Neighborhood news and support for issues for Fremont residents

Minutes

These are board and member meetings for Fremont Neighborhood Council’s monthly meetings. We don’t meet in December. January 2025 meeting minutes will be posted soon. Date this page created is 2.9.25

June 2024 to Present

Fremont Neighborhood Council Meeting Minutes November 19, 2024

Board members present: Nivi Achanti, Aly Teeter, Timothy Kitchen, Colleen Kaminski, Lydia Heard, Sophie Wagner, representing a voting quorum. Former Board member Norma Jones also attended.

Business Meeting: 

  • Motion to approve $275 from treasury funds for the non-profit status 501(c)3 application. Discussion: FNC is eligible for grant opportunities, discounts on software. Nonprofits cannot make political endorsements related to public elections. Seconded, approved.
  • Discussion of applying to the State to make Fremont a Creative Arts District. Caroline will ask about business demographics at FNC meetings.
  • Discussion: How to circulate, approve and post the minutes of FNC meetings. Draft minutes used to be circulated at the meetings before approval, same with Treasury reports. Include Treasury reports at the bottom of minutes? Some of these things stopped when meetings were on Zoom. How will this fit into streamlining member experience? There is a concern about Council business being less transparent. Discussion of what the bylaws require. The Board may vote between meetings for emergency purposes but expenditures should be posted. There is a shortage of Board members to conduct the business of the FNC. The Board put business meetings at the front end of FNC meetings to have more time for recruiting Board and general members after. The business meeting will be listed on the agendas first.
  • Motion to approve August, September, and October minutes. Seconded and approved.
  • Discussion: The January meeting will focus on promoting membership and engagement and recruiting new Board members. We should ask at meetings for suggestions of what people are interested in seeing at future meetings. Tim is planning for a coffee chat in 2 weeks. Nivi is working on meeting flyers. Norma suggests talking to the Arts Council, they hired someone and it helped their membership and finances.
  • Motion to approve the Treasury Report. Seconded and approved.

Colleen opened the general meeting and announced that it would be livestreamed to Facebook and Instagram.

Land Acknowledgement: We acknowledge that we gather this evening on the traditional lands of the Duwamish, Stillagamish, Suquamish, and Coast Salish peoples.

The FNC is here to understand, share, be a forum for the neighborhood and encourage democratic processes. We are all volunteers, and non-partisan.

Announcements: Leo Griffin has freebies on the back table, daffodil bulbs and other items. He represents Friends of Trolls Knoll and is looking for people interested in helping out there.

State Representative Nicole Macri, Guest Speaker

Representative Macri was elected to the House in 2017. She is currently Vice Chair of the Appropriations committee. Her priorities have been affordable housing, homelessness, LGBTQ and civil rights. She previously worked for DESC (Downtown Emergency Services Center). Her work there with supportive housing, shelter, and crisis response intersects with her policy areas, including long-term care, developmental disabilities and healthcare.

The State Legislature convenes in Winter, on a 2-year (biennial) cycle. From January to April we will draft and pass an operating budget, which is the #1 thing for the legislature. A Supplemental Budget process takes place from January to March of the second year of the biennium. Bills can carry from the first to the second year of the cycle.

Question: There is a lot of interest in housing availability and affordability. What sort of bills were passed last session? Answer: This is a big part of why I got involved. The housing crisis was many years in the making and has gotten worse. Growth in housing is less than the growth in population, which is challenging cities across the state. In 2021 we passed a requirement that communities plan for affordable housing at all income levels. All cities are now completing Comp Plans for 2025. We passed the Middle Housing Bill (HB 1110) so that there can be no more exclusive communities, other housing types and a mix of housing must be allowed. We are working on renter protections in urban neighborhoods, stopping arbitrary evictions.

Question: What about the Environmental Review burden, such as the delays on the Burke Gilman? Answer: Maybe someone who knows more about land use can answer? This has been a long-time challenge. Environmental protection policies impact development – some say it has been “weaponized” to stall development and slow urban growth. We need policies to ensure protection without bureaucratic slowdowns, which is tricky. The Burke Gilman has been challenged for 30 years. I’m not sure about the transportation access impacts.

Question: The State co-opted parts of Design Review, reduces what it covers? Answer: We are addressing land use around TOD (Transit Oriented Development) in the next session, incentivizing or requiring density around transit.

Question: School Budgets. Answer: The State constitution requires the state to provide a budget for basic education. Seattle Public Schools is in a budget crisis. Schools are a top issue this session. Several representatives cover Seattle. We are talking to families about community priorities.

Question: Is there anything on rent control, tenant protections, harm to landlords? Answer: We will be pursuing rent stabilization somewhat like CA and OR policies, reasonable limits over raising rents allow profits to maintain properties and consider the impacts on small landlords. Rent is high because of undersupply. There are more evictions than the courts can handle. We would have to introduce a bill to increase the number of judges.

