Licton Springs Community Council

(approved)

LICTON SPRINGS COMMUNITY COUNCIL

Minutes of May 16 2018

Meridian Center for Health, 10521 Meridian Ave. N., Seattle 98133

Directors Present: Ellen Beck, Melanie Davies, Thomas Stachiw, Joseph Amann, Tim Crosley, and Kathleen Braden.

Thomas convened the meeting at 6:40 PM. People attending introduced themselves and explained issues they were interested in including park safety, cleanliness of neighborhood, school lighting, crime prevention.

Treasurer's Report: Ellen noted a few items, such as the fact she paid the InMotion web hosting bill and filed the 99n from with the IRS and deposited two membership checks. The Treasurer's Report for April 1-30 2018 was approved as distributed. M/S/A the minutes of April 4, 2018 as distributed by email.

Lou-Anne Daoust-Filiatrault from Seattle Public Utilities visited and presented information on an SPU pilot Litter Abatement Program. Licton Springs will be the next neighborhood chosen for the program. Two workers clean litter from Aurora Avenue and some nearby streets twice per week on Tuesdays and Fridays. Licton Springs was chosen as a result of the number of issues raised by residents to the City. The litter cleaning cannot be done in parks or on private property under this program. SPU also hopes to expand in the future the number of sharps disposal containers available since there are only eight city-wide.

Licton Springs and Mineral Springs Parks- Randy Wiger of City Parks & Recreation is holding two more public meetings, June 5 and July 3 and trying to get more people from disc golf community to attend. Joseph reported on the recent work party in Licton Springs park. Kathleen noted the cordoning off around the restroom is due to roof and skylight repair.

M/S/A Kathleen will send a letter to Parks & Recreation Dept requesting that pet waste station be added to Licton Springs park.

Communications task force: Joseph, Timothy, Tom Meyer, and Kathleen met May 8 and decided four points as recommendations:

• that Licton Springs Community Council move its web outreach to the Love Licton blog managed by Tim and Amanda Crosley with the current Licton Springs Community Council website archived and still available via the blog. Retain symbols for Licton Springs Community Council as cat-tail. Tim and Amanda will do a prototype that can be shown at June 20 meeting.
• to initiate a campaign to get out more knowledge throughout the neighborhood of Licton Springs Community Council
• make bulletin board in Licton Springs Park more prominent, perhaps move near restroom
• Joseph is on sustainability committee for North Seattle College and will work with that group on community outreach

Licton Springs Community Council approved having a table at Debora Juarez's Live in D5 event June 30. Melanie and Kathleen can provide labor.

Lee Bruch presented information on a proposed Aurora Coalition and a draft of a letter to the City with information about safety concerns and steps for action had been circulated by email in draft form. Lee is visiting different neighborhood groups to develop support for the coalition. Lee would like Licton Springs Community Council to join, to support the letter, and appoint a person to liaison with the coalition. After discussion, concern was raised that some missing Board members would want to vote on the request, so it is delayed until the June 20 meeting, but Thomas asked that an email discussion be generated among Board members. M/S/A meanwhile to authorize this statement for Lee with permission to use it: The Licton Springs Community Council agrees with the conclusions raised by Lee Bruch on behalf of the Aurora Coalition and appreciates the proposed action steps in principle. We will vote at our June 20, 2018 meeting on joining the coalition.

Visitors to the meeting then were invited to discuss some of their concerns and Lori Bienhoff discussed the lighting decision by Seattle Public Schools and the neighborhood meeting (which Melanie, Liz, Joseph also attended). The issue of access to the playfields at the Cascadia and RESMS schools was also discussed. Dissatisfaction was expressed that the School district would proceed with the lighting despite any opposition from the neighborhood. Lee Bruch offered materials from the (failed) attempt to get lighting controlled at Blanchet H.S. a few years earlier.

Melanie noted that Mary Amberg of the Seattle Police Dept agreed to attend the Licton Springs Community Council June 20 meeting and Kathleen will make sure it is advertised.

