Morgan Community Association (MoCA)

Saturday, April 10, Kenney Annual Fundraising Brunch, The Kenney, 7125 Fauntleroy Way SW

(from The Kenney Newsletter) Are you looking for a fun and exciting way to become involved at The Kenney?  Saturday, April 10th is our Annual Fundraising Brunch and we are looking for bright and energetic volunteers to help run the event.  Volunteer positions for this event include greeters, servers, raffle ticket sellers, set up & clean up crew and more.  
If you are new to volunteering at The Kenney sign up at this link  http://www.thekenney.org/volunteer.html

For those of you who have volunteered in the past and would like to be a part of this special event, please contact Katie Tompkins, Marketing & Foundation Assistant at  (206) 937-2800 or email  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Monday, March 15, 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. Youth and Families Initiative Workshop, Denny Middle School, 8402 30th Avenue Southwest

Please see the bottom of this email for full description.

Thursday, March 18, 6:00-8:30 pm;  Fauntleroy/Barton Neighborhood  Combine Sewer Overflow Control Alternative Public Meeting, Southwest Community Center ,2801 SW Thistle St.

Monday, March 29,  6:00-8:30 pm, Morgan/Murray Neighborhood Combine Sewer Overflow Control Alternative Public Meeting, Southwest Community Center, 2801 SW Thistle St.

King County has identified several alternative means for CSO controls in the Barton and Murray areas. CSOs happen in older parts of the city during heavy rain events when stormwater flows entering the wastewater system can exceed system capacity. CSO control projects will help manage peak flows from areas in the Fauntleroy and Morgan neighborhoods, limiting overflows of untreated stormwater and sewage into Puget Sound.  King County’s CSO Program works to protect public health and the environment and to meet requirements for CSO Control.

How you can participate

• Visit the CSO Program Web page to learn about King County’s work to reduce combined sewer overflows

www.kingcounty.gov/environment/wastewater/CSO.aspx

• Visit CSO Beach Projects Web page for updates on the Barton and Murray projects to be posted  March 2, 2010www.kingcounty.gov/CSOBeachProjects

• Attend public meetings to view presentations on alternative means to accomplish CSO control, ask questions, provide input
• Contact us:

Email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Contact Meredith Redmon at 206-263-6534

Saturday, March 27, 9:00 a.m – 2:00 p.m. Thursday,  Tree Planting Party, Fairmont Playground, 5400 Fauntleroy Way SW 

Help us plant trees in West Seattle! Join your Rotarians, Boy Scouts, friends, neighbors, community leaders and

City Officials at the Fairmont Playground.  Activites:

• Planting Trees
• Pick up litter and spruce up green spaces
• Learn more about getting involved

Tools will be provided and refreshments will be served!

Contact:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it 206-684-7389

Youth and Families Initiative Information - and a question for you

Normally I only send out Morgan Junction community specific information, and sometimes items that might affect the community.  However, I have a new dilemma.  The new Mayor seems to busy launching initiatives that affect the entire city, and certainly could have an affect in our community.  It’s hard for me to gauge interest in these city wide initiatives.  So as a test case, since there’s a workshop scheduled in West Seattle, I’m going to pass the information about the Youth and Families Initiative on pretty much as I received it.  I would very much like to know if you would like to see future announcements of city wide initiatives, so please drop me just a quick yes or no, I’d really appreciate it.

Cindi

______________________________________________________________

Dear fellow Seattleites,

Mayor Mike McGinn invites you to participate in the Youth and Families Initiative, a major initiative announced during his inaugural address.  The first of five large group meetings is tonight at the Rainier Community Center from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Versions of this invitation have been translated into Spanish, Tagalog, Tigrigna, Chinese, Oromo, Russian, Thai, Amharic, Cambodian, Somali, Korean and Vietnamese (attached).

The children and families of our city are facing many difficult challenges. As a community, we need to talk about what we want for our kids and how best to create a healthy, positive and equitable environment for all families in our city.

Toward this goal, Seattle’s Department of Information Technology has created an online embeddable form for collecting community input for the Youth and Families Initiative (attached).  The form, designed to be embedded in blogs and web sites, extends the online outreach outside of the Mayor’s Office.

Let’s start a discussion together and come up with a plan that works.

Please join us in attending one of five workshops, where trained facilitators will lead participants through the beginnings of this group discussion.

Monday, March 15, 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. Youth and Families Initiative Workshop, Denny Middle School, 8402 30th Avenue Southwest

Activities for kids older than three years of age and light refreshments will be provided at each meeting. If English is not your primary language and you would like translation or interpretation, please notify the Department of Neighborhoods at 684-0464 so we can work to provide the best resources available.