Contact: nicole.macri@leg.wa.gov

Follow state politics online:  TVW.org

Norma Jones on the One Seattle Plan

Norma asked for support in comments on the One Seattle Plan. There is a portion of Evanston Ave N between 41st and 42nd which is currently zoned SF. The plan proposed would have the east side of the street L3 and the west side NR. She is asking for that block or even the lower portion of the block not to be divided at the street and for the east side to remain NR. She and her neighbors have worked hard to promote a neighborhood environment. It is a dead-end street with no arterial access, with historic homes that new buildings would not be compatible with. There are concerns about traffic, parking, deliveries, loss of trees, loss of single family homes to what will most likely be townhomes. The FNC can take a position on this as it represents the community. In your comments on the plan, ask for this half-block at least to be left out of the rezone.

Jessica Cunningham, Friends of Upper Fremont

There is a project at the dead-end of Evanston, which is essentially an alley, that we have been fighting for some years now. There is unique topography here, and only access is from the north, not west or south. It is currently zoned L2. The developer wants 32 microhousing units on this dead end. This lot should be zoned L1. The Plan proposal upzones it to L3. The topography doesn’t match with the upzones. Q. Would an elevator to Fremont Ave help? A. The City doesn’t require access to Fremont Ave. The developer has too much freedom to design something inappropriate. Q. Is that where the stairs come down to B.F. Day? A. There is high traffic for kids walking to school. Residents park blocks away, parking is congested, people park on the corners blocking sightlines, are distracted, someone will be hurt. They should at least put in an elevator. Comment: The need for housing is so great, elevators are expensive to install and maintain. Comment: Bring this back to this one block on one street. The City is taking comments until December 20. Everyone go to the One Seattle Plan website, comment on the interactive map. Go to the information meetings, Make comments. Q. Would an elevator help with the traffic congestion? A. Yes, it could be used for deliveries, access. Q. What is the ask? For people to submit comments? How do we present this to the City to make concerns more valid? A. Mike O’Brien then Dan Strauss – they were not interested in helping. Make comments. We are trying to meet with Dan Strauss in December. Asking that people make comments.

Complete Communities Coalition – Jesse Simpson, Housing Development Consortium and Jazmine Smith, Futurewise

We represent a group of organizations including The Urbanist, Habitat for Humanity and others interested in addressing the need for more housing in Seattle. The Comp Plan is the framework for zoning and investments that will help determine growth over the next 20 years. There is a need for multi-family and affordable housing. The history of zoning is one of economic and racial exclusion. In Seattle it started with the 1923 zoning codes, setting a pattern that has remained for 100 years, with the intention to entrench segregation of people and use. Are these the values we want embedded in our land use code?

Growth is both an access to opportunity and a displacement risk. New multi-family is concentrated in a few areas. The Urban Village strategy channels growth, protects single family, forces auto-dependency. Arterials, where growth is focused, have bad health impacts.

CCC Recommendations:

  • Allow stacked flats on all lots near transit, regardless of lot size
  • Allow mixed use beyond transit arterials
  • Allow more Neighborhood Centers, especially near parks.
  • Expand the affordable housing density bonus.

Q: What about parking? Can we build neighborhood garages? A: That is too specific for the citywide plan. Qs: (many all at once) ADUs? MHA? Parking? Trees? (others, unmoderated, couldn’t follow) Q: What about my half-block neighborhood preservation request? A: Those half-blocks add up. Q: My yard is essentially a private park, as all of these private parks get redeveloped, is there a plan to keep up with new green space, parks, community centers, and is that a good use for impact fees? A: I wish I knew more about parks, they are not in the Comp Plan. Final to everyone: Submit your comments.

Announcement: Jim Engelhart has an ask regarding Judie Clarridge, who served 30 years on the FNC Board and was also an integral part of the Fremont Historical Society. She is now in assisted living. Send a holiday card to her through her family with something personal that you remember about her. (address provided, posted on the website).

Fremont Neighborhood Council Meeting Minutes October 22, 2024

Board members present: Timothy Kitchen, Colleen Kaminski, Lydia Heard, Sophie Wagner. There was not a voting quorum present. The Business Meeting portion involved discussions on how to use Slack; agenda planning to include Board business; non-profit status (the State status is approved, an additional form and fee is needed for IRS tax-exempt 501(c)(3) status); possibilities for November speakers; tracking Action items; and asking members who they would like to come and speak in January.

Tim opened the general meeting.

Land Acknowledgement: We acknowledge that we gather this evening on the traditional lands of the Duwamish, Stillagamish, Suquamish, and Coast Salish peoples.

Introductions: The audience formed small groups to discuss their favorite things in the neighborhood and what else they would most like to see.

Joel Raphael, District 6 Director (CM Dan Strauss Office) to discuss the Seattle City Budget Process

Joel was born and raised in Ballard, served in the military, and was a postal carrier in Ballard. He is very familiar with Fremont.

Question: Can you give us a high-level summary of the City Budget Process? Answer: The Mayor releases a budget proposal in September. The Budget Committee Chair (currently Dan Strauss) looks at it, and at public comment received through October 16. Then the Chair puts together a budget document for the City Council. Council Members may then propose amendments to the Chair through October 31st. After another public comment period, the proposal with amendments goes back to the Mayor for (hopefully) approval.

