West Seattle Blog…

Paving the way for Delridge Way = Delridge ‘boulevard’

The newly passed city budget includes a $250,000 allocation to start planning a “Green Boulevard” along Fauntleroy Way in The Triangle. But that might not be the only “boulevard” in West Seattle’s future. Two City Councilmembers and key SDOT staffers joined the most recent meeting of the Delridge Neighborhoods District Council to hear a community pitch for potential “boulevard” treatment of Delridge Way SW:

Click to read the rest of Paving the way for Delridge Way = Delridge ‘boulevard’…

West Seattle Crime Watch: Plea bargain in Fairmount Springs attack

We’ve just learned that another high-profile West Seattle case has been resolved with a guilty plea. This one is the attack last May that left a 65-year-old Fairmount Springs woman seriously hurt and brought law-enforcement and political leaders to the neighborhood days later. The victim turned up on a neighbor’s doorstep early one morning with injuries including more than 20 broken bones, but how she had been hurt was not initially clear.

In early July, with the help of DNA evidence, police arrested a man who lived in the same home to which the victim had fled, 49-year-old Monty Richardson. Court documents say he broke into the victim’s home, dragged her into her basement, tried to strangle her, and beat, kicked, and jumped on her till she lost consciousness. Richardson pleaded guilty last Thursday to first-degree burglary and second-degree assault, with the third charge against him, unlawful imprisonment, dismissed. Prosecutors will recommend a sentence of 2 1/2 years on the first count, 1 year and 2 months on the second (to run concurrently with the first). According to court documents, he is entering the guilty plea as a so-called Alford plea – he does not admit guilt on either charge but believes the evidence is likely to lead to a conviction.

Richardson is scheduled to be sentenced December 2nd by King County Superior Court Judge Bruce Heller.

Envisioning Delridge Way’s future: District Council takes it on

By Keri DeTore
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

Don’t just patch up Delridge Way SW – transform it.

That’s the idea behind a discussion that took up most of last night’s Delridge Neighborhoods District Council meeting. The reps from eastern West Seattle groups and organizations were planning for November, when Seattle City Councilmembers Sally Bagshaw and Tom Rasmussen, as well as representatives from the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) will join DNDC to discuss roadway improvements to Delridge Way.

Click to read the rest of Envisioning Delridge Way’s future: District Council takes it on…

‘DNDA is not dead,’ acting director tells Delridge council

Second of four expected reports from last night’s Delridge Neighborhoods District Council meeting: The group heard from the acting executive director of Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association, who declared that rumors of its death are greatly exaggerated.

It’s no secret that DNDA has had money struggles; the organization sent out a fundraising plea last December (here’s our story, including an explanation of what DNDA does). Since then, it’s cut staff and vacated its Brandon Court offices, consolidating into space at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. Acting executive director Patty Grossman came to DNDC to provide a general update, starting with, “DNDA is not dead, and Youngstown is not closing its doors,” in response to rumors apparently in circulation. However, that’s not to say everything is rosy.

Click to read the rest of ‘DNDA is not dead,’ acting director tells Delridge council…

Delridge Neighborhoods District Council: Tonight’s toplines

Got a calendar? Plenty of dates worth noting, in the toplines from tonight’s Delridge Neighborhoods District Council meeting – plus discussions about business and crimefighting – read on! Click to read the rest of Delridge Neighborhoods District Council: Tonight’s toplines…

Delridge District Council: Project proposals; seawall; Camp Long

Story by Jason Grotelueschen
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

Interested in a crosswalk at Delridge/Findlay, a growing commercial district in the heart of Delridge? That was one of many topics of discussion as community leaders gathered Wednesday night for the monthly Delridge Neighborhoods District Council meeting, inside the theater at the Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, to discuss ways to improve public safety and increase involvement in local neighborhoods.

The agenda featured an update on the Elliott Bay Seawall Replacement Project, a discussion of Neighborhood Projects Fund ideas, and a presentation about Camp Long’s application for a Large Project Grant.