Amanda Crosley said she is very interested in helping with any community events and Kathleen will put her in touch with Jan Brucker who could not be here this evening.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:35 PM. Notes submitted by Kathleen Braden, Secretary

LICTON SPRINGS COMMUNITY COUNCIL Minutes of April 4 2018 Meridian Center for Health, 10521 Meridian Ave. N., Seattle 98133 Directors Present: Jan Brucker, Liz Kearns, Melanie Davies, Tom Meyer, and Kathleen Braden. Jan convened the meeting at 6:30 PM. People attending introduced themselves. Dave Kunkel, who has done so much to preserve Pillings Pond and its waterfowl, visited and made a brief report on the property. He noted the section with the pond has been a designated wetland and requires much upkeep. The property sold recently for $650,000. Dave has been feeding and caring for over 100 fowl, mainly wood ducks (see photo), many of which he has raised. Dave reviewed the history of the property since several people had come to the meeting to show interest in it. He noted the family that purchased the property has an interest in ducks, but most likely will be renting out the house. Dave is continuing to manage the property. Jan reviewed past efforts, particularly by Dave Barber and neighborhood groups to keep it preserved. The Parks Dept. does not seem inclined to take it on. There was a suggestion to revive Friends of Pillings Pond as in the past, there had been non-profit status for a group with that name. A neighbor who was attending out of interest in the property, indicated she might like to help with that effort. Kathleen will send her contact information for others who have been involved in the past.

Lee Bruch made a presentation on Aurora Avenue and noted that it is a good time to consider future improvements. Lee is hoping to create a coalition of north end groups who have a stake in the corridor and has already approached many neighborhood groups such as Haller Lake, Green lake, Bitter Lake, Greenwood, ALUV. Part of the impetus came from a recent series of stories on KUOW radio about the corridor. Lee has also been asked to write something for “The Urbanist”. The group reviewed past efforts and asked Lee some questions about role of WSDOT, evolution of thinking on the part of businesses along Aurora. A re-paving project will occur summer of 2018

[secretary’s note: see list of District Five 2018 street and utility projects at D5 Projects 2018] Spring event- Melanie noted ALUV liked the idea of a garage sale event, perhaps for school parking lots. Jan also presented information on the Seattle Symphonic Band at North Seattle College. A possibility of music in the park and budget was briefly discussed in an introductory, exploratory way (no details). The Council noted the March 26 meeting on Licton Village low barrier encampment and an interest in the community on crime rates. There was also an analysis on crime rates nearby done on NextDoor. [secretary note- Draft Minutes Community Advisory Meeting March 22 2018] The minutes of March 21 2018 were presented and Joseph had several corrections, so he will send them to Kathleen and the minutes can be approved. The Treasurer’s Report of March 2018 was approved. Vote on Board Members: Per Articles VII and VIII of the Licton Springs Community Council By-Laws, the following people, having been nominated at the March 2018 meeting, were voted on and approved for terms through April 2020:

• Joseph Amann
• Ellen Beck
• Jan Brucker
• Melanie Davies
• Liz Kearns

In accord with Article VII-4 on filling a vacancy, the Board elected as a member Tim Crosley and his term will run through April of 2018 as well. M/S/Unanimous approval to thank Tom Meyer who has served for many years. Tom indicate he will still be available to assist with improving communication for the Council. Officers- elected by the Board are as follows: Thomas Stachiw – President Joseph Amann- Vice-President Kathleen Braden – Secretary Ellen Beck-Treasurer

Liz Kearns gave an update on Licton Springs and Mineral Springs Parks, including how to report campers in the parks to the City. The April 3 meeting with Randy Wiger of Parks Dept on Mineral Springs Park had not been very well attended, possibly due to poor publicity. There is a hope to get the disk golfing community more involved in future meetings. Melanie Davies will contact Mary Amberg of Seattle Police Dept to see if she could attend a June meeting on safety issues. Jan noted that we are lacking a representative to the Seattle Police Advisory Committee and that Birgit Ardea might be interested in this service and Jan will contact her about it.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:35 PM. Notes submitted by Kathleen Braden, Secretary