Call to Order: The meeting was called to order at 7:02 PM.

ATTENDING: John Clark, Susan Torrance, Pat Wright, Heather Newman, Shawn Whitcomb, Don Torrie, John Burge, Jim Romano, Karl Weyrauch, Shahina Piyarali, Jennifer Biely, Bonnie Zinn, Maggie Weissman, Mark Trumbauer, Stan Sorscher

Excused: Mimi Levin, Barb Ragee, and Kate Hokanson

GUESTS:
Seattle Monorail Initiative: Tom Weeks, Elevated Transportation Company; Viet Nguyen, Rise Above It All Campaign, and Peter Sherwin, an author of the initiative.

Tow Weeks spoke briefly about the Seattle Monorail Initiative and took questions. The monorail option attempts to resolve cost and benefit issues in public transportation. An elevated route is cheaper than tunnels, avoids problems of surface routes such as right-of-way and traffic congestion. Weeks imagines series of phases, starting with a "green line" from Ballard to the Seattle Center and Pioneer Square. The first phase would be 14 miles, with 19 stations. It would be integrated with other transit systems in location of stations and scheduling of trains. During peak hours, the new monorail would run on 4-5 minute headways, which would become 8-10 minutes off-peak. Ridership is projected to be about 70,000 per day.

Construction costs would come from public funds. Operating costs could break even with fares. Phase 1 could be operating by 2007-09 using existing Right of Ways and without reducing street capacity. The technology used would be quiet, reliable and aesthetically pleasing.

Newman: How definite are the routes? Weeks: In most cases, the proposal identifies "corridors" but not exact route locations. Some elements of the plan are given - for instance traffic through the Ballard Bridge area must be elevated high enough to permit shipping to pass without a drawbridge.

Zinn: How will noise affect neighborhoods? Weeks: Noise levels would be consistent with commercial businesses. The trains will be quieter than a bus. Trains may displace louder bus traffic.

Weissman: Will the trains operate early enough for people who start work early? Weeks: Plans call for 19 hours of operation to allow maintenance and repair. Expected hours will be 5 AM to midnight.

Sorscher: Does monorail compete with light rail? Weeks: The monorail assumes the completion of 14 miles of light rail as proposed. Multi-mode systems work in many areas. The monorail project is officially neutral on light rail.

Romano: How effectively does the monorail project coordinate with other modes? Weeks: At a staff level, monorail and light rail projects work very well together. We are resolving questions of stations, tickets systems, ridership patterns, bus schedules and so on.

Biely: What are the relative costs for monorail and light rail? Weeks: Monorail construction costs are lower, and operating costs are much lower. Over 25 years, monorail costs out at $5 per trip and light rail at $20 per trip.

Burge: Will the trains be driverless? Weeks: yes.

Hale: What will be the costs to taxpayers? Weeks: Funding comes from a 1.4% excise tax on cars until the bonds are repaid. The excise tax varies with the value (age) of the car. For a $7000 car, the excise tax would be $100 per year.

Biely: Does the Iman tax initiative prevent public funding? Weeks: This would be a voter approved project, consistent with Tim Iman initiatives passed so far.

Romano: In what order will the later phases be implemented? Weeks: No decision has been made, yet. A city study determined that the green line should be the first.

ADMINISTRATION
Changes to the agenda: The Treasurer was called out of town so there will no formal Treasurer's report tonight other than summary information.

Minutes: The board considered the July and August LCC minutes that were sent out with the agendas. Pat Wright suggested spelling corrections, and the minutes for July and August were approved.

Treasurer's Report: Levin reported prior to the meeting that the current funds on hand are $79,000.

CALLS AND CONCERNS FROM NEIGHBORS
1. Sidewalk Safety: Louise McCready and Mike Craig emailed on 8/05/02 about an area at 4855 NE 41st Street where there is a 20-foot area that is cracked and somewhat hollow in places underneath the sidewalk. McCready reports that many people use the NE 41st for jogging and walking and that she has concerns about liability. The location is also on the bus line. Erik Torgelson sent in a sidewalk inventory form about a location on the corner of NE 41st and 50th Avenue where there is a one-foot elevation caused by a tree that had been previously removed. James Prince called on 9/03/02 to report that there is overgrown that is hazardous to pedestrians at 55th NE and Belvedere Terrace (where duplexes are located).

Karl Weyrauch reported a couple other neighbors had submitted reports. Pat Wright asked about upgrading the grates to electrical vaults, which become very slippery in the rain.

2. Beach Club: Jon Day emailed requesting information about Beach Club membership. Hale provided information and contact phone numbers and emails.