Click to read the rest of Delridge District Council: Project proposals; seawall; Camp Long…

Delridge District Council: Youngstown’s 5th, mayor’s visit, more

As the Delridge District Council met tonight inside the theater at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, posters decorated the center’s walls, promoting its upcoming 5th-anniversary party. Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association runs Youngstown, and its executive director Derek Birnie announced the February 26th party to celebrate the Cultural Arts Center’s fifth anniversary, which also will be a sendoff for two longtime DNDA employees as well as an open house (all detailed here).

Also announced at tonight’s meeting – Mayor McGinn is tentatively planning a visit to tour the Westwood neighborhood, according to Delridge district coordinator Ron Angeles. The date looks like March 6th, and so far the starting point is expected to be the new P-Patch site at 34th and Barton. More to come on that.

Also discussed tonight – a new citywide project that could bring a rain garden to a Delridge business … read on for that and more: Click to read the rest of Delridge District Council: Youngstown’s 5th, mayor’s visit, more…

Changes for city Neighborhood Service Center in The Junction

New information tonight about another change resulting from city budget cuts – how the city’s Neighborhood Service Centers and District Councils will be staffed. You might recall the mayor originally proposed closing the Southwest Neighborhood Service Center in The Junction. Outcry, led by the Southwest District Council, helped cancel that plan – but we now know that the district coordinator who’s been based there, Stan Lock, is moving elsewhere in the city, as the Department of Neighborhoods reorganizes the coordinators who remain after it cut three jobs elsewhere. Details ahead: Click to read the rest of Changes for city Neighborhood Service Center in The Junction…

Delridge District Council: Camp Long budget, DNDA primer, more…

With the city budget days away from a final vote, its effect on the city Environmental Learning Center in West Seattle, Camp Long, was among the discussion items at last night’s Delridge Neighborhoods District Council meeting. While CL is *not* slated for closure, it will go through big changes, including the end of non-school-related educational programs, Sheila Brown explained to the DNDC (video clip below left):

The final budget vote is slated for Monday. Meantime, the leader of one of the council’s member organizations, Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association (DNDA), presented a primer on what DNDA is all about. In the above-right clip, you can see/hear DNDA executive director Derek Birnie‘s presentation. He explained that the organization’s about projects big – like affordable-housing developments – and small – like the Delridge “Night Market” events this summer and fall as part of the campaign to make healthier food more available in the area. In addition to listening to the presentation, you can find out a lot about DNDA at dnda.org.

Another huge topic of the night – Mayor Mike McGinn‘s impending visit to Delridge for a Community Forum on December 2nd (first reported here 2 weeks ago). DNDC attendees last night worked on ways to ensure the mayor would hear about central topics of community concern – maybe even preparing a briefing paper to get to him. The Delridge-area concerns that were mentioned last night included the need for an east-west transit connection, economic-development funds, and greenbelt protection. The mayor’s event is set for 6-8 pm on December 2nd at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, and it’ll include a chance for you to learn about local community organizations as well as Q/A with the mayor..

The Delridge Neighborhoods District Council includes reps from community councils and major organizations around what the city calls the Delridge Neighborhoods District – mostly east West Seattle, from 35th SW eastward. Its December meeting will be a mostly social potluck, but business meetings are usually on the third Wednesday of the month, 7 pm, Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW).

Delridge District Council: City $, Gathering of Neighbors, more

Toplines from Wednesday night’s Delridge Neighborhoods District Council meeting at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center: As she had done earlier this month for West Seattle’s other district council – Southwest – city Department of Neighborhoods director Stella Chao came out to talk about the city-budget proposal’s potential effects on her department, and to listen to local concerns. Other agenda items included the two local projects – both in the council’s coverage area – still in the running for Parks and Green Spaces Levy Opportunity Fund money, and how you can show support next Monday, plus the upcoming Gathering of Neighbors – read on: Click to read the rest of Delridge District Council: City $, Gathering of Neighbors, more…

