Summit Waller Community Association Newsletter

Keeping our community livable.


January 2010

Summit-Waller Community Association Newsletter


January 2010

The Summit-Waller Community Association Executive Board is active year round. We keep informed of the issues that affect our quality of life, and get involved when we can be effective. Below are a few of the issues that we have been recently addressing.




One of the many
beautiful vistas within our community


Visit our new, updated
website at
www.summitwaller.org


Puyallup School District –
February 9, 2010 M & O Levy
After hearing from School Board Director, Cindy Poys¬nick, at their Dec. 1st Board Meeting, the SWCA Board unanimously voted to endorse this four-year replace¬ment levy, and encourages Summit-Waller citizens to vote “yes” on this levy if living in the Puyallup School District. The proposed four-year school programs and operation levy replaces the current four-year levy which expires this month. The levy does not create any new taxes. It just replaces the existing levy. The levy pro¬vides about 21% of the school district’s $197 million an¬nual budget. Our community needs this levy to pass in order to maintain our area’s good quality schools. For more information about the levy, visit the Puyallup School District Web site at www.puyallup.k12.wa.us or send an e-mail message to election@puyallup.k12.wa.us. Vote “Yes” for Puyallup Schools.

Renewed your dues yet?
Community Association Dues are $20 per house¬hold per year.
Send your dues to:
SWCA
PMB 281
10611 Canyon Rd E
Puyallup, WA 98373-4256

Franklin Pierce School District—February 9, 2010 M & O Levy
On February 9, 2010 Franklin Pierce voters will be asked to renew expiring Educational Programs & Operations and Technology Levies. Both levies are a continuation of existing funding for schools. This is not a new tax. The levy makes up nearly one-fifth (20%) of the district’s total operating budget. Levy dollars provide about $15 million in funding each year. Levy dollars are used to support student learning, activities and transpor¬tation. These funds help maintain lower class sizes and provide a quality learning experience for students. For more information about the levies please contact the FPSD Public Information Line (253) 298-3087 or the district’s website: www.fpschools.org
Please see the attached Franklin Pierce Levy Fact Sheet.
The Summit-Waller Community Association’s Board of Directors urges members living within the FPSD to vote “YES” on these important educational issues.


Summit Waller is part of the
Puyallup and Franklin Pierce
School Districts


The Pierce County owned, 160 acre, open space park is located at 84th St E and 46th Ave E in the Summit area and is managed by the Pierce County Parks Depart¬ment. A few of our SWCA members assist the Parks Dept. in maintaining this wonderful piece of property. Currently the park is open during daylight hours for walking, hiking, trail running, dog walking (on leash), mountain biking (non-motorized), bird watching, and horseback riding, so stop by the park and check it out. Also, the park is currently litter free, and is in good, natural shape with several trails. However, with very limited funds, the Parks Dept. needs more community assistance in the maintenance effort for this regional park. Your help is needed for litter patrol, trail and sign maintenance, etc. If you are interested please call Larry Volland at 531-7795.


Orangegate Park has acres
of delightful trails.


“The Farm” property (96th & Waller) Update
This 10 acre parcel is owned and managed by the Frank¬lin Pierce School District. The historic 4 H program at that location has gradually died out, much to our associa¬tion’s displeasure. Currently the district’s New Pathways Program is utilizing the portable classrooms at the site. Last June the SWCA made a presentation to the FPSD Board of Directors to persuade the district to create an agricultural program for students that would by the end of this school year be producing vegetables for school consumption within the district, and eventually create a year round agricultural program. The district has re¬sponded to our request. The effort has begun. Commu¬nity volunteers are needed to assist this SWCA initiated effort.

Our community has a rich
farming tradition.


Rural Separator Public Awareness Effort





The Summit-Waller Community Association is pleased to announce that it has begun the process to increase public awareness of Pierce County’s “Rural Separator.” Mem¬bers have begun a speaking tour and we intend to address numerous groups and civic organizations during the next several years. If you know of any groups that would be interested in a presentation on the Rural Separator, please contact Dan Haire at 253-922-1393. We are also in the process of updating our web site and plan to soon publicize our message in regional and national media.

The Rural Separator in¬sures that we have open spaces.

