Attending: Maggie Weissman, Tom Maider, Jennifer Biely, Mark Trumbauer, Jeannie Hale, Bonnie Zinn, Kate Lloyd, John Burge, Susan Torrance, John Clark, Mark Holden, Don Torrie, Joe Herrin, Stan Sorscher
Excused: Barbara Ragee, Joyce Hinkley, Dan Becraft and Heather Newman
Ravenna Park Playground Renovation: Tom Thompson, Chair, Friends of Ravenna Park spoke to the Board about his group's activities. Friends of Ravenna Park has been working since November 2003 to improve the Ravenna Park Play area with new equipment, paths, picnic amenities, artwork, landscaping and refurbished tennis courts. The group received a Small and Simple Neighborhood Matching Fund grant and hired a landscape architect firm to come up with a design. They have undertaken a community survey regarding design preferences and recently raised $18,000 at a dance auction. They will be applying for another NMF grant in the next couple of months and are looking for letters of support from community groups. At its December meeting, the Northeast District Council voted unanimously to write a letter of support. That letter is included in the correspondence packet.
Issues at the park include decaying play equipment, concerns about chemical contamination, and items with "no play value." The goal is to restore the playfield, wading pool, tennis courts and other park features. They have endorsements from several neighborhood groups. Tom referred to maps and artists' impressions of the plan for the park.
Motion made by Clark, seconded by Weissman: LCC heartily endorses the project at Ravenna Park, and we agree to send a letter to the Parks Department expressing support for the project. Motion passed unanimously.
ADMINISTRATION:
Treasurer’s Report:
1. Financial Report: Jennifer Biely described the generous neighborhood response to our special appeal. We received many contributions in memory of Carolyn Corson, which we will acknowledge to her family. We have been able to accelerate payment of our legal fees in November and December.
Motion made by Clark, seconded by Zinn: Authorize a one-time paperless payment of attorney fees. Motion passed anonymously.
In the prior month, we incurred unplanned landscaping expenses when a sprinkler head was damaged in the 41st Street median. In the long-term, we need to consider restoring the plantings there.
Maggie Weissman added that she is looking for help with low-maintenance plantings for the curb bulb project near the new traffic lights. Installation of the traffic light is scheduled for April,2005.
2. Audit Report: Torrie reported on the results of his 11/08/04 audit of LCC’s bank account, bank signature cards, profit and loss statement and balance sheet for September and October 2004. In the audit, minor discrepancies were found and corrected. These were documented in summary sheets included in the packets.
3. Proposal to Clarify Financial Policies: Biely presented the following proposal to clarify LCC’s financial policies:
Maintain $5,000.00 safety reserve in LCC checking account.
Keep current on any new legal expenses (i.e., do not incur any debt for new work, e.g., on Talaris) as approved in advance by the board
Pay land use consultant out of operating funds and as approved in advance by the board. (Last month we approved $4,000 for Jan-April 2005.)
Continue $1,000.00/month payment plan to Helsell Fetterman, with higher payments as feasible. (Continue paying down Helsell Fetterman debt as quickly as possible.)
Pre-submitted Motion: Adopt the four financial policies. Motion passed with one abstention.
4. Proposed Budget: Jennifer Biely went through the proposed budget, comparing 2004 actuals on a monthly basis.
Minutes: The board reviewed the minutes of the October and November meetings.
Motion made by Holden, seconded by Torrance to approve the October 2004 minutes with one minor correction. Motion passed unanimously.
Motion made by Clark, seconded by Lloyd to approve the November minutes, deleting one paragraph that had been added mistakenly. Motion passed unanimously.
CALLS AND CONCERNS
1. Biodiesel Fuel: Beth Alderman reported on 11/06/04 that Laurelhurst Oil is going to be offering biodiesel for vehicles and home heating. Laurelhurst Oil will be the first mainstream commercial-sector company in the area that will be offering biodiesel for home heating. They will offer the 20% maximum biodiesel mix recommended for home heating oil. Alderman states that if private businesses start offering non-petroleum energy products to consumers, it will be a great step toward energy independence for our country, one that we can support right here in our neighborhood!