Delridge District Council: From police surveys to speed signs

From the SPD door-to-door survey, to traffic concerns, and a P-Patch tour reminder – toplines from last night’s Delridge Neighborhoods District Council meeting at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center – read on for our toplines: Click to read the rest of Delridge District Council: From police surveys to speed signs…

Delridge District Council: Budget insight from Councilmember Clark

Our final report from last night’s Delridge Neighborhoods District Council meeting: The chance to hear more budget-crunch thoughts from a city councilmember, days after the announcement of how the city’s going to save $12 million the rest of this year – and going to have to cut about 5 times that for the next budget cycle. Councilmember Sally Clark was the guest – read on for what she had to say: Click to read the rest of Delridge District Council: Budget insight from Councilmember Clark…

Another grocery (TJ’s) on the west side – what about east side?

1st report from tonight’s Delridge Neighborhoods District Council meeting: In the wake of today’s Trader Joe’s West Seattle confirmation, a semi-sore subject was inevitable: When is the east side of West Seattle going to get a grocery store? It wasn’t all lament – there’s news ahead from the King County Food and Fitness Initiative. But first, the numbers. With TJ’s, there will be three grocery stores in Admiral (temporarily 2 when Safeway closes for construction in September), three in The Junction (not counting the still-not-officially-dead Whole Foods, which tells us they may have something to say at month’s end), one in Morgan Junction, one in Westwood Village, one on Roxbury. As some at tonight’s meeting noted, there may be hope down the road if the Boren site is ever redeveloped (right now Seattle Public Schools is keeping it as emergency backup). But for now, Delridge Neighborhood District Coordinator Ron Angeles suggested that pragmatically, the best short-term tactic is working for better east-west transportation in West Seattle so that Delridge residents can get to the stores. Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association executive director Derek Birnie mentioned ideas some parts of the country are trying, like satellite stores, where big groceries in one part of a town send a truck a day to smaller stores.

(WSB photo of Super 24 mural from August 2009)
And then there’s the work KCFFI is doing – working to bring healthy food to Delridge on a smaller, immediate scale – Youngstown Cultural Arts Center‘s Randy Engstrom announced a date is set for the “night market” at the first Healthy Corner Store, Super 24, coming up July 10th – there will be farmers selling fresh food, plus entertainment. We’re waiting for official word on the hours. There’ll also be a weekly fresh-produce-market day at the store too starting as soon as next week. More details on these when we get them from Randy. 2:53 PM UPDATE: As promised: The weekly produce market at Super 24, starting up about the same time as the “night market,” will be Fridays 9 am-5 pm and Saturdays 10 am to 6 pm. Also on Saturdays, the Delridge Fresh Food Spot Team (DNDA staff and volunteers) will be at the Super 24 from 10 am-2 pm providing food samples as well as healthy-food info and kids’ activities.

Delridge District Council: O’Brien visit, and more

Here are last night’s Delridge Neighborhoods District Council toplines, before we move on to the reports on multiple stories covered tonight: City Councilmember Mike O’Brien (photo right, with Delridge District Coordinator Ron Angeles) was the featured guest. After a few general remarks about his months in office, he fielded questions – first one about replacing the Alaskan Way Viaduct‘s Central Waterfront section; he said he still thinks a surface option would be best, adding that transit is also an important part of the solution. His point about using transit for shopping and errands was challenged by David Ellinger from the North Delridge Neighborhood Council, explaining that the transit system does not work efficiently for areas like West Seattle. O’Brien had mentioned that Metro was working on finding transit solutions recognizing that parts of the county differ – Seattle’s needs are not the same as North Bend’s, for example – but Ellinger stressed that leaders like O’Brien must understand there are major differences between neighborhoods within Seattle, as well. O’Brien also was asked about the potential of service/facility cuts in the Parks Department, but said that like everyone else, he is waiting to see the mayor’s list of mid-year cuts, and will wait till then to comment. OTHER TOPLINES: Southwest Precinct Lt. Norm James presented the same basics information about crime stats – including a rise in car prowls – that he’d announced at the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council the night before (WSB coverage here). Pete Spalding of Pigeon Point and Nancy Folsom from North Delridge mentioned a recent uptick in area graffiti; Lt. James stressed the importance of reporting it to police … Patrick Dunn from Sustainable West Seattle talked about the WS Tool Library, opening June 12, and thanked DNDC for the letter of support which helped bring in a $20,000 grant to kick-start the program. He said they now have 300 tools, and are still seeking more … Dunn also talked about the Community Orchard of West Seattle, which is receiving a city grant; it’ll take a few years before the trees are producing, he noted, but in the meantime, there’ll be berry bushes, and educational programs to teach others about growing food … DNDC also heard from another grant recipient, Power of Hope, bringing youth together starting in spring of next year, for poetry, music, and community projects. … And they of course discussed the upcoming Delridge Day/Sustainable West Seattle Festival combo event that’s now under the ReFRESH Southwest umbrella (more info here), 1-5 pm June 5 at Delridge Community Center.

