LICTON SPRINGS COMMUNITY COUNCIL
Minutes of Community Meeting, February 19, 2014
NSCC Campus OCE&E Building, Room 220B
Directors Present: Jan Brucker, Liz Kearns, Kay Mesirow, Tom Meyer, Melanie Davies, and Ellen Beck.
Visitors: Sarah Benki-Nugent, Jarrod Lombardo (P-Patch), Brigitte Ardea, and Amy Lazerte (P-Patch).
President Jan Brucker called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Minutes. The January 15, 2014 minutes were approved as presented.
Treasurer’s Report. The January 31, 2014 bank balance was $6,215.68.
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. She said that she was interviewed by KOMO Reporter Joel Moreno and had posted the video of the interview on Next Door.
Kay Mesirow reported that she had seen one of these huge (and ugly) steel transmission towers on the corner of North 90th and Fremont. Sarah believed also that there was one in the Delridge neighborhood.
Sarah said that she had attended the February 8, 2014 meeting of the Seattle Neighborhood Coalition and was able to speak about the transmission towers and pass out the “Say NO to 13-story steel transmission towers in our front yards!” flyer. She was also able to speak with both Council President Tim Burgess and Roger Pence, retired, but formerly with Sound Transit).
Sarah said there were three alternatives for the 13-story poles: (i) on property of WSDOT; (ii) on Northgate Mall parking lot property; or (iii) underground. Sarah told us last month that use of the right-of-way along I-5 has been dismissed by WSDOT.
Discussion followed. All three options for Capitol Hill were underground. The question then was: Why can’t going underground be the chosen method for a residential street?
Tom Meyer explained that he thought at this point in the process Sound Transit controls placement of these power poles.
Sarah said that the 13-story poles on a residential street will be brought up at the next Northwest Council meeting. Also, Sound Transit was invited to a Haller Lake Community meeting, but declined.1
P-Patch Update. Amy Lazerte announced that the groundbreaking party, Spring Fling, will be Saturday, March 22, 2014. She asked what part LSCC wanted to play and what suggestions for the event.
Discussion followed. Jan wondered if a book exchange could take place? Other suggestions were a garden tool exchange and a garden attire fashion show. LSCC would provide the refreshments and volunteer at the event. Refreshments would be coffee, juice, hot cider, cocoa, water, fruit, bread, pastries, and muffins.
Amy said she had a raffle idea of a seed giveaway, as well as Chinook Books and swag. She said she loved the idea of a garden attire fashion show, but would like to use it at another time.
For entertainment at the Spring Fling, one of the P-Patchers has a band. Amy will check with the P-Patcher and will also contact the Tall Boys. She will also contact the tabling folks.
It was suggested that the 46th District representatives and the Seattle City Council should be invited. All the plot folks will be invited.
There was more discussion. The P-Patch has tables and tents. Tom Meyer offered that he also had a tent that he could bring. There were suggestions of a worm bin demonstration, getting a master gardener to answer questions, a scarecrow making demonstration, and a barter table. It was estimated that 60-70 people might attend.
Jan brought up the motion, which had been made earlier, to donate $1,000.00 to the P Patch2. All were familiar with this motion and there was no further discussion needed. The motion passed unanimously.
Update on Residential Dumping Problem. Brigitte Ardea reported the City revaluated the site where L&M Cobb was dumping in December and made a formal request to stop dumping in January. On February 6, 2014, the City went to the site and told L&M Cobb that they were in default and that the matter would be turned over the City’s Legal Department. Brigitte told us that the site has now been cleared out and gravel put down. The company now parks its equipment there.
The proposed letter to be sent to the Seattle Department of Planning and Development was again passed out. This letter will be sent if needed.
Design Labs. Melanie Davies has been attending the labs involving Aurora Avenue North from 85th to 105th. She said that the results of each session are posted on the walls of the Henry Art Gallery. The labs begin at 4:30 p.m. and end at 7:30 p.m. This is an interdisciplinary effort to re-imagine Aurora Avenue North. The remaining charrette schedule is:
February 20 – Crossings;
February 27 – Natural Systems;
March 6 – Politics; and
March 13 – Design Review.
Everyone is urged to participate, if possible.
NEW BUSINESS.3
Parks Department Meeting. Liz Kearns reported on the Parks Department meeting that she attended. There was a long discussion of the Parks Legacy Plan. The Parks Department has a $260 million backlog. They are considering a levy for capital improvements and have a 20 point list of how the money would be spent. The levy would expire and need to be renewed with a future ballot measure.
A Metropolitan Park District was also discussed. The Park District would have permanent taxing authority.
An 8-year long-term levy for maintenance was also discussed. Christopher Williams and Sally Bagshaw should be contacted with comments.
The Woodland Park Zoo and the Aquarium are also supported by Park Department monies. Discussion followed. The WPZ owns property in Enumclaw that is big enough to be used for a big animal park – as San Diego Zoo uses the wild animal Safari Park.
Community Climate Forum. Jan announced that a community climate forum would take place on February 25, 2014, at 7:00 p.m. This would take place at the SCCF meeting.
Districts. Jan pointed out the need to conference with the other north neighborhood councils who are a part of District 5, along with Licton Springs Community Council.
Wilson Pacific. Liz reported that the Wilson Pacific group has not met as yet. The first meeting is to be in the third week of March.
Our next meeting is Wednesday, March 19, 2014.
The meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Ellen M. Beck, Secretary
1 Rhonda Dixon sent an e-mail on March 4, 2014 stating that Sound Transit staff will attend the Haller Lake Community Club meeting on Thursday, March 6th, to share their improved design “which reduces transmission pole heights and diameters along North 115th Street, and would use wood poles instead of steel poles on that street, where possible.”
2 Melanie Davies had made the motion and it had been seconded at an earlier meeting, but no vote taken.