Our next general meeting will be Tuesday, March 11th, 7 pm at Admiral Church [4320 SW Hill]. This month we will be joined by Elizabeth Rudrud from the Southwest Seattle Historical Society, Officer German Barreto from the Southwest Precinct, and Cindi Barker from the Emergency Communications Hubs. We will also hear some updates on the Hiawatha Park renovations and volunteer opportunities for our coming events.

ANA is presenting a full slate of events again this year – the West Seattle 4th of July Kids’ Parade, three Admiral Music in the Parks concerts in July, and the Admiral Block Party later in the summer, plus Halloween and winter-holiday happenings.

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P.S. If you missed last month’s meeting – which featured local beaver expert Pamela Adams revealing everything you didn’t know about beavers – here’s our coverage.

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With new leadership at the helm, last week’s Fauntleroy Community Association board meeting featured updates about neighborhood events and areas of concern and opportunity, along with (as the new board chairperson put it) a “spirited discussion” about the zoning implications of the One Seattle Plan.

The hybrid meeting at the Fauntleroy Schoolhouse was facilitated by Frank Immel with assistance from Dave Follis (more below on their planned roles for the year), in the first meeting since former president Mike Dey stepped down last month after 11 years. Meeting notes below:

SPD UPDATE: After opening meeting remarks, introductions and approval of minutes from the prior meeting, Officer Michael Bateman from the Seattle Police Department (attending online and filling in for crime-prevention coordinator Jennifer Satterwhite) provided some crime updates and statistics:

• For the Fauntleroy area, year-to-date, crime overall is down compared to last year (and is historically low this time of year). Theft is down 50%, motor vehicle theft down 60%, no burglaries reported.
• At the “macro level” (West Seattle’s Southwest Precinct as a whole), the statistics also show overall lower crime comparing year-to-date numbers with numbers from the same time period in 2024. For violent/property crime, there were 427 crimes last year during this time period, this year 392 (8% decrease). A significant reduction in assaults (down 32%) and motor vehicle thefts (down 35%). There has been a slight uptick in theft (property, vehicle prowls, etc) of 10% (217 year-to-date last year, and 238 this year).

A question from attendee Chris Lampkin (who serves on King County Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda’s staff, but was there on “personal capacity” Wednesday night because he’s a Fauntleroy neighbor): What’s the process for school lockdowns? When safety issues are occurring, schools may not be aware of what’s going on. Bateman: The first priority, of course, is for officers to make the scene safe. After that occurs, dispatch is notified to open the school and to provide overall status.  Follow-up Q:  How do they coordinate between schools? (there are a lot of them in/near Fauntleroy). Bateman: Generally, there is a lot of communication. And just because there’s a border line in the area (between Seattle and unincorporated King County) it doesn’t mean that there won’t be notification and coordination.  Other meeting attendees then discussed recent criminal activity in the area (such as the gunfire incident at the Barton St. 7-11 store) and law enforcement activity at a home in the area (WSB coverage here).

What about hiring trends for new officers?  Bateman said the trend is very good, with a “fully hired unit” of 25 additional SPD officers this year — “that’s a lot; exceeded our expectations.” He said SPD is working hard to get the new officers processed and trained, and then “they’ll go to wherever needed most.”  Attendee Lampkin added that King County is also working hard to fill the vacant storefront deputy position (serving White Center and vicinity). How about overall SPD morale? Bateman said that morale seems very good (which aligns with similar comments from Satterwhite in FCA’s January meeting), and he knows that “SW Precinct is a coveted precinct to be assigned to — generally, great morale.”

Q about what hours the SW Precinct is open for people to drop by — Bateman said it varies (the desk clerk position is one of last positions to be staffed), and people should call ahead to be sure, but generally there are officers there during business hours.

Q about whether SPD still hands out locks for steering wheels — Bateman said he’s not sure, but will check and get back to the group’s leaders.

ANNUAL MEETING & “FOOD FEST”: Board member David Haggerty reported on planning for the group’s March 18 annual meeting (6-8 pm) and “Food Fest” (local vendors serving small plates and drinks).  He noted that FCA, as a non-profit, is required by law to have an annual meeting with neighbors, and the group adds the free-food element, along with collecting money for annual dues and hosting info tables with representation from various. community groups. FCA also holds a brief “business meeting” during the event, to vote in new board members.

Immel emphasized that “this is our largest event, and a great chance to talk to people” and that important for the event to be welcoming and inviting for neighbors and potential new FCA members. Board member Bruce Butterfield offered a bit of history, noting that the origins of FCA were rooted in the “Fauntleroy Environmental Association” (FEA). Board members agreed that they’d make an effort to invite local elected officials, and would use the FCA website and email system to get the word out. Treasurer Alan Grainger said that he had increased the event’s budget from $2,000 to $2,500, to cover expenses.

ZONING AND SEATTLE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN: Follis provided an update about the City Council’s recent February 5 public hearing (which we previewed here) on the city’s proposed rezoning plan and other elements of the One Seattle Plan. He said that while he wasn’t able to attend in-person, he watched the complete video online (which you can too, all 5.5 hours of it, on the Seattle Channel page), and there were about 120 speakers. The proposal includes the creation of Neighborhood Centers (a new type of zoning) throughout around the city — here are maps of various areas, including the proposed NCs, for District 1 which includes West Seattle.

Some notes and observations from Follis: Almost 60% of people in Seattle are renters. Comments included both older homeowners and younger renters (even some younger kids) and everyone in between. Lots of concerns about tree cover and losing it to development, people angry at developers for building/charging too much.

Follis and other board members said that for FCA and the Fauntleroy area, the unique concerns are for the Fauntleroy Creek watershed (which has decreased in size over the years) and the salmon-bearing streams, and the increased risk of slides and environmental disasters (especially in the event of seismic activity) if development isn’t handled properly in the watershed areas. Board members also suggested that while FCA’s stance isn’t anti-development (and shouldn’t be, because it’s important to acknowledge that more housing is needed), perhaps the emphasis should be “we don’t want anything upzoned along the creek” and that development should focus on arterials with existing infrastructure (such as the 35th Ave corridor).

Haggerty and others noted that FCA’s next steps should focus on getting more input from the community, via discussion at upcoming events, surveys, etc.  Attendees discussed various aspects of the zoning plan, the ideal role of FCA going forward, and the balance between wanting FCA to advocate for the quality of the neighborhood while “not coming across as a ‘NIMBY’ organization” and wanting to make it feasible/affordable for new families to move to the area. Most board members agreed that while it’s understandable for the city to want to have a consistent approach to zoning across all of Seattle, there also needs to be consideration for unique neighborhood realities — “for Fauntleroy, the differentiation is the creek.”

Immel thanked the group for the “spirited discussion” but noted that the meeting needed to proceed with other agenda topics, and he agreed that he would follow-up with an email to board members to propose and vote on next steps for getting input from Fauntleroy neighbors regarding the zoning plans.

BUDGET AND FINANCE: Grainger (treasurer) handed out copies of FCA’s latest budget and financial report, and walked through some changes to the way transactions are categorized. Board members then discussed the particulars of accounting for dues vs donations when receiving annual payments for FCA membership, and talked about financial support for the annual Fauntleroy Fall Festival (which is a separate entity, but linked to FCA in several ways). The board moved, seconded and voted to pass the budget as-written.

TRANSPORTATION AND FERRIES: Board member and transportation rep Marty Westerman gave an update on light rail plans from Sound Transit, expressing concerns about costs and logistics (noting, for example, that the West Seattle leg of the project won’t run downtown until after the Ballard segment is built). Westerman mentioned his involvement with the Rethink the Link group (see WSB coverage of their January 25 event) and his past advocacy for a gondola system serving West Seattle rather than light rail. More updates from Sound Transit are expected by the end of the month.

Westerman and other board members also briefly talked about ferry updates, noting the upcoming Washington State Ferries online community meetings (which have since taken place — WSB coverage here). There is an upcoming online meeting on March 11 in which plans and options for the dock rebuild will be discussed. Current plans still call for a new signal by the dock to be worked on this fall.

