June 2009

Seattle Parks and Recreation, the Morgan Community Association, and neighbors will host an official grand opening and ribbon cutting of the new Morgan Junction Park at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 13, 2009.
 
This park opening kicks-off the fourth Annual Morgan Junction Community Festival from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., which includes music, children’s activities and, new this year: the “Bite of Morgan.” 

The new park is located at 6401 California Ave. S.W. and is designed with both plaza and green space elements, and features an interactive sidewalk chalk gallery with low profile gallery style frames stamped into the concrete. A chalk art contest for all ages begins at 11:30 a.m.

“This beautiful new park, originally planned in the Morgan Junction Neighborhood Plan, provides a gathering space for all ages, and is a showpiece for the heart of our community,” said Steve Sindiong, former president of the Morgan Community Association.
 

A report on the budgets of 13 U.S. cities, by the Pew Charitable Trusts, singles out Seattle as being “in the best fiscal situation," and by comparison, the report lists Detroit as in the worst situation.

“While we have our challenges, I’m not surprised that Seattle was singled out in the Pew report," said Mayor Greg Nickels in a statement. "We have faced adversity before in 2002. We cut deep then and grew smart, including building up our ‘rainy day fund’ to more than $30 million today. Our financial house is in good order and we will weather the current storm."

The report titled, “Tough Decisions and Limited Options: How Philadelphia and Other Cities are Balancing Budgets in a Time of Recession,” was issued on May 18.

It looks at the budgets in 13 cities: Atlanta; Baltimore; Boston; Chicago; Columbus, Ohio; Detroit; Kansas City, Mo.; Los Angeles; New York; Phoenix; Philadelphia; Pittsburgh; and Seattle. The cities were chosen for either having something in common with Philadelphia or for providing a different perspective. Seattle was chosen to provide geographic diversity.

Seattle Parks and Recreation, in conjunction with the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods and the Seattle Police Department, will host a community meeting to discuss safety and security issues in three Ballard Parks – Ballard Commons Park, Bergen Place Park and Marvin’s Garden.

The meeting will be held on Thursday, June 4, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the Ballard Branch Library, 5614 22nd Ave. N.W.

Making these parks safer will require the involvement of the city and the local community.

Parks staff will discuss a proposed exclusion zone for the three parks, and work with the community to program positive activities for neighborhood parks.

Department of Neighborhoods staff will describe ways community members can apply for funding opportunities to make improvements to the parks and put on community events. Members of the Seattle Police Department will provide personal safety tips and discuss the importance of calling 911.

For more information, please contact Joelle Ligon, at 206-684-8020 or joelle.ligon@seattle.gov.

On June 1 candidates for King County Executive gathered at Fauntleroy Community Church to describe their vision for the county and discuss key issues.

Current King County council members Dow Constantine and Larry Phillips, state Rep. Ross Hunter and state Sen. Fred Jarrett were all in attendance.

Constantine took the opportunity to emphasize his belief that King County’s needs to drive down costs by self assessing. He explained that the county needs to encourage employees to find new efficiencies, instead of trying to replicate former actions or budgets.

“We need to be open to innovation that says change is good, not circling the wagon to protect current bureaucracy,” said Constantine. “We need to let go of services that are not working.”

Phillips stressed the importance of revitalizing and recovering the local and regional economy. He said that it is crucial that major infrastructure projects in the county are accomplished. He used the example of Sound Transit expansion, which he believes would provide jobs and bring federal dollars to the region.

Just months ago, it seemed that Avalon Glassworks might have to close its doors after disappointing sales in 2008, but since their product was featured on the cover of Better Homes and Gardens magazine this month, things have turned around at the local art studio.

"It's been exciting, there's been a real flurry of business," said Shannon Felix, who owns the business with her husband John.

The version sent to subscribers of the magazine featured a water garden on the cover with glass fishing floats from Avalon Glassworks. While the version on newstands has a different cover, both have a story featuring the local business inside.

Featuring this particular product has been especially helpful for the business, because it was the first item they were able to make since purchasing the studio six years ago. Shannon describes the fishing floats as "our bread and butter."

"In February I was thinking about going out of business, but this month were back in the game," said Shannon. "The floats are keeping us afloat!"

