Update on the Siting of the New Montlake
Library
As all who have been following these pages know, a new 5,000-square-foot library to replace the existing Montlake Library is in the planning stages. A library liaison committee was formed last spring and this dedicated group (Montlakers Lyle Bicknell, Jonathan Dubman, Laura Gardner, Ellen Judson, Lee Kolb, Susan Powers and Bob Newhouse) worked with Sue Partridge, project manager for the new library, to identify potential sites. With input from several Community Club meetings, the liaison committee focused on 18 potential sites. After careful analysis, eight sites were chosen and presented at a community-wide meeting June 20 at Montlake School. The Library Board narrowed this selection to three sites at their July 25 meeting:
· 24th Ave. E./ E. McGraw St. – N.E. corner (two properties on 24th and one on McGraw).
· Montlake Professional Building – 24th Ave. E., between E. Lynn & E. Boston Sts. (possible structured parking).
· MOHAI.
All siting is based on a ground-level library, with some exploration of locating other uses above. The Library Board met Tuesday, August 22 for further discussion.
The Library Liaison Committee will lead an update of the siting process at the next MCC general meeting on September 13, with Sue Partridge present to listen to the discussion and to answer questions.
I encourage all to voice their ideas. The Library has shown a keen interest in eliciting response from Montlake. The new Montlake Library will be an exciting addition to our neighborhood. Finding the right location is an important action and will contribute to the sense of this community for many years to come!
Avenues of response, in addition to the September MCC meeting, are:
Sue
Partridge, AIA, Senior Capital Projects Manager, Seattle Public Library
Phone: (206) 615-1329
Email: Sue.Partridge@spl.org.
Seattle Public
Library website www.spl.org/
neighborhoodlibs/montlake or via a link from http:// montlake.net. Email comments to capital.projects @spl.org.
Comment forms are also available at the
Montlake Library. All comments are passed to the Library Board. To be added to
the mailing list for library announcements, send your address to caroline. ullmann@spl.org. Ellen Judson
can be reached at ejudson@araijackson.com
or at (206) 322-7641.
Trans-Lake Washington Project Begins Anew
Last June the Trans-Lake Washington Project (TLWP) began again. I have been appointed by the Montlake Community Club to represent our neighborhood on the advisory committee. That committee will meet monthly for the next nine months (on the same day as the MCC meeting, so come to the meetings for the latest update). Separate technical and executive committees have also been constituted. All three committees will coordinate their work, which presently focuses on developing the scope for an environmental impact study on the various alternatives recommended by the original Trans-Lake Washington Study Committee during 1998-99.
In mid-July, TLWP held three public meetings to get community input. At the meeting held at MOHAI, Bruce Balick (immediate past MCC president) and Clarissa Easton (current president) reiterated MCC’s guidelines for SR 520, which the membership affirmed at the February general meeting, and MCC’s desire to be actively involved in developing and evaluating proposals throughout the process.
Clarissa is chairing the MCC Transportation Committee,
which has some 10 members and always welcomes additional interested Montlakers.
Contact Clarissa for meeting times. This committee will be our primary forum
for discussion of progress during the TLWP, as well as other
transportation-related issues in our community. For further information, phone Jean Leed at 206-329-9208 or email
jeanleed@pipeline.com.
President’s
Comments
What a grand and glorious summer! Hope you were able to attend the jointly-sponsored “We Celebrate You” at the Montlake Community Center. If not, remember that the Montlake Community Club, the Montlake Advisory Council, and the Montlake Community Center intend the picnic for neighbors, friends, and families to be an annual event. We have had some great suggestions for meetings: potluck supper before the general meetings, babysitting training for neighborhood preteens, a CPR class, and school selection discussions. Are there any “senior” issues out there we could offer forums on? Please call me with your ideas.
Please remember that Bruce Balick is our liaison to the Seahawks and City of Seattle during the football season. He needs to hear comments and compliments regarding the team’s use of Husky stadium and its impact on the Montlake neighborhood. Likewise, Ellen Judson would like to hear from you regarding the future siting of the new Montlake Public Library.
