Community Service Officers Set to Return

The Laurelhurst Community Club recently published this information in their recent Laurelhurst newsletter.

Community Service Officers Set to Return 

In 2004, the City Council eliminated virtually all of the funding for Community Service Officers (CSO).  

LCC believes this was a major mistake and has worked since then to restore funding. LCC was encouraged in 2016 when councilmembers cosponsored legislation to bring back CSOs; however, that proposal did not garner sufficient support to move forward at that time.  

Recently, Mayor Jenny Durkan and Seattle Police Chief Carmen Best announced the Community Service Officer program will be funded again. LCC wrote to commend them for relaunching this valuable program – an effective and efficient use of funds.  

The Laurelhurst neighborhood is gratified that the mayor identified this need as a priority and commends her leadership on reinstating CSOs. CSOs perform important services to assist the police and the community.  

For example, they handle juvenile runaway case management and provide assistance to abused and neglected children; check on the well being of the elderly and other vulnerable persons; provide crisis intervention services and assist people in finding emergency housing.  

District 1 Councilmember Lisa Herbold summarized the program this way: “CSOs are non-commissioned officers who are trained to work as liaison personnel with the community and the Police Department, and support community-oriented policing.  

CSOs will assist with mediating disputes, follow up on calls for non-emergency services, help residents navigate services, support programming for at-risk youth, and attend school and community-hosted events. Some of the work will involve assisting homeless persons and individuals struggling with substance abuse to access programs like diversion opportunities, housing, and behavioral health services.”

To subscribe to the LCC newsletter and also occasional email newsletters, send email to laurelhurstnews@comcast.net. Archived newsletters can be found here.

To subscribe to the Laurelhurst Blog, a separate entity published week-days, go here.

Thursday Northeast Seattle Mayoral Candidate Forum

A neighbor would like to share this information regarding an upcoming Mayoral Forum on Thursday from 7-9pm at Congregation Beth Shalom (6800 35th Avenue NE).
 
The invitation says:

Mayoral Candidates, Jenny Durkan and Cary Moon, will appear at a  special forum co-hosted by the Hawthorne Hills, Laurelhurst, Windermere, Windermere North, Wedgwood, Ravenna-Bryant and View Ridge neighborhoods. 

This is one of the last opportunities northeast Seattle voters will have to meet the
next Mayor of Seattle and to put issues, questions and concerns on the table.

Please prepare questions and statements of concern to best focus the discussion on matters concerning northeast Seattle neighborhoods, and to effectively use the  candidates' limited time.  

Email questions in advance to windermere.north.comm.assoc@gmail.com or hand deliver at the door. 

 

Mayoral Forum Tomorrow Hosted By Neighborhood Northeast District Council

Northeast District Council Seattle  (NEDC), a collection of almost 20 neighborhood associations in Northeast Seattle, including Laurelhurst, is holding a Mayoral forum for  candidates running in Seattle, tomorrow at 7pm at Wedgwood Presbyterian Church.

 

The information says that the following candidates will be attending: 

            Jenny Durkan

            Jessyn Farrell

            Bob Hasegawa

            Michael McGinn

            Cary Moon

            Nikkita Oliver

Here is the agenda:

• 7-8 pm: candidates introduce themselves and address the question of how they will serve Seattle’s diversity of citizens: age group; neighborhood; income; ethnic background, etc.
• 8-9 pm: questions taken from the audience

The Northeast District Council (NEDC), part of the City's Department of Neighborhoods Department, was established in 1987 and is one of 13 District Councils in Seattle.  The boundaries for the Districts were determined by neighbors from across the City.

Karen Ko, the City's Neighborhood North Region District Coordinator, told the Laurelhurst Blog Staff that the goals of the District Councils are: “Facilitating communication, creating partnerships between the City and its neighborhoods, strengthening and coordinating City departments’ responses to neighborhood problems and requests for help”. 

Karen added that Laurelhurst is one of the most active neighborhood associations and was one of the founding members of the District Council, and has been very active and influential in this organization. 

"Jeannie Hale (Laurelhurst Community Club President) produces one of the most complete and comprehensive announcement sheets, detailing events and issues in NE Seattle that she puts together every month for members who can then take this information back to their neighborhood-wide membership,"  Karen said.

