Fast Tracking a Vision for Downtown Olympia under a Community Renewal Area Plan – Part One

Above: Fast-moving city council sponsored design workshops and discussions are generating a proposed vision for downtown Olympia. At an open house this coming July, the public will be invited to comment on just two downtown and isthmus-area scenarios.

By Janine Unsoeld

www.janineslittlehollywood.blogspot.com

An active visioning process for downtown Olympia is well underway and almost nobody knows about it. The results of this vision for downtown Olympia could seriously influence the built environment of downtown Olympia.

The public is not scheduled to be included in the process until this coming July, when the community will be invited to comment on just two possible downtown and isthmus-area scenarios.

Keith Stahley, the City of Olympia community planning and development manager, says there may be a public outreach component added to the city's scope of work. The objective, he says, is to finish the Community Renewal Area process in 2014.

What’s a Community Renewal Area?

In 2011, the city formed an ad hoc Community Renewal Committee and changed the name of this committee to the Community and Economic Revitalization Committee (CERC) in February of this year to deal with downtown blight. This committee intends to deal with downtown blight through a community renewal area plan.

Under the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 35.81, Community Renewal Law, the City of Olympia has started a process to develop a Community Renewal Area (CRA).

The intent of a Community Renewal Area is to combat blight, such as dilapidated, vacant buildings, and focus limited resources to create the greatest possible return on an investment. The city hopes to do this by creating a CRA and developing a formal community renewal plan.

RCW 35.81 has some potentially controversial elements. Washington State law prohibits the “lending of credit,” or transferring of public property to a private party. Olympia cannot acquire land and then turn it over to a private company for development purposes.

RCW 35.81, however, provides an option for cities to overcome this restriction as long as certain conditions are met and there has been a “sufficient community process” undertaken to ensure the need for the project.

The city has embarked upon this path and apparently considers the visioning process currently underway as “sufficient.”

With a CRA, the city will be able to acquire property, transfer city-owned property to private parties, improve properties for public or private use, perform rezones for particular properties regardless of the growth management or comprehensive planning cycle, and borrow money or apply for grants to carry out community renewal. And this is all for starters.

A CRA feasibility study was recently prepared by the consulting firm ECONorthwest and is being used to address the many challenges facing the revitalization of Olympia.

The Community and Economic Revitalization Committee (CERC)

A city Community and Economic Revitalization Committee is composed of Mayor Stephen Buxbaum, and city councilmembers Mayor Pro Tem Nathaniel Jones and Julie Hankins.

A grandly titled Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) was chosen to advise the committee since June of 2013. The 30 plus member group has been meeting on a regular basis, fast-tracking a vision for downtown Olympia’s isthmus area, meeting several times in the past couple of months.

When asked about the citizen advisory committee membership, Stahley, said it was created by the city’s consulting team, ECONorthwest, “with input from the staff and the CERC to provide a balanced perspective on downtown redevelopment.”

With the help of consultants, the group’s visions for downtown Olympia will be distilled into two scenarios, which will be presented to the community for public involvement in July.

In addition to those two committees, several additional downtown property owners have been invited to participate in at least three recent Community Renewal Area urban design workshops held on March 6, April 5, and April 16. An earlier fourth meeting with property owners was held in February to frame the purpose and timing of the subsequent workshops. 

These property owners include representatives of the Olympia Yacht Club, Bayview, the Oyster House, Traditions Fair Trade, the Capitol Center Building, and ImageSource.

Above: Traditions Fair Trade is on the corner of 5th and Water Street with the nine story Capitol Center Building rising above it on the next block. In the March 6 city meeting with property owners, Ray LaForge, who has owned the building for 31 years, said he believes the building should be replaced. He says that it is no longer energy efficient and envisions a new structure facing Heritage Park and the fountain, but was adamant in saying that during potential changes, the economic viability of the tenants must not be harmed.

Letting the Chips Fall Where They May – The Vision of a Few

The players invited to create this vision for downtown reads like a Chamber of Commerce roster, with five organizations or groups being allowed two seats at the table, such as the Thurston County Economic Development Council, Thurston Regional Planning Council, the West Olympia Business Association, the Olympia Capitol Park Foundation, and the city Planning Commission.

Three seats are offered for downtown property owners, occupied by Camron McKinley, Erica Cooper, and Jim Morris.

Other invited organizations with one representative each include the Visitor and Convention Bureau, the Olympia Downtown Association, the Thurston County Chamber, the Port of Olympia, the Yacht Club, Intercity Transit, and Timberland Regional Library.

City advisory committees such as the Olympia Parking Business Improvement Area, and the Heritage Commission are also represented by one person each.

Other businesses or organizations invited are Olympia Federal Bank, Capital Recovery Center, and a social service position represented by Paul Knox, executive director of the local United Way.

The lone citizen at large position is held by Kris Goddard, who is listed as a member of a now defunct community group called Olympia 2020.

The consultant group is currently budgeted to accomplish its work at $155,000. Stahley says that an offsetting $25,000 grant from the Community Economic Revitalization Board is included in that amount.

Step One: Categorizing Downtown Properties

Property ownership continues to be cheap and easy in downtown Olympia, leading to a myriad of owners and visions that look like a crazy scene inside of a kaleidoscope.

Indeed, the community is still deeply divided on a cohesive vision for downtown.

Uncertainties around retail, housing, environmental hazards, old infrastructure such as aging water pipes, some older than 50 years, shoreline regulations, zoning, and sea level rise are just a few factors that keep private investors away from downtown.

At a March 6 CERC/CAC/property owners meeting, the group categorized downtown property parcels into categories for future land use: stable, redevelopment, and adaptive reuse.

Indicated by name cards, workshop participants were told where to sit at each table, as much as possible, to include a city councilmember, a planning commissioner, a city staff person, and assorted others.

