Delridge District Council 95 results

Delridge District Council: Festival dates set, census talk, and more

From tonight’s Delridge Neighborhoods District Council meeting at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center: The dates are set for two big Delridge events later this year — Delridge Day is scheduled for June 5th at Delridge Community Center (11 am-3 pm), Gathering of Neighbors is set for November 6th. Planning meetings are under way, first Wednesday each month at Youngstown – they’re talking Delridge Day at 4:30, GON at 5:30. Also at tonight’s DNDC meeting – Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association‘s strategic focus, a presentation about the upcoming U.S. Census, and more – ahead:Read More

Neighborhood Matching Fund changes unveiled — minus one

December 1, 2009 5:30 pm
|    Comments Off on Neighborhood Matching Fund changes unveiled — minus one
 |   Delridge District Council | Southwest District Council | West Seattle news

City reps made the rounds this fall to talk with various community organizations about proposed changes in the Neighborhood Matching Fund – which is relied on to help pay for a multitude of projects around the city, doubtlessly including more than a few near you. But one proposed change drew fire: The city had suggested a category in which citywide projects might be eligible for the money, instead of limiting the fund strictly to projects based in a neighborhood. That idea was strongly opposed at the October meetings of the Southwest District Council (here’s our report) and Delridge Neighborhoods District Council (here’s our report). Tonight, it looks like those concerns were heard loud and clear: The changes for next year have just been announced (read the news release here), and we confirmed with Department of Neighborhoods rep Lois Maag that they do NOT include the “citywide project” eligibility clause. She says that will be reviewed again in the future, but is not part of the changes for 2010. Still have questions? A workshop about the NMF – focusing on its Large Projects Fund – will be here in West Seattle on January 21 – 6 pm at Youngstown Arts Center.

Today/tonight: School maps, creek help, Delridge Council, more

November 18, 2009 7:09 am
|    Comments Off on Today/tonight: School maps, creek help, Delridge Council, more
 |   Delridge District Council | Fun stuff to do | Puget Ridge | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

SCHOOLS: 10 am, Steve Sundquist, West Seattle’s rep on the school board, is at Delridge Library for a community chat bound to be dominated by the proposed school-attendance maps the board will vote on tonight (6 pm, district HQ in SODO).

WATER: Could reclaimed wastewater mean a brighter future for West Seattle’s Puget Creek and other local natural areas? The project manager of the county’s Reclaimed Water Program will be at Sanislo Elementary‘s library at 7 pm to give an overview of the county’s plans to improve wastewater treatment, and what that could mean for the local ecology. (As noted on the Sustainable West Seattle website, neighbors at the meeting also will talk about a possible Puget Ridge pocket park.)

DELRIDGE DISTRICT COUNCIL: Come hear what community groups from around eastern West Seattle are up to, and see which neighborhood-traffic-related projects are being reviewed for a potential share of city funding – 7 pm, Youngstown Arts Center.

THE BIRTHDAY THAT KEEPS ON GIVING: It’s the 10th “39th Birthday Party” and fundraiser for King County Executive-elect Dow Constantine, this time with another momentous occasion less than a week away (his swearing-in next Tuesday). 5:30 pm, Kell’s Irish Pub downtown.

NO NEED TO PLAY ALONE: Alki Community Center invites you to Family Game Night tonight – board, video and challenge games. 6:30-8:30 pm ($5 activity fee).

Even more on the WSB Events calendar!

