http://www.neighborhoodlink.com/Airport_Green December 2017

Airport Green Neighborhood Association  

 

               

Newsletter Contents

The Village at Evergreen Landing ........................2

AGNA Financial Survey .......................................2

Curbside Recycling Update ..................................3

East Vancouver Tree Planting ...............................3

Recycling Done Right ...........................................4

Respecting the Flag ...............................................5

AGNA Watch Update ..........................................5

NPO Report ..........................................................5

Seasonal Reminders ..............................................6

AGNA Membership Application .........................7

repairing the Mutt Mitt dispensers at Hearthwood Park. Terri Sasse was our Recycling Champion this year, and Allison Wetchler published the newsletters.

Finally, I want to thank Tom Smith for his diligence in maintaining the association’s finances accurately and transparently, which is appreciated by Ron van Bladeren and the audit committee each year. In addition, the AGNA financial survey on the next page, to which I encourage your response, can be credited to Tom.

Ross Montgomery

President’s MessageI had intended to publish this newsletter prior to the Annual Meeting on November 8, but the changing information regarding the Village at Evergreen Landing development would have rendered the information outdated. What I provide in the article on the next page is accurate as of Monday, December 4.

I want to take this opportunity to express my appreciation to the many volunteers who have made this past year a success. Without them, there would be no neighborhood association. Unfortunately, there is not enough space here to list all of them. This is especially true for all the volunteers who make the neighborhood cleanup and the picnic happen! I do want to recognize Pam McIlvena for heading up the “make a donation to the neighborhood association” effort at the cleanup, which has yielded enough for us to purchase a 10'x10' portable canopy for outdoor activities.

Scott Pierro gets a nod for setting out and collecting signs for the garage sale, plus he and his wife, Christine, organized the neighborhood picnic again this year. My thanks to the picnic volunteers, the safety officers for the kids’ parade, and the “Walk & Knockers” for the food drive earlier this month. Joe Blackman is to be recognized for stocking and

AGNA Newsletter, December 2017 Page 2

The Village at Evergreen LandingA zoning change has been permitted to allow a 156-unit housing development on the vacant land that was formerly used as the north/south runway of the old Evergreen Airport. The property is located south of Winco Foods, between NE 9th Street and NE 4th Street. It borders Airport Green on our west side.

First a little history: The property was initially sold in the early 2000’s by Wally Olson to Mr. Walt Musa, who wanted a zoning change in order to build a 275-unit apartment complex, which AGNA opposed. The zoning change was not allowed by the city, but Musa eventually obtained a change to allow a mixture of light industrial, commercial, and residential uses. With Musa’s passing, the land went to his daughter who designed a mixed-use site plan which included self-storage, RV storage, commercial, and residential. AGNA was not opposed to this proposal after the main transportation corridor was moved from the AGNA border – at the request of the adjacent neighbors – to the east side of the property. Prior to the formal approval of the site plan, and for reasons unknown by AGNA, the property was sold last year to Ginn Development.

Patrick Ginn met with AGNA representatives last spring to present his vision for the property. He informed us that he wanted to build 100 single-family attached homes as a gated community for the 55-and-over housing market. His proposal retained the major connector along the west border with the USPS Letter Carrier Unit and Charter Communications. With this proposal in mind, the AGNA Executive Board voted to support the required zoning change going to the Planning Commission.

Just prior to the Planning Commission hearing, however, we discovered that the site plan had been changed to a 156-unit, non-gated development, with 2-story attached units along its east side abutting

Airport Green. As a result, AGNA did NOT support the zoning change. It was approved by the Planning Commission based on the recommendation of the city’s Planner, who had insisted on greater density to help address the current housing shortage. In an effort to salvage something from this disappointing situation, AGNA requested Patrick Ginn re-work the site plan to place one-story attached homes along the border with Airport Green’s neighbors. This change was made and presented to the AGNA membership at the Annual Meeting last month.

At the City Council’s hearing on December 4, AGNA President Ross Montgomery testified that AGNA did not support the zoning change but appreciated Patrick Ginn’s revision of the site plan to accommodate a neighborhood request and his appearance at our annual meeting to hear additional concerns regarding the development.

AGNA Financial SurveyPrompted by Treasurer Tom Smith, the AGNA Executive Board would like your opinion as to possible uses for some excessive funds (as much as $3,500) in the association’s checking account. Please keep in mind that any expenditure must benefit the entire neighborhood. Since Hearthwood Park is about as close as we get to having any “common grounds,” perhaps you have an idea for an additional amenity at the park.

One board member thought a “voluntary dues holiday” might be an option while another thought renting a “bounce house” for the neighborhood picnic might be fun for all ages.