In attempting to get the MCC Transportation Committee up and running, I am chairing the group for the short term. However, I am pleased to have several residents who have pledged their time and energy to this issue. Please check the Montlake Community Club website for updates on the follow-on work underway on the Trans-Lake Study. If you want to speak with us directly, please join one of the upcoming Transportation Committee meetings. We are trying something different this fall. Our meetings will be the first Wednesday of the month at 6:00 pm at Grady’s Pub. MCC Board of Trustees meetings will be held afterward at 7:30 pm at Paul Gibson’s house. The next pair of meetings (Transportation and Trustees) is Wednesday, September 6.
--Clarissa Easton
Board Meeting Minutes
June 7, 2000 The
Board of Trustees of the Montlake Community Club convened at 7:35 p.m. on June
7, 2000, at 1718 26th Ave. E., the home of Paul and Beth Gibson, with president
Clarissa Easton presiding. Members Burgett, DeBurle, Gibson, Hutchinson,
Jacobson, Judson, Leed, and Kolb were present. Minutes of the previous meeting
were approved with the correction of address of the previous meeting.
Following a review of expenditures for last year,
Lee Kolb proposed adoption of the following budget for routine expenses:
·
Newsletter printing: $8,500.
·
Beautification Committee: $500 (from Beautification account).
·
Liability Insurance: $400.
·
Annual corporation filing: $10.
·
Dues; SCCF and SCAA: $200.
·
Meeting room registration: $30.
Mail expenses (postage, supplies, mail box rent):
$300.
At the suggestion of Jean Leed, the newsletter
printing budget was increased to $9,000 to permit abbreviated summer issues.
With this change, the budget was approved by the board.
As part of the budget discussion, Lee Kolb was
asked to examine the minutes of previous meetings to determine what amount had
been authorized for the appeal of the City's approval of the University
Community Urban Center Plan. Also, Scott Burgett affirmed that the MCC
Education Fund balance had been donated to a PTSA fund for repainting the
school’s exterior trim, at the desire of the school principal. Scott asked what
the plans were for the balance of $2,432 remaining in the MCC Tot Lot Fund. The
board decided to use the newsletter to let the community know that this fund
was available for other projects of a similar nature.
President Easton reminded the board of the City
Council hearing on June 8 to take public comment on the proposed city levy for
parks and community centers. She suggested that anyone wishing to speak at the
hearing contact the Montlake Advisory Council, which will be trying to
coordinate community presentations. She also suggested that board members send comments
directly to Council members.
Paul Gibson reported that the draft environmental
impact statement (DEIS) for the new Arboretum Master Plan has been published
and that a public hearing was scheduled for June 15. He said that the DEIS
concludes that the Plan has no adverse environmental impacts, but he hopes that
the public comments will argue that there will be significant aesthetic impacts
if the construction plans are permitted. In response to a question about the
future course of the planning process, he said that the Department of Parks and
Recreation will probably prepare the final EIS by listing the comments received
at the hearing and responding to them. They will send the final EIS to the City
Council along with their recommendations on alternatives, then the Council will
have another public hearing before taking final action. In response to another
question, he said that the DEIS did not specifically address the future of the
building presently housing the Museum of History and Industry.
President Easton next introduced a request from the
Arboretum Park Preservation Coalition (APPC) for a donation to help pay for
preparation of a petition to obtain Landmark status for Washington Park. The
text of the request argued that a positive recommendation from the Seattle
Landmarks Preservation Board would encourage the City Council to look more
critically at the alterations to the Arboretum and Washington Park that are
proposed in the DEIS. Board members had a number of questions about this
approach, such as what specific protections does landmark status afford, what
is the probability of a positive recommendation from the Landmarks Preservation
Board, and what is the time required for achieving a decision on landmark
status. No one present had definite answers, so the board decided to take no
action on the donation request and to attempt to recruit some knowledgeable
person or persons to speak at the coming general meeting.
