Laurelhurst Community Club

Minutes for February 11, 2002

ATTENDANCE

Trustees and Committee Members: John Burge, Todd Cahill, Jean Colley, Casey Corr, Jeannie Hale, Kate Lloyd, Heather Newman, Barb Ragee, Stan Sorcher, Mark Trumbauer, Don Torrie, Maggie Weissman, Karl Weyrauch, Pat Wright

Guests: Karen Ko, Department of Neighborhoods; Kim Hines, Bill Block, Housing Development Consortium of Seattle-King County

CALL TO ORDER: Piyarali called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. Trustees and guests introduced themselves.

HOUSING LEVY RENEWAL: Kim Hines and Bill Block from the Housing Development Consortium briefed the group about the upcoming renewal of the housing levy and housing affordability issues. Her group would like to dialogue with the community to gather feedback about the housing levy to assist in developing levy options. Hines and Block showed the group a power point presentation.

Seattle's affordable housing program has three goals: maintaining the diverse character that defines our city and neighborhoods, continuing Seattle's strong record in support for housing levies and providing affordable housing for Seattle's working families. Seattle's housing prices are up 67% since 1995 and there has been a 37% increase in rent in that period. Seattle has seen a housing supply-and-demand imbalance over the past few years, as the number of new jobs produced here has outpaced housing. There have been 69,437 new jobs in the area, yet only 8,403 new housing units were built.

Hines noted that affordable housing takes money, and it comes from federal, state and city government, as well as from private sources. One important slice of the pie is the Seattle Housing Levy. Seattle voters first approved the Housing Levy in 1981, again in 1986 and again in 1995. The current levy expires in 2002. The Levy totals just over $59 million. Levy funding is used for both rental and homeowner housing. Since 1996, Seattle has created more than 4,000 affordable homes for Seattle households. Without the housing levy, production would have been only a little more than half. Housing levy dollars are used to attract other funding. For example the Bill And Melinda Gates Foundation donated $40 Million Dollars. Details about the fall housing levy have not been finalized. There will likely be a replacement levy of either $110M ($60/year for the average home) or $180M ($160/year for the average homeowner). LCC has supported all of the prior housing levies.

ADMINISTRATION

1. Changes to the agenda: Add Laurelhurst map by Sorscher.

2. Minutes: The January LCC minutes will be distributed next month.

3. Dues Statement: Copies of last year's dues statement were distributed to determine whether changes should be made this year. It was agreed that the dues statement would remain basically unchanged from last year and go out in March.

CALLS AND CONCERNS FROM NEIGHBORS

1. Construction in the Neighborhood: Emily Wilson called today to suggest that LCC include an article in a future newsletter telling neighbors how they can cope with ongoing construction in the neighborhood. There is a three-block area (from 52nd NE to 54th NE just off of NE 45th) where she lives with six construction projects underway. The contruction workers take up the street parking and have made the street unsafe for kids.

2. Foiled Car Prowl: Nancy Oblanas who lives on 55th called on 1/21/02 to let us know that she awoke the day before to her little dog's small bark, got up and discovered two young people breaking into a neighbor's car across the street from her house. She called 911 and the police arrived within minutes. One of the suspects was apprehended. A car used to transport goods was also found. The car contained stolen items and drugs. Thank you, Nancy!

3. Speed Humps: Lee Hults called on 1/29/02 to express interest in speed humps in the area by the Beach Club. Kim Dykeman called on the same day and asked about the speed humps and the Laurelhurst transportation master plan. LCC needs to follow-up further with Hults as voice mail messages were left for her, but there has been no connection. Liz Ogden has followed up with Dykeman as neighbors who live on 47th are needed to participate in work on the transportation plan.

4. Neighbor Appreciation Day: Bill Newell called on 1/29/02 to find out how to nominate his wife to receive a Good Neighbor Award. Newell was told how to do that and his wife was among those who received an award from Mayor Nickels and Council President Sullivan on 2/09/02.