2. Villa Academy: On 11/19, Villa Head Mistress Polly Skinner sent LCC a letter that will be distributed to neighbors outlining future plans for the Villa. The Missionary Sisters have agreed to sell the Villa the upper campus, the area on which the main building, the convent, the chapel and the gym are located. The Sisters will retain ownership of the wooded property east of the gym to the waterfront. Skinner’s letter was distributed.
3. Burglaries and Car Thefts: On 11/15/04, Weissman reported that there had been four burglaries from the 5100 and 5400 blocks of NE 54th and 55th Streets about 4 recent burglaries over the past three months. In each incident electronic items and personal identity information were stolen. Jean Amick reported another burglary on 11/19 between 3 and 3:30 p.m. at Robin and Jim Walker's house, 3022 West Laurelhurst Drive. The home was ransacked through an unlocked door when Robin rushed out with the dog to pick up a child at school. The burlgars took jewelry, purses, etc. A nanny of a nearby neighbor called the police to report a suspicious-looking character. She saw the man get into a waiting car and gave a car description and license number. There were five males involved, but the car windows were dark so only a very general description could be provided. In the meantime, the homeowner returned with her son. The suspects ran past the son through the yard to the waiting car—a stolen Jeep Cherokee. It turns out that the stolen car belonged to neighbor Louise Louthy. Tracy McCallum’s car was stolen on 12/02 in the middle of the night. She thinks that the people who robbed her house earlier came back to get the car as they had taken the keys. She has suggested that neighbors hire private security, as the police don’t have time to do the patrols required.
4. Thank you! Nancy Carver emailed on 11/15/04 to thank LCC for the work it does. Rebecca Ross emailed on 11/18 to thank LCC for its monthly email message.
5. Land Use Committee: Five neighbors responded to the request in the November email message to neighbors expressing interest in serving on LCC’s land use committee: Doug Armintrout, Lisa Pascualy, Beth Alderman, Kathy Kirby and David May. Thank you, neighbors!
6. Illegal Signs: Kate Hemer emailed on 11/17 to let LCC know that she called in a complaint to SDOT about the Spa Envy sign illegally chain-linked to the pedestrian signal post at the intersection of NE 45th and Mary Gates Memerial Drive on 11/09. The sign has been removed. Hemer recommends strict enforcement of the sign ordinance.
7. Business Inquiry: Karen Nigrelle, owner of Capriccio Flowers and Espresso emailed again on 11/15 to address that LCC do more to support its local businesses.
8. Traffic Light/Curb Bulb Project: Patti Polinsky emailed on 11/16 and also called about the project. She and her husband do not support the project and passed along concerns about the traffic redirection. Weissman responded. Melanie Mavrides called and emailed on 12/01 to inquire about the project. She is not opposed to the project, just wondered why she had not heard anything about it until construction started. Hale directed Mavrides to LCC’s transportation plan and past articles in the newsletter. Weissman responded further, saying the project had gone well, and should improve traffic in the intersection.
9. Beach Club: Jean Amick emailed on 11/18 to get contact info for the Beach Club. Info was provided.
10. Inquiry: Darlene Franz emailed on 11/23 to ask how to submit community events for the newsletter. She was provided with contact info for John Burge.
11. Community Center Expansion: Brian McMullen emailed on 11/17 to let LCC know that he’d filled out the online survey and that he supports expansion of the current building with retrofitting. He said that he thinks the land between the tennis courts and the building is largely underutilized, creating an opportunity for creative use of the space. Lloyd ran into Kristen (who attended the first community meeting). Kristen expressed frustration at the lack of gym space.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
1. Thank you! Thanks to Lloyd, Noonan, and Clark for delivering this month’s trustee agenda packets and for Torrie for coordinating that effort. Thanks also to Maggie Weissman for her work on the curb bulb project, and the good article in the Newsletter.
