Minutes for December 12, 2005
Attending: John Clark, Joe Herrin, Mark Holden, Tom Maider, Pat Wright, Jennifer Biely, Jeannie Hale, Dermot Noonan, Don Torrie, Mark Trumbauer, Lora Poepping, Coco Sherman, Liz Ogden, Jean Amick
Guests: Karen Ko, Melissa Kane, Kathy Jolly, Laurelhurst Elementary School principal, Rob Wilkinson, Jonathan Dubman, Kat Batuelo
Meeting was called to order at 7:07 PM.
Laurelhurst Elementary School Playground Project: Coco Sherman spoke in her capacity as PTA co-chairman at Laurelhurst Elementary. She briefed the group about plans to up upgrade the playground and play equipment at the school. The PTA plans on applying for a Neighborhood Matching Fund $15,000 Small and Simple Grant to meet the January 18, 2006 deadline.
Kathy Jolly passed around photographs of the play areas, and talked about deteriorating condition of the playgrounds, which requires staff to restrict use of the covered area. Melissa Kane said the goal of the project is to create a welcoming play area for students and the community.
She invited LCC to provide a representative on the project steering committee and all to sign up to contribute hours to the project to comply with Neighborhood Matching Fund grant criteria. Sherman will keep LCC informed about future project meetings and progress. The project is being coordinated with Friends of Laurelhurst School Foundation, the Laurelhurst Advisory Council, NEDC, and Seattle Public Utilities.
Coco Sherman asked LCC to write a letter of support for the project for the Neighborhood Matching Fund grant application. Motion by John Clark seconded by Joe Herrin to write a letter in support of the project to improve the playgrounds at Laurelhurst Elementary. Motion passed unanimously.
Neighbor Appreciation Day: Coco Sherman briefed the group on preliminary planning for LCC’s annual Neighbor Appreciation Day reception. Because the community center will be under construction, the Villa Academy has agreed to allow LCC to hold the event at its school, on February 11, 2006. Coco will invite the mayor, City Council members and someone from the police and fire fighters.
SR 520 BetterBridge.org Update: Jonathan Dubman, and Rob Wilkinson, from betterbridge.org, updated the board about the Montlake community’s solution to expansion of SR 520. They expect the EIS to be released on May 6, and it will include their new option for a second bridge between the stadium and Montlake. Their original suspension bridge came out badly in terms of noise and cost. Another construction in the same location will be quieter and cheaper, although will still be either 70 or 110 feet above lake level.
A handout showed more detail about traffic, buses, and how the bridge would integrate with the University, Hospital, Husky Stadium and the Sound Transit Station(s). We considered traffic flow on and off the bridge, and bus routes into and out of the area.
A parking lot is proposed under the vista. The triangle will serve as a bus transfer site, where pedestrians can switch to the train, of walk to the Hospital, stadium or UW campus. Tunnels and overpasses, dedicated to pedestrians and bicycles, will connect the hospital, the triangle, and stadium grounds, so people can move through the area without affecting street-level traffic.
A high-frequency bus route would run back and forth along 15th Ave NE between the triangle and NE 45th St.
ADMINISTRATION:
Treasurer’s Report: John Clark distributed his monthly treasurer’s report. A copy of Carol Eychaner’s November 20th memo and billing statement was distributed as these materials were inadvertently left out of the correspondence packet. A payment for $478 to heath was made since the report was run. Dues statements go out in January.
Minutes: The board reviewed the November 2005 minutes. Two corrections were made - the date of the November meeting, and correcting David Yim's name on page 5. Motion by Sorscher, seconded by Clark to accept the November minutes with those two corrections. Motion passed unanimously,
Updated Roster: An updated LCC roster was included in the packets. Please let Hale know if there are changes or additions.
Election: Under LCC’s bylaws, it may fill vacancies on the board by majority vote. Nan Haigwood has expressed interest in joining the board. She has helped out with past traffic circle clean-ups and with problems associated with absentee landlords. Motion by Lora Poepping seconded by Tom Maider to seat Nan Haigwood as a LCC Board Trustee. Motion passed unanimously.
CALLS AND CONCERNS
1. Proposal to build on substandard lots: Liz Ogden emailed on 12/09 to say that a MUP (master use permit) sign went up at 4702 47th Avenue NE for a short subdivision. This is at the northeast end of the Laurelhurst School playground. The sign says that the house on the corner is to be torn down and four houses are to be built in their place. Proponents are asking for variances on required setbacks because they won’t meet Code. Of the four parcels, three of them will be 4,000 square feet (in a single-family 5000 zone). There is concern due to lack of parking in this area. Comments are due December 21. Ogden asked that LCC oppose the variance request. Liz says the request for a variance should be denied, since criteria for granting variances would not be met. Liz raised safety issues regarding traffic.
