Public invited to have a say in Seattle Public Utilities’ future

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Posted: January 22, 2014

Seattle Public Utilities is seeking input for its strategic plan.  Below is their recent news release.

The public invited to have a say in Seattle Public Utilities’ future.  Five public meetings scheduled around the city, from early February to early March.

Starting next month, Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) will be seeking the public’s help in developing a strategic business plan to guide the utility’s investments, services and rates through the year 2020 — with the goal of keeping Seattle one of the best places to live.

Last year, Seattle City Council asked SPU to develop a predictable and transparent six-year business plan for water, sewer and garbage/recycling rates. In creating the strategic plan, the utility was asked to conduct an activity-by-activity evaluation of its spending to identify reasonable future growth in costs and rates.

As a starting point for its discussion with customers, SPU has developed a baseline estimate of the cost of maintaining its operations at current service levels. With no changes in its present business plans, the utility would require rate increases of about 4.7 percent a year, for the next six years. For an average household, utility bills would go from $325 in 2015 to $422 in 2020 — about $16 a year.

The main drivers of those projected baseline rate increases are: inflation, 53 percent; debt payment, 28 percent; contracts, 12 percent; and taxes, 7 percent. The business plan, which will be presented to the mayor and City Council this summer, will address not only growth in utility rates from a perspective of covering SPU’s operating costs — but also the growth in utility bills from the perspective of customers’ ability to pay.

To gain that public perspective, SPU will be holding a series of community meeting, beginning early next month. The primary goal of the public meetings is to provide direction for the utility — in a way that reflects customer values, provides rate predictability and results in the best value for customer dollars. SPU hopes to engage as many customers as possible and has designed themeetings with the aim of getting public input representative of the city’s demographics and key stakeholders of the utility.

 In addition to five general public meetings around the city, SPU will conduct targeted outreach to low-income and African American community members as well as in-language focus groups with Vietnamese, Chinese, Spanish, Somali, and Khmer-speaking communities. The utility will also work to ensure the five general public meetings are accessible to as many communities as possible. These targeted efforts are part of SPU’s commitment to Seattle’s Race and Social Justice Initiative, which works to ensure that all people of the City of Seattle receive equitable services and access to SPU’s decision-making processes.

A nine-person Customer Review Panel has been working since April 2013 to provide guidance on the Strategic Business Plan and to also periodically review SPU’s progress in implementing the plan. Panel members were selected by — and report independently to — the Mayor and City Council.

 Public meetings schedule for SPU’s Strategic Business Plan.

February 5, 2014, 6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Garfield Community Center

2323 East Cherry Street, Seattle, 98122

February 13, 2014, 6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

High Point Community Center

6920 34th Avenue SW, Seattle, 98126

February 20, 2014, 6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Magnuson Park – The Brig

6344 NE 74th Street, Seattle, 98115 

February 22, 2014, 10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

North Seattle Community College, Room CC1161 in the Conference Center

9600 College Way North, Seattle, 98103 

March 1, 2014, 10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Van Asselt Community Center

2820 South Myrtle Street, Seattle, 98108

Can’t attend a community meeting? Customers are invited to take a survey online and learn more at www.seattle.gov/util.

Learn more about Seattle Public Utilities, at: http://www.seattle.gov/util.

Follow SPU on Twitter: www.twitter.com/SeattleSPU.

 

New Police Chief Search Town Hall Meetings

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Updated: January 19, 2014

The  City of Seattle is in the process of a national search for a new Chief of Police. A number of community town hall  meetings will be held in January and early February to  gather our input.

  • Tues,             Jan. 28, 6-8 p.m., University Heights Center
  • Wed,             Jan. 29, 6-8 p.m., Garfield Community Center
  • Thurs,          Jan. 30, 6-8 p.m., Youngstown Cultural Arts Center
  • Sat,             Feb. 1, Noon-2 p.m., Van Asselt Community Center

The Community Advisory Committee will also use public feedback collected in earlier  community surveys conducted by the Monitor of the settlement agreement and the Community Police Commission.

The search committee will work with the search firm to gather  and screen applications using the input collected by the Community Advisory Committee, and conduct candidate interviews.

For details please  click on the listed link for  more information about the entire process:  http://seattle.gov/spd-chief-search

King County Proposal to Fund Metro Transit and Avoid Cuts

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Posted: January 14, 2014

King County today announced a proposed way to fund Metro Transit when temporary funding expires in mid-2014.  Below is the announcement.

From: King County Metro Transit
Sent: Tuesday, January 14, 2014 5:06 PM
Subject: A new proposal to keep buses on the road

With the state legislature’s transportation funding effort stalled, County Executive Constantine has announced a new proposal to keep buses on the road.

Today he asked the County Council to take swift action to secure stable funding for Metro and avert service cuts. He asked the Council to form a countywide transportation benefit district—allowed under state law—and put a funding proposal on the ballot for a public vote. The vote could happen as soon as April. Read more about what’s proposed.