Delridge District Council: More on matching-fund changes

October 23, 2009 12:52 am
|    Comments Off on Delridge District Council: More on matching-fund changes
 |   Delridge | Delridge District Council | West Seattle news

(WSB photo by Jonathan Stumpf)
From Wednesday night’s Delridge Neighborhoods District Council meeting: 2 city money matters. Finance director Dwight Dively gave the group the grim outlook for the upcoming budget, as the council gets ready to review Mayor Nickels‘ proposal. And Department of Neighborhoods director Stella Chao discussed proposed changes to the Neighborhood Matching Fund program – same ones discussed at the Southwest District Council meeting earlier this month (here’s our report). Attendees voiced support for folding Small Sparks into Outreach, with a new $1,000 funding ceiling; according to Chao, that “would give more flexibility in how (they) develop smaller projects.” Applications will be taken twice a year instead of quarterly. However, another proposed change – allowing large-project funds to be used for citywide proposals in addition to neighborhood initiatives – drew concern at DNDC, as it had at SWDC; Pete Spalding said that funding should remain neighborhood-based, because doing otherwise “gets ahead from the intended purpose … (helping) neighborhoods build a sense of community.” (The proposed changes are outlined in this Department of Neighborhoods document that was provided by SW District Coordinator Stan Lock after the SWDC meeting – see section 3.)

New details on the next West Seattle candidates’ forum

September 29, 2009 1:07 pm
|    Comments Off on New details on the next West Seattle candidates’ forum
 |   Delridge District Council | Southwest District Council | West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

Last week, the Highland Park Action Committee hosted the fall’s first major candidate forum in West Seattle (WSB coverage, with video, here). Coming up in two weeks, what’s likely to be the biggest West Seattle candidates’ forum of all, co-sponsored by the Delridge Neighborhoods District Council and the Southwest District Council, whose members include reps from all major community groups and organizations around the area. Pete Spalding from DNDC has just sent this update on the plan for the October 15th forum:

West Seattle Candidates Forum

The Delridge Neighborhoods and Southwest District Councils will be hosting the candidates for the Seattle City Council and Mayoral races.

October 15th from 7 – 9 pm at the Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, 4408 Delridge Way SW (map)

Agenda

7:00 pm Opening remarks
7:05 pm Position #4 Candidates
7:25 pm Position #6 Candidates
7:45 pm Position #8 Candidates
8:05 pm Position #2 Candidates
8:20 pm Mayoral Candidates

Come find out how your candidates view West Seattle specific issues.

Happening tonight: Delridge Neighborhoods District Council

September 16, 2009 6:03 am
|    Comments Off on Happening tonight: Delridge Neighborhoods District Council
 |   Delridge | Delridge District Council | West Seattle news

One major event on the calendar tonight — the Delridge Neighborhoods District Council‘s regular monthly meeting: Reps from major community groups and organizations in eastern West Seattle will gather to talk about successes, challenges, projects, ideas and more – and you’re invited. 7 pm, Youngstown Arts Center (4408 Delridge; map). ADDED 8:44 PM: Got word from DNDC’s Pete Spalding of Pigeon Point that the date is set for the DNDC/Southwest District Council candidates’ forum – 7-9 pm October 15th at Youngstown.

Today/tonight: From Kenney to “Sweeney” to Morgan, and more

At left is The Kenney‘s CEO Kevin McFeely, when we caught up with him at West Seattle Summer Fest in The Junction last weekend. This afternoon he’s expected to be at the Municipal Tower downtown as The Kenney introduces its landmark nomination for the Seaview and Sunrise Buildings to the city Landmark Preservation Board (see the document here), a prelude to The Kenney’s redevelopment plan moving forward. 3:30 pm, board room on the 40th floor of the Muni Tower. The rest of the Wednesday highlights happen tonight:

(Photos by Matt Durham of mattdurhamphotography.com)
ArtsWest ‘s “Sweeney Todd” opens tonight. It’s a production of the Summer Youth Musical Theater Apprenticeship Program and plays through July 25; showtimes and ticket info can be found here. Also tonight — three meetings tackling an array of big issues:

NEIGHBORHOOD TRAFFIC CALMING: The traffic circle at left is just one example of the many tools that can be used to “calm” neighborhood traffic. If you have questions, concerns, ideas about your neighborhood, anywhere in West Seattle, come to an SDOT public meeting at 6:30 tonight in the South Seattle Community College board room. The Southwest District Council-presented event also includes a Backyard Cottages briefing at 7:30 and an 8 pm version of the briefing that will happen earlier at the next event:

DELRIDGE DISTRICT COUNCIL: Haven’t made up your mind yet on the bag-fee referendum that’s on next month’s ballot (official city voters’ guide info here)? That’s the measure asking city residents whether to approve or reject the City Council-approved fee for using non-reusable shopping bags. A pro-bag fee rep will speak to the Delridge District Council tonight, among other items on the agenda at 7 pm, Youngstown Arts Center.