Along 4th and 5th Avenues heading east into downtown, the checkerboard results considered Bayview grocery store to be stable, the former Kentucky Fried Chicken (now ImageSource) to be adaptive or re-developable; the now City of Olympia owned properties to be re-developable; the Olympia Yacht club to be stable and adaptive; the Capitol Center building and related properties to be adaptive and re-developable; the Oyster House property to be stable; and the City of Olympia owned Heritage Park fountain area stable.

The buildings bordered by Water Street and 4th and 5^th Avenues, owned by three different entities, which includes Traditions Fair Trade, is considered re-developable property. 

Let’s Play!

On April 5 and April 16, the select group met at several tables for design workshops in city hall chambers. Using scissors, glue, and multi-colored pieces of paper, the purpose of the meetings was to create a vision for what many call the most valuable and visually spectacular six blocks of real estate in the country: downtown Olympia and the area known as the isthmus.

“You’d have to go far and wide to find land like this…it’s a world class piece. You all know that, if you can come together…it’s a remarkable piece…” gushed John Fregonese, a consultant also working with the city, at the April 5 workshop.

At the Saturday, April 5 workshop, Olympia councilmembers Stephen Buxbaum, Nathaniel Jones, and Julie Hankins participated, while councilmembers Cheryl Selby and Jeannine Roe sat in the back to observe the process or mill around during the discussions. Councilmembers Steve Langer and Jim Cooper did not attend.

Buxbaum and Hankins also participated with a make-up session on April 16 including several participants for those unable to attend the April 5 session. Several members of the public sitting in the back of the room at each of these meetings were not invited to participate or give comment.

The meetings are not officially audio or videotaped, but Walt Jorgensen, a Tumwater citizen, was seen in the back of the room videotaping the April 5 workshop.

The possibility of increasing building heights in downtown Olympia came up in at least two table groups.

Above: From lower left to right: Urban design workshop participants Rachel Newmann, city councilmember Nathaniel Jones, Allen Miller, Craig Holt, Max Brown, and Amy Buckler plan a vision for downtown Olympia on April 5.

April 5: Sample Table Discussion/Visioning Process

 

Quickly milling around the tables did not provide me a cohesive picture of the rationales being discussed for why the multi-colored pieces of paper were being placed where they were. I decided, with city manager Steve Hall’s permission, to become a potted plant on the side of a randomly selected table.

The table was represented by Councilmember Nathaniel Jones; city planner Amy Buckler; city Planning Commission chair Max Brown; Rachel Newmann, a member of the Heritage Commission; Allen Miller, attorney; and Craig Holt, representing the Olympia Downtown Association.

The paper chips: Red represented “mixed use.” Ochre represented “commercial.” Pink represented “employment.” Yellow represented “residential.” Blue represented “civic.” Green represented “open space.”

Some color “chips” were set aside off the map of downtown for the sake of quick resolution, and what was actually glued down to the map was heavily influenced by the desires of the individual participants of the table. 

Blank colored chips were provided for participants to write in their own ideas. And that they did. Four times, attorney Allen Miller repeated his desire during the course of the hour conversation that he wanted to see a big carousel down on the isthmus, and in the end, he got it.

Right off, Miller wanted a public restroom right next to Heritage Park Fountain, and he got it – a big one. Then, Miller wanted a museum in cooperation with the Squaxin Island Tribe. He got it.

Newmann wanted an amphitheater.

“I can see Olympia enjoying that on a summer night and in winter, it could be iced over and have it be an outdoor ice rink!”

Brown agreed, “You’ve got a show without a T.V.”

A daycare, library, and garden center were also discussed. No senior housing was wanted by the group “because the Boardwalk is nearby.”

A hotel/conference center? No.

A fitness center? “I can see it incorporated into something else, like a daycare,” said Jones.

An adult learning facility? “I can see TESC or St. Martin’s having a vision here…” said Jones.

A bookstore? “Put an asterisk on it,” said Jones.

Gateways such as monuments, bus shelters, crosswalks, and streetlights were discussed.

“What about the Yacht Club?” someone asked.

“I’m not sure if their location is tenable,” said Jones. They may need to move onto land due to sea level rise…Percival Landing may also apply. It may be extended on land.” The complications of the fact that all tidelands are leased by the state Department of Natural Resources were pointed out.

Newmann suggested that Bayview’s parking lot doesn’t need to be a surface lot and suggested it be turned into mixed use housing facing Budd Inlet.

“I think that’s a great concept…there’s a lot of hard surface on this property. I’m interested. That’s a good conversation to have,” said Brown.

Miller interrupted, saying he’s more interested in getting rid of blight.

Asked for his opinion, Holt said, “I have a hard time starting the discussion on the one big piece of nice property.”

Jones agreed with Newmann that the group needed to think of downtown in terms of its context, taking advantage of the setting.

“We need to exploit it in the most positive sense, what we’ve got here.”

Miller reminded the group that there’s a 35 foot height limit in this area.

“Whatever goes here should look nice 350 degrees…housing, retail….” said Newmann, pointing to the area currently occupied by Traditions.  

Jones pointed to the retail strip near the Heritage Park fountain lot. “Do we want it to stay retail?”

“I have no problem with Traditions staying. I could live with it,” said Miller.

People could get different kinds of mortgages if they live above their shop,” said Newmann.

The consultant stopped by to check on their work, and remarked on the big restroom placed next to the Heritage Park fountain. It took up the whole space where Da Nang restaurant, the Alano Club, and other businesses currently occupy.  Buckler said, “We like water,” but acquiesced, trimming it down to a tiny square.

“One block done!” someone in the group exclaimed at 10:45 a.m.

Next, the group tackled the block occupied by The Views on Fifth Avenue, also known as the Capitol Center Building, but better known as the nine-story “Mistake on The Lake.”

“There are concerns about how it can be reused…it’s a challenge…it could be lofts, mixed retail…” started Jones. “I don’t know…I don’t have a grand vision – it would be incredibly expensive to take down and rebuild.”