Motion by Jennifer Biely, seconded by Don Torrie, to write a letter to DPD opposing the MUP application for construction at 47th Ave NE and NE 47th St, and asking for an extension of the comment period. Motion passed 7-0-1, with Tom Maider abstaining.
3. Anti-Theft Device: Fritz Hansen emailed on 11/29 re obtaining an auto-theft device through the city’s program. He was unable to print out the order form on his computer so LCC mailed him a copy.
4. Use of Battelle property for weddings: Helga Shaffrin emailed on 11/17 to inquire why weddings are not allowed on the Battelle property. She and her fiancé moved to the neighborhood from New York a couple of months ago and were hoping to get married on the Battelle property. Both Kate Hemer and Stan Sorscher responded with information about the Settlement Agreement and the Land Use Code. Hemer suggested she try the Center for Urban Horticulture where one of her daughters got married.
5. Neighbor Appreciation Day: Angela Graham owner of Maristella Spa Services emailed out her skin care newsletter. As a result, she was added to the Laurelhurst email network. She emailed back to ask if she could help out the community in some way with fundraising. She was put in touch with Coco Sherman about possibility donating a facial to Neighbor Appreciation Day as a price for Good Neighbor Award recipients. John Robert Powers (which sounds like a modeling agency for children) has also been in touch about contributing in some way to our community.
6. Low helicopter landing: On 11/17, there was a very low flying helicopter above Laurelhurst School and LCC received an inquiry. The copter also sounded like it was having mechanical problems. Luckily, there were no children on the playground at the time. After checking, LCC learned that it was a Coast Guard flight and they were not familiar with the route to Children’s Hospital transporting a sick child to the hospital. It was not the typical “Huey” that flies into Children’s, but a “Dolphin” that sounds different. Sorscher said the DCLU report in 1992 provided that helicopters must be comparable to or quieter than a specific model helicopter [The report specifies the Agusta 109. Agusta also makes a model of helicopter known as Dauphin or Dolphin.]
7. Trees on planted median: Katya Coachman emailed on 11/17 to inquire about the status of replanting the trees on the planted median that had been destroyed. A status report was provided to her.
8. Rooming house in the Town of Yesler: Paul Klemond emailed on 11/17 to suggest monitoring of how many people will be living in the rooming house on 44th to ensure that there is compliance with the Code. He suggested that LCC again contact the owner to inquire. Ruth Little emailed on the same day to ask if there was anything that can be done about the rooming house and similar mega houses that might go in.
9. Battelle: Chris Carletti emailed on 11/17 for a status report on Battelle negotiations. Carol Eychaner’s summary was forwarded.
10. Library funding: Julie Coryell emailed on 11/17 asking LCC to write a thank you letter to councilmembers for increasing funding in the budget for library hours and collections.
11. Fire Station 38 Relocation: Fourteen neighbors (that we know of) emailed Councilmember Nick Licata about the proposed relocation site for Fire Station 38. All support the new location, except for Kate Lloyd. Messages from neighbors are included in the correspondence packet.
12. Waterway No. 1: Judith Thornton emailed twice about concerns she has with state law and improvements at Waterway No. 1. Ogden has responded to her and that exchange is included in the correspondence packet. Neighbor Roger Johnson wrote LCC a letter on 11/18 re the waterway. He suggested ensuring ample financing for the project and good police patrols. He also hoped something could be done to stop the “trouble-maker” who has been so negative about improvements. Brad Struss emailed on 11/19 requesting an update on the status of improvements.
13. Public safety and criminal activity: LCC has received 28 email messages about break-ins, car prowls, car thefts and vandalism. Pat Wright will report on the incidents during her Crime Prevention report.
14. Viaduct Earthquake repairs. A neighbor expressed concern to Barbara Ragee that the viaduct looked weak with respect to earthquake hazard. The viaduct was retrofitted with extra bracing a few years ago.
15. Lost dog. Jeannie Hale and Don Torrie helped a golden retriever find its lost owners, using a "chip" identifier embedded in the dog's skin. A veterinarian was able to read the chip and locate the owners.
16. Damage to grass on Boulevard. John Clark reported that William Allen is trying to have Roger Ryan change the way he runs his dog on the 41st Ave NE Boulevard, since the dog is wearing a path in the grass.
17. Crow Book. Stan Sorscher announced that UW Professor John Marzluff has published his book about crows in time for this Christmas. It was reviewed in national magazines.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
1. Thank you! Thanks to Don Torrie, and Tom Maider for coordinating distribution of the agenda packets and to Dermot Noonan and Heather Newman for assisting.
2. Birth. Maggie Weissman's daughter is due yesterday, and we expressed our best wishes to the family.
3. Leave of Absence: Dan Becraft has requested a two-month leave of absence. The leave of absence was granted by general agreement.
