‘Please consider keeping the flame burning’: North Delridge Neighborhood Council might fold

North Delridge is home to lots of business development and densifying residential development.

But its neighborhood council is on the brink of folding without new participation/leadership.

That was revealed in today’s notice canceling next Monday’s meeting of the North Delridge Neighborhood Council. Outgoing secretary Nancy Folsom says it’s time for nominees for at least three open leadership positions: “As it stands, unless people take over the helm, this group will be disbanding.” Want to get involved or re-involved? Speak up, here.

7 Replies to "'Please consider keeping the flame burning': North Delridge Neighborhood Council might fold"

  • SaraB October 7, 2016 (1:59 pm)

    I thought the mayor had dissolved City ties with all neighborhood councils.  http://crosscut.com/2016/07/seattle-neighborhood-district-council-mayor-ed-murray-upended-reactions/  Are any others still going forward?  

    • WSB October 7, 2016 (2:28 pm)

      Sorry, I had a feeling somebody would be confused.

      (a) The mayor’s proposal has not gone to council yet. (We have been covering it extensively, going back to the original surprise announcement, and continuing to the emergence of the actual resolution days ago.)

      But that aside, this group is not affected:

      (b) The mayor’s proposal involves NEIGHBORHOOD DISTRICT COUNCILS, which are not the same as neighborhood/community councils. They include representatives of groups like these. This group is a community council, which is a direct front-line grass-roots group. It sends a member to the Delridge Neighborhoods District Council (one of West Seattle’s two district councils, both of which are continuing despite the plan for the city to sever support).

      (c) Community councils don’t get any city support (not that the district councils get much either – $500/year, which generally goes to rent the rooms where they meet).

      • McBride October 7, 2016 (3:30 pm)

        WSB pretty much covered it, but for a little extra clarity there’s three levels to the equation: Neighborhood (sometimes Community), District, and City Neighborhood. They’re all related to each other, like so:

        • Neighborhood (or Community) Councils cover the smallest and most local geographical area. Their composition is local residents, and borders are loosely defined. Generally speaking, a Neighborhood Council is concerned with the care, promotion, and advancement of that neighborhood. There is no formal relationship between the City and Neighborhood Councils.
        • District Councils cover a large geographic area. Their composition is  representatives from Neighborhood Councils within their borders, and (depending on their charter) organizations that operate withing their borders. District Councils are concerned with advancing and promoting the District as a whole or at the neighborhood level through relationships with City departments. Additionally, District Councils are the venue through which several City grant programs are applied for, vetted, and approved. There is currently a relationship between the City and District Councils. 
        • The City Neighborhood Council concerns the entire City of Seattle. It is composed of one representative from each District Council. The CNC is concerned with the relationship between the City and the District Councils. Much of the CNC’s efforts are focused on 5 committees – Grants, Planning and Land Use, Budget, Transportation, and Education. There is currently a relationship between the City and The City Neighborhood Council. 

    • RayK October 7, 2016 (2:32 pm)

      The SouthWest District Council will continue through 2017, at least .

  • Darryll October 7, 2016 (6:55 pm)

    Haven’t you heard? Special interest groups are in charge of city priorities and policy, now. No need to have community councils. They’ve got us covered.

    • WSB October 7, 2016 (7:04 pm)

      Community councils do a lot of things that have nothing to do with the city, so please don’t get all cynical. Thanks.

  • Darryll October 7, 2016 (7:35 pm)

    I’m cynical about the city council. That’s not going to change from what I can see.

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