Jean Leed reported that she had been asked by the
City of Seattle for permission to nominate her for the Citizen Advisory Group
that is to assist in preparation of the DEIS for the Trans-Lake Washington
Study, and that she wanted to consult with the MCC board before agreeing, since
her nomination to the initial Study team had been made by the MCC. President
Easton said that she had been contacted by other neighborhoods regarding the
Advisory Group nomination process, and that these neighborhoods had been asked
to submit nominees, whereas Montlake had not. She expressed concern that Jean’s
acceptance as a City nominee rather than as a nominee of the MCC might leave
Montlake with no neighborhood advocate, and asked for time to discuss with the
City how they are selecting their representatives to the Advisory Group before
proceeding.
Paul Gibson mentioned that the Trans-Lake
Washington Ferry Project Advisory Committee, on which Doug Woods represented
Montlake, had published the results of its feasibility study. The route
examined was between Kirkland and the University of Washington, with potential
expansion to South Lake Union. Two meetings, one in the University District on
June 12 and one in Kirkland on June 14, were scheduled to provide the public
with information on the proposal and to take public comment.
The next meeting
of the board was scheduled for the first Wednesday in August at the same
location (the Gibson residence), although President Easton indicated that she
may need to call an earlier meeting if the June general meeting leaves some
issues unresolved.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:25 p.m.
August 9, 2000 The Board of Trustees of the Montlake Community Club convened at 7:45 p.m. on August 9, 2000, at the Montlake Community Center, with president Clarissa Easton presiding. Members Burgett, DeBurle, Doran, Hutchinson, Jacobson, Judson, Kolb, Leed, and Thompson and past-president Balick were present.
President Easton informed the board that the
Montlake Advisory Council (MAC) had invited the club to cosponsor the annual
Family Day at the Montlake Community Center. The MAC suggested that the club
pay the $300 cost of providing two professional clowns for the event. In the
ensuing discussion, there was general support for club participation, but some
reluctance to be identified as cosponsor or to make a significant contribution unless
the community was invited to participate by some means more effective than the
posters that had been used in the past. Lee Kolb moved that the club donate
$200 toward entertainment expenses and, with MAC approval, prepare and
distribute an invitation to the event throughout the community. After a short
discussion, the motion was passed, with President Easton volunteering to see to
preparation of the notice and Lee Kolb responsible for distribution.
President Easton reminded the board that the
deadline for the September newsletter was Friday, August 11.
The next subject for discussion was an initiative
by the University of Washington to have its statutory limit on leased
off-campus building space either raised or eliminated. According to President
Easton, the University had made their intention known through a presentation to
the Northeast District Council last week. She, along with the presidents of
other community councils in the area, had been invited to meet with UW Vice
President Ihrig in the near future to learn more about the proposal. It was the
general opinion of the board that it was premature to take up the issue at a
club meeting until more information becomes available.
Lee Kolb reported that the change in the
University's lease lid had been the subject of some discussion at the CUCAC
meeting the previous evening. Another item of interest at the CUCAC meeting was
the University's plan to modernize their golf driving range with a two-level
clubhouse, improved lighting and 100-foot fencing. The University has also
issued the draft environmental impact statement for the Surgery Pavilion, a
three-story structure with three floors of underground parking, just west of
Montlake Boulevard and east of the hospital. All of these issues require
community response via CUCAC representatives.
Ellen Judson provided an update on site selection
for the new Montlake Library. She said that, of the sites on the MCC
committee's list, those preferred by the Seattle Public Library's board are the
Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI), Montlake Professional Building, and the
northeast or northwest corners of the intersection of East McGraw St. and 24th
Avenue E. She added that there had been little public comment on the sites and,
with one exception, little response from the potentially affected property
owners. After some discussion on how best to solicit community opinion while
there was still time to influence a decision, President Easton decided to put
the issue on the September general meeting agenda, conditional on obtaining a
Library representative to speak.