MORGAN COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION: We published a preview last night (see it here); tonight’s MoCA meeting, 7 pm at The Kenney, includes a long list of hot topics from The Viaduct to RapidRide to future work at the Lowman Beach pump station.

Tonight: Student Assignment Plan vote; Delridge District Council

STUDENT ASSIGNMENT PLAN: Two years in the making, the new Student Assignment Plan — the Seattle Public Schools framework for deciding which students go to which school — comes up for a key School Board vote tonight. Linked from the meeting agenda, here is the entire SAP, Part One. One point of concern is its policy regarding siblings – here’s an excerpt:

• After both parts of the assignment plan, including attendance boundaries, are approved, the next step will be development of a transition plan. The transition plan will provide specific information for families prior to the next Open Enrollment period.

• The transition plan will include procedures so entry grade siblings and older siblings have the opportunity to be assigned to the same school (which may be the new attendance area school) if requested. This does not assure assignment of the entry grade sibling to the older sibling’s current school.

If the parent/guardian indicates that the priority is to have the siblings attend the same school and space is not available at the older sibling’s current school (or for both siblings at any other schools requested), the siblings will be assigned to the new attendance area school.2

The attendance boundaries for each school, if you’re wondering, have NOT been drawn yet – that’ll come later. Also on tonight’s agenda, the $500,000 sale of part of Jefferson Square, as repeatedly reported here earlier this spring (here’s the document that’s linked from tonight’s agenda). The meeting begins at 6 pm, district HQ in Sodo; if you can’t be there but want to send feedback to school-board members, contact info’s here.

DELRIDGE DISTRICT COUNCIL: 7 pm, Youngstown Arts Center. Wondering what this meeting is really about? Delridge Neighborhood Services Coordinator Ron Angeles explained it best in a recent e-mail announcement of the meeting:

In the City of Seattle, citizens are encouraged to participate in city government and one of the most effective ways of getting involved in through your District Council.

In 1987, the Seattle City Council established the District Council system as a way of soliciting input and advice from citizens on city-sponsored programs and initiatives.

This month the Delridge Neighborhoods District Council will have on its agenda a presentation by Andrea Petzel, Senior Land Use Planner, Seattle Department of Planning and Development, on the proposed legislation to establish more backyard cottages in Southwest Seattle. And a presentation by Erin Taylor, who is representing the Lower Duwamish Waterway Group (LDWG), a group of partners (City of Seattle, King County, Port of Seattle, The Boeing Company) coordinating cleanup of the Lower Duwamish Waterway.

As customary, all Neighborhood Organizations and Groups will have an opportunity to give reports and announcements of activities, programs, and events going on in Delridge.

Please feel free to bring a neighbor, friend, student, co-worker … with you.

Celebrating West Seattle volunteers: Nominated anyone yet?

June 7, 2009 12:05 pm
|    Comments Off on Celebrating West Seattle volunteers: Nominated anyone yet?
 |   Delridge District Council | How to help | Southwest District Council

Not sure how many were from West Seattle, but kudos to the MANY volunteers (like the green-shirted cheerleaders above) who made the Race for the Cure an incredible event again this year (our photos later, and if you have one of you and/or other West Seattleites in the event, please share – editor@westseattleblog.com – thanks!) Anyway, seeing them reminded us that we want to update you on the GREAT response so far to the brand-new effort to celebrate West Seattle volunteers, just launched by the Southwest and Delridge District Councils and WSB. We know the peninsula’s home to HUNDREDS of people who really rock the volunteer world to make this a better place, so while we’ve got some fab nominees now, let’s get more — take a second and send in the name(s) of the one(s) you appreciate the most! Here’s the quick ‘n’ easy online nomination form – deadline is June 17th; a community panel will review the entries and choose three for recognition during one of the summer’s big events, the July 14th Hi-Yu Concert in the Park.

