(We’ll replace this video window when archived video of meeting is made available – just checked at 10:12 pm and it’s not, yet)
We’re in the City Council chambers at City Hall downtown, along with more than 100 people, as the Housing, Human Services, Health, and Culture Committee prepares to take up two hot topics – encampments and marijuana.

We’ll be updating live, mostly on the former topic, because of the Nickelsville issue. We also hope to add the live-video window here in a moment (the 2 pm meeting is running a bit late). More to come.

2:13 PM: Public comment is about to begin. Council chair Nick Licata says each speaker will be limited to a minute and a half. First, Rev. Bill Kirlin-Hackett of the Interfaith Task Force on Homelessness says he supports Licata’s proposal. “What we all agree about is that we need to keep working on remedies to enable interim survival plans,” he says. Next, a woman identifying herself as a Tent City 3 resident, who says excluding campers from residential areas would be discrimination. “Because I’m homeless, you don’t want me in the residential areas where kids are and stuff like that … (but) I don’t want to hurt kids.” Another Tent City 3 representative speaks next, about discrimination. “We support our friends at Nickelsville and want a good solution to their current dilemma,” but this is not it, he says.

A Nickelsville resident who says she is living there with her son and two cats is next. She says more than 125 people are there now and last summer peaked at more than 180 people. She says conditions and order are OK – except for the lack of running water, sewer, and “little police protection … We are doing great but our preference is to be moved someplace” where they would have such things. She says they “hope to move within next 2 months” without any new city codes and that they oppose the ordinances because they are not necessary.

Another Nickelsville resident, Trace DeGarmo, brings up the newly proposed Nickelsville “Option 7,” which he says would work within the current religious-encampment ordinance. They would move to two sites under control of religious organizations with whom they would sign contracts, he says. “This plan is now entirely doable” and would enable Food Lifeline to take over the current site

He is followed by Carolyn Stauffer of Highland Park Action Committee, who mentions the petition they have circulated with more than 200 names.

“We would like to see you act now and enforce the existing land use codes, because that’s your job … That it’s taken the council two years to have this conversation is shameful and disappointing,” she says, reiterating their demand that the encampment be moved before “it begins a third summer” there.

CLICK AHEAD TO READ THE REST OF OUR DETAILED AS-IT-HAPPENED COVERAGE:

She is followed by Linda Nageotte of Food Lifeline, who expresses appreciation for the City Council’s work on the issue, “but we also ask that you act expediently.”

2:27 PM: The next man says, “There is a crisis of unmet need in our community” and brings up the most recent One Night Count of people sleeping on the street. “The tent cities meet a dire need out there” including a need for safety, he says, next alluding to Nickelsville’s limbo, “tolerated but legal .. an unworkable solution.”

HPAC co-chair Billy Stauffer speaks next, recalling the Highland Park fight against a proposed city jail several years ago, and now their challenge leading a community that has been “at times looked over, at times abused … But this time it’s different. It’s not solely about our community. It’s about the homeless community too, and other communities around Seattle.” He refers, as did Carolyn Stauffer, to the precedent that Nickelsville’s unsanctioned 2-year presence seems to have set. “Let’s not allow our egos to get in the way of a multi-pronged approach” involving all parties. “Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good” and get in the way of a solution, he exhorts.

Kay Kirkpatrick, also from Highland Park: “We are calling on you in our petitions and letters and comments via the press to please move the Nickelsville encampment.” She talks about having donated to the camp and supporting its people, but that it’s not a fit site – “how un-perfect this site is to hold a camp of this type,” including its adjacency to “our 10 miles of West Duwamish Greenbelt,” where people “move to” if they are not allowed in the camp. “Hence, we are hosting not only Nickelsville but also the suburbs of Nickelsville.” She runs overtime and is heckled as she returns to her seat.

The next man says he has a challenge to the City Councilmembers in attendance: “Tonight, I want you to try to find a bed in a shelter.” And/or, see how many of the people on the streets get beds: “Every single day (as a worker at an emergency shelter) I have to turn people away.” He says he is “not seeing any solution other than Nickelsville and tent cities” for the overflow – and gets the loudest applause of the meeting.

Following him, a man who says it’s “incredibly embarrassing” that the city of Seattle, “so beautiful a city,” has “a growing number of people” without a roof over their head. “We’ve got to do something about this – we have such creativity about other things, but these people are invisible, too much of the year.”

