PBIA Advisory Board Meeting - June 5, 2026

The PBIA Advisory Board met on June 5, 2026 (the minutes and transcript indicate the actual meeting date was June 3, 2026; the date in the title follows the instruction provided). The board discussed the role of the Olympia Downtown Alliance (ODA) in Phase 2, introduced the Thurston Economic Development Council (EDC) as the Phase 2 consultant, debated the meeting schedule and a board vacancy, and voted on a public art maintenance request. No public comments were received.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the agenda.
• Approved the minutes of the May 6, 2026 meeting.

Announcements

• Boardmember Monique Ossa announced the organization of an all Downtown Pride Block Party on June 27th and 28th, a fundraiser for Pizza Klatch and Stonewall Youth.

Discussion Items

• Update on ODA’s Role in Phase 2 (6A): Economic Development Director Jennica Machado reported that the ODA could not provide an in-kind match to the $10,000 contract but was willing to take on the scope of work at that funding level. The board discussed the ODA’s financial challenges, including a missed Main Street program deadline that cost tens of thousands of dollars and the cancellation of Summerfest due to lodging tax shortfalls. The board expressed concerns about ODA capacity but acknowledged the need for their operational expertise.
• Introduction of Thurston EDC as Phase 2 Consultant (6B): Michael Cade, Executive Director of the Thurston EDC, presented the team and scope. The EDC will serve as project lead, responsible for roadmap implementation, rate structure, stakeholder engagement, and deliverables. The ODA will provide operational expertise and community liaison support. Key discussion points included:
  • The need for a strong leadership group (6-10 members) to build consensus and serve as emissaries.
  • The importance of communicating value to ratepayers, addressing historical perceptions of rivalry between ODA and PBIA, and ensuring inclusive representation.
  • The possibility that the process could result in a recommendation to end the PBIA if stakeholder feedback indicates no support.
  • The budget is allocated on a task basis; funds would not be fully spent if the project is halted early, but the board would still need to present findings to the city council.
• Meeting Schedule Discussion (6C): Boardmembers debated moving to a bi-monthly schedule. Some preferred keeping monthly meetings with the option to cancel, while others favored bi-monthly with longer sessions. The board decided not to vote and to revisit the topic at the July 1, 2026 meeting.
• Board Vacancy Update (6D): The board discussed potential candidates, including a recent election candidate who may be re-approached given the new project momentum. The board agreed to seek nominations and make an appointment at the July meeting.
• Public Art Maintenance Request (6E): Parks requested $1,200 for repair of the "Core Ring Dance" sculpture and $2,400 for repair of a mosaic at the Artesian Well. The board held three votes:
  1. Motion by Boardmember Hobick, seconded by Ossa, to fund the sculpture repair only – passed 5-3 (Aye: Ossa, Zohn, Landis, Hobick, Leamy; Nay: David, Davis, Gavzer).
  2. Motion by Boardmember Davis, seconded by Landis, to rescind the prior vote – passed 5-2-1 (Aye: Landis, Zohn, Gavzer, Davis, Leamy; Nay: David, Hobick; Abstain: Ossa).
  3. Motion by Boardmember Davis, seconded by Zohn, to not fund the request – passed 4-3-1 (Aye: Landis, Zohn, Davis, Leamy; Nay: Hobick, David, Ossa; Abstain: Gavzer). Final outcome: no funding provided.
• Other Topics: A boardmember requested an update on recent parking meter changes (coin vs. computer collection). The board discussed the need for communication from Parking Services and noted it may be outside PBIA’s scope. No formal action was taken.

Key Outcomes

• The ODA will proceed with a $10,000 contract for Phase 2, focusing on operational expertise and stakeholder identification, while the EDC leads the overall project.
• The EDC will refine the scope of work, including the leadership group composition, with input from the board. Contracts are expected to be executed in the next few weeks.
• The board declined to fund the two public art repairs (ring sculpture and mosaic) after a series of motions.
• The meeting schedule and board vacancy decisions were deferred to the July 1, 2026 meeting.