MoCA Bulletin 9/12/23
MORGAN COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION BULLETIN for September 12, 2023
CONTENTS
Morgan Junction Art Walk This Thursday
Save the Date: Sept. 18 City Council Candidate Forum
Minutes: July 19, 2023 Quarterly Meeting
ISO Recording Secretary
New Tree Rules
MoCA Bulletin Transitions
1. MORGAN JUNCTION ARTWALK SEPT. 14TH
A fine night indeed!! Morgan Junction Art Walk is happening on Thursday, September 14, 2023. Be sure to check out all the participating Morgan Junction ArtWalk businesses and meet the artists on ArtWalk from 5:00 until late!!
2. SEPT 18TH CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATE FORUM
Here’s an invitation from co-host Morgan Community Association
Save the Date – Seattle Fair Growth Candidate Forum
Monday, September 18th, 2023 at 6PM via zoom.
You are invited to virtually attend the Seattle Fair Growth City Council Candidate Forum! Topics include density, affordable housing, and our tree canopy.
The North Seattle Districts 4, 5, and 6 will be from 6pm – 7pm.
Central and the South Seattle Districts 1, 2, 3, and 7 will be from 7pm – 8:15pm.
Plan to come to one or both. Here’s the Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89965911738?pwd=M3k0N0xJUjNLZGxQMGtxSVpzV2thdz09
So far, 12 of 14 candidates have said yes, one has a conflict, and the other one we hope will be able to join. Click here for more information!
Each candidate will have 90 seconds for an introduction. The questions will concern density, affordable housing, our tree canopy and how they fit in our Comprehensive Plan. There will also be a lightning round of six Yes/No questions.
The forums will be recorded and posted at www.seattlefairgrowth.org.
Please direct questions about the forums to Sarajane Siegfriedt Sarajane3h@comcast.net.
Click here for a map of the “effective as of January, 2024” Seattle City Council Districts.
Co-Sponsors Include:
Seattle Fair Growth (SFG)
Central Area Neighborhood District Council
Duwamish Valley Neighborhood Preservation Coalition
Morgan Community Association
Phinney Ridge Community Council
Wallingford Community Council
Madison Miller Park Community Group
3. MEETING MINUTES FROM JULY
MOCA - Morgan Community Association
Alex Hagenah, Secretary
MOCA MEETING AGENDA FOR JULY 19, 2023
7:00 – 9:00 PM
**THIS MEETING WILL BE RECORDED**
Welcome and Introductions
Morgan Minute Updates
● Morgan Festival Wrap Up
o Rousing success!
o Sunday afternoon – June 18, from 1-5
o Live performances
▪ Mikey the Rad Scientist sponsored by the Morgan
▪ The Potholes sponsored by West Seattle Blog
▪ Gary Benson sponsored by Thunder Road Guitars
o Made lots of connections.
o Face painting by Nicole.
o Let the kids Skate!
o Seattle Parks Dept brough Board and Vellum to reaffirm park design, and receive input from folks.
o Survey link for new park input is available is:
o Thank you to our sponsors, friends, fans, and everyone for making it all happen!
What’s new in Morgan Junction
● Scout Real Estate: 6014 California Ave. Letter C SW, 206-771-4016, info@scoutrealestate.com
o Farley
o A boutique real estate company.
o Jennifer Nelson is owner, formerly of Metropolist
o New Townhomes next to Seattle Wines. Got the entire end unit.
o Client space on the bottom and offices above.
o Where does the name come from?
▪ To kill a mockingbird! Scouting for a house
o How is a boutique real estate firm different than others?
▪ Stay very small. Stop at 12 brokers. Referral only.
▪ Based mostly on relationships.
o Please pop by on Mondays and Wednesdays!
New Business
● MoCA has traditionally given time for City Council Candidates to talk about their platform, that continues today!
● Meet some of the Candidates for District 1 City Council
Candidates for City Council District 1
● Maren Costa - maren@marencosta.com
o Lived in Seattle for 33 years, D1 for 20 years.
o 4 kids in public schools.
o Waitress/bartender. Started a non-profit.
o First ever principal User Experience designer at Amazon. Worked there for 15 years. Made it more inclusive. Managed big teams, and projects.
o Bridge Builder.
o Got really into the climate effort at Amazon. Organized Tech workers to develop a climate plan. 8700 employees signed online.
o When COVID struck, organized warehouse workers to make a townhall, 1500 people accepted, Maren was fired. Won a lawsuit.
o Started working at Microsoft, but wanted to dedicate my life to making change for the better.
o City Council skillset matches with Maren’s.
o Taking a housing first approach to homelessness.
o Work on Affordable housing
o Climate Justice is a priority
o Support the police that we have, take some
o Morgan Junction – love to see the skate park!
o Ferry Terminal – would love to see lean more into water traffic, and electric ferries. Take a closer look before I make recommendations.