FAUNTLEROY FALL FESTIVAL: Save the date! The popular annual event is planned for October 19, 2025.

FCA LEADERSHIP PLANS: As we reported on from FCA’s January meeting, which was the final meeting for longtime president Mike Dey, the group’s plan had been for board members Dave Follis and Frank Immel to take over as co-presidents, with Immel leading meetings and Follis focusing on operations. However, on Wednesday night, Follis and Immel said that after further consideration and discussion, they decided that Immel would serve as the group’s sole president, with Follis remaining on the board and focusing on operations. Follis and Immel added that they both have full-time day jobs, and will do their best to fill Dey’s shoes, but will need to pick-and-choose priorities and manage expectations accordingly. Board members voiced their approval of the plan, which will go to the membership for a vote at March 19’s “Food Fest” general meeting, which always includes a vote regarding leadership for the upcoming year.

IN MARCH: NEXT MEETING AND ANNUAL MEETING: FCA meets most months at 6 pm on the second Tuesday (next month, that falls on March 11), at Fauntleroy Schoolhouse (9131 California SW) in the conference room near the east entrance. Also in March, as mentioned above, is the annual general-membership meeting aka “Food Fest” on March 18, featuring small bites and drinks from local purveyors, at The Hall at Fauntleroy on the schoolhouse’s south end.

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West Seattle Urbanism is circulating a petition in support of the proposed neighborhood centers in West Seattle that are part of the One Seattle comp plan. We already have 200 signatures and we’d love to double that! West Seattle has long been known as a neighborhood for raising families, but the rising unaffordability of housing threatens that. By allowing the continued natural growth of small neighborhood centers like High Point and Alki, we can allow more affordable housing options, as well as create walkable neighborhoods that support small local businesses. We encourage anyone who wants to see a thriving West Seattle for decades to come to sign the petition and join our call for continued thoughtful growth and opportunity!

actionnetwork.org/petitions/save-the-west-seattle-neighborhood-centers

West Seattle Urbanism is a newly formed group that cares about the affordability, walkability, bikeability, transit-access, and overall livability of West Seattle and our greater region. We meet on Wednesday nights.

The group’s next meeting is at 6 pm this Wednesday (January 29) at Great American Diner and Bar (4752 California SW). Meantime, the City Council’s next Comp Plan review meeting is Wednesday (here’s the agenda) and it’s holding a public hearing on February 5 (here’s that agenda, which explains how to participate).

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If you want to pack the room for your next community meeting, put a wildlife presentation on the agenda.

HPAC invited Pamela Adams of BeaverInsights to come to its first 2025 meeting Wednesday night, and she enchanted the house with her observations about Longfellow Creek‘s beavers.

We’ll get to those shortly. But first, here’s how the meeting of the Highland Park, Riverview, and South Delridge community coalition – held in person at Delridge Library – began – facilitated by co-chair Kay Kirkpatrick, who observed that it’s great to have a sizable turnout about “positive things happening in the neighborhood.”

CARE DEPARTMENT UPDATE: Sean Blackwell from the city’s “third public safety department” spoke briefly, saying the CARE Community Crisis Response team is expected to expand into West Seattle in the second quarter of this year; by March 7, they hope to have 27 responders, as they staff up with the funding in this year’s budget.

MILLION GALLON STORAGE TANK PROJECT UPDATE & SURVEY: Daniel Arauz was there from King County Wastewater Treatment, with an update on the West Duwamish Wet Weather Storage combined-sewer-overflow-reduction project that’s about to be built near the 1st Avenue South Bridge. He began by explaining the problem it’s intended to solve – overflows of combined rainwater and wastewater in major storm situations. Currently when those overflows happen, the sewage/water goes into the Duwamish River from an outfall, “operating as intended, but that doesn’t mean we can’t improve the system.” The “big storage tank” is one way to do it – it holds what would be overflow water until the storm subsides and it can be sent to a treatment plant. If the project works as designed, the annual average of “four or five” overflows will be cut to one. This will be a below-ground 1.25-million-gallon tank, “just an empty lot” right now, with only a small hint above ground – and landscaping – of what’s going on below. Arauz said a lot of “sustainability features” suggested by community members, such as raingardens and climate-friendly concrete, were incorporated, along with art panels planned for the facility’s side, explaining aspects of the river.

Construction of the $50 million project – which might actually hold up to 2 million gallons, Arauz noted – is expected to start this summer; it’ll go out to bid in the next month or so. Construction will involve some street closures and other traffic impacts, but the extent won’t be known until a contractor is chosen. He noted that KCWTD has just opened a survey, mostly about how their engagement/informational efforts have gone so far. You’re urged to participate – do that by going here.

SOUTHWEST PRECINCT POLICE: Next up, a brief appearance by Southwest Precinct police. Officer German Barreto introduced the two new officers who had been mentioned (but not in attendance) at last week’s community-coalition meetings, Officer Hoang and Officer Kepler. They didn’t speak to the group, but Officer Barreto presented a few crime stats, comparing 2024 to 2023 in the HPAC coverage area – thefts, robbery, and gunfire are all up year-to-year; motor-vehicle theft and aggravated assaults are down.

BEAVERS! Then came the guest almost everyone seemed to be waiting for, Pamela Adams. She is a beaver expert working in multiple areas, but the focus of her presentation was eastern West Seattle’s Longfellow Creek.

(2023 photo by Kersti Muul)

If you weren’t aware we had beavers, Adams explained they had a two-century history in the area until they were hunted pretty much out of existence locally – then they started reappearing on the creek around the turn of the millennium (Adams noted a 1992 city report on the watershed that found no sign of them). They’re continuing to make dams and she says that contrary to what some believe, that’s a good thing – the dams are filtering the creek’s water, holding back pollutants, and more fish are showing up, with coho spawners increasing in the past few years. Juvenile coho grow under some of the dams, she explained.

She showed video (“these are OUR beavers!” Adams exclaimed, to ensure attendees understood the video was from Longfellow Creek). She said she’s found evidence of at least 30 beavers and 28 dams. Longfellow Creek is undergrounded in some spots and she said they swim in and out of some of those pipes, such as the one that goes under Genesee to and from the golf course.

Then a mini-Beaver 101 – she said the species has a 7-million-year history, and a 5,000-year history co-evolving with salmon. They are a “keystone species,” she elaborated, meaning that if you remove them, other species will be affected. She showed examples of the biodiversity in the creek, such as crawfish.

Beavers’ resurgence locally followed a ban on “kill traps.” She explained that beavers mate for life and procreate annually, raising their young for one to two years. They are “100 percent herbivores” – no fish in their diet. Their incisor teeth are “self-sharpening chisels” with “an orange layer of iron enamel on the front, a softer layer of dentin on the back.” Their tails are flat, scaly, and act like flippers, kickstands, even “danger whistles.” They build not only dams, burrows/dens, and “bank lodges,” they also build “side channels” for foraging food, as well as “scent mounds” to communicate with other beavers. What they’re doing is “stuff we might not think an animal can do” – essentially, engineering! she said.

Adams noted certain spots along Longfellow Creek, such as what she called its widest part, the “Graham floodplain,” as well as detention ponds. The features of the watershed – whether natural, man-made, or beaver-made! – are intertwined, she explained, telling the story of how water levels were affected when High Point Pond was drained for maintenance.

Her presentation was full of video – of salmon and other wildlife as well as the beavers – and we don’t have that to share, only words (though there are some clips on her website). But she refuted more of the myths about beaver dams – she showed proof that salmon can leap over them, for example. And she urged everyone to “be a beaver detective … when you follow beavers, you follow a whole ecosystem.” An independent filmmaker is in fact making a film about Adams called “The Freelance Beaver Detective” – a bit of her video is in the trailer:

They’re adapting to our world, so we should adapt to theirs and live in harmony, she suggested, adding that “beavers are like a probiotic – a naturally occcurring medicine for our sick and dehydrated urban waterways.” The beneficial effects of their presence include a “fish-friendly temperature” in water that they’ve dammed, she added, helping fight temperature rise in urban creeks.