Delridge Neighborhoods District Council meets on the third Wednesday of the month, 7 pm, Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. TFN, its meetings will be preceded by Strategic Delridge at 6 pm, a chance for anyone and everyone who’s interested in helping shape the area’s future to take a longer-range look.

Delridge District Council toplines: Tale of two viaducts

The latest on the Spokane Street Viaduct Widening Project and the Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Project – both of which will affect West Seattle drivers in a major way, as we’ve reported here for the past few years – comprises two of our three toplines from tonight’s Delridge Neighborhoods District Council meeting at Youngstown Arts Center. Read on for the highlights: Click to read the rest of Delridge District Council toplines: Tale of two viaducts…

Camp Long’s future, and more, @ Delridge District Council

The historic lodge at Camp Long is closed right now for renovation work. Separate from that project, the Parks Department is trying to map the unique park’s future, and both of West Seattle’s district councils have now heard presentations this month aimed at getting your thoughts, including one at Wednesday night’s Delridge Neighborhoods District Council. Is it OK for Camp Long to become home to a “challenge course” in partnership with a well-known organization? What about other private partnerships? Read on for more – plus other major items from Wednesday night’s meeting, including community announcements and Councilmember Sally Bagshaw‘s appearance: Click to read the rest of Camp Long’s future, and more, @ Delridge District Council…

Delridge Neighborhoods District Council retreat: Charting a course

A little investment can have a big payoff – and that goes for time, not just for money. Reps from the Delridge Neighborhoods District Council are hopeful their extra investment of several hours at a retreat last weekend will pay off in more progress for their group and their neighborhoods. Among those who participated, Pete Spalding, who shares this recap (as well as the photo above):

The Delridge Neighborhoods District Council (DNDC) invited various leaders from the neighborhood communities, people of color communities and social service providers to learn about their interests and participate in 1) developing a vision for Delridge, discussing how to build the vision 2) capacity challenges for leaders and volunteers; 3) ensure equitable participation in the DNDC; and 4) strengthen its voice in government forums.

The results of the retreat will inform the development of the DNDC strategic plan with short- and long-term goals.

The participants in the retreat dealt with the these topics:
1) Envision what a vibrant Delridge Neighborhoods community would look like
2) Discuss how to build strong leadership capacity with groups in Delridge
3) Discuss how to build strong volunteer bases for projects such as Delridge Day and Gathering of Neighbors
4) Discuss how to promote fair and equitable participation in the DNDC
5) Discuss how to make the DNDC a stronger voice in the community and with City government

The focus areas for ongoing discussions by the DNDC will involve:

1) Strengthen the TRUST relationship with local government and its many layers and agencies
2) Create and promote a Delridge neighborhood and community identity
3) Develop business associations to spur economic development
4) Create or maximize places and events where diverse groups can come together to build trust and reciprocity
5) Promote a green Delridge
6) Conduct outreach and serve populations that cross class, ethnicity and cultural lines and communities
7) Strengthen the schools
8) Create a boulevard feel

Over the course of the next few DNDC meetings, this disucssion will continue in different forms. Anyone that is interested in participating in this ongoing discussion is always welcome at the DNDC meetings. The DNDC meetings are held on the third Wednesday of the month, 7 – 9 pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center.

