Two updates tonight on the future of the Port of Seattle’s Terminal 5 in northeastern West Seattle:

(December 2014 photo by Long Bach Nguyen)
GETTING RID OF THE CRANES: After the port closed the terminal, separate from interim leasing including the Foss/Shell use, it announced plans to sell the six cranes on the site, saying they had been appraised as worth $3.75 million. Ten months later, no buyer(s) have surfaced, so the port wants to pay someone an estimated $4.6 million to take away the six T-5 cranes and one at Terminal 46 on the downtown waterfront. From a briefing paper accompanying last Tuesday’s Port Commission meeting agenda:

Cranes No. 61, 62, 63, 64, 66, and 68 are located at Terminal 5. They were purchased from PACECO Corporation and are classified as post-panamax cranes having a gauge of 100 feet and a lifting capacity of 50 long tons. Crane 54 is located on Terminal 46 and is an IHI crane classified as a panamax having a capacity of 40 long tons and a gauge of 50 feet.

Port staff advertised the cranes in trade journals, contacted used equipment dealers, and reached out to other ports, but received limited interest and no offers. Unfortunately, there are a number of used cranes similar to the PACECOs on the market with very few buyers. There is no market for the IHI crane and it has been inactive since 2008. The result is the Port will have to issue a major public-works contract to have the cranes removed from the terminals.

And that has to be done fast, the port says, because some demolition work is planned at T-5 “in early 2016.” Port spokesperson Peter McGraw tells WSB a final decision is expected at the July 14th commission meeting; this week, along with this briefing, he says commissioners ratified a cost increase in a separate contract to remove three cranes at Terminal 18, which will now cost $1.8 million.

COMMENT TIME FOR MODERNIZATION PLAN: Another public-comment period is now open for the modernization work itself, according to this notice published in the city’s most-recent Land Use Information Bulletin, which summarizes the project as:

Shoreline Substantial Development Application to allow improvements to existing container cargo facility (Terminal 5). Project includes removal and replacement of portions of pier structure, including crane rails, decking and piling, dredging of approximately 29,800 cu. yds. of sediment, and under pier shoreline stabilization. Project also includes installation of an electrical substation and utility upgrades.

You can use this form to send a comment to the city Department of Planning and Development; the deadline is July 24th. You can find what’s been filed with the city by going here and putting 3019071 in the “project number” search box on the left side.

Share This

West Seattle weather: Wading-pool season starts tomorrow; how hot it did, or didn’t, get

June 26, 2015 6:39 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| Fun stuff to do | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

6:39 PM: As the temperature headed up into the upper 80s today … the Lincoln Park wading pool remained empty. But today is the last day you’ll find it that way – tomorrow is opening day! It’s in the upper north-central park and scheduled to be open 11 am-8 pm daily starting Saturday, unless the weather’s below 70 degrees. Also from the citywide wading-pool/spraypark schedule, the Delridge wading pool (Delridge/Genesee) is the next to open (Monday, 4-day-a-week schedule); Wednesday is the first day for E.C. Hughes (2805 SW Holden) and Hiawatha (Walnut/Lander). Of course, you can already take the kids to Highland Park Spraypark (1100 SW Cloverdale) every day, 11 am-8 pm – it’s been open for five weeks!

9:42 PM: National Weather Service says today’s high was 89, not a record, but:

However, it is noteworthy to mention that today was the 9th of 80+ degrees this month in Seattle. That is good for 2nd place on the list of occurrences of 80+ degrees in June. It’s all but a foregone conclusion that we will see day 10 tomorrow which would tie the all-time record of 80+ degree days in June. On Sunday, we’re likely to reach new territory with day 11…something that has never happened in 70 years of records at Sea-Tac airport.

Share This

$930 million transportation levy: Council vote on Monday; WSTC survey for you now

June 26, 2015 4:00 pm

| 17 COMMENTS

| Transportation | West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

From the agenda for next Monday’s City Council meeting, that’s a revised summary of what the proposed $930 million Move Seattle transportation levy would go toward – mostly in generalities, though the Fauntleroy Boulevard project is mentioned by name. The full council votes Monday on whether to send it to the November ballot, after its committee approval this week (including rejection of a suggestion to mix up the funding – which will remain 100 percent property tax). Meantime, the West Seattle Transportation Coalition is wondering what YOU think of the levy, and launched a two-question survey today to find out. Go here to take it.