The NE District founding members were: Belvedere Terrace Community Council, Hawthorne Hills Community Council, Laurelhurst Community Club, Matthews Beach Community Council, Montlake Community Club, Ravenna Bryant Community Association, Roosevelt Neighborhood Association, Roosevelt Neighbors Alliance, University District Community Council, University Park Community Club, Greater University Chamber of Commerce, View Ridge Community Club, Wedgwood Community Council.

Later the following organizations joined, Inverness Community Club, Inverness Park Homeowners Association, Ravenna Springs Community Council, Residents of Magnuson Park, Roosevelt Chamber of Commerce, Portage Bay Roanoke Park Community Council, and Windermere Corporation.

Montlake then joined the East District Council, the Inverness Homeowners Association became inactive, the Ravenna Springs Community Council no longer exits, the Roosevelt Chamber of Commerce is now a committee of the Roosevelt Neighborhood Association and the Windermere Corporation is no longer an active member. 

For more information about NEDC go here and also their Facebook page.

Workshop Tomorrow On Monitoring Mayor's Plan For Increased Housing In All Seattle Neighborhoods, Including Allowing Backyard Cottages

Tomorrow from 9:30-noon, a workshop will be held by an advocate group monitoring the Mayor's housing plans.

The workshop called, Seattle Fair Growth Citywide Advocates Workshop, will review draft documents on mission, positioning statement and some recommended next steps.

On December 9th, 2015, advocates from 22 neighborhoods and 16 organizations, concerned about what HALA, (Housing Affordability and Livability Agenda), the 2035 Comprehensive Plan Changes and Upzones the Mayor and this City Council have planned for all Seattle communities, including Laurelhurst, will have on livability and affordability, met to discuss what is happening and how residents and groups can work together​.  

The information says about tomorrow's event:

Your input, alignment on a plan and support for action is needed. The workshop is another step toward formalizing a citywide action alliance for affordability and livability.

 

The meeting will be held at University Christian Church (4731 15th Avenue NE).  For more information or to RSVP, contact Nancy Bocek at nancybocek@gmail.com or 206-632-7760.

Also, last month, the City held an Open House on encouraging Backyard Cottages, which are small dwelling units on the same lot as, but physically separate from, a single-family house.  Having a cottage, the Mayor claims, provides new housing throughout Seattle and gives homeowners an opportunity to earn extra income and remain in their homes.

At the open House, Councilmember Mike O’Brien and the Office of Planning & Community Development ((OPCD), informed Seattle residents about the barriers that frequently deter or prevent homeowners from building a cottage.  The public was also given the opportunity to provide input and feedback regarding potential to solutions to encourage more of these units.
Councilmember Mike O’Brien and OPCD have proposed easing the restrictions on accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and detached accessory dwelling units (DADUs) to encourage more of this kind of housing, resulting in Duplexing Single-Family Neighborhoods.  

 The following Code changes have a been proposed: 

·           Removing the off-street parking requirement for ADUs;

·           Removing the requirement that the owner must live on the property;

·           Modifying certain development standards including height and square footage restrictions and setback requirements; and

·           Considering how to help streamline the process for getting financing and permitting.

 

For more information, go to the backyard cottages website or contact: Nick Welch, Office of Planning and Community Development, at nicolas.welch@seattle.gov.


The Laurelhurst Community Club Board (LCC) has written many letters to the City regarding this long debated issue.
 
One recent letter said:

LCC has reviewed the Mayor’s proposed ordinance that would legalize detached accessory dwelling units (DADUs) citywide, the Director’s report, the guide to backyard cottages in southeast Seattle and other materials.  Over the past few years, we have participated in focus groups and public forums on the issue. 

 

LCC believes that the proposal falls short in providing adequate protections to single-family neighborhoods, that it will result in loss of open space and trees and will create added parking problems and congestion.   

The proposed ordinance should be amended to prohibit conversion of detached garages and sheds into DADUs. 

This is important due to the lack of adequate parking in most neighborhoods and the fact that the Code allows eight unrelated people to live in the combined dwellings.  With conversion of a detached garage into a DADU, there will be no place for the homeowners to park, other than on already congested streets. 