Every year three of the nine Summit-Waller Community Association’s Board of Directors positions become avail¬able. A board member is committed to a 3-year term on the board, and the board meets monthly (the first Tues¬day evening of each month). The Board elects from within it each May a president, vice-president, secretary and a treasurer. Each of these executive positions has additional responsibilities. Each board member also is expected to work on various projects that the associa¬tion involves itself. Service to your community can be a truly rewarding experience. If you are seriously inter¬ested in becoming a board member, then keep in mind that you must 1) be a SWCA member in good standing with a current paid membership, 2) have submitted the completed board member application form to the board at a board meeting, 3) attended at least one board meet¬ing before the April elections, and 4) be at the April General Membership Meeting for the election of board members. Contact: Larry Volland at (253) 531-7795 for all questions and requests for proper forms.
Our Mission Statement
To promote quality of life, neighborhoods, and enjoyment of prop¬erty for individuals in the Summit-Waller Community.

Questions or comments? E-mail us at summitwaller@gmail.com or visit our webpage at www.summitwaller.org.

Suburban sprawl

The News Tribune endorsed Shawn Bunney back in October of 2008 in part for this reason:

"he understands the importance of urban growth boundaries and density. He won’t preside over an orgy of suburban sprawl."

It's great to see that our elected representatives understand that value of sound planning. The last thing that we need is another Meridian Ave style traffic problem in rural Pierce county.


THE NEWS TRIBUNE

http://www.thenewstribune.com/opinion/story/512582.html

Bunney, McCarthy for Pierce County executive - Published: 10/19/08 12:30 am

"We like Bunney’s calm thoughtfulness, analytical ability and inclination to work behind the scenes solving the knottiest problems.

We’ve been particularly impressed in recent years by his leadership on transportation issues crucial to Pierce County. He performed hard, thankless work as chairman of the Regional Transportation Investment District, balancing competing interests and helping negotiate delicate compromises.

Bunney hasn’t always taken as hard a line on growth management as we might have preferred, but he understands the importance of urban growth boundaries and density. He won’t preside over an orgy of suburban sprawl."

About Summit Water and Supply Company

http://summitwater.org/

http://summitwater.org/map.htm

Our Mission

Summit Water & Supply is dedicated to ensuring delivery of a reliable supply of safe, clean, quality drinking water at the most effective cost to all our members and customers.

Washington Wildlife and Recreation Coaltion - Grants

Interesting article about grants and the rural separator. This one was for Terry's Berries.

Washington Wildlife and Recreation Coaltion
Terry's Berries Farm
WWRP Applicant: County of Pierce
RCO Project Number: 07-1604
County: Pierce
Legislative District: 25th
WWRP Category: Farmland Preservation
WWRP Grant: $291,370
Applicant Match: $291,371
Project Type: Acquisition
Acres Protected: 21
Date Funded: 2007

Description:

Terry's Berries is a 21 acre CSA share farm in the rural separator between East Tacoma and Puyallup serving over 500 share clients annually. Pierce County wishes to match a Conservation Futures application submitted by the Cascade Land Conservancy to purchase Terry's Berries' development rights. The owners intend to commit the property to agricultural uses in perpetuity. One of the owners sons is dedicated to continuing the family legacy of working the land. By removing the development rights and reducing the real estate value on the farm, it allows for the owners' heir to deal with the family property fairly and more reasonably between each other once the farm is passed on to them. Keeping the real estate value on the property, seriously jeopardized the ability for the heirs to be able to afford to compensate the others for its fair market value, thus creating a situation where selling the entire farm to a developer or other interest is much more likely. The farm rests on some of the most productive soils west of the Cascades, surrounded by other agricultural uses. Its proximity to the urban fringe makes it a strategic location for agricultural conservation. Over 2,000 school children tour the farm every year. Allowing children and families an opportunity to understand how food is grown in integral to promoting conservati