Share This

FOLLOWUP: Lights in place at 47th/Admiral/Waite signal/crosswalks project

June 26, 2015 3:01 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| Safety | Transportation | West Seattle news

Thanks to Dave Brewer for the photo – the lights have arrived at the 47th/Admiral/Waite project; in the update we published on Monday, SDOT had said they were expecting delivery by the end of the week. Don’t expect to see them in operation immediately, though – testing/configuration is expected to take a while.

Share This

FOLLOWUP: Fireworks ban? No, say state officials – ‘not a current statewide fire emergency’

June 26, 2015 2:23 pm

| 44 COMMENTS

| Holidays | Safety | West Seattle news

Two days ago, we reported on a petition drive in which community advocates in two areas of urban unincorporated King County, including North Highline (White Center and vicinity), asked for an emergency ban on fireworks. County leaders said they don’t have the authority to do anything immediate, but the state does; we finally got a chance today to inquire with the State Fire Marshal’s Office. Deputy Fire Marshal Lysandra Davis replied, saying that only the governor has that authority, but that calling for one isn’t warranted right now. Here’s the entire reply:

Our office has received numerous inquiries on this matter, and we value and appreciate each and every one.

Because Washington is a Home Rule State, legislative authority to limit or prohibit the sale, purchase, possession, and/or use of consumer fireworks is only granted to city, municipal, and county governments. However, any ordinance adopted by a county or city has an effective date no sooner than one year after its adoption, per RCW 70.77.250 (4). Because State Fireworks Law does not provide the SFMO or any other local jurisdiction/agency the authority to temporarily ban
fireworks, even on an emergency basis, it is unlawful to do so.

The only person with the authority to issue a temporary ban on fireworks sales/usage is Governor Jay Inslee. This would be done through a State of Emergency Proclamation which normally prohibits activities that the Governor reasonably believes should be prohibited to help preserve and maintain life, health, property or public peace. In the past, when emergency proclamations have been issued during heavy wildland fires (usually occurring mid-July to August), fireworks usage and sales were already prohibited by State Fireworks Law.

The current burn ban that is in effect only applies to state forests, state parks and forestlands under Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) fire protection, including Department of Fish and Wildlife lands; it does not include cities, municipalities and/or counties. This ban prohibits outdoor burning and fireworks and incendiary devices (which are never legal on DNR-protected forestlands).

While these drought conditions we are facing may be unprecedented, there is not a current statewide fire emergency that would warrant the Governor to declare a State ban on fireworks.

What I can assure you of is that the State Fire Marshal’s Office is committed to promoting fire safety and injury prevention year round with our Celebrate Safely and Legally campaign — emphasizing “personal responsibility,” especially during these extremely dry weather conditions.

Fireworks are illegal in Seattle, but will be on sale, legally, in unincorporated King County starting this Sunday, where the law allows their use 9 am-midnight on July 4th.

Share This

West Seattle Crime Watch: What’s up, what’s down, what’s trending, from new SeaStat briefing, + more

June 26, 2015 12:10 pm

| 8 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

New local crime-trend info today from the latest semi-weekly SeaStat briefing at HQ – all in this slide deck just published via the SPD website. SeaStat does not spotlight all precincts at every briefing, but this time our area was featured on three slides:

MAJOR CRIME CATEGORIES: First slide from the Southwest Precinct (West Seattle and South Park) showed the year-to-date changes in all major-crime categories. (The screengrab is too small/blurry to read in our format, so we’re summarizing, but again, you can see it firsthand here.) First, the increases:

*Aggravated assault, non-domestic-violence: Up 21 percent, 51 incidents YTD compared to 42 a year earlier
*Burglary, non-residential: Up 15 percent, 70 incidents YTD compared to 61 a year earlier
*Robbery: Up 12 percent, 64 incidents YTD compared to 57 a year earlier
*Motor-vehicle theft: Up 7 percent, 245 incidents YTD compared to 230 a year earlier
*Residential burglary: Up 5 percent, 228 incidents YTD compared to 217 a year earlier
*Car prowls: Up 4 percent, 438 incidents YTD compared to 420 a year earlier
*Larceny/theft: Up 4 percent, 479 incidents YTD compared to 459 a year earlier

One other category with an increase is homicide – 1 this year, 0 last year. (This year’s case was in South Park; West Seattle’s last homicide was in December 2013.)

