Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) crews were performing regular maintenance on a drainage line near Bitter Lake on Thursday night, May 10, when a local resident told them about a foul odor coming from a nearby catch basin (part of the street drainage system).  The crews responded, found sewage in some drainage structures, and started an investigation. They used the “drain cam” to look into the pipeline and found evidence of a sewage connection in the drainage system. The operations crew notified the Source Control Team (who enforces and investigates problems like this) that night.

No sewage has entered the lake since the problem was discovered on May 10. The line from the building has been plugged since then.
There is a flow control system in the basement of the building, so SPU staff members don’t believe there was a constant flow of sewage to the lake.

Friday morning, May 11, SPU Source Control staff visited the site and started their investigation, and they determined there was an illicit connection in place.  They issued a Notice of Violation to the property owner of an apartment building on Friday. It requires that the problem be fixed by Friday, May 18.

Although they had not taken water-quality samples yet, they decided to close the lake as a precaution to protect public health. Fliers were distributed at the Community Center, along the lake’s public access point, on telephone poles, and directly to residents on either side of the stormwater outfall.

Since Friday, May 11 drainage crews have cleaned the affected stormwater pipe to the lake and have continued to work with the property owner to get the connection fixed.  SPU has sampled to gather data about fecal coliform levels in the lake, and, when those data come back, will be making decisions about when to reopen the lake.

As a precaution it is recommended that people have no contact with Bitter Lake until the  sampling results are known. SPU expects to have them within a week, likely early the week of May 20. As soon as they are available, SPU will let people know what they are and what it means.

KOMO News also has an article.  And an article on KING 5.com has a perspective on the effect on people around the lake.

As we find more information we will post it.

A 39-year old, white female was arrested last week for multiple burglaries in the north end, some in which the residents were home at the time of the crime.  She confessed to detectives that she is an addict, and she preferred burglaries to prostitution. She spent the day with detectives showing them houses she had hit.  She told the detectives that she was surprised how many people leave their house keys out in mailboxes; or on the front porch (she found keys in a pair of shoes on front porch).  Please re-think the hide-away key.  You may think it is unusual to put in under a paving stone, or huge flower pot, etc. but burglars who do this for a living, know our hiding spots.  She also told the detectives that she often looked in the windows and could see the desirable loot in plain sight (purses, cash, and electronics).

Gardeners- I talked with a gentleman today who lives in the Maple Leaf neighborhood.  Evidently, during the glorious weather we had, he was gardening in the front yard.  A thief, unseen by neither the homeowner nor nearby neighbors, entered this home through the unlocked back door and took cash and prescription meds. from a back bedroom.   I know it may be inconvenient to keep your doors locked when you are home and gardening, but these crimes are quick and contribute to our burglary rate increases during summer months.  

National Night Out is coming on August 7^th but some block watchers are inquiring about registration already.    I will send out an email when the registration information is on the website.

Thanks for sharing this information with your neighbors.

Terrie Johnston

North Precinct

206.684.7711

Our neighborhood plan has gone through an update process over the past 18 months.  Now the challenge will be how to get the good ideas in the updated plan actually implemented.

Seattle City Council Members Richard Conlin and Sally Bagshaw have a citywide perspective on how neighborhoods get their desired projects done.

Come to the May Broadview Community Council meeting learn more, and network with others in our community who have an interest in
improving some aspect of our neighborhood.

The draft plan neighborhood plan update can be found online at:

http://www.seattle.gov/dpd/cms/groups/pan/@pan/@plan/@neighborplanning/documents/web_informational/dpdp021842.pdf

BCC meeting will be held at Luther Memorial Church

13047 Greenwood Ave. N

Meet and Greet at 6:30 PM

Meeting starts at 7:00 PM

There will be a large selection of perennials, native plants, annuals, vegetable starts, and a selection of perennials from Dunn Gardens.

More details can be found here Broadview Garden Club Plant Sale

http://www.seattle.gov/parks/environment/carkeek/earthkeepers.pdf

The day camp is a great way for young people ages 6-12 to learn about nature and the environment.

Also at Carkeek Park is the monthly Carkeek STARS volunteer work party.  Volunteers do forest restoration and trail maintenance work. http://www.broadviewseattle.org/carkeek-stars-jan-15-2011/

There are parks volunteer events all around the city.  See the Seattle Parks and Recreation volunteer calendar for a list of events you can participate in. http://www.cityofseattle.net/parks/calendar/volunteer.htm#

The weather forecast for Saturday is favorable for doing something outdoors.  Enjoy the day!

During the work there will be planned  power outages.  Customers will be notified about the specific date of a planned outage via a door hanger on the front door.  Outages typically will last 8 hours.

There will be a public meeting about the project at the Broadview Library on Monday, April 16 at 6:30 PM.  Customers living in an area with underground wiring will want to attend.  Here is a link to information about the meeting. http://www.seattle.gov/light/aboutus/construction/release.asp?RN=261