2. Absent: Ragee, Hinkley, Becraft and Newman could not attend tonight’s meeting due to conflicts.
3. Community Center Expansion: The next Project Advisory Team meeting is tomorrow December 14 at 6:30 p.m. at the community center.
Joe Herrin went through the survey results, which were included in the packets. He had 63 online responses and about 170 total. The top priority was a multi-purpose space and kitchen. However, the question of a gym in the community center led to considerable discussion.
The architects had prepared two alternatives - "A" and "B" with drawings and layouts for both designs. Design called for activity rooms and a large meeting room, which connected through the old and new buildings. Public restrooms were upstairs. Design B, calls enlarged offices, and a new multi-purpose room in the new building.
Joe Herrin suggested design B could be improved with lighting, different materials, possibly by shrinking the meeting room, or making other architectural adjustments.
Guest Kent Mettler said he expected the plans to evolve as spaces and functions are worked out in discussion between the architects and the neighborhood advisory team. The distracting issue of the gym persists, although the budget for the community center simply will not accommodate a gym in that project. More likely would be to provide gym funding in a future school bond levy. Alan Horland also spoke in terms of future school funding to upgrade the Laurelhurst elementary school gym.
The pottery room kiln is a special situation, since it needs ventilation and a dedicated space, possibly outdoors. Mettler and Horland said they want to assess interest in pottery, with the option of alternative uses for that space.
Kate Lloyd brought attention to requirements for parking and fire access, which mean the paved entry road will be larger than currently.
Jeannie Hale summarized many comments by appealing for open space, restrooms, upstairs and quality over quantity.
Kent Mettler raised the question of seeking additional funding. Joe Herrin suggested we consider a fund-raising event, perhaps modeled after the Ravenna Park event, although the fund-raising goal would be significant.
4. Landmarks Preservation Board Meeting: The Landmarks Board will consider the nomination of the Laurelhurst Community Center to Landmark status at its meeting on Wednesday, December 15 at 3:30 p.m. Their proposal was included in the packets.
5. Changes at Children’s: Treuman Katz, president and CEO of Children’s Hospital will be retiring after 25 years effective September 30, 2005. See his letter in the correspondence packet.
6. UW Lease Lid: On 11/29, the city council passed the final UW lease lid legislation. The legislation incorporates four major amendments sought by LCC—express protection of the Battelle property from UW acquisition or lease, no UW leasing in residential zones other than for residential purposes, no UW leasing at the ground level in the Laurelhurst pedestrian zone and other pedestrian zones and adding requirements on the UW’s housing quality assurance program. While the full council supported LCC’s position, the amendments would not have been possible without the work done by Councilmember Nick Licata. His alternative proposal was a strong incentive for councilmembers to compromise.
7. City Neighborhood Council (CNC) Proposed Bylaw Changes: The Northeast District Council’s (NEDC) comments on proposed changes to CNC bylaws are included in the correspondence packet. CNC is the level about the district councils and each of the 13 district councils provides a representative. To address frustration with two current CNC reps, it has been recommended that CNC implement term limits on representatives, that CNC have the authority to remove reps and that the requirement to follow Robert’s Rules of Order be eliminated. Many other changes were suggested and NEDC commented on the proposed changes. The NEDC suggested that alternative methods to improve the effectiveness of CNC be explored. One of the changes NEDC recommended was to follow ground rules for meetings similar to what Laurelhurst does. A copy of the Laurelhurst rules was included with the NEDC letter.
REPORTS/ACTION
Crime Prevention Report: Pat Wright could not attend tonight’s meeting and provided a written report that is included in the agenda packets. The boys restroom at the community center was vandalized on 11/26 and there have been two burglaries within a block of each other near Webster Point. Wright attended the 11/09 community meeting on Fire Station 38 relocation in LCC’s behalf. An informational handout is included in the packets. There may be changes that affect the All Ages Dance Ordinance as the Liquor Control Board is proposing a rule that would require the portion of an all-age establishment where alcohol is served to be walled off from those underage.