Next, the decreases:

*Aggravated assault, domestic violence: Down 34 percent, 33 incidents YTD, 50 a year earlier
*Rape: Down 13 percent, 7 incidents YTD, 8 a year earlier

POSSIBLE HIGHLAND PARK BURGLARY PATTERN: This also was featured in the SeaStat deck – 8 break-ins between mid-May and mid-June:

You can take a closer look at those incidents via the SPD Police Report map – use the controls at left to choose the same time period, starting May 19th, and to select only burglaries; then click on any location to get the vicinity and date/time, plus report narrative if available.

NORTH ADMIRAL CAR PROWLS, PRE-ARREST: This slide illustrated a point police often make – repeat offenders are often responsible for a sizable number of incidents. This series preceded the June 12th arrest covered here and here – the case of the construction workers who tackled a juvenile car-prowl suspect (with one getting bitten for his trouble):

Since the suspect is a juvenile, information on his current status is not easy to come by, but we’re doing our best to find out.

CRIME-PREVENTION ADVICE: Also today – helpful information from SW/South Precincts Crime Prevention Coordinator Mark Solomon – the topics are window safety and graffiti vandalism:

Share This

West Seattle 4th of July 2015: City’s plans for field lighting

June 26, 2015 11:50 am

| 6 COMMENTS

| Holidays | Safety | West Seattle news

Just in from Seattle Parks (we’ve truncated the location list to show West Seattle fields only – see the full list here):

Seattle Parks and Recreation will turn on field lighting on ballfields throughout the city on the evenings of Friday, July 3, and Saturday, July 4, to protect the surfaces. The ballfield lights will be turned on at 8:45 p.m. and will be turned off at either 10 p.m. or 11 p.m., depending on the field.

The lights will be turned on to discourage the use of fireworks. Fireworks are illegal in the city of Seattle and will destroy the artificial turf on the fields or surrounding facilities. The approximate replacement cost for the synthetic surface based on per average full-size field (110,000 square feet) is $1.2 million. All the fields have been renovated in the past several years and benefit field users including players of soccer, football, baseball, Ultimate Frisbee and lacrosse.

The fields will be monitored by security from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m.

Lights at the following fields will be turned off at 11 p.m.:

· Delridge Playfield, 4458 Delridge Way SW

· Hiawatha Playfield, 2700 California Ave. SW

· Walt Hundley Playfield, 6920 34th Avenue SW

Share This

West Seattle Friday: Music, movies, bingo, & Bin 41 ‘by the glass’ debut/benefit

June 26, 2015 10:51 am

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

One day ahead of their official landing (WSB preview here with Saturday’s updated event schedule), some Seafair Pirates were spotted doing a little advance work on Alki Beach this morning – thanks to Don Brubeck for capturing the photo while riding by at 7:40 am. But before we get to tomorrow and the landing – here are highlights for the rest of today/tonight, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

FREE SOUP-AND-SANDWICH LUNCH: Monthly event at Seaview United Methodist Church, 11:30 am-1:30 pm, all welcome. (4620 SW Graham)

GIVE THE GIFT OF LIFE: With the 4th of July approaching, the local blood bank needs donations more than ever, and the Bloodmobile‘s visit to Admiral Safeway 1-7 pm today (closed for a break 3-4 pm) is a chance to help without leaving the peninsula. (2622 California SW)

WEST SIDE MUSIC ACADEMY SUMMER CAMP RECITAL: 5-7 pm, free and all ages; come hear young musicians from the West Side Music Academy (WSB sponsor) summer camp at The Skylark. (3803 Delridge Way SW)