Miller said, “It’s blight, it needs to come down. We need a covered carousal, or an artesian well fountain. There used to be one in Capitol Lake that was capped. We need another draw.”

Brown: “Anchor fountains!”

Newmann said that in Missoula, there’s a carousal that is loved, where receptions and weddings are held. “It’s not just for kids.”

Holt said, “I’ve never considered that. The building needs to come down. I don’t know what it would cost to bring it down, and there’s a contamination issue….”

Brown called the question. Does anyone think it should stay in its current state?

No one did.

Brown said there needs to be a cohesive feel to the area.

“These two blocks need to match, or these two, or all of it,” he said, pointing to a couple blocks. “I’m going to say something that I think will get me into trouble. I think we need a height increase. Not 90, or 75, but maybe 42 feet….I like the idea of a live-work space….I’m not opposed to TESC downtown – I don’t think the isthmus is the right place. We need office space. I’ve heard people say (when they worked there), ‘It was the most beautiful place I’ve ever worked.’ We could bring in tech companies, family wage jobs or better!”

“And then we can bring back KFC!” exclaimed Holt.

“I don’t think Larida Passage was the greatest idea…” started Brown.

Newmann interjected. “It’s my turn – it’s a million dollar view! I understand Olympia is in dire straits but we need to put it in context. What does it mean for Olympia and the Capitol? People in Olympia voted and changed the council because we didn’t want to raise the height. The community is exhausted on that. Now we want to do something to maintain this. We could have attractive housing looking over Budd Inlet, looking out. I don’t think we need to give the best of Olympia away….”

“Think how drastically we could make things work if we had seven more feet,” mused Brown.

“What about an artist space?” asked Newmann. “A civic space? A plaza and place for people to bring people in after they walk around the lake. They need a place to duck into….an art space with TESC and the Squaxin Tribe….”

“We need revenue. It’s not huge revenue on its own. We need partnerships,” said Brown.

“I don’t think any developer is going to want to be down there with housing at 35 feet,” said Holt.

“I want a destination that brings people off of I-5, like the Hands On Children’s Museum on steroids,” said Jones.

“We need to touch the water. I want to see a corridor. I don’t care about the current street pattern,” said Newmann.

“We can do anything…” said Jones.

“Seventy percent of people would vote for a bond to bring that building down,” said Newmann.

“There’s no need for the CRA,” said Brown. “It sounds like what we’re getting at is a public purpose…This is an area where we have one shot at it,” said Brown.

Newmann again urged housing in the parking lot of Bayview and the Yacht Club looking toward the water.

The subject of more civic and park space was discussed.

“I don’t want pasture land. Being in Olympia, it rains a lot, it would create another marsh. I don’t mind a little green - we live in a climate that that doesn’t make it useful,” said Brown.

“What’s this?” Buckler picked an orange chip off the map. It was the hotel/conference center chip. It was taken off the map by quick consensus.

As time was called for the tables to wrap up, Buckler proceeded to glue down the chips the group had agreed upon, onto the map.

Above: Urban design workshop participant Jerry Reilly, a member of the Olympia Capitol Park Foundation, acts as spokesman to explain the rationale for his table's group vision. The table participants for this group included Reilly; Olympia city councilmember Julie Hankins, Ray LaForge, a business and property owner; Kris Goddard; and city paid group facilitator, Scott Fregonese.

 

Scenario Review

Holding up his table’s map for the group to inspect, Jerry Reilly asked the group to “suspend beliefs and assumptions.” His group, which included Councilmember Julie Hankins, featured a very large park, and some housing with retail below, to “preserve the area’s iconic views.”

Amenities included an electric trolley instead of DASH, a restaurant where ImageSource is, an extension of Percival Landing, and keeping Bayview, what he called “America’s most beautiful grocery store.”

Brown explained his table’s design and Thera Black, Thurston Regional Planning Council, offered her table’s design, which included a small boat launch where the current restroom is on Percival Landing near the Oyster House. Historically, one used to be there.

“Restore it, gain public access to the water, close off the road…extend Percival Landing, with a second place for public access by ImageSource, make a U-Turn in the parking lot, and create a new connection to Deschutes Parkway to help circulation…”

Lori Drummond, Olympia Federal Savings, offered her table’s design featuring a blocked off street, a parking garage with retail on the bottom, a second floor on Bayview, an amphitheater, kiosks, and a public market.

She said the group was neutral on ImageSource since it has 45 employees, “but if something could be worked out to move it, it could be a park with a fountain, widening Yashiro Street for a library….” Her group kept all the thoroughfares and extended Percival Landing, created a walkway under the bridge and a pedestrian overpass to the Westside, and kept the retail area on Water Street currently occupied by Traditions.

It was this group that also suggested that heights could be higher.

Multiple Layers involving Downtown

The city is currently involved in a variety of concurrent, multiple, overlapping master processes, i.e. Imagine Olympia, the Comprehensive Plan, the Shoreline Master Plan (which is now at the state Department of Ecology for review), and the upcoming Downtown Master Plan which will soon be undertaken by the Planning Commission.

Asked later how these all work together with the new downtown revitalization plan, Stahley said, “That remains to be seen. It depends on the outcome. Generally all of the documents you reference support the continuation of our downtown as a vital and central part of our community and our region. Each of these planning efforts helps to move us in that direction. The Community Renewal Area is primarily directed at the elimination of blight in downtown. The Saturday, April 5 workshop was an effort to start to define what shape that might take and to learn how to talk to one another.”
 
Next: Part Two - Fast Tracking a Vision for Downtown Olympia under a Community Renewal Area Plan

The Passing of Billy Frank Jr.

 

Above: Billy Frank Jr., fourth from the left, is the only one looking at me in this previously unpublished group photo at the conclusion of a Puget Sound Partnership Leadership Council meeting on January 17, 2014 in the GA Building in Olympia. 

