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LICTON SPRINGS COMMUNITY COUNCIL
Minutes
of
Board
Meeting: Directors Present: Liz Kearns, Debra Willendorf, Bert Bradley, Yvonne Pilling Zoretic, Wanda Fullner, Jerry Owens, JJ Avinger-Jacques, and Ellen Beck. Board Representatives Present: Ken Thompson (North Precinct Representative) and Wally Fosmore (North Seattle Community College Representative). Visitors: Darla Inglis (SPU Co-Manager, Natural Drainage System Program), Andrew Schmid (Legislative Aid to King County Council Chair Cynthia Sullivan), Marco Lowe (Mayor Nickels’ Office, Director of Community Outreach), Jackie Kirn (City of Seattle, Office of Policy & Management, Northgate Specialist), Chris Gregorich (City of Seattle, Office of Policy & Management), Jean Wirch, and Ted Pickett. President Liz Kearns called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m., welcoming everyone. We then went around the table and everyone introduced themselves. Minutes: Minutes from the November 20, 2002 meeting were approved as presented. Treasurer’s Report: Treasurer Debra Willendorf presented her January Report. There is a bank balance of $3,757.41, but an available balance of $1,332.41. Debra also provided a report covering from January 1, 2002 through December 31, 2002, and an additional sheet showing details of the 2002 Approved Budget Expenditures. Debra said that we would be paying $75.00 for our domain name and $123.00 for flags (discussed at November 2002 meeting). We have 2300 prepaid copies at the UPS Store. Debra confirmed that we would be receiving the anticipated Newsletter funding from Cynthia Sullivan. It was confirmed at we pay 3.8 cents a page for copies and it was agreed that this is a good rate. Debra asked Board members to review the financial reports and begin discussing the 2003 budget at our February meeting. The Treasurer’s Report was approved. OLD BUSINESS: Website – News Group. Bert Bradley said that he wanted to discuss the news group at our February meeting. Bert would like to discuss getting everything under one umbrella. He also said that someone else would have to assist him with the news group, because it would be too much for one person. Directors Continuing. Liz asked Yvonne Zoretic (expecting a baby girl February 28th) and other directors to let her know if they would be continuing on the Board. [1] We also received other baby news: Bert Bradley’s wife is expecting a baby girl on June 6th! NEW BUSINESS: Alternate Sidewalks/Drainage. Darla Inglis, who is with Seattle Public Utilities and is Co-Manager of the Natural Drainage System Program, spoke to us about the program. She is involved in a comprehensive drainage update that includes all the basin plans (including the Densmore Drainage Basin that we are a part of). She said that it is now the goal of the City to put a demonstration project (of street edge alternatives and drainage) in each quadrant of the City. There is no list to get on. She was aware of our concerns about 100th and said that she had looked again at 100th earlier in the day. She said that funding projects depends on mobility of people and cars and flooding. She said that the upper portion of 100th drains to Licton Springs Park and the Densmore Drainage Basin, while the lower portion drains to the College and the Thornton Creek Drainage Basin. She said that 100th looks wide enough, but she was not sure of the soil. Liz told Darla that the soil was sandy loam. There has to be space to build swales and homes cannot be lower than the road. People did know of several homes below grade. Darla encouraged us to go and look at the improvements made to 117th and 2nd Northwest. Because of present economics, one project will be funded per year. At the present, there is an ongoing project at 110th Northwest (which is the Piper Drainage Basin). Darla said that the squeaky wheel gets attention and it would benefit us to continue to bring up the need to have improvements made to 100th. She said that she would give Liz people to contact, such as: Shawna Walgreen with the Seattle Department of Transportation; Martha Burke with SPU, Resource Planning Division, Comprehensive Drainage Plan, External Communications (684-7686) (since drainage rate monies are used to help make these types of improvements); Denise Andrews with SPU, Resource Planning Division, Natural System Program and Policy Lead for the Comprehensive Drainage Plan (684-4601); and Pat O’Brien, SPU, Community Services Division, Neighborhood Outreach (615-1745). Darla said it would be helpful if we could point to where in our Neighborhood Plan 100th is mentioned as needing improvements. Liz said that she very much appreciated information concerning whom we should deal with at