Sifton Neighborhood Association

Minutes of March, 2005, Meeting

Development

SNA President Lamont Shaindlin opened the meeting at Fire Station 88 at 7:00 P.M. He brought a large roll of raffle tickets so those attending may purchase a chance to “split the pot.” Chances were sold for $1 each or 3/$2, with half of the revenue collected going to a lucky winner at the close of the meeting; the other half goes to the treasury of the SNA.

Lamont brought the Clark County Portrait published recently in The Columbian. SNA represents the most highly populated neighborhood profiled, with 12,843 residents.

Michelle Platter, Project Manager with Group MacKenzie, the developer involved in the coming Eastgate Plaza, explained the plans and progress for the retail complex that includes Wal-Mart. Eastgate Plaza bought 47 acres of the 200-acre Birtcher Corporation property south of Fourth Plain Road. The site is bordered by 140th Avenue, 63rd Street, and Ward Road. The west side of the property is currently being rough-graded. Tenants other than Wal-Mart are not known at this time. Rumors have Kohls anchoring the other “big box” to be built next to Wal-Mart, but this cannot be confirmed at this time.

Construction of the Wal-Mart store is in Phase I of Eastgate Plaza. The colors for Wal-Mart will be brown and smoky blue. It is not known whether or not this will be a “supercenter” with groceries. Several small retail shops and mid-size businesses will be near Wal-Mart. When any area or building within the 47-acre site is developed, landscaping is included.

Included in Phase I: Ward Road south to 65th Street will be widened and have sidewalks and landscaping; 143rd Avenue will be continued south of Fourth Plain; a 6” high median will be added to the center of Fourth Plain; a sidewalk and many street lights will be added to the south and north side of Fourth Plain; and traffic signals will be placed at 143rd & Fourth Plain. The median will have storm drainage and infiltration.

If all goes well, the median work will impact traffic on Fourth Plain for about a month. Ms. Platter expects that, of the four to six months of work involved in Phase I, two to three months will affect neighborhood traffic.

She said that, to the south of Eastgate Plaza, Birtcher Corporation will put in office buildings.

Code Enforcement, Miscellaneous

We heard next from Kevin Pridemore, Code Enforcement Coordinator for Clark County’s Department of Community Development. Kevin is one of two coordinators, and there are three inspectors. He said that his office, with eight staff members in all, is 100% complaint-driven. The office responds to complaints and notifies property owners of violations.

Among the issues the office deals with are zoning and building codes and public nuisances. It does not deal with animals (call Animal Control) nor with any vehicles located on a public road (call Sheriff’s office). Clark County’s commissioners make the law for us. We may contact the commissioners to request a change in law.
To contact him, call 397-2375, ext. 4104, or write Kevin.Pridemore@clark.wa.gov; or use the fax at 397-2011. The county’s website is at www.clark.wa.gov.

SNA member Dayna Nyberg talked to us about the Walk for Diabetes to take place in May. There will be both a 5 km. and a 10 km. walk beginning at Esther Short Park. Sponsoring of participants and also donations are needed. For brochures and more information, write Dayna at daynaward@msn.com.

SNA member Dianne Heinz spoke about the Sifton Parent-Teacher Organization, of which she is President. Parents of Sifton Elementary students are automatically PTO members; there are no fees. The PTO tries to get as many businesses as possible, positively involved in the school and its activities. Dianne can be reached at ZUNDI535@aol.com.

Vehicle Registrations, Treasury

Members voiced concern about cars licensed out of state. The Sheriff’s office collects information on vehicles whose owners have failed to register in Washington. That office works with the Washington Department of Revenue to get the owners to correctly license vehicles.

Treasurer Allen Hoff informed us that $29 was collected through the “split the pot” raffle (bringing the SNA treasury to exactly $29.10). Allen paid the lucky winner, Lamont Shaindlin, $14.50 and also reimbursed Lamont $6.60 toward the total cost of the roll of tickets, which was $6.68. The treasury now includes exactly $8.00 and owes Lamont $.08.

The next meeting is scheduled for 7:00 P.M. Tuesday, April 12, at Fire Station 88.