Give West Seattle “unsung heroes” a moment in the spotlight!

June 4, 2009 9:00 am
|    Comments Off on Give West Seattle “unsung heroes” a moment in the spotlight!
 |   Delridge District Council | How to help | Southwest District Council

trophy.jpgAlong with members of the Southwest District Council and Delridge District Council, WSB is proud to announce this morning a new way to recognize people who make a difference in West Seattle. If you know someone who is one of those “unsung heroes,” who live, work or serve in our community, we want to hear about them. We’ve set up a simple application form online. You have till June 17th to nominate someone; then, after review by a citizen panel, the top three people will be selected in late June and they will be recognized at the July 14th West Seattle Hi-Yu Concert in the Park event. So take a minute and nominate someone – or more than one – by going here! Thanks!

Delridge District Council: 3 “remarkable projects” vie for $

One of three major items on the Delridge District Council agenda last night: Presentations by three groups seeking city Neighborhood Matching Fund money for their projects – the final three that the council has forwarded into citywide competition. The presenters — including a Chief Sealth High School group (photo above) had a high-profile audience — not just a good turnout (more than 2 dozen people) for the meeting, but also the president of the City Council, Richard Conlin (who later quipped that he thinks it may be time to allot more money to the NMF – the funding request from these three groups is among $2.5 million total requested citywide, but the available pot of money is less than half that). As Pete Spalding, former council chair sitting in for current chair Pablo Lambinicio, described all three as “pretty remarkable projects” — and that was even before their presentations. Read on to hear more about what’s presented and what happens next:Read More

Today/tonight: Early dismissal; “South Portal”; Delridge Council

May 20, 2009 6:21 am
|    Comments Off on Today/tonight: Early dismissal; “South Portal”; Delridge Council
 |   Alaskan Way Viaduct | Delridge District Council | West Seattle schools

EARLY DISMISSAL: Seattle Public Schools students get out 2 hours early today.

SOUTH PORTAL WORKING GROUP: This is one of three advisory groups now working on logistics for the Viaduct/tunnel future of SR99. We reported here on its first meeting two weeks ago. Today, the group (with West Seattleites Jerome Cohen, Vlad Oustimovitch and Pete Spalding) is in the Sound Transit Board Room 4-6 pm, 401 S. Jackson (map).

DELRIDGE DISTRICT COUNCIL: City Council President Richard Conlin is among the guests at tonight’s meeting, which also will include updates on the city’s draft Pedestrian Master Plan and Neighborhood Matching Fund projects. 7 pm, Youngstown Arts Center.

More on the WSB Events calendar — and for more detailed coverage of what’s just been announced for the days, weeks, months to come, check in on our Announced page!

Headlines from Delridge/Southwest District Councils’ joint meeting

April 15, 2009 10:45 pm
|    Comments Off on Headlines from Delridge/Southwest District Councils’ joint meeting
 |   Delridge District Council | Southwest District Council | West Seattle news

At Youngstown Arts Center tonight, the Southwest District Council and Delridge District Council got together for one of their periodic joint meetings; these groups include representatives of various organizations in the two city-defined “districts” that comprise West Seattle. Highlights ahead:Read More

Happening tonight: “Gutenberg!”; MoCA; district councils

(Evan Woltz as Bud in “Gutenberg! The Musical!” – photo by Matt Durham, mattdurhamphotography.com)
It’s opening night tonight at ArtsWest in The Junction for “Gutenberg! The Musical!” ArtsWest describes it as “a loving spoof in which two aspiring playwrights perform a backers’ audition for their new project: A big, splashy musical about printing press inventor Johann Gutenberg … With an unending supply of enthusiasm, Bud and Doug sing all the songs and play all the parts in their “historical” epic, with the hope that one of the producers in attendance will give them a Broadway contract – fulfilling their sky-high, if simple-minded, dreams.” “Gutenberg!” runs through May 15; showtimes and ticket sales are accessible online here.

