At tonight’s Alki Community Council meeting: Carol Baker from the Parks Department was there mostly to talk about spring planting plans for Statue of Liberty Plaza, but wound up spending time defending the new landscaping along sections of Alki Avenue. Part of the newly landscaped area was planted with trees, on the water side, and residents are worried about blocked views. Those upset about the trees wanted to know why they had no say; 
Baker explained it was a small project, not subject to public review, and that the trees will help them deal with “irrigation problems” along that stretch of the waterfront. There had to have been a better solution that wouldn’t have affected the view, residents retorted. Baker stressed that the trees won’t grow to be very tall – how tall, though, she couldn’t say. That was no consolation to the concerned residents, who insisted they want the trees removed. Finally she suggested they directly contact the Parks landscape-architecture point person on the project, Joe Neiford. Meantime, back on the topic of Liberty Plaza, Baker said she had met with ACC reps to look at areas where plants didn’t make it through the winter; the dead plants have been removed, but she says the Parks budget has no money to replace them right now – maybe in fall, and in the meantime, the area’s been mulched. One other Statue of Liberty note; David Hutchinson reported that 237 bricks and 1 plaque have been sold by September, for more than $32,000 in revenue, with 7 percent going to the ACC. The new bricks went off to engraving this week and will be ready around start of May for installation. The group also heard tonight from School Board rep Steve Sundquist. (If you have education issues to discuss with him, by the way, his next community meeting is Saturday morning, 11 am, High Point Library.)
The Alki Community Council usually meets on the third Thursday, 7 pm, Alki UCC; next meeting, April 15th.
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