Seattle should legalize DADUs citywide. DADUs should only be allowed as conditional uses.  Under the proposed ordinance, DADUs, as well as currently authorized attached accessory dwelling units, are allowed outright in single-family zones.  A conditional use permit for these units should be required.  This process would give neighbors notice of the proposed change and an opportunity to appeal DPD’s decision—important in light of the potential impacts of each conversion or development of new units. 

 

The proposed ordinance should be clarified regarding the square footage that is allowed for DADUs.  DADUS are limited to 800 square feet. 

 

The DADU proposed ordinance should reconsider the effectiveness of allowing tandem parking.  Tandem parking should not be allowed for DADUs or ADUs.

 

The DADU proposed ordinance should address the ineffective provisions relating to parking waivers. There is currently no requirement to provide notice to neighbors of parking waiver requests.  Neighbors should be given notice of waiver applications and an opportunity to comment—as they should be given notice of DADU and ADU applications. 

 

The proposed ordinance for DADUs and ADUs should require permanent owner occupancy.  The current requirement is six months and DPD may waive the requirement for three years for good cause such as job dislocation, sabbatical leave, education or illness.  Homes with DADUs and ADUs should be truly owner-occupied on an ongoing basis, other than for good cause for short periods.  Without owner-occupancy, the family home with an accessory apartment becomes a commercial investment. 
 

DPD should enforce the owner occupancy requirement.  Because legalizing DADUs citywide is essentially duplexing single family neighborhoods, it is particularly important that DPD have the tools to enforce the owner occupancy requirement.  With no such requirement, homes with DADUs and ADUs essentially become dwellings with absentee landlords.  Many absentee landlords do not take care of their rentals in the same manner that an owner living in the home would do.   This is unfair to homeowners who maintain their homes to comply with the Code and the character of the neighborhood.

 

            The proposed ordinance should provide more accountability and monitoring.  

DADUs should be mapped and photos taken similar to what has been done for those legalized in southeast Seattle.  We agree that these supplementary reporting requirements would help DPD and the Council to track the development of backyard cottages over time and determine whether any related changes to the Land Use Code may be needed in the future.      

 

            A six-month grace period for existing illegal DADUs should be added to the legislation with substantial penalties for non-compliance with Code requirements.  The goal here should be to ensure habitability, safety and Code compliance as soon as practicable.  Inspections should be mandated for existing illegal DADUs.

 

            Existing illegal DADUs should be included in the cap of 50 DADUs per year.  Including these illegal units and maintaining a reasonable cap will help regulate the pace of DADU development during the first few years of the program and ensure that changes occur gradually and that Council is able to respond to emerging issues.

 

            The maximum height of a DADU should be 18 feet with a roof pitch similar to the main house. 

 

Living space below grade should not be exempt from the 800 square footage limit.  This will avoid the problem that has occurred in southeast Seattle where there is a huge 1400 square foot DADU where that structure is out of scale.

 

            It is a misnomer to call detached accessory dwelling units (DADUs) “backyard cottages.”  The proposed ordinance should honestly reflect what the units are—detached accessory dwelling units.

  

Fill Out Survey For Mayor's Upcoming "Neighborhood Summit"

 

 

 

On Saturday, April 5,  Mayor Murray is holding a "Seattle Neighborhood Summit" from 9-1pm at the   Seattle Center Exhibition Hall. 

 Fill out the online survey now to let the Mayor know what should be included in the  Neighborhood Summit and what is important to your neighborhood.

The information says:

According to Mayor Murray, the Summit is the first step in an ongoing conversation with Seattle’s neighborhoods. It is an opportunity to improve how the city works with neighborhood and community leaders on issues from planning to the prioritization of city investments.

 

Mayor Murray says this about the upcoming event, where tickets can be reserved here:

Through our online survey, we are learning that one of the things we can do to show that we value our neighborhoods is to listen. When asked what we can do to be more effective at solving problems, we heard that we should more attentive, more responsive and use the input we gather from our residents. And when asked what one thing we could do to change the relationship between the city and our communities, responsiveness ranked high on the list.

This input has been valuable and is helping us shape our Neighborhood Summit. We need to repair our relationship with our neighborhoods.

