Update: Mayor presents budget proposal; West Seattle toplines – miniature-golf course, $ to finish Fauntleroy Boulevard design, keep SPD Mounted Patrol

2:06 PM: Click the “play” button above and you’ll get the live webcast, under way now, of Mayor Murray‘s budget speech to the City Council. We’ll be linking the documents and noting toplines here as it goes (and as we review the docs). **Update: Post-speech, window above now takes you to ARCHIVED video of speech**

BUDGET DOCUMENTS: Find them here. Wondering how to navigate them? That’s explained here. Direct link to the full budget is here.

From our first search for West Seattle mentions in that document:

*On page 28, our area described as a “current construction hub”
*On page 101, a miniature golf course to be installed at the West Seattle Golf Course in about a year
*On page 150, a renovation project is mentioned for the West Seattle (Admiral) Library Branch
*On page 414, $500,000 to finish design for the Fauntleroy Boulevard plan. (Remember, your Q/A/info opportunity is at tomorrow night’s open house – details in our newest update.)

2:22 PM: Those are just the outright “West Seattle” mentions; we’re now going through to look for what are certainly many other points of interest. The mayor, meantime, has spoken of reforming the budget process, of “coordination” in development reviews, of “ending the transportation-mode wars.” Speaking of transportation, more school-zone cameras are on the way (though specific locations are not noted). In public-safety and human services, he is proposing a new office to focus on domestic violence and sexual assault, and he has acknowledged that despite the city’s investment in helping homeless people, homelessness is not ending, and there has to be a better way.

(added) Another West Seattle note, from the SPD budget overview:

In addition, the proposed budget continues funding for maintenance staff and expenses associated with the SPD’s Horse Patrol Unit. Private resources will no longer be available to support the ongoing costs of this unit in 2015. Therefore, General Funds are being provided to continue this valuable public safety service.

The Mounted Patrol, you’ll recall, is based in Highland Park (and just had an open house on Saturday).

2:36 PM: The mayor’s speech has ended. We’re continuing to look for toplines. The council is in recess; we’ll substitute the archived video later when it’s available.

3:05 PM: Joe Szilagyi points out in comments that the budget includes money to fix the Schmitz Park Bridge.

3:57 PM: Replaced previous “live video” window above with embedded archived video of mayor’s speech.

5:12 PM: This is not West Seattle-specific, but likely of interest to many – from the Department of Planning and Development budget, page 248-249:

Seattle’s Design Review program is one of the principal opportunities for members of the public to interface with development projects. Design review is intended to influence the design of projects consistent with citywide and neighborhood-specific design guidelines. As development activity has increased, the Design Review program has come under increased scrutiny. A challenge identified during public participation in project review is that many communities are concerned about the direction of certain land use policies and have non design related concerns.

In response to these two issues, DPD will evaluate potential changes to the design review process and will explore new ways to improve public engagement in the planning and land use policy areas. The department will begin this work through surveys and focused public discussions with community stakeholders to gather information about the design review process, and will report on general findings. The department will evaluate, identify, and draft Land Use Code revisions based on this community work. The department will also begin a process to engage communities, provide information about growth and development issues, and provide opportunities for dialogue outside of the design review process. The work will be conducted through public meetings and online engagement, and be targeted toward different neighborhoods and demographics throughout the city. The pilot program will include citywide events with opportunities for dialogue, and will include feedback to community participants. This work will be done in 2015 and 2016 by shifting existing resources and revising the City Planning work program.

WHAT’S NEXT? The entire budget calendar for the next two months, including two major public hearings (neither in West Seattle), can be seen here.

20 Replies to "Update: Mayor presents budget proposal; West Seattle toplines - miniature-golf course, $ to finish Fauntleroy Boulevard design, keep SPD Mounted Patrol"

  • SarahMc September 22, 2014 (2:22 pm)

    Listening now, in progress. This budget has some radical changes – performance-based budgeting, online budget information, restructuring to add both more police officers and a higher % on the street. Interesting.

  • Joe Szilagyi September 22, 2014 (2:57 pm)

    “Schmitz Park Bridge – This bridge was built in 1935 and is in good condition except for a severely worn and cracked deck. This project will resurface the concrete deck and significantly extend the life of the bridge.” – page 415. I just did a bunch of SW, southwest, etc. searches and nothing else popped. If they’re there, they’re easter eggs.
    .
    Looks like our police staffing in SW goes up +1 person. We’re the smallest precint by budget still. It will be interesting to see the numbers I asked Captain Wilske about — to see how our SW precint compares to others per capita/crime rate vs officer hours. Hopefully they have all those numbers ready for the WWRHAH/HPAC/SPD meeting Wednesday night.