ALSO TONIGHT: You could call it an all-star lineup at the Morgan Community Association meeting, 7 pm at The Kenney, from City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, to SDOT’s Jessica Murphy with the latest on the Fauntleroy Way repaving/restriping, plus a RapidRide update, officer elections, and more. Also tonight, the two “district councils” whose territory together covers the entire peninsula will sit down together – the Delridge and Southwest District Councils meet at 7 pm at Youngstown Arts Center. (Both of these meetings are open to the public.)

Delridge District Council: Problem properties – finally some help?

That house is at the far north end of Delridge, across the busy, bridge-approaching street from Skylark Club and Cafe (WSB sponsor). When someone broke into Skylark last month, all eyes turned there. Technically, the house is vacant. In reality, it hasn’t been — it’s been used by squatters and partyers, and Skylark proprietor Jessie Summa-Kusiak says it’s been a sore spot for that area for quite some time. It’s part of a problem that North Delridge Neighborhood Council co-chair Mike Dady brought to last night’s Delridge Neighborhoods District Council meeting, out of abject frustration. After trying for a long time to get something done, he says, the city needs to take stronger action about properties like this one – and tonight, there may be some progress – read on:Read More

Also tonight: Street projects and more @ Delridge District Council

March 18, 2009 11:51 am
|    Comments Off on Also tonight: Street projects and more @ Delridge District Council
 |   Delridge | Delridge District Council | West Seattle news

One more important event to mention tonight: The Delridge Neighborhoods District Council meets at 7, Youngstown Arts Center, everybody welcome. Agenda includes a look at the latest list of proposed Delridge neighborhoods street improvement projects, which will be ranked by District Council members and sent to city departments for evaluation, plus an update from a Seattle City Light rep (got a question about SCL issues, including street lights? this is a good chance). Here’s our report from last month’s DNDC meeting.

Delridge District Council: Viaduct to Camp Long, and beyond

By David Whelan
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

A state/city briefing on the Alaskan Way Viaduct replacement/tunnel plan highlighted Wednesday night’s Delridge Neighborhoods District Council meeting.

Seattle City Council President Richard Conlin was scheduled to speak but didn’t make it to the meeting.

The Viaduct/Tunnel briefing came from Ron Paananen, who’s been a project lead for WSDOT, and Hannah McIntosh from SDOT.

Read More

Happening today/tonight: Education, transportation, more

February 18, 2009 6:07 am
|    Comments Off on Happening today/tonight: Education, transportation, more
 |   Delridge | Delridge District Council | Fauntleroy | West Seattle politics | West Seattle schools

From the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:

TALK TO YOUR SCHOOL BOARD REP: For the first time since the Seattle School Board approved major changes and closures, West Seattle’s board rep Steve Sundquist will hold one of his regular coffee hours, to talk with, and listen to, anyone interested in education issues (and there are lots more on the horizon, like the start-time changes we mentioned last weekend). 9 am, Coffee to a Tea in The Junction.

HEAR FROM YOUR CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT: Richard Conlin is one of the guests scheduled for tonight’s meeting of the Delridge Neighborhoods District Council, 7 pm, Youngstown Arts Center. The latest on the Alaskan Way Viaduct/Tunnel project also is on the agenda.

FAUNTLEROY NEIGHBORS UNITE: 6:30 pm at the Fauntleroy Church Fellowship Hall, it’s the all-neighborhood meeting organized by the Fauntleroy Community Association to share updates on issues including Washington State Ferries‘ future and the in-progress purchase of the Fauntleroy Schoolhouse.