In all, she says. people should “have less anxiety” about beavers.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR HPAC: The group meets fourth Wednesdays most months – start time depends on the venue; this one started earlier because the library closes at 8 pm and needs groups out by 7:45. Watch the HPAC website next month for info on the February 26th meeting.

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While Highland Park, Riverview, and South Delridge sit along a ridge, we have huge environmental impacts on the watersheds to our east and west. This month our meeting will hear reports from both sides, Longfellow Creek along Delridge and the Duwamish Waterway.

We are super excited to have guest Pamela Adams from BeaverInsights coming to discuss her research and observations of the beaver families living in Longfellow Creek.

It’s easy to pass over or near this urban creek daily without noticing it’s presence, but up and down the creekbed, from Nucor Steel to the Roxhill Bog, several families of beavers, plus other wild critters, have taken up residence and are busily going about their lives. Find out more about them and learn about the benefits they bring to water quality and salmon habitat.

On the Duwamish Waterway side, we will be hearing about progress in the plans for the new West Duwamish Wet Water Treatment Facility, soon to be built near the base of the Highland Park Way hill. King County Wastewater staff will update us on the design and upcoming construction milestones.

As usual, we will have a chance to speak with representatives from the Seattle Police Department about any public safety concerns. The Southwest Precinct building sits directly atop Longfellow Creek, as it runs through an underground culvert below the Home Depot parking lot.

Our meetings are free and open to the public, please join us!

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In the fourth of this week’s four community-coalition meetings in West Seattle – the Alki Community Council‘s meeting last night – the biggest news came from an attendee, toward the end.

(WSB photo, December)

Harbor Avenue resident Steve Pumphrey, a leader of the neighborhood group that’s been advocating for safety improvements and other changes in east Alki, told ACC leaders and attendees that SDOT has told him work on one will start soon – removing the Duwamish Head angled-parking zone (above). District 1 City Councilmember Rob Saka got $175,000 for the change included in this year’s budget. Pumphrey read from email sent by SDOT staffer Bill LaBorde, saying design is under way, to be followed by outreach and “work-order writing,” and construction (which SDOT says “includes grinding angled parking stalls, installing barrier, updated channelization and signs”) likely in May/June: “We will do our best to implement the conversion as soon as possible but there are several variables, including weather and emergencies that can impact crew schedules between now spring; design variables include time to construct, sign production and procurement of materials. However, the project is definitely underway and appears to be straightforward enough that it should be relatively fast to design and deliver.” Pumphrey explained to attendees that the angled parking is “like bleachers” for spectators when racing and other driving stunts are happening on the street. He also advised that to get city leaders to respond and take action, “you have to stay on them.”

Here’s what else happened at the meeting facilitated by ACC president Charlotte Starck, with more than two dozen attendees in-person at Alki UCC and online.

POLICE/CRIME/SAFETY: Officer German Barreto and crime-prevention coordinator Jennifer Satterwhite were in attendance online. Barreto noted that the precinct has two new officers (as noted at two other community meetings this week), working third watch (late night). Will that enable patroling Alki as needed? Starck wondered. “If there’s a hot spot there, they’ll send officers to patrol,” he said. A representative from an area building lauded Satterwhite for “being amazing” and “responsive” in two visits to the building. Satterwhite also brought stats – first the precinct as a whole ended the year with an 8 percent decrease in crime: “That’s 300 fewer incidents of crime.” Motor-vehicle thefts were down 30 percent – after a historically higher 2023. What do you attribute that to? asked Starck. A big 2024 emphasis in trying to prevent auto theft is probably at least partly to thank. Alki stats: For the year, 21 percent crime decrease – 1 homicide, compared to 2 in 2023 – auto theft was down (38 percent decrease – 52 incidents, compared to 84 in 2023).

2025 OVERVIEW: Starck said, “We’re super excited about the momentum we have with more and more people coming into the Alki Community Council,” especially because of events such as Alki Trick or Treat and Alki Holiday Lights. “The goal is to keep our momentum going – we’re seeing a lot of interest in young families” among others. How much time can you give? What skillset can you contribute? She mentioned the ACC’s long-running Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza maintenance acountabilities – not the bricks but cleaning the benches, ensuring the statue’s light stays lit, etc. Starck mentioned David Hutchinson‘s “unsung hero” contributions. Safety is ACC’s first priority, then connecting people, with the recent natural disasters around the country reminding Starck of the importance. “We’re in this place where I think social connection is valuable and needed.”

BOARD: Springboarding off the volunteering discussion, Starck talked about roles they’d like to have people fill, such as a safety chair – a role Starck has been bridging, talking with city officials, precinct police, etc. “This is an amazing neighborhood. it’s worth fighting for,” she said, and that includes communication between neighbors. While acknowsledging “the president is the spokesperson for the organization,” Starck said, “I just need help. … We just need the voice in front of city leadership,” in addition to individual neighborhood and building reps who’ve been advocating too.” A volunteer to take over the business committee also spoke up, as well as a potential volunteer to take over from longtime treasurer Kathy Olson. Starck hopes the board will expand so that it increases sustainability.

EXPENSES: So what does money have to be spent on, to run and grow the ACC? One example Starck detailed – efforts to raise the ACC’s profile, with big standup banners, featuring a QR code, which has helped increase their newsletter subscriptions, among other things, about 350, up from 80. They’re paying for web hosting. There’s a budget for “special events” too. Where does the money come from? asked one attendee. Paid memberships (which start at $10) and donations, said Starck – noting that other local neighborhood groups are also trying to figure out how to cover rising expenses (they add up – even at seemingly low rates for a do-it-yourself website, a meeting room, etc.). Volunteering is of major value, added operations chair Kevin Kramer. A discussion ensued, with various attendees speaking up about skills they might lend to the effort.

BYLAWS: They’re being revised after almost 20 years – Kramer noted they even mention “things that are no longer in the neighborhood.” The ACC will vote on new proposed bylaws once they’re drafted.

ALKI HOLIDAY LIGHTS: The eventt aligned with the Christmas Ship’s Alki visit was organized at the last minute but “it was great!” enthused Starck. Wyatt Carlock, who organized it, gave a recap with Kramer, who assisted: They brought lights, Christmas gear, swag to give away; businesses were excited about all the customers it brought in – the Log House Museum had hundreds of visitors, Fire Tacos ran out of 15 gallons of hot chocolate, Argosy Cruises gave ACC a shoutout, people were asking about opening up the Bathhouse in future years (but that might take away from the businesses, Kramer observed). So for next December – more lights, more publicity, more everything, said Carlock. How about putting Christmas lights on the business sponsors’ buildings? suggested one attendees. “Wherever there is a roof, fence, something with a line, I see an opportunity for lights!” he enthused.

Before the meeting ended, more from attendees:

(June photo by Don Brubeck)

ALKI POINT HEALTHY STREET: An Alki Point resident spoke about the Healthy Street and the recently released SDOT survey results. “The report was much the way we as neighbors expected it to be, reinforced our observations that the street has experienced an increase by walkers, bike riders, and car drivers, and there’s plenty of parking at all times. He cited that 71 percent of users felt safe in the “new lane,” and that more than half the respondents said it makes them more likely to use Alki Point. He mentioned the new plans for safety improvements at the 63rd/Beach Drive crossing, and the reason for the city’s delay in extending the walking/biking/rolling lane in the last block, because of the forthcoming work on the pump station at the south end, which will include a trench to be dug 63rd to 64th, this summer, George said. He says they believe the work will start this spring.

ANOTHER TROUBLE SPOT: An attendee said there’s been so much racing on 63rd, he wants the city to put in speed cushions, and needs to know how to advocate for them. Pumphrey offered to provide advice.

NEXT MEETING: The ACC meets third Thursdays most months, 7 pm at Alki UCC (6115 SW Hinds) and online, so next month that’ll be February 20.

”

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Admiral neighbors met on Tuesday night for a general gathering of the Admiral Neighborhood Association to hear from special guests, discuss community issues and get a preview of events for 2025. The meeting was facilitated by president Joanie Jacobs, at Admiral Church. 