Next, another Highland Park resident who says its “hosting” of Nickelsville for two years is long enough. Her brief comment is followed by a man who says he believes “a win-win is possible” in moving Nickelsville. And he says “the religious community” wants to help find a location. (No one has mentioned a specific location, to our knowledge, so far.)

The next commenter has moved on to the cannabis-zoning issue that’s also on today’s agenda. (And after a second related comment, that is the first item on the council agenda, so we won’t be updating again until the encampment-related discussion begins. Present, by the way, along with Councilmember Licata, are Council President Sally Clark and Councilmembers Sally Bagshaw and Bruce Harrell.)

3:22 PM: Now, to the encampment items (after the marijuana-zoning measure, with amendments, was approved for moving out of committee – it’ll go to full council week after next).

The first ordinance that comes up – the Licata legislation – is scheduled for a public hearing June 25th, a council legislative assistant notes. Councilmember Mike O’Brien is at the table now too, by the way.

It’s noted that non-church properties in this bill would have a one-year time limit – six months with an option to renew for another six months; church properties would not have a time limit since it’s simply “an allowed use.” There would be public-notice requirements included, too. Licata notes there will be “no votes today – just discussion.” And he says his legislation was changed based on discussion with SHARE/WHEEL and ‘Nickelodeons.’ Among the changes, a minimum lot size – 5,000 square feet instead of previously proposed 7,500 square feet. Harrell is asking, “Is that SAFE?” O’Brien points out that there’s a minimum of 100 square feet per occupant, so if it was a 5,000-sf lot, that would limit it to 50 people. DPD would have to review the plan, points out a staffer present for the presentation. The review would take a couple weeks, he says.

The legislation also would allow an encampment to return to a site it had used for a year – after a year away.

3:44 PM: Now, they’re discussing the mayor’s proposal, which specifically would set up an environmental study regarding the current Nickelsville site. Staffers from the mayor’s office and Finance and Administrative Services join the group at the table for this. Bagshaw asks why this is even being discussed if Nickelsville itself says it has a plan to move. Staffer says this would be due diligence even for the Food Lifeline sale, given everything that’s happened on the site previously. (It should be noted, that’s not what the draft ordinance says – it says “an environmental assessment must be conducted in order to determine whether the
Glassyard property is potentially a suitable site for providing temporary shelter and
transitional services.”)

The assessment could be done with Nickelsville still on the site, says staff; it could take 12 to 16 weeks. “Seems like it’s the right thing to do either way, I suppose,” says Harrell. Discussion continues to try to clarify where everything stands. Licata and his staffer mention claims filed by an adjacent property owner and by HPAC over Nickelsville being there now. Licata observes this is a complicated situation. Now his staffer Lisa Herbold mentions Nickelsville’s own proposal, finding religious entity/ies to host them so they could move off the current site. That would NOT require a permit process. But, “they are looking for property,” says Licata, in response to Bagshaw’s question.

A few minutes later, she says pointedly, that while everyone is expressing concern about Nickelsville residents’ health and safety today, it looks like they haven’t for the past two years. “We really ought to be looking at a whole network and system here and not just leave people out in the rain,” she says, following up on a concern expressed by Harrell previously, what might be done toward “rapid re-housing” of the NV residents rather than just letting them stay or move to another encampment site. She then said she’d like to know what their plans and intentions are.

With that, the discussion ends, and there’s a smattering of applause, as the committee goes on to its final, unrelated item.

POSTSCRIPT, 4:10 PM: We just talked with Herbold from Licata’s staff to be sure we’re clear on what happens next. Nothing will happen until the June 25th public hearing on the proposed encampment legislation – 30 days’ notice is required for the hearing, so that’s why the discussion was scheduled here today. After that, it would go to the council. Stay tuned.

1:36 PM UPDATE: You’ll probably recall that seven other candidates had declared they were running – they and Burgess all participated in the April 29th “Super Seattle Mayor’s Forum” co-sponsored by the 34th District Democrats (WSB coverage, including video, here). The other seven have all filed for official candidacy, according to this page on the King County Elections website; it had been noted by political-news site PubliCola that Burgess was the only one not to have filed by noontime today.