As another part of the solution, the Executive proposed an across-the-board 25-cent fare increase for all regular service that would take effect in March 2015. The fare for Access Transportation riders would go up by 50 cents. We would also start a new reduced fare for people with low incomes, set at $1.50, to help keep bus service affordable for the people who depend on it most. Eligible riders could pay the low-income fare only with ORCA—not cash. Learn more.

In case new funding does not become available, Metro continues to conduct countywide outreach (through Feb. 7) on proposed service cuts. The proposed reductions– up to 17 percent of Metro’s service—would be necessary to close a $75 million shortfall after temporary funding runs out in mid-2014. The cuts would begin this fall. (Visit our website to see what’s proposed and tell us what you think; Read our blog to see what we have been hearing from riders)

The Council will consider these proposals in the coming weeks and months; we’ll let you know about opportunities to express your views to elected officials on each of these critical decisions.

 

Seattle Parks, citizens’ committee to meet with community

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Posted: January 13, 2014

Seattle Parks and Recreation will host three community meetings in January to get feedback on the work done by the Parks legacy Citizens’ Advisory Committee in preparation for a potential 2014 park and recreation funding ballot measure.

The meetings will be held:

Thursday, January 23, International District/Chinatown Community Center, 719 8th Ave. S, at 6 p.m.

Saturday, January 25, High Point Community Center, 6920 34th Ave. SW, 1 p.m. (free childcare will be provided)

Thursday, January 30, Bitter Lake Community Center, 13035 Linden Ave. N, at 7 p.m.

The meetings will feature a brief presentation that describes how the committee has prioritized a list of potential investment initiatives. That will be followed by professionally facilitated workshops that seek community input in three specific areas.

1. Priorities. Did the Committee find the right balance among: 1) taking care of the park and recreation assets that the City already owns; 2) funding programs, classes and services for the community; and 3) preparing for the future by developing “land banked” park properties into new parks and acquiring new park land?

2. Size. Attendees will learn how different levels of funding affect homeowner taxes, and then give feedback on which size of funding package seems appropriate.

3. Funding mechanism. Facilitators will explain the differences between short-term, longterm, and permanent levies, and how those compare to the formation of a metropolitan parks district (MPD). Attendees will then be asked to give feedback on which mechanism is most suitable for Seattle, and will be offered the chance to express thoughts or concerns about each option.

Seattle Parks and Recreation began working on the Park Legacy Plan, which forms the basis of a ballot funding measure, more than a year ago. The process began with a series of community and park-user surveys, and culminated with six public meetings throughout the city to gather input. The process has focused on bringing a chorus of voices into the conversation about how Seattle Parks and Recreation can meet the growing needs of a vibrant city.

After Seattle Parks published the second draft of the Parks Legacy Plan in June 2013, the Mayor and City Council convened a volunteer Parks Legacy Citizens’ Advisory Committee to advise them on what a park funding ballot measure should pay for and what type of funding mechanism it should be – a levy or a metropolitan parks district.

In December, the committee released its preliminary report and a first draft of a prioritized list of programs and services it believes should be funded. At each of its meetings, the committee took public input, and it held a public hearing in November.

At the community meetings in January, the public will learn more about the committee’s recommendations, become educated on the possible funding options, and meet and talk with committee members.

After the January community meetings, the committee will reconvene in February to review, and perhaps revise, its preliminary recommendations based on the public input; and they will discuss and make a recommendation on the size and type of the funding measure. The committee will send its final recommendations to the Mayor and City Council on March 12.

Committee members are: Barbara Wright, Co-Chair; Charlie Zaragoza, Co-Chair; Thatcher Bailey; Steve Daschle; Juli Farris; Bill Farmer; Thomas Goldstein; Jessie Israel; Diana Kincaid; Michael Maddux; Brice Maryman; Yalonda Gill Masundire; Mustapha Math; Erika Melroy; and David Namura.

To learn more, read the Legacy Committee’s Interim Report. It’s available at www.seattle.gov/parks/legacy/committee ,  Tor in hard copy at community centers and pools. The interim Report details the committee’s process, rationale, and interim recommendations.

Detailed information about each proposed investment and possible funding mechanisms is also available on the Parks Legacy Citizens’ Advisory Committee website, and will be available at the meetings.

Those who want to give input, but are not able to come to the meetings can give written comments, which bear equal weight to verbal comments. Please email comments to parkslegacy@seattle.gov.

For interpretation services or special accommodations at the meeting, please email parkslegacy@seattle.gov or call Susanne Rockwell (206-733-9702).

SPU Weather Warning, and Broadview Project Update

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Posted: January 9, 2014

The manager of Seattle Public Utilities (SPU)  Broadview Sewer and Drainage Improvement Project, Celia Kennedy, sent the following message.

Dear Broadview resident,

As you may know, forecasters are predicting a fast-moving storm on Friday and Saturday, with the potential for some heavy rain in Seattle, including in the Broadview area.