5. Old Street Fund Project: Doug Armintrout emailed on 1/16/02 to follow-up on a street reconfiguration project where 42nd and 43rd Avenue NE meet funded through the Neighborhood Street Fund a couple of years ago. Hale contacted SeaTran again about the project. SeaTran will respond this week.

6. Signs: Jim Rupp emailed to complain about the Blakeley Commons signs in the neighborhood. Hale contacted SeaTran to find out who is responsible for enforcement of the sign code.

7. Albertson's: Tenants at the Provail Burke Gilman Apartments again emailed to ask about the future to the Albertson's store. There is no final word yet on what businesses will go in at the Albertson's location.

8. January Newsletter: Usually LCC receives a number of calls and emails after each newsletter. There were no calls or emails after neighbors received the January newsletter, despite a front page article about the UW's golf driving range proposal.

9. Underground Wiring: Newman reported that neighbors in the Town of Yesler had a meeting to explore interest in undergrounding wiring along NE 41st through NE 43rd, noting that residents of her street were not invited. Sorscher explained that neighbors Michale Mathews and Paul Klemond have researched the possibility and talked to the City. The cost would be approximately $17,000 per household. Nineteen out of 20 attending supported the idea.

10. Space for Laser: Trumbauer reported that Laurelhurst School will be getting a new roof this summer and that the Laser daycare program will need a temporary new home. The Brig at Sand Point/Magnuson Park is under consideration. It was suggested that the group explore Sand Point Elementary School.

ANNOUNCEMENTS (Also see NEDC announcements in the member organization packet.)

1. Thank you! Special thanks to Don Torrie, Heather Newman and Shahina Piyarali for distributing trustee packets this month.

2. Regards from Schafbuch: LCC Secretary Schafbuch sends his regards to the board. He is still busy taking care of family business travelling every week to Portland. It's possible that he may take a job out of the Seattle area in the future.

3. Absent, but Missed: Torrance is out of town on business and Kim has a sick child so neither can be at the meeting tonight.

4. Sign Issue: Two community and environmental groups from Houston, Texas contacted LCC about our experience with the City's recent video sign proposal and finding references to our effort on the Web. In Houston, the local government is planning billboard size video signs complete with an audio component. LCC shared all of Seattle's consultant reports, analyses prepared by council central staff and correspondence regarding the issue.

5. Children's Advisory Committee: The next meeting of the Children's Advisory Committee will be held on April 29th at 7 p.m. at the hospital. Additional details next month.

6. Lifetime Learning Center Open House: Save the date. The Lifetime Learning Center Sand Point Elementary School will host an open house on March 14th. Details will be mailed out next week.

7. Garden Tour: Sue Tong will be hosing a Seattle Milk Fund walking garden tour in the neighborhood on July 6th, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

REPORTS/ACTION

• Map: Sorscher distributed maps of Laurelhurst. Thank you, Stan!

• Crime Prevention Report: Wright reported that there has only been three burglaries in the last three months in the neighborhood. The University District is having a big problem with car prowls. There is a new Lieutenant of Operation at the North Precinct. It was only a rumor that Officer Havenor has been tranferred out of the neighborhood. He works the third shift. Yim reports that the playfield has been quiet lately.

• CUCAC Update:
  1. UW Master Plan: Colley, Torrance and Hale testified on 2/05/02 at the hearing examiner hearing regarding the UW's Master Plan. Copies of UW statements from the meeting are included in the trustee packets. Only one person, Tom Johnson from Laurelhurst, testified that morning in support of the proposed rezone to increase the height of the golf driving range from 37 to 105 feet.