Engaging residents to determine community values and priorities is a continuing process, and the Seattle Neighborhood Summit is the first step for my administration. I ask you to join us, take a seat at the table, and join the conversation.

For more information, email SNSs014@seattle.gov or call 206-684-8069.

NE Seattle Mayor Candidates Forum Tonight At Magnuson

Tonight from 7-9pm, the Mayoral candidates running for election will be holding a Northeast Seattle Forum at the Seattle Musical Theatre (7120 62nd Avenue NE) located at Magnuson.

The invitation says: 

Come hear all of the candidates running in the upcoming mayoral election speak on the issues that matter most to you.

Audience members will have the opportunity to ask questions and express concerns to the candidates and receive direct responses.

North Police Precinct, And Other City Precincts, Holding Mayoral Candidate Safety Forum Tomorrow

The Citywide Precintct Advisory Council, made up of the North Precinct, serving Laurelhurst, is holding a Mayoral Candidate Safety Forum called "Nine Candidates, One Position," tomorrow at 10am in the Bertha Knight Landes Room at City Hall.

The information says:

In the past few years the chairs and chair designee’s of North, East, West, South and Southwest Precinct Advisory Councils formed the Citywide Precinct Advisory Council (CPAC), a volunteer group designed to escalate discussions with City representatives and elected officials to address public safety concerns being voiced within the 5 precinct boundaries. Today, CPAC members continue working toward those goals -- and, in collaboration with Councilmembers Tim Burgess and Tom Rasmussen, are sponsoring this forum, which will be moderated by Brian Callanan.

What do the Mayoral Candidates intend to do to make Seattle communities safer?  Hear how each candidate addresses citizen concerns at the upcoming Citywide Precinct Advisory Council's (CPAC) Mayoral Candidate Forum on Public Safety. There have been numerous Mayoral Candidates Forums - None (yet) have focused specifically on safety concerns within Seattle neighborhoods.

To send questions for the candidates to answer email, and to also RVSP, email seattlecpac@gmail.com.

 

Mayor Holding NE Seattle Town Hall Tomorrow

Tomorrow from 11-noon, the Mayor will be holding at town hall at the Good Shepherd Center (4649 Sunnyside Avenue North).

The meeting is one in a series of Town Hall's the Mayor is holding as part of his Engage Seattle initiative, to ensure that as many people as possible who live, work, or play in Seattle are able to voice their concerns, offer their feedback directly and "provide concrete ways for Seattleites to help make our City a better place," the information says.

For more information, contact Sol Villarreal, Community Engagement Coordinator, at 206-233-2656 or sol.villarreal@seattle.gov.

Mayor's Tour Of Laurelhurst And Town Hall Last Saturday A Success

Mayor at Laurelhurst business, Flooring America

Below is a letter the Laurelhurst Community Club wrote to Mayor Mc Ginn that detailings his neighborhood tour and thanks him for his visit.

Also you can watch the video of the entire event here.

Dear Mayor McGinn, 

 Thank you for visiting Laurelhurst yesterday at your Town Hall and van tour of the neighborhood.  We appreciatedthe opportunity to brief you personally on some of the many accomplishments and challenges ahead on the van tour.  The Town Hall was a big success and our neighbors appreciated your remarks and responses to the many questions.   

We appreciate your interest in our thriving and diverse business community.  Jim and Illaria Heiderich, owners of our newest business, Flooring America, were thrilled that you took the time to stop for a visit on the van tour.  LCC does its best to support the Laurelhurst business community and we are glad to have your commitment to promoting small businesses.

 SUN (Saving Urban Nature) Park, our second stop on the van tour, is an excellent example of neighbors working together to create a much needed pocket park on a parcel slated for development.  This well-used garden showcases a diverse collection of trees, shrubs, ferns, perennials and groundcovers native to Western Washington complete with plant identification markers.  SUN Park contributes in a major way to maintaining the livability of our neighborhood and the quality of life we all cherish.  The regularly scheduled work parties are wonderful community-building activities. 

Our third stop on the van tour was a perfect location for you to see firsthand the SR 520 bridge and its proximity to Laurelhurst and to discuss issues associated with the SR 520 Replacement Project.  We share your concern that the State has only partial funding for this $4.65 billion project and that there is no funding for the west side past the high-rise bridge.  The segmented design approach will result in a disjointed bridge that does not adhere to the spirit of the Olmsted’s historic architectural details as promised by WSDOT.  As we mentioned, the massive art deco, lighted sentinels planned for the bridge replacement should be eliminated.  We hope to work with you further to resolve these issues. 

