Vehicle Theft on 24th Ave NE

Posted on July 12, 2012 by Ryan

The Seattle Police Department reports a car theft occurred around 10 PM on Tuesday the 10th in the 10800 block of 24th Ave NE.

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Tree Activists Protest New City Proposals

Posted on July 5, 2012 by Ryan

The City of Seattle’s new proposals for tree regulations and a 5 year update of the Urban Forest Management Plan have come under protest by tree activists. Michael Oxman of Save Seattle Trees notes that, “key components will be left out of the 2 proposals, such as a new requirement that a permit be issued prior to citizens being allowed to remove trees from private property.” He is also disturbed that, “Since Resoultion 31138 was issued in 2009, no attempt has been made to determine the number or quality of trees that have been cut down by either city staff or by citizens doing maintenance or construction of new development.” He urges people to attend a meeting of the Urban Forestry Commission on Wednesday, July 11th at 3 PM in Room 2750 of the Seattle Municipal Tower, 700 5th Ave and make their views known during the opening public comment period.

Trees slated for removal along NE Northgate Way


Meanwhile, residents near Northgate are upset about a plan by Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) to cut down 18 “healthy” trees as part of the widening of NE Northgate Way at 5th Ave NE. Janet Way said, “It’s an insult to the community,” and Ruth Williams noted, “We should make sure SDOT means what they say and will replace the trees with specimens of similar size.  Since they will no longer be on the sidewalk shading pedestrians, but out in the median shading vehicles, there will be fewer overhead wires and awnings to contend with.  Will SDOT be able to add a few natives to their tree list and plant some now?”  They urged concerned citizens to contact SDOT via e-mail or phone (206-462-6348) and register their concerns.

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SPU Announces Knickerbocker Project Q&A

Posted on July 3, 2012 by Ryan

Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) announced in a letter sent to residents that they will be holding an informal Question & Answer session on the Knickerbocker Floodplain Project on Tuesday, July 17th from 6:30 – 7:30 PM at the project site located at NE 100th Street and 20th Ave NE.

Share your thoughts and concerns, see the current design, and learn about the multiple benefits of restoring this portion of Thornton Creek.

Last week as we reported, the money for this project is to come from Sound Transit’s mitigation for the Link Light Rail station work being done at Northgate.

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Local Nonprofit Wants Local Feedback to Improve City Light Website

Posted on July 3, 2012 by Ryan

I’ve been asked to promote this study:

Knowledge As Power (KAP), a local nonprofit, is working on a project to help Seattle City Light better serve city residents. KAP is reaching out to Victory Heights residents and those in North Seattle to participate in a usability study of the Seattle City Light’s website. Seattle City Light will take the recommendations of residents who participate in the study, and redesign their site to be more useful. The feedback will help create easier online bill paying, navigation, and access to conservation information.
Victory Heights residents interested in participating can sign up for a testing session via a quick online sign-up. KAP will be doing testing sessions from early July through August 10th.  So far, we don’t have ANYONE from Victory Heights signed up to test the site, and we want to make sure that your area is represented. The sessions will be under an hour and take place downtown, at an area convenient by bus. KAP is flexible on testing time, based on the availability participants indicate in the application.
“In 2010, KAP ran a usability study for Seattle.gov. They won ‘best municipal website 2011’ after the City implemented the recommendations and feedback of citizens from our study. We hope to repeat that success with Seattle City Light through this study—it’s really important that we get a diverse range of Seattle residents in this study,” Sarah Schacht, Executive Director at Knowledge As Power
Each participant will get a thank-you gift of $20 for Tippr.com (a local Seattle business similar to Groupon, Living Social, etc.) to spend at local businesses.
The real benefit, though, is that everyone who shares their thoughts and feedback on the site will end up making City Light easy to use and a better resource for the community.
Here’s the link to the study’s application form: http://bit.ly/kapstudy
You can find more about Knowledge As Power’s open government work here, at http://knowledgeaspower.org.

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Crime Stats For June; Summer Safety Information

Posted on July 1, 2012 by Ryan

Not much crime was reported in Victory Heights during June 2012, with just a residential burglary on NE 100th on the 6th. This map is from the Seattle Police Department.