Please forward your suggestions to Ross Montgomery at montre2ecs@aol.com by January 1 for considera-tion by the Executive Board at its January meeting.

AGNA Newsletter, December 2017 Page 3

The City of Vancouver supports the neighborhood associations in their efforts to share vital information with residents to create a more informed public. However, the information provided and the opinions expressed and views expressed in neighborhood association newsletters or other documents do not necessarily represent the position of the City of Vancouver, nor does the City determine whether the information published is accurate or appropriate. Printed by the City of Vancouver Office of Neighborhoods.

All articles written by Ross Montgomery.Newsletter published by Allison Wetchler.

Curbside Recycling UpdateThe following article was approved for publication in this newsletter as it leverages off the recycling cart survey made last spring. You may remember finding a tag on your cart saying “looking good” or a chart showing items found in your cart that should not be there.

As many of you already know, New Seasons no longer accepts plastics numbered 1–6 for recycling. Currently, there is no alternate depository so lids and clamshells will have to go into our garbage carts. Whole Foods accepts #5’s only, so you may want to keep that in mind when making purchases.

Recycling ArticleYou may recall that the contents of our blue recycling carts were surveyed last spring to determine how well we were putting the right things into the carts and keeping the wrong things out. The survey showed we were doing okay, but that we could do better.

WHY SHOULD WE CARE? Because we want to keep our garbage rates from increasing. Waste Connections has to pay to have our garbage shipped and deposited in landfills. Therefore the less they have to pay to get rid of the garbage, the less they can charge their customers – us.

WHAT CAN WE DO BETTER? We can be more selective in what plastics we put into our blue recycling carts. We should put more plastic bottles, jugs, jars, tubs, and buckets (5 gallons or less) into big blue whether or not they have the recycling

symbol on them. Bottles and jugs may have their caps,

but plastic jars, tubs and buckets should not have lids.

We should NEVER put plastic bags or wrapping into our blue carts because they clog up the sorting conveyors. Plastic bags and wrap can be taken to Fred Meyer, Winco, and Safeway for recycling. Just place them in the bins at the front of the store. In addition, so-called “clamshells” and similar food packaging are not items that can be recycled.

Please review these clarifications on curbside plastic recyclables with your family members and review the Recycling Done Right chart on the next page so we can keep the rates we pay for garbage service as low as possible.

Ross Montgomery

East Vancouver Tree PlantingEach year the city’s Urban Forestry Department teams with the Friends of Trees for multi-neighborhood tree planting days. The next planting day for East Vancouver is Saturday, March 24, 2018. The deadline for signing up to participate is Monday, February 19 and the ordering deadline is Monday, March 5. Usually the purchase price of the tree is at a discount. Sign up is accomplished on-line and the earlier you get signed up and meet with an Urban Forester for a consultation, the better the selection of trees will be available. To learn more and get started, go to https://friendsoftrees.org/plant-it-programs.

AGNA Newsletter, December 2017 Page 5

Respecting the Flag While flying the American flag is a way to show pride in the flag and the nation it represents, there comes a time in every flag’s life when it must be retired and replaced. Federal law prescribes the following in US Code Section 10 Chapter 36 k): The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning.

If your American flag is faded, torn, and tattered, it is disrespectful to continue to fly it.

If you are unsure how to properly retire your flag, please contact Ross Montgomery (360-281-9948) to arrange for him to pick up your flag. He will turn it over to the local Boy Scout Troop which periodically performs a flag retirement ceremony. In addition, the flag should not be displayed in the rain or snow, so consider bringing in your flag for the winter.

AGNA Watch UpdateAirport Green continues to be one of the neighborhoods with the lowest reported crime in the city. We did have a few incidents. There was a package theft last January. A car prowl was reported in February, so we should always assume that someone will be lurking the neighborhood at night to look in parked cars for valuables. In July there was a suspected prowler scared away from a residence within a day of an American flag being stolen from outside a house. (The flag and pole were found later near the park.) Please be alert to unfamiliar cars in the neighborhood and don’t be hesitant to call 9-1-1 if you observe suspicious activity. Remember: If it doesn’t seem right to you, it probably isn’t right, and should be called in to 9-1-1.

Ross Montgomery

Neighborhood Watch Coordinator 360-281-9948 montre2ecs@aol.com

Neighborhood Police Officer ReportOur Neighborhood Police Officer (NPO) Cpl. James Burgara attended the Annual Meeting and reported on the following issues:

Mail TheftNever use your curbside mailbox for outgoing mail, as the red flag alerts thieves that money or checks (which can be washed and cashed) may be inside. Outgoing mail should be dropped off at the Post Office or mailed from work. While there have been no reported problems in our neighborhood, group mailboxes have been targeted around the city because they can contain many pieces of mail at one time. Users should be vigilant in observing those using them for possible suspicious activity.

