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February e-Newsletter Out Now

February e-Newsletter Out Now

The February e-newsletter for Emerson-Garfield Neighborhood was just sent out and should be arriving in inboxes shortly.

You can click here to read it — or better yet, sign up and have it conveniently delivered right to your own inbox. It comes out just once per month (at most) and is full of useful neighborhood-related events, announcements, updates, news and more.

This month’s newsletter has info on upcoming volunteering opportunities with the North Monroe Business District, Spokane COPS, the Emerson-Garfield Farmers’ Market and a grassroots leaflet distribution for the school levy.

There are also some updates on items like North Monroe construction and new businesses, neighborhood events and the recent COPS North Central relocation to Knox Presbyterian.

With all that’s happening and all that’s going to be happening in Emerson-Garfield in the near future, it’s an ideal time to get on the mailing list and stay up to date.

Trinity Catholic School Cow Plop (June 4); New Facility Proposed

Trinity Catholic School Cow Plop (June 4); New Facility Proposed

Trinity Catholic School (1306 W Montgomery) is holding its 26th annual Cow Plop fundraiser on Saturday, June 4 from 11am to 4pm.

Typically Trinity closes off a one-block portion of Cedar for this popular family-friendly event and brings in carnival-style games and activities. This year they’ll have a balloon-twisting clown, a bouncy house, games, arts and crafts, and lots more. Pizza Rita and a petting zoo will be there too.

CowPlop2016

They’ll also have over 50 cash prizes, including $3,100 in prize money for the winner of the bovine bingo. To buy bingo tickets or request more information, call (509) 327-9369. All proceeds benefit the students at Trinity.

Trinity also has some exciting news to share this year. This is from the school’s principal, Sandra Nokes:

There is a couple who is going to honor the gift of childhood and the mission of Trinity School. Funds have been designated to construct a brand new Trinity, and building plans are in the development process. The city has NOT given us FINAL APPROVAL, however, we are hopeful that they will support this monumental gift and continue to work with us to make it happen. We believe that Trinity has been and will continue to be a “beacon of hope” in the community, and for all we serve. Remember, Trinity works with families to make tuition affordable and we serve a diverse population, both non-Catholic and Catholic. A new Trinity with Educare enables us to continue to serve children and families into the future.

The school will be soliciting input and approval from community partners including the Emerson-Garfield Neighborhood Council once the plans reach the appropriate stage.

Recap of the May 2016 E-G Neighborhood Council Meeting

Recap of the May 2016 E-G Neighborhood Council Meeting

This is a brief recap of the Emerson-Garfield Neighborhood Council (EGNC) meeting that took place on May 11, 2016, led by newly elected co-chairs Carlie Hoffman and Tim Musser.

Guest speaker Kate Burke of the Spokane Edible Tree Project talked about how her organization searches the city for fruit and nut trees that aren’t being harvested and then takes on that task. The harvest is then donated to area food banks. They are currently mapping trees they can harvest and encourage both mappers and volunteer harvesters to get in touch with them. The organization is holding a Volunteer Kickoff event on Thursday, May 26 at the Saranac Building.

David Steele of the City’s Parking Services Department was scheduled to speak but was not in attendance.

The City is looking to revise and improve the way it deals with the repair and construction of sidewalks. Potential models might be found in cities east of the Mississippi, where municipal governments handle sidewalks differently. The opinions of the various neighborhood councils are being solicited concerning a coordinated comprehensive sidewalk program responsible for sidewalk replacement and repairs. This would most likely involve an increase in fees and/or taxes. A discussion took place about how the group felt; the consensus was that the City should actively being researching alternatives in order to gain a better idea of what the costs would be.

The neighborhood council will be submitting funding applications to the Community Assembly for the Emerson-Garfield Farmers’ Market and Concerts in the Park.

Heather Schelling volunteered to be the neighborhood and district representative on a Solid Waste Collection task force that could improve garbage pickup routes.

Barb Biles, who serves as Emerson-Garfield’s representative on the Land Use Committee, reported that this group is looking for ways to increase density within the city rather than sprawl at the periphery. They are looking for people to join a focus group on infill housing. They would like responses by Thursday, June 23 to prepare for the focus group’s first meeting on Thursday, June 30.