Community Center Expansion:
1. Survey: Sixty-three neighbors responded to LCC’s online survey of neighbor preferences and priorities for expansion of the community center in just over the week allowed by the response deadline. Neighbors were notified of the online option in the November community email message to neighbors. The results and neighbor comments were tabulated and are included in the correspondence packet with a letter to the Parks Department. A hard copy version of the survey was included in the November LCC community newsletter. David Goldberg reported that the Parks Department received 170 total responses (including the 62 from LCC’s website). The results were consistent with those received by LCC on its website.
2. Second Community Meeting: Thirty-eight people attended the December 9 community meeting on community center expansion, including six from the Parks Department and the architectural team. Trustees Herrin, Hale, Lloyd, Torrie and Biely attended as well as Al Hovland and Chris Barrett from LCC’s parks committee.
Goldberg reported that the Parks Department learned from the October 25 community meeting that open space is highly valued and that any expansion should be a compact addition to the current footprint of the building. Goldberg said that parking must be expanded by seven spaces and that the current driveway doesn’t meet Code requirements regarding fire truck access.
From the October 25 meeting and the survey results, neighbors priorities are as follows: multipurpose room and kitchen, restrooms, enlarged lobby space, staff offices and beyond that a number of activity rooms with storage space.
3. Landmark Nomination: On Wednesday, December 15, the Landmarks Preservation Board will consider nomination of the Laurelhurst Community Center as a landmark building. The nomination report is included in the packets. There are four steps in the process—nomination, designation, controls and incentives and a designating ordinance adopted by the city council. According to the extensive nomination report, the community center meets three of the six criteria for landmark status and thus qualifies for consideration. LCC’s longtime position for expansion of the community center has been to maintain the architectural integrity of the current structure. The community center is an early example of depression-era civil works projects.
Motion made by Lloyd, seconded by Weissman to write a letter nominating the Community Center as a landmark building. Motion passed unanimously.
Magnuson Park Use Guidelines: Lloyd reported on the proposed changes to the Magnuson Park Use Guidelines. Many changes are proposed, basically to provide the Park Department with more flexibility in how it operates the Park. There are issues in eliminating the requirement that vendors can only be nonprofit groups. There are also issues relating to special events at the park. There is concern that without standards special events might conflict with each other. The NEDC has suggested that the list of acceptable types of uses remain a part of the policy. The Magnuson Park Stewardship Alliance (MESA) has recommended a coordinated system of activities on site. MESA has pointed out that some of the special events have not run smoothly. For example, orienteering meets have been scheduled and those involved have run through the sensitive habitat area as part of the meet. A large temporary outdoor art exhibit was held and holes were drilled in the wetland areas and structures erected in meadows during nesting season. Finally, an off-road cycloscross championship event was held in the last couple of weeks. The bike riding damaged the sportsfield turf and the wetlands areas. MESA suggested that riding and foot races should only be held on paved surfaces.
Kate Lloyd discussed current Park rules, which allow commercial vendors for food and special events by temporary permit, only. In a related matter, the heavy traffic associated with special events such as bicycles, running events and art shows have damaged the wetlands and natural areas.
Motion made by Lloyd, seconded by Clark to write a letter to the Parks Department, supporting the position taken by the NEDC regarding proposal rules changes as expressed in their letter of December 1, 2004. Motion passed unanimously.
Hot Yoga Signage: Holden, Clark and Newman followed up with the Hot Yoga signage presented at the November LCC meeting. A 1993 agreement between the Spigers and LCC allows LCC a say in what signs may be installed at that building. In following up on the signage issues, the committee learned that the signs will be made out of metal with print on the metal. They will not be lit. The edge of the sign matches the color of the trim on the building and the phone number matches the green on the awing in front of the building. The signage was designed to fit in with the building. The sign on the front will be four by three feet and the sign on the side will be four by six feet. The committee is agreeable that the signage is appropriate.