Package DeliveriesThis time of year sees an increase in packages stolen from front porches. Cpl. Burgara recommends that you promptly bring in any packages delivered to your home. If you are gone during the day, have packages shipped to a neighbor who is home and who will hold them for you. You might consider having packages shipped to you at work.

Graffiti on Hearthwood Park SignCpl. Burgara has not observed real gang activity in our area. He says that graffiti is often the work of gang “wannabes” who can get their hands on spray paint. We should report graffiti for cleanup to the Operations Center (weekdays: 360-487-8177; weekends and after hours: 360-693-9302) and we should call 9-1-1 if we observe graffiti being painted.

 

AGNA Newsletter, December 2017 Page 6

Seasonal Checklist n Be prepared for power outages by having flashlights and batteries handy. Consider attaching a key chain with a small LED light to lamp pull-chains for a quick and convenient light source.

n For emergencies, store at least 3 days of water – at 3 gallons per day – for each member of your household. Don’t forget pets!

n Check expiration dates on food and medicines in your emergency kit and replace as needed.

n Check/clean your chimney and flue before starting that first fire.

n Clean dryer exhaust vents and hoses, including the space below the lint screen.

n Clean or replace furnace filters and condensation hoses.

n Check/clean your roof gutters and downspouts.

n Check the operation of, and batteries in, household smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Replace smoke alarms that are over ten (10) years old. (The internal particle-detection laser will eventually fail; don’t wait until that happens!)

n Each home fire extinguisher should be checked for the status of the charge. Check with the manufacturer’s guide to determine if the contents are dry chemicals, which must be

shaken periodically until it sounds like shifting sand inside. Check the manufacture date and replace if twelve (12) years old.

Non-working or expired extinguishers can be disposed of at the Household Hazardous Waste collection site at Central Transfer on Saturdays and Sundays. They should NOT be put in garbage carts!

If your fire extinguisher is not needed at your house following a disaster, place it on the curb for possible use by a neighbor.

n Have faucet covers and crawl space plugs handy to install if a severe freeze is forecast in order to prevent pipes from freezing and bursting.

 

Airport Green Neighborhood AssociationPermanent Membership Application

Application information is for AGNA purposes only Check box if you do NOT want your name(s) published as a voting or dues-paying member.

Check the box(es) that apply: Current resident(s) Property owner(s)

Name ____________________________ Signature _________________________________

Name ____________________________ Signature _________________________________

Name ____________________________ Signature _________________________________

Name ____________________________ Signature _________________________________

Street/property address __________________________________________________________

Mailing address _________________________________________________________________

Phone ___________________________ Email (1) __________________________________

Date of Submission _______________ Email (2) __________________________________

NOTE: Voting rights are established by registering a signed membership application, provided it is received at least seven (7) days prior to the next membership vote. All residents or property owners 18 years or older are eligible to register their membership. Payment of dues is not required to register.

Please submit your signed application to AGNA with your $12 check (voluntary dues) to:

Ross Montgomery AGNA President & Membership Chair14012 NE Airport DriveVancouver, WA 98684

Application for non-profit organization or business licensee can be obtained by contacting the AGNA Membership Chairperson.

Important Notice: Members who elect to pay the voluntary dues may have their house number painted on their curb free of charge! Current registered members may submit this form with their check for voluntary dues (fill out form only if there is a change in personal information, such as phone number or email address).

By checking box, I request my house number be painted on the curb.

Permanent Membership Application approved as to form and content by Executive Board on March 13, 2008

As the holiday season approaches, the Vancouver Police Department wants to remind you to

consider package theft prevention strategies when ordering gifts online. Packages delivered while

you are away from home are easy and ideal targets for thieves. With the increased volume in

home deliveries, thieves have more opportunities to steal your packages.

Pick up packages promptly after they have been delivered.

Ask neighbors to receive and store your package deliveries when you are not home.

Consider shipping the package to a relative that will be available to receive the package.

Require signature delivery to avoid the package being left unattended.

Utilize tracking services offered by the delivery company.

Request specific delivery times that are suitable to when you will be home.

Invest in a camera system to monitor your packages and home.

Send packages to secure delivery, holding, or pick-up locations.

Many parcel delivery companies offer secure locations for packages to be delivered and

stored until you are available to pick items up. There are many companies and locations

throughout Vancouver that offer these services.

If you see a package theft occurring, call 911.

If you are the victim of a package theft, please call 311 to report it to police and follow up by

reporting the theft to the US Postal Inspection Service by calling 1 (877) 876-2455 or

www.postalinspectors.uspis.gov.