Q: How many public comment periods? A: Two, one for the Mayor’s proposal, then another until November 12 for the Council proposal, with amendments. Then the Council votes, picking among amendments. You can also email Council, or talk to Joel. Personalized emails are more likely to stand out; Joel brings the standouts to Dan personally.

Q: How are public comments responded to? A: Nothing official, CMs may respond on a personal level. It’s an inexact subset of the population willing and able to go to public comment, it doesn’t represent everyone. Public Comment is indispensable, it engages a human element in a way the written word can’t. People’s lives transform the document, a living document. Before I worked in this role I would go to Council and public meetings, see things from the other side.

Q: Are there particular values Dan Strauss uses in approaching the budget? A: Moral values. Promote public safety, affordable housing, essential services (City Light, SDOT, etc). We have to make difficult cuts.

Q: Is there anything about Senior Services? A: I don’t know much about specific line items, and it is not appropriate to bring them out yet anyway.

Q: How does Dan approach a deficit ($260million? Is it one year or two?)? Does he support cuts or new revenue, and where? A: It’s a personal opinion, Dan has a personal opinion, CM Strauss has another opinion based on voter mandate. No new revenue sources are proposed. Dan or other CMs may propose some. We are analyzing the Mayor’s proposal right now. It looks like there is an additional $20million deficit, they are trying to fill that gap.

Q: Why is there a deficit? A: Analysts did a 5-year review. Inflation is the biggest culprit, a national problem. Covid federal funds are drying up.

Q: What about slowdown in shopping, population growth, taxation? A: Not all taxes go to the city, there are state, county and federal portions. Some taxes are specifically allocated, not free money.

Q: There are layoffs, yet there is a police signing bonus? A: We believe in fully funding police, public safety is important. We have to increase pay for incentives. Q: Parking enforcement earns money, be more aggressive? A: We need people to do it, law enforcement.

Q: Can you consider the long-term impacts and increased future costs of canceling capital projects (A. B. Ernst Park)? A: Some costs you can’t recoup, staff does budget analysis. City governments are cyclical, Dan doesn’t like kicking the can down the line.

Q: The Jump Start tax on business and high earners is being used to fill budget gaps, but is that taking away from affordable housing? There is wealth inequality, can we increase the Jump Start Tax, make a more just and fair city? A: Seattle is one of the wealthiest cities in history, a true “Emerald City” But we know what it looks like Yet we are surrounded by money. Dan has a moral conscience. We are a community, neighbors, we should take care of each other, be a society. Dan has to balance a lot, lots of stakeholders, power has consequences. Public Comment is important to have your voice heard.

Q: Does Dan have strategies for affordable housing? A: I can’t share that yet. The Budget proposal is next week, then CM amendments, then public comment.

Q: What are the most debatable items in the Mayor’s proposal? A: The Seattle Channel, people want to keep it. It is a look inside Seattle government, important. There is frustration over the use of Jump Start, what that says about priorities for affordable housing and homelessness.

Q: Is there a discussion about converting empty commercial space to housing? A: It would be funded by Jump Start.

Q: Is there a list of tax exemptions for businesses, and should they be revoked? A: We have no state income tax. When Seattle imposes taxes, businesses move to non-taxing nearby cities.

Q: We have a lack in journalism, and voting, only 30% turnout. A: Why the Seattle Channel is important. You have to be in the room, see whats going on, a value that surpasses ratings.

Q: Do City Departments have a budget back channel? A: They find out the same way as the public, on the Seattle Channel, in Council meetings..

Announcement: Hannah Parker, long-time librarian at the Fremont Public Library, is retiring on December 3rd.


Fremont Neighborhood Council Meeting Minutes September 24, 2024

Board members present: Nivi Achanti, Timothy Kitchen, Alyson Teeter, Audrey Livermore, Gordon Lagerquist, Brynna Conway, Lydia Heard

Nivi opened the meeting by having people gather in groups of three to introduce themselves and discuss what they love about their neighborhood, and what they would like to see there. The meeting was livestreamed with microphones. Rules for questions were given, with cards on chairs to present audience questions.

Land Acknowledgement: We acknowledge that we gather this evening on the traditional lands of the Duwamish, Stillagamish, Suquamish, and Coast Salish peoples.

The goal of FNC is to have community and a voice in Fremont. How many are at their first FNC meeting? (several). How many first attending a City Council event? (a few).

This will be a Forum, not a debate, a chance to get to know the candidates. A small ragtag group of us makes the FNC possible – talk to one of us about signing up.

What are some highlights of what you want to see in the neighborhood? Pharmacy – Light Rail station – Community Center

Candidate Forum: Tanya Woo and Alexis Mercedes Rinck

Our at-large City Council candidates on the November ballot are Tanya Woo and Alexis Mercedes Rinck. Can you open by telling us three things about yourself: 1-Who are you as a human being? 2-What do you love in your neighborhood? 3-What do you wish you had in your neighborhood?