Delridge District Council report: New chair; lots more updates

In addition to the Washington State Ferries Draft Long-Range Plan public hearing in Fauntleroy (WSB coverage here) and the last Seattle School Board meeting before the school-closure vote (WSB coverage here), we have coverage for you from one more Wednesday night event — the Delridge Neighborhoods District Council monthly meeting, which included updates on a multitude of local events and projects, as well as a leadership change, and more details on the upcoming Gathering of Neighbors – read on:Read More

Delridge Council tonight: West Seattle Stadium update, and more

October 15, 2008 11:18 pm
|    Comments Off on Delridge Council tonight: West Seattle Stadium update, and more
 |   Delridge | Delridge District Council | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

From tonight’s Delridge District Council meeting: Several notes of interest, including the first official presentation on the West Seattle Stadium private-operation proposal search, with some answers to questions that have come up since our first reports (here and here) – read on for tonight’s full report:Read More

District Councils’ meeting, report #2: The Viaduct, what’s ahead

September 4, 2008 2:34 pm
|    Comments Off on District Councils’ meeting, report #2: The Viaduct, what’s ahead
 |   Alaskan Way Viaduct | Delridge District Council | Southwest District Council | Transportation | West Seattle news

viaductphoto.jpgBy year’s end, there’s supposed to be a plan for what will happen when the Central Waterfront mile of the Alaskan Way Viaduct comes down in 2012. Since that plan will affect West Seattle mobility in a big way, community leaders have been working to make sure they and their groups are plugged in to the latest information — and that’s the reason most of last night’s joint meeting of the Southwest and Delridge District Councils focused on what’s up with The Viaduct. They got a heavy-hitting panel of top transportation execs to present the briefing — WSDOT’s David Dye, SDOT’s Bob Powers, and King County Department of Transportation director Harold Taniguchi. In addition, meeting participants included the two West Seattleites who serve on the Stakeholder Advisory Group that’s been helping vet Central Waterfront possibilities — Delridge District Council chair Pete Spalding and Fauntleroy Community Association‘s Vlad Oustimovitch. Here’s what happened in the meeting:Read More

District Councils, report #1: Park name, Gateway cleanup

The bulk of tonight’s joint meeting of the Delridge and Southwest District Councils was devoted to an intensive briefing on where the Alaskan Way Viaduct projects stand now; we’ll be writing that up in the morning, but there are a couple quick notes to pass along tonight: First, the councils’ members voted unanimously to ask the Parks Department to make an exception to its park-naming policy so that a future West Seattle park can be named in honor of the late West Seattle Herald reporter Tim St. Clair — possibly the new park in Morgan Junction, where Mr. St. Clair lived prior to his untimely death six months ago. (Official Parks policy currently says that can’t be done till someone’s been gone three years.) Second, Nancy Driver from Fairmount Community Association provided another update at meeting’s end on the West Seattle Gateway cleanup coming up a week from Saturday: Volunteer power is stacking up nicely (thanks to all the WSB’ers who have signed up); what’s most needed now is $ donation to help pay for some tree work. DNDA is serving as the “fiscal agent” for the cleanup effort (which will beautify the “gateway” area along the Fauntleroy end of The Bridge, Walking on Logs to 35th/Fauntleroy. To find out more about how to donate, e-mail Nancy at ndriver@quidnunc.net.

Delridge Council: Backyard harvests; neighborhood plans; jail sites

June 19, 2008 11:19 pm
|    Comments Off on Delridge Council: Backyard harvests; neighborhood plans; jail sites
 |   Delridge | Delridge District Council | Neighborhoods | West Seattle jail sites | West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

Belated report on last night’s monthly meeting of the Delridge District Council, one of two “district councils” in West Seattle (as per the city’s “district” map) – Community Harvest of Southwest Seattle is getting ready for the second year of its program to harvest fruit from residents’ trees; City Councilmember Sally Clark talked about the latest changes in the process for reviewing neighborhood plans (and got to hear about some hot local issues since she arrived early, including the jail-sites fight); details ahead:Read More