Rural Separator Definition

http://www.co.pierce.wa.us/xml/services/home/property/pals/pdf/rsumm.pdf

Summit-Waller now has its own farmers market

Summit-Waller now has its own farmers market
By Dawn Quinn
Tacoma Weekly
dquinn@tacomaweekly.com

http://www.tacomaweekly.com/article/3327

Photos by Dawn Quinn
NEW TASTES. The brand new Summit-Waller farmers market offers up plenty of fresh, healthy options to families on the other side of town. Fresh herbs, onions, spinach and beets are piled high and ready to be taken home from Chueneng Farms, located in Carnation.
If the usual array of farmers markets in the area such as the Broadway market downtown, the Saturday Proctor farmers market or the new Sixth Avenue Tuesday farmers market were not enough, Tacomans now have another option for getting their fresh fruits, vegetables and hand-crafted wares. The Summit-Waller neighborhood now hosts a farmers market on Fridays and Saturdays, as well.
This particular market was started simply because there was a need for it and there had never been one in the area, said Dee Durbin, coordinator of the Summit-Waller farmers market.
“(We) wanted to do a farmers market, too,” Durbin stated. She noted that as part of the organization “Wanna Be Green,” the farmers market is held on 31 acres of ranch space and all proceeds from the market and related events will go towards domestic violence prevention and supporting at-risk youth and families. An organic vegetable home delivery service will also be available through the organization in the future.
The Summit-Waller farmers market has a plethora of space for many different vendors supplying food, craft and artisan works.
Joe Long brings his organic barbeque sauce to the table, Lyall and Sons are providing plenty of fruits and vegetables, Gradwohl Farms brings their Covington-raised beef, Lori McClellan offers up her array of homemade candles and heavenly smelling potpourris and Molly Buffham cooks up donut holes fresh from the fryer of her new company, Donut Junkie. There are also many more flower and vegetable vendors, a lavender farmer, and snow cone and snack vendors to provide anything a visitor could need or ask for.
The market is just starting up, but as soon as it gets settled it will offer up many more produce options, as well as provide some family-friendly entertainment.
“(We’re going to have a) petting zoo as a form of kid-friendly entertainment and on Aug. 22 we will be holding a concert called ‘Greenstock,’ or a Woodstock spin-off. We’ll also have gardens that little kids can plant in on their own and that they can visit to check on the progress. We have a preparation sink which is ready for food demos. Holy Trinity Mission will be selling brisket, ribs, chicken and links. Hopefully we’ll also have Jamba Juice and Ben & Jerry’s selling their products,” Durbin said.
The market opened July 10, and will continue every Friday and Saturday through Oct. 31. According to Durbin, this farmers market aims to become an annual event. “Tell people to come out and have a good time.”
The Summit-Waller farmers market will be taking place every Friday from 3-7 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The market is located at 3501 104th St. E. For more information, call Durbin at (253) 882-1144 or visit http://www.wannabgreen.biz.
Published on July 16, 2009

SWC A and Franklin Pierce School District: "The Farm"

http://www.fp.k12.wa.us/News.aspx?ContentID=701

9/15/2009
Community Leaders Help Plan Future of "The Farm"

Summit Waller Community Association and Franklin Pierce Schools have been in recent conversations to identify the best uses of district property located at 96th St. and Waller Road to the District's Natural Science Resource Center (NSRC), affectionately known by longtime residents as "The Farm."
The property has previously been a site used by the District for agriculture-based learning that includes both horticulture and raising animals, but is currently being used by one of the District's alternative programs known as New Pathways. New Pathways moved to NSRC at the beginning of the 2008-2009 school year from its former location on Pacific Avenue and 112th St., to provide a better learning environment for students and to mitigate money being spent on the lease at the former site. Even with New Pathways serving students at the NSRC property, there remains much farmland that is not being used. This has caused the District to examine how it can best use that land to support its core business of educating students, as well as serving the community, by reviving a farm operation.
Students will stand to gain knowledge and skills in content areas such as science, health, and math. Students will learn everything from how to decide what to grow and when, how to grow it, and how to take the final product to market. Summit Waller Community Association member Jim Akers said, "We want students and community both to understand human relationship with the surrounding environment, the benefits of truly healthy fruits and vegetables, and to realize the potential that The Farm has in building community partnerships." Summit Waller Community Association board members Jim Akers, Larry Volland, and Phil Hodous have been instrumental in assisting the District in this planning effort.
Conversations pertaining to the future of the "The Farm" will be ongoing throughout the school year, with the expectation that a clear vision and plan will be formulated by April 2010.
If you would like to participate in these planning conversations, please contact Willie Painter, Public Information Officer at 298-3087 or wpainter@fpschools.org.

               Assistant Superintendent Tim Stensager facilitating conversation at the last meeting, 9/10/2009.

                                    L to R: Larry Volland, Jim Akers, Tim Stensager, 9/10/2009.