NEDC Announcements

July 12, 2001

 

1.      Parks Opportunity Fund Criteria Public Hearing:  The Pro Parks Levy Oversight Committee will hold a public hearing on the draft Opportunity Fund criteria on Tuesday, July 24, 2001 at 7:00 p.m. in the Park Board Room located at 100 Dexter Avenue North.  For further information, contact Catherine Anstett at 206-615-0386 or catherine.anstett@ci.seattle.wa.us or go to: http://www.cityofseattle.net/parks/communitynotices/levycommittee.asp.

 

2.      Learn to Play Petanque!  The Roosevelt Neighbors Alliance will host a Petanque demonstration and game on Saturday, July 14 from 4:30-6:30 p.m.  Petanque is a ball game like Bocce Ball or Lawn Bowling.  Meet at the Baseball Diamond at University Playfield, located at NE 50th Street and 9th Avenue NE.  This event is FREE!  For further information, contact Phil Thiel at 633-2017.

 

3.      Blakeley Crescent Park:  It’s official!  Seattle Parks and Recreation has named a quarter-acre park in northeast Seattle, “Blakeley Crescent Park.”  The new park is located along the Burke-Gilman Trail between 25th and 27th Avenues NE, just south of NE Blakeley Street.  The Parks Naming Committee was unanimous in its recommendation because of broad community support and the fact that the name is very descriptive of the park’s location and shape.

 

4.      DON e-News:  On July 10, the Department of Neighborhoods unveiled Seattle Neighborhood e-News, a new electronic newsletter intended to supplement the Department's regular printed publications and provide links to information on neighborhood programs, projects, and events. Seattle Neighborhood e-News will be published periodically, primarily between delivery of other printed publications.  To subscribe, go to www.cityofseattle.net/lists.htm on the Web or send e-mail to neighborhoodnews-subscribe@list.ci.seattle.wa.us.  For further information, contact Irene Stewart at irene.stewart@ci.seattle.wa.us.

 

5.      Help Rebuild the Center for Urban Horticulture or Buy a Book!  On Monday, May 21, the Center for Urban Horticulture was damaged by an arson fire set by an environmental terrorist group called the Earth Liberation Front.  The fire caused major damage to Merrill Hall offices and research labs, including the Master Gardener office.  If your group would like to contribute, donations may be sent to the Urban Horticulture Recovery Fund, c/o CFR Development Office, UW, Box 352100, Seattle, WA  98195-2100.  Or, why not contribute funds to buy a book?  If you do, the Miller Foundation will match your contribution.  A gift panel will go in the book indicating the donor.  Please make the check out to the "University of Washington - Miller Library Fund", and address it to: Valerie Easton, Miller Library, Center for Urban Horticulture, Box 354115, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195.

 

6.      Illegal Parks Department Activity:  Seattle has agreed to pay a $7,500 fine for illegally using public funds last year to lobby the Legislature.  The case centered on the city's attempts to get the Legislature to create a new local tax to support parks.  According to the state Public Disclosure Commission (PDC), city parks officials improperly used staff time, held strategy sessions in city offices and sent letters on city stationery to publicize the bill.  In other words, the Parks Department engaged in an illegal grassroots lobbying campaign.  The PDC agreed to suspend $5,000 of the city's fine if there are no other violations for four years.  The city agreed to train its staff on lobbying restrictions and to pay $2,500 in investigative costs.  The fines will come out of the governments' legal funds.

 

7.      Concerts in the Park:  The Laurelhurst Advisory Council will again sponsor its Summer Concerts in the Park series.  Five free concerts are scheduled to take place from 6-8 p.m. at the Laurelhurst Community Center playfield, 4554 NE 41st Street, on successive Thursdays beginning July 12th.  The first performance is Latin dance music performed by Mambo.  On July 19th, jazz vocalist Edmonia Jarrett will perform, followed on July 26thby blues artists The Mark DuFresne Band; on August 2nd, blues guitarist Michael Powers; and on August 9th 60s pop and jazz performer Cheryl Serio.

 

8.      Interested in Starting a Block Watch?  Call 206-684-7555 or visit http://www.ci.seattle.wa.us/seattle/spd/commnty/blockwtc.htm  for more information.

 

9.      Traffic Calming Newsletter:  The summer edition of Seattle Transportation's Neighborhood Traffic Calming Newsletter, the Neighbors' Gardening Circular, is available online at http://www.cityofseattle.net/td/treenews.asp.  It is chock-full of resources and helpful information for those who are interested in neighborhood improvement through right-of-way gardening and tree planting.  Stewards of traffic circles, chicanes or other traffic calming devices, who have not recently been in contact with SeaTran's Landscape Services Division, can contact Noel Studer at noel.studer@ci.seattle.wa.us to join the newsletter mailing list or call her at 206-684-1678.

 

10.  NMF Grants Awarded:  Thirty out of 47 applications have been awarded Small and Simple Neighborhood Matching Fund grants.  The 30 projects will receive a total of $196,118.  The project groups have pledged a community match of more than $510,000.  The following project applicants are from northeast Seattle:

·         Traffic Circle at NE 70th & 17th NE:  The Traffic Circle Fund will construct a traffic circle to reduce traffic and the likelihood of collisions and enhance the safety of residents, Roosevelt High School students, joggers, pedestrians, and cyclists who use the corridor to access the Green Lake recreational area.  DON awarded $5,209 and the match will be in the same amount.