6:12 PM UPDATE: Two more candidates joined the race, making it a field of nine, by the deadline. One is West Seattle lawyer Doug McQuaid, who ran last year for state Supreme Court; his campaign website does not appear to be up yet (at least not at the link listed on the county Elections website), but his background is detailed on a site related to last year’s court campaign. The other new candidate to file in the mayor’s race is Joey Gray, whose bio is on her website. The full list of candidates in this office and others on King County ballots in the August primary is here.

(May 13, 2011, WSB photo)
Two years ago today, the homeless encampment that calls itself “Nickelsville” returned to the site where it had begun – a mostly-city-owned parcel on the eastern edge of West Seattle. According to a flyer posted on the semi-official Nickelsville Works Facebook group page, encampment residents and supporters plan a second-anniversary party next Sunday afternoon. That’s three days before their uphill neighbors from the Highland Park Action Committee have a meeting scheduled with Mayor McGinn.

Today was also the deadline that HPAC chair Carolyn Stauffer had given McGinn and City Councilmembers for announcing a move-out date for the encampment. The nonprofit Food Lifeline has proposed building a new center there, to collect and process food for food banks around the region. But in addition to the encampment’s presence, there’s also bureaucracy in the way, such as getting the site declared “surplus” so the city could consider selling it.

Stauffer writes on the HPAC website that only one city leader to whom the letter was sent, Councilmember Richard Conlin, replied, though without any commitment of specific action. As for the mayor, she writes in part:

The Mayor has donated [to Nickelsville] thousands of dollars in materials and rat abatement, and has been ignoring the neighborhood pleas for city action. We asked again that he be brave enough politically to stand up for our neighborhood and say no- that one cannot squat illegally on public land anymore, that it is too much to ask of our neighborhoods without due process and public comment. Giving the encampment a move out date is the Mayor’s job, and we are meeting with him on May 22nd to make sure that he understands that, and to make sure he knows that the neighborhood is serious when we ask for a move out date.

If he chooses to continue to ignore this, he will have a difficult time getting through the political season coming up without having to address his non-action. As we stated in our April 2nd letter, we will be taking steps to pursue legal action at this point.

We too have an inquiry out to the mayor’s office and will update when we hear back.

Seattle Port Commission races often get little attention, but deserve more, candidates told the 34th District Democrats at their monthly meeting in Fauntleroy last night. Most of the meeting was devoted to a candidates’ forum moderated by chair Marcee Stone-Vekich, with various races from Burien City Council to Southwest Sewer District – not including Seattle Mayor, since the 34th DDs co-sponsored the campaign’s first major forum just last week in Georgetown. (Here’s our coverage of that event, including video of the entire forum.)

Our video above features the three Port Commission candidates who showed up, from left: Commissioner John Creighton, candidate Michael Wolfe, and recent commission appointee Stephanie Bowman.

Part of the forum included unopposed (so far) candidates, among them King County Sheriff John Urquhart, who was elected last year to the remaining year of his predecessor’s term, so has to run again this year:

Also appearing, three Seattle City Councilmembers (Sally Bagshaw, Mike O’Brien, and Richard Conlin) and one candidate, Albert Shen. Our video from that section of the forum had technical trouble, unfortunately, so we will have to catch up with them at another forum. 34th DDs’ webmaster Bill Schrier did share a photo from a point where the four were asked if they support Seattle annexing White Center and vicinity – the “waffles” were for those who hadn’t made up their mind – only Conlin held up his “YES” paddle:

Before the forum, the district’s state Sen. Sharon Nelson and Rep. Eileen Cody discussed the legislative session just past and the special session coming up next week. Asked if they see much hope of a transportation/transit-funding fix in the special session, here’s how they replied:

The 34th DDs did not take any endorsement votes last night – that’s coming up at their next meeting, second Wednesday in June (that’ll be June 12th).

6:42 PM: We’re with a standing-room only crowd at South Seattle Community College‘s Georgetown campus for the first big forum of the Seattle mayoral campaign, co-sponsored by the 34th District Democrats along with two other Democratic organizations on the south side of the city. All eight declared candidates are here, along with news media galore. We’ll be updating live, and we’re recording it on video too. (Added: Here it is in its entirety, starting with quick intros from Holly Krejci of the 11th DDs and Marcee Stone-Vekich of the 34th DDs:)

The eight candidates are starting off answering a question about the moment when they decided to run for mayor.

