Everett Council of Neighborhoods

Council of Neighborhoods Meeting Minutes Feb 23, 2015 Meeting was called to order at 4:05pm. Agenda and minutes of the previous meeting were approved. Attendance: James Grindle, Roger Hoot, Steve Bugge, Michael Trujillo, Ben Blacker, Tom Norcott, Colleen Kain, GeorgaDee MacLeod, JT Dray, Jim Prissel, Andrea Tucker. Victor Harris, Laurel Haseley, Jo Brodersen, George Lockeman, Teresa Schultz Absent/Excused: Liz Hawkins, Art Olson, Dennis Dudder Citizen Comments: None Mayor Stephanson: Mayor is spending a lot of time in Olympia last few weeks. He gave an overview – there is a lot at stake. Overview – recap working with Snohomish County for $1 billion request for transportation projects. $82 million in governor’s budget was disappointing. He met with Governor, hopeful he would adjust. Senate budget has $570 million. Most of Everett projects are included in $570 million. Passed out of Senate, now goes to House. Mayor hopes more funds will be added. Also asked for authority to go on ballot with light rail phase 3. Mayor reported it will be year 2033 or 2035 before it reaches Everett. Statistics: in last 4 years, the number of vehicles on I-5 has increased 89%. Traffic is at a crisis stage. Mayor is also working for $61 million request for WSU building to be constructed on shopping center site on north Broadway. He is aware of concern about college parking impacts in neighborhoods. He has asked traffic folks to review, they are looking at issues in area, and possible solutions. WSU has made an offer on trailer court property to be used as surface parking. Negotiations are underway for property behind Subway. Staff met with DOT today, about 7 acre parcel above area, an the opportunity to relocate DOT facility in future. Transportation has funding in budget for CT and Everett Transit. Intent is to provide more transit service serving college and hospital district. Broadway Bridge – detour seems to be working well so far, Ryan Sass here to discuss. Community Streets Initiative – Mayor is hosting a meeting this week of all mayors or city managers within Snohomish County to discuss group effort to address street social issues. Ordinances coming in March to city council here, to enforce high alcohol content sales restrictions, also an ordinance to restrict panhandling at certain intersections. Mayor has asked EPD to increase walking and bike patrols in downtown, commercial areas. Police are making contact with homeless, seeking to refer them to social services where possible. Illegal activity will be addressed through arrests. Next month Mayor will visit Pentagon with Troy McClellan, Port Commissioner, to discuss more coast guard ships at Everett. USS Nimitz is in Bremerton with maintenance work, and will return to Everett. New destroyers will be based here which will bring 300 plus sailors to our community. Waterfront Place plan from Port of Everett was approved by City Council. This plan is different in that local developers will have opportunity to bid on project. JT – commented on transit issues, concerns with BRT services. Mayor has been advocating for BRT. East county across trestle and also north county service being discussed and there are more issues to be worked out. Michael asked about access to Pentagon and whether congressional delegation assists with arrangements. Mayor responded that Congressman Larsen’s office assists. George commented on the housing first model in Tacoma, which seems to be successful effort. Mayor responded about examples of day centers, which are need as places to clean up, store stuff. Mayor acknowledged a heroin epidemic occurring right now, more aggressive younger element on streets now. One alternative is to send folks to Yakima jail. Will take months and years to solve problem, he will keep working with others in community to make it better. Mayor discussed a group of homeless staying under an I-5 bridge, near Gospel Mission. Because of mental issues, girlfriends/spouses, complexities, some are refusing to go into shelter. Veterans need support to get off street. Police will work with many social service partners to help people there get off street. Steve Bugge – question about garbage pick-up at park. Andrea asked about plans for the McCrossen building site development. Mayor responded that a private developer acquired property. May be a possible expansion area for county courthouse building. City is clarifying property status for buildings on Hewitt – three options are being discussed with county. Inquiry - Are residents being asked to move from trailer park? Mayor responded they will have a year notice and maybe more before they make a move. Michael – asked about how the problem with mis-understanding about parking with county started. County originally proposed parking, then seemed to step away from that plan, then City Council passed ordinance to require parking. Mayor indicated the county can’t plunk that big of building without parking. The Mariott Hotel building is on track, first floor poured for garage. Coming along well so far with better than expected weather. City Council Liaison: Scott Bader, Council president Community Streets Initiative – Councilmember Gipson asked about loitering. Legal responded that unless the loitering is aimed at criminal activity (drug dealing or prostitution), the city can’t really enforce on it. The “Housing First” effort makes sense, and has positive impact. Councilmember Bader asked that he be informed if people see things that might create adverse impacts on neighborhoods. He grew up in Cascade View, and used to see homeless people near Everett Mall. It’s not just a downtown problem. Solutions shouldn’t adversely affect neighborhoods. Parking – Councilman Bader attended the NW neighborhood meeting where parking at college is issue. Residential parking zones are being tweaked in area. He is sensitive to downtown parking area issues. City Council approved a resolution in support of commercial air traffic at Paine Field - affirming