● Phil Tavel - info@tavelforseattle.com
o Moved to Seattle 25 years from New York. Fell in love with West Seattle, watch the sunset over the Olympics.
o Ended up behind Sunfish on Alki.
o Physics Teacher. Worked at Nintendo. Opened a company in Pioneer Square.
o Games and collectible store in Australia.
o Took the bar and became a public defender for 15 years.
o Started doing deliveries for WS Food Bank.
o When Bridge Closed, started West Seattle Bridge Now. Secure a seat for us on the West Seattle Bridge Task Force.
o Ran in 2015 for City Council, finished 3rd.
o Ran in 2019 and finished 2nd.
o When Lisa stepped down, I felt the need to run again.
o This is about public service. Not about grand gestures.
o Fixing potholes, making sure crosswalks are where they need to be.
o Thinks that all ways walk would be great on Morgan Junction.
o Would love to see the skatepark at Morgan Junction Park
o MHA – failed to set up. The City Council failed to look after its neighborhood at it time
o Will always be a part of the festival committee.
o Believes that we can find balance and victories for both sides.
o An affordable, and equitable city.
o Expand collaborative police bureau.
o When people victimize others,
o Horrible rise in traffic safety. More speed light cameras.
o Lots of things I’d like to do – I’d like to do it full time.
o Understand how things work.
o Promise to make West Seattle and the rest of D1
o Recommending that MHA be modified?
▪ Would like to see MHA revisited and fee raised
o Dearth of young people in civic life?
▪ Having accessible meetings, virtually. It’s difficult to show up for these meetings. Using social media more. Instagram and tiktok. Show up at every neighborhood group throughout the year. Work across neighborhood groups to target a younger audience.
● Mia Jacobsen - miaj.mi@gmail.com
o 3rd gen West Seattleite
o Scope extends much in the future.
o Went Holy Rosary, UW
o Discovered political theory in college. CHID program.
o We are on the verge of a major transformation.
o Is an academic.
o Conversations at Occupy were happening, but none of the ideas were channeling into policy.
o Stand Up America – Alex Zimmerman.
o Astonished that no one is there at city council.
o Lots of subconscious preparing.
o Sat in on a committee meetings.
o Noticed that policy would be created 10 years too late.
o We have preoccupation with Federal level policy issues.
o Worked with Ryan Asburg 5 years.
o Technology has modernized every part of our lives, but not necessarily government.
o Running a campaign for fundamental systemic change. Teachers, nurses, police, they know how to solve these problems. But they are not allowed to be involved in policy making process.
o Public comment is limited to 2 minutes – too short.
o We’re still using an old form of policy making that needs to change.
o We’ll be unable to address problems that.
o Campaign makes it easy – create a forum and use technology to analyze.
o Increase civic involvement, transparency, celebrate community empowerment.
o How will you make the final decision?
▪ We have to acknowledge polarizing politics. We will all agree that cities should be walkable. Find common ground.
● Preston Anderson - prestonforseattle@gmail.com
o Clinical Social Worker, for VA Health System oversight for transitional housing.
o Addiction treatment and behavioral health.
o Wheelhouse is behavior health and homeless programs.
o Top concerns that he’s heard are: homeless crisis, crime, addiction – these are all things that he has lots of experience in.
o Know there are a lot of inefficiencies in the homelessness system.
o Some people are not appropriate for housing first.
o Doing a more comprehensive approach.
o Addiction crisis – providing people with hope.
o Don’t agree with safe use sites. We should address addiction issues.
o County is supposed to provide crisis responders, but they are understaffed and demand has gone up dramatically.
o Case management for the fire department.
o Make sure the police force is sufficiently staffed.
o Affordable Housing – MHA fees. Money needs to stay in the community. There are disparities. On council we institute an ordinance to make sure money is invested in the community for affordable housing.
o Make sure that neighborhoods are ped friendly, family friendly, and arts friendly.
o Expanding Morgan Junction park to provide more greenspace for people.
o Support making Morgan Junction an all-ways walk.
o Money that we are spending on homelessness is rising, to make sure that we aren’t spending too much.
● Jean Cracium - craciunj@gmail.com
o 6544 Fauntleroy, houses down from Starbucks.
o Morgan Junction resident
o Visiting Cal-Mor circle, affordable housing. Spends 250 for rent. Having a hard time making that rent
o We need to get to know all the issues and all the people in the neighborhood.
o 9 million women left the workforce. Not a good incentive for women to enter the workforce. They need childcare, healthcare.
o Working with Dow Constantine – worked for a year and half to bring money to black and indigenous people. 700 people applied. Is there a need for small businesses? YES.
o The pedestrian issue – it’d be great to have a walk-all-ways walk there.
o Ferry – Disruption. There are environmental issues with it. It would make more traffic.
o 16 year old that goes to WS High. Have a 19 year old at South Seattle Community College.
o 8 Kids spanning a large age spectrum.
o Was raised in a funeral home
o Researcher in Washington DC.
o Studied child sexual abuse. Very difficult, but led her around the country.
o Worked in Alaska, as a researcher convinced mining country not to move forward (Pebble Mine)
o We need to do more Health 1.
o We need services and need to realize that by 2035 there’s going to be a million more people here!
o Accountability, Transparency, and Efficiency into the city.
o Morgan Community Association founded in 1994. Why haven’t you been at a meeting?