7:06 PM: The wi-fi signal in here is intermittent, which is preventing reliable live-chronicling. So we’ll point you to Twitter for the rest of the way – look for hashtag #seamayor (can’t get a direct link right now but find it via our account at twitter.com/westseattleblog).

7:16 PM: Question now for some of the candidates – which comes first, transportation or development, and do you support impact fees? Mary Martin starts by saying she doesn’t like the question. Tim Burgess says they should happen simultaneously but it doesn’t go that way, and we’re only now talking about zoning for light rail, “we should have done that four years ago.” He says infrastructure for transportation is an issue of social justice too. Kate Martin says she agrees with him, that transportation should be concurrent with growth – and freight must be kept in mind too.

7:25 PM: Next – should we move Nickelsville, and where? Bruce Harrell is asked first, and he says, “yes.” He says people shouldn’t be living with rats and no water hookups, “we can do better than that.” He has no specific location in mind. Peter Steinbrueck says, “We should not have to endure Nickelsville in the first place … no neighborhood should endure indefinitely those kind of conditions, nor should the people wh seek shelter have to endure those kinds of conditions.” Mike McGinn answers next and says it’s a “problem” that people prefer that situation to shelters. “I think we’re going to have to find a way to (change the situation) but I need the City Council to step up, and they haven’t.” (Some in the room boo that answer.)

7:33 PM: Subsequent questions include how to close the gender gap for wages – Bruce Harrell drew applause for saying “institutional practices,” after Tim Burgess quipped that “if everyone had daughters like mine,” the problem would “self-correct.”

7:45 PM: What’s the most surprising thing on your iPod? Steinbrueck says he doesn’t have one. How about most interesting app on his phone? He says, One Bus Away. Staadecker says most interesting thing on his iPod is his just-born granddaughter. Murray says he has an app for a new puppy. McGinn says he started listening to more local bands – but Seattle RainWatch is his favorite. Mary Martin says she prefers to talk to people face-to-face. Kate Martin says she collects vinyl records, and has a BlackBerry so no apps. Harrell says he has an app for estate sales. Burgess says he doesn’t have an iPod either but best thing on his iPhone is picture of his 15-month-old granddaughter, and another app tracking another daughter’s current pregnancy.

Next question, how to best get to know you as a candidate? Steinbrueck: Come over and have homemade pizza. Staadecker says to ask people about his authentic qualities. Murray says he likes to talk, so talk to him. McGinn: “Look at my budgets; come on a walking tour with me out in a neighborhood.” Mary Martin: Walk on May Day, to “unionize, organize.” Kate Martin: “Call me or have coffee with me, invite me over,” and come check out her vinyl collection. Harrell: “come by my campaign office and imagine with me, imagine a new Seattle.” Burgess says go meet his wife and daughter who are here (one of his three daughters), and look at the reading list on his “city blog.”

7:48 AM: Should Seattle annex White Center, West Hill, and “the sliver”? That drew mixed responses (we have most on video – it’s a lightning round so we’ll have to consult later). Next lightning questions, your three closest advisers. Then, which endorsement matters the most, that you’ve already received? And then – which two candidates will make it through the primary? McGinn said “me and somebody else.” Staadecker also said himself and (question mark). Harrell said himself and “waffle.”

7:54 PM: The forum is wrapping up, after yet another lightning-round question about “what was your favorite part of the forum?” Closing statement: Why should you be the next mayor? “We have lots to be thankful for,” said Steinbrueck, talking about transportation projects, and the 150,000 people he says are headed to Seattle – how do we balance growth and quality of life? Staadecker said the two most important issues are the qualities of a mayor – including trust, collaboration, integrity – and the long-term vision for the city: “jobs, education, city services, safety, infrastructure, and fun – life is too short …” Murray: “this race is about leadership and I think I have the leadership this city needs. … Look at my record; I’ve worked on contentious issues with people who disagree, but we turned defeat into victory because we found ways to bring people together …” McGinn said, “We worked to change the debate in Seattle,” including talking about education. “They said Seattle can’t do transit – we have a master transit plan …” and touted more initiatives he’s working on “to make the city what it can be” before mentioning Sierra Club and Cascade Bicycle Club endorsements and that he was called “the most progressive mayor in America” and wants to make Seattle “the most progressive city in America.” Mary Martin says “the capitalist system is in crisis” and adds that “the working class has no voice.” She says she’s not just running to be elected, but also to seek solutions – “once and for all remove the capitalist system and put workers and farmers in power.”