 

by Janine Unsoeld

www.janineslittlehollywood.blogspot.com

 

I usually attend Puget Sound Partnership leadership council meetings when they are held in Olympia just to hear Billy Frank, Jr. speak. And when he spoke, everyone listened.

 

Billy Frank, Jr., serving as Chair of the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission, has forged cooperative agreements which include the interests of tribal, commercial, and sports fishermen, while protecting and advocating for the fisheries resources of future generations.

 

In my January 16 Little Hollywood blog post at www.janineslittlehollywood.blogspot.com, I briefly quoted Frank, who wanted to help incoming Partnership director Sheida Sahandy and Governor Jay Inslee better understand the dire situation and the need to better describe the Puget Sound story:

 

"We have a lot of problems...the salmon can't get to the Narrows Bridge before they die...same with Squaxin coho...there are no flounders anymore, the little critters are all gone...." Billy Frank Jr. told Inslee and Sahandy.

In a press release today, Washington State Jay Inslee said, "Washington lost a true legend with the passing of Billy Frank, Jr. today.

"He was a selfless leader who dedicated his life to the long fight for the rights of our state's native people. Billy was a champion of tribal rights, of the salmon, and the environment. He did that even when it meant putting himself in physical danger or facing jail.

"I'm thankful Billy was here to see the 2014 Legislature pass a bill helping to overturn convictions from treaty protests. Billy was right on this issue and the state owed this gesture of justice to him and others who jeopardized their liberty to fight for treaty rights.

"Billy never wavered in his conviction and passion. He stressed to me the spiritual and cultural relationship that indigenous people have with salmon.

"His work is the foundation of an enduring legacy that will never be forgotten in Washington state.

"He once said, 'The Creator put that salmon there for it to survive.' I thank the Creator for putting Billy here to make sure we never forget what he fought for.

"Trudi and I send our condolences to Billy's family, friends, tribal members and everyone across the state and the country who mourns the passing of this great man."

Above: Billy Frank Jr., left, speaking at a Puget Sound Partnership meeting on February 6, 2013 in Olympia. When Billy spoke, everyone listened. 

 

State Divestment in Fossil Fuels Urged by Climate Crisis Activists

Above: People wait in the lobby of the Washington State Investment Board prior to the board's meeting on April 17 in Olympia. Several speakers with a local climate crisis group addressed board members during the public comment period.

 

By Janine Unsoeld

www.janineslittlehollywood.blogspot.com

The Washington State Investment Board (WSIB) heard from current and retired state workers, community members, and members of a local climate crisis group during their meeting held April 17.

Speakers were united in their request for Washington State to divest from fossil fuel companies and the companies that serve them.

The WSIB was created in 1981 and has a staff of 79 employees who work in three divisions: Investments, Operations, and Institutional Relations. The board, which accepts public comment at its monthly meetings, is composed of 15 members. All were present during public testimony except for Representative Sharon Tomiko Santos.

Divestment Testimony

Testimony and personal stories from several local citizens did not overlap, providing the board with compelling information and facts about the divestment issue.

Glen Anderson, a member of the Confronting the Climate Crisis group sponsored by the Olympia Fellowship of Reconciliation, said he started working for the state in 1972 and retired in 2006.

“I enjoy my pension and appreciate your efforts to wisely protect it. I understand your responsibility to avoid unnecessary risk,” said Anderson, who mentioned that many cities throughout the United States have divested from fossil fuels.

Seattle divested in November 2012 and by May 2013, 11 cities had committed themselves to divest because of the climate crisis.

Anderson said that during the 1980s, he and other state employees organized an effort they called “State Employees for Socially Responsible Investment” and persuaded the state’s Committee for Deferred Compensation to offer a socially responsible alternative to the regular mutual funds. Anderson said the committee initially assumed that the investments would produce lower returns than the regular mutual funds, but the group convinced the committee that they would be strong.

“The past few decades have proved we were right,” said Anderson.

Retired Ecology state employee Patricia Holm says she depends on her pension. She said that just last week, Archbishop Desmond Tutu added his voice in support of the growing divestment movement and called for an anti-apartheid style campaign against fossil fuel companies, which he blames for the “injustice” of climate change.

Holms asked the group to start the process of divestment now, before stranded assets like the earlier banking crash and real estate and technology bubble takes them by surprise.

“....Then, it could be too late to retain investments. As a pensioner, I care about this….Clean energy is not costly, but inaction is. Costly in terms of lives, livelihoods and economies if governments and business continue to allow climate change impacts to escalate.”

Boutai Hargrove, a retired state employee, urged the board to divest on behalf of her grandchildren’s and their grandchildren’s future. 

Rhonda Hunter, a retired 25 year employee of the state, said that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change recently declared that most remaining fossil fuels must remain in the ground.

As for clean energy, Hunter said Goldman Sachs is declaring the renewable energy sector one of the most compelling, attractive markets, investing $40 billion in wind and solar.

“Goldman says the window for coal globally is eroding and closing rapidly….Bloomberg New Energy Finance says power from wind is now cheaper than power from new natural gas plants….Warren Buffett’s utility company just invested $1 billion in Iowa wind turbines and $5.6 billion to buy Nevada Energy. Are you worried about returns? Aperio Group reports that divesting from the top 200 fossil fuel companies in an indexed portfolio increases theoretical return risk by only .003 %.

“Don’t hope you can just get the industry to clean themselves up – they won’t,” she told the investment board. “Their business plan requires burning five times what the climate can afford.  Please conduct a serious risk assessment to divest our pensions from fossil fuels.”

Donna Albert, a current state employee with 20 years’ experience managing capital construction and a master’s degree in civil engineering, said it is technically and economically feasible to transition away from fossil fuels to 100 percent renewables. She read portions of an open letter written and signed by 93 Harvard University professors addressed to the president of Harvard University asking Harvard to purge its $33 billion endowment of holdings in oil and coal companies.