TW: Discussed a Community Watch, walking the neighborhood, homelessness and public safety. Her family has a restaurant; how do we help small businesses thrive? Small business is heart and soul, cherished. She has worked on affordable housing, the Louisa Hotel, and wants to bring more to the city. Would love to see a candy store in her neighborhood but more fruit and vegetables is probably better.

AMR: She is a renter, has no car, bikes and buses and loves seeing the city that way, which sidewalks are bumpy and unsafe. She was a community organizer, has led a life of public service, and does meal prep in her free time. She loves bike lanes in her neighborhood and wants more housing and more neighbors.

Q: When did you last take transit? Both: Today

Q: Why are you running, what policy do you want us to know about?

AMR: Great teachers in public schools are important, investment in young people. Address affordability challenges so that people can live, work and play here. Identify sources of progressive revenue, have the wealthy pay their share.

TW: Last year I ran to uplift community voices. I want to rally for immigrants and refugees, who if they are not at the table, are on the menu. The Sound Transit process bypassed the community, they were dictating down to the community. Public Safety. Affordability – so many levies, affects elders on fixed income. Homelessness, working on streamlining regulation of the homeless authority. MFTE tax exemption for density bonus. Bonuses for saving trees.

Q: What do you have in common with each other?

TW: Our goals are the same, having a safe, compassionate, affordable city. Address poverty, entrepreneurship.

AMR: We are both focused on safety concerns, public safety response. Comp Plan, how to expand housing everywhere without displacement.

Q: What is the actual job of City Council? What does your Citywide position mean?

AMR: What is the built environment of our city, what investments are we making? It is exciting to meet across the city, see what is happening in each district.

TW: Transportation Levy, infrastructure, modes. CARE, community safety. Community Centers, libraries, parks. I love working with other CMs. We all represent Seattle.

Q: The Budget has a $260million deficit. How do you address this?

TW: The Mayor dropped the budget proposal today, beginning a 2-month process. We have to work within our means, protect essentials, look for places to move money around. I would like to fund Youth Care, have money for entrepreneurs, refugees, immigrants. Shortfalls are being met through a hiring freeze and layoffs in administrative positions. Money from the JumpStart program is also used.

AMR: JumpStart is a progressive source of funding used to cover the deficit. As a UW policy planner, I helped administer a $90million budget, analogous. How to maintain strong bond ratings. Pandemic needs soared, remain high, we need to seek new progressive revenue sources.

Q: What is the Comp Plan?

AMR: Cities across the state are required to have a plan under the Growth Management Act. Each city plans to accommodate for growth, a giant planning exercise. City and county plans fall under Vision 2050, the Puget Sound Regional Council plan. I will be excited to see the updated draft. We need more housing opportunities, more neighborhood centers, more places for density, more TOD. Equity, density across the city, not just displacing some communities.

TW: It is how we want to see Seattle grow. The plan is based on neighborhood plans from 1990. State law HB1110 – everyone wants to build more, but we want trees, we can do both. We need a displacement plan, Central District for example.Implementation, SEPA, all happens after the budget is finished.

Q: How do we get more affordability and diversity in Fremont and Wallingford?

TW: Raising tax rates is hard on people. Make sure people are getting tax exemptions, rate programs. These are not all in one place, its a question of how to get these to the people that need them.

AMR: Increase housing supply for costs to go down, but also invest in affordable housing, such as artists’ housing – perhaps a federal investment area? We have an over-reliance on property taxes. Wages, how people keep up with the cost of living, child care workers, nurses.

Q: What can we do to help small business, small landlords?

AMR: Small Business is a cornerstone of our communities. The Office for Economic Development can work to reduce costs. Property crime, broken windows program, getting feedback on small business experience. Owners work crazy hours, need active outreach.

TW: Lots of challenges, so many are closing. It’s a tough environment, the costs of doing business are so high. Property crime damage, safety for workers. Can CARE help? If a person in crisis comes in, who to call? How can we help art galleries open? Ways to connect to government resources.

Q: What is “public safety”?

TW: Community safety, environment. We need more police, CARE and all resources funded, safe places to go, like libraries.

AMR: Going to school without fear of gun violence, work and commute free of violence, everyone getting their needs met and holding perpetrators accountable.

Q: What about pedestrian safety?

AMR: The built environment – design roads/streets for vulnerable users. Bike lanes, sidewalks, much of the city needs these investments.

TW: Vote on the Transportation Levy in November, a big opportunity. Bike lanes, traffic calming, Vision Zero. Every community is different on how to modify infrastructure. Make buses and Sound Transit available to everyone. Lighting, safety, trees, what do communities want, getting people comfortable out of cars.

(More discussion on Safety)

TW: Hire and train officers, have officers who are connected to communities. Fully fund CARE. Have de-escalation teams to help people without calling police.

AMR: Quick response, right response. 10 minutes for Tier 1, should be 7 minutes. How to improve first responders across the board. It’s a national issue. Build the hiring pool through educational institutions. Keep officers focused on solving violent crime. Use other first responders appropriately.

