Minutes for June 10, 2002

CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order at 7:09 PM.

ATTENDANCE: Barb Ragee, John Burge, Heather Newman, Mark Holden, Shawn Whitcolm, Stan Sorscher, Karl Weyrauch, Bonnie Zinn, Kate Loyd, Susan Torrance, John Clark, Pat Wright, Don Torrie, Jeannie Hale, Jean Colley, Mimi Levin, Mark Trumbauer.

GUESTS: Dick Barnum, Carol Eychaner, and Peter Eglick

ADMINISTRATION

1. Changes to the agenda: Updated LCC rosters were distributed.

2. Minutes: Minutes from May 13 were approved on a motion by Ragee, seconded by Colley.

3. Election of Officers: The following slate of officers was proposed: Levin as Treasurer, Sorscher as Secretary, Piyarali as Vice President and Hale as President. The Board agreed by acclamation.

CALLS AND CONCERNS FROM NEIGHBORS

1. Belvoir Pump Station: Neighbor Roger and Candace Belair emailed (from Norway) in response to LCC's letter about the County's plan to downsize improvements to the Belvoir Pump Station. He is okay with the revised plans for the pump station. No other comments were reported from neighbors.

2. Sidewalk Safety Program: Robin Chalmers emailed on 5/22/02 requesting a form for the Sidewalk Safety Program. Chalmers reported that 18 years ago an emergency City Light truck ran over his sidewalk as witnessed by his son and a neighbor, damaging the sidewalk and then refusing to fix it. Robert Ingalls emailed on 5/22/02 suggesting that LCC include cars chronically parking on or over sidewalks in the sidewalk program. He has put copies of the LCC newsletter article on the windshields of continuing offenders without success from offenders in complying. He said when he reports incidents to the police, the police tell the offender the name of the person making the complaint and that this causes tensions. He suggested that LCC take reports and forward them onto the police as well as taking a continuing role in prevention. Patti Polinski emailed requesting that sidewalks on Sand Point near Katterman's be included in the Laurelhurst sidewalk inventory.

3. Sand Point Cleanup: Patti Polinsky reported on 5/29/02 that she is currently cleaning up garbage and broken glass on both sides of Sand Point near Katterman's.

4. Babysitting Network: Debbie Tonkovich emailed Bonnie Zinn on 5/21/02 expressing concerns about listing babysitter names on the LCC website. Zinn responded that the program is for Laurelhurst families only and that parental permission is required before listing on the website.

5. Traffic Congestion: Susan Avery called on 6/5/02 to report that 40th was closed that day and traffic backed up. Because the Princeton Street Bridge is out, there is no way to get back to the neighborhood other than to divert down to U Village and then address that congestion. Hale contacted Pat McDonald from Ronald McDonald House who reported that the work on 40th came up unexpectedly because City Light reversed itself the week before and notified them they had to bring in electrical service from across the street. Seattle Transportation then gave an immediate window where they could repave the street right-of-way. Ronald McDonald's contractor said the work would be completed on 6/6/02. In the future, McDonald will notify LCC and Hawthorne Hills in advance of disruptions and road closures.

6. Helicopter Landings: Ginny Sherrow called on 6/7/02 to report that helicopter landings at Children's had increased lately. There have been at least two a day and one day there was four. The flights arrive at all times of day. Sherrow was wondering if the UW's field has been closed or if construction has impacting the frequency of landings. Sarah Erickson will send out a report about recent helicopter activity at CHMC. LCC will follow up on this.

7. Children's Expansion: Maryanne Spangler sent LCC a copy of a letter she wrote to the board of Laurelon Terrace about continued Children's expansion. She wants no further expansion. She thinks the next expansion will pose risks to Laurelon Terrace neighbors, including ground weakening, plumbing/drainage, traffic and land values. Throughout the construction, she thinks that helicopter landings should be halted. She urged the Laurelon Terrace board to work with LCC and take legal action against Children's as Children's promised the community it would not expand in 1952.

8. Graffiti: Les Podgomy expressed interest at the annual meeting and followed up with an email on 6/01/02 in cleaning up graffiti in the neighborhood. He is willing to do this on his own or with others. Hale emailed Podogomy information from Seattle Public Utilities about its "Do It Yourself" graffiti removal brochure and its Anti-Graffiti Wagon Brigade that provides training.

9. Traffic Management Plan: Weyrauch reported that Doug Pratt was concerned about a right-turn-only sign at 48th St would force traffic onto 49th St. This had come as a surprise. He will send a note to Liz Ogden to check on the intent and effect of the sign. Loyd reported that Lisa Percival wanted to be sure that LCC does not block Villa's plan. The Board feels we enjoy smooth relations in this case. We have expressed no opposition to the plans and we believe things are going well.