At our final stop at Waterway No. 1, we were glad to show you the progress that LCC has made in creating a wonderful space for all to enjoy.  Well over a decade ago, at the request of many neighbors, the Laurelhurst Community Club took up the quest to restore and enhance the property and began working with DNR and SDOT to plan for the landscape restoration of the site.   

In June 2008, after extensive negotiations with DNR, the LCC entered into a Right of Entry Agreement for the area of Waterway No. 1 not under permit by the adjacent neighbors.  The Agreement gives the LCC sole responsibility for management of activities on the site including the restoration and enhancement of the landscape.  This Agreement has recently been amended to include several thousand square feet along the site's northern boundary where a large laurel hedge was recently removed by the adjacent neighbors in order to close their permits.  The LCC subsequently developed an additional landscape plan for that area with the help of northwest horticultural expert Arthur Lee Jacobsen, and distributed wood chip mulch donated by Seattle Children's over the disturbed soil to protect it from erosion and weeds until it can be planted in the fall.          

We were glad that you had the opportunity to meet representatives from Save Union Bay Association (SUBA).  LCC supports and participates in that group’s efforts to manage milfoil and other invasive aquatic weeds and rodents.  SUBA has received substantial funding from DOE and continues to work to improve the lake environment. 

Finally, the Town Hall was a big success.  You not only did a great job in outlining many issues, but in responding to the questions on diverse issues from our neighbors.  Your excellent staff and representatives from the Department of Neighborhoods, in particular Karen Ko and Jenny Frankl, did a wonderful job in helping with the logistics.  We also appreciated having representatives from DPD, SDOT, Parks, the Fire Department and our own Sergeant Dianne Newsom from the North Precinct.  We are glad that you recognize the importance of providing an opportunity for neighbors to interact with those from our city departments.      

Thank you again for visiting Laurelhurst and for your commitment to Seattle’s neighborhoods.

Laurelhurst Town Hall Meeting with Mayor

Laurelhurst Neighborhood Town Hall With Mayor On Saturday Morning

The Laurelhurst Community Club invites the neighborhood to Laurelhurst Neighborhood Town Hall with Mayor McGinn followed by a brief LCC Annual Neighbors Meeting on Saturday from 11-12pm at the

Center for Urban Horticulture (3501 NE 41st Street.).

The LCC invite says:

The Mayor is coming to Laurelhurst!

Mayor Mike McGinn will answer your questions and hear what's on your mind. This will be your opportunity to meet the Mayor in person and to ask him questions about issues of concern to you and the neighborhood. Maybe you have questions about the SR 520 project, traffic or transportation issues, bicycle safety, public safety, the upcoming library measure - or whatever else is on your mind. (When you sign in at the meeting, you will check a box to indicate that you would like to ask a question.)

This is part of the Mayor's Engage Seattle initiative to get neighbors involved in making Seattle the best it can be and to ensure that as many people as possible who live, work, or play in Seattle are able to voice their concerns and offer their feedback directly to the mayor.

 For more information about the Town Hall, contact Sol Villarreal at 206-427-3062 or sol.villarreal@seattle.gov.

 LCC Annual Neighbors Meeting

The Town Hall Meeting will be followed by a short LCC meeting to elect trustees and distribute the annual financial report to the community.

Questions? Contact Jeannie Hale at 206-525-5135 or jeannieh@serv.net.  Please join us!

Mayor Holding Town Hall Meeting In Wedgwood Tomorrow

Mayor McGinn is hosting a NE Seattle Town Hall Meeting in Wedgwood tomorrow from 11-noon at the Wedgwood Presbyterian Church (8008 35th Avenue NE).

The public is invited to let the Mayor know what is on their mind and to have their questions answered.

For more information please contact Sol Villarreal at 206-427-3062 or sol.villarreal@seattle.gov.

Northeast Seattle Mayor's Town Hall Tonight

Tonight the Mayor will be holding a Northeast Seattle specific Town Hall from 5:30-8pm at the University Heights Center (5031 University Way NE).