Q: What is your plan for the climate crisis?

AMR: Seattle is a climate refuge, how do we plan appropriately? There will be more growth. How do we address climate locally? Reduce the need for cars, reduce solid waste and building emissions.

TW: Tree ordinance is not perfect, we’re not meeting our 30% by 2037 goal, will be evaluating this again in December, after the budget. Connect people to programs for heat pumps and other energy efficiency.

Closing Statements:

TW: I’ve been in office for 9 months, proposed a couple of pieces of legislation. It takes time. SEPA for housing, public safety, housing, trees, Community watch, the hotel, my experiences help me on Council. Would like to see more balance, less ideology, more to address homelessness.

AMR: I have experience in unifying people across the political spectrum. Action plan to address homelessness. Climate change is here now, we need to act. We will fight for working families.

Pete Hanning announced a memorial for Benny on October 1st.

Board Business

Postponed 

Fremont Neighborhood Council Meeting Minutes August 26, 2024

Board members present and remaining for the business meeting were Brynna Conway,  Lydia Heard, Timothy Kitchen, Gordon Lagerquist, Audrey Livermore, Caroline Sayre, and Alyson Teeter-Baker, representing a voting quorum. Tim chaired and moderated the meeting which was also  livestreamed on Facebook and Instagram.

Land Acknowledgement: We acknowledge that we gather this evening on the traditional lands of the Duwamish, Stillagamish, Suquamish, and Coast Salish peoples.

Sonny Nguyen, North Community Engagement Coordinator, Seattle Department of Neighborhoods

The Fremont Troll was one of our first projects. It was a PlaceMaking project, in a location/area that has people interacting, in neighborhoods where people live their lives. I am sort of the North Seattle “vibes” coordinator, we check in and report on current neighborhood vibes, such as pothole concerns, which we pass on to SDOT. DoN supports engagement across the city.

Question: Is there a list of community groups in each district? (They are working on it). When the Office of Planning and Community Development (OPCD) is seeking public input, how do the know who to contact? They have their own staff and consultants, and work with the Mayor.

Topic for this meeting: How to get involved and be better connected. DoN has a People’s Academy for Public Engagement, offered periodically, that teaches how to develop skills, testify before Council, and how to understand land use and legislation. PACE@seattle.gov

Neighborhood Matching Fund: (this works for projects such as building another Troll) This matches funds from the community, up to a limit. It is used for projects such as murals, lighting, outreach and engagement, festivals (the Solstice Festival gets NMF funds). Seattle.gov/neighborhoods/nmf 

NMFund@Seattle.gov

Small Sparks funds can be accessed throughout the year, a smaller fund to jump start community projects.

Questions: How do we close a street for a festival, or something like a First Friday Art Walk? For busy streets you have to have SPD involvement, but it is doable. Pete Hanning: Non-arterial streets are easier. Q: We want more artwork, there is the 1% for art program, but where do funds come from? That may be a Council question but we can help fill in the gaps beyond what is required. Tim to Pete: What about the Creative Arts District? It is a state program, but we may combine that with other funding pieces. Q: What is our vibe? Sonny: Affordability, property crime, nervous about personal crime, thefts, break-ins at small businesses, parks and public spaces. Q: 911 and police response won’t handle more than immediate emergencies, no other good way of reporting crime. Sonny: CARE deals with 911 calls and also mental health response, there is not enough staffing there yet. Reach out to your CM, Chief of Police Smith. Joel (CM Strauss office): The City raised the salary of SDP officers to $110,000. We need new hires, recommend this to people. Q: If we want to do something that involves SDOT, do we reach out directly to them? Sonny: If you know who to contact, yes. If you don’t know who to contact, ask me. Q: Police reform is unresolved, morality and morals, I hesitate to involve them. Mental health and addiction issues – are there plans for payouts from drug companies? Sonny: Faith communities, HHS (Health and Human Services), Office of Accountability might be the ones to address this Joel: Budgetary staff may be addressing some issues. Pete H: Build relationships with the North Precinct CPT (Community Police Team). Hard to get direct engagement now, not enough bandwidth. Q: We got a grant matched with volunteer hours to get the 46th St. Mural, over 10 years now. The tagging around the City is appalling. Can we put those taggers to making constructive art? Can we sponsor a cohort to the programs you mentioned? Sonny: Yes to the NMF, volunteer hours count in the match. We have a new hire as PACE coordinator, starts in two weeks, reach out to them. Q: If I want to paint my street or intersection, throw a block party, does that qualify for NMF? Sonny: Painting crosswalks – possible, but preference given to larger outreach projects. See what other Fremont projects have been funded. Q: How do people find Third Places in Seattle? Sonny: How do other people do this? Discussion: Just sit outside and talk to people. Ernst Park, an outdoor space for community. Are there plans for a Community Center here? No plans, start with a Needs Assessment, ask your CM. The library has free meeting rooms, lots of different groups of like minded people make connections there. Need places to play volleyball or basketball. Go out to dinner to meet strangers and talk. Its hard to know in Seattle who wants to talk to you. Fremont Arts Council has open workshops at the Powerhouse (currently for Luminata). We have a volunteer trash pickup group every two weeks, one member makes art from trash. FNC meetings. Rowing and Running clubs. Talk to people on elevators. Follow your interests, attend meetings like this and expand outside your network of interest. Masons, Elks, fraternal organizations. Outlets to be supportive of others in your community. Volunteer at Oktoberfest.