Meanwhile, Terrie Johnston of the SPD reminds residents that fireworks are illegal in the City of Seattle.

The possession, manufacture, storage, sale, handling and use of fireworks are prohibited.  Fireworks offenses are gross misdemeanors punishable by up to one year in jail and/or a $5,000 fine.  Fireworks pose a fire hazard to property and present a safety risk to those who use them.  Every year the Seattle Fire Department responds to fireworks-related fires and injuries.  The holiday related fires and injuries are preventable.
Our 9-1-1 center becomes overloaded with non-emergency fireworks calls on the 4th of July.  For this day only, DO NOT call 9-1-1 unless you have a life-threatening emergency and need immediate help from police, fire or medics.  If you know me or my work, you know that it is my constant endeavor to encourage the public to use 9-1-1 to report suspicious circumstances, in addition to reporting crime.  HOWEVER,  my message applies to all days of the year except July 4th.  This is the busiest day of the year for our Call Center. Reports of fireworks; barking dogs; drunken parties; gunshots fired; boating mishaps;  burns, noise complaints, etc. are commonplace during this holiday.  Delays in dispatch are a reality. If possible use the 625-5011 line to report any fireworks violations.
Our car prowl reports continue, and may even increase in numbers during the summer.  I’ve attached a tip sheet for preventing car prowls, which I hope you will find helpful.  I’ve seen reports of car prowls around Carkeek Park and Greenlake, and pretty much throughout the other North Precinct neighborhoods.  Here are some of the items reported stolen in a car prowl this month:  Cameras; clothing; wallets; ID; social security cards; cash; car keys; cell. phones; MP3 player, coins, laptops, suitcases, gym bags, power tools, loaded guns, GPS, catalytic converter, golf clubs  and a  passport.  Try to leave your car empty if possible, and park it in a garage or up in your driveway if you can.
National Night Out will be Tuesday, Aug. 7th this year.  Registration is up and running on our website, www.seattle.gov/police.  Hope you can participate this year.  I am here to help answer any questions you may have about Night Out, Block Watch, crime, etc.  I thank you for your continued participation and for sharing these emails with your neighbors and other contacts.

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Sound Transit: Northgate Wetlands Mitigation Would Be Spent on Knickerbocker Project

Posted on June 29, 2012 by Ryan

Thursday night’s meeting of the Thornton Creek Alliance featured employees of Sound Transit who spoke at length about the impact of Link light rail construction on Thornton Creek. As part of the mitigation for impacting the wetlands at Northgate, Sound Transit has proposed paying for Seattle Public Utilities Knickerbocker Project in Victory Heights. SPU has no funds to finance the project itself which began with test drilling last week. While it might seem unfair and unconnected to the Northgate project, the amount of space to increase wetlands at Northgate (which often dry up during the summer) is limited due to the existing interstate and surface streets. Whereas the Knickerbocker Project, described as “shovel ready,” would be a substantial improvement to the quality of Thornton Creek. The Sound Transit money is not enough to finance the entire cost of the project which could still be delayed or canceled, but it is hoped it will attract grants to make up the rest.
During the six year construction of the Northgate Link Light Rail next to 1st Ave NE, Thornton Creek will be diverted into a culvert to protect it from dirt and other runoff. This was agreed by all the parties as the best solution, after which the creek would be daylighted again except for a 20 foot section to allow truck access across. A proposed pedestrian bridge over I-5 would cost an estimated $20 million. Sound Transit is committing $5 million to study it, with the city matching it with another $5 million. The rest would have to come from other sources if it were to be built.
Other TCA business included a unanimous vote to add Heather Ferguson to the board, revise membership levels, and a report from the treasurer of sufficient funds to finance activity through March 2013.
Brad Johnson reported that barring a last minute appeal, SPU would begin its controversial work on Meadowbrook Pond on July 9th.  Fifty to sixty trees are to be removed as part of much needed dredging in the pond (some places are only six inches deep).  Three hundred and eighty dump truck loads of sentiment (and invasive mudsnails) are to hauled to a site in Monroe for processing as safe soil.
After the meeting, a brief tour was made of the Meadowbrook Pond and confluence area around the community center.
 