“Our goal with the Youth and Families Initiative is to get input from everyone in Seattle who cares about these issues,” said Mayor’s Office Community Engagement Coordinator Sol Villarreal. “We realize that not everyone is going to be interested in attending or able to attend one of the large group workshops, so in order to make sure we’re hearing from a representative sample of the population of the city, we’re also going to be holding up to 100 Community Caucuses around the city.  The idea is that instead of asking someone to come to us, we’re going to go to them to make sure that their voice gets heard.”

Each Community Caucus will elect one delegate to send on to the Kids and Families Congress on June 5 at Seattle Center.

It is only together that we can solve the deep, complex problem of how to create an equitable community for our great city’s youth and families. There is no one solution, no one program or person who can point our neighborhoods in the right direction.

We ask that you join us at the beginning of this discussion so that we may all work together toward the common goal of a stronger community.

Please visit http://www.seattle.gov/engage to get involved in the Youth and Families Initiative.

Web site: http://youthandfamilies.seattle.gov/

Facebook: Youth and Families Initiative

Youth and Families Initiative Information part II, announcing 100 Community Caucus special meetings as requested

Have you heard about Mayor McGinn's effort to reach out to every community in Seattle through the Youth and Families Initiative?  He wants to know the critical issues that face your children, your families, and your communities everyday so he can work to make Seattle a better place for every community, not just a few.

Our goal with the Youth and Families Initiative is to get input from everyone in Seattle who cares about these issues. The process is beginning with 5 citywide workshops throughout the month of March where the general public can participate in sharing concerns and issues. We realize that not everyone is going to be able to attend one of the large group workshops, so in order to make sure we’re hearing from a representative sample of the population of the city, and especially from historically underrepresented groups and communities, we’ll also be holding up to 100 Community Caucuses around the city.

Each Community Caucus will be an opportunity for a group that wants to make its voice heard to meet, with a facilitator, in a living room, coffee shop, community center—anywhere where people gather naturally in a community; the idea is that instead of asking you to come to us, we’re going to go to you to make sure that your voice gets heard.

Each Community Caucus, like each small table at the large group workshops, will elect one delegate to send on to the broader Kids and Families Congress on June 5th at Seattle Center, so holding a Community Caucus will be a great way to ensure that your group’s voice is heard as the Initiative moves forward.

So, why am I contacting you? We want your community to be involved and we need your help to do it.  We are looking for individuals, groups, or organizations interested in hosting a caucus for their community.  We've worked to make this process as painless as possible for you. All we ask is that you bring together at least 10 people from your community to talk with a facilitator about the the issues and concerns they feel most impact Seattle.  Facilitators can be provided or we can train you to facilitate your own caucus.  We'll also provide all support materials and any other help you might need!

Sound interesting? Want to get involved or know someone else who may want to? Have questions about how it works?  Please do not hesitate to contact me by email or phone.

Looking forward to working with you,
Beth Richer
--
Beth Richer
Seattle Youth and Families Initiative
Organizer
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Cell: 216-212-9295

Deb Barker, Presiding

4 Executive Bd. Members, 10 neighborhood residents, representatives from W Seattle Blog, and Seattle Dept. of Neighborhoods.

 Announcements – Deb Barker

• Murray Pump Project/Combined Sewerage Overflow - A meeting will be scheduled by King County to discuss the three current project alternatives the week of March 15 – more to come.
• Seattle City Light Task Force – The task force goal is to develop solutions for improving the City’s power grid. City Light is looking for volunteers for the task force. If interested, contact Stan Lock (Dept. of Neighborhoods), or MOCA. A resident (Tony Stepan) said he was interested.  

 Levy Funds – Morgan Junction Allocation – Chip Nevins, City of Seattle 

• Mr. Nevins is the acquisition planner for the 2008 Parks Levy. The $146 million levy includes $30 million for acquisitions, and $24 million for acquisitions for neighborhood parks. Morgan Junction has been identified as an underserved area. The park sites should be at least 10,000 square feet. The City is seeking input on vacant or underutilized parcels. The Parks Department has heard though the Neighborhood Planning status workshops that improving the Green Crescent was an important need.  Suggestions from the community at the MOCA meeting included the following sites: Huling Bros. property (outside of Morgan Jct), vacant site at NW corner of California/ Graham Street, Church on 42^nd at Juneau, Graham at 50^th Avenue, the Eddy Street Ravine, the lot behind Starbucks, Gatewood Elementary School, and developing greenspace within the street rights of way. 

Parks Levy 2010 Opportunity Fund – Deb Barker/ Ann Martin 

• The Parks Department will be allocating $1.5 million for a parks project. Four applications in the Morgan Junction neighborhood have been submitted, including: Orchard Street Ravine property acquisition, the Fairmount Playfield, property adjacent the Green Crescent, and transferring the Eddy Street Right of Way to Parks. Project proposal letters are due Feb 1, and the applications are due in April. A proposal letter is required for all applications.
• Ann Martin presented a project for the Orchard Street Ravine. The Friends of Orchard Street Ravine (FOSTR) is asking for street vacations along 38^th Street SW, and Orchard Street, and acquisition of a vacant parcel at 7137 38^th Avenue SW, so that the existing recently developed green space can be protected from potential development of the parcel. A motion was approved by MOCA that supports the Orchard Street Ravine project. 