In conjunction to next month’s installation of a signed bike route along Fremont Avenue, the Greenwood Boys and Girls Club has proposed a project to create a community hub for all ethnicities, ages and groups in the neighborhood.

The bike route will start downtown, and goes north on Dexter, to Phinney, to Greenwood, and to Fremont and then it connects with the Interurban Trail.

Traffic crews will be installing signs from North 80th to North 145th street.

The Boys and Girls Club, located at the cross streets of North 87th and Fremont Avenue North, wants to turn half of its parking lot into a community plaza that leads into the playfield and playground on the property.

“People used to enter on 87th but in the 1970s they put the parking lot on the south end of the building and there’s all sorts of cars there and a driveway that is in the path where kids enter the club,” said Kate Martin, community volunteer for the Car Free Club Entry and Community Project.

The council announced today that it will launch a nationwide search for city auditor to replace Susan Cohen, who after 11 years on the job has decided not to continue in the position once her term expires in September.

Cohen will be leaving her post later this summer to join the U.S. Department of Transportation's Inspector General's Office.

“I want to thank Susan for her years of service to the citizens of Seattle,” said Council President Richard Conlin. “Her efforts, I
believe, have resulted in our city operating in a more efficient and cost effective manner. For this we owe her a debt of gratitude."

Oversight of the auditor’s office falls under the finance and budget committee. Council member Jean Godden, chair of the committee, will lead the search for a replacement.  The search will begin immediately.

“Susan has done an admirable job of helping the city work as efficiently and accountably as possible,” said Godden. “We wish her the best in her future endeavors.”

Unhappy when three men jaywalked in front of his car on Sunday afternoon (and then told him to “F” off), a driver stopped to “talk” with the men, who had entered a convenience store near 8th and 85th. One of the suspects threw a punch, and then another blindsided the victim, who fell to his knees. The suspects then kicked him and ran down an alley when witnesses tried to intercede. The suspects were later arrested and booked into King County Jail for investigation of misdemeanor assault.

On Monday, May 25, officers were sent to Alderbrook Place to see a man who called 911 to turn himself in because he was “wanted by police.” When officers arrived, the 25-year-old explained that he was wanted for a crime because he had had sex with five girls back when he was in high school. Officers asked if it had been consensual. The man replied that it had been. Concerned for the man's mental wellbeing, officers asked if he wanted to speak with a counselor or doctor about the events, but he declined. At the man's request, officers took a statement about the past incidents.

Three teens were being interviewed after being caught drinking in the 4800 block of Waite Street on late Saturday. But when one girl tried to make a break for it, she ended up falling into a large patch of stinging nettles. Two lied about their identities, all three admitted drinking, and one of the girls admitted she had smoke “a lot” of weed. (In fact, she was so impaired that she couldn't spell her own middle name.) The teens' parents picked them up from the Southwest Precinct.

SPD's high-tech stolen-vehicle tracker made a good catch possible early Saturday. Officers were driving near 35th and Avalon when the “pinger” went off. After confirming that the vehicle spotted was, indeed stolen, the officers pulled the car over. The driver was a 30-year-old downtown resident well-known to officers. (It seems he has a habit of renting cars from businesses around the airport, but rarely manages to return them.) The two passengers were released. The driver was booked into King County Jail for investigation of auto theft, driving with a suspended license, and for a Department of Corrections warrant. The car, which belonged to the Port of Seattle, was impounded.

The Ballard District Council will meet again on Wednesday, June 10 at 7 p.m. at the Ballard Library and will include a discussion about the city's Draft Pedestrian Master Plan.

Also on the agenda includes will be a briefing on Mayor Greg Nickel’s proposal to permit the development of “Backyard Cottages” in single family neighborhoods.

Beth Miller, executive director of the Ballard Chamber of Commerce will report on progress toward implementing a plan to promote activities in downtown Ballard parks and to discourage undesirable and unlawful behavior.

AGENDA:

7 p.m. Short Announcements by member organization representatives

7:15 Briefing - City Draft Pedestrian Master Plan, Jennifer Wieland and Barbara Gray- Seattle Department of Transportation

7:40 What are we doing to make our parks in downtown Ballard safe and inviting, Beth Miller, executive director - Ballard Chamber

7:55 Mayor’s Proposal “Backyard cottages” Andrea Petzel, Project Manager - City Department of Planning and Development