Mayor Mike McGinn, City Departments and Community Groups will answer the public's questions and topics that people would like to discuss.

Here is the agenda:
5:30-6:30 Meet and Greet: City Departments and local community organizations have information tables, answer questions and offer volunteer opportunities
6:30-6:40 Youth performance
6:40-8:00 Open question and answer session with the Mayor

City Wants To Hear From Public About Needed Pothole Repairs

The City of Seattle is focusing on roadway repairs, according to a recent Press Release, after the recent winter storm and freezing weather which created a significant increase in the number of new potholes.

And the pothole rangers are asking the public to report potholes immediately. Their goal is to have the potholes repaired within three business days of a request.

The immediate "work by the Pothole Rangers helps address any isolated trouble spots and prevents deterioration of the remaining street surface," the press release stated.

The Mayor has added funds to respond to pothole repair requests.  SDOT has $9 million available to address street surface repairs, which includes potholes. About $8.5 million of that is earmarked for main arterials.

To report a pothole or any type of street maintenance repair go here or call 2-6-684-ROAD. And to see the status of a pothole request go here.  The map shows about 3 requests submitted recently for Laurelhurst.

For general pothole information, including what causes potholes, the various types of potholes and more go here.

(photo courtesy of City website)

City Hall Open House Tomorrow

Tomorrow from 10-2pm the Mayor is holding an Open House at City Hall (601 5th Avenue).

The agenda will include:

• tours of the Mayor’s Office and City Council Offices
• question and answer session with the Mayor
• workshops on the legislative process and interpreting credit reports
• tabling by City departments and the City Attorney’s Office
• live music
• a farmer’s market
• food
• oppportunity to learn about resources the City provides
• meeting local elected officials
• connecting with opportunities to make community a better place

 

Northeast Seattle Mayor's Town Hall Tomorrow

Mayor Mike McGinn is holding a NE Seattle Town Hall tomorrow from 5:30-8pm at Nathan Hale High School (10750 30th Ave NE).

City Departments and Community Groups will answer  questions and hear what’s on your mind.

Here is the Agenda:

• 5:30-6:30 Meet and Greet: City Departments and local community organizations have information tables, answer questions and offer volunteer opportunities
• 6:30-6:40 Youth performance
• 6:40-8:00 Open question and answer session with the Mayor

For more information contact James Bush (206) 684-9288 or James.Bush@Seattle.Gov.

Don't Miss the Special Community Center Meeting Thursday Night To Give Input On The Fate Of The Community Center

Seattle Parks and Recreation is holding a special outreach meeting at the Laurelhurst Community Center regarding the future of the Community Center on Thursday at 7pm. Neighbors are strongly encouraged to attend.

We recently posted about the Mayor's proposal to further drastically reduce hours at the Laurelhurst and Magnuson Community Centers as well as many other community centers starting in January.

 "The meeting this week is important because it’s an opportunity for neighbors to tell Parks what classes and activities they want most to keep," Jeannie Hale, Laurelhurst Community Club President told us.

The Seattle Parks and Recreation flier for the meeting on Thursday evening says:

Northeast Geographical Region Advisory Council Community Nights 

Everyone is invited!

Be heard. Be Seen.

We want to know how best to serve you.

In a World Café format, you will have the opportunity to:

• Explore community priorities:What should we prioritize?What should we keep doing?What should we stop doing?What can you do?
• Talk with Parks and Recreation staff and neighbors about your ideas to build community relationships 
• Share your voice and personal vision/ideas with others 

Baby sitting provided. Children must be potty trained, thru age 10.  

Light snacks provided. 

Can’t attend this meeting? Send your comments to Dave Gilbertson at dave.gilbertson@seattle.gov

Other upcoming meetings:
Magnuson October 19, 6:30 PM 206-684-7026
Meadowbrook November 9, 7 PM 206-684-7522
Northgate November 8, 7 PM 206-386-4283
Ravenna-EcksteinNovember 9, 7 PM

Kathleen with the Laurelhurst Community Center Advisory Council told us that they are also actively seeking new advisory council members to help bring quality programming to the Community Center.