Morgan Junction Festival – Cindi Barker 

• MOCA is looking for guidance on the festival date. Last year’s festival date in June worked well. The Board is leaning toward the weekend of June 12/13 which is the driest period; another option is June 26/27. No major conflicts were identified. The festival will likely include the “Bite of Morgan Junction” again, and more arts/crafts vendors. MOCA is looking for volunteers to help with the Bite, arranging for vendors, and helping to set up / take down.  

SW District Council Update – Chas Redmond

• Chas Redmond serves on the SW District Council and spoke to their mission/vision. The District Council meets the 1^st Wednesday of each month. In 2010, the meetings will be organized to have guest speakers during the first hour, and the second hour will focus on a discussion of what West Seattle should look like, in preparation for the Neighborhood Plan updates. This will give the Board time to begin strategizing on issues such as Green Streets, gateways, overlay districts, etc. MOCA has discussed the need for focusing on connectivity, the build form, and open spaces.  

Updates 

• SW Police Precinct – There was a report that there is a rise in car thefts and prowls in West Seattle, and burglaries have also increased.  
• Kenney Home Expansion – The Master User Permit (MUP) application was filed December 28, 2009, and found complete on January 7, 2010. The project will have a contract rezone from LD to MR, and need a SEPA application and guidance from the Design Review Board. The project will also require an application for the vacation of 46^th Street SW, and relocation of the Seaview Building. The comment period has been extended to February 3. TJ Lehmen (Euclid Development LLC) the Owners representative, noted that the project plans should be available for presentation at the April MOCA meeting. Most of the concerns heard from the public relate to traffic, parking, massing on the west edge, and height/bulk/scale. 
• Spokane Street Viaduct – The West Seattle Blog has information on the latest closures and detours, and a newsletter was mailed to West Seattle residents. 
• Orchard Street Ravine Pedestrian Improvements – The Cumulative Reserve Fund (CRF) project that was awarded is mostly complete. The kiosk was recently installed, and the hiker safety signage will be installed in late January. 
• West Seattle Trails – The Fauntleroy area is the next neighborhood to have signage installed. The City is requiring $1 million in liability insurance for kiosks, and permission from adjacent property owners, as well as a variance. Community input for the Morgan Junction signage will be needed in late February. 
• Stalled Projects – The project at the 5800 block of California Avenue (west side) is now underway. The site at the NW corner of California at Graham Street is still for sale. A request was made to plant wildflower seeds on the property and have the fencing removed in the interim. Mr. Lehmen will look into the request. 
• Myrtle Street Reservoir – The plans are 98% complete. The turf has not yet been established yet. 
• Next MOCA Meeting to be April 21, 2010

Morgan Community Association Quarterly Meeting

October 21, 2009 – The Kenney

Deb Barker, Presiding

3 Executive Bd. Members, 10 neighborhood residents, representatives from W Seattle Blog, and King County.

Announcements – Deb Barker

Fauntleroy Paving Project: An overview of the project status as provided by Jessica Murphy, SDOT. Project is substantially complete with some outstanding issues including conflicting pavement markers. Question was raised about signal phasing at Edmunds Street. Project will be completed in approximately two weeks.

Myrtle Reservoir – Project status provided by Virginia Hassinger – SPU will turn the facility back to Parks after the grass is established. Contract work is scheduled for late November/December, and construction to begin in February 2010.

Power Outage – City Light has looked into the West Seattle infrastructure and would like to come to a future MOCA meeting to talk about the power grid and improvements that are needed.

Kenney Home – The Seaview Bldg. was approved as a Seattle Landmark. The owner is working with the City on identification of regulated portions of the building. An Early Design Guidance meeting will be held tomorrow (Oct 22) at 6:30pm at the Youngstown Arts Center. Discussion will focus on the transitions around the building.

Homestead Restaurant – Since the fire in January, the owners have made proposals to the Alki Community Council. The SW Historical Society has written a letter asking the owners to restore the building to pre-fire construction, and asked MOCA to join in the letter. The MOCA board declined any position on the matter at this time.

Spokane Street / Rapid Ride projects – A report was provided by Jack Latteman (King Co.); SDOT’s portion of design work for Spokane St. was delayed by environmental review conditions. Work will proceed soon. On Rapid Ride, design is proceeding for the West Seattle route, including civil and electrical design. ITS design is mostly complete. Two demonstration stations will be in place by September 2011. At that time, the Route 54 service will be ramped up as mitigation for the viaduct (10-15 minute headways during peak).