Comment on FNC business, to all gathered, FNC meetings will either have a change of venue or a change of nights going forward, speak now if you have a preference.

Regular meeting adjourns. Business meeting moves to Shawn O’Donnell’s.

Board Business

Motion to approve July minutes with one amendment; motion approved.

Motion to keep the Doric Lodge as meeting venue and move regular meeting dates to the fourth Tuesday of the month; motion approved.

Fremont Neighborhood Council Meeting Minutes July 22, 2024

Board members present and remaining for a voting quorum in the business meeting were Brynna Conway,  Lydia Heard, Colleen Kaminski, Timothy Kitchen, Patricia Kwan, Gordon Lagerquist, Audrey Livermore, Caroline Sayre, Alyson Teeter-Baker, and  Sophie Wagner, representing a voting quorum. Colleen chaired and moderated the meeting which was also  livestreamed on Facebook and Instagram.

Land Acknowledgement: We acknowledge that we gather this evening on the traditional lands of the Duwamish, Stillagamish, Suquamish, and Coast Salish peoples.

Woodland Park Zoo Updates: Katie Bang, Sr. Director of Facilities

Katie presented slides and information about the Forest Trailhead Project, currently under construction. There are some impacts to the neighborhood, but they are trying to be a good neighbor. This project is part of the Zoo conservation messaging. They have 32 conservation programs around the world. Forests are a way to combat climate change. Saving and improving them involves community-led solutions. The Project is an immersive exhibit. The exterior takes you up into a view of canopy habitat. The ground interior has forest floor exhibits, and also leads up to an interior view of the tree canopy. Red pandas, Keas, and Tree Kangaroo exhibits are highlighted and represent New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and Nepal. Some of the former Day/Night exhibits are also recreated here. Construction should finish in August 2025, and the exhibits should open May 2026. A very large tower crane (200 feet) should be in place tomorrow; this is a first for the Zoo.

The Reptile Realm should be reopened this Fall; a new facility replaces one built in the 1940s.  This one reduces carbon impact. There will be murals including one by Jeff Jacobson (sp?). Later this year we will be starting a new Long Range Plan and issuing an RFP for planning consultants.

Q/A: How long will the crane be there? Until October. What are you most excited about? I am a Landscape Architect and working at the Zoo is really my dream job. The Zoo Neighborhood Liaison (name?) reminded folks that the community can contact the Zoo by email zooneighbors@zoo.org or via the website  at zoo.org/neighbors. You can also sign up for the Zoo newsletter, which only comes out 3-4 times a year. Other questions: What are the other construction impacts? Mostly big trucks coming through the neighborhood. Does this impact the Komodo Dragon exhibit? It will close for a couple of days in order to reveal the whole new Reptile Realm. As a reminder, this is a replacement for the Day/Night exhibit which burned as well as a renovation of the reptile space.

Guest Speaker: Council Dan Strauss, D6

Colleen provided ground rules. Dan will cover topics we presented in advance for the first 15 minutes, then we will take audience questions from note cards that you fill out now. We won’t be taking raised hand questions. We have a timer for each topic.

Dan began by listing all the neighborhoods he represents, and the Council Committees he chairs or is a member of. He has new office staff including Joel (present), who has not yet gotten his contract, he is that new. 

  • This year Dan moved from chairing the Land Use Committee to being the Budget chair of the Finance Committee. He is also on the Sound Transit board, and on the board of a group representing 281 Washington cities. 
  • He was dealing with homelessness around Leary Way for 3-4 months earlier this year.
  •  In February, he presented a proposal for the Burke Gilman Missing LInk. He got SDOT to break the mold on a trail plan. 
  • He is also involved in government to government relations on hydropower and other issues with indigenous tribes. There is a protocol involved, more than just talk.
  •  Ballard Commons playground and splash park opened, a big deal, in the works since 2017. There is a new affordable housing development of 86 units a half block from the Commons. 
  • The Nordic Museum is hosting a traveling exhibit of African Americans in Nordic countries. This (Nordic Museum) is the first National museum in Washington. Director Eric Nelson has several knighthoods from different countries. 
  • There are more than 200 miles of coastline in Seattle, several different agencies are involved in patrolling them but we need even more patrols. There is a big increase in recreational water use and it gets to be a mess. We have seaplane landing zones marked with flashing buoys but still get conflicts with paddleboards, kayaks and small boats.
  • He provided a handout regarding the Transportation Levy, and will only discuss what was done at City Council.