Stewart Henderson, a current state employee, also addressed the board:

“When the Manville Corporation went bankrupt in 1982, it was the largest corporation ever to go bankrupt in the U.S. Enron stock went for $90.75 per share in mid-2000, then plummeted to less than $1 by the end of November, 2001. 

“Lehman Brothers held over $600 billion in assets when it filed for bankruptcy in 2008.  In each case, a Fortune 500 firm that seemed like a Grade A investment years, months, and even days earlier, suddenly left investors holding pennies on the dollar.  In each case, the corporations were engaging in highly risky economic activity. In each case, they were concealing that risk. And in each case, they were manipulating the political process and public perceptions to further conceal the risks.

“Just as Manville hid the danger and costs of asbestos, and Enron hid its high-risk accounting practices, and Lehman Brothers hid their credit default swaps, the fossil fuel industry is hiding the facts that they are cooking their books with bogus assets, and their entire business model rests on their ability to escape paying for the costs of the externalities they are imposing on citizens, on governments, and on other corporations.

“As fossil fuels continue to drive climate change, the fossil fuel industry is directly contributing to – but not paying for more severe storms, including hurricanes, typhoons, and tornadoes, more severe winter storms across the U.S., increased heat waves, increased drought, increased wildfires, sea-level rise, ocean acidification and, as pointed out recently by Governor Inslee, the increased rainfall which triggered the mudslide in Oso, for the victims of which flags are flying at half-staff throughout the state today.

“As this connection between fossil fuels and the unpaid bills they cause becomes clearer; as alternative fuels become every day more affordable; and as it becomes clearer that – as a United Nations panel recently revealed – three quarters of the assets (the underground reserves) of these fossil fuel companies are completely worthless, because we cannot afford the cost of burning them; with each coming day it will become clearer that the fossil fuel industry is in fact the greatest bubble the world has ever seen. 

“It is the legal and ethical responsibility of this body to examine that risk far more carefully and publicly than it has done to date. Sooner or later, the State Fund will be unloading these stocks.  Let’s do it today, at the top of the market, not years, or months, or days from now, at pennies on the dollar. We can’t afford the risk.” 

Rozanne Rants, spoke to the board in poetic terms:

“I will just add a few grace notes to the sad symphony of possible futures you have heard here this morning…. I do not expect you, individually or as a group, to make a quick decision about this question. The question: shall we, must we, can we, choose to cut off support to companies who profit greatly, while doing great damage to the earth, by mining and selling fossil fuels….Maybe the best thing we can do is listen to the quiet voices of those who have moved through denial, fear, and despair, and now sing songs of hope.”

Bernie Meyer, who portrays Mahatma Gandhi throughout the United States and India, said he is not a retired state employee, but worked in human services during his working career, and has his retirement fund in a socially responsible PAX world mutual fund account.

“Passover is this week, when Jews liberated themselves and it’s the Holy Week for Christians, celebrating Jesus giving away his life for humanity. These events represent growth. Like Gandhi, we must live by truth and express it with love. In our time…we are experiencing….climate change.”

Board Response

Board Chair, State Treasurer James McIntire thanked those who appeared before the board.

“We do listen and take this matter to heart. We operate here as fiduciaries, to produce the highest return with minimal risk. We do belong to a number of organizations that try to understand the risks associated with standard assets, and I think we will continue to review your comments, investment patterns and portfolios and how we move forward as investors.

“As a policy, the board has not supported divestment for several decades…so from that perspective, we will be doing our own self-reflection.”

Prior to the group’s testimony, Liz Mendizabal, institutional relations director for the Washington State Investment Board, explained the board’s position on divestment to members of the Confronting the Climate Crisis group in a letter on April 9:

“....You may be interested to know that the WSIB is a member of the Boston-based Ceres, a coalition of investors and companies that advocate for sustainable business practices, as well as several other organizations working on long-horizon investment issues. These include the Millstein Center for Corporate Governance, the International Centre for Pension Management, the Council of Institutional Investors, and the Asian Corporate Governance Association. The priority of all of these organizations is to help investors better understand the risks associated with short-termism, how responsible or poor governance impacts investment returns, and the risks posed by potential stranded assets.

“Through our corporate governance program activities, coalitions with other funds, and participation in the organizations mentioned above, we believe divestment from the fossil fuel industry would not be wise or effective as a means for the WSIB to advance progress towards addressing climate change. The most productive and meaningful strategy for the WSIB as a large institutional investor and shareholder at this time is to use our influence to actively engage with fossil fuel and other companies whose practices have come into question to encourage them to place a higher priority on transparency, mitigation, and implementing strategies focused on the long term that will be good for shareholders, the environment, and all concerned.

“We appreciate hearing your perspectives and value your concerns and suggestions.”

Group Letter to Governor Jay Inslee

The Confronting the Climate Crisis group wrote and presented a letter to Governor Inslee in February urging him to place a moratorium on all new permits and infrastructure for fossil fuels in Washington.

The group has a meeting with an aide to the Governor to discuss the issue in early May.

For more information about the Washington State Investment Board, go to: www.sib.wa.gov or call (360) 956-4600.

For more information about the Fellowship of Reconciliation’s Confronting the Climate Crisis group, go to: www.olympiafor.org.

Above: Pictures of Washington State Investment Board members hang in the lobby of the agency.

 

Thurston County Specialized Recreation is in Precarious Budget Situation

Above: On April 9, about 60 participants of Thurston County's Special Recreation program gathered to bowl at Westside Lanes in Olympia. Strikes and smiles were in abundance!

 

Commissioners to Hold Work Session on Issue May 1

By Janine Unsoeld
www.janineslittlehollywood.blogspot.com

A small group of dedicated people in Thurston County are addressing budget shortfalls and issues regarding the specialized recreation program for individuals with developmental or physical disabilities.

James Reddick, president of the PARC Foundation, a local, nonprofit parks, arts, recreation, and cultural organization, recently reached out to Little Hollywood to tell the story.