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Reminder: Thornton Creek Alliance Meeting Thursday

Posted on June 27, 2012 by Ryan

Thursday night at the Meadowbrook Community Center at 7 PM the Thornton Creek Alliance will be having a meeting that will feature a program about the North Corridor of Sound Transit around Northgate. More details here.
Speaking of which, the Seattle Transit Blog has a post up today detailing the latest developments about the proposed parking garage at Northgate at the Light Rail station as well as a pedestrian overpass across the freeway to link to North Seattle Community College. In addition, the Cascade Bike Club has posted an Action Alert to encourage Sound Transit to go ahead with the overpass.

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East/West Routes From Victory Heights

Posted on June 23, 2012 by Ryan

I love Seattle but driving cross town (that is, east to west) can be frustrating due to the lack of through arterials and various geographic barriers. Trying to get from Victory Heights over to Greenwood for example is a challenge at the best of times, and with construction this summer on Northgate Way (see Pinehurst Seattle’s story), and NE 85th Street, this is a good time to seek alternative routes.*
Allow me to share one of my favorite secret shortcuts. This can get you to Greenwood in under 20 minutes any time of the day, or to Thornton Place in less than 10 without having to use Northgate Way. (Note: this will take you through residential neighborhoods, so keep your speed under 25, watch for pedestrians, and be cautious approaching uncontrolled intersections.)Victory Heights Shortcut Map
Starting from Victory Heights Park (green line on map), go west on NE 107th, across 15th Ave NE, around the curve at 12th Ave, then a quick left on NE 108th (caution narrow one-lane bridge over the creek), then turn left on Roosevelt. To get to Greenwood, turn right off Roosevelt at NE 92nd Street, cross 5th Ave NE at the light, over the freeway, past the community college and turn left on Wallingford Ave. Turn right at the next 4-way stop on NE 90th, cross Aurora at the light, up and over the Phinney ridge and finally turn left at the light onto Greenwood Ave.
To get to the Thornton Place, follow the instructions to Roosevelt, then use the blue line on the map: turn right on NE 105th, left on 8th Ave NE, then right on NE 103rd, cross the light at 5 Ave NE and there you are.
Feel free to share your favorite short cuts.
* Although taking Lake City Way south to NE 80th/85th can be an alternative to Northgate Way, traffic in the late afternoon backs up at 15th Ave NE making this a less than desirable workaround.

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Thornton Creek Alliance Meeting June 28th

Posted on June 22, 2012 by Ryan

The Thornton Creek Alliance is having their next meeting on Thursday, June 28th from 7 PM to 9 PM at the Meadowbrook Community Center, 10517 35th Ave NE.

PROGRAM: Please join us for a panel discussion of the changes and challenges to Thornton Creek as the North Corridor Transit Project becomes further developed.  Come to learn and come to share your questions and concerns about Thornton Creek and the Watershed.
REPRESENTATIVES FROM:

  • Sound Transit
  • Seattle Public Utilities
  • State Department of Fish & Wildlife
  • State Department of Ecology

 
MEETING: Following the Educational Program there will be a brief update from committees and a presentation of our annual work plan

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Knickerbocker Floodplain Construction Friday

Posted on June 21, 2012 by Ryan


Residents around the Knickerbocker site of Thornton Creek (the intersection of 20th Ave NE and NE 100th Street) received a notice late today from Seattle Public Utilities,

There will a construction crew working at the Knickerbocker site tomorrow, June 22, 2012, from approximately 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. They will be drilling seven (7) groundwater wells 6-8 feet deep using an excavator with a small drill rig. It will generate some construction noise. The wells will be capped when they’re done.
 
There will be another crew there next week to hand-dig three (3) additional shallow wells, approximately 2-3 feet deep, for devices that will show the elevation of the stream. All work will be done next to the stream and not in the water itself

More information is available at the SPU site.

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