Kate Martin lists her resume of activism and parenting and “I invite all of you to join me on that journey … but it’s not going to be issue to issue, this is who I am: When it comes to children, I am a radical. When it comes to health care, I’m a socialist,” and she lists other beliefs including “when it comes to the bottom line, I’m conservative,” before pitching for contributions. Bruce Harrell begins, “There’s a reason why 7 people are challenging this mayor – they want (a mayor) who is fighting for us … imagine a city where the mayor demonstrates listening abilities … that’s what my candidacy is all about,” and says he has “walked the talk all my life, and I think that’s what Seattle is looking for … I hope to wake up Seattle, because I am tired of the same old/same old … we want to reset the norms on how we look at this beautiful city of ours.” Burgess: “This campaign is about leadership … to fulfill the promise to our children … It’s about leadership to help fulfill the promise to future generations, to protect the environment, it’s our promise to you that we’ll fulfill that, that you’ll be able to get to work on time and back, live in a safe neighborhood, grow old and reflect on life here in our great city … unleash the power of innovation … and the quality of leadership in the mayor’s office that will restore your trust and confidence in city government.”

And at 8:04, moderator CR Douglas thanks the candidates and the legislative district organizations (including the West Seattle-headquartered 34th District Democrats) and it’s over, with mingling and handshaking following. We’ll be adding photos and our video of the entire forum once we’re back at HQ.

P.S. The candidates, as they were seated from left to right, each one’s name linked below to her/his campaign website if available:

Councilmember Tim Burgess
Councilmember Bruce Harrell
Kate Martin
Mary Martin
Mayor Mike McGinn
State Sen. Ed Murray
Charlie Staadecker
Peter Steinbrueck

That “cartoon” is what Metro Transit executives used to wrap up their briefing for the Seattle City Council this morning. “Cartoon” isn’t quite the right word; the prospect of more bus-service cuts is no laughing matter, as they warned – the briefing was basically the same one that Metro general manager Kevin Desmond gave to news media four weeks ago (WSB coverage here), with one extra twist: The Legislature has now adjourned without approving a transportation-funding package, and there’s no guarantee it’ll do so in the special session that is set to start May 13th. If they don’t, Desmond warned councilmembers, “we risk taking a giant step backward … the impacts will be very, very significant, (putting) up to 70 percent of current routes at risk.”

If you missed the previous round of coverage and discussion: The problem is twofold – the “congestion reduction charge” to supplement Metro funding expires next year, and it can’t be extended or replaced without Legislature approval. Then there’s the state “mitigation” money that added bus service to help while Highway 99 construction was under way; though the construction’s not really over till 2019, that money expires next year too.

So, Metro has drawn up its list of the types of cuts it might have to make if one or both of those funding sources isn’t replaced. Never mind the fact, it’s pointed out, that the service shouldn’t just be holding steady right now, it should be growing along with the population and usage.

At City Hall this morning, though Desmond stressed that the potential scenario is still an “illustration,” not a definite “plan” (same basic list shown during the April 1st briefing – here’s the West Seattle and vicinity breakout), he said that if the Legislature’s special session ends without a solution to Metro’s money woes, they’ll have to start working immediately on a plan to cut/reduce service, to be brought to the public this fall.

(Route 21, photographed this morning on Avalon Way)
(See today’s full slide deck here – note the West Seattle page saying “Neighborhoods such as Arbor Heights, Shorewood, Genesee Hill and Beach Drive could lose all service.)

Bus riders aren’t the only ones with someone at stake, Desmond noted – cuts would put tens of thousands of car trips back on the road. He acknowledged that in areas such as West Seattle’s Arbor Heights and Beach Drive neighborhoods, where service was cut last fall, some already have gone back to cars, if that’s an option for them. And without replacement funding, that’ll already get worse, though West Seattle is by no means the only area that’ll be affected.

West Seattle-residing Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, who chairs the council’s Transportation Committee, called it a “sobering assessment,” adding that legislators “need to give us the options to find solutions to meet the region’s transportation needs.” He was particularly concerned about more cuts making the bus system less reliable.