The 2016 season of the Emerson-Garfield Farmers’ Market starts on Friday, June 10. After considering a few other proposed locations, the market will be moving to the parking lot of the Adult Education Center (2310 N Monroe) at the intersection of Montgomery and Monroe at the start of this season. Volunteers are needed – please sign up! A sponsorship program was also launched.

Bri Musser, who stepped forward last month to take over Concerts in the Park, proposed several possible dates and said she was still looking at bands.

Spring Cleanup is on Saturday, May 21 from 9am to 12:30pm at Faith Bible Church (600 W Cora). Bring your wretched refuse, yearning to go to the dump.

An improved pedestrian crossing island is being installed this summer where Adams/Knox crosses NW Boulevard to make it safer for schoolchildren on their way to nearby Trinity Catholic and Spokane Public Montessori.

Laura Schlangen reported that the Corbin Senior Activity Center is still working on the revised plans for the elevator. There are no plans on when it will be built. They have applied for another grant to pay for elevator. Tea in the Afternoon was well attended but Corbin’s town hall meeting was not. The annual Corbin Golf Scramble will take place Saturday, June 4. Golfers and sponsors are still welcome to apply.

Tim Musser reported that that CA Community Development is compiling a list of “readymade” projects that will be easy for neighborhood councils to select and implement.

As for other reports, no Pedestrian Transportation and Traffic (PeTT) meeting was held this month. The neighborhood’s Community Assembly rep was absent. The Rental Housing Stakeholders group is still looking for a neighborhood representative (preferably a renter) to serve on it. Building Stronger Neighborhoods is not meeting until later in the month.

City Councilmember Candace Mumm talked about the recently approved North Monroe Corridor Advisory Group. In other news, she said the council is moving forward with an investigation concerning the dismissal of Police Chief Frank Straub. They are working on transparency and gaining access to roughly 7,000 documents that have not yet been released.

STEAM Ahead: New After-School Activities

STEAM Ahead: New After-School Activities

Starting this week, there’s a new after-school option for third and fourth graders in the neighborhood. It’s called STEAM Ahead and is hosted at a brand new facility called Discovery Junction located at 808 W Spofford. It will be open on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 3:30 to 5:30pm.

If you think the building looks like a house, well, that’s because it is. The Spokane Central Seventh Day Adventist Church here in Emerson-Garfield worked hard to renovate the historic Craftsman bungalow in order use it for outreach activities like this.

STEAM_ahead

STEAM stands for science, technology, engineering, art and math, which will be the key activity areas for this enrichment program. We’ve been told that some students from Garfield Elementary are already scheduled to take part in STEAM Ahead at the outset.

For more information on STEAM Ahead or Discovery Junction, e-mail steamaheadspokane@gmail.com or call (509) 328-8027.

Recap of the April 2016 E-G Neighborhood Council Meeting

Recap of the April 2016 E-G Neighborhood Council Meeting

This is a brief recap of the Emerson-Garfield Neighborhood Council (EGNC) meeting that took place on April 13, 2016.

Cindy Kinzer and Kyle Twohig from the City of Spokane spoke about the new sewer and combined stormwater overflow (CSO) tank location east of TJ Meenach Drive and north of Pettet Drive known as CSO I-03. Spokane is comprehensively updating its wastewater system in order to have less sewer waste in the rivers due to overflow. The Environmental Protection Agency would fine Spokane if these updates are not made. This project is in addition to CSO Basin 12 to the south (here is a map of the two).

Construction of the tank in our neighborhood will take roughly one year from beginning to end. Questions and concerns can be directed to Cindy at ckinzer@spokanecity.org or (509) 625-6397. See images below for more detail.

Proposed scope and location of CSO tank IO3 and stormwater catchment area.
Proposed scope and location of CSO tank IO3 and stormwater catchment area.
Proposed trail and overlook as part of tank installation.
Proposed trail and overlook as part of tank installation.