Delridge District Council: “Huge” festival ahead – and more

From last night’s Delridge Neighborhoods District Council meeting at Youngstown Arts Center, lots of updates, including new information about what’ll be the biggest Delridge Day event ever, as well as this fall’s Gathering of Neighbors. Read on for the full report: Click to read the rest of Delridge District Council: “Huge” festival ahead – and more…

Tonight: Delridge Council; Sealth playoff game; free class; more

DELRIDGE NEIGHBORHOODS DISTRICT COUNCIL: Reps from community councils and organizations in eastern West Seattle gather monthly to talk about what’s new and what’s ahead, and you’re invited to join them. When they meet tonight at 7 in the theater at Youngstown Arts Center, the agenda also includes an update on Camp Long‘s renovation project and local proposals for the Neighborhood Projects Fund.

CHIEF SEALTH PLAYOFF GAME: The boys’ varsity basketball team plays Seattle Prep in the league semifinals, 7 pm at Prep (2400 11th Ave. E).

FREE WOMEN’S-SELF-DEFENSE CLASS: Sima Martial Arts (WSB sponsor) is presenting this free class at 7:15 tonight at the Sima studio in The Junction, 4711 42nd SW (across from the north end of Jefferson Square). Call 935-4531 to sign up.

FINAL WEEK FOR “LOVE SONG”: Tonight marks the start of the final five-performance week for ArtsWest‘s current production. 7:30 pm, tickets available online.

What else is up? Here’s the frequently updated WSB Events calendar.

Delridge District Council: Festival dates set, census talk, and more

From tonight’s Delridge Neighborhoods District Council meeting at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center: The dates are set for two big Delridge events later this year — Delridge Day is scheduled for June 5th at Delridge Community Center (11 am-3 pm), Gathering of Neighbors is set for November 6th. Planning meetings are under way, first Wednesday each month at Youngstown – they’re talking Delridge Day at 4:30, GON at 5:30. Also at tonight’s DNDC meeting – Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association‘s strategic focus, a presentation about the upcoming U.S. Census, and more – ahead: Click to read the rest of Delridge District Council: Festival dates set, census talk, and more…

Neighborhood Matching Fund changes unveiled — minus one

City reps made the rounds this fall to talk with various community organizations about proposed changes in the Neighborhood Matching Fund – which is relied on to help pay for a multitude of projects around the city, doubtlessly including more than a few near you. But one proposed change drew fire: The city had suggested a category in which citywide projects might be eligible for the money, instead of limiting the fund strictly to projects based in a neighborhood. That idea was strongly opposed at the October meetings of the Southwest District Council (here’s our report) and Delridge Neighborhoods District Council (here’s our report). Tonight, it looks like those concerns were heard loud and clear: The changes for next year have just been announced (read the news release here), and we confirmed with Department of Neighborhoods rep Lois Maag that they do NOT include the “citywide project” eligibility clause. She says that will be reviewed again in the future, but is not part of the changes for 2010. Still have questions? A workshop about the NMF – focusing on its Large Projects Fund – will be here in West Seattle on January 21 – 6 pm at Youngstown Arts Center.

Today/tonight: School maps, creek help, Delridge Council, more

SCHOOLS: 10 am, Steve Sundquist, West Seattle’s rep on the school board, is at Delridge Library for a community chat bound to be dominated by the proposed school-attendance maps the board will vote on tonight (6 pm, district HQ in SODO).

WATER: Could reclaimed wastewater mean a brighter future for West Seattle’s Puget Creek and other local natural areas? The project manager of the county’s Reclaimed Water Program will be at Sanislo Elementary‘s library at 7 pm to give an overview of the county’s plans to improve wastewater treatment, and what that could mean for the local ecology. (As noted on the Sustainable West Seattle website, neighbors at the meeting also will talk about a possible Puget Ridge pocket park.)