Neighborhood Park Update – At the last MOCA meeting, Frank Taylor asked for interest in developing a park on a private lot for sale. The owner of the lot must now sell sooner than expected, so a park on the site is unlikely.

Lowman Beach Pump Station – Martha Tuttle, King County

Martha Tuttle provided an overview of the project and the Combined Sewerage Overflow program. The goal is to reduce overflows to once per year by 2030. The County would like to know the best way to get people interested in the project. While the Barton basin is moving forward, the Murray basin has been delayed due to budget constraints. The electrical and wet well work have been completed. A new odor control and emergency generator is to be installed. An open house was held two weeks ago, with little turn out. The County is working on alternatives, including storage tanks, convey and treatment, onsite treatment, and peak flow reduction. A public meeting will be held in February 2010, and the alternatives will be presented. There was discussion on ways that the information can be made more interesting to the public, including use of web sites, working with Sustainable West Seattle, a demonstration project, and use of public information.

Neighborhood Plan Update – Cindi Barker / Kate Stineback

A successful open house was held last summer at the Youngstown Arts Center. The Morgan table had a very high turnout. A summary of the results of the open house and survey are now available. The next public meeting will be held on November 5 (6-8pm) at Mercer Middle School on Beacon Hill. The City will provide an assessment of the key themes for neighborhood plan updates, citywide initiatives to inform the plans (ie, the Pedestrian Master Plan), and use the meeting to determine what else is needed for the planning process.

Orchard Street Ravine Pedestrian Safety Project – Cindi Barker

The project is moving forward. It will include signage to warn motorists of pedestrians, and a kiosk at the top of the road near the trail that provides pedestrian safety information.

HUB Exercise – Cindi Barker

Morgan Junction was one of the West Seattle Communications Hubs that participated in both the West Seattle wide Hub drill on Sept 18^th and the Citywide drill of the Auxiliary Communication Service on Oct 10^th. Deb Barker has now been trained as a Morgan Junction responder, so the full MoCA board stands ready to provide backup to the main operator.

Stalled Projects – Deb Barker

The Live/Work Units at the corner of California and Graham have been delayed while the owner looks for a new owner. The other Live/Work Units at 6031 California (one block north of Graham) were delayed because the sheer walls needed to be redesigned and submitted. The project will be moving forward soon.

Parks Levy – Cindi Barker

Cindi noted that the Parks Levy will provide funding for a new park in the Morgan Urban Village. She suggested that we see what comments arise related to parks through the Neighborhood Planning process, and use the information to help guide what type of new park facilities are needed.

Emergency Preparedness - Morgan Junction participated in a recent drill of the West Seattle Communications Hubs.  Cindi Barker and Deb Barker staffed the Morgan location, Paul Sureddin stopped in to observed, and we also had two observers from Queen Anne/Magnolia.  Due to our proximity to the radio repeater that supports the Hub system, we had good to excellent communication with all the other hub locations from Alki to Fauntleroy.  See Debs picture at http://westseattleblog.com/blog/?p=20811. 

Neighborhood Plan Update process – we expect the results of both the Neighborhood Planning Status Check Open House and the on-line survey to be posted by early October.  Thank you to the 210 people who took the time to give their opinion about Morgan Junction!

As noted in the Calendar, there will be a Neighborhood Plan Status Workshop to see how people think the implementation of the Morgan Junction Neighborhood Plan is going.  The background information prepared by the city has now been posted at http://www.seattle.gov/dpd/Planning/Neighborhood_Planning/StatusReports/default.asp#status

(scroll down until you find Morgan Junction).  The information in the prepared material is data that is easy for the city to generate from various sources (census, departmental information, etc), but what they don’t have is the opinion of people about things that are harder to measure.  Examples of that are  things you feel affect your quality of life, how you view sustainability in our neighborhood, changes that are having a positive or negative impact on your mobility around the neighborhood, and so on.  That’s why, even if you don’t know anything about the neighborhood plan, you come let the Neighborhood Planning Advisory Committee and the Seattle Planning Commission know what you’re thinking. 

However, if you cannot attend, you can go on-line and fill out a survey at http://www.cityofseattle.net/planningcommission/

The basic questions being asked at the workshop are:

• Most of the neighborhoods have changed since the plans were adopted 10 years ago.  How has your neighborhood changed in the last decade since the plan was adopted, (or since you’ve been there)?
• What changes or aspects of your neighborhood are you most pleased about? Most dissatisfied about?
• How well are your Neighborhood Plan vision and key strategies being achieved?  Are they still the priority?
• The city is completing neighborhood plan status reports focusing on demographics, development patterns, housing affordability, public amenities and transportation networks.  What should there be more focus on (or less focus on) as the neighborhood status reports are completed in the coming months.  Are there any important gaps in the draft status report