Representatives from the Spokane Public Library reported on the Future Study. The library is looking at changing the functionality of its facilities to meet our community needs over the next 20 years. Some buildings are in disrepair and outdated, and sustainability consultants have recommended improved technology, the addition of collaborative spaces, more engaging children’s areas, comfortable seating, group study rooms and branch expansions at Shadle and South Hill. The 2017 levy for libraries will cover existing operational costs. An additional bond will be needed for all further improvements that are needed to revitalize the library buildings.

Input on the Future Study is welcome at the upcoming community conversation at the Downtown Branch (906 W Main Ave) at 11am on Friday, May 6 or via e-mails to ideas@spokanelibrary.org.

EGNC_April_2016-1

Brianna Musser volunteered to take the reins of Concerts in the Park this year. To help fund this event, the neighborhood will submit a Neighborhood Budget application for a maximum of $500. Melody Dunn, who is working on this process on behalf of the Community Assembly, volunteered to assist with Emerson-Garfield’s application.

Executive elections were held to fill the positions of chair, vice chair, secretary, Community Assembly representative (including alternate) and Community Development representative. Tim Musser and Carlie Hoffman were elected as co-chairs of the EGNC. The vice chair position went to Karl Boldt, who will be supported by Tom Powell. The secretary position was divided into minutes (Stan Burke) and membership (Bryce Morrison). Jay Cousins was re-elected to serve as the Community Assembly rep; Tom Powell will serve as his alternate. Donna Emmingham will represent Community Development.

The Office of Neighborhood Services is holding Cleaning from the Corridor on Saturday, April 23. Volunteers from Emerson-Garfield are encouraged to participate in a show of neighborhood solidarity.

The start of North Monroe revitalization was recently an agenda item at a Public Works meeting. Groundbreaking will not take place until 2018, but planning is beginning now. A city-level stakeholder group is being organized. Business owners, residents and other officials will represent various groups. Interested members will soon be able to apply to be on this committee.

The Silver Auctions parking lot was deemed unsuitable for the Emerson-Garfield Farmers’ Market. The Adult Education Center (2310 N Monroe) has instead graciously offered the market use of its lot. The market will be leaving its former location at Knox Presbyterian and moving there for the 2016 season.

Karl Boldt gave an update on the 8th annual Spring Cleanup, which is scheduled for Saturday, May 21 from 9:30am to 12pm at Faith Bible Church (600 W Cora). As usual, a postcard with all the necessary information will be mailed to all Emerson-Garfield residents a few weeks prior to the event.

EGNC_April_2016

Laura Schlangen reported on the Corbin Senior Activity Center. Plans are still being revised for the elevator. A tour is leaving for New York the end of April. The 7th annual Corbin Senior Activity Center Golf Scramble is Friday, June 24. The Tea in the Afternoon event ($15 in advance) is Friday, April 29.

Jay Cousins reported on the Community Assembly. There is a new Police Ombudsman for the City. The CA’s Budget Committee is allocating money to send a representative to a NUSA conference in May. The City is also looking at a new measure to help take care of sidewalks. CA training meetings are available for anyone interested in learning about the Community Assembly; the training for our district is on Wednesday, April 27 at 5:30pm in the West Central Community Center (1603 N Belt).

Barb Biles reported from the Land Use Committee on changes taking place within the committee itself. Barb is the new facilitator.

Carlie Hoffman reported on the Pedestrian Traffic and Transportation (PeTT) Committee, including their discussion of funding for sidewalk repairs within the city. One proposal was that the City take increased responsibility for the sidewalks as is common practice east of the Mississippi.

The neighborhood’s position on the Long-Term Rental Stakeholder Group remains open, and there is a particular need for renters to be represented. Anyone interested in representing Emerson-Garfield and renters should get in touch with the EGNC at info@emersongarfield.org.

Paul Kimball spoke about the Emerson Community Garden. The future of the garden is uncertain, with the water supply being dependent upon two adjacent properties that are going to be for sale, but it will still be possible to use the garden this season. Anyone interested in farming/gardening the lot this season is encouraged to contact the Kimballs.

A representative from Parking Services is scheduled to speaking at the May EGNC meeting, as will a member of the Spokane Edible Tree Project.