spare in the agenda, task force members were asked to review and endorse the consultant’s proposed public engagement plan.

Helen Wheatley of Olympia holds one of the four public-at-large positions but was unsure of her role and hesitated to endorse the process. She said more time is needed to ensure representational community engagement.

She wondered about the methodology for identifying stakeholders and expressed concern that the group wasn’t being asked to provide input into the study or the outreach methods.

“The actual request for proposals for this project says the Port of Olympia is seeking assistance in the development of a community vision for the Port of Olympia. It also says it would be in alignment with the update to the Port’s Strategic Plan,” she said.

Referring to a 2012 citizen survey conducted by the Port of Olympia, she wondered what the port plans to do with the information it gathers about community values and preferences if it is not in alignment with the port’s current strategic plan.

She is requesting that the public make suggestions about organizations that should be on the task force.

“Organizations that should really be on this committee list need to be alerted that this is happening,” she said.

Above: Helen Wheatley, in pink, provides feedback to Thurston Regional Planning Council staff during a meeting of the Port of Olympia Vision 2050 initiative.

Task Force Members

Travis Matheson, Task Force Chair, Vice-Chair, Port of Olympia Citizens Advisory Committee

Stephen Bramwell, WSU Extension/South Thurston Economic Development Initiative (STEDI)

Michael Cade, Thurston Economic Development Council

Jeff Choke, Nisqually Indian Tribe

Josh Cummings, Thurston County

Todd Cutts, Olympia Downtown Alliance

Marc Daily, Thurston Regional Planning Council

John Doan, City of Tumwater

Ann Freeman-Manzanares, Intercity Transit

Michael Grayum, City of Yelm

Brian Hardcastle, Tumwater School District

Brad Hooper, North Thurston School District

Teri Pablo, Yelm Community Schools

Ray Peters, Squaxin Island Tribe

Drew Phillips, Public-at-Large

Bryan Reilly, Olympia & Belmore Railroad

Chris Richardson, Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation

Rob Rose, International Longshore Workers Union Local #47

Rhys Roth, Center for Sustainable Infrastructure at The Evergreen State College

David Schaffert, Thurston Chamber of Commerce

Bill Sloane, Olympia Yacht Club

Keith Stahley, City of Olympia

Shanna Stevenson, Public-at-Large

Shauna Stewart, Experience Olympia & Beyond

Dr. Tim Stokes, South Puget Sound Community College

Rick Walk, City of Lacey

Helen Wheatley, Public-at-Large

For more information about Port of Olympia issues, go to Little Hollywood, https://www.janineslittlehollywood.blogspot.com and type in keywords. 

A 24/7 Restroom for the Holidays

Above: A wreath made by Sean McCartney at the Ho-Ho-Hobos wreath stand in downtown Olympia earlier this week.

By Janine Gates

http://janineslittlehollywood.blogspot.com

Continued conversation has resulted in a win-win for everyone.

The restrooms at three Capitol Campus locations – Heritage and Marathon parks and the Interpretive Center – have reopened, following talks with Just Housing, the group that was staging protests requesting 24/7 access to public restrooms in downtown Olympia, said Linda Kent, Washington State Department of Enterprise Services (DES) on Friday.

In addition, DES is keeping a portable restroom and hand washing station open at Heritage Park for 24-hour access while the agency works with community groups, the City of Olympia and other stakeholders to seek a long term workable solution.

The regular park restrooms will be open during park hours, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The agency says it does not have the funding to keep the regular park bathrooms open 24 hours a day.

The portable that had been placed near Olympia Supply has since been moved by DES to the side of the Heritage Park restroom.

“….DES is committed to keeping the portable restroom open while productive community conversations continue, provided the restrooms are not vandalized and remain sanitary,” said Kent.

Just Housing also issued a press release on Friday saying, “We take these negotiations very seriously and we are currently consulting with movement supporters, stakeholders, and attorneys about how to proceed with specific commitments….Generally speaking, we would like to see expanded access to the Heritage Park restrooms by the end of January in order to continue moving forward in trust and good faith.”

Above: A Christmas tree in the main lobby of Providence St. Peter Hospital. The tree, titled, “Tree With A Mission,” was one of those designed for the Christmas Forest fundraiser by the Providence St. Peter Foundation. Other words on the tree included “Respect,” and “Stewardship.”

Editor's Note: I would like to extend a warm thank you for reading Little Hollywood. It is an honor to provide a trusted source of news for our community. I’ll be taking a break to recharge, and look forward to 2017 with new perspectives. Please consider a donation to Little Hollywood if you appreciate independent journalism. See the Little Hollywood sidebar for more information.