After the briefing, both Rasmussen and fellow Councilmember Tim Burgess issued news releases including calls for the Legislature to take action to help Metro avoid cuts. Do note that this is not a call for new state money – it’s just a call for the Legislature to give local governments/agencies permission to ask their taxpayers in turn to approve potential funding sources such as motor-vehicle excise tax, a car-registration fee, and/or a gas tax.

Before the session in Olympia ended, we had been in touch with 34th District State Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon – a member of the state House Transportation Committee – regarding progress (or lack of it) on this issue, so we have a message out to him again today seeking comment on transit-funding prospects when legislators reconvene.

ADDED TUESDAY MORNING: Rep. Fitzgibbon’s reply:

While the primary focus of the special session will be the state operating budget, I definitely expect the transportation revenue package to be one of the issues that we discuss and try to resolve in the special session. There continue to be some differences between the Senate and the House on transportation revenue but we are working to come to an agreement so that we can pass a package, including a local funding option for Metro. The bills from the last session will remain alive in the special session.

Dozens of interfaith and denominational faith leaders from throughout the state came together this morning and announced plans to pursue a 2014 initiative to the legislature requiring criminal background checks for firearm sales in Washington State. The legislature adjourned yesterday without passing similar legislation.

“Today we are announcing a statewide campaign to bring an initiative to the State Legislature calling for universal background checks,” said Reverend Paul G. Ryan of St. James Cathedral in Seattle. “Preventing gun violence is not only a political issue; it is a solemn moral obligation.”

The faith leaders initially organized following the December tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary, where 20 children and 6 adults lost their lives. Joining with the newly formed Washington Alliance for Gun Responsibility, the coalition worked to pass background checks in Olympia where it was a priority for a bi-partisan team of legislators and Governor Jay Inslee.

When it was clear that the bill would not reach a vote, the coalition decided to adopt an initiative strategy to address this urgent issue of public health and safety.

“We will no longer wait,” said Rabbi Daniel Weiner of Temple De Hirsch Sinai. We will no longer wait as another family grieves the death of a loved one, as another youth is shot down on our streets. We will not wait for another Café Racer, or another Sandy Hook. The time has come for sensible violence protection measures.”

Snohomish County Sheriff John Lovick, a former legislator and longtime supporter of closing background check loopholes, gave his support to the initiative launch.

“For law enforcement, criminal background checks are essential in protecting lives and property. Closing loopholes in our existing laws is common sense and long overdue,” said Lovick. “Like many, I am disappointed that the legislature failed to take action on this issue, and Congress remains unwilling—even in the face of overwhelming loss and overwhelming public outcry— to take action.”

“This is a public health crisis,” said King County Executive Dow Constantine, who in his role as executive oversees the state’s largest public health department. “130 people die in King County every year from firearm use, more than auto accidents. The cost is not only human life but millions in medical and emergency costs, and an estimated $174 million in lost work and productivity. Like any health crisis, we can solve it, but it will take decisive action—at the local, state, and federal level—to make real progress.”

The Washington Alliance for Gun Responsibility will finalize language for the initiative in the coming weeks and begin gathering signatures in the summer months. Signatures on this type of initiative are due in January. If the legislature failed to take action, it will be placed on the 2014 general election ballot.

The group is planning a May 30 fundraising event to formally launch campaign efforts.

(Photo courtesy ‘Keep King County Moving’ Coalition)
Following up on our Monday report about transportation-funding proposals approved by the House Transportation Committee, two notes:

First – as promised, the “Keep King County Moving” coalition of political and organizational leaders hit the road for Olympia this morning to urge approval of the package. Among them were two West Seattleites seen in the photo above – County Executive Dow Constantine and County Councilmember Joe McDermott.

Second – a little more information on part of the proposal that sparked some discussion among WSB commenters following our Monday story. It would include funding to “split” Metro RapidRide Lines C and D – which currently are really one line going between West Seattle and Ballard. We asked the King County Department of Transportation if any more details were available, and spokesperson Rochelle Ogershok replied today:

This is a proposal for capital improvements. It calls for $15 million to split the RapidRide C and D lines to improve reliability and provide additional direct service to growing job centers in the South Lake Union and SODO neighborhoods.

The approach under consideration would have the C Line running between West Seattle and South Lake Union. The D Line would operate between Ballard and SODO. There is no specific routing sketched out at this point – that is something we would want to work with businesses and the city on if this legislation passes. Also, this proposal does not include added service hours or bus terminal/transit center space in South Lake Union that would be required to support these changes so this concept would need to be part of a broader legislative package that includes sufficient operating revenues.