“I am concerned that the public does not know what is taking place with Thurston County specialized recreation services. What happens if this recreation service is eliminated for this population of citizens?” says Reddick.

Many of the individuals who use the county’s recreation services live with their parents or guardians. Some live on their own and sometimes support themselves with work income earned through agencies like Morningside. 

“I have contacted many individuals and organizations, but I have not received much response. I would like to find or start a group that would be influential in raising funds for special recreation, similar to the St. Peter’s Foundation that supports the hospital,” says Reddick.

Thurston County Specialized Recreation Budget History

Currently, the county contributes about $220,000 and the cities of Lacey, Olympia, and Tumwater contributes a combined $23,000 to the program, says Cliff Moore, Thurston County manager. Program users fees are also part of the budget.

 

Thurston County Recreation Services is a registered contractor with the state Department of Social and Health Services and is able to accept Department of Developmental Disability respite funds for payment of activities.

In a telephone interview yesterday, Moore placed the special recreation program into a larger context, and provided a history of Thurston County’s budget situation overall.

Since 2009, the county support for special recreation services has continued to be reduced.  Moore recounted how 2009 was the year Thurston County suffered a tremendous financial impact due to the economic downturn.

“The county lost 175 positions in 2008-09….Since 2008 until now, we’ve lost 252 positions. The biggest reasons are inflation, an increase in the cost of medical benefits, salary step increases, and fuel for county vehicles….Our largest single source of income is property taxes…and up until 2009, we had a healthy budget from the general fund.”

That year, the special recreation program was going to be cut from the budget. Moore was reminded by this reporter who was present, of an emotional 2009 county board of commissioners public hearing in which passionate testimony was voiced by caregivers and clients of the program.

Moore immediately responded, “In my entire 25 years of public service, that was the single most moving public meeting I’ve ever attended….”

The public testimony and passionate outpouring worked, and after the 2009 public meeting, the commissioners created a combined funding mechanism of the general fund and the Millage Fund that has sustained the program for the last five years.

The Millage Fund

The Millage Fund is established by state statute and requires the county to spend a certain amount of property taxes on social service programs, including special recreation.

Chris Colton, a member of the Thurston County Parks and Recreation citizen advisory group, provided specifics on the Millage Fund, illustrating the range of services required to take care of an individual with developmental or physical disabilities.

“The Millage Fund receives 2-1/2 cents per $1000 from property taxes…however, the Millage Fund's expenditure is greater than its income, and the program needs to cut about $20,000 in spending every year, starting in 2015.

“In 2014, 45% of the Millage Fund was spent supporting special recreation while the rest of the money went to high school transition (12%), parent and family support (9%), intensive case management (14%), senior services (10%), child care development and support (1%), personal counseling (3%), People First self-advocacy (3%), and assault prevention classes (3%).

“The municipalities agree that special recreation is important but….if each city upped its contribution, the $20,000 could be made up.  However, the cities are in a budget crunch and are not inclined to give up more money, at least not at the request of park staff. Also, that rationale is based on the commissioners continuing to require Millage Funds to fund special recreation. This issue needs to be addressed in our future meeting with the county commissioners.”

 

Efforts to Save Program Comes Up Empty-Handed

Moore says the county strongly appreciates the special recreation program and has worked hard to find a sustainable plan, a programmatic home, and funding for the program. Last year, the county launched an effort to save the program by convening a summit of 17 local organizations in June 2013, but there were no takers to provide the services.

The organizations involved include the Boys and Girls Club of Thurston County, the Hands On Children’s Museum, Morningside, Senior Services of South Sound, United Way of Thurston County, the Olympia, Lacey, and Tumwater parks and recreation programs, the PARC Foundation, the South Sound YMCA, and many more.

When the county’s Resource Stewardship department took an overall 10 percent budget reduction in 2014, the summer day camp program for special recreation was cut.

In March, the county moved the program from Resource Stewardship into the public health and social services department on Lilly Road. Moore says it has been good to connect the program with other staff.

“It heightens the awareness, value and importance of the special recreation program to more staff…before, it was always seen as something different. Still, our goal is to find a sustainable long term solution.”

Moore says the Millage Fund will be tapped out in just a couple of years.

 

Above: Special Recreation participants try different tactics to help their game at Westside Lanes.

Thurston County Special Recreation Activities

Thurston County Specialized Recreation is the only recreation services agency in the county that provides activities and events to individuals with developmental and developmental disabilities.

The current Spring program lists fun field trips to the Puyallup Fair, a trip on the Kitsap Mini Steam Train, trips to see the Tacoma Rainiers, the Point Defiance Zoo, the Olympic Air Show, and more. Locally, the group has a regular bowling club at Westside Lanes, takes walks at the Nisqually Wildlife Refuge, trips to movie theaters, and more.

In the afternoon of April 9, I caught up with a group of about 60 special recreation program participants at Westside Lanes to see some pretty amazing bowling and lots of smiles.

Virginia Cook, a caregiver for her 50 year old developmentally disabled son, sat nearby to watch him bowl. She said he has memory issues, anxiety attacks, and sometimes get confused. She has been with the program for many years.

“I don’t want them to cut the budget. I rely on this program…I need the respite. I don’t have other people I can rely on too often. I could call a professional caregiver, but my son doesn’t like strangers. Without the program, people like me wouldn’t really have any breaks.”

Cook said she sometimes goes to the mall or somewhere nearby while he’s bowling under the watchful supervision of recreation staff, but then she feels bad if she missed him being happy about getting a strike.

“When he gets a strike, I can go ‘yea!’” she smiles.

Josh Russell, a caregiver with Citizen Access Residential Resources (CARR), sat near his client, watching him bowl a rocking game.

“He’s been bowling here for about 10 years…he looks forward to it. He brings his scores home and puts them up on the refrigerator, and calls his family and tells them. He’s very proud of playing a sport – he’s good at it! He’s beat me a few times. He’s an interesting character….” said Russell.