4. Ravenna Playground Project: Several months ago, LCC endorsed the Ravenna Playground Project, a major effort to renovate the playground and upgrade equipment. The group has raised $380,000 to date for the project and they are hoping to raise an additional $140,000. They have approached local businesses, including University Village. The Village has suggested that it donate $10,000 out of the $55,000 from the garage project settlement agreement. That money had been earmarked for pedestrian and traffic safety projects in the vicinity of the Village or other mutually agreed upon projects. The parties to that agreement are LCC, the Ravenna Bryant Community Association (RBCA) and University Village.
For the past couple of years, LCC and RBCA have been working for funding for sidewalks on 30th due to the traffic diversion that now takes place due to increased traffic on 25th as a result of U Village expansion. LCC and RBCA were successful in getting $100,000-$150,000 from the Neighborhood Street Fund/Cumulative Reserve Fund through the district council. The NEDC rated sidewalks on 30th as its number one priority. The plan has been to use the $55,000 from University Village as leverage for a neighborhood matching fund grant, thus doubling the money. To divert some of the U Village money to the Ravenna Playground Project would require the agreement of LCC and RBCA. RBCA is committed to the sidewalk project, but will address the issue at its December meeting.
Motion by Jennifer Biely, seconded by Lora Poepping to support funding the sidewalk project and not divert the settlement money to the playfield project. Motion passed 8-0-1.
5. Private Security: Tom Maider met with the Sand Point Country Club private security company to inquire about how that system works in response to the many break-ins and car prowls in Laurelhurst.
6. Ask the Attorney: This month’s issue of Municipal Research and Services Center features an article about a new service offered by the City of Edmonds on its website. That city’s website includes a column called "Ask the Attorney," which gives citizens the opportunity to ask questions and get answers about local issues from the city attorney. For example, this month citizens asked questions about how to measure noise and enforce that city’s noise ordinance and other questions about land use issues. By general agreement, it was decided that LCC write to the Seattle city attorney requesting something similar on Seattle’s website?
7. North Seattle Community College: Jack Bautsch from North Seattle Community College emailed on 11/28 to ask for time on the agenda at a future LCC meeting. They have ideas for their college that they would like to discuss.
8. Possession of Auto Theft Devices: At today’s city council meeting, the council unanimously adopted a measure that would make it a crime to possess auto theft devices and tools. LCC sent in a letter supporting the proposal.
REPORTS/ACTION
Crime Prevention Report: Pat Wright said that the playfield is closed, but no problems have been reported. Two neighborhood homes were burglarized in November. Diane Horswill and Pat encourage neighbors to hold block meetings to get to know each other better and understand how to be more vigilant. Richard McIver spoke at the North Precinct meeting. The library did OK in the recent budget. We will be adding 25 officers, but that number might go up in the future. McIver said public safety is one of his top priorities.
CUCAC Update: At its December 13 meeting, CUCAC will be discussing draft comments on the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact (SEIS) for the proposed expansion of the West Campus Parking Garage. Comments from the U District Community Council are included with the CUCAC agenda and minutes. Draft CUCAC comments that will be considered tomorrow were distributed.
The draft CUCAC letter basically opposes the expansion. The letter states that CUCAC believes that the proposed expansion of the West Campus Parking Garage is inconsistent with significant goals and policies of the University of Washington Campus Master Plan, the University Community Urban Center Plan, and City of Seattle plans and policies to a sufficient extent that the project should not be allowed to move forward as currently conceived.
Bench/Bus Shelter Update: A pleasant surprise - we learned the Parks Department owned the property around a bus shelter, overgrown with blackberries. They came out promptly when called, and cleared out the blackberries, and agreed to clean up and landscape behind the shelter.
Shoreline Street End / Waterways Update: Ogden briefed the board on her efforts. After an exchange of letters with mixed messages, the "Friends of Street Ends" met with city officials to get clearer direction. City maps and records were updated to show current use of the access locations. This will help granting any future permits for private use of public land. Liz reported a big change in emphasis from City officials. She expects permit fees to be based on square footage, and will come into line with those charged by the State.
Liz reviewed the LCC guidelines, in this issue:
1) Working with neighbors and property owners living adjacent to the waterways and shoreline street ends
2) Respecting the privacy of owners of property abutting the public land, understanding potential problems of living next to a public property, and respecting the role that owners play in maintaining the public space.
3) Developing community consensus on improvements, and
4) Supporting incentives that will encourage adjacent property owners to eliminate private use of public property.
Liz summarized the guidelines saying our ultimate goal is public use of the public spaces.
Motion by Don Torrie seconded by Tom Maider, to reaffirm our commitment to these principles. Motion passed unanimously.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:25 PM.