City’s Lack of Enforcement of Sign Ordinance: LCC has been asked to join with other groups to support enforcement of the city’s sign ordinance that prohibits commercial signs on public property. Enforcement of the sign ordinance would not affect political signs protected by the First Amendment or signs placed on private property by the property owner or with his or her authorization.
There are two companies responsible for distribution of dozens and dozens of signs promoting a condominium development on Queen Anne Hill and also advertising Blakeley Commons near University Village—Piedmont and the Builders Sales Group. Signs have been placed on public and private property and on UW property. Records show that the signs have been placed after midnight. Each illegal sign placed by these companies is subject to a $250 civil fine. Illegal signs in parks have a maximum fine of $500. Companies are also liable for the costs of sign removal.
Other signs have been placed on stop signs and other street and traffic control signs, on traffic islands and medians.
There is concern that if the City is not urged to enforce the sign ordinance, there will be a proliferation of companies that illegally place signs—thus resulting in hundreds and hundreds more signs in our urban environment.
In a case involving Mighty Movers, the City’s 1994 sign ordinance was overturned by the Court of Appeals in 2002. The court ruled that the law was too broad and a violation of the constitutional right of free speech. After that, the City adopted a new sign ordinance. Most of the signs you see promoting rock concerts and garage sales and looking for lost cats are permitted. Political signs, some real estate and open house signs are also permitted.
The Washington State Supreme Court then overturned the Court of Appeals in August, 2004. The Washington court adopted a supreme court ruling involving the City of San Diego, “that visual clutter on public property ‘constitutes a significant substantive evil within the (government’s) power to prohibit.’”
LCC is asked to support SDOT enforcement of the sign ordinance, rewriting the City codes and rules in clear, understandable language and educating the responsible city employees. The goal would be to eliminate the multitude of commercial signs on public property, while still allowing political signs and signs that are valuable to the community—such as signs promoting youth sports leagues, the menu on a sandwich board in front of a restaurant, etc.
Aside from the visual blight of commercial signs, Laurelhurst has heard two kinds of concerns from neighbors. First, the sandwich boards at Five Corners on the Tully’s side of the street create a safety hazard for one blind neighbor who crosses the street at that location. That individual was observed stumbling when confronted with the sandwich board. The other concern relates to signs that are chained to fragile trees and traffic signals.
Sand Point Housing Project: John Clark reported that the Sand Point Public Housing Association will not be getting funding from the city, as is looking for alternative sources. Possibly DSHS or private donors will help with funding. The hygiene center is open and starting to work out.
Bed and Breakfast Legislation: In February 2003, LCC heard a presentation about legislation that would legalize bed and breakfast establishments in single-family neighborhoods. LCC discussed the issue at that meeting as well as the March 2003 meeting and reviewed a volume of background information. LCC had concerns about traffic, parking and other impacts on single-family neighborhoods. Despite LCC’s concerns, the city council enacted legislation authorizing B&Bs in single-family zones. They were previously only allowed in multi-family zones with narrow exceptions. Now, the first B&B has come to pass in the Greenlake area. See article that appeared in The Seattle Times. The Greenlake B&B was illegally established because the owners did not follow the rules prohibiting exterior structural alterations for B&B use. A notice of violation was issued and it appears that the city council is willing to insist that those who establish B&Bs follow the rules. The Greenlake location also does not provide the required parking. There are two offsite parking spaces, but the owner used one and the other is filled is used as storage space. LCC has been asked to again write raising issues about B&Bs in single-family zones. It was agreed that LCC would take appropriate steps to support changes to the B&B ordinance to address its concerns.
The meeting adjourned at 9:15 PM.
Minutes by Stan Sorscher