Sifton Neighborhood Association

Minutes of September 13, 2005, Meeting

Opening Welcome

President Lamont Shaindlin opened the meeting by saying that the goal of the association is to make this a better neighborhood. Sifton Neighborhood Association (SNA) will provide information about contacts in the community to empower residents. Lamont also stated that he receives reports from Clark County regarding permit applications and environmental studies. These reports usually relate to proposed housing subdivision and commercial development, the majority involving small residential lots. He brought with him information about disposal of leaves and hazardous waste.

Lamont said that ours is the largest neighborhood association in the county. For many people present at the Washington Grange Hall, this was the first time to attend a meeting of the SNA. There are over 12,000 residents in the neighborhood (members of SNA). Lamont would like members to take SNA newsletters to schools and businesses to encourage people to get involved. County funds pay for photocopying and mailing two newsletters per year. Lamont would like businesses to advertise in SNA's newsletter; this is not allowed in a county-funded newsletter, so perhaps some businesses could underwrite an issue.

Central Precinct Commander Speaks

Commander Mike Nolan, in charge of Clark County’s Central Precinct, spoke at length. This precinct is huge, with .68 deputies per thousand people. The call rate to the dispatch center increases 3-5% every year, and costs also increase every year. The number of deputies per residents, though, has not increased in the last six years. Commander Nolan said that 1.2 deputies per thousand residents is the national average, and this is the ratio enjoyed by the city of Vancouver.

The front desk of the office of Central Precinct is manned from 9 to 5 Monday through Friday. Its phone number, for non-emergency calls, is 397-6195. The address is 11607 N.E. 149th St., Brush Prairie, 98606, located at 149th & SR 503. The phone number for Commander Nolan is 397-6197.

The employees of the 9-1-1 phone center prioritize all phone calls per instructions of County Sheriff Gary Lucas. Deputies in Central Precinct respond to about 600 calls per year, while the national average is about 400.

The sheriff has assigned two officers to each neighborhood association. Present at our meeting were Sgt. Dolly Warden, Deputy Ed Kingrey, and Deputy John Visser. Sgt. Warden said that, if we call police and are not satisfied with answers we’re given, we should ask to speak to a sergeant. A ride-along program is available for people who would like to accompany an officer for a shift.

When an officer responds to a call in which a crime has been committed, a report is always completed. A copy of a police report is available from the records office at 707 W. 13th, behind the county courthouse. Reports are filed by last name of the person involved in the call, and the number to call is 696-4461.

Closing

The sheriff’s office has a budget from the county’s general fund, and it competes with all other county agencies every two years for its biennial budget. Since we live outside the city of Vancouver and within Clark County, we should contact the three board members of the county commission with concerns we may have about laws, budgets, and expenditures. For those interested in contacting the state legislature, its website is www.leglink.wa.gov.

The raffle tickets bought at the beginning of the meeting brought in $33, so the lucky winner received $16.50, $10 was paid to the Washington Grange for use of the facility, and SNA kept $6.50, which we will add to the treasury.

Our next meeting will be from 7:00 to 8:30 P.M. Tuesday, October 11, at Fire Station 88 on Ward Road & Fourth Plain.