The evening's final subject was how to increase
participation by community members in the activities of the club. President
Easton introduced the subject by saying that she had received a suggestion that
having a potluck supper prior to the general meeting might increase interest
and attendance. The discussion which followed included suggestions for
programs, expanded use of email for communication and other ideas. The opinion
was also expressed that the primary business of the club is always going to be
pretty dull, and that interest always has and will increase when important
issues arise.
The next meeting of the board was scheduled for
September 6 at the Gibson residence.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:55 p.m.
General Meeting Minutes
June 14, 2000 A regular meeting of the Montlake Community
Club was called to order at the Montlake Community Center by President Clarissa
Easton at 7:30 p.m. on June 14, 2000. The minutes of the May meeting were
approved as published.
Paul Gibson, in his introduction of the evening's
first speaker, said that the Arboretum Park Preservation Coalition (APPC) had
been created partly as a result of the club's resolution opposing much of the
original Portico plan for the arboretum. The APPC's strategy to limit change in
the current master plan is to obtain Seattle Landmark status for Washington
Park, one of Seattle's Olmstead parks. APPC had solicited a donation from MCC
to help pay for the preparation of a nomination to landmark status. Karen
Gorden, Director Urban Conservation Division, Historic Preservation Office,
Seattle Department of Neighborhoods, had been asked to explain the landmark
designation process and the protections it provides.
She told those assembled that the Landmark
Preservation Board has eleven members who are appointed by the mayor and
approved by the city council. When a city "resource" (a parcel of
land, a structure, or a combination or group of these) is nominated, the board
first decides whether it meets the established criteria for landmark status.
Instead of elaborating on the criteria, she said that Washington Park would
surely qualify. She provided all present a copy of the specifying city
ordinance and a handout, which lists the Seattle Historic Preservation World
Wide Web home page www.ci.seattle.wa.us/don/
uc/uchome.htm.
From 30 to 60 days after a nomination has been
approved, the Preservation Board holds a public meeting to decide what aspects
or features of the "resource" should be designated for historic
preservation. She emphasized that the property owner is involved in this
process and that Landmark status is not typically applied to an entire
property.
If agreement is reached on designation and the
board approves, it has up to 75 days to draft a Controls and Incentives
document, working with the property owner. As its title implies, the document
specifies the limitations to be placed on the designated features, and the
incentives to be provided to the owner for complying with these limitations.
The final step is approval by the City Council, but
she said that recommendations of the Preservation Board are usually accepted.
In response to questions, she said that gaining
landmark designation for a park is more challenging than for a building. Queen
Anne Boulevard, Hiawatha Park, Kuboda Gardens and Gasworks Park are four cases
where park property has been given landmark status, but the limits placed on
change differ in each case. She thought Washington Park was worthy of landmark
status, but said that it would not prevent future change to the park.
President Easton introduced the meeting's main
speaker, Seattle City Council member Jim Compton, who talked about current
issues. He began by commenting that he had toured the playfield and community
center prior to the meeting, experiencing the mud first hand. He clearly saw
that the facility needed additional support. That said, he emphasized that he
wanted a levy created that would be approved by the voters, and that would
involve some political judgments as to the amount to request and how to spend
it.
Mr. Compton chairs the City Council’s Public Safety
Committee, and his talk featured the three major current tasks he oversees as a
result of this chairmanship. One of these, selecting a new Chief of Police, had
progressed to the interview stage, with seven candidates remaining after the
review of resumes. The second task, negotiating a new contract with the Seattle
Police Officers Guild, he thought was going well because the Guild had agreed
to accept a citizen review board. The third task, an investigation of the
city's management of the demonstrations during the World Trade Organization
conference, is coming to a close. He said that the objective of the
investigation was to determine what went wrong in order to avoid similar problems
in the future. Seven staff members with a $200,000 budget and 57 citizen
volunteers have been involved.
Asked to comment on parking law enforcement, he mentioned
that it isn't a budget issue, since increased fine revenue more than covers the
cost of additional personnel. It is public complaint to members of the City
Council that keeps enforcement to its current levels.
