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NEDC
Announcements October 3,
2002 TransLake Open
Houses: The Trans-Lake
Washington Project will be holding two public open houses during the month of
October. The first open house is scheduled for October 21 on the eastside
(tentative location: Medina Elementary School) and the second open house will
be held on October 28 on the westside (tentative location: MOHAI). The timing
will be from 5:00 to 8:00 pm. The purpose of the open houses is to provide
information and answer questions regarding the selection of the preliminary preferred
alternative and the next steps in the environmental review and design
processes, and to discuss the first critical project phase. As always, we
invite committee members to attend and participate, and to let others know of
this opportunity. We will get more detailed announcements out in the next
week or so.
If you have any questions regarding the open houses, please contact Les
Rubstello, RubsteL@WSDOT.WA.GOV, (206) 464-1217, or Pat Serie,
pserie@enviroissues.com, (206) 269-5041. Large Development
Disclosure Proposed Legislation:
Councilmember Nick Licata has developed draft legislation to address
large, multi-parcel private projects such as University Village. Under the proposal certain requirements
would be triggered if a single property owner within a 1/8 mile radius owns
five or more acres and development is proposed for any of the individual
properties. When triggered, the
developer would be required to provide:
¨
A
map showing the boundaries of the area subject to the development disclosure
plan; ¨
A
description of the existing uses of the properties within the boundaries; ¨
The
proposed use and anticipated use of the properties within those boundaries; ¨
A traffic and parking
management plan for the proposal and any proposal anticipated for the next ten
years; ¨
Estimated dates of
development or redevelopment and proposed use and occupancies of the properties
in the interim; ¨
Measures to mitigate impacts and a schedule for
completion of all mitigation; and ¨
Streets, alleys and other
public rights-of-way or easements and anticipated requests to vacate any of
these. Before introducing the legislation to the City
Council, Councilmember Licata would like to hear comments from interested
stakeholders. All NEDC member
organizations and representatives from University Village were mailed the
proposal. Councilmember Licata would
like to hear back from people early in October. For further information, contact Lisa Herbold at 684-8803 or lisa.herbold@seattle.gov. Ballot
Issues Guide Available: The League of Women Voters 2002 Ballot
Issues Guide is available at http://seattle.wa.lwv.org/. The guide includes a comprehensive analysis
of all state and local ballot measures on the November 5th General Election
ballot. For further information,
contact the League at 206-329-3838 or lwvseattle@aol.com.
King County Budget Priorities Hearings: (from
Councilmember Larry Gossett) As you may know, King
County government is facing a $52
million deficit due to a number of factors including decreased revenues and the
rising cost of the criminal justice system.
Therefore, as we develop the 2003 budget, it is important to hear from
you on what you think our priorities should be and how we should reach a
balanced budget. I would like to
especially encourage individuals, whether you represent an organization or not,
to come forth and provide testimony through these hearings or via phone calls
or emails.To facilitate your input, the King County Council will hold four
public hearings:
North King County – Shoreline
City
of Issaquah – Eagle Conference Room
Kent
– Regional Justice Cent
Seattle
– King County Council Chambers 516
3rd Avenue, Room 1200 The public hearings are open
to all people. Since we are expecting
large turnouts, people should expect to speak for 2 minutes and arrive early to
sign up to speak. For ongoing
information on the budget process and for directions to the public hearings,
you can check the King County Council’s website at www.metrokc.gov/mkcc If you have any other
questions, please feel free to contact my Legislative Aides, Cindy Domingo at
(206) 296-0312 or Nick Allen at (206) 296-0321. Decommissioning of
Fire Engine 16: (This
announcement was contributed by Bonnie Miller. The piece was written by Captain
Chris Quiles of Station 38): It is with some trepidation that we view the
potential cuts proposed by Chief Gary Morris of the Seattle Fire
Department. While well aware that the
City of Seattle is facing drastically reduced revenue, we are primarily
concerned about retaining the current levels of those City departments
responsible for our health and safety.
The decommissioning of Engine 16 will reverberate throughout Northeast
Seattle. The larger geographic areas
that will have to be covered by the remaining fire stations means that the response
time to critical emergencies will increase. Calls to 911 and requiring emergency medical help are now 80-90%
of calls to which the Seattle Fire Department responds. The delay of several more minutes can mean
the difference between life and death for a heart attack victim. A plan to decommission Aid 17 in Ravenna
puts the burden on the remaining Aid Stations in downtown Seattle and on
Capital Hill. Our traffic congestion
forewarns us that we will likely have many more tragedies because of Aid
response vehicles stuck in traffic while trying to cross bridges to Northeast
Seattle. Higher density, building
more multifamily units, and building more homes on smaller lots may mean that a
house fire will become a multi-house fire.
The conflagration will not be confined to one structure; more than one
structure is likely to become involved. A vital part of the function
of the members of the Seattle Fire Department is the inspection of all
commercial buildings, multi-unit homes, schools, and senior housing. These inspections are required to occur, at
a minimum, once a year. The
decommission of Engine 16 and the proposed cut of 31 firefighter positions puts
the burden on the remaining Stations in Northeast Seattle. We fear that inspections will be less
comprehensive, less thorough, and less frequent. This has the potential to set the stage for
a major, avoidable tragedy. In the event of a major
disaster, either an earthquake or a terrorist attack, Seattle will rue allowing
any reduction to our protectors. In
1980, there were 207 firefighters. The
proposed cuts by Chief Morris will drop these protectors to 197. Proposed cuts would take place while our
population grows and our housing density increases. We encourage the Seattle
City Council to maintain the funding for the Seattle Fire Department at current
levels. Our health and safety should be
your major concern. SEEKING DONATIONS FOR SPACE’s NOVEMBER RUMMAGE SALE
Tried oil painting…for a
week? Have enough tubes of burnt umber to cover the Space Needle? Boxes of
mosaic tiles overtaking your laundry room? Here’s your chance to rid yourself,
once for all, of half-finished art projects AND have an opportunity to re-supply.
SPACE is seeking donations of arts supplies, and more, for our November Rummage
Sale. Proceeds benefit SPACE’s efforts to convert Building 18, the former
firehouse, into artists’ studios, a gallery, and workshop space and other SPACE
programs. “Gently used” goods are sought. Please use discriminating taste.
Although we are not necessarily looking for artwork, we will gladly receive it.
You will get a receipt for your donations to use for tax purposes. You can drop
off items off on Saturday, November 2nd, or call the SPACE office to
arrange a drop off beforehand or a SPACE representative is available for pick
up. We are looking for art
supplies, household goods, clothes for the rummage sale on Friday, November 8th. PREVIEW $5 Admission. First shot at goods. 7-10PM. Snacks,
beverages. Saturday, November 9th and Sunday,
November 10th NO ADMISSION Hours: 10AM-4PM Sand Point Arts &
Cultural Exchange (SPACE) develops arts and cultural facilities and programs at
Sand Point Magnuson Park that pioneers the imaginative use of urban park
property and serves the diverse artistic, educational, and cultural needs of
the community. Town Hall Meeting
RE County budget issues and how Seattle fits into the region:The
event is scheduled on October 30th at Bryant Elemenary School. The event
will include an open house from 6-8 p.m. |