Fate Of Laurelhurst Community Center Once Again In Danger

We recently posted about the Mayor's proposal to further drastically reduce hours at the Laurelhurst and Magnuson Community Centers as well as many other community centers starting in January.

Both Laurelhurst and Magnuson have been classified as "Tier 2b" level of service, which translates to hours being additionally reduced from 35 to 25 hours per week.  The proposal not only classifies each Community Center's level of service and ranking against each other, but also divides all the city Community Centers into five geographically based service areas, each staffed with a team, led by a Senior Recreation Coordinator.

With the proposed reducton in hours, it is unclear if the Magnuson staff, who has been managing the Laurelhurst Community Center classes, programs and administrative duties will be able to continue to oversee the classes (such as nerf soccer, pottery, adult softball, adult fitness, and some other programming) and the popular special events, such as the Egg Hunt and Salmon Bake, they were able to continue for the neighborhood this year. 

"And it is unclear if anyone familiar with our programming and community will be assigned to Laurelhurst," Kathleen  with the Laurelhurst Community Center Advisory Council told us.

The City Council has not yet approved the proposed 2012 budget so there is still time for the community to speak up about the fate of the Community Centers.

You can send email to City Council members. Here is a list of Council Members and their contact information. Kathleen  said that the Council has heard from very few citizens thus far.

When writing to Council members, Kathleen encourages people to to tell their stories of what the community center means to them, what they are already missing and will miss with further cuts,  what they want/expect from their community center, how the limited use in 2011 and the further reductions/changes has affected/will affect them.

Kathleen told us:

The way for the community center (and the gym after school hours) to be available for more programs and more community use is to have more hours and more professional programming staff at the center. FYI, even though we have had some sort of a joint use agreement with the school district for 40-50 years at Laurelhurst Gym (see inscription near the street-side entrance,) our community center was counted as having "no gym" in the allocation to the tiered system. The fact that the gym is off premises (and highly used) increases the advisory council's programming expenses due to the need for a building monitor, etc.

Please help us keep programs at Laurelhurst! We need to let the city council know that we want and need our community center to be the heart of our community. If we want to sustain programs at our community center, we, as a community, need to tell the members of city council before they pass the mayor's proposed budget.

We need more professional staff hours in order to manage programs and provide professional service to members of the community. We need more open hours that fit with the community's use of the center. And we also need community members to help us create, build and maintain programming that will thrive in the Laurelhurst Community Center.

In future years, it appears that community centers' budget allocations will continue to be based on usage, so if we don't use the community center, and if we don't work together as a community to help rebuild sustainable programming at our community center, I think the city will assume we don't want the few hours and professional staff we've been given, and allocate them somewhere else. 

There is a Public Hearing today at 5pm and also on October 26th starting at 5:30pm at City Hall (600 4th Avenue.)

Kathleen also told us that a community meeting is also in the works to be held at the Laurelhurst Community Center, during the time of the standing Laurelhurst Community Center Advisory Council Meetings (third Thursdays) on October 20th, probably at 7pm, though that time is not yet confirmed from the City 

For more information:

Press Release 
2012 Budget Overview
Community Center Operations 2012 Budget and Analysis

Laurelhurst Community Center Hours May Be Further Reduced

Mayor Mike McGinn and City Councilwoman Sally Bagshaw have released a proposal for the 2012 City Budget laying out more changes to the City's Community Centers, including further reduction in hours at the Laurelhurst Community Center.

The proposal states:

In response to the continuing for budget reductions and direction from the City Council, Parks staff conducted an inclusive, data-driven analyis and process to examine alternative models for staffing and operating the centers. 

The proposal saves $1.23M, of which $784,000 is achieved through budget reductions and $446,000 comes to Parks from its nonprofit partner ARC (Associated Recreation Council) that would partially cover Community Center expenses.

Staff reductions would total 13.63 full time positions and reduce the hours of 75 people.  The preferred operating model preserves services by the greatest extent possible by keeping the centers open with varying levels of service.

Jeannie Hale, Laurelhurst Community Club President, commented: "The mayor’s proposal would further cut hours at the Laurelhurst Community center from 35 to 25 hours per week.   Any reduction in hours should be equitably distributed throughout the city.  Despite the considerable effort to explore other operation models, the proposed solution unfairly targets smaller, yet very vibrant centers—like Laurelhurst.“

The proposal would divide the Community Centers into five geographically based service areas, each with five Community Centers staffed with a team, led by a Senior Recreation Coordinator.

