Suquamish Citizen Advisory Committee Minutes - May 2009

Board Members:
Members Present: Louise Barbee, Tom Curley, Bruce Goodrich, Larry Goodwin, Jim Holmes, Gail Petranek, Sharon Nichols, Sandra Senter
Members Absent: Frances Malone, Kevin McDonald, Lydia Sigo
Quorum: Yes
Others Present: Heather Adams (DCD), Tina Nelson (Public Works), Tina Jackson (Suquamish Tribe), Rebecca Pirtle (Commissioner Bauer’s office), 1 community resident

Proceedings
Opening:
Bruce Goodrich, Chairperson, called the meeting to order at 6:35 pm. Introductions were made of SCAC members and others in attendance.
Public Comment:
- None
Opening continued:
- The April minutes were approved.
- Tribal Update (Tom Curley):
▪ A summary of the April 2009 SCAC minutes was submitted to Tribal Council.
Communications:
- None
Business:
1. Tina Nelson from Public Works reported that improvements to Geneva and Park Avenue are the next projects scheduled for Suquamish. The plan has been amended to extend the new sidewalk with 6 inch curb the entire length of Park Avenue. The project will go out to bid in about 3 weeks and construction will begin in late summer, with the intent of having it completed by the beginning of the 2009-2010 school year.
The work on Geneva will begin after August 8th when Canoe Journey is over. Geneva will be closed to traffic from the start of construction to around the end of October. Access will be provided for residents of Geneva and exit access for Soundview residents. The county is aware that the road closure will cause congestion regarding school access. Gail Petranek requested written information from the county that can be sent to parents this school year about the improvements and closure and suggested that negotiations begin with District buses. It is not yet known how Kitsap Transit will accommodate the closure. The Roads Division is currently looking at possible improvements on Prospect Street, but no decision has been made. Tina will keep us informed.

Construction on Geneva will start at the base of the hill. There will be a sewer line under the entire length of the street, stormwater channel and landscape swales on the north side, and a power pole strip with bark and a sidewalk with 6 inch barrier curb on the south side. Right of way has been purchased to better accommodate buses turning from Geneva onto Park Avenue. There also will be a painted crosswalk at Geneva and Park.

Property owners along Geneva and abutting streets will be notified of the closure. It was discussed that SCAC would sponsor a public meeting in July once the contractor has been selected.

2. Tina Jackson, Tribal Journey’s Coordinator, discussed this year’s Canoe Journey hosting. This is the 20th anniversary of the event. It started in 1989 with Paddle Seattle. In 1989 there were 6 canoes and last year there were 110 canoes for the Cowichan hosting. This year the canoes will arrive at the boat ramp on August 3rd from around 1:30 to 6:30. It is estimated there will be 12,000 people in Suquamish that day. This includes 90-100 canoes, 5,000 campers, and other visitors. The baseball field on Totten Road will be the main camp ground. Gail Petranek volunteered to notify the neighbors near the ball field or to host a neighborhood meeting at her home. Suquamish Way and Augusta will be closed from the tribal administrative center to Center Street; however, access will be provided to the post office and downtown businesses. The new dock will be used for support boats.

August 4rd-8th, 7000-9000 people are expected each day. The tribe will be serving breakfasts and dinners with the 3rd and the 8th being seafood dinners. “Give away” workshops are held every Wednesday and Friday in the Elder’s dining room and drum making will be held the next 3 Saturdays from 10:00-4:00 to prepare gifts for visiting groups. Tina expects 500-650 volunteers. The official volunteer application will be on the web site in about two weeks (http://www.tribaljourneys2009.com/). The tribe also is seeking home stays for visiting elders. Protocol (presentations and song and dance) will be held in the new community house (House of Awakened Culture) throughout the week starting with the farthest community. This year there will be 2 groups from Hawaii and a Maori group from New Zealand. The farthest canoes will be coming from Bella Bella in British Columbia – an 18 day journey.

There is an emphasis on the environment this year with compostable and recyclable materials. A water station will be set up for refillable containers. There will be parking at locations on Hwy 305 with shuttles to Suquamish. Vendors will be located in the Tribal Administration Building parking lot. The command center for the event will be at the police station. Volunteers are needed to go through16 hours of training to staff 2 Red Cross tents. A volunteer appreciation dinner will be held on August 11 at the community house. Chief Seattle Days will be held as usual the following weekend.

It was discussed that the July public meeting regarding road improvements and closures would be a good venue for Tina to inform the community about the Canoe Journey. Kitsap Transit will maintain its usual schedule. It was suggested they be notified to post signs in the Park and Ride lot so Canoe Journey visitors do not park there.