Thank you also to all our first responders. For those who are not able to take a break, who are caring for those who are injured or sick, or for those facing serious life challenges, my thoughts are with you.  I wish everyone peace and happiness.

Olympia Protesters Demand 24 Hour Restroom Access

Interfaith Works receives temporary use permit, opens warming center

Above: A lot of people have to go to the restroom after 7:00 p.m. Washington State Patrol Captain John Broome speaks with protesters outside the men’s restroom at Heritage Park on Water Street in downtown Olympia Monday night. Protesters are demanding 24 hour restroom access. Some participated in civil disobedience and successfully held the restroom open until 8:41 p.m. There were four arrests.

By Janine Gates

http://janineslittlehollywood.blogspot.com

A woman was hit on her right side at close range by a pepper ball shot by an Olympia Police Department officer Monday night. She said the officer aimed right at her. She has a welt.

“Over a bathroom protest. It’s BS,” she told Little Hollywood later that night, admitting she was in the way of the men’s restroom door. Another person was also reportedly hit with a pepper ball.

For the third night in a row, about 25 protesters successfully kept the restrooms open at Heritage Park on Water Street in downtown Olympia past the time it was scheduled to be closed. Several supporters stood nearby.

Like previous evenings, Washington State Department of Enterprise Services staff arrived at closing time, 7:00 p.m., to lock the doors, forcing those needing access, such as the homeless, to pee and defecate in alleys and bushes in and around downtown Olympia. 

Protesters occupied the restrooms.

The Washington State Patrol and Olympia Police Department arrived. After warnings to clear the area, four were arrested in acts of civil disobedience. The men’s restroom was locked at 8:41 p.m.

Above: Olympia Police Department officers, armed with pepper ball guns, assist Washington State Patrol officers at the Heritage Park restrooms on Monday night about 8:35 p.m.

An Olympia area group called Just Housing has been advocating for justice in housing issues. 

The group wants the city to designate suitable public property for a legal tent encampment and to repeal laws that criminalize homelessness.

Most urgently, because everyone has to pee and poop, the group demands that the city and state open its public restrooms for 24 hour, seven days a week access. The homeless in particular have nowhere to go at night, every night.

The group has met with city staff and councilmembers for the last couple of months. 

On Saturday night, the Heritage Park restroom was open until about 7:35 p.m. and there was one arrest. The Thurston County Sheriff’s Department participated with the WSP and OPD that evening.

The men's restroom stayed open a full two hours past the time it was scheduled to be closed on Sunday night and there were no arrests.

For the last three evenings, community outreach worker and Just Housing advocate Renata Rollins has become an engaging citizen reporter, covering the events on Facebook Live, providing constant commentary and explanations for what the viewer is seeing and hearing.

Apparently without watching any of her online video, The Olympian newspaper and a Seattle television station reported that on Sunday evening, officers were locked in the restrooms, as if trapped by protesters. It was fake news.

Anyone present or watching the video live could see that the officers closed and locked the doors themselves to speak to the protesters inside and keep other protesters from entering.

“The Olympia city council has been debating public restrooms downtown for four years with no results yet....We have people sleeping outside in cold and isolation, and the authorities haven’t even been able to get us a bathroom. How are we going to solve the real problems our community faces?” Rollins said on Sunday.

Rollins said members of Just Housing had a meeting Monday afternoon with Washington State Department of Enterprise Services deputy director Bob Covington and other staff. He asked for time to come up with a “workable plan.” 

When asked how long, the response was two weeks, said Rollins.

“They wanted us to stop the protests and sit ins. I told him (Covington) that there are people really fired up and angry about this, especially after the outrageous escalated police response on Saturday night. Even if I’m not organizing people, people are going to be showing up,” she said.

Protesters chanted, “An injury to one is an injury to all – open up the bathroom stall!” and “Why are we here tonight? Bathrooms are a human right!” and “Same time, same place, same time, same place,” as they dispersed Monday evening.

Just Housing welcomes anyone of goodwill to attend their meetings on Mondays from 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. at United Churches, 110 11th Avenue SE, in downtown Olympia, including the next two Mondays - no holiday break.

Above: No footsteps in the snow here. The restroom near the LOTT Clean Water Alliance and the Hands On Children’s Museum is just one of eight public restrooms in downtown Olympia. It is closed day and night due to problems with excessive drug paraphernalia, and is only open from May through September and for special events.

In related news, Interfaith Works received a temporary use permit to open a daytime winter warming center at 408 Olympia Avenue NE and opened on Monday. 

It served nearly 190 individuals when Little Hollywood stopped by at 4:30 p.m., a half hour before closing. The spacious building contains two restrooms inside, and two port-a-potties outside, which are locked at 5:00 p.m.

