Everett Council of Neighborhoods

Council of Neighborhoods Meeting Minutes Feb 24, 2014 Attendance: Andrea Tucker, Roger Hoot, Michael Trujillo, Greg Campbell, Steve Bugge, Ben Blacker, Sandy Macham, Tom Norcott, Colleen Kain, Elly Smith, Holly Gibson, GeorgaDee MacLeod, Jim Prissel, Gary James, Dean Smith, Victor Harris, Laurel Hasley, Jo Brodersen, Dennis Dudder, Teresa Schultz Excused: Liz Hawkins, Vanessa Randall, George Lockeman Staff: Allan Giffen, Wendy McClure, Deborah Wright Guests: Graham Kerr, Trina Kerr, Michael Whitney Meeting was called to order at 4:15pm. Agenda and minutes of the previous meeting were approved. Citizen Comments: None Mayor Stephanson: Mayor highlighted several events. At the library “Stranger Than Fiction” is an event to support the library on Saturday. Sign up for the next round of CERT classes, which start March 19th. Sign up by contacting Office of Emergency Management. Boeing announced plans to build the composite wing here. The new building for the wing construction will be built here and may be as large as 1 million square feet. Ray Conner, Boeing, said it is a commitment for next 50 years. Planning Dept staff are working with Boeing to look at different layouts for building. Flat top office buildings will be demolished. Manufacturing of the 777x will be done in the added square footage at end of building. Given severe parking problems, they are working to identify additional spaces for parking. Demolition will occur soon, permits are anticipated before end of year for construction. Boeing has contributed to modification of Boeing Freeway 526 – majority of funding was mitigation of $53million. We have now reached highest employment level at Boeing plant -- 35,000 plus employees work there. Having the wing at Boeing, every airline will chase this wing technology. Future of Boeing’s commitment here is farther than any of us can see at this point. We need light rail to Everett, 2022 to Lynnwood, 2035 to Everett. That is ultimate solution. Question: What were the incentives offered here, compared to other states? Mayor’s response: Our constitution prohibits gifting of public funds, but legislature has continued the aerospace tax incentive – it was extended. Also there was a tax exemption for building construction taxes. The Legislature failed to act on a transportation package that would have benefitted the aerospace manufacturers in area. Disappointing that is seems it is not going forward. Maybe next year. Mayor reported that the Riverfront redevelopment project has been under review at Planning Commission. Polygon was asked to revise plan, it was modified and unanimously approved by Planning Commission for recommendation to City Council. It provides lower density that originally planned. There is a need for good housing stock - owner occupied is at a premium. This neighborhood will provide a range of housing types. It is not designed to be a low income housing neighborhood. The proposal moves to City Council on March 5. Broadway Bridge – this is an ongoing saga. State said we can have this construction money, but came in about $1.5 million short of request. Staff will be meeting with DOT, Mayor will follow-up if needed. Re: Day/night meeting – City Council process is something we can be proud of – Council wanted to preserve opportunity for those who can’t attend a night meeting to attend a day meeting. Previously Council moved to reverse from Charter to all but one day meeting. Mayor thinks local government is demonstrating what’s best about democracy – everyone is to be applauded. City Council Liaison: Council member Scott Bader commented on complaints about traffic issues at the TAC meetings. Infrastructure is so important. Councilmember Bader mentioned that hotel motel tax grants committee will meet, which helps promote tourism in Everett. Looking forward to that. Silver Lake property development will come to Council soon. No one got everything they wanted but he is happy about process. He updated the reps on the vote about meeting times for Wednesday Council meetings. He voted for the move but regardless of meeting times, citizens should be free to contact councilmembers any time. He would like more contacts. He encourages citizens to be at commission and committee meetings. Example of Riverfront development – lots of citizens attended and had input. He encourage folks to attend neighborhood meetings. Question: Teresa Schultz, Ridge/Madison rep, asked about work on water lines in her area. Street repairs to be done – Pecks and East Drive on west end of school were dug up. Dug out a lot of grass - south side of Madison on Beverly Lane which was not repaired. Saltchuk-Foss