Question: What are you and the city doing about pedestrian safety and traffic? Answer: Those are different questions, there is safety, and then there is reliability. We are extending the 6th Ave Greenway to go out to Carkeek Park. We are looking at seismic improvements for the Magnolia and Ballard Bridges. The narrow sidewalk on the Ballard Bridge is very uncomfortable. SDOT has looked at things like a cantilevered sidewalk, which is very expensive and I would like other options. We have considered a passenger foot ferry across the canal. I worked on amendments for the industrial maritime zones to strengthen industrial manufacturing, loosen regulations in the buffer zones. Freight has to get from those zones to I-5. ST3 (Sound Transit) needs to start looking ahead at ST4. We are still not getting from Tacoma to Everett, we need that spine finished. Some failed amendments: We tried to get investments on 14th Ave from the Canal to Market, where the parking is in the median. There are 8 points of conflict at every intersection. Moving the travel lanes to the center median would resolve a lot of that. I wanted to move the Ballard Ave dining structures up against the buildings, but that would have impeded ADA accessibility and required ramps at every entryway.

Audience Question: We see a lot of near collisions at 39th and Fremont Ave, bikes cut off, etc. Who do we reach out to for specific area problems? Answer: Joel will be a point of contact in my office, or any of my staff. As a caution, it took two years to get stop signs at an intersection, even when the need was supported by data. It is a slow process. Crosswalks at 3rd Ave also took two years.

Question: What is the status of Ernst Park? It was authorized, had funding, is there an update? Answer: During the pandemic funding had to be re-prioritized. Several Parks Levy projects were delayed. For Ernst, the permits expired and Parks is working to get new permits. There is no confirmed timeline, but construction might begin in 2025. You hold us accountable, we will go to Parks to get answers, we will work together to get it done. Discussion: Should we reach out to Parks? Yes, if there is a stalemate, come back to me and we will escalate. Discussion: We have been waiting since 2017 and Fremont doesn’t have a lot of parks. This park is also an important connection to the Library, and would provide an ADA accessible path.

Question: The Moisture Festival was at Hales Brewer (now closed) for 20 years. How can we bring it back? Answer: We need new artists’ spaces. Zoo, would you like to host it? What about Fremont Studios? Let’s follow up.

Question: DoN (Department of Neighborhoods) neighborhood staff and support were eliminated some time ago. Do you support bringing it back? How do we advocate for this? Answer: When I was on Ballard District Council we had that staff support, we have had three mayors since then. I dedicate a quarter of my staff to neighborhood support functions. I can control my own team. Amy Enbysk on my staff went to all meetings, and that carries more weight than DoN, actually. DoN used to run the Ballard Customer Service Center, and Councils got some funding, it’s not the same now. It’s all about relationships. Amy tried to fulfill that function at meetings. Has anyone worked with Sonny Nguyen at DoN?

Question: Does the City Council do well with transparency and accountability? Answer: There are 9 separately elected officials, we can’t tell each other what to do. I am transparent about what I work on, the maritime issues, even the tree ordinance which was controversial, but very transparent. Each of the 9 is different. We pass laws and budgets, everything else is soft power, building relationships. The Budget Committee is facing a $260million shortfall, the first time this has happened. We started the budget process early, in April, to try to deal with this.

Question: On the Seattle Comprehensive Plan, how is your office addressing housing affordability? Answer: We are expecting a final draft by December (soft dates). We need more density, but need to grow with grace. We need housing for families with kids, and senior friendly housing (no stairs). All the large new buildings are rentals rather than condos, which inhibits home equity. All over our neighborhoods are 100 year old examples of beautiful multiplex housing which is now illegal to build. How do we fix this? We allowed for religious institutions to get zoning bonuses. Q. Is it because small projects are removed from Design Review? A. Design Review is broken. It has been weaponized to slow or stop projects, which makes the process more costly. I don’t know the answer.

End of Session: Colleen will write up and send the specific questions to Dan Strauss’ office. Dan: I have office hours at Ballard Service Center.

General meeting adjourns. Board remains for business meeting.

Fremont Neighborhood Council Meeting Minutes June 24, 2024

Board members present were Nivi Achanta,Tawny Bates, Brynna Conway,  Lydia Heard, Colleen Kaminski, Timothy Kitchen, Patricia Kwan, Gordon Lagerquist, Audrey Livermore, Alyson Teeter-Baker, and  Sophie Wagner, representing a voting quorum. Tim opened the meeting, with requests made for respectful interactions and timekeeping considerations.

Land Acknowledgement: We acknowledge that we gather this evening on the traditional lands of the Duwamish, Stillagamish, Suquamish, and Coast Salish peoples.

Guest Speaker: Council Member Maritza Rivera, D4

Tim moderated the discussion which was also livestreamed on Facebook.

Question: Can you tell us about yourself, and your priorities for our district and city? What are your levers of change for the district? Answer:We are all neighbors, we can agree to disagree, passionately, but we need to work together to get the city to where we want to be. She is here to represent D4 constituents and wants to hear from us. She gave some of her personal background and how that led her to a career in public service and a wish to give back to the community. She loves Mayor Harrell’s idea of One Seattle, and that we can all care deeply about making Seattle a great place. Public Safety is a high priority, keeping kids safe and addressing gun violence. Housing shortage and affordability is a high priority. Accountability, as we are stewards of public funds. Look at outcomes, be honest, if something is not working, shift to something else and do it differently.