After approval of meeting minutes and opening business, the agenda kicked off with an update from SPD Officer German Barreto, representing the Southwest Precinct: 

Barreto shared some crime trends for Admiral, for the prior calendar year: Decreases in motor vehicle theft, sexual crime offenses, and robberies, and increases in aggravated assaults, burglaries and theft. Barreto said that he didn’t have isolated data available for just the past month (which he often does have), but that SW Precinct staff are working hard on the key areas of concern. He then took questions from attendees:

•  Q: What about the issue of copper wire theft? While doing neighborhood cleanups under the West Seattle Bridge, it’s clear that thieves are doing wire-stripping in that area to prepare the wire for sale, and it’s frustrating because they wouldn’t bother doing this if there wasn’t financial incentive (namely, being able to take it to West Seattle Recycling).  A, from Barreto: Others have also mentioned that, including neighbors from Pigeon Point. But the reality is that for us to be able to do anything about it, we have to catch them in the act. We are short-staffed, and usually by the time we’re able to respond, the thief is gone. Follow-up Q: Isn’t there more that can be done when the theft causes local utilities (such as internet service) to go down? A: It would be up to the company (such as Comcast, or other provider) to call it in as a 911 theft call, but yes, that would potentially be a way to handle it. 
• Q: For unhoused people living outside – what can we do? If people are somewhere they aren’t supposed to be, sometimes they will move if asked, but is it appropriate for that to be a 911 call? A from Barreto: Yes, if there is a crime occurring such as open drug use.  If you feel like you’re not getting the response that you want when you use 911 services, ask to speak to a supervisor, and (Barreto put major emphasis on this) be sure to make note of the case number (aka event number) that you’re given during the call. You can also follow up afterward via e-mail to care_info@seattle.gov or directly to him at german.barreto@seattle.gov, and provide the case number, and they’ll try to look more deeply into the issue.  Barreto added that when you call 911, you also have the option of having an officer call you back.

Next on the agenda was Joe Everett, board president of West Seattle Food Bank, which was also accepting donations onsite on the night of the meeting: 

Everett is a native of the Pacific Northwest and has lived in West Seattle with his family since 2013, and had been vice president of the board for West Seattle Helpline when it merged with the Food Bank in 2020.  

He said that the food bank’s goal is to “meet people where they’re at” and to be a positive force for neighbors helping each other. “We run off of community support,” he said, with a holistic approach that involves food, clothing and financial assistance. 

Everett provided some statistics, but emphasized that “behind all of these numbers are real people that we’re helping:”

• Food: Last year the food bank provided more than 2 million pounds of food to 25,000 individuals, and was able to help target issues with “food deserts” in areas like High Point and Delridge.  Everett said they try to innovate and provide access to everyone, with 8 mobile-food-bank sites, 400 households that receive home delivery, and assistance for the homeless and disabled.  The group also partnered with 13 schools to provide 9,000 “weekend packs” of food for families who need extra support when school isn’t in session. He said the group takes donations at their main site at 3419 SW Morgan St. on Monday-Friday from 9 am-3 pm (until 7 pm on Wednesdays) or by appointment, and donors can also find a list of non-perishable donation sites (such as grocery stores) on the food bank’s website. 
• Clothing: The group distributed 84,000 clothing items last year, including about 500 items per day when the Clothesline facility is open. The goal is to not only provide clothes to help people stay dry and warm, but also to provide quality clothes to support things like job interviews.  The Clothesline is located at 4425 41^st Ave SW and is open Saturdays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 am-1 pm, or people can drop items off at the main food bank location. Everett said that during winter, unsurprisingly, gathering warm coats is a big priority. 
• Rent and utility assistance: This is part of the WS Helpline effort, providing $1 million annually to help provide help and stability for families in the form of rent, utilities and preventing eviciions. Everett said that statistics show that preventing homelessness is much more efficient than trying to help people reverse course after they’re already homeless.

Everett said the group is seeing an increase in need, in recent years, such as a 65% increase in demand for food, and that state statistics show that 1 in 4 households rely on food assistance.  How can the community help, and do the most good? Everett said that in the new year, their primary goal is to get financial donations (typically via their website or via mail), but that of course they’ll accept physical food donations as well. 

The group’s annual gala and primary fundraiser (called “Nourish and Flourish,” formerly “Instruments of Change”) will be May 3rd, and Everett said they need sponsors and auction donations. He encouraged ANA and other neighborhood groups to consider sponsoring tables and challenging each other to make donations. 

Everett then took questions from attendees:

• Q: Do you take donations of household goods?  A from Everett: We mostly take food, clothing and financial donations. We do have a pet corner, for pet food and supplies. If you have items that you think families may really need, you can bring them in to see if we can take them, or give us a call.  Follow-up question: What about children’s books?  A: Generally speaking, items for kids and pets could be of interest, particularly at the Clothesline facility.
• Q: Do you get assistance from grocery stores? A: Absolutely, we have great relationships with the grocery stores in West Seattle, and with community partners like Nucor. We are so lucky to live in such a generous community. Even during the pandemic, we were pleased and astonished which how much donations increased. 
• Q: Is it true that giving you money is most helpful because you can purchase in bulk and get discounts? A: Yes, definitely, this has been carried over from our longtime executive director Fran Yeatts, who did strategic food pricing and helped stretch every dollar.  We still welcome physical donations, of course. For finanical gifts, there are ways to sign up for recurring donations to us, and we really like those because it helps us with planning.
• Q: What can a small business do to support the food bank? I don’t have space for a big food bin, at my business, but a small container for cash and sign on my counter could help. Everett said that business can feel free to collect donations however they’d like, but encouraged them to reach out to development director Robbin Peterson, who helps lots of businesses with doing that.

Next on the agenda was ANA business such as the treasurer’s report, followed by introductions of the group’s leaders for 2025:

• President: Joanie Jacobs
• Vice President: Cheryl Lea
• Secretary: Meagan Loftin
• Treasurer: Bridgett Markille
• At Large: Phil Frick
• ​Communications: Dan Jacobs
• Placemaking: Ryan Crompton
• Fundraising and Programming: Mike Adams

Jacobs offered special thanks to the community for its support during the year. This was followed by an overview of ANA’s 2025 calendar of events (and brief remarks about each event), which includes:

• Saturday, May 17th: Adopt-A-Street Cleanup, same day as One Seattle Day of Service cleanup.  
• Friday, July 4th Kids Parade in North Admiral. The group is still looking for a volunteer coordinator for this popular annual event. Please reach out to ANA if you’re interested!
• AMP concert series. These will be held on three consecutive Thursday evenings in July. They were a big hit last year, and although the format of “rotating locations” as opposed to having all of the concerts at Hiawatha was initially a concern, the group said it turned out to be “a blessing in disguise” because it helped raise visibility for area park like Belvedere and California Place that many neighbors weren’t familiar with.  
  • July 17th: Belvedere Park
  • July 24th: California Place Park
  • July 31st: Hamilton Viewpoint Park 
• Saturday, August 23rd: Admiral Block Party.  Was bigger last year than the year before, and keeps growing.
• Friday, October 24th: Admiral Business Trick or Treating.  The addition of having crossing guards was very popular last year.
• Saturday, December 13th: Winter Wonderland  Very successful last year, with plans to keep growing.

Dan Jacobs then discussed ANA’s efforts to increase membership, which are described on their Become a Member web page. There are various tiers of membership for households and for businesses, and Jacobs encouraged attendees to promote the benefits of membership to neighbors they meet.  Because all ANA leaders are volunteers, every dollar of membership fees goes toward funding ANA’s activities. 

Joanie Jacobs then reminded attendees that ANA will bestow a 2025 neighborhood service award in honor of WSB co-founder Patrick Sand. She said that the criteria for choosing the winner is still being finalized, and that the group is looking for help with identifying great candidates: If you’d like to help, please contact info@connecttoadmiral.org.  Jacobs said that the winner will likely be announced and presented at one of the AMP concerts or at the Admiral Block Party. 

Then, attendee Cindi Barker, known for her work with West Seattle’s emergency communication hubs, gave a plug for that organization’s work in helping neighbors prepare for a natural disaster response in the region. She volunteered to speak with the ANA group at a future meeting regarding how Admiral neighbors can get involved.  

