One more community meeting to recap from this past week before we head into a new week: The Southwest District Council.

Featured guests at this month’s meeting were from SDOT and The Whale Trail.

AVALON REPAVING/RECHANNELIZATION: Two project reps summarized where the design stands now for the project (see our most recent coverage here). They said there’s still time for feedback on the proposal before design is finalized. They heard two major concerns – one, from Avalon residents who are worried about the rechannelization plan’s removal of the center turn lane, given its use by business and delivery vehicles as well as for turning; two, from Luna Park businesses about the loss of street parking. SDOT plans to add limits to street parking that currently has no limits, in order to encourage turnover. Luna Park Café owner John Bennett says the situation is already challenging even before this project, and the transit lanes that currently replace parking from 6 to 10 am should end at 9 am instead.

THE WHALE TRAIL: Executive director Donna Sandstrom elaborated on some of what she’d said the night before at her organization’s latest Orca Talk (WSB coverage here). She is on Governor Inslee‘s task force trying to help the dwindling Southern Resident Killer Whale population and noted that its draft report is due in a few weeks. She reminded attendees that saving the orcas doesn’t just involve increasing the salmon population so they have more food – reducing boat noise, which gets in the way of their fishing, is a fast way to help them.

The SRKWs’ plight – including efforts to help ailing J50 – could have a silver lining in that they’ve raised awareness about the whales to a level not seen in more than a decade, and she hopes that can be converted to action. Sandstrom also offered a primer on The Whale Trail and said they’re reaching out more than ever to local community groups – like the SWDC – to get more help and support. Watch for upcoming events (the next Orca Talk, for example, is October 2nd – details to come).

The Southwest District Council meets first Wednesdays most months, 6:30 pm at the Senior Center/Sisson Building (4217 SW Oregon).