Laurelhurst is grouped with Magnuson, Ravenna-Eckstein, Meadowbrook and Northgate Community Centers.

The proposal says: "The staff would work with people in the community to establish operating hours and decide on programming, and will try to avoid duplication of programs within the service area."

A level of service would be assigned to each Community Center with Laurelhurst being a 2b community center open for 25 hours a week.  Magnuson would also be 2b.  Ravenna Eckstein would be a 2a facility and open 45 hours a week.

The level of serive is determined by condition of the building, cost of maintaining it,  past use of the building for drop-in use, paid use, rentals and number of patrons served by scholarships. Each community center was rated against all the others based on its performance relative to the other twenty-four Centers.

If the proposal is accepted by the Seattle City Council, the changes would take effect January 1st of next year. The City Council will vote on the proposal before Thanksgiving.

The public can send comments to sally.bagshaw@seattle.gov.  For a schedule go to Councilwoman Bagshaw's website. 

Information about the proposal is available here.

Over 19,000 Potholes Fixed So Far This Year In Seattle

The Mayor's Office reports that 19,851 potholes were filled within the first six months of 2011, more than in 2009 and 2010 combined.

The report says that "Heavy rainfall and subfreezing temperatures last winter, combined with years of underfunding street maintenance, created a larger number of potholes than usual on our streets. The public told us that something needed. to be done.  We had filled more potholes after taking office in 2010 than in 2009 under the previous administration and Council. But it was clear more had to be done."

At the beginning of 2011 Mayor McGinn ordered an increase in crews to fill these potholes.

Instead of the usual three crews, the Seattle Department of Transportation had nine crews out filling potholes earlier this year.

The Mayor's office said the crews are still hard at work and will "do what it takes to get our potholes filled."

 If you see a pothole, report it here or call 684-ROAD. You can track the status of a repair on the City pothole map.

(photo courtesy of City website)

Important Public Hearing Tonight To Speak Out On Transportation Funding Package To Include Increase In Vehicle License Fee For Rail Funding

A Public Hearing tonight of the Seattle Transportation Benefit District, made up of nine City Council members,  will be discussing and listening to public comments on the future of the passenger rail network. The Hearing will be take place at 5:30pm at City Hall Council Chambers, 2nd floor (600 4th Avenue).

The City Council members will be taking comments from the public on the details of an important transportation funding package, which will have long-term impacts on what kind of transportation investments the City makes, including rail.

The Mayor's office says:

Seattle has a chance to finally start building the kind of passenger rail network that our city needs to connect our neighborhoods and compete in the 21st century global economy. But the decision is now up to the City Council, and they need to hear from you."

Because of a drop in revenue coming into the city for transportation projects over the last several years (thanks to Eyman initiatives and the recession), the City will continue to come up short when it comes to investments in our streets if we don't do something about it. We’re behind on basic maintenance – and we’re behind on building the transit we need.

This transportation package that will be discussed tonight is based off of an original proposal by the Citizens Transportation Advisory Committee III (CTAC III).

Their package proposes:

an $80 vehicle license fee, with:

• 50% of the revenue would go to transit
• 30% of the revenue would go to street maintenance
• 20% of the revenue would go to pedestrian, neighborhood, and bicycle improvements.

This fee would allow for planning, design, and construction of projects identified by the Transit Master Plan, the information says.

Currently, the City Council is considering lowering the proposed fee to $60, and possibly aso limiting the number of years it would be levied, to only 8 years.

"Unfortunately, what that means is that the ability to bond those funds to do large projects would be taken away. That means no rail projects," the Mayor's newsletter says. "An ongoing $80 VLF may not sound that much different from a $60 VLF that lasts eight years, the difference is actually pretty stark: with the first, we can get a substantial down payment to connect our neighborhoods. With the second, we get more planning."

Five high-capacity transit corridors have been identified  in Seattle, including potential rail lines from downtown to Ballard, downtown to the U-District, as well as connecting rail in the Center City.

If you can't attend the public hearing, you can email the City Council with your input on transportation priorities in Seattle.