The group closed the meeting with a raffle, and thanked attendees for coming. 

The next general gathering of the Admiral Neighborhood Association will be held Tuesday, February March 11, at 7 pm at Admiral Church. The group can be contacted at connecttoadmiral.org.

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Another neighborhood organization launched for the new year last night – this time the Morgan Community Association, with its first quarterly hybrid meeting of 2025, held at Westside Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Gatewood and online, facilitated by MoCA president Deb Barker.

CRIME/SAFETY: The meeting began with crime/police information. Southwest Precinct Officer German Barreto, attending online, brought year-end data for the Morgan Junction area: Sexual assaults were up (3 last year, 1 the year before), gunfire unchanged (3 each year), aggravated assaults were down (14 last year from 19 in 2023), robberies were unchanged (10 each year), burglaries were down (62 in 2023, 52 in 2024), motor vehicle thefts were down (185 in 2023 to 120 in 2024). Officer Barreto noted that they’re not able to access “last 30 days” stats any more, just “year to year.” One attendee asked about the recent 35th and Barton gunfire (though outside the Morgan Junction boundaries) – how can people keep the community safer? “Stay vigilant,” advised Officer Barreto. “I will look at people to be sure they see me,” in other words, don’t be oblivious to your surroundings, glued to your phone, etc. Side note, he added that if you have trouble with 911 – or a good experience for that matter – let CARE_info@seattle.gov know, he added. And please do file online reports of even seemingly minor crimes like car break-ins with nothing taken. Question: Have they made any arrests for drug use? He mentioned the operation that targeted the former RV encampment by Westwood Village, with more than half a dozen arrests. Another question: Any progress in solving the High Point shooting death of Sudaysi Ida and preventing more violence? “We are monitoring the area,” and Gun Violence Reduction Unit detectives are too, Barreto said.

A first-time attendee wondered about the point of the briefing. He said that some of the stats were such low rates, it would be interesting to compare to other neighborhoods. (You can do that via SPD’s online dashboard.)

The owner of the Zeeks Pizza/Whisky West building at Fauntleroy/Californis said he’d done a walk with crime-prevention coordinator Jennifer Satterwhite to identify ways to increase safety – and among other things, a streetlight is now working. Meantime, Barreto also mentioned what Satterwhite had told the Fauntleroy Community Association the previous evening (WSB coverage here) – that there are two new officers at the Southwest Precinct.

(WSB file photo)

VEHICLE CHARGING LOT: The project at 42nd/Morgan/Fauntleroy is still a work in progress. Barker said City Light will send a rep to the April meeting for a detailed update, and then read aloud what SCL had told her via email: “Our goal is to be energized by 4th quarter of 2025, The project has faced various challenges” – one supplier went out of business, others had yearlong lead times, contracting delays … but they’re finalizing the plan after some “design changes” and it’s about to go out to bid – find updates online here.

MORGAN JUNCTION PARK ADDITION PROJECT: The excavation hole for the contaminated soil was bigger than originally planned and that required more permit review – a situation which hasn’t changed in 3 months, Barker said, adding that a new planner has been assigned to the project by Parks. Meantime, SDOT has not issued the permit for filling its part of the hole. MoCA board member Michael Brunner observed the project is nearing its 10th anniversary.

MOCA FUND: MoCA attendees voted to approve the group’s request to use $8,000 of $13,750 that it has left over from a $25,000 gift of sorts (explained here) a decade ago. The money would be used to cover the organization’s operational costs, which include Zoom, web hosting, city/state fees, insurance, about $1,400/year total; they also have some expenses for running the Morgan Community Festival each summer. The grant application was approved unanimously.

MORGAN COMMUNITY FESTIVAL: Picking a date for this cozy little festival was the subject of another vote. June 14, 2025, was chosen as the date for the next edition of this one-day festival at Morgan Junction Park and behind the adjacent commercial building (whose owner was in attendance).

SCHOOL FUNDING AND ‘BILLION-DOLLAR BAKE SALE’: Megan from the Gatewood Elementary PTA talked about a statewide advocacy campany they started called the Billion Dollar Bake Sale, with a big advocacy day two weeks from tomorrow. The amount of Seattle Public Schools‘ budget deficit is equal to the amount by which the state is underfunding its special ed – so that might account for the entirety of the local deficit, she noted. Legislators were pollled and ranked education 8th or lower on their priority list – despite “paramount duty” being written into the state Constitution. “We’re trying to get as many bodies down to Olympia as possible on January 30,” gathering at the Tivoli Fountain. They’re already expecting more than 500 people, including students on field trips (Gatewood 5th graders are going, Megan said). She was there earlier in the day for planning. Then there’s “Wealth Tax Wednesday,” trying to put more pressure on Gov. Bob Ferguson to find ways to raise money to fund education, despite his stated disinterest in a wealth tax for that purpose. They’re hoping to get baked goods donated for a real bake-sale component, in-kind donations for stickers and buttons. Slogans like “no more half-baked solutions,” “students deserve a bigger piece of the pie,” etc. Get everybody involved, she urged, “we need tons of people to rally for public education.” Next Thursday Gatewood will have a bake sale during Literacy Night. Megan also talked about the January 28 parental event on social media and “playborhoods,” noted here last night.

‘ONE SEATTLE PLAN’ MEETING AND WHAT’S NEXT: Back on December 12, more than 50 people crowded into the High Point Library meeting room to for MoCA’s unofficial informational meeting about the city’s proposed rezoning/Comprehensive Plan updates. Morgan then sent a letter to the city (see it here) with suggestions and concerns. No responses from city reps yet. Two attendees reminded all that the council is having public meetings (including one earlier Wednesday) and an official public-hearing-only meeting February 5. They noted the city had not reached out to all residents to let them know about this – supposedly the city said it didn’t have money for that but “there’s a 20-year plan they’re making, and they don’t have the money to let everybody know?” Barker said she had organized the informational meeting – as she’s done with other matters – just to help people learn (the meeting was, as we showed in this report, largely Q&A amid a room ringed by posted city maps).

SPINOFF TOPIC – EMERGENCY HUBS: A musing about the California fires and density led to a mention of Seattle’s biggest disaster threat – earthquake – and a reminder about the Emergency Communication Hubs. That’s where you’ll go for info about what’s going on in the aftermath of catastrophe. Know where yours is, at the very least!

(See the map fullscreen here.) Morgan’s hub is at Morgan Junction Park.

REMEMBERING WSB CO-FOUNDER: Barker noted WSB co-founder Patrick Sand‘s arrival at the previous MoCA meeting on what turned out to be the last night of his life, October 16 (arriving a bit early to pick up your editor for the short ride home). She recalled Patrick’s insistence every year that WSB get dibs on sponsoring a Morgan Community Festival act, and his willing to jump into meeting discussion with information if somebody got stumped. In closing, she recalled a memory from the Highland Park Improvement Club‘s group photo before demolition of their fire-ravaged building last summer; from across SW Holden, between cars, he shouted at the participants, “Get closer! Get closer!” That’s what he did, Barker concluded – “brought us closer.”

NEXT MEETING: Third Wednesday in April – so that’s April 16.

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The Seattle Police Department may only have hired one more officer last year than it lost, but as 2025 opens, the Southwest Precinct has two new officers.

That was part of what emerged at tonight’s Fauntleroy Community Association board meeting, a hybrid meeting facilitated by Mike Dey, in his final meeting as FCA president, with more than 15 people filling the Fauntleroy Schoolhouse conference room, and several more attending online.

POLICE AND CRIME: The local precinct was represented by crime-prevention coordinator Jennifer Satterwhite, attending online. She heard first from an attendee who said he was “assaulted yesterday in my home.” The attacker was an old friend of a family member, and the attack was unprovoked. His biggest concern was that police did not respond for five and a half hours. Once they arrived, he said, he told them who the attacker was, and where he lives. But no arrest yet, that he knows of. How do police pursue something like that? Satterwhite looked into the system, once the man gave her the incident number, and noted the case has been assigned to the City Attorney’s Office and to SPD’s follow-up unit. But, she cautioned, “I can’t necessarily speak to what the detectives will do.” Can police indeed arrest someone for something like this? another attendee asked. Yes, said Satterwhite, though she warned she had no information on why an arrest hadn’t been made. She said she could have an officer follow up. As for the long response time, two possible factors – the dispatcher asked if the attacker was still there and if he had had a weapon (both answers were “no”); Satterwhite said the former was a likely reason the call was given a lower priority. The victim clarified that he had told the calltaker he thought the attacker was gone but might be in the bushes.