  2. Street Vacation Issue: At its 2/12/02 meeting, CUCAC will be considering issues related to the street vacation involved at the Center for Urban Horticulture. This issue has been on the back-burner for 15 years, but has now surfaced because of the need to rebuild at CUH. It is unclear exactly what the issues are. Apparently, the UW executed four quitclaim deeds to the City in 1986. The City Council did not approve the vacation ordinance at that time and instead requested that the UW deed a 5th parcel to the City for a bike trail in exchange for the street vacation. In the meantime, the City amended the street vacation law to exempt state agencies from paying compensation for street vacations. LCC has requested additional materials about the issue and Colley or Torrance will report next month. This issue will go through Councilmember Conlin's Transportation Committee and Conlin has agreed to not push the issue until LCC has had an opportunity to review the issues.

• Talaris Project: On Wednesday, January 30, 2002, LCC representatives and a couple of neighbors, LCC attorney Peter Eglick and LCC land use consultant Carol Eychaner met with representatives of Talaris. The group discussed various issues, including those outlined in a letter written by Eglick (included in the trustee correspondence packet). LCC will again meet with Talaris in March.

• Sand Point/Magnuson Park Update:
  1. DEIS on Ball Fields/Wetlands: Lloyd attended the hearing on February 4th and submitted official written comment on behalf of LCC regarding the proposed field lighting and environmental impacts. LCC's statement and materials from other groups are included in the trustee correspondence packet.

  2. Alleged Parks Mismanagement of Funds for Off-Leash Dog Area: Included in the packet is a letter from the Magnuson Off Leash Group. In their letter, they allege Parks mismanagement of the $700,000 of ProParks money earmarked for Magnuson Park off-leash area improvements. The group has asked for an accounting and not received one. No construction or drainage drawings have been completed are required. According to the off-leash group, Parks has done a poor job overseeing the work of the Army Corps of Engineers and the project is now behind schedule.

  3. Sand Point Library Issue: Hawthorne Hills has suggested that LCC consider supporting location of the Sand Point branch library at the old Sand Point Elementary School, located at 6208-60th NE. There is plenty of parking and a portion of the facility is currently leased to North Seattle Community College and the Center for Lifetime Learning for community classes, something LCC supported a few years ago when the proposed lease arrangement surfaced. The problem with having the Sand Point branch library at Sand Point/Magnuson Park is that it would violate Initiative 42, which prohibits the use of park property for non-park purposes unless there is a land exchange to provide for the lost park property. UW property at Sand Point is a possible location for the new branch library, but we have been told that the UW wants too much in rent for its Building 9. M/S/P (Hale/Lloyd) To support the use of Sand Point Elementary School as a site for the Sand Point Branch Library and continued negotiations with the UW for use of Building 9 at Sand Point/Magnuson Park for the library and to communicate this position to appropriate decision makers. Motion passed unanimously.

  4. Joint Athletic Facilities Development Program (JAFDP): On February 8th, LCC submitted written comment on the JAFDP. LCC expressed concern at the divisiveness that has surfaced between advocates of organized playfield sports and playfield neighbors over the JAFDP. This divisiveness was very evident by the lack of civility at the January 24th public hearing before the Board of Park Commissioners. LCC believes that there must be an appropriate balance to address the growing need for athletic fields, while at the same time being sensitive to the concerns of impacted neighbors. The LCC letter will be included in next month's trustee packet.

• Noise Issues: Sorcher and Newman have been working together on noise issues for LCC. LCC wrote a letter today to the mayor, city council and city attorney asking that the current noise ordinance be strengthened. In 1999, the Seattle City Council passed an improved Noise Ordinance by a wide margin. Unfortunately, that measure did not become law. LCC is convinced that from the 1999 experience, a workable, enforceable and practical solution to noise problems is within reach.

• Neighbor Appreciation Day: The LCC annual Neighbor Appreciation Day reception on February 9th was overwhelmingly successful. Mayor Greg Nickels and King County Council President Sullivan presented 20 neighbors with Good Neighbor Awards before a crowded of over 100 people. Councilmember Richard Conlin, Andrew Schmid from Council President Sullivan's office, Brent Crook and Karen Ko from the Department of Neighborhoods, David Yim and Maureen O'Neill from the Parks Department and Sarah Ericksen from Children's were among those attending.