Audience Question: As Chair of the Libraries committee, what do you think about the hiring freeze? Answer: I don’t get to the library often due to work, but as a kid the library was my safe place and I am a big proponent. The hiring freeze has been lifted but now we have the ransomware situation. I can’t say much about that for legal reasons. They are working hard and doing a great job, but don’t return books just yet while they try to get services back on track. Libraries are supported from a Library Levy and the General Fund. The Mayor sends us a balanced budget, we review and respond, make decisions. We are facing a $26million deficit and don’t know yet how the gap will be addressed. The Chief Librarian is doing the best he can.

Audience Question: How are you going to keep seniors in their own homes, and not be forced to sell to developers? Can you help seniors be their own developer, add ADUs or DADUs? Answer: This is an issue across the city. Taxes go up and seniors are on a fixed income. I am mindful of it but not sure of the solution. Raise this as part of the Comp Plan. Prices are rising, not enough inventory, this is all connected.

Question: Are safe at grade crossings, Aurora Ave, school routes, a priority for you? Will Levy monies address this? Answer: The current levy has money to address Vision Zero, pedestrian safety, safe crossings, Safe Routes to School, safe bike lanes, building and repairing sidewalks, and ADA accessibility. Vision Zero was started a number of years ago. There are proposals for all of these in the current levy, also Pedestrian Leading Signals. I hear a lot about pedestrian safety in our district and have been working closely with Rob Saka on this. I have been working with the Mayor and my colleagues in supporting this levy. Council has to pass it, then what the votes pass is what gets funding. Question: There are 6 or 7 schools just off of Aurora, are there specific asks in the levy for Aurora crossings? Answer: I don’t know the specific sites prioritized, I will ask for specifics from SDOT. Question: Can the levy be made larger: Answer: The Mayor put forth a $1.4million levy. Rob Saka increased it to $1.55milion. There is a lot of work to determine what constituents will support. We need to ensure broad support to pass the levy.

Question: What is your decision making process?Who do you listen to?  Do advocacy letters count? Answer: I want to hear from fold in D4 about what you support. Responses run the gamut. I listen to my D4 constituents, public comments in meetings like this, and email. I work together with my colleagues and what their folks want. Email wendy.sykes@seattle.gov or me to get more answers. Email to council@seattle.gov goes to all council members.

Question: The Seattle comprehensive plan decides housing and building policy in Seattle for the next 10 years: what can be built, how much of it can be built, and where. It’s a huge deal. We are in a housing affordability, availability, and homelessness crisis. We also want to ensure our neighborhoods are livable, for example with enough nature and green space, and transportation access. How can the comp plan help meet these needs? What is a good process for obtaining community input and ownership of the comp plan? Answer: It is a 20 year plan starting this year. I encourage everyone to get involved. OPCD is responsible for developing the plan, which is in draft form now. There were many listening sessions, which are completed for now. You can still provide feedback on the website. It will go back to the public for more feedback. Parks, amenities, groceries, jobs and recreation are all part of the plan. There will be more listening sessions. Question: The OPCD plan as it debuted last had a greater abundance of housing and development opportunities. The map released by the Mayor showed big reductions from the original. If the intent is to allow more people to live in the city, the Mayor’s plan seems to fall short? Answer: State law (HB 1110) increases the density allowance for all neighborhoods. We have so muchSingle Family in the city. There are still Urban Centers, and now Neighborhood Centers. Let the City know how you feel. Everyone has a different opinion, make yours heard. Contact OPCD, One Seattle. Share your ideas about how much density you would like to see.

Facebook Question: How do you influence crisis policy in our Business District? Answer: We spend a lot of time on Public Safety, hiring and retention of officers. Small businesses get broken into repeatedly. We don’t have the resources to deal with all of the issues. Mental health, addiction, there are not enough people in the field to find folks to divert to services. They have to be sober and consenting. We need more officers, more services. Q: Is there a fund for small businesses to do repairs? A: OED has that fund, there are some challenges. We can’t use public funds for private use. We’re using federal dollars given during COVID, we can use that until the end of the year. That can be used for storefronts. It’s hard to do that with City funds due to legal issues. The same businesses are hit over and over but they can’t keep using the fund, there is a two-time limit. OED is trying to figure out how else we can help.

Question: What is your vision of good police service? Answer: Police response in fifteen minutes in an emergency. All 911 calls are prioritized by the level of immediate danger. They can only address Priority 1, my goal is that we can extend that to Priority 3.

Question: What channels do you listen to, to inform policy? Answer: Community Councils, events, direct communication. I get information from folks in D4. Overwhelmingly I hear about public safety and crime. Also alternatives to policing where appropriate, such as CARE, but they need an officer present. Some Fire responses also need Police assistance.

You can contact me at Maritza.Rivera@seattle.gov (session ends).

General meeting adjourns. Board remains for business meeting.