3. TransLake: Jean Amick from LCC's Transportation Committee has suggested that LCC provide additional comments on SR 520 expansion issues.

4. Battelle: Chuck Eng called on 9/03 to tell us that the proposed development on the Battelle property is too big. He insisted that adequate parking be provided.

5. Unlicensed vehicles: Piyarali heard from Pat King about unlicensed vehicles parked in alleys. Pat was also interested in parking rules that apply to construction vehicles.

6. Fencing: Weissman heard a concern about the height of solid fencing. DCLU can check compliance with rules.

7. Villa: Weyrauch reported that Doug Pratt has volunteered to serve as traffic liaison with Villa Academy. Weyrauch also discussed plans to subdivide the property between St Stephens and the Villa into 7 lots.

ANNOUNCEMENTS (See NEDC announcement in the member organizations packets.)

REPORTS/ACTION
Crime Prevention Report:

1. Crime Update: Wright reported to the board about crime prevention in the neighborhood and the North Precinct Advisory Council. The crime prevention phone number has been deactivated for lack of use. A series of block parties has helped organize neighborhoods. Budget constraints may result in a hiring freeze. A Rainier Valley citizens group started a petition of support for police. The North Precinct meetings will not be cut from the budget. The group observed a taser demonstration. A training exercise for "Operation Alert" will demonstrate response activities for earthquake or other natural disasters, or other disruptions.

   LCC will send a letter of support for police and other emergency services. Neighbors are encouraged to send e-mail s and letter to the City Council.

2. Funding for Adequate Police Staffing: The letter written by the North Precinct Advisory Council is included in the correspondence packet. A petition to urge the city not to cut funding for Seattle Police Department community service officers was circulated for trustees to sign.

Magnuson Park Issues: The Magnuson Park Capital Improvement Plan is included in the agenda packets.

1. Friends of Magnuson Park: A new group called Friends of Magnuson Park has formed to appeal the final environmental impact statement on Magnuson Park. The group would like mitigation relating to the impact on wildlife and the housing. Loyd, the LCC rep to the Liaison Committee recommends that LCC contribute $100 to this effort to help defer legal costs. Torrie moved that the LCC contribute $100 to this effort. Seconded by Weissman. Motion passed with 1 nay vote and no abstentions. The LVR soccer club intends to hire a lobbyist to promote lighting and access to playfields.

2. Sand Point Branch Library: A letter from the proponents of a branch library at Sand Point is included in the correspondence packets. In the past, LCC has written to support this new branch library so long as it is not located on park property in violation of Initiative 42. The proposal from the proponents of the branch library is to consider a branch library on the property next to the old Sand Point Elementary School that will soon become an abandoned City Light substation.

Housing above Commercial Buildings: Groups in Wallingford and Hawthorne Hills are preparing a letter opposing a proposal to permit housing above large commercial structures. For example, housing could be build above QFC. At issue are parking and traffic congestion. Weissman suggested that the proposal would be acceptable if it includes restrictions which recognize available parking.

UW Master Plan Update: Materials relating to the UW Master Plan process are included in the trustee packets. At today's Council briefing, issues surfaced because the Mayor violated the quasi-judicial rules and sent a letter to Council members lobbying on behalf of the University. This is despite the fact that the University has gotten 99% of all it has asked for in the proposed plan. The quasi-judicial rules prohibit direct contact with Council members. The UW also violated these rules in "cc"ing Council members on a letter about substantive issues relating to the plan on August 26th.

Torrance understands that Theresa Doherty also exceeded the rules by lobbying directly with Council members on substantive issues.

At today's Council briefing meeting, council members decided what to do about the rule violations. Some wanted to put off the vote for a week. It was suggested that the petitioners be given an opportunity to respond to the Mayor's letter, which contained many inaccuracies and demonstrated little understanding of the master planning process. The Council decided to go ahead and vote on the preliminary resolution at today's afternoon full Council meeting. Hale, Torrance and Colley attended the meeting with Eglick. Other community groups were also represented at the meeting.

For the most part, the council supported the little gains made by the neighborhoods. Councilmember Pageler proposed an amendment to authorize the proposed golf driving range rezone. The amendment failed by a vote of 5-3. One amendment did pass regarding University property acquisitions in surrounding communities. The Land Use Committee had voted to retain provisions of the current master plan that prohibits acquisitions. An amendment passed that would allow acquisitions for housing purposes only. This situation could develop into a challenge to our Settlement Agreement.

LCC's attorney, Peter Eglick attended the Council briefing meeting this morning and the afternoon full council meeting. Eglick and Hale met with representatives from the City Attorney's office to address the Mayor's failure to adhere to the rules governing the process.

