Olympia’s Parks and Sidewalks Tax: Leaving Butt-Prints in the Sands of Time

1. Olympia’s Parks and Sidewalks Tax:Leaving Butt-Prints in the Sands of Time Karen Messmer Olympia City Council Jim Lazar Olympia Safe Streets Campaign Presented at: Pro Walk / Pro Bike Madison, Wisconsin September, 2006

2. First Law of Politics Get the Money!

3. Sidewalk Funding in Olympia • How did this happen? • Inspiration • Community commitment • Developing the Plans • Convincing the City Council to put the Parks and Sidewalks Tax to the voters • Convincing the voters to support the measure. Insert graphic of $50k rising to $1.2 million from 1990 to 2006.

4. Olympia’s Commitment • Olympia is a city of about 45,000 people; well-educated workforce, with progressive politics generally. • Funded School Walking Route Program (1990) • Established Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (1993) • Adopted a Comprehensive Plan Vision: A Walkable, Pedestrian-Friendly Community (1995) • Established New Development Standards requiring sidewalks, planter strips, streetlights (1996) • BUT: As of 2004, funding was $150,000 per year – a 300+ year backlog to put a sidewalk on one side of major streets. The problem: LOTS of older streets built in “car” era without sidewalks Not Enough Money To Move Quickly

5. Getting Inspired • Pro Bike / Pro Walk conferences in Seattle, Arlington, Va, Portland, Or, Portland, Me, Santa Barbara, California… • Regional conferences in the Pacific Northwest • More than anything: Inspiration from Dan Burden’s presentations

6. “You can’t leave footprints in the sands of time if you’re sitting on your butt. And who wants to leave buttprints in the sands of time? Ellen Vanderslice citing Bob Moawab Victoria, BC Bike/Ped Conference 11/98 Hearings on Comprehensive Plan (1995) [butt-time] Hearings on development standards (1996) [butt-time] Development of Parks Plan (2000-2003) [butt-time] Development of Sidewalk Plan (1997-2003) [butt-time] Leaving Buttprints in the Sands of Time Ellen Was only Part Right! We left a lot of butt-prints in the chairs of local government

7. The Olympia Parks Plan • Parks Department hired a consultant to update Parks Plan. • Planning Commissioner liaison to Parks Advisory Committee • Ensured that walking questions were included in the poll. • Poll results: walking is the #1 form of active recreation. • Ensured that walking goals and policies were in the Plan. • Established, unquestionably, that walking – on sidewalks – is a “Parks and Recreation” activity. This was VERY important when it came time to link the funding to Parks.

8. Olympia Sidewalk Plan • BPAC field-checked every neighborhood collector, major collector, and arterial. • Identified 255 segments without sidewalk. • Prioritized missing sidewalk based on 10 objective criteria. • $53 million sidewalk deficiency – and a $150,000/year sidewalk budget. (353 years!!)

9. With the Groundwork In Place… • City staff had proposed a parks funding measure to implement the parks plan. • City appointed an advisory committee to guide a funding measure decision to be put to the voters. • We needed to influence this process.

10. The Pre-Campaign • City Parks staff very focused on their measure, a 2% increase in the tax on phone, electric & gas. • Two city council members were persuaded to include sidewalks in the assignment to the advisory committee. • Needed to infiltrate and influence this committee. • We identified pro-sidewalk volunteers well-connected to the City Council to serve on the committee.

11. Getting a Core Constituency Mobilized • Created Walkable Olympia Neighborhoods • Printed simple literature • Installed realtor “infoboxes” at key locations. • Developed an email list to turn people out.

12. Influencing the Dialog • At first meeting of the advisory committee, there were five members of the public present…all sidewalk advocates • At the second meeting of the advisory committee, there were 15 members of the public present…14 of them ours. • Poll commissioned to guide the funding measure decision: • Our task: getting the questions on walking and sidewalks included in a Parks Department driven survey; we were confident of the result.

13. Poll Results: A Critical Turning Point • Poll results showed: • 42% approval for a 1% increase in utility tax for sidewalks • 49% approval for a 2% increase for parks. • 57% approval for a 3% increase for parks and sidewalks. • Suddenly we were the margin of victory, not the insurgents! • The advisory committee recommended a 3% increase, 2% for Parks, 1% for Sidewalks.

14. Next Step: The City Council Decision • We did not wait for the public hearing. 150 yard signs placed before the City Council decided to put it to the voters. • At the public hearing: 50+ people spoke 40+ pro-sidewalk 3 opposed the tax increase. • City Council moved forward with a 3% increase proposal.

15. Forming a Campaign Committee • Once the poll results were in, all uneasiness of Parks advocates disappeared. • Joint committee formed, roughly 50% Parks advocates and 50% sidewalk advocates. • Our name told the whole story: Olympians for a Livable Community: Parks, Open Space, and Sidewalks.

16. The Message for Parks and Sidewalks • Developed our message to voters based on the poll results. • A Legacy of Natural Treasures • A Livable Community • Health and Safety • Raised about $12,000 to pay for campaign literature.

17. A Tactical Low-Budget Campaign • Hired two college students for the summer for $2,000 • We headed off potential opposition • Chamber of Commerce convinced to be silent • Low-income advocates recognized the benefits to low-income citizens.

18. Some Critical Campaign Elements • Early deployment of signs • Letter-to-the-editor coordinator • Doorbelled walkable precincts. • Mailed to harder-to-walk precincts. • Lots of Signwaving • September election: better weather, and less “clutter.”

19. September 20: We Won! • Remember those poll results: With a strong, coordinated campaign for Parks and Sidewalks, we could earn 57% of the vote? • The final tally: 57.1%

20. What We’re Doing With the Money • We are aggressively acquiring new parkland and open space. • We are building sidewalks every year. • Established a sidewalk design and project management team. • Using porous concrete to reduce stormwater impacts • Sidewalk plan is prioritized: getting the most important sidewalks in place first. • Parks and Pathways logo on each project.

21. San Francisco Street: Before and After San Francisco Street Near Reeves Middle School