▪ Founder of diversity center. Moved into the area 4 years ago.
● NOTE: Rob Saka was a maybe but did not confirm for this meeting. Lucy Barefoot did not reply to the invitation.
Old Business
● Cindi Barker reported on New Items in the Emergency Hub Box: Check out the Medications Poster
o Reunification process.
o Full scale.
o Thanks to Ken M for stepping up!
o Medications Poster – suite of self-help posters for guidance after a catastrophe has occurred.
▪ Here is the link: Medications Poster Final June 2023.pdf
o Focusing on medication in the event of a disaster.
● Lt. Dorothy Kim/SPD
o Prepared for some stats and available for questions.
o Encourage people that if you see crime, make a 911 report. Data is related to calls for service.
o Crimes are down generally in West Seattle, except for noteworthy 6 homicides in West Seattle this year. Motor vehicle theft is a big problem, citywide. Here in WS – we are giving out steering wheel clubs, let Lt Kim know if you are interested.
o Information on catalytic converter thefts?
▪ Seems to be going down.
o Stats timeline?
▪ YTD. Only thing in Morgan Junction is up are motor vehicle thefts.
o Status of driver from Alki crash?
▪ He was processed for DUI. There was stuff on board.
● Update on Morgan Junction Park Redevelopment (Kelly Goold from Seattle Parks)
o The festival was great, lots of input. Very busy! Online survey.
o Funding has been restored.
o Existing Plan has been dusted off, and lots of new ideas.
o Seems want for more active space as opposed to passive space.
o Lots of new activity in the new park.
o Updated schematic design – review with Seattle Parks, and with Seattle Design Commission.
o Money for hazmat removal still there, working with contractor to have it done this late summer and early fall. Landscaping will move forward, get rid of construction fence to have it open for use.
o 386 responses to survey so far, and hundreds of people at Morgan Fest – lots of engagement.
o “All wheels” – directed toward younger age kids.
o Gathering space for community hub, and nowhere to hang anything.
▪ More gathering space will be provided.
o Is there power? Is there consideration for solar power? There’s a new grant for Climate Resiliency.
▪ There is power. There will be consideration for new power opportunities.
o Timeline?
▪ On Parks website https://www.seattle.gov/parks/about-us/projects/morgan-junction-park-addition
Reconfirm Design: Public Meeting Summer 2023
Permit & Design: Summer 2023 - Summer 2024
Bid: Early 2025
Construction: Spring 2025
Complete: Summer 2025
o Any more public meetings?
▪ None scheduled.
MoCA’s Website Status
www.morganjunction.org is up and running. Check it out!
MoCA Board Elections
Motion moved to begin elections for slate of officers , and seconded…
2023 Board Elections Slate of Officers to be Voted on Annual Meeting July 19 2023
● President - Deb Barker
● Vice President - Conrad Cipoletti
● Treasurer – Michael Brunner
● Secretary – Alex Hagenah
Motion carries! We have a new slated board of directors.
Adjournment
4. RECORDING SECRETARY NEEDED
MoCA is looking for a new Recording Secretary. The primary duty of the Recording Secretary is attending the quarterly meetings of the Morgan Community Association and preparing the meeting minutes for publication (The meetings occur in the evening of the third Wednesday of the months of January, April, July and October). Other responsibilities include participation in MoCA Executive Board meetings such as agenda setting or other topics, and helping plan the annual Morgan Junction Community Festival. Please contact MoCA at mocacnc@gmail if you would like more information or are interested in joining the MoCA Board.
MoCA sends a big THANK YOU to departing Recording Secretary Alex Hagenah for his years as a volunteer record keeper and his dedication to community.
5. TREES IN YOUR YARD??
A Message from Trees for Seattle:
A program of the City of Seattle, Trees for Seattle is committed to growing and maintaining a healthy, awe-inspiring urban forest.
New Tree Protection Code
The City of Seattle is committed to protecting our urban tree canopy. Canopy cover is one important measure of the health of the urban forest. Urban trees provide numerous ecological, economic, and social benefits, including wildlife habitat, neighborhood livability, and improved public health outcomes.
The Seattle City Council recently passed Council Bill 120534 establishing new tree protection requirements on private property in Seattle. The new regulations went into effect on July 30, 2023. It is important for residents including property owners, tenants, developers, and tree service providers to understand the new regulations to know when a tree is protected and when a tree may be removed. SDCI is currently developing public information to help explain the new regulations. For more information, this blog, recently published by SDCI, explains more about the new regulations.
6. TRANSITIONING
Coming soon to your in-box!! The Morgan Community Association Bulletin will be transitioning to a new format in conjunction with the Morgan Community Association website - www.morganjunction.org. Stay Tuned….
Thanks for reading the
Morgan Community Association Bulletin
