University Community Urban Center
Sounding Board

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Meeting Notes

University Heights Center for the Community
Thursday, March 16, 2000

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Attendance: Jorgen Bader (Ravenna-Bryant), Rick McKinnon, Hans Aschenbach (RNA), Roger Wagoner, Deirdre Grace (DON), David Goldberg (SPO/SAP), Kara Palmer (ST Link), George Banning (KJM), Patty Whisler (AVE Group), Nancy Bocek (RNA), Laura Dixon-Dybvad (Ravenna Woods), Bill Talley (UW), Glenn Harris (NSC), John Deeter.

Northeast Sector Open House

Deirdre Grace (DON): The City has scheduled an open house and forum for neighborhoods in the Northeast Sector that are currently implementing their Neighborhood Plans - UCUC, Roosevelt, Northgate, and Lake City. The forum will be at the Meadowbrook Recreation Complex, 10517 35th Ave NE, on Thursday, March 30th, 5:00-8:00 p.m. Community and City representatives will be present during the open house to answer questions about projects in these neighborhoods. The forum (7-8 p.m.) will consist of a panel of neighborhood activists who will outline the basics of their plans and discuss their approaches to plan implementation. Volunteers for the panel: Laura Dixon for Ravenna Woods, Bill Talley for UW open spaces. Patty Whisler will try to recruit someone from the business community.

Discussion: Laura D. expressed concern that the UCUC Plan as formulated by the Community is not being implemented. There was a concensus that there needs to be a follow-up session by the Sounding Board to discuss specifically how well the UCUC Plan is being implemented. Jorgen B. insisted that the question of organization not be revisited, and there was general agreement on this point. Deirdre G. said that plan implementation is being tracked by the City, and this information is available on the City's web site, <www.pan.ci.seattle.wa.us/don/>.

Sound Transit request for nighttime noise variance

Kara Palmer (Sound Transit): ST's request for a nighttime noise variance for Link construction has been completed and delivered to DCLU. Several major changes from the earlier draft:

DCLU will schedule public hearings on this request in late March or early April, and will make a decision on the noise variance 45 days later.

Sound Transit is also requesting premission to build a conveyor system to move spoils from the Pacific site to barges in Portage Bay. Roger Iwata (ST) is setting up a meeting on March 29 for people potentially impacted by this proposed system.

Discussion: RNA commented on the draft request for a noise variance, and most of their suggestions have been included in the final version. Other people - particularly residents near the construction sites - need to express their concerns if they feel that the proposed mitigations are not adequate. We should discuss this item at the next Sounding Board meeting, to see whether further Community response is needed.

UCUC Transportation Plan

David Goldberg (SPO/SAP): The Trasportation Policy Group (Susan Sanchez, director) of the Stragetic Planning Office has been developing an approach for implementing neighborhood Transportation Plans, such as we requested for the UCUC. Historically, the SPO has developed transportation plans on three levels:

Transportation planning focussed on an specific area or corridor is a new approach for the SPO.

SPO's recommendation to the City Council will probably entail a comprehensive look at transportation at roughly the neighborhood level, although a focus on specific corridors remains a possibility. The study phase could then be followed by coordination and oversight of transportation projects within specific areas. The scope of the study could include:

One of the products of the study would likely be a prioritized list of transportation projects, but the SPO does not currently expect to undertake management of ongoing projects. An area including the UCUC (plus Montlake) is high on the TPG's list of neighborhoods to get a transportation study. The TPG will soon present their proposal to the City Council and they hope to get funding by the end of April. The study for the UCUC area will take about 16 months and cost about $225,000, and implementation will require another $50- to $60,000.

Discussion: Could neighborhood transportation management also be responsible for project design? David G. will discuss this with the TPG.

A high priority in the UCUC Plan is to make the streets as pedestrian friendly as possible, and this goal should be emphasized in the transportation study.

The UCUC needs to get a copy of the proposal as soon as it is available.

Litter in the University District

Hans Aschenbach (Roosevelt Neighbors' Association): Neighborhood streets are never swept, not even once a year - leaves and other trash build up. UDPA parking lots are a mess - they should also be cleaned on a regular basis.

Rick McKinnon is also concerned about litter in the U. District, particularly at bus stops which often have no trash cans or overflowing ones. Litter is both an environmental issue and a quality of life issue. We need more (and larger) trash cans, and more frequent pick-ups. Trash bins should be more attractive. Business should be more concerned about litter in the U. District. They should sponsor an anti-litter campaign, and have more than one clean-up event per year. The BIA should hire more people to pick up litter.

Glenn Harris (NSC): The City is developing a plan for litter abatement. Tom Gannon (SPU) would like to discuss this plan at the next Sounding Board meeting.

Public Restrooms

George Banning (KJM Project & Construction Management Services): SPU is going to lease five self-cleaning restrooms (already operational in Germany) and needs to quickly identify possible locations to put them. The lease will include maintenance, which is expensive ($50-90,000 per unit per year). Priority will be given to Downtown locations (Pike Place Market, Pioneer Square, International District, Westlake, Aquarium), but other communities will be considered if they express strong interest. The U. District could get one unit, but one or two possible locations need to be identified by the second week of April, with installation possible by September. Location on City land (sidewalks or parks, for instance) is preferred, but City would consider an easement on private property.

Discussion. Possible locations:

We need to gauge support within business community for this kind of restroom. Hans A. volunteered to talk to some key people in the U. District business community.

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Notes by J. Deeter.