How do I get involved in my community? How do I get to know my neighbors? How do I form a neighborhood watch? Can I speak at a planning commission meeting about an issue in my neighborhood? How do I address the city council about a concern?
None of these things entered my mind in 2002 when I attended Bonney Lake Police Department Citizen’s Academy. The firearms simulator was like being inside video game. My partner got shot. When we set out the cones at Lakeridge to drive the patrol cars through the course, one in our class got an award for being “the cone killer,” due to the number of cones they ran over and were wedged under the patrol car. We learned how to be good witnesses, about crime prevention and Neighborhood Watch. We learned about felony stops and the canine unit, the SWAT team and marine services. We learned how hard it is to be a cop. It was exciting, interesting, action packed and a great way to meet my neighbors. My husband, Dave, enjoyed my stories so much the next year he attended.
The citizen’s academy unbeknownst to me was my introduction to community involvement in Bonney Lake. I then helped start a neighborhood watch when we had a “party” house in our neighborhood. This was a way to keep an eye on the party house and each other. We became friends with the neighborhood watch on the next street. It was a pebble in the pond.
There were times when there were several proposed developments in our downtown neighborhood. As a group, we worked with the Community Development Department to voice our concerns and suggestions. We wrote letters and e-mails, attended planning commission meetings and council meetings to make our voices heard. We had a common cause – our neighborhood.
For some reason, I was approached about working on the campaign to put not one, but two, bond measures on the ballot. That was in 2004. With a group of strangers, we wrote a voter’s pamphlet statement, attended park board meetings, washed cars to raise money to buy campaign signs, got a few articles in the newspaper, and had a booth at Bonney Lake Days to share the message: Vote yes for parks, trails and a community center. The parks and trail bond got a simple majority of 52 percent and needed 60 percent to pass. The community center failed with 44 percent.
I was approached yet again, this time about being on the park board, where I had the privilege of working with involved citizens who cared very much about parks in our city. We worked on updating the park element of the comprehensive plan, which is the guiding document of the park needs in our city. This was the beginning of an exciting time for parks:
• Cedarview homeowners association park became a city park, built by volunteers;
• The Moriarty property was annexed to Allan Yorke Park, and remains a diamond in the rough;
• Madrona was converted from a surplus city utility water tank to a pocket park with volunteer labor;
• Lake Bonney Conservation Association volunteered to help design and develop Ken Simmons Park, using donations and elbow grease and
• The Ascent statute by local artist Larry Anderson was joined by a beautiful gateway under the watchful eye of Carol Wells-Reed and labor and donations from Lions4Kids, Columbia Bank and Beautify Bonney Lake
• Viking Park was acquired from the Sumner School District next to Bonney Lake Elementary. It is temporarily being used as an off leash dog park, again through the efforts of volunteers.
The next time my shoulder was tapped, it was in 2007. Would I consider running for City Council? I was a council member from 2008 to 2011. They were the best of times; they were the worst of times. Being on the council, if you are an engaged council member, is much more than attending a few meetings each month. You must do your reading, research and ask questions. You must reach out to the citizens by knocking on doors, engaging conversation in the grocery store, attending National Night Out, mingling at Bonney Lake Days, calling people to get their opinions and asking for input. Those of you in old Ward No. 3 know you found me on your doorstep or chatting on the phone. You may have gotten a late night email, too.
During this time of community service I worked a full time job. My lovely daughter, Danielle, grew from a teen, graduating from high school, attended college, advanced in her career and was a beautiful bride last November when she married TJ. In spite of my grumpiness, and long hours burning the candle at both ends, I managed to eke out some quality time with my husband here and there. That was difficult to do when he was a long haul truck driver. I will not kid you, it was hard work. It was interesting. It was a joy to meet and work with many in the community. There were some successes and setbacks. I am glad I was on the council. And it is now nice to have more time with family and friends. More time spent traveling and working side-by-side with my husband on the home we bought in 2011.
And now I will use 10 years of background to write a column in this newspaper about such things as the Metropolitan Park District, CUGA annexation, Eastown, a new food bank, a comparison of YMCA and community center, arts, history and other such items of interest on the Bonney Lake Plateau.
You can sign up online for Bonney Lake Police Department Citizen’s Academy or call 253-863-2218. The class starts March 19. Who knows where it will take you!