WINE BY THE GLASS AT BIN 41: The Junction wine shop Bin 41 is officially launching “by the glass” wine service with a 5-8 pm kickoff fundraiser tonight, benefiting Forgotten Dogs Rescue, not only to support its rescue work but also in honor of a senior rescue dog that Bin 41’s proprietors recently cared for until a serious illness cut her life short. Tonight through Sunday, Bin 41 will donate $2 from every 5-ounce glass pour and 10 percent from retail bottle purchases. They also note that the shop is now separated into “by the glass” and “retail” areas; the former, which is for 21+ customers only, is the one closest to the sidewalk, while the all-ages entry is further down the hall. (4707 California SW)

RAINBOW BINGO: Doors open at 6 at the Senior Center of West Seattle. Tonight’s theme, “Viva Las Vegas” – details in our calendar listing – check ASAP to see if reservations are still available! (Oregon/California)

CYGNE AT C & P: 7-9 pm, live music with Cygne at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) – cygnemusic.com for more info. (5612 California SW)

MOVIES IN THE PARK: West Seattle Church of the Nazarene‘s outdoor movies start tonight with “Big Hero 6” at dusk (9 pm-ish). More info in our listing. “The park” is just south of the church. (42nd/Juneau)

MORE, AS USUAL … on the calendar.

Share This

‘Justice arrives like a thunderbolt’: U.S. Supreme Court’s marriage-equality ruling welcomed by local elected officials

June 26, 2015 8:53 am

| 16 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle people

(Photo by Don Brubeck – flags flying @ City Hall for Pride Month)
8:53 AM: The biggest news in the nation this morning is the U.S. Supreme Court‘s ruling for marriage equality, on which President Obama commented this past hour, congratulating those who had worked for decades, and hailing it as a moment in which “justice arrive(d) like a thunderbolt.” It also arrived not only at the start of Seattle’s Pride weekend but also two and a half years after the start of legal same-sex marriage in our state – remember that December 2012 night downtown (WSB coverage here) in which West Seattleites were in the spotlight, both the first couple to get a license – Pete-e Petersen and Jane Abbott Lighty – and the WS-residing elected official, County Executive Dow Constantine, who signed it. This morning, Constantine recalled that moment in his official statement on the Supreme Court ruling:

“One of my proudest moments was issuing the first marriage license to a same-sex couple in Washington state.

“This landmark decision makes our Pride celebrations a little more joyous. I’m looking forward to joining with the LGBT community and allies to celebrate at the Pride Parade this weekend.”

He will raise the Pride flag downtown at the County Administration Building Plaza at 11:45 am. Also reacting this morning, West Seattle-residing City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, who, as his statement describes him, is the “first and only openly gay man to serve on the Seattle City Council”:

“Today the Supreme Court ruling means that our Constitution stands for equal rights for all. This achievement is the result of decades of persistent, tenacious and courageous work by people throughout the country. Through steadfast advocacy to not accept anything less than full equality, this ruling moves LGBTQ rights forward.

“While we succeeded on this issue, the fight for LGBTQ rights and equality continues. It is incumbent upon all of us to elect leaders who will protect and defend the rights that have been won and who will continue the effort to ensure full and fair treatment for all.

“The quote, ‘The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice’ rings true today, and I couldn’t be more thrilled.”

Mayor Ed Murray, a former West Seattleite and longtime marriage-equality advocate, is speaking with the media in a few minutes (live on Seattle Channel at 9 am), and his office says he will lead a rally at the federal courthouse downtown later today – details to come.

9:17 AM: Joining the mayor at his news conference, Councilmember Rasmussen, who said this day seems “like a dream,” and spoke of younger days in which he was worried that his sexual orientation would keep him from getting a job, and could barely imagine having the right someday to marry:

That’s a screengrab from the ongoing Seattle Channel live feed. We’ll add the video once it’s archived on the SC website. (added 2:02 pm – here it is:)

Meantime, the aforementioned rally has been announced for 7th/Stewart downtown at 5 pm.

12:02 PM: Statement just in from another West Seattle-residing elected official, County Councilmember Joe McDermott:

I’m thrilled to join the jubilation across our country for today’s decision. From today forward, couples across the nation will be able to marry legally and be recognized as a family in the eyes of the law, just like Washington families, including myself and my husband Michael. Today, there is more love in the world, and that is a good thing!

Share This