The meeting was called to order at 6:05pm.
Introductions.
Community Announcements and Updates from Neighbors
Joe Kendo, Washington Federation of State Employees (Council 28) – In response to the dismal funding climate in Olympia, the WFSE is preparing a robust agenda to present an aggressive pro-revenue case to the 2012 special session of the state legislature and are looking for community support and volunteers to participate in the campaign. If interested, please contact Joe directly at joek@wfse.org or (206) 525-5363.
Brian Rundberg, Architect, Rundberg Architecture – Discussed a privately funded low-income 46-48 unit residential housing project proposed for the 7,200 square foot site at 418 Bellevue. The LEED Silver modular-built design is meant to promote growth, sustainability, and affordable rental housing and will have roof gardens and water recycling/detention on-site. The majority of units will be studios and one-bedrooms available to those making 80% of the median income. The developers hope to break ground late summer 2012. The community is invited to a design review meeting to be held on November 30 at the Seattle University Admissions Building.
Student representatives from the Seattle Central Community College chapter of Phi Theta Kappa – Paralleling some of the safety work being done by CHCC on 12th Avenue, the group is looking at safety improvements that can be made to Harvard Avenue behind SCCC, with a goal of installing new crosswalks at a couple busy intersections on the heavily trafficked corridor.
Rhonda Dixon, Sound Transit community representative – The U-Link tunnel boring machine heading towards downtown has almost completed the first of two tunnels and is currently boring under I-5. Once finished, the tunnel boring machine will be disassembled, trucked back up to the dig site on Capitol Hill, reassembled, and begin boring the second tunnel.
Tim Durkan, City of Seattle neighborhood district coordinator for Capitol Hill – His primary job is to work as the community connector between city government and neighborhoods, making sure citizens have an opportunity to talk with their elected officials and city departments. Tim also works with the city’s various district councils (which serve as an information sharing network and assist in granting Department of Neighborhood funds), of which Capitol Hill is a member of the East District Council. Tim is currently recruiting new members for the East District Council and all interested citizens are encouraged to contact Tim (see contact info below). In addition, Tim indicated that the application period for a $100K neighborhood fund project grant will begin December 1 and close February 1, 2012. In addition, $20K ‘Small and Simple Fund’ matching grants are available. For more information, please contact Tim directly at tim.durkan@seattle.gov or (206) 684-4054.
Michael Wells from the Capitol Hill Chamber of Commerce and the Broadway Business Improvement Association – Over 300 Capitol Hill kids participated in the Chamber sponsored Halloween Parade, with trick-or-treating at Broadway businesses and a pizza party at Pagliacci Pizza afterwards. The Chamber wants Capitol Hill to ‘own’ Halloween and hopes to grow the event next year. On a separate topic, at the request of many Broadway businesses, Michael, on behalf of the Broadway Business Improvement Association, sent a letter to the Occupy Seattle movement expressing concern about the health, safety, and sanitation of the encampment at Seattle Central Community College and encouraging the movement adhere to the good neighbor agreement they signed. The response from the movement has generally been positive. The letter was also sent to SCCC administrators and the Mayor’s office, as well as the CHS Capitol Hill blog: http://www.capitolhillseattle.com/2011/11/18/occupy-capitol-hill-broadway-businesses-demand-immediate-results-in-camp-clean-up.
Bruce Bowden from Citizens Rethink Yesler (CRY) group – The group has expressed concerns regarding the Yesler Terrace redevelopment. For more information, please contact CRY at CRYcrier@gmail.com. CRY has been invited to participate in a CHCC general meeting dedicated to the Yesler Terrace redevelopment project scheduled for early 2012.
Committee Reports
Capitol Hill Champion – The Urban Design Framework was recently completed and adopted by the city. Subsequently an agreement was signed between Sound Transit and the City of Seattle enabling the UDF to be an integral part of Sound Transit’s site development proposals.
12th Avenue Transportation Safety Project – A public meeting was held three weeks ago and 30 community members attended. Participants reviewed a complete map of the 12th Avenue project and offered input on what they deemed as necessary safety improvements for the corridor.
Sustainable Capitol Hill – This new CHCC committee is seeking new leadership. Any community members interested in participating in this important committee please contact Clayton Smith at claytn8@gmail.com.
New Business
- CHCC is seeking ideas for a 2012 matching grant from the city and those in attendance brainstormed potential new projects including:
• increasing the amount of public art in Cal Anderson Park,
• naming Capitol Hill alleys in honor of local personalities and installing the related street signs,
• becoming involved with the SCCC Phi Theta Kappa Harvard Avenue corridor safety project (discussed above in community announcements),
• developing an umbrella organization for the numerous and varied Capitol Hill community groups to foster friend-making among the groups enabling them to work better together and coordinate their activities, share best practices, increase capacity, share resources, help each other with fundraising, etc.,
• working with owners and tenants of residential buildings on Capitol Hill side streets to improve safety (e.g., improved lighting, working with CPTED, the International Dark Sky Association, and/or the Seattle Neighborhood Group to conduct assessments of the physical area and identify safety concerns and suggestions for improvement).
CHCC seeks further community input on the above. Please email CHCC at chcc.officers@gmail.com with any 2012 project ideas. We want your input!
- Interest was expressed in dedicating a future CHCC general meeting to waterfront redevelopment issues, as well as other city-wide projects that may not necessarily be on Capitol Hill, but will have a direct impact on Capitol Hill citizens. As noted above, a general meeting in early 2012 will be dedicated to the Yesler Terrace redevelopment.
Old Business
None.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:30pm.
The next general CHCC meeting is scheduled for the third Thursday of January 2012: 1/19/2012 from 6 to 8pm at the Cal Anderson Shelter House.