After that discussion, Satterwhite had a crime-stats update for Fauntleroy – for 2024, the area “ended exactly even compared to 2023” – exact same number of incidents. Among specific crime categories, motor-vehicle theft was down 34 percent (17 fewer incidents) – burglary was down 4 percent (1 less burglary) – aggravated assault the same (9 incidents for the year) – 1 less rape – Do the stats include 35th/Barton? asked an attendee. The west side, Satterwhite replied. Can the east side be included too? The designation is a city policy, outside SPD control, Satterwhite suggested. Others suggested they should be considered together, as what’s happening in Westwood affects what happens in Fauntleroy. She said police look at “repeat call locations” around the precinct too. In Westwood, for example, crime last year was down 2 percent from the year before (which itself was a “historically high” year) – burglary was up 26 percent, robbery was even, auto theft was down 30 percent (90 fewer incidents).

Satterwhite also brought numbers on incidents of confirmed gunfire (which, as we often remind you, means there was a victim, property damage, and/or casings found): In the entire precinct, 97 incidents last year, up from 92 in 2023, though that was down from “historically high” 2022, which saw 121.

Asked about the slight increase in police hiring over police departing, Satterwhite noted that outgoing interim Chief Sue Rahr has negotiated with the state training academy (she was closely involved in training oversight in a previous role) to have up to 12 Seattle Police recruits in each academy class (every two weeks) – the previous limit was five. She added that the Southwest Precinct got two new officers recently, one female, both joining the shift that had the most vacancies, evening (third watch). How’s the morale? asked Dey. “Honestly, I think it’s much better,” Satterwhite replied, saying that followed a few “tough” years. “I think we’re at a point where those who are unhappy have left. … I think we’ve turned a corner.”

Other major items of business:

NEW FCA LEADERSHIP: This was the last FCA meeting of Dey’s 11-year presidency. Dave Follis and Frank Immel have agreed to take over as co-presidents, Dey told the board. Immel will lead meetings and “be more the front” of the organization, while Follis will focus on operations. Otherwise, Immel said, “the intent would be to continue on as is … keep moving forward and try to carry the torch that’s been put in front of us.” Follis said, “It’s going to take a lot of involvement and a lot of focus, and I think we can do that.” Dey will stay on the board “for at least a year to help the transition … I think it’s time to get new blood .. we need new ideas and I need to get out of the way so new ideas can float to the top.” The board members approved the change, and then it’ll go to the membership at March’s general “Food Fest” gathering, which always includes a vote on leadership for the year ahead.

REZONING: FCA has been circulating its viewpoint on the city’s proposed rezoning, as we first reported in mid-December, and as detailed on the organization’s website. Dey said that despite online blowback, many people they’d contacted in person were appreciative of getting information about it. He contends that the community isn’t against increased housing, but rather how the city is pursuing it – a “thoughtless blanket” of changes. Dey said FCA had contacted District 1 City Councilmember Rob Saka‘s office and gotten a response mostly consisting of “be sure you’re also sending this to the Office of Planning and Community Development” (which is overseeing the zoning change as part of the One Seattle Comprehensive Plan updates). He had warm words for everybody who wrote letters to Saka’s office – “it was a very good effort – I think the City Council’s going to do some backpedaling.” New co-president Follis said the previous City Council meeting on the proposal featured reps of North End neighborhoods as well as supporters – “it’s pretty clear that the City Council’s not sold on it” and had questionsl He pointed out that the Council’s meeting about the plan again tomorrow (2 pm Wednesday, January 15 – here’s the agenda). Board member Catherine Bailey noted that you can still send comments to the council despite last month’s comment deadline passing. Board member Bruce Butterfield observed, “There’s still people who don’t know about it.” A community member in attendance wondered if FCA might consider teaming up with the other organizations voicing concern.

FERRY DOCK REPLACEMENT: Immel recapped the last Community Advisory Group meeting (WSB coverage here), at which Washington State Ferries has presented the larger-replacement options it will take into the next level of study. As for that next level of environmental review, he said, “That process will dictate what they can or can’t actually build” – considering environmental impacts – and then it’ll be time to look at cost, though the state is dealing with a budget shortfall, so there’s “a lot to be determined.” The advisory group does not have any further meetings set; the new signal by the dock remains planned for this fall – SDOT will own and operate it, with input amd funding from WSF.

MEMBERSHIPS/FINANCIALS: FCA has business and residential membership opportunities, and both totals are up. The board also talked about Fauntleroy Fall Festival finances – a separate organization, but still linked to FCA in some ways – and how much support the FCA can give the FFF, once they know the organization’s overall budget, and what activities they want it to support.

NEXT MEETING + ANNUAL MEETING: The FCA board meets most months at 6 pm on the second Tuesday (next month, that’s February 11), in the conference room at Fauntleroy Schoolhouse (9131 California SW). The annual general-membership meeting will be March 18, known as the “Food Fest” because local venues offer small bites and sips, at The Hall at Fauntleroy.

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6 pm Tuesday (January 14) – Fauntleroy Community Association (no agenda yet but here’s how to attend, in person – Fauntleroy Schoolhouse, 9141 California SW – or remotely)

7 pm Tuesday – Admiral Neighborhood Association (agenda toplines here, including a request to bring food-bank donations; in-person meeting at Admiral Church, 4320 SW Hill)

7 pm Wednesday (January 15) – Morgan Community Association (agenda here; attend in person at WSUU, 7141 California SW, or remotely)

7 pm Thursday (January 16) – Alki Community Council (no agenda yet; here’s how to attend, in person at Alki UCC – 6115 SW Hinds – or remotely)

You don’t have to be a member, or even a resident of the focus neighborhood, to attend any of these meetings.

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Wherever you live, there’s likely change on the way, even if only to bring lots up to the new state-mandated “at least four units” law. Before the comment time runs out on Friday, December 20th, MoCA decided to set up a community briefing. We checked with MoCA president Deb Barker (a former municipal land-use planner) to verify that city reps will not be in attendance. She confirms that and adds, “It is solely community driven. Morgan Community Association wants folks to understand what types of zoning changes are proposed where. We also want community feedback on those proposed Morgan Junction Urban Center changes. The MoCA Board will forward the Urban Center comments to SDCI by the December 20th comment deadline. Copies of MoCA’s May 6, 2024 ‘One Seattle Plan’ comments will be available.” (The “Morgan Junction Urban Center” would be the city’s new name for what was the “Morgan Junction Urban Village.” Barker adds that they did get a bit of city support – “SDCI has provided MoCA with the following maps of proposed zoning changes which we’ll display: Morgan Junction – (Modified Urban Center, former known as Urban Village), High Point (a new Neighborhood Center), Endolyne – (a new Neighborhood Center, in Fauntleroy), Fairmount – (a new Neighborhood Center). Thursday’s briefing is at 6 pm in the High Point Library meeting room (3411 SW Raymond).

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The Alki Community Council is bringing holiday cheer to the beach on Saturday night, a big topic at last night’s monthly meeting.

Vice president Lindsey Pearsall facilitated the meeting in-person at Alki UCC, with president Charlotte Starck co-facilitating online, as it was a hybrid meeting. She opened the meeting by asking attendees to share one word about what they’re grateful for. (With the windstorm still fresh in memories, “electricity” got several mentions.)

Starck mentioned highlights from the budget just approved by the City Council (WSB coverage here) – including the noise-enforcement technology (which had first been brought to the ACC’s attention years ago) and the Duwamish Head parking changes. She then talked about how Alki had dodged windstorm-related problems (though some lost power), but needed to be prepared for the fall and winter ahead, introducing Sean Blackwell from the city’s CARE Department.