In closing, Mr. Compton said that the Arboretum
Master Plan is a tough issue, since it involves the competing interest of two
groups—the existing park users and the plant scientists. He also listened to
several suggestions on solutions to local traffic problems.
Lee Kolb reported on his conversation with
Fisheries regarding the possible siting of a cellular telephone antenna array.
He was told that discussions between Fisheries and interested parties were
ongoing, but that there were security issues that were difficult to resolve and
there was no assurance that an agreement would be reached. If the security
hurdle is overcome, Fisheries would have to publish a formal request for bids
before they could contract with anyone, and they intend to make some form of
community review process part of any contract. They thought it premature to
involve the community until they had seen a proposal that dealt successfully
with their security concerns. Paul Gibson suggested that the club send a
letter to Fisheries notifying them of our interest and concerns.
A question was raised as to the status of the
proposal for a waterfront trail across Fisheries property connecting the
playfield and West Montlake Park. No one present had any firm information,
although it was suggested that a relatively recent requirement that all Federal
facilities have perimeter fences may have stymied the plan.
Ted Choi moved that the following resolution
regarding the Montlake Community Center be adopted:
The
Montlake Community Club (MCC) strongly supports inclusion of the Montlake
Community Center in the ProParks 2000 levy. The $2,900,000 allocation is to be
used to expand activity areas, create multipurpose rooms, office space, storage
space and other necessary facilities. MCC urges increased facilities and
grounds maintenance at our community center and endorses the $900,000 ball
field and grounds maintenance item included in the 2000 COMPLAN. Our community
has a long history of supporting civic levy requests. Due to the popularity of
our programs and our location (a cross roads community) we draw participants
from all over the city. Increased building and grounds maintenance and
facilities upgrades are long overdue.
After a second to the motion, he spoke briefly in
its support. There were no speakers in opposition and the motion passed.
In closing
announcements, Liz Bagshaw encouraged club members to participate in the
Montlake Gardens Potluck on July 9, and Joe Marshall reminded those present of
the public meeting on the draft environmental impact statement for the
Arboretum Master Plan on June 15.
The
meeting was adjourned at 8:50 p.m.
What’s Happening at Montlake Community Center in 2000?
Montlake has a new Assistant Center Coordinator. She comes to us from a neighboring center with over 10 years of service with Seattle Parks. Anita Adams, formerly Assistant Center Coordinator at Miller Community Center, brought a plethora of new ideas and a wealth of experience just in time to kick off a summer full of fun. Montlake has nine camps packed full of laughter, friendship, and fun for participants from ages 3 to 16. Each year our programs grow. This year we launched a large-scale instructor recruitment campaign with the goal to increase class offerings and expand current classes.
At our annual Family Night, Wednesday August 23, we gathered under the theme, "Celebrate You.” Parents enjoyed skits, a made-for-you movie, a No Kid Zone for parents to mingle while listening to Emerald City Jazz ensemble. Children enjoyed the amazing carnival, sponsored in part by the Seattle Department of Parks and Recreation, Montlake Advisory Council, and the Montlake Community Club.
Roger and Anita have also been busy managing our satellite locations, Madison Bathhouse and the nationally noted Japanese Gardens. This year the kite-making festival and celebration will mark the 40th anniversary of the gardens. Several tourists and patrons have called to pre-register for the events, Hundreds will be in attendance. The garden was recently listed in the Seattle P-I as one of the most beautiful gardens in Washington. You may email Anita at anita.adams@ci.seattle.wa.us.
News from the Montlake Advisory Council
Montlake Advisory Council (MAC) is a volunteer group made up of community members acting in an advisory capacity to the Montlake Recreation Center staff. Our objective is to help provide for maximum recreational opportunities and services for the residents of Montlake and other users of center facilities. Our major achievement last spring was getting Montlake included in the ProParks 2000 levy, which will be on the November ballot. The MAC is beginning a planning process to increase program space at the center. We welcome your ideas and suggestions. New Assistant Center Coordinator Anita Adams and Roger are planning new classes for the 2000-2001 season. Contact us with your ideas, or attend the next meeting. Monthly meetings are the first Monday of each month, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Due to the Labor Day holiday, the September meeting is the 2nd Monday, September 11, 7:00 pm in the modular building. The meeting is open to all. Contact Sam Greeley, MAC President, email GreelS@champint.com.
