Minutes of Board Meeting:
November 16, 2005
NSCC President's Board Room

Directors Present:

Liz Kearns, Jerry Owens, Debra Willendorf, and Ellen Beck.

Board Representatives Present: Ken Thompson (North Precinct Representative).

Visitors: Bruce Kieser ( North Seattle Community College), Jeff Caldwell ( North Seattle Community College), Kay Mesirow, Jean Wirch, J.C. Clapp, Melissa Coiley, and Tom Meyer.

Introductions were made around the table. President Liz Kearns called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m.

Minutes: The October 19, 2005 minutes were approved as presented.

Treasurer’s Report: 

Treasurer Debra Willendorf had no official report. Ellen Beck handed $108.70 received in donations at this year’s Halloween in the Park over to Debra for deposit into LSCC’s account.

NEW BUSINESS:

Emergency Preparedness. Liz opened the discussion about emergency preparedness. She explained that the Community Council had begun planning a large community meeting. The plan was to try to involve agencies in the neighborhood and hopefully to host and partner with the College in putting on this meeting.

Jeff Caldwell described what had happened at the College when the 6.8 February 28, 2001 earthquake happened. He told us 57 light fixture defuser parts had fallen. Fortunately, only one student was injured. If the earthquake had hit at a later time, many more could have been injured.

Jeff advised everyone with gas meters to have an earthquake valve installed. This should be considered a necessity because the valve will shut off the gas to your home in the event of an earthquake. These units cost $75.00 and should be professionally installed.

He said that the North Precinct has contacted the College. In case of a natural emergency or other serious emergency, the North Precinct wants to base their command center at the College. The College has no emergency generators. The College would like to have 900 megahertz radios so that College personnel will be able to hear Police Department communications.

Governor Christine Gregoire has required community colleges to participate in national incident planning strategies by September 2006.

Also, Nextel is planning to put generators at the cell sites and Seattle University is looking at the possibility of establishing a ham radio site.

Bruce Kieser stressed that the College is not as prepared as it should be. He said the City of Seattle is a Community College District, made up of our four colleges, plus satellite locations of the colleges. They are in the process of establishing a preparedness plan.

In 1970 the College was informed that this building is on one of the fault lines that goes through Seattle. Seattle has the potential of having the most severe earthquake in the country. If the Zone 2A quake (7.5 – 8.0) hits, this building will have some damage because of the tectonic movement.

We need to plan around realities. During the day, there are 40 people with emergency and first aid training. It’s a different story from midnight to 5:00 a.m. or on Saturdays or Sundays. The College is beginning the process to have emergency planning. Their goal is to be a “ Center of Excellence.”

It was stressed that people should be prepared to take care of themselves not just for a number of days (with water, food, etc.) but for perhaps weeks.

Mr. Kieser said that the College does want to co-sponsor the meeting with the Community Council. He said they want to be plugged into the community, and have community outreach.

Seattle City Light, Northwest Natural Gas, the North Precinct, and Northwest Hospital should also be involved in the meeting.

Jeff said the College wants to be in lock step with the community. He said he will be the community contact for the College. We can call him anytime. He can be reached at his work number: 206-527-3646; or his cell: 206-799-6072. His e-mail is jcaldwel@sccd.ctc.edu.

Traffic and Safety . J.C. Clapp, who is a mother and also an English teacher at North Seattle Community College, spoke next. She explained that she walks to and from the College daily and brings her young daughter, who attends daycare at NSCC, with her. She said it is very dangerous to cross College Way at North 100 because there are five lanes of traffic, the speed of the traffic, and the lack of visibility.

Possibilities are narrowing the street, or putting in a pedestrian activated light. Assessments have to be completed first. How many vehicles travel on College Way, how many people are crossing College Way.

J.C. said a bus stop is at the intersection. This is where Running Start high school students cross College Way, as well as ADA, children going to the daycare, and other Community College students, as well as community residents who have business or classes at the College.

Jeff stressed that just painting a crosswalk is not enough. A painted crosswalk gives pedestrians a false sense of security. A crosswalk alone does not ensure that cars will stop and allow pedestrians to safely cross the street.

J.C. said she would be persistent in pursuing her goal of making 100 th a safe place to cross College Way. Jeff said he would be persistent on behalf of the College. Jerry Owens said he would continue to raise the issue at the Northwest Council.

Ken Thompson told us that he and others had long argued for a light at 105 th. They did not get the traffic light. Then a little old lady got hit crossing there. George Benson, then a City Councilman, got the light installed NOW. Unfortunately, that’s what it seems to take.

J.C. wants to make the intersection safe before someone gets hurt or killed.

It was suggested that she contact City Council Members David Della (Parks, Neighborhoods & Education Committee), Richard Conlin (Transportation Committee), Nick Licata (Public Safety Committee), and Peter Steinbrueck (Urban Development and Planning Committee).

OLD BUSINESS:

Meeting of Planning Committee. Kay Mesirow reported that she and Melissa Coiley had met the previous week. They need more help and guidance. Where should the meeting be held and when? What was envisioned?

Discussion followed. It was decided that we are probably looking at holding our meeting in February. We need to publicize it and contact the agencies that we envision participating. We would like to schedule SDART people to be at the meeting and have SDART materials available.

The initial meeting is envisioned as being informational. A lot of people should be interested in attending an informational meeting. Discussion followed. It was concluded that it was best to have the meeting in the gymnasium or cafeteria. We could organize a community workshop following that meeting. The workshop would go more in depth and would attract different people, people who wanted to be more active in preparedness planning and execution.

Our next meeting is Wednesday, January 18, 2006.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:15 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,