Though Blackwell is not affiliated with the Office of Emergency Management, he did acknowledge the important of city services during situations like the storm – CARE 911 call volumes pick up, for example. Starck stressed the role that alert.seattle.gov plays – with a variety of alerts you can sign up for – and Officer German Barreto from SPD urged people to call 911 if they happen onto electric hazards. If you happen onto a live wire, don’t get out of your car – it might be dangerous. And beware of dark/flashing-light intersections; Barreto spoke of responding to a three-vehicle crash the other day. And don’t try to drive over a downed branch, or under a tree that seems in danger of falling – which can be fatal if the tree falls onto your vehicle.

Starck asked him next about crime stats. Barreto said sexual assaults are up year-to-date, but in the past 28 days, thefts and other categories have gone down in the Alki area.

Blackwell then offered CARE Team crisis-responder updates. The team’s been launched for a year now, and Amy (Smith) Barden is now the permanent department (the team plus 911 operations) chief. He urged attendees to sign up for the department’s newsletter (email them at CARE_info@seattle.gov). He also noted the work toward expanding the CARE Response Team since the mayor’s announcement in June, and said the Southwest Precinct (West Seattle/South Park) expansion is expected before the end of the first quarter, with space being evaluated for them in the precinct. New hires are set for training by February so they can start responding in March. Blackwell explained that responders can now refer directly to the Crisis Solution Center. They plan to implement more.

Two SPD Community Service Officers talked to the group about a program meant for kids they help – the Courageous Lions program. (In fact, they said, they just had been to the scene of a crash where they had to help two juveniles.) The program’s in partnership with Harborview, which means there’s trauma counseling available for kids going through tough situations. The Seattle Police Foundation funds it (it’s a nonprofit, so you can donate to support it). The CSO’s also are doing a warm-clothing drive on December 7, 11 am-3 pm, at the precinct (2300 SW Webster). Sweat pants are very helpful, for example, and other clothing, mostly for adults, but they’ll take whatever they receive (and “find good homes” for anything they can’t use). The CSOs will be working later starting in the New Year, they added – up until 10 pm.

ALKI LIGHTS EVENT ON SATURDAY: Rudolph (aka Stacy Bass-Walden) joined ACC for the update on this Saturday’s big event, hoping to bring back the crowds that often attended the Christmas Ship event pre-pandemic. ACC will have an info booth east of the Bathhouse, and more than half a dozen Alki Avenue businesses are participating, as well as the Log House Museum, for the event 7 pm-9 pm. Some freebies will be offered (from candy canes to cocoa to baklava to chowder to free arcade prize tickets), as well as three dropoff spots for a West Seattle Food Bank donation drive (listed on the event page). As Starck noted, the first stop has moved – on the west side of Seacrest (1660 Harbor SW) instead of off Don Armeni or Salty’s on Alki (WSB sponsor). Wyatt from the ACC said three bonfire pits will be activated by the accessibility ramp, so that’s where to gather. Elizabeth Rudrud from the LHM said they’ll have a bake sale, too, to raise $ for the SWSHS, while also offering free cider and crafts. They plan to set up 50 luminarias along the edge of the beach, added Rudolph (Walden), and an attendee offered to fill the volunteer slot for that.

NEW YEAR’S POLAR BEAR SWIM: Organizer Mark Ufkes spoke to the ACC about the genesis of the swim at Alki Beach, which will happen again on New Year’s Day 2025. It was first announced on WSB, he recalled, in a year with 35 attendees, and “it just kept getting bigger and bigger.” Ufkes noted that he’s tried to keep it a “simple family event … it’s over fast, and you get in the water quick … everybody holds hands …” and Alki’s space has kept it from feeling crowded, even now with many hundreds of people – he counted 1,500 people last year. (One in Norway has 35,000 participants, he noted.)

(1/1/22 photo by Scott Nelson)

Ufkes said his main job is to send out the invitation and show up with a megaphone and lead a countdown. “I’ve had so many people tell me they’ve always wanted to do it.” 10 am sharp again this year. People don’t tend to show up early – they just materialize by swim time. Starck said the ACC would love to support the swim in any way they can. Ufkes said he appreciates that, having been involved with community councils before. Still not sure you want to give it a try? The water’s usually warmer than the air, Ufkes said spiritedly.

BIG GIFT, AND A MEMBERSHIP DRIVE: The ACC recently received a $2,500 donation and Starck said they’re hoping to work on a membership/donation drive, using this as a match, “so we can move into 2025 stronger than ever.” Pearsall urged attendees to tell their friends and family about ACC; you can use its website to sign up for membership.

SAFETY: On this ongoing topic, Starck wondered if neon-bright flags would be a way to discourage unsafe driving that threatsns kids. Two attendees thought “there are enough signs already”; one said it’s more a matter of parents paying attention to their kids. What about cameras? Starck said they’re hoping to have City Councilmember Rob Saka back at a future meeting to talk about where traffic and noise cameras stand post-budget vote. There was some state funding to study noise cameras, Starck noted, but only one eastside municipality took advantage of that. This segued into a discussion of what’s been effective – the speed humps/cushions had some voicing support, for one. Alki’s section of Admiral, and safety on it, came up as a topic too. “Isn’t this a conversation for SDOT and the mayor’s office” – which had a representative at the meeting – asked one person. (The rep, external affairs liaison Catherine Gerlach, volunteered later to do what she could do to be a liaison between the neighborhood group and agencies/departments such as SDOT.) Starck suggested people send their ideas to hello@alkicommunitycouncil.org so they could aggregate trouble spots/ideas – and possibly creation of a safety committee within the ACC so there could be a smaller working group focused on the issue. Overall, Pearsall said, “if you have something you’re passionate about … safety, events …” email hello@alkicommunitycouncil.org to “grow the team” and “figure out the best place to use our time, money, and energy.” Speaking of money, they’ll be working on a budget for next year in a post-Thanksgiving Executive Board meeting.

WHAT’S NEXT: Saturday night’s Holiday Lights, of course – 7 pm November 23, with the Christmas Ship arriving just after 8:30 – and the Polar Bear Swim (Wednesday, January 1, 2025). No general ACC meeting in December, so the next one will be the third Thursday in January (that’s January 16).

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Story and photos by Jason Grotelueschen
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

Neighbors gathered earlier this week for a general gathering of the Admiral Neighborhood Association to hear from guest speakers and discuss community issues and upcoming holiday events. The meeting was held at Admiral Church on Tuesday and was facilitated by president Joanie Jacobs, and here’s a recap: 

First on the agenda (bumped to the top because she needed to attend to a family commitment) was city attorney Ann Davison, who gave an update to the group and answered questions. She had spoken last month to the Alki Community Council (WSB coverage here) and provided a similar update for the Admiral group. 

Davison reiterated the importance of neighborhood meetings like this being a crucial part of her job, and how much she appreciates people coming out to attend.

Davison cited her partnership with the Seattle City Council in September’s 8-1 council approval of the creation of Stay Out of Drug Areas (SODA) areas, which target drug-related criminal activity in key areas of the city (such as portions of Belltown and the International District) and authorizing the courts to prohibit an individual from entering those areas if they have committed a drug-related criminal offense in those zones. Davison said she is optimistic that the zones are small and targeted enough to really make a difference, saying that past efforts to identify priority areas of the city involved about 40% of the city’s 83 square miles (“simply too big”) but that the current SODA areas make up only .5% of the city. “These areas are a tool for officers to protect the public space and provide predictability,” she said, so the general public “can get where they need to go and do what they need to do.” She added that because prior booking restrictions for King County Jail were lifted on November 1st, this will also help officers be more responsive for the community. “That was a missing piece; an instrumental change,” she said.