Announcements
Montlake Garden Tour Rescheduled
Once again, we must postpone the date of our neighborhood garden tour. This time, it will be for next year: Saturday, June 24, 2001. So far, nine residents have volunteered their gardens and more are certainly welcome. Watch the Flyer for updates next spring. To nominate gardens or simply ask a question about the tour, call Judith at 324-0252, Kari at 329-1911, or Lee at 328-8733.
Notices
Football Parking RPZs
If you live on a street which already has parking
restrictions during Husky football games, then the same parking restrictions
will apply during Seahawks games. You need not take any action.
If, however, you live south of Boyer, your street
may not be part of a restricted "residential parking zone" (RPZ) for
the games. If you would like to implement such a restriction you can contact
the City at any time. You will need a form and the signatures of 60% of the
residents on the street. The Seahawks will help with the legwork. For information,
email Montlake's representative to the Husky Stadium Advisory Committee, Bruce
Balick at balick@sprynet.com.
If you aren't sure if your block has an RPZ, go outside
and see if there are signs announcing parking restrictions for last year's
football games, or check the at http://clerk.ci.seattle.wa.us/~ordpics/112978d.gif
for a map.
CUCAC Meeting Report
The agenda for the August 8, 2000 meeting of the
University Community Advisory Committee (CUCAC) included a number of issues of
immediate concern to Montlake residents.
In the May Flyer we reported on a proposed
"Ambulatory Care Pavilion" attached to the east end of University
Hospital. A draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) has been released for
this building. Comments are due September 14, 2000. Montlakers should review
this and comment. I have copies if anyone wishes one.
The University's Golf Driving Range at the corner
of 45th Avenue and Montlake Boulevard is up for renovation (after 35 years, we
are told). Same lot coverage, but plans are for a double-deck, covered-tee
line to handle 72 tees, an increase in the mesh fence height from 37 feet to
100 feet, better lights and 15 more parking spaces for golfers. A stated
reason: safety of folks on 45th!
We expect that the University planning people will
mail CUCAC members the draft Master Plan about September 25 for discussion at
the October 10 meeting. Final comments will be due on Nov 29. This 10-year
development plan for the "University of the Future" has been in
preparation for over a year and should be carefully reviewed by Montlake
residents. I suggest that interested persons try to get some advance
information on the Campus Master Plan website, www.washington.edu/community/cmp.
The site will take comments.
Of equal importance to Montlakers is the issue of
lease limits related to University activities in the greater University of
Washington area. A 1998 agreement between the City and the University put a
limit on the amount of leased space that the University may occupy off campus.
University officials and various community leaders are discussing adjustments
to the limits. We don't know who will benefit from changes. These limits do
have a Montlake impact. Watch for further news on the subject.
NEDC Meeting Report
By Paul Gibson
In the summer of 2000 the NEDC carried on its wonky
ways. One important activity was to prioritize about a dozen proposals for
local utilization of some City money that is available for projects suggested
by neighborhood groups or individual citizens. The Neighborhood Street Fund and
the Cumulative Reserve Fund can be spent on streets and sidewalk projects and
maintenance of City-owned facilities such as parks. There were no proposals
from Montlake, but anyone with an idea of a need in these areas should become
acquainted with the process by which these funds are allocated, in order to
make a timely application next year.
The NEDC also adopted formal positions emphasizing:
·
The importance of noise mitigation on any SR-520
development.
·
The need to address noise pollution in the City’s
Comprehensive Plan.
·
Support for the underground alignment of the light
rail link from the University District to Northgate.
We had a lively
discussion of the University’s proposal to expand their capacity to lease
off-campus space, putting the University on notice that the neighboring
communities expect to be actively involved in any revision of the current
limitation.