DELRIDGE DISTRICT COUNCIL: Come hear what community groups from around eastern West Seattle are up to, and see which neighborhood-traffic-related projects are being reviewed for a potential share of city funding – 7 pm, Youngstown Arts Center.

THE BIRTHDAY THAT KEEPS ON GIVING: It’s the 10th “39th Birthday Party” and fundraiser for King County Executive-elect Dow Constantine, this time with another momentous occasion less than a week away (his swearing-in next Tuesday). 5:30 pm, Kell’s Irish Pub downtown.

NO NEED TO PLAY ALONE: Alki Community Center invites you to Family Game Night tonight – board, video and challenge games. 6:30-8:30 pm ($5 activity fee).

Even more on the WSB Events calendar!

Delridge District Council: More on matching-fund changes

(WSB photo by Jonathan Stumpf)
From Wednesday night’s Delridge Neighborhoods District Council meeting: 2 city money matters. Finance director Dwight Dively gave the group the grim outlook for the upcoming budget, as the council gets ready to review Mayor Nickels‘ proposal. And Department of Neighborhoods director Stella Chao discussed proposed changes to the Neighborhood Matching Fund program – same ones discussed at the Southwest District Council meeting earlier this month (here’s our report). Attendees voiced support for folding Small Sparks into Outreach, with a new $1,000 funding ceiling; according to Chao, that “would give more flexibility in how (they) develop smaller projects.” Applications will be taken twice a year instead of quarterly. However, another proposed change – allowing large-project funds to be used for citywide proposals in addition to neighborhood initiatives – drew concern at DNDC, as it had at SWDC; Pete Spalding said that funding should remain neighborhood-based, because doing otherwise “gets ahead from the intended purpose … (helping) neighborhoods build a sense of community.” (The proposed changes are outlined in this Department of Neighborhoods document that was provided by SW District Coordinator Stan Lock after the SWDC meeting – see section 3.)

New details on the next West Seattle candidates’ forum

Last week, the Highland Park Action Committee hosted the fall’s first major candidate forum in West Seattle (WSB coverage, with video, here). Coming up in two weeks, what’s likely to be the biggest West Seattle candidates’ forum of all, co-sponsored by the Delridge Neighborhoods District Council and the Southwest District Council, whose members include reps from all major community groups and organizations around the area. Pete Spalding from DNDC has just sent this update on the plan for the October 15th forum:

West Seattle Candidates Forum

The Delridge Neighborhoods and Southwest District Councils will be hosting the candidates for the Seattle City Council and Mayoral races.

October 15th from 7 – 9 pm at the Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, 4408 Delridge Way SW (map)

Agenda

7:00 pm Opening remarks
7:05 pm Position #4 Candidates
7:25 pm Position #6 Candidates
7:45 pm Position #8 Candidates
8:05 pm Position #2 Candidates
8:20 pm Mayoral Candidates

Come find out how your candidates view West Seattle specific issues.

Happening tonight: Delridge Neighborhoods District Council

One major event on the calendar tonight — the Delridge Neighborhoods District Council‘s regular monthly meeting: Reps from major community groups and organizations in eastern West Seattle will gather to talk about successes, challenges, projects, ideas and more – and you’re invited. 7 pm, Youngstown Arts Center (4408 Delridge; map). ADDED 8:44 PM: Got word from DNDC’s Pete Spalding of Pigeon Point that the date is set for the DNDC/Southwest District Council candidates’ forum – 7-9 pm October 15th at Youngstown.