We encourage you to report any sewage back-up issues in your home, or stormwater ponding/flooding problems, by calling the Seattle Public Utilities 24/7 Operations Response Center at 206-386-1800.

Please make sure the storm drains in your street are clear of debris prior to the storm.

Broadview Sewer & Drainage Improve Project Update

The Broadview technical team is currently analyzing options for sewer solutions in the western one-third of Broadview (named 12th Ave. sewer basin, see attached map for reference). We are evaluating potential options in terms of cost, time to implement, potential effects to residents, environmental benefits/impacts, and other key factors. Because the most frequent sewer backups occur in the 12th Ave. basin, we are currently focusing on this portion of Broadview.

We plan to hold a public meeting early this year to provide more details on the top three to five options under consideration. We will also be proposing improvements to the drainage system as part of this project, based on the input we have received from neighbors in the area. Your input on the options will be important to the team as we work toward selecting and implementing a preferred option. Watch for more details on the public meeting in the near term.

Later this year, we plan to complete a similar analysis of sewer and drainage improvement options for the Dayton Ave. sewer basin, which includes the eastern half and most of the southern half of Broadview.

Broadview Website Updates

We recently updated the Broadview website to reflect current project information and to include the outcomes of recent pilot projects to reduce infiltration and install backflow valves. Check the website for ongoing project updates and information.

Thank you for your continued interest in this project, and for your patience and participation as we work to select options that will help provide feasible, long-term solutions to sewer backups and stormwater flooding in Broadview.

Celia S. Kennedy, Project Manager Broadview Sewer and Drainage Improvement Project SPU_BroadviewProjects@seattle.gov 206-409-3651 www.seattle.gov/util/BroadviewProjects

Traffic Calming on 3rd Avenue NW

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Posted: January 9, 2014

Yesterday Broadview Community Council President Eugene Wasserman relayed the following information about traffic calming on 3rd Avenue NW.
The Seattle Department of Transportation is planning to put two radar speed displays on 3rd Ave NW, between NW 130th St. and NW 145th St.  If you drive 8th Ave NW just south of Holman Rd on the southbound side one is currently operating.
These displays are instead of the speed bumps that were originally planned on the northern part of 3rd Ave NW.
For the last year and a half the Community Council has been working with SDOT on traffic safety on 3rd.
The radar speed displays will be placed  by the end of this month
1. On the east side of 3rd Ave NW just north of 130th S for northbound traffic.
2. On the west side of 3rd Ave NW just north of 137th St for southbound traffic.
If you have any concerns about them let me know.
Or call John Marek  at SDOT 206 684-5069 or John.Marek@seattle.gov.
If you contact John please let me know just so I know your concerns.
Eugene Wasserman
President
Broadview Community Council

North Transfer Station Closing January 20

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Posted: January 4, 2014

The current transfer station in Wallingford will close after 5:30 p.m. on January 20, 2014 for a station rebuild. The new North Transfer Station is expected to open in 2016.

Location

1350 North 34th Street (located in the Fremont/Wallingford area at North 34th Street, near Carr Place North). Directions

Find on Google Maps

Hours

8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., 7 days a week Closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day North station is also closed on July 4th

Plan your trip to avoid waiting in long lines

The North Recycling and Disposal Station receives more customer visits than the South Recycling and Disposal Station on all days of the week – the driving time between stations, however, is around 20 minutes each way.

  • Busiest times are Monday mornings as well as Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
  • Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays generally have the least number of customer visits.
  • Commercial garbage collection truck traffic is heaviest between 3 – 5 p.m. on weekdays.

City Council approves acquisition of property for a new North Precinct Police Station

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Posted: December 18, 2013

On Dec. 16, 2013, the City Council approved the legislation authorizing the acquisition of three parcels – located at the southeast corner of Aurora Avenue North and North 130th Street – for a new North Precinct Police Station. The City of Seattle intends to acquire ownership of this property using its power of eminent domain (condemnation) for public use. Such an action keeps the project on track and is favorable to the property sellers as well because it allows them additional time to reinvest the money they receive from the sale before capital gains taxes are due.

Links to news and updates can be found on this page on the project website: http://www.seattle.gov/new-north-precinct-station/news-and-updates

CKS Awarded SDOT Mini Grant for Walking School Bus Initiative

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Posted: December 11, 2013

Congratulations to Christ the King Catholic School in Broadview.  They were awarded a $1,000.00 grant from the Seattle Department of Transportation for their Walking School Bus Initiative.  CKS currently has a safety-patrol program, but under the leadership of a parent volunteer, launched a Walking School Bus this year.  They are hoping the grant money will help expand their program to help remove cars from the streets.

cks walking school bus photo

Christ the King Catholic School is located at 415 North 117th Street in Broadview.  It offers a challenging academic program, music, visual arts and Spanish for children in preschool through 8th grade.  Please visit the school website at www.ckseattle.org for more information about the school.

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