  Great Harvest Bread Company donated wonderful breads and other treats (not a morsel left after the event!) to complement the bagels donated by Noah's Bagels. QFC donated a $50 gift certificate to defray the cost of fruit, coffee and other items.

  Council President Sullivan again provided beautiful leather frames for Good Neighbor certificates and Andrew Schmid and Casey Corr made sure that Mayor Nickels and Council President Sullivan signed all of the certificates.

  This year, two first-graders received awards for their volunteer efforts to pick up trash in the neighborhood. Microsoft contributed two copies of Encarta 2000 software for the girls. The Confectionery contributed a bag of candy for each girl and University Village gave each a $25 gift certificate. U Village also donated two $50 gift certificates for the main drawing for all of those receiving awards. Miller Pollard donated a beautiful crystal vase and Mrs. Cooks donated a set of Martini glasses for two. Microsoft also contributed half the price of a wireless keyboard.

  Coco Sherman, the event coordinator, passes along her thanks for all of the help provided by LCC trustees. LCC gave Sherman a beautifully framed Neighbor Appreciation Day card and flowers at the event.

• University Area Transportation Plan: LCC submitted comments on the draft plan on November 29th recommending the following:
  1. Sidewalks on 30th NE and NE 50th

  2. Lighting at the Burke-Gilman Crossing

  3. Right-Turn Only: Evaluation of the concept of a right-turn only at the NE Blakeley exit from University Village. This will reduce the number of vehicles crossing the Burke-Gilman Trail.

  4. No Left Turn into/out of QFC

  5. 25th Avenue Center Lane Hazards: The center turn lane from the viaduct to NE Blakely poses major safety risks to drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists. The study suggests consolidation of driveway access, but LCC believes this does not go far enough in addressing the safety concerns associated with the center turn lane. LCC recommended exploration of signalization and other options.

  6. Overflow Parking into the Neighborhoods: LCC recommended evaluation of the City's policies regarding providing adequate employee parking for commercial areas and RPZs for surrounding areas.

  7. Adequate Parking at Five Corners: LCC recommended solutions to address lack of parking at the complex at Five Corners housing Tully's and Kinko's. This small lot is frequently full and customers are not allowed to park in the nearby Burgermaster lot. One of the problems is that about half of the parking spots are for compact cars and vehicles have difficulty maneuvering in and out of parking spaces. The delays in maneuvering around the lot result in backups for drivers turning into the parking lot from NE 45th. All of this confusion with drivers poses risks to pedestrian safety at that corner, especially those in wheel chairs as there is no curb cut on the NE 45th side.

  8. Video Traffic Monitoring: LCC recommended installation of a realtime, web-accessible view of the traffic situation on Montlake to the south and NE 45th to the west, similar to what WSDOT provides.

  9. U Village Master Plan: LCC recommended that the process to develop a master plan for U Village be immediately restarted. In addition to its garage project and expansion of retail space, the Village has received approval to subdivide a portion of its property near 25th into eight parcels. We believe that it is likely that these parcels will be developed in the future. To ensure adequate attention to transportation infrastructure needs and pedestrian and bicycle safety resulting from future development, a master plan is critical to guide development.

     Lloyd suggested requesting a left turn signal at the existing traffic light on 25th and Blakeley in LCC's final comments on the Study. It was suggested that LCC write a letter encouraging University Village to allow the Goodwill station back after garage construction. It was surmised that the Village may have thought that the station didn't fit the Village image. Trustees and neighbors have expressed disappointment at the loss of this valuable service.

• Newsletter: Burge has a new email address for the newsletter: laurelhurstletter@earthlink.net.

MEETING ADJOURNED: 8:50 p.m.