interest in establishing air service and economic benefits. Parks staff offered good presentation which might be good for Council of Neighborhoods. George discussed parking issues along Rockefeller. Time limitations along street were not meeting local needs. He was pleased to see city opened up some parking options based on use review. Parking fines on campus – are they synchronized with city parking fees? City & Community Reports: Library Update – Eileen Simmons – Old news now, but hours at south Evergreen branch, have been able to add back hours due to a retirement and re-direction of funds. The environment around main branch remains a bit challenging. Changing patron code of conduct including changes you will see this year to prohibit smoking on library plaza area. Library will have more security staff hours, before library opens and after closure. Also library is looking at modifying all planting beds on Hoyt Ave, to keep people from sitting on them. Railing will be added - a historic style railing on planters. They will rehab shrubs, and irrigation system needs to be redone. Leaking problems under planting beds will be investigated. Eileen invited everyone to the March 7 Friends of Library event which will have Book-it Rep theatre performance. JT – Re: survey for strategic plan and resulting changes. Eileen responded that the “quiet room” was requested, and they were able to do that with additional space for NW historian. Outside environment was also a big issue on survey. People were not feeling safe coming to the building. They are close to mitigating for problems. Question about security at Evergreen Branch – many fewer concerns than downtown. Everett Transit – Matt Coomes – New schedule books are out – Matt distributed copies to take back to neighborhoods. Minor service change took place yesterday. There are a few 5 minute schedule changes. Nothing changed on routes, span of service, etc. ETA service – real time estimate of bus arrivals using GPS. Question about driver behavior problems. Matt suggested to call customer service. Funding is looking better than it was for transit. Next service change will be in August, looking like it won’t be as significant. Broadway Bridge Update – Ryan Sass – Slideshow of Broadway Bridge area and construction plans. The bridge sees 30,000 trips per day. He outlined the goals to improve bridge. $13.6 million costs estimate and $7.7 million contract. Detour message has been pretty successful. Lost about 6000 trips per day. Ryan showed slides of site, bridge design, detour route. He also showed time lapse images of work on the bridge. James Grindle commented about BNSF bridge replacement at Hewitt. Ryan responded that from BNSF Railroads perspective, the berm is lower cost, don’t have bridge to maintain. Even if the berm were not installed, the lower tracks are still obstacle past the bridge/berm. Teamwork: Next Social Practical – March 30 will focus on social media, drawing on neighborhood leaders who make use of tools like Facebook, websites, Survey Monkey and other tools. Sector Meetings – the representatives considered a north sector gathering. JT expressed interest in the 4 or 5 north neighborhoods meeting, and collaborating on NNO. School Partnerships – Diversity Board has adopted plans for partnering with the Council of Neighborhoods to reach out to schools to increase visibility and involve more people in civic life. Website Update – New website still is under construction but will have new features and will be user friendly, as well as staff friendly, Nominations Committee for officers – Colleen Kain and Steve Bugge volunteered for the nominations committee.  Monte Cristo Brochures – reps volunteered to distribute nomination brochures for Monte Cristo to deliver to specific businesses and PUD, etc. Neighborhood Reports: Bayside – Mayor was primary guest, 34 in attendance, Bookend Coffee was location. Trinity College reps presented a proposal for housing. Neighbors have some concerns about height. Cascade View - no meeting held by choice. Not able to get speaker to come back. So meeting was not held. Delta – Mike Bernardi made police report. Teena Ellison from Everett Housing Authority spoke about the new community garden called the Friendship garden. Wayne Kombol volunteered to facilitate meetings. Evergreen – still on hiatus. HSG – The Port presentation was excellent, with 20 people at meeting. In March David Dilgard will be speaker on March 17. Lowell – new people starting to attend, group is working on Lowell history book event. Northwest – Michael Brick, from city engineering, gave info on restricted parking zones. Neighbors came up with great suggestions. 30 people in attendance Pinehurst – Had meeting with 9 in attendance, no presenter showed up from first aid. NNO ice cream social was discussed. Mini grant projects will include sign toppers for boundaries of neighborhoods. Dennis Dilday spoke about graffiti and how to abate that. Port Gardner – Had 18 people at meeting. Ed Petersen was guest speaker, from Housing Hope and Hopeworks. In 3200 block of Broadway, HOusign Hope has purchased property, which will be developed for projects to provide housing, jobs, etc. He was a really good speaker. Riverside – Sgt Braley spoke. 22 people present. Non profit Old Dog Haven volunteer was the guest speaker. Very good speaker, group raised almost $500 with a bake sale for Old Dog Haven. Valley View – met Feb7th. Revived group, the volunteers led meeting, greeted, had treats. Guest speaker on CPR, Eric Hicks was very good. Homicides on 75th were also discussed. Meeting on St Patrick’s Day will have Parks staff. View Ridge-Madison - Top 5 Items to report: Transportation funding requests to state legislature Community Streets Initiative effort with all of county’s mayors New Transit schedule Social Practical in March on Social Media Distribute Monte Cristo nomination forms and send in nominations Meeting adjourned at 6:12pm. Next meeting on March 23, 2015 Minutes prepared by Wendy McClure