·         Development for John Rogers Elementary School:  John Rogers Elementary School PTA will complete a conceptual playground design for John Rogers Elementary School.  Specific design elements of the upper playground will be addressed (e.g., play structures, pedestrian entryway improvements, drainage, and surfacing).  DON awarded $10,000 and the match will be $6,580.

 

11.  Free Trees:  Groups of five or more households who wish to plant street trees can request 10 to 40 free trees from the Department of Neighborhoods Tree Fund.  Neighbors can also request up to 100 trees to plant in natural areas or up to 40 trees for parks with approved landscape plans.  The trees will be delivered to your curbside in October or November.  Applications should be requested at least one month in advance.  The deadline to apply is Friday, August 17 at 5 p.m.  For an application or further information, contact Shireen Deboo at 206-684-0547 or shireen.deboo@ci.seattle.wa.us or to to www.cityofseattle.net/don/trees/Trees.htm.

 

12.  Video Sign Proposal:  DCLU is proposing to repeal the current moratorium on video signs and to adopt permanent regulations.  The Council adopted the moratorium on displaying animation or rapidly changing images or messages on signs in 1999 and it was extended until October 1, 2001.  DCLU is now proposing permanent regulations governing the use of video display methods on signs.  These display methods, including the well-known sign on I-5 near Fife, have raised concerns about the effect on traffic safety and aesthetics.  Council Bill 113692 would allow the use of video display methods if they are of limited size, restricted to locations where traffic safety impacts and aesthetic impacts are acceptable and where the use of video display methods is limited in duration.  Send your written comments to all city councilmembers.  For further information, contact Mary Denzel at 206-684-8158 or mary.denzel@ci.seattle.wa.us.  The City Council Finance, Budget and Economic Development Committee, chaired by Councilmember Jan Drago, will vote on the proposal on August 1, 2001.  The Committee was scheduled to vote on the measure July 12th but issues have surfaced with the proposal and the matter was held over.  Laurelhurst has requested that groups address this important issue and submit comments.

 

13.  Sand Point/Magnuson Park Planning:  The Parks Department unveiled its long overdue public involvement plan and other plans requested by the City Council on July 12th.  The plan calls for creation of an advisory committee with representatives from several northeast Seattle neighborhoods.  A representative from the Sand Point Citizens Liaison, however, is not included.  In April 2001, NEDC voted unanimously (with one abstention) to support designation of the Sand Point Community Liaison Committee as the official advisory committee for Sand Point/Magnuson Park to advise the City on major planning, management and policy issues.  Materials from the Parks Department were distributed.  Send comments to: Councilmember Nick Licata, Chair, Culture, Arts and Parks Committee and other members of the City Council, Seattle City Council, 11th Floor, Municipal Building, 600 Fourth Avenue, Seattle, WA  98104-1876 or email Councilmember Licata at nick.licata@ci.seattle.wa.us.  Also, send your comments to the Parks Board at:  Board of Park Commissioners, 100 Dexter Avenue N, Seattle, WA 98109 or email the board at michele.daly@ci.seattle.wa.us and to Parks Superintendent Ken Bounds at the same address as the Parks Board or email him at ken.bounds@ci.seattle.wa.us. For further information, contact Lisa Herbold at lisa.herbold@ci.seattle.wa.us or 206-684-8803.

 

14.  Mayoral Candidates Night:  Windermere Corporation has joined Hawthorne Hills, Laurelhurst, Ravenna-Bryant, Roosevelt Neighborhood Association, View Ridge, Wedgwood and North Windermere in cosponsoring a pre-primary Mayoral Candidates Night on Wednesday, September 5, 2001.  The event will be held at the Ravenna Eckstein Community Center.  If your group is interested in cosponsoring the event, please contact Bob Lucas at 206-526-0575 or blucas5134@aol.com or Jeannie Hale at 206-525-5135 or jeannieh@serv.net or representatives from any of the other sponsoring organizations.

 

15.  Night Out Against Crime:  It's not too soon to begin planning for Seattle's Night Out Against Crime on Tuesday, August 7 from 6-10 p.m.  This national event is designed to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness, generate support and participation in local anti-crime efforts and strengthen neighborhood spirit and police/community relations.  The City will be waiving street closure fees for those who want to close their street to celebrate and enjoy food and fun outdoors with neighbors.  The Seattle Police Crime Prevention Section will send out registration packets in early June.  Registered Block Watch captains will get one automatically.  If you are not part of a Block Watch and want to register or organize a Block Watch, call 206-684-7555.

 

16.  University Park Picnic:  July 17th--It's the annual UPCC Picnic!  For further information, contact Willie Williams at 206-527-7229 or w-williams-UPCC@webtv.net.

 

17.  CNC Report:  Highlights of the June 25th CNC meeting provided by Jeannie Hale:

·         Neighborhood Leadership Program:  Mickey Fearn who has a background in organization development and conflict resolution briefed the group about the Neighbor Leadership Program.  The first year of the program cost $90,000 and featured 18-20 workshops on a variety of topics with between 30 and 90 people attending each event.  Participants rated the workshops highly with 95% indicating they would attend the workshops again.  $70,000 has been provided in the biennial funding. 

·         Neighborhood Matching Fund Committee Report:  Doug Lorentzen, chair of the committee, reported on his group's efforts to develop a conflict of interest policy.  The policy remained as proposed except that one amendment supported by several groups was added to ensure accountability to the CNC.

·         Neighborhood Planning Committee Report:  The idea of disbanding this committee surfaced due to transition in chairs. 

·         CNC Budget Committee:  Stephen Lundgren, chair of the committee, indicated that the committee would continue to discuss sponsoring a candidates forum with SEATV coverage.