the City. Darla said that she could also help us by letting us know when opportunities arise. Her phone number is 233-7160 and her email address is darla.inglis@seattle.gov. Bert said that the need to have improvements to 100th is in our Neighborhood Plan. Northgate. Marco Lowe, Chris Gregorich, and Jackie Kirn next talked to us about the Mayor’s plans for Northgate. The Mayor wants to catalyze energy and focus on Northgate. The new library (coming in October 2005) and community center will be going in at the Bon Tire Site. Also, there are plans to make the Northgate Park and Ride Lot on 5th Northeast into a park. There will also be upgrades to the 5th Avenue streetscape to make it more pedestrian friendly. The City has received a $1.5 Million federal grant and a $200,000.00 grant from King County to make upgrades. Jackie Kirn went over the plans for the Simon Properties mall property. She said that it is time for the Northgate Mall to get a facelift. It is the oldest of the covered malls. Simon Properties would like to begin a first phase redevelopment. The City is asking Simon to make changes to the entrance off of Fifth Avenue Northeast incorporating urban design elements and making pedestrian connections easier and safer. She said to expect Sound Transit and the Monorail to come to the Transit Center. So there is the opportunity to further develop transit opportunities in the south parking lot. Also, there is the possibility to have an area where people live and work. The area could include mixed use, commercial, residential developments and a cinema. The area to the east of the six acres that King County purchased is a parcel that Security Properties is exploring for a possible housing development. The City is hoping to be given the portion bordering Fifth Avenue. If that happens, it can help Thornton Creek because the City would like to put in a drainage facility/open space. The apartments on the north side of Northgate Way, are also zoned for development. Whatever is built there, will be housing. As far as traffic impacts, the City would use the Northgate Plan, taking into account recommendations in the Plan. The City has to, ultimately, wait and see how the undeveloped properties are developed. Each of the parcels being sold are less than six acres, exempting them from a comprehensive plan. For changes to be made at Northgate Mall, the GDP would have to be modified/ appealed. The City Council would have to agree to this. Bert asked if the DCLU has a guidance piece available. Jackie Kirn recommended that he contact Mike Kimmelberg, who is staff lead on Neighborhood Plans. She believed him to be an urban planner/architect and said he has excellent experience. Pilling’s Pond Committee Update. Wanda Fullner told us the Committee is working on developing the interest of the College because of the educational opportunities offered by Pilling’s Pond. Andrew Schmid said that Cynthia Sullivan’s office was hoping there would be a way to receive funding from the County. As part of our property taxes, $5.00 goes into a fund. The Citizens Committee that normally chooses the sites to receive County funding is in turmoil at present, and so the County Council is stepping into the decision-making position. The City would be involved because of the (water) engineering. The deadline we are coming up towards now, is the end of March when contingencies are to be removed. Pilling’s Pond is not a fit for the Parks Department because it is not the type of acquisition that the Parks Department acquires. The birds at the Pond are of interest to people at the College. Documenting the bird breeding may also be something that the Woodland Park Zoo would be interested in. So possibilities exist. North Seattle Community College. Wally Fosmore reported that there would be improvements made to the Child Care Building to increase the number of students and children. He said that they are in the early design stages. The College would like to add a playground to the north and, in order to access same, add an exterior door. The College would like to make acoustic improvements to Room 1015 (activity room) and remove a portion of the wall between Classrooms 1022 and 1024 to make a larger room. Lastly, the College would like to increase the size of the playground to the east, which would involve removing five parking stalls. This work would be done in last June/July 2003. The LSCC Board approved the changes in connection with the Child Care Building. NWDC. Jerry Owens is chair of the Northwest District Council. Congratulations, Jerry! The meeting was adjourned at 9:05 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Ellen M. Beck, Secretary Welcome
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