3. Bruce Goodrich reported that the new Land Use Subcommittee met and the minutes were distributed via email. A chairperson has not been selected. The members are Bruce, Craig Curtis, Jim Holmes, Louise Barbee, and Peter Kalmar; and there is hope that others will join the Subcommittee. The next meeting will be May 28 at 10:00 am, location to be determined. Jim Holmes has volunteered to develop a map of property ownership in Suquamish. Bruce requested that SCAC members submit their responses to the following questions to him within the next week.
▪ What is the need/purpose of implementing commercial design standards in the Suquamish Village Commercial Zone?
▪ What is the vision for the area?
▪ What is the overall theme for the design standards? What tribal elements would you like to see incorporated into the design standards?
▪ Do you prefer design standards or design guidelines and why?
4. Bruce reported on his monthly meeting with Commissioner Bauer. They discussed the need for SCAC to create more visibility related to our activities; Commissioner Bauer suggested that the county can insure that SCAC’s name is prominently linked to parks improvements, sidewalk improvements, lighting, etc. on road construction signs, etc. Bruce also informed Commissioner Bauer that much of the home ownership in Suquamish is made up of absentee owners.
5. Bruce announced that Craig Curtis has resigned from the committee. His term was due to expire in June. Heather will notify the county that there is a vacancy on the committee.
6. Sandy Senter discussed plans to develop a community web site. Jeremy Moff, President of Moff Interactive and a Suquamish resident, is providing assistance in starting the web site and training an administrator. Jean Boyle, administrator of the Kitsap Tourism and Convention Bureau web site, also is interested in helping. The cost will include an initial fee for a domain name and approximately $150 per year to maintain the site. Initial funding will come from the recorder’s stipend funds. The purpose of the site will be informational about organizations, events, activities, and opportunities in the community. The goal is to make the site clear, simple, and excellent! Sandy will involve SCAC in selecting a domain name for the site.
7. There was discussion of email monitoring and response. Members were encouraged to check email daily, and because many members receive large volumes of emails per day, it was suggested the subject line be labeled “action required” when an action or immediate reply is needed. Bruce believed that any heading containing SCAC should be considered priority.
Subcommittee Reports:
- Land Use Planning –
▪ See above
- Transportation/Infrastructure –
▪ A chairperson is needed for this subcommittee. Current members are Gail Petranek, Larry Goodwin, Tom Curley.
- Parks and Open Spaces–
▪ 25 volunteers participated in the community clean-up and 73 bags of trash were collected. Sandy Senter suggested that next year clean-up crews work in teams with one bagging recyclables.
▪ Sharon Nichols reported residents are concerned about the tree cutting on South Street. She suggested the land use subcommittee look at the issue of preserving trees in Suquamish.
▪ The county has given us 12 additional rackets and pickle balls. Sports Court planning is still underway by the Garden Club.
▪ There is a work party scheduled for May 16 from 9:00-1:00 at Angeline Park to prepare the beds for planting. Sharon has not heard from the tribe regarding the Appendix X grant for a welcoming figure.
▪ There continues to be complaints regarding the dock lighting. Tom has brought this up to tribal officials and will include it in his next SCAC report to Tribal Council.
- Youth–
▪ No report.
- Seniors–
▪ No report.
- Road Ends & Trails –
▪ Approval was received so work can begin to clear brush on Urban Avenue. No survey is needed. The county will install a sign. A neighborhood meeting was not required for Urban, but neighbors were notified. A neighborhood meeting will be required for the Hemphill road end.
- Open House –
▪ A chairperson is needed for the September 24th community open house subcommittee. Volunteers for the committee are Louise Barbee, Sandy Senter, Gail Petranek, Larry Goodwin, and Jim Holmes. Sandy agreed to schedule a first meeting of the committee.
▪ There was discussion of holding the public meeting regarding road closures and improvements and the Canoe Journey on July 16th at 6:30 pm. Tom Curley will check on the availability of the community house and Gail will check on using the school. Heather will invite Tina Nelson and Tina Jackson. The June SCAC meeting will be devoted to planning the July public meeting.
Public Comment:
- A garden work party is scheduled at UCC on Saturday, May 9th from 10:00-4:00 to develop and native plant and medicinal plant garden.
- Tom Curley suggested notification when the tribe or others will be clearing land so the Garden Club can remove the native plants.
Action Items:
- Tina Nelson will send written information to Gail that can be sent to parents this school year about the improvements and closure.
- Gail will notify the neighbors near the ball field that it will be used as the main camping area during Canoe Journey.
- SCAC members are to submit their responses to the 4 questions regarding commercial zone design standards (see above) to Bruce within the next week.
- Tom will include the feedback we’ve received regarding the dock lighting in his next SCAC report to Tribal Council.
- Sandy will schedule a first meeting of the Open House Subcommittee.
- Tom and Gail will check on the availability of the community house and the school for the public meeting on July 16th. Heather will invite Tina Nelson and Tina Jackson.
Meeting adjourned at 9 p.m.
The next meeting will be on June 4th at 6:30 pm at Suquamish Elementary School Library. The July meeting will be July 2nd at the Tribal Council chambers. There will be no August meeting.

Minutes submitted by Recorder, Sandra Senter


Minutes Approved:

_______________________________ ____________________
(Chairperson’s signature) (Date)