    • WSB September 22, 2014 (3:01 pm)

      Thanks, Joe. Appreciate any and all extra eyes. I’ve searched on Southwest, Delridge, and other neighborhood names so far, prior to an actual total skim read through

  • Joe Szilagyi September 22, 2014 (3:34 pm)

    Page 430: Major Projects Budget Controls. 2013 they spent $1.3M on Spokane Street Viaduct; nothing next two years planned. Another $27M on Mercer (will that ever end?) and $303M, or 91% of the major projects budget seems to be set for the Alaskan Way Viaduct and Seawall Replacement. That’s it for the next two years on the Big Stuff for transportation. West Seattle, always the bridesmaid…
    .
    And bizarrely, $0.00 for the Magnolia Bridge Replacement Program, which is supposed to be a Big Deal. Weird.

  • Ray September 22, 2014 (3:48 pm)

    A miniature golf course? REALLY?!?!?!?!?!?!

    I know the city is responsible for parks and whatnot, but when we have severe budget shortfalls because the city cannot keep increasing spending, you would think that priorities would be considered – things that matter such as transportation funding….

    • WSB September 22, 2014 (4:08 pm)

      Ray – I’m going to check into the mini-golf course further. Hope to have more info by tomorrow. The one thing we learned three years ago during the semi-slugfest over the driving range project that was canceled is that the golf projects cost a lot but also generate a ton of revenue, apparently. – TR

  • Bando September 22, 2014 (4:45 pm)

    Joe, wasn’t the Magnolia Bridge Replacement project supposed to be a part of the “Bridging the Gap” package we all voted for many years ago? Love it how that when you vote for one thing, they always give you something different.

  • Morgan September 22, 2014 (4:46 pm)

    Good call on the mini-golf. I’m sure it’s a reasonable money maker for the city. Lots of growing families in West Seattle.

  • Nancy Folsom September 22, 2014 (5:00 pm)

    Miniature golf course?!?! W00t! That would be great. Fun entertainment. I don’t use any tennis courts, skate parks, basketball courts, but I still believe they’re valuable elements of a livable city. I think miniature golf would be great.

  • AmandaKH September 22, 2014 (5:06 pm)

    I think it’s telling that Administration is 14% of the budget and Neighborhoods and Development are only at 3%.

  • B September 22, 2014 (5:06 pm)

    I don’t mean to be a hater, but is the SPD mounted patrol really a valuable service? Horses are not urban animals. I’m sure they look cool and its fun being on horses, but srsly.

  • Diane September 22, 2014 (5:41 pm)

    I would love miniature golf here; been to the one in Magnolia; always a fun family activity growing up; yay

  • Westwood Hipster September 22, 2014 (5:48 pm)

    “he has acknowledged that despite the city’s investment in helping homeless people, homelessness is not ending, and there has to be a better way.”

    .

    Yes, throwing more taxpayer dollars at the homeless situation clearly is not working. Time to find new solutions.

  • Ray September 22, 2014 (5:49 pm)

    Re: The horses

    Yeah, you are never going to see them used with a high speed chase in downtown but they do serve two useful purposes:

    1. They are a nice visual that helps with the police department PR, and the kids really really like them so helps in that area as well.

    2. In large crowds (festivals, street corners) they do provide a nice higher up view of the larger crowd and can be used to better monitor the crowds.

    Are they a necessity? Absolutely not.
    Are the useful? Yes, in somewhat limited roles.

  • AmandaKH September 22, 2014 (6:10 pm)

    Agreed Westwood Hipster. It’s time we really address the situation and Maybe even lead the charge in innovative ideas.

  • Mark32 September 22, 2014 (6:29 pm)

    I’ll trade you a miniature golf course for a sidewalk.

    • WSB September 22, 2014 (7:38 pm)

      Mark – there are some new sidewalks in the budget but I haven’t yet found the secretly hidden spot where their exact locations are revealed …

  • Westwood Hipster September 22, 2014 (7:22 pm)

    An idea I have that is far from innovative, but could be feasible is putting the homeless to work via a program similar to the Works Progress Administration of the 1930’s. Our infrastructure is rapidly crumbling, and we need to rebuild roads, bridges, parks, etc. Funding could be provided by a tax on coffee and alcohol.

  • Dunno September 22, 2014 (7:35 pm)

    I’m with you Ray. Something that would pay for itself and provide jobs and entertainment to many and maybe even make money for the city like the golf courses, really upsets me too!!! Shame on whoever thought of this.

  • MellyMel September 22, 2014 (9:26 pm)

    Re: a Works Administration Style program for homeless to support themselves

    I expect someone to educate me on this point, but there are a fair amount of homeless that have chronic health issues including mental health issues, drug and alcohol dependencies, etc. Which is part of why they are homeless in the first place. I know it isn’t the case for all, but had thought that would severely limit a WPA type programs effectiveness.

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