Guests were quietly resting, sleeping on mats, drinking hot coffee, and watching “Pirates of the Caribbean.” 

For more information about the lack of 24/7 public restrooms in downtown Olympia, go to “Public Restroom Realities in Olympia: Challenges to a Human Need, a Human Right,” at http://janineslittlehollywood.blogspot.com/2014/02/public-restroom-realities-in-olympia.html or type key words in the search button at Little Hollywood, or go to the City of Olympia website for current conversations.

For more information about the Interfaith Works warming center, go to Little Hollywood, http://janineslittlehollywood.blogspot.com/2016/12/downtown-­olympia­winter-­warming­-center.html

Olympia Rail Blockade Negotiations Underway, Law Enforcement Meet at Port

Above: The Olympia rail blockade of Union Pacific tracks, as seen Thursday morning, started last Friday afternoon. Port of Olympia Commissioner E.J. Zita, City of Olympia councilmember Nathaniel Jones, and members of Olympia Stand met on Wednesday to discuss a peaceful resolution.

Law Enforcement Meeting Held At Port Office

State Legislator Writes “Economic Terrorism” Bill 

By Janine Gates

www.janineslittlehollywood.blogspot.com

The rail blockade of a Union Pacific train currently on Port of Olympia property in downtown Olympia continued into its seventh evening on Thursday. 

The train tried to leave last Friday with a shipment of ceramic proppants destined for North Dakota, to be used in hydraulic fracking.

The Olympia Stand blockade may be the longest disruption of a fossil fuel industry shipment in state history.

Negotiations to peacefully end the rail blockade are underway, but time may be running out for protesters. 

On Thursday afternoon, a multi-jurisdictional law enforcement meeting was held at port administrative offices. About 20 officers were present. No port personnel was present, nor allowed at the meeting.

Port of Olympia Commissioner E.J. Zita issued a statement to media Thursday evening:

“Yesterday, people from Olympia Stand met with liaisons from the City of Olympia (Nathaniel Jones) and the Port of Olympia (myself). We discussed how we could work together toward a peaceful resolution of the fracking train blockade. My top priority is the safety of everyone involved, and I think Nathaniel agrees. I will not presume to speak for Olympia Stand or the Port of Olympia.

Councilmember Jones has proposed a way forward, which Olympia Stand may consider, and which Port Commissioners need to discuss.

The soonest that the three Port Commissioners can meet to discuss this is next Monday, due to travel and family commitments. Port Commissioners are then scheduled to discuss cooperating with the City's proposal for a peaceful resolution.

Meanwhile, I hope that no law enforcement action will be taken against Olympia Stand.”

Zita told Little Hollywood Thursday evening that she chanced upon the meeting, and was nicely, but firmly escorted out. She said she has no information about law enforcement plans.

“Economic Terrorism” Bill Proposed

Washington State Senator Doug Ericksen, a Republican legislator from the 42nd District representing Whatcom County, issued a press release Wednesday saying he has prepared a bill for next year’s legislative session that would create a new crime of “economic terrorism.”

Ericksen says Washington needs to take a firm stand against illegal protests that block transportation and commerce, cause property damage, threaten jobs and put public safety at risk. 

Whatcom County has seen its own share of recent blockades and protests. 

Over 150 activists blocked an oil train in Anacortes in May as part of the Break Free coalition, and in August, a BNSF coal train was blocked by Deep Green Resistance Seattle members for 12 hours. 

According to the Bellingham Herald, trains were delayed three hours on Tuesday by Bellingham protesters, who left at sundown. The newspaper reported that officers in riot gear used pepper spray and in one instance, a stun gun was used against protesters who refused to leave.

“I haven’t seen Senator Ericksen’s proposed language but it appears that he lacks a basic understanding of the First Amendment and the role of freedom of speech and freedom of assembly in an open and democratic society,” Neil M. Fox, National Lawyers Guild of Seattle, told Little Hollywood Thursday evening. 

“Senator Ericksen’s suggested legislation makes me fear what is coming down the road once Donald Trump becomes president,” he added. 

The bill would create a class C felony when protests aimed at causing economic disruption jeopardize human life and property. It would not apply in cases of lawful and protected activities, such as strikes and picketing.

The penalties would apply not just to participants but also to those who fund, organize, sponsor or otherwise encourage others to commit acts of economic terrorism. Accomplices may be required to pay restitution up to triple the amount of economic damage.

The actual bill language is not posted on Ericksen’s website. Ericksen is chair of the Senate Energy and Environment Committee.

For more photos and information about the Olympia rail blockade, the Port of Olympia, ceramic proppants, and more, go to http://janineslittlehollywood.blogspot.com and type key words into the search button.