Today/tonight: From Kenney to “Sweeney” to Morgan, and more

At left is The Kenney‘s CEO Kevin McFeely, when we caught up with him at West Seattle Summer Fest in The Junction last weekend. This afternoon he’s expected to be at the Municipal Tower downtown as The Kenney introduces its landmark nomination for the Seaview and Sunrise Buildings to the city Landmark Preservation Board (see the document here), a prelude to The Kenney’s redevelopment plan moving forward. 3:30 pm, board room on the 40th floor of the Muni Tower. The rest of the Wednesday highlights happen tonight:

(Photos by Matt Durham of mattdurhamphotography.com)
ArtsWest ‘s “Sweeney Todd” opens tonight. It’s a production of the Summer Youth Musical Theater Apprenticeship Program and plays through July 25; showtimes and ticket info can be found here. Also tonight — three meetings tackling an array of big issues:

NEIGHBORHOOD TRAFFIC CALMING: The traffic circle at left is just one example of the many tools that can be used to “calm” neighborhood traffic. If you have questions, concerns, ideas about your neighborhood, anywhere in West Seattle, come to an SDOT public meeting at 6:30 tonight in the South Seattle Community College board room. The Southwest District Council-presented event also includes a Backyard Cottages briefing at 7:30 and an 8 pm version of the briefing that will happen earlier at the next event:

DELRIDGE DISTRICT COUNCIL: Haven’t made up your mind yet on the bag-fee referendum that’s on next month’s ballot (official city voters’ guide info here)? That’s the measure asking city residents whether to approve or reject the City Council-approved fee for using non-reusable shopping bags. A pro-bag fee rep will speak to the Delridge District Council tonight, among other items on the agenda at 7 pm, Youngstown Arts Center.

MORGAN COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION: We published a preview last night (see it here); tonight’s MoCA meeting, 7 pm at The Kenney, includes a long list of hot topics from The Viaduct to RapidRide to future work at the Lowman Beach pump station.

Tonight: Student Assignment Plan vote; Delridge District Council

STUDENT ASSIGNMENT PLAN: Two years in the making, the new Student Assignment Plan — the Seattle Public Schools framework for deciding which students go to which school — comes up for a key School Board vote tonight. Linked from the meeting agenda, here is the entire SAP, Part One. One point of concern is its policy regarding siblings – here’s an excerpt:

• After both parts of the assignment plan, including attendance boundaries, are approved, the next step will be development of a transition plan. The transition plan will provide specific information for families prior to the next Open Enrollment period.

• The transition plan will include procedures so entry grade siblings and older siblings have the opportunity to be assigned to the same school (which may be the new attendance area school) if requested. This does not assure assignment of the entry grade sibling to the older sibling’s current school.

If the parent/guardian indicates that the priority is to have the siblings attend the same school and space is not available at the older sibling’s current school (or for both siblings at any other schools requested), the siblings will be assigned to the new attendance area school.2

The attendance boundaries for each school, if you’re wondering, have NOT been drawn yet – that’ll come later. Also on tonight’s agenda, the $500,000 sale of part of Jefferson Square, as repeatedly reported here earlier this spring (here’s the document that’s linked from tonight’s agenda). The meeting begins at 6 pm, district HQ in Sodo; if you can’t be there but want to send feedback to school-board members, contact info’s here.

DELRIDGE DISTRICT COUNCIL: 7 pm, Youngstown Arts Center. Wondering what this meeting is really about? Delridge Neighborhood Services Coordinator Ron Angeles explained it best in a recent e-mail announcement of the meeting:

In the City of Seattle, citizens are encouraged to participate in city government and one of the most effective ways of getting involved in through your District Council.

In 1987, the Seattle City Council established the District Council system as a way of soliciting input and advice from citizens on city-sponsored programs and initiatives.

This month the Delridge Neighborhoods District Council will have on its agenda a presentation by Andrea Petzel, Senior Land Use Planner, Seattle Department of Planning and Development, on the proposed legislation to establish more backyard cottages in Southwest Seattle. And a presentation by Erin Taylor, who is representing the Lower Duwamish Waterway Group (LDWG), a group of partners (City of Seattle, King County, Port of Seattle, The Boeing Company) coordinating cleanup of the Lower Duwamish Waterway.

As customary, all Neighborhood Organizations and Groups will have an opportunity to give reports and announcements of activities, programs, and events going on in Delridge.

Please feel free to bring a neighbor, friend, student, co-worker … with you.