Heritage Commission Regular Meeting - August 27, 2026

The Olympia Heritage Commission met on August 27, 2026, at 1:30 PM to discuss several business items including a CLG grant application, upcoming public engagement opportunities, and the potential local listing of the South Capitol neighborhood. The meeting lasted approximately one hour and was attended by Commissioners Kimball, Nase, Cotter, and Bowman; Commissioners Steadman, Becker, and Patrick were excused. Staff member Brittany reported that two staff members (Mark and Derek) had stepped down, reducing the commission to seven members.

Consent Calendar

• The agenda was approved by a motion and second, with no opposition.
• The minutes from the previous month's meeting were approved by a motion and second, with no opposition, pending review by members who had received them that morning.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comments were received. Two individuals entered the room by accident, seeking a different meeting.

Discussion Items

• CLG Grant Application Briefing: Staff reported that the original idea of applying for a survey was not feasible due to high costs and time requirements. The application has shifted to focus on outreach and education. Components include funding for attendance at the historic preservation main street conference, applying for a field school for next year, printing communications materials (brochures, walking tours, code update flyers), and producing a historic preservation zine using artwork collected from the public at Arts Walk. The application also requests funds for a home maintenance series (e.g., window workshops) with possible masonry topics. The grant review committee presentation is scheduled for next Friday (September 4, 2026); staff will attend remotely. Commissioners expressed strong support for the application, noting it looked professional and comprehensive.
• Upcoming Public Engagement and Volunteer Sign-Ups: Staff reviewed several events where the commission may have a booth or presence: Harper Days (August 29–30), Thurston County Heritage Day (September 12, 10 AM–2 PM), South Capital Neighborhood Association barbecue (September 13, 2–5 PM), historic trivia event with the Moore committee (date pending: September 25, 30, or October 1), and Arts Walk (October Friday and Saturday). Commissioners signed up for various shifts. For the South Capital barbecue, Commissioner Kyle offered to dual-table with the library, and Commissioner Stephanie offered to attend. The Moore committee trivia is being planned with assistance from the Olympia Historical Society. Kyle reported he is certified to use the RisoGraph machine at Community Print for producing zines at low cost; a zine night is scheduled for September 24.
• South Capitol Local Listing Update: Commissioner Bill reported on a meeting with the South Capital Neighborhood Association board where opinions were diverse and no consensus was reached. The easiest path forward would be to submit the 1991 National Register district as a local district using the existing boundaries (483 contributing resources, 200 non-contributing). Staff Brittany explained the process: a majority of property owners must vote yes; a ballot would be mailed, results tracked, a public hearing held before the Heritage Commission, then a recommendation to City Council. Commissioners discussed who should initiate the application. Bill suggested the commission could submit the application to get the ball rolling, allowing residents to formally weigh in via ballot. Kyle suggested empowering the neighborhood board to handle ballot distribution. Staff noted that a formal application requires administrative work and offered to seek internal support. The group agreed to wait for the neighborhood board's response to an email sent by staff outlining options, then revisit at the next meeting.
• Reports:
  • Moore Committee: Commissioner Kyle reported he is the only member; others volunteered to assist with trivia and Arts Walk preparation. Existing trivia questions from Ben (Olympia Historical Society) need simplification and multiple choice options.
  • Heritage Review Committee: Staff emailed to reserve September 14 for the next meeting; a different staff member will fill in while Brittany is at field school. A large rehabilitation project is in the pipeline for special tax valuation and local listing; the owner has been advised to coordinate by October 1 deadline.
• Other Topics:
  • Vacancies: Recruitment for new commissioners will begin in October, with targeted outreach to fill expertise gaps (historian, architect). Staff will also contact interested individuals who reached out earlier.
  • Advisory Body Updates: The City Council's CLIPS committee is considering restructuring some advisory bodies (Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, Design Review Board, Social Justice and Equity Commission, Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee). Changes may include shifting recruitment timelines to align with work plans, changing term lengths to two years, and revising the work plan submission process. The commission may need to adjust its retreat and election schedule accordingly; discussion deferred to next meeting.

Key Outcomes

• Agenda and minutes approved unanimously.
• CLG grant application direction approved; staff to present to grant review committee on September 4.
• Volunteer sign-ups confirmed for multiple events; staff to coordinate with event organizers.
• South Capitol local listing: No decision made; staff will follow up with the neighborhood board after their next meeting, and the item will be discussed again at the next Heritage Commission meeting.
• Heritage Review Committee meeting set for September 14; commissioners on that committee to note.
• Recruitment and advisory body updates noted; further discussion scheduled for next meeting.
• Meeting adjourned at 6:33 PM.