Just then, Russell’s client got a strike! He immediately came over to me and with a big smile, said, “I like to bowl. I like people.” I gave him a fist bump.

The PARC Foundation Offers Possible Solutions

The PARC Foundation, begun by Reddick in 1998, is dedicated to preserving the vital green spaces of Thurston County’s natural surroundings, expanding and supporting works of art and artists in our community, and ensuring all children have free access to recreational opportunities.

“How can specialized recreation continue to serve individuals with developmental and physical disabilities? In addition, how can this program expand to meet the needs of individuals with developmental and physical disabilities? Specialized recreation has high operational costs due to staff and safety requirements. Most of the participants are on Social Security disability income, or need support through low wage employment, or by parents and guardians,” says Reddick.

PARC serves as a nonprofit financial manager for individuals and organizations that want to contribute to their community, but are not themselves interested in becoming a nonprofit or assume financial accounting efforts.

The organization leverages a number of separate funds to achieve major projects such as the creation of the popular Olympia Skate Court on Cooper Point Road in west Olympia. It currently serves as the fiscal agent for South Sound Hounds, and the Tenino Quarry Pool’s fundraising efforts, and other projects. In the past, it served as the fiscal agent for the South Sound Estuary Association.

For special recreation, the PARC Foundation used a $15,000 grant it received in 2012 from the Nisqually Tribe for a weeklong overnight camp held last year. 

“We applied for the same amount of funds this year, and received $5,000. We were also given $5,000 to put towards a Washington State Department of Transportation grant for a 30-35 passenger bus. We’re still trying to raise funds for the bus. Fundraising is difficult.”

County Commissioners to Hold Work Session on Special Recreation

The county commissioners will meet with the Thurston County Parks and Recreation citizen advisory group for a work session on Thursday, May 1, at the Thurston County Courthouse, 2000 Lakeridge Drive SW, Room 280, at 2:00 p.m.

The advisory group wants to reconnect with the commissioners, remind them of the group’s mission, and discuss the plight of the special recreation program. The group was recently instrumental in helping the county update its comprehensive plan for parks and recreation, but now members feel in limbo. The establishment of new goals, and changes in the configuration of the group may be in order.

The program’s move from Resource Stewardship to the county health department illustrates the disconnect between the commissioners and the advisory group. Douglas Bell, a member of the Thurston County Parks and Recreation citizen advisory committee says, “We found out about it in an email.”

The public is invited to observe the commissioner’s work session on special recreation, but public comment will not be allowed. Moore welcomes public comment on the subject at any regular county commissioner meeting on Tuesdays at 2:00 p.m. at the Thurston County Courthouse, Room 280.

Metropolitan Parks District Option?

Moore said that due to new legislation two years ago, a dedicated funding stream for parks was created as the Metropolitan Parks District. Moore says 25 jurisdictions in Washington State have adopted one.

“We haven’t. It takes a vote of the people and creates another tax, so that’s a challenge…but information about it has been provided to the commissioners about that opportunity….As far as I know, no one is leading an effort to create one here, but it could be beneficial for the community. Generally speaking, the overall size of parks and recreation staff increases because there’s a more sustainable revenue stream,” said Moore. In turn, this option could help the special recreation program.

Moore says a 2015 budget for the special recreation program has not yet been established.

For more information about Thurston County Special Recreation, go to the Thurston County website at www.co.thurston.wa.us or contact Cliff Moore, county manager, at (360) 786-5440 or moorecl@co.thurston.wa.us.

For more information about the PARC Foundation, go to www.parcfoundation.org or call (360) 352-0980.

 

Above: Leaning helps too....

The Making of Olympia's Newest Police Officer: Wally Noel

 

Above: City of Olympia Police Chief Ronnie Roberts, left, welcomes Wally Noel, Olympia's newest police officer, after administering Noel's oath of office.

By Janine Unsoeld

www.janineslittlehollywood.blogspot.com

A brief, formal swearing in ceremony yesterday marked the beginning of a new chapter for Olympia's newest police officer Wally Noel and his family.

“We're seeing a whole new generation of police officers,” said Olympia city manager Steve Hall, after the ceremony.

“We have officers who have worked at Starbucks, in banks, served in the military…it’s really exciting in terms of the diversity in background….This is the future of our force.”

Noel, who will retire in a month as a Major from the Army, lives in Tumwater with his wife, Betheny, son Deven, 14, and daughter Kiran, 10. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Administration and a Master of Arts in Business and Organizational Security Management.

Noel spent 20 years in active service as a military police officer. He served in the Army prison system for 10 years, went through several deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan, served in detention operations at Guantanamo Bay, and was assigned to Joint Base Lewis McChord two and a half years ago.

“We love the state of Washington, and Olympia. This is where I’d like to retire. My kids and wife absolutely love it here,” said Noel.

After witnessing the ceremony, Olympia police department administrative assistant Marianne Weiland noted the longevity of officer's careers and said that Olympia went through a big hiring of officers 20 to 25 years ago.

“Many of them are now retiring...it’s been exciting to see the changes,” she said.

Noel’s Family

After the ceremony, Noel’s family was all smiles. I asked Deven what he likes best about the Olympia area.

After some reflective thought, and sighing, he said, “Finally, we don’t have to run around.” Deven, who wore a tie and a white, long sleeved shirt, plays trumpet for the Tacoma Youth Junior Symphony, and will go to Black Hills High School next year.

“We’re finally in one spot,” Kiran agreed. She says her favorite hobby is going out to eat. Asked what her favorite local restaurants are, mom Betheny mentioned Vic’s Pizza, any place with sushi, especially spicy tuna, and Lacey’s new Jimmy John’s. Kiran heartily agreed.

As relative newcomers, Betheny described her impressions and passion for the South Sound community.

“After 20 years of traveling, this definitely is our home. We’ve been a lot of places, but this is the only place we feel people have open arms. We’ve lived in Germany, Italy, Hawaii, the Midwest, and the South, and people here are very open, even the homeless people. I walk by and they say, 'Good morning!' I’m very impressed.”