Neighborhood Street Fund/Cumulative Reserve Fund Update: The following table lists the Northeast District Council ranking of this year's projects. We are not sure where the "water line" will be in terms of which projects get funded, but the top 4 or 5 are likely to receive strong consideration:

RANK	POINTS	PROJECT#s	PROJECT DESCRIPTION
*1	226	1084 (2135)	Sidewalk improvement on 10th Avenue E and E Roanoke Street (inkind leverage opportunity)
2	221	2139	Pedestrian crossing at intersection of 35th Avenue NE and NE 68th Street at NE Branch Library
3	215	1093 (2141)	Pedestrian crossing improvement into Cowen Park at Brooklyn Avenue NE and NE Ravenna Boulevard
*4	213	2140	Resurfacing the tennis courts at University Playfield, NE 50th Street at 9th Avenue NE ($2,000 contribution from the community offered)
5	197	2053 2136	Transportation safety improvements in the Brooklyn area of the U District
*6	180	2137	Traffic circle at 50th Ave. NE and NE 52nd ($3,000 dollar cash match from the community)
7	171	1201	Traffic triangle improvement on Ravenna Avenue NE at 25th Avenue NE
8	157	1005	Sidewalk installation at NE Pacific/Boat Street cutoff road
*9	144	1086	Sidewalks on 30th Avenue NE between NE 55th Street and Blakeley ($65,000 cash match available from the community)
10	136	2038	Crosswalk improvements along Sand Point Way NE near Magnuson Park
11	113	1089	Curb extension at NE 66th and 8th Avenue NE and Weedin Place
12	104	NE 017	Asphalt walkway on Sand Point Way NE between 5226 Sand Point Way and 47th Avenue NE
13	77	1075	Curbs and parking strips on both sides of NE 44th west to deadend by business district
14	75	1087 (2138)	Street surface improvement: cement curbs on 22nd Avenue NE between NE 62nd Street to NE 63rd Street
15	73	1074	Curbs and parking strips at 36th Ave. NE on both sides of NE 43rd west to dead end
16	55	1085	Sidewalk improvement on the westbound shoulder of Sand Point and Princeton
17	19	1080	Speed bump on 1200 block of NE 69th
18	14	2033 (2142)	NE Ravenna Blvd., 15th Avenue NE & Cowen Place Ped/Bike crossing improvements
19	13	1090	Traffic mirror on "S" curve on 58th between NE 77th and NE 75th

* leveraging opportunity available

Metro Parking: Parking around the Metro Theatre has been intense. The Roosevelt Neighbors Alliance represents neighbors' interests, there. The first two hours of parking in commercial lots is reimbursed by the Theater. RNA is looking for financial support. Hale suggested support contingent on RNA receiving wider community commitments. Weissman and Trumbauer asked for more information on the goals and objectives of the RNA, before LCC takes action.

Talaris update: LCC received a letter from John McCullough, representing the Talaris project. The letter responds to LCC's letter sent in January, 2002. The letter mentions 5 specific issues related to the Settlement Agreement - realigning the roadway with NE 44th St in the northwest corner of the property; landscaping along 38th Ave NE; wetlands protection and possibly a conservation easement; parking; and a sidewalk along NE 41st St. The sense of neighbors and Peter Eglick is that the letter offers very little. Parking is a big issue, and should factor into a complete package, including height bulk and scale, wetlands, play areas, conservation easement, landscaping, and traffic.

The letter proposed another meeting to discuss amending the Settlement Agreement, but time and place have not been set.

Hale said Peter Eglick is reviewing notes from our meeting where we discussed the history of the project and set priorities. The memo should be available soon for our review.

Sorscher reported that David Van Skike at DCLU has finished his review of the scoping for the single family housing alternative. Van Skike says that no new scoping conditions will be required to handle the SFH alternative.

Dangerous dogs: Torrie reported on possible rules regarding dangerous dogs. Council member Jan Drago may push the balance in favor of dog owners. The range of penalties for dog owners includes seizure, euthanasia, insurance and civil judgment costs, and felony convictions. One problem is "breed prejudice" by which certain breeds are presumed to have dangerous tendencies. Torrie spoke in favor of due process, and objective standards of what is threatening behavior and what are "severe" injuries. Piyarali suggested that people threatened by aggressive dogs often have a different perspective from the dog owners.

Sidewalk safety: Weyrauch encouraged neighbors to continue submitting survey reports to help identify candidates for repair.

ADJOURN: The meeting was adjourned at 8:58 PM

Minutes prepared by Stan Sorscher
LCC Secretary