Again, the bills are HB 1954 and HB 1955. 34th District State Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon says the next move is up to the Rules Committee.

*$125,000 for safety improvements at the notorious 47th & Admiral intersection.

*$500,000 for safety improvements on the West Seattle Bridge bike trail

*$33 million for improvements to Metro Route 120

*$15 million to split RapidRide C and RapidRide D – this will significantly improve reliability on both routes and add a new bus connection between West Seattle and South Lake Union

*Authorization for King County to seek the full 1.5% motor vehicle excise tax for transit (60%) and local roads (40%), subject to voter approval. This will enable Metro to maintain current levels of service.

That last one is related to the dire dollar situation outlined by Metro Transit general manager Kevin Desmond at his media briefing three weeks ago (WSB coverage here). Regarding the biggest proposal on the list, Route 120 improvements, Rep. Fitzgibbon says the money is proposed to “leverage nearly completed speed and reliability enhancements supported by the State Regional Mobility Grant Program to serve a rapidly growing ridership base of over 8,000 daily riders. Implementing RapidRide in the corridor would provide additional enhancements such as real-time information and off-board fare payment. An investment of service hours would be required to get to frequency levels of 10 minutes or better in the high commute times and 15 minutes all day.” We’re still waiting for all the fine print on today’s action to appear online; the bills involved are HB 1954 and 1955, according to Rep. Fitzgibbon, who says their next stop is the Rules Committee.

ADDED 4:02 PM: A group of local politicians and advocates is planning to head to Olympia tomorrow morning to lobby for this to make it the rest of the way through the Legislature. They’re planning a 10:30 am media briefing; County Executive Dow Constantine and City Councilmember Sally Bagshaw are among them.

Thanks to 34th District Democrats webmaster Bill Schrier for the photo from Wednesday night’s meeting, during a presentation on the proposal for electing some Seattle City Councilmembers by district. At left is James Bush, a supporter; next to him, former Councilmember Jim Street, an opponent; at right, 34th member Susan Harmon asking a question. The group did not take a position on the proposal – its endorsement meeting is coming up in June. Schrier’s full recap of the meeting, including resolutions that were approved, is on the 34th DDs’ home page. His live Twitter stream, with quick updates as the meeting unfolded, can be seen here. Next month, on May 8th, the group plans a candidates’ forum for everything on the primary ballot except Seattle mayor, since the 34th is co-sponsoring an April 29th forum in Georgetown.

That projection of a future bioswale/raingarden-added Westwood/Sunrise Heights block comes from a slide deck that will be shown to the Seattle City Council‘s Transportation Committee next Tuesday morning (April 9). This “green stormwater infrastructure” plan to reduce combined-sewer overflows at the Barton Pump Station is a county project, but it’s happening in city-owned right-of-way, such as the planting strip in the rendering, so the committee will be asked to give “conceptual approval” to the project. Public comment is on the agenda before the meeting’s business/action items including this one; the meeting is at 9:30 am Tuesday (April 9) in City Council chambers at City Hall downtown.

P.S. The latest project update on the county website identifies 15 blocks for construction of 93 bioswales and 15 underground drains, with four more to be monitored for possible later addition. Most are in the north part of the project area:

Construction is scheduled to start next year.

Help Food Lifeline secure their chosen piece of land for the Hunger Relief Center.

Your voice in support of Food Lifeline being able to secure its parcel of land is critical to expediting the procedure. Reach out to the Seattle City Council today and let them know that you want them to declare the 10-acre site on West Marginal Way in Seattle surplus, and sell the land to Food Lifeline. The City’s plan for the property is a future storage site. Please call or email the Seattle City Council in support of Food Lifeline today.

Here is sample language for you to use when you call or e-mail the Seattle City Council:

“Food Lifeline distributes millions of pounds of food each year to help end hunger in Western Washington. Help Food Lifeline secure their piece of land to build the Hunger Relief Center by expediting the procedure for land purchase. As my representative on the Seattle City Council, I urge you to declare the 10-acre site on West Marginal Way in Seattle surplus, and sell the land to Food Lifeline NOW.

Thank you for your support of Food Lifeline.
Your Name Here”

Contact information for the council, whether collectively or individually, for this issue or any other, is on this page.