project is still in due diligence status. KC and Saltchuck due diligence discussions have been extended. City is looking at water treatment options with KC. Comment: Lowell Park parking lot has lots of holes and ruts which need repair. Special Guest: Graham Kerr - Graham Kerr was invited by and knows Greg Campbell, who has visited Mt. Vernon to explain how the Council of Neighborhoods works, and he is impressed with this form of democracy. A flash of silver. Chinook salmon as an example going up river. The flash of silver is a source of inspiration to other fish. Resilience – use of the term “sustainability” should be phased out, we need to move in a new direction. What we have been doing is not sustainable but is harming the planet. Resilience means a natural of way of sustaining life. Natural way of life is the key to survival. Backyard garden is best example – seed is extraordinary example, and gardening to grow food represents great opportunity to work with young people. It’s completely different from the new Boeing wing technology. His desire is that we could be pioneers in this time. PIONEER: Pass It on Now with Enthusiasm, Eagerness and Resilience. Eagerness – quivering nature of us when we are eager about something, we become focused. Four words related to resilience EGGS Humpty Dumpty is our medical system. Our fall is our behavior. 80% of chronic diseases are from our behavior. We are responding to market behavior of what is presented to us. We have fiddled with food and made it consumable. The closer to the garden, the most healthy. He recommends EGGS which is Eat-Grow-Gather-Share. We have 74 trillion cells in our body. Every second, cells are finishing a life cycle. Only when a free radical comes into cell, and cell forgets what is supposed to be doing. Cut down on free radicals coming in given pollution. Only thing that stops them is antioxidants. 7th day Adventists live longer with less hospitalizations than average person does. They are mostly vegetarians. Closer you get to garden grown food, healthier. Pass it on. Tremendous place to pass it on is in the community garden. Analogy to relay races, to pass along to oncoming generations. Need to pass along by 2020. We do not have much alternative after 2020. Eat first for self-interest, grow something to share with neighbors. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if someone from another culture presented in your neighborhood a dish from their culture, to share at a gathering? Kerr believes it is essential to share food with others. He gave the example of his health changes and Trina’s health crisis, which changed their eating habits. Saved money and health improved. They donated half of savings to benefit hungry. How extraordinary if we took the personal behavior changes in our nation, and gave the savings to those less fortunate. We have the freedom to allow ourselves to do – example that we could live a different way. We have to act to avoid climate disaster together. We need an example, reducing the risk for ourselves, and sharing our savings with others. A Flash of Silver – he has a book by this title in preparation. You are on forefront of the future of our nation. At grassroots level, you are able to act to inspire others to act. Kerr plans a series of episodes from the book, which will be sent out every Friday over the web. Every week for 65 weeks. We can continue to fight our way up stream regardless of impediments in our way. I am going to leap that falls until to get over it. Keep going at it. No real alternative than to have neighborhoods that are getting all well together. What sort of gardening to you do? He has 480 feet of raised beds. Coconut fibers mixed in with soil improvements to build the soil. He has a little green house to sprout things. Also he is involved with two other community gardens. He feels that 8-12 years of age best age group to involve in gardening. Children of the Valley – troubled children are no longer troubled. Garden serving shut in residents (100). Vision – green bus – take an old school bus, paint it green, add racks, take out seats. Route to go around community loops to people with backyard gardens. Washed produce would be set out and picked up around town. Could be taken to areas which need fresh produce, charge 20 % of cash value to recipients. Comment from Dean Smith – about amount of land needed to support family – 480 sq feet can support family of 4 according to John Jeavons. Small animals and tilapia farm would trade for grains. Facebook, Twitter are fine but can’t feed anybody. Elly commented on community gardens. Kerr suggested people look at GoogleMaps – go on survey of our own