A fulltime wife and mother, Betheny is busy with her children’s activities and parent teacher organizations, volunteers in their classrooms, and is active in Tumwater school issues. She says she has high expectations for quality education.

“We’ve lived in Dupont, Pierce County, Lacey, and Tumwater and I’m really impressed, overall, with how the community here supports the whole child, offering support to military families, taking the time to talk to students, and caring about their emotional well-being.  This is also a community where the arts are supported – that’s important to me. When you’ve been a transient family for so long, we need outlets. Not all kids like football.

“I believe all kids, whether they come from foster homes, the military, or are bouncing around due to divorce, need the schools and the community to work together to disseminate information, to have sources for opportunities….”

She says when Deven starts at Black Hills next year, he will have attended eleven schools.

“When children move around and change schools, they lose credits,” she said. She is already looking forward to Deven's attendance at New Market Skill Center’s free summer classes, which are available for students entering 9th through 12th grade, and later, the Running Start program.

Running Start is a program designed for eligible juniors and seniors to enroll in college level courses at South Puget Sound Community College to receive both high school and college credit.

The Training of a City of Olympia Police Officer

On July 1st, Noel will head to a five month training in the police academy, then begin Olympia’s three to six month training, and begin an 18 month probation process, all before he can go solo on the streets of Olympia as a patrol officer.

Amy Stull, senior program specialist for the Olympia police department's community programs, says an officer candidate has to be hired by a law enforcement agency in order to attend the training academy.

“Completing the academy gives them state certification. If they don’t pass, they don’t retain their employment.”

The academy, coordinated by the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission, is in Burien. All law enforcement officers attend that academy, except for the Washington State Patrol, which has their own version.

Stull wrote about the new officer training process for the Olympia Police Department newsletter in February, 2013:

In the 1990’s, standard training was done by field training officers. New officers would be assigned one field training officer after they completed the state Basic Law Enforcement Academy (BLEA). In recent years, the Olympia Police Department has transitioned to the police training officer model.

One of the goals was to better mesh with the Academy’s movement towards integrating more adult learning concepts. New recruits now go through training after the Academy and during their 18 months of probation. 

Under this new model, teaching is based on four substantive topics: police tactics, criminal procedure, report writing and emergency response. Within these categories are fifteen core competencies – use of force, local procedures (laws and policy), leadership, problem solving, community-specific problems, cultural diversity, legal authority, individual rights, ethics, observations skills, multi-tasking, police vehicle operation, conflict resolution, officer safety, communication skills and lifestyle stressors.

The training period is divided into four phases with a mid-term and final evaluation. Each phase takes two to four weeks. Phase one is focused on non-emergency operations, the second on emergency response, the third on criminal procedure and the fourth on patrol activity, which encompasses everything learned during the training. After the first two phases, a different police training officer evaluates the recruit’s progress. Yet another officer takes the recruit through the next phases and a fourth police training officer does the final evaluation.

The goal of the program is to put recruits in learning situations that allow them to use their level of knowledge and problem solve. Training officers look for opportunities to create problem-based learning exercises that involve multiple core competencies. This makes it possible to carefully evaluate each new employee’s chance for a successful career at the Olympia Police Department.

Current Olympia Police Department Officer Statistics

When asked for specific statistics on current officer demographics regarding gender, race, and language diversity, Olympia police department spokesperson, Laura Wohl, provided the following information:

“We now have eight female officers. As for languages, we have one certified Spanish interpreter. We also have several bilingual or semi-bilingual people who are not certified. Certification requires a test and then allows one to interpret in court. Because they are not certified, we don’t have a formal record of these officers, so I’ll give you the best that I can remember: of those who speak a second language, we now have two officers who speak sign language and we have two or three who speak Spanish.”

After some research by the human resources department, she said that in the last 25 years, the department has employed 12 African American officers and corrections officers, three Hispanic/Latino officers and corrections officers, and four Asian/Pacific Islander officers and corrections officers.

“We have had African American police officers at different times in the last 25 years. We did have a period recently when we had no African American police officers on the force – between November 2012 and April 16, 2014, when Wally was sworn in,” said Wohl.

Above: Noel's police badge.

For more information on the Olympia Police Department or law enforcement issues, events and activities, and past statistics, go to Little Hollywood, www.janineslittlehollywood.blogspot.com and type key words into the search button.

Winter Camping Weekend at Mt. Rainier

Above: Moonrise over the Tatoosh. Not too far up, winter camping offers rewarding views.

 

Getting Away From It All: Winter Camping on Mount Rainier

By Janine Unsoeld
www.janineslittlehollywood.blogspot.com

The gate between Longmire and Paradise at Mount Rainier National Park is now open 24 hours, but always check for park alerts, news and weather before you leave home.

No doubt, the National Park Inn at Longmire is an enticing and very romantic possibility for spending a night or two, and the historic Paradise Inn is scheduled to open for the 2014 season on Wednesday, May 21.

Winter camping this past weekend on the mountain, however, was spectacularly beautiful, and offered its own rewards to practice physical and mental endurance, and gear management.

I learned a lot: Hand warmers in my gloves were life-savers, as were the stash of nuts in my pocket when my go-to calorie supply of Snickers bars were frozen so bad I couldn't get a bite off, ever, and, for someone my size, carrying a 46 pound pack was a ridiculous load. 

Despite the grueling lessons learned, it was great to escape from the routine, and remind oneself that there’s more to life than work, meetings and day-to-day minutia.

Above: The weather at Mt. Rainier was clear and beautiful this past weekend. At 2:00 a.m., and throughout the night, the moon was bright orange, with stars and shooting stars on display.  

Above: Coming back from Panorama Point at sunrise.

 

Above: Janine learns the hard way, and carries a ridiculously heavy, but seemingly necessary load.