2 mayoral notes: Neighborhood Street Fund; budget-speech plan
NEIGHBORHOOD STREET FUND: As first reported here in early August, two West Seattle projects are getting money from the Neighborhood Street Fund “Large Projects” allotment – and tonight, those two were among 11 citywide formally announced by the mayor. In what the city calls the Southwest District – basically western West Seattle – crossing improvements are on the way for three California SW intersections: Othello, Frontenac, and Findlay. And in the Delridge Neighborhoods District – basically eastern West Seattle – 25th SW between Brandon and Juneau is in for improvements including curbs and street-widening.
MAYOR’S BUDGET-UNVEILING SCHEDULE: Next Monday is the day we’ll find out just what the mayor proposes to cut to make up for a big budget shortfall, and the schedule of events for the day is out. It’ll start with a “budget address” that is open to the public, noon Monday at the Rainier Beach Community Center. “Limited seating,” warns the mayor’s office, so they will stream it online at seattle.gov/mayor/budget. Then the mayor officially presents the budget to the City Council at 2 pm, and will answer media questions after that.
Delridge Skatepark update: Bids opened today
Another milestone bringing the Delridge Skatepark closer to reality: Bids for the project were opened today, according to Seattle Parks‘ Kelly Davidson, who’s leading the project. She notes that nothing is final immediately – so this doesn’t necessarily mean the low bidder gets the contract: “We have a lot of paperwork to complete before this contract can be awarded. The process to review and approve all necessary paperwork usually takes at minimum two weeks. This contract will not be considered awarded until all documentation has been approved by the City.” That said – TF Sahli Construction – which built the two-year-old Lower Woodland skatepark – appears to be the low bidder, at $413,000; second lowest was Grindline Skateparks, the West Seattle firm that designed the Delridge project (subcontracting for Abbotswood, Davidson clarifies; final design shown above) – $502,000; A-1 Landscaping and Construction came in third at $576,000; Construct Company, LLC, was the high bid at $589,000. Construction is expected to start next month. THURSDAY MORNING NOTE: Matthew Lee Johnston, a West Seattleite who’s on the Skatepark Advisory Committee and runs seattleskateparks.org, has published his thoughts on this there.
West Seattle school news: Time to get involved with your PTSA
We’ve got word of two PTSA meetings in the next two nights (and we welcome you sharing your announcement of any others) – first, from Lashanna:
Tonight Pathfinder K-8 will be having its 1st General PTSA meeting of the year. Our agenda is packed full of information about our school, what we do and how to get involved. Our goals this year are continued Academic Success and Community Building. You do not have to be a PTSA member to join, but you can join at the meeting! The meeting will be 6:30-8:00 pm in our cafeteria. We are excited about this upcoming year would be honored to have your participation in helping make our community ROCK (more) :)
And tomorrow night is the first PTSA meeting of the year at Chief Sealth International High School – 7 pm tomorrow (Thursday) – details on the school’s home page.
Update: Police say Roxhill Park murder victim apparently beaten
(Editor’s note: If any new information comes out tonight, we’ll add it to this story)
9:43 AM: Thanks to the tipsters who let us know about a huge police presence at Roxhill Park (map). SPD says via Twitter, “Murder investigation at Roxhill Park, SW Cambridge St and 29 Avenue SW. Homicide, CSI and PIO are on scene. More information to come.” We have just arrived on scene. Obviously there’s no access to the park, so steer clear of the area. 9:48 AM UPDATE: What’s known so far: Someone walking through the park this morning discovered a body and phoned the Fire Department around 7:30 am, and SFD in turn called police, according to SPD’s Det. Mark Jamieson, who tells us the body is that of an adult male who appeared to have suffered “homicidal violence.” The park is closed till further notice. The body has not yet been taken away by the Medical Examiner. Here’s a wider view of the scene:
10:44 AM NOTE: No new information so far. We’re watching SPD Blotter, where police have promised to post any available updates, and will be checking back at the scene in a bit. By our records check, this is the first murder in West Seattle in more than a year and a half, since the Fauntleroy/Dawson case.
3:47 PM UPDATE: Police have finally issued a statement on SPD Blotter – the only additional information is the apparent cause of death:
On September 22nd around 7:30 a.m. officers responded with Seattle Fire Department personnel to a report of a body lying next to a gravel path inside Roxhill Park, located in the 9200 Block of 29th Avenue Southwest. Officers and firefighters arrived and discovered a deceased adult male. It appears that the male may have been beaten. Homicide and CSI detectives responded to the scene and began their investigation. Anyone with information on this crime is urged to contact the Seattle Police Homicide Unit at (206) 684-5550.
Several citywide media organizations are quoting family members as identifying the victim as a 40-year-old man. We are not publishing an ID until and unless it’s released by authorities.
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