10. University Village: One of Lloyd's neighbors asked about U Village development in the vicinity of Pottery Barn. U Village reported that Pottery Barn asked several months ago for some expansion next to its existing store to allow for more house wares and for a new Pottery Barn Kids space. They want the new addition open in time for the 2002 holidays. The addition is approximately 7,000 square feet retail and 4,000 square feet of backroom storage. Because some parking will be lost at grade, U Village is providing for some replacement parking on the overhead deck about 60 feet to the north. Building permits have been issued for the Pottery Barn expansion and the new parking.

11. Traffic Circle: Betsy Amick Conrad emailed after the annual meeting to express her support for a traffic circle on NE 50th Street and 48th Avenue NE to help calm traffic speeds. This was passed along to Liz Ogden.

12. Talaris: Lloyd reported a call from a neighbor warning LCC that blocking Talaris' IAS plan would result in the less preferable single family housing development.

13. Shorelines: Torrance reported neighbors' concerns about boat wakes and damage to shorelines. Torrance will talk to David Dunning about monitoring the situation.

14. Sidewalks on 43rd: Newman was interested in adding sidewalks on 43rd St as part of the sidewalk improvement project. This can be recorded on one of the project forms and included in the package.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

1. Torrie reminded the Board that the park concert series will start soon. We will add the schedule to the web site.

2. Thank you! Thanks to Mark Holden, Kate Lloyd, Heather Newman and Don Torrie for delivering trustee packets this month. Thanks also for Shawn Whitcomb and John Clarke for volunteering and we'll rely upon them next month.

3. Absent and Missed: Piyarali could not make the meeting tonight due to a school event. Romanos is on vacation and Cahill had a family conflict.

4. Dues Update: As of 5/27/02, Han Kim reports that 671 households have paid dues for a total of $28,147.50. Dues notices were sent to 2800 households. Last year, the average contribution was $55. More contributions are expected to come in from this year's mailing.

5. Beach Club: Saturday, June 8th was the opening day of the Beach Club. In response to a growing number of complaints about unaccompanied guests, this year the Beach Club is experimenting with a new photo-ID system. The first time anyone goes to the Beach Club, a photo will be taken. Thereafter, the guard will compare names with photos when people check in. No one has to carry ID cards.

6. Laurelhurst Community Center: The Parks Department has reported that expansion of the Laurelhurst Community Center will take place in 2004 under the ProPark Levy passed by voters in 2001. LCC has not been informed of the community involvement procedure.

7. Sand Point Community Housing Association: The Sand Point housing group is beginning to plan for Phase 2 of the housing development at Magnuson Park. Phase 2 will add about 100 new units. The group has disbanded the existing housing advisory committee (probably in large part due to lack of interest and poor attendance). A new group will be formed. Todd Cahill represented LCC on the earlier group. Anyone interested in serving on the new advisory committee should contact Anne Lester at 206-517-5495.

8. Talaris: There will be a second Talaris scoping meeting on the housing alternative on June 19th, probably at 7 p.m. at the Center for Urban Horticulture.

9. Traffic Circle Contest: Seattle Transportation wants to recognize those who have put their design and gardening talents to use with the first-ever Seattle Traffic Circle Garden Contest. The contest is open to Seattle residents who choose to nominate a favorite traffic circle, chicane, curb bulb, triangle, or median (s) in one of seven categories. Applications are due June 30th. Jean Colley, Susan Marten and Ginny Sherrow are interested in nominating their circles.

10. City Light Substations: There are seven City Light substations designated as surplus properties in northeast Seattle. Three are slated to become low income housing (Chelsea substation on 23rd and NE 95th, Morningside substation on 86th and 35th Avenue NE and Sand Point substation on 57th and NE 63rd Street). Three are slated to be sold by City Light through a bid process (Hawthorne substation on 39th and NE 65th Street, View Ridge substation on 75th and 44th Avenue NE and Wedgwood substation on 25th and NE 70th Street). One is scheduled for acquisition by the Parks Department--the Laurelhurst substation. LCC worked very hard two years ago on successfully including language in the Parks Comprehensive Plan including acquisition of the substation.

11. Crosswalk on Mary Gates: Seattle Transportation has been in touch with LCC again about installation of a crosswalk on Mary Gates at Clark Road (by the Ceramic Metal Arts Compound). Older rules would not allow crosswalks unless they had traffic signals. Seattle Transportation is now relying upon a new study and crosswalks are allowed if they meet other criteria. LCC asked for a copy of the study and Seattle Transportation rules re crosswalks. Jean Amick has suggested a curb cut on the Clarke Road side of the street.

12. Speed Limit: Cahill suggested that the speed limit on 47th should be lower than 30 mph. This would be passed along to Liz Ogden.

REPORTS/ACTION
Crime Prevention Report: Wright reported that a jogger had seen young people drinking in the park, and notified police.

Sand Point Community Housing Association: This issue will be discussed at the July LCC meeting.

Merrill Hall Donor Tile: This issue will be discussed at the July LCC meeting.

Executive Session: An executive session was convened for the purpose of discussing legal issues.

ADJOURN: The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 PM.

Minutes prepared by Stan Sorscher
LCC Secretary