Davison then took some questions from attendees:

• Q: Can you help stop the proposed removal of the road divider on Delridge near the RapidRide stop on Delridge that Rob Saka has added to the budget? A: As a lawyer for the city, I can’t take litigation action “against myself,” but please continue raising your concerns. 
• Q: Regarding the SODA zones, do you find that people moving out of those neighborhoods simply go somewhere else and cause similar problems?  A: It’s difficult to track, but we’ll do what we can to monitor that. I recently attended an Alaska Junction meeting in which this general topic came up, and we want to keep an eye on it — do the people who aren’t allowed to be in those areas simply move just outside the boundaries?
• Q: What about the King County Jail space that’s opened up? A: The contract was for 135 beds; we had 70 beds previously, so we’ve almost doubled the capacity to help officers be responsive. It should help; previously the officers likely didn’t even take the person to jail because they knew they wouldn’t be booked. 
• Q: I was at a D1 council meeting a few years ago, and a woman was there who said she was hired by city to revamp 911 – what’s the status?  A: That was likely Chief Amy (Smith) Barden from the city’s CARE Department (Community Assisted Response and Engagement), which is working to expand those services, but that’s the extent of what I know.
• Q: I’m an Admiral Junction business owner and have been struggling with people involved with a nearby apartment building who have been using their dumpsters to block the sidewalk and block cars in, and have been threatening me. There are 3 existing police reports on this, but officers have said they can’t do anything unless there is an actual assault. What can I do? A: Very sorry you’re having to deal with that — please do contact my office.
  At that point, SPD officer German Barreto (who was also in attendance, representing the SW Precinct) also offered to follow-up and help, and provided his card and contact information to the business owner.

Davison then needed to leave the meeting for a family obligation, and encouraged attendees to reach out to her office with questions and concerns. She said that she lives in north Seattle and thus isn’t in West Seattle every day, but she wants to hear from citizens.  Jacobs thanked Davison for the extra effort to attend the meeting and make the time. 

The group discussed and approved the minutes of their prior meeting, and then invited officer Barreto to provide some updates: 

Barreto said that, from a crime-stats perspective in the Admiral area, most of the crime numbers are down, with the exception of aggravated assault and burglaries.  Some attendees noted that this wasn’t particularly comforting news, which Barreto acknowledged, but said that the relative number of incidents was still low, thus any data change one way or another is going to result in a significant “percentage change.” Barreto noted that crime data is published online and is readily available. 

Barreto then answered questions from attendees:

• Q: Just to reiterate the prior 911 question that we asked Davison, what changes are being made? A: That’s under the CARE department. What I can say is, always call 911 if you see something. Generally, don’t use the non-emergency line. 
• Q: What’s the current staffing level? A: We just got two more officers; getting staffing slowly but surely. Another Q: There seem to be a lot more police patrols (which is great), has there been a change in routes?  A: I can’t say the exact reason but I know that Lt. Shopay (referring to SW Precinct Operations Lt. Nathan Shopay) is working hard to get more officers out and about. The visual presence does deter criminal activity.
• Q: Are there issues with staffing and getting recruits, contracts etc? Or are you seeing more recruits coming in?  A: Yes, we had 50+ people at a hiring event last weekend, which is nice to see — obviously they would still need to go through training to determine if they’re the right fit (maybe we get 10 of them to be officers?) I can take people on ride-alongs.  Follow-up Q: Is there increased morale?  A: Yes, SPD feels very supported, which makes things better.
• Q: I was here a year ago and asked about traffic enforcement; what’s the status? A: That’s a different division, there are a small number of traffic-enforcement cars for the city.  If we can get more staffing (especially motorcycle officers) that’s helpful, because they are less visible and can help with enforcement.  (one attendee confirmed that it seems like he’s noticed more motorcycles around).  Follow-up Q: What about officers on bikes? I saw a big group of them recently. A: Yes, we’re trying to get more trained bike officers, and we promote that training department-wide; you may see groups of them riding across I-90 and back as part of training. Another follow-up Q: Would having more traffic officers end up being revenue-positive?  A: I would think so, but some traffic stops just result in warnings — when I was in academy, we learned that “traffic enforcement is education,” with the primary goal being to ensure that motorists aren’t harming other people.
• Q: With the “Belltown Hellcat” (aka Miles Hudson) being a nuisance, has there been copycats?  A: Perhaps some, but although we can pull people over if we think their exhaust noise is too loud, we’re unlikely to win in court unless the officer has a decibel meter (which we typically don’t).   Follow-up Q:  What about general reckless driving and lawlessness in cars? A: After we make an arrest, it goes to the courts. Yes, better and more drivers’ education could help.  Follow-up Q:  I think criminals know that there is very little enforcement, so the chances of them being deterred are slim. Another follow-up Q: The removal of “qualified immunity” 5+ years ago may play a factor.  A: We do what we can; we do have emphasis patrols in high-traffic areas like Alki in the summer, but staffing can be an issue. We have to weigh the risk/reward: if we see a person doing donuts with their car in an intersection, we can stop them, but if they take off then we have to weigh the risk of pursuing.  Our #1 job is helping with quality-of-life. 
• Q: Is parking enforcement people under a different department? A: Currently have a different supervisor, yes (this has changed over the years).  Follow-up Q: Can these people also enforce things like missing plates, excessive shading/tinting? A: No, it’s just parking. Follow-up Q: To report parking enforcement issues, what would you recommend.  A: Use the Find-It-Fix-It app. The info goes into a city-wide queue where it’s sent specifically to the area and to the appropriate agency. 
• Comment from an attendee: Good to hear that there are 2 more officers. Calling 911 does make a difference because officer resourcing is all data-driven — call volume helps determine staffing. 
• Comment/Q: My back hurts just looking at you (see the photo above, with Barreto’s “front pack” of gear), how much does that pack weigh? A: Yes, it’s a lot but we get used to it! (30-40 pounds)

Next was a report from treasurer Bridgett Markille, who reported that the group’s finances are strong, due to great support from small businesses and members, despite considerable expenses this past year on marquee events such as the Admiral Music in the Parks (AMP) series, the July 4th parade and the Admiral Funktion block party. She encouraged residents to support those small businesses. 

Next up was an update from communications chair ​Dan Jacobs, who reported that ANA has been graciously gifted a software program called MonkeyPod that will be the group’s new platform for management of financing, communications, donations etc.  The donation is being facilitated by MonkeyPod’s Mike Depew, who lives in the Admiral area and wanted to get involved with what ANA is doing. 

The ANA group then elected officers, and attendees approved the continuation of the 4 existing officers to remain in their positions:

President: Joanie Jacobs 
Vice President: Cheryl Lea
Secretary: Meagan Loftin
Treasurer: Bridgett Markille

Jacobs expressed support for Admiral Church and its staff, saying that the church lets ANA meet there for free, helped host one of the AMP concerts, and has been a great partner. 

She added that ANA needs a team leader to head up the group’s annual 4^th of July parade (WSB coverage here).  Megan Erb led it for about 10 years, but she is stepping down and they need a new leader for this popular local event. Jacobs emphasized that it’s not a “solo effort,” it takes many volunteers, but there does need to be a coordinator in order for the event to keep going. Interested? Contact the group via connecttoadmiral.org.

Jacobs acknowledged the recent unexpected death of WSB co-founder Patrick Sand, calling him “an amazing person; a force for good in our community,” and a great friend. She said that different neighborhood associations have been working on ways to honor his legacy, and ANA has decided that they’ll be starting a “Patrick Sand ANA Advocate Award,” and will accept applications in the near future, with the winner chosen by a group that will include WSB editor/publisher Tracy Record. 

Jacobs then acknowledged the volunteers who helped put together the group’s successful Admiral trick-or-treating event (WSB coverage here), saying that the group received very positive feedback about the event, particularly regarding the ANA-coordinated crossing guards (the first year for that). 

Some upcoming events, which Jacobs and the team talked about:

• Admiral Church Christmas Market (see our calendar listing, and the official event page). Enjoy a “German-style Christmas market.” Saturday, November 23^rd from 10 am-4 pm.  
• ANA’s new Winter Wonderland (see our calendar listing, and other details on ANA website homepage). Saturday, December 14^th from 10 am-2 pm at multiple Admiral locations.

The group closed the meeting with some raffle items, and thanked attendees for coming.

The next general gathering of the Admiral Neighborhood Association will be held in the new year: Tuesday January 14th at 7pm at Admiral Church.

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