neighborhoods – quite shabby lawns could all have gardens. Tomato and basil story – Kerr described the experience of getting to know a neighbor after taking his first tomato and some basil to a neighbor he had yet to meet. They are now close friends and good neighbors. He encouraged all the reps to be connected to their neighbors. City Reports & Community Reports: Teamwork: Monte Cristo 2014. Need to set up committee meeting. Update on Outreach to Schools – Wendy and GeorgaDee met with PTSA Council contact and school district staff. A follow up on school outreach and presentation will be made to their PTSA council to foster connections between neighborhood groups and PTA groups. Greg, Colleen, GeorgaDee, Elly Smith expressed interest. Nominations Committee – bylaws Volunteers Dean, Colleen, Andrea will serve as nominations committee and have divided the list of reps to begin contacting people about running for election. GeorgaDee will become past Executive. Andrea Tucker is relocating to Port Gardner but may be able to rejoin the council from that neighborhood. Neighborhood Reports: Bayside – 21 people at meeting. Presenter was Michael Brick, Traffic Engineering. Broadway Bridge was focus of the presentation. Revamping restricted parking zones was also discussed. Meetings seem to be growing. Boulevard Bluffs – six people in attendance. Developed theme of activities and subjects requested. Next topic will be Bridges in disaster scenario. The neighborhood signs on street help get new people. Postcards have helped, signs have helped. Cascade View Twin Creeks – Police report Met with 12 in attendance, Suzy Oversvee, PUD, attended and a rep from NW SEED, Heatwise – talked about the new heat pump project focused on south Everett. Neighborhood also talked about HUB and CACHE location, needed materials. Delta – police report, 19 in attendance. Drug house on 1101 EMVD is a problem location with chronic problem tenants. Warning of BECU scam and security company scam. A lot of drug activity at Safeway. No surveillance cameras. Carts are stolen from grocery store. Water meter installation coming under state mandate to conserve water, alerts about water leaks. Evergreen- Brooklyn Holton was guest speaker about health and fitness. Walking group is a goal of neighborhood. 11 in attendance. No police report. Glacier View – met but rep was not there. So he had no report. HSG -- - 19 in attendance. No police report. Seahawk dessert and dress night. PUD/Heatwise staff spoke. PUD staff person spoke and responded to questions. LED lights installed but there were glitches with garage openers. Published events and calendar for the year. Discussed advertising meetings. Lowell – meeting for revitalization of Lowell was held on Saturday. Met for 4 hours, small group attended. Evaluated goals for neighborhood, how to integrate Polygon into neighborhoods and set goals for future of association. Northwest – 21 attended. Eileen Simmons from Library announced special events at library. Report about Evergreen library and possible remodel. Providence staff attended to address concerns. Pinehurst – 15 people, police report. Code Enforcement speaker, reduction in graffiti, reduction in vacant landlord property. Foreclosures are reduced. Ductless heat pumps presentation was given. Neighborhood sign to be fixed. Port Gardner – police report was provided. 25 people attended. Planning Dept staff spoke about update to the comprehensive plan. Dean Smith also mentioned Olivia Park elementary school has school garden. Riverside – 20 people, police report given. Scam calls should be hung up on. Call EPD about scam concerns. Peddler permit program requires ID. Animal Shelter staff person gave an overview on operations including cooperation between shelters. Off leash park at animal shelter is on hold. Planning a Sept/Oct clean up event, refuse pick up. Riverside has held home of excellence program. Summit Ave Park sign will be replaced. Silver Lake - no report Valley View – no report View Ridge Madison – 15 attended, police report, Suzy Oversvee spoke about ductless heat pumps. Neighborhood Yard Sale on April 26, Easter Egg Hunt will be held also. Announcements: Top 5 Items to report: Mayor spoke about Library event - Stranger than Fiction event on March 1, costume event CERT class begins March 19 – register now Boeing Co 777x wings will be built here. About 1.2 million sq ft new building to be built here to construct wing. Riverside Development and Silver Lake development coming to council soon Hotel Motel Tax coming to council PTSA Council and links to Council Meeting adjourned at 6:00pm. Next meeting on March 24, 2014 Minutes prepared by Wendy McClure