LICTON SPRINGS COMMUNITY COUNCIL
Minutes of Community Meeting, April 16, 2014
NSCC Campus OCE&E Building, Room 220B
Directors Present: Tom Meyer, Kay Mesirow, Melanie Davies, and Ellen Beck.
Board Representatives Present: Ken Thompson (Liaison to North Precinct).
Visitors: Sarah Benki-Nugent, Brian Dougherty (City of Seattle Safe Routes to School), Jean Wirch, David Wilma, James Padden, and Margaret Bartley.
Board Member Tom Meyer led our meeting because of President Jan Brucker being out of town on business. Tom called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. and we had introductions around the table.
Minutes. The March 19, 2014 minutes were approved as presented.
Treasurer’s Report. The March 31, 2014 bank balance was $5,328.91.
NEW BUSINESS.
Safe Routes to Schools. Brian Dougherty explained about the Safe Routes to Schools program, which is funded by Bridging the Gap funds. The program works to update and restore around schools to bring safety for walking/biking to school. Among the actions taken are: installing school speed zones, traffic signals, traffic calming, safety items: remarking crosswalks, installing place-making, curb bulbs, and ensuring smooth sidewalks.
Melanie Davies noted that the new middle school at the Wilson Pacific site will be a neighborhood school. Brian said since the school has not been built, no plans can be made for improvements around the school.
Pinehurst K-8/Indian Heritage. Ellen Beck read an e-mail from Liz Kearns, who was unable to attend our meeting. Liz had spoken with Tom Redman, Capital Communi cations, Seattle Public Schools, today. He told her that the Pinehurst K-8/Indian Heritage program has decided to change its name. They have ten suggestions, but seem to like Licton Springs K-8 as it covers the Indian Heritage and location of the program. They wonder if LSCC would support this idea.
Discussion followed. Those present supported the possibility, but thought that President Jan should be included in the discussion.
NSCC Cell Towers. Tom reported that NSCC filed an application on March 27, 2014 to allow a new wireless communication facility with 16 panel antennas and nine equipment cabinets on the roof of an existing structure, North Seattle Community College Library (Verizon Wireless).
Discussion followed. Ellen had received the notice in the mail, as others also had. There was no objection voiced.
TIGER Northgate Pedestrian/Bike Bridge. Melanie said that we have representative from TIGER at our next meeting. This is a $20 million project and at this time $10 million must be raised for the project to go forward. Emily Mannetti, Stepherson Associates, and Art Brochet, the Communications Lead for the Seattle Department of Transportation will make a quick update, and we will be able to ask questions.
Major Disaster Hubs. David Wilma told us that there will be a trial response to a potential major disaster at the Maple Leaf Park and Blue Ridge hubs. This will take place on Saturday, May 17th in the morning. A system of volunteers has been established, which includes HAM operators, since in a major disaster regular lines of communication will be interrupted.
Alternative Police Emergency Number. David told us that in a case where the 911 system is down, which happened recently, people should call the police non-911 emergency number. That number is 206.583.2111. Put this number in your phones.
OLD BUSINESS.
Proposed Transmission Line in Residential Area. Sarah Benki-Nugent updated us about the proposed relocation of transmission lines from 1st Avenue N.E. to Meridian Avenue North and North 115th Street. Sarah said that there had been 109 comments regarding relocation of the lines. She expected to receive copies of those comments. She said the audience at the Haller Lake meeting displayed anger and dismay because the Sound Transit representatives answered very few questions, especially why it was best to relocate the lines onto Meridian Avenue North and North 115th Street. She has learned that only two poles are a problem, necessitating the relocation of the line. It seemed to Sarah that Sound Transit had sent executives who really didn’t know the answers to questions.
Discussion followed. Sarah wondered if LSCC’s would be willing to state a position. Haller Lake has sent a letter to Tim Burgess. David said he had no objection to relocating of the transmission poles on Meridian.
Tom stated Sound Transit has a big project with the Light Rail Station and he believes that little resource has been focused on the line right now. He wondered if all options have been vetted.
Melanie agreed to review Sarah’s information on the transmission line and develop a draft letter for LSCC to review and send out.
Wilson Pacific SEPA. Melanie commented on the need for the routing of buses to be considered. Also the community should be informed of events taking place at the schools. She also suggested that a bicycle connection at 92nd needed consideration. At present there is inadequate bicycle access.
Melanie said there were a lot of hoops because of Pilling’s Pond, which the School District is not going to touch. Water coming to the Pond will not be touched. The School District will have to make adequate provisions for the detention/retention for water/flooding.
Tom informed us that we live in a high particulate zone lying between the I-5 corridor and Aurora Avenue. The addition of school buses and vehicles delivering/picking up kids will not improve the particulate level, but worsen it.
Discussion followed. There should be lights on in the buildings, showing the playing field.
Kay Mesirow reminded us the next meeting with the School District at Wilson Pacific will be Tuesday, May 13, 2014, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Northwest District Council. Tom reminded us that the Northwest District Council meets on the fourth Wednesday of the month. Brian Dougherty made a presentation at the last Northwest District Council meeting and Tom asked him to come to us.
Tom reported the Northwest District Council and the North District Council will be meeting in connection with the new districts voted by the citizens of Seattle.
Faye Garneau, Executive Director of the Aurora Merchants Association stated at the meeting that new crosswalks on Aurora were dangerous.
Pedestrian Zones. A presentation was made on pedestrian zones. If interested in the project, more information from our neighborhood would be good. Tom will resend an e-mail a link to a survey.
Neighborhood Summit. It was noted that neighborhood comp planning was decentralized. Melanie said a friend of hers was involved. She would check with her friend and let us know at our next meeting.
North Precinct. Ken Thompson said there were no updates on the new location for the North Precinct. He thought the present location might be retained for storage and for the use of the firing range, but he is not sure.
Ken told us that there is a plan now to have all the precinct picnics at one location. This will save money because of not having to transmit the various special units around to all the precincts. Even though this would save money, it didn’t seem to us that it would be well attended because of the size of the crowd would be a difficulty, as well as getting to the location. At present, we walk to the North Precinct for the picnic. If it was at a central location, there would have be parking available for all neighborhoods!
Ken does not see the point in attending the meetings any longer since the “same players” have control, and has resigned as our liaison to the North Precinct Advisory Council effective immediately.
Our next meeting is Wednesday, May 21, 2014.
The meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Ellen M. Beck, Secretary