The NEDC is composed of representatives from the
MCC, Portage Bay/Roanoke C.C. and various organizations (mostly community
councils) north of the canal to NE 95th Street and between I-5 and Lake
Washington. It is one of 12 District Councils that send representatives to the
City Neighborhood Council. Responsibilities of the CNC include review and recommendations
regarding City budget issues, including especially the Neighborhood Matching
Fund and the Neighborhood Street Fund. The system of district and citywide
councils provides a formal structure for neighborhood organizations to
influence City policies. Questions? Call 323-1851.
SEAHAWKS-HUSKY FOOTBALL CONGESTION UPDATE
Bruce Balick serves on the Husky Stadium Advisory
Group, which met on July 27 to consider implementation of the City-Seahawks
agreements on traffic, safety, and other issues related to the use of Husky
Stadium. This is a summary of the first of three or four meetings that will
take place through December.
There are two separate though similar agreements
for controlling traffic and safety on game days: an old one for Husky games;
and a newer, more stringent one for Seahawks games. Montlakers are used to the
problems and remedies for Husky games. These will not change. However, there
are a few important wrinkles for the Seahawks games. Note that the Seahawks
will cover all costs of law enforcement, information mailings, and mitigation
measures when they play at Husky Stadium.
First and foremost on everyone's mind is emergency
access to our homes. Police and fire officials assure us that because each
major intersection is staffed by a police officer, emergency vehicles can get
to homes and businesses faster on game days than at any other times. The
longest access time is 4 minutes.
What about traffic and parking? The Seahawks have
an aggressive program to encourage bus and HOV parking through preferential
access and reduced fees. This means many more busses, but fewer cars on Seahawk
game days. Also, the City is limiting attendance to 71,000 fans—less than the
stadium's capacity—and it has required that there be no more than 195 cars per
1,000 attendees, or new rules will kick in. So traffic should be a bit lighter
than normal whenever the Seahawks invade Montlake.
Two extra police are
being added to the RPZ enforcement squad south of Montlake Bridge for all
Seahawks games. If this isn't adequate, more will be assigned. The Seahawks
are paying a private firm to collect trash from lawns and gardens after each
game as soon as daylight permits. The streets on which trash will be collected
are still being negotiated. Vendors for Seahawks games will be asked to locate
on UW grounds rather than sidewalks near Montlake Bridge. Parking on City-owned
parks, including the Playfield, will be patrolled. Please report problems to
the Hotline.
The Seahawks will play 12
games a year at Husky Stadium, including preseason games, plus any playoffs.
U.W. is being paid generously for the Stadium. We gain only more problems,
hopefully tolerable. Don't expect miracles, and do expect to be annoyed. For
what its worth, we'll be working hard to enforce the provisions of the
agreement, and with your help we'll set a higher standard for a new long-term
contract with the Huskies.
First Game Report
The first Seahawk game occurred on August 5. The Montlake
Flyer deadline was shortly afterwards, so there is only limited and
anecdotal feedback to report. Traffic seemed light compared to Husky games, but
that's probably because attendance at preseason games is always low. Police
were at their stations before and after the game. RPZ enforcement was a major
problem: at half time on one street near Husky Stadium there were 34 parked
cars, 20 of those without RPZ permits, and only one with a citation. (A similar
problem was reported in Laurelhurst.) Trash on the streets was light. Police
overzealously enforced prohibition of a resident's parking-for-fee in his
driveway, claiming that's what the neighborhood officially requested (not
true!). A neighbor's car was stolen at the end of the game. It had been moved
from their driveway to the street in order to make room for a friend's car.
Enforcement
Phone Numbers
Emergency: 911
Police non-emergency: 625-5011
Non-police HOTLINE 800-981-6465 touchtone
(information,
complaints & 938-0468
live operator
comments
about anything)
You should expect fast response from 911. Other
operators will explain what response you can expect when you call. Operators
at the HOTLINE will be trained to contact appropriate City enforcement
agencies. They will route your calls for you and report all problems and
suggestions to the Husky Stadium Advisory Group in summary form for further action.