SEATTLE COMMUNITY COUNCIL FEDERATION
Regular Meeting
NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency), Pacific Marine Center on Lake Union
1801 Fairview Avenue East
Thursday, April 24, 2008

AGENDA

Pike Place Market Levy and Campaign Finance Reform

The April Federation meeting will feature speakers on both the proposed Pike Place Market Levy and proposals to implement the local option for public funding of local elections approved by the state Legislature in the 2008 legislative session.

Market Levy: You’ve read that the Mayor has proposed a six-year, $75 million levy for improvements to the Pike Place Market for the November 2008 ballot. Learn about the needs of the Market and different perspectives. The levy as proposed by the Mayor would cost the median Seattle homeowner $37 per year from 2009 through 2014 (based on a $420,000 home). The levy proposal would include:
• $68.6 million for major repair, structural, and infrastructure and accessibility upgrades to all Public Development Authority (PDA)-owned Market buildings, as well as associated tenant space alteration costs.
• $2 million for capital improvements to Victor Steinbrueck Park to make it a more lively and attractive park that can be a great gathering place and an asset to the Market and neighborhood.
• $4.4 million in estimated financing costs.

Local Option for Public Campaign Financing: In the 2008 legislative session, the Legislature approved a bill ending a 16-year state ban and once again allowed local jurisdictions to create programs that offer public funds for local political campaigns—legislation supported by the Federation. What is the appropriate approach to implementing legislation at the local level in Seattle? Learn from representatives from Washington Public Campaigns about their work to level the playing field in political campaigns.

7:00 Call to Order and Introductions
Administration
1. Changes to the agenda
2. Treasurer’s report
3. President’s report

7:15 The Pike Street Market Levy—The Needs of the Market

7:45 Campaign Finance Reform at the Local Level—The Options

8:15 Round Robin—Bring Your Issues!

9:00 Adjourn

NOAA is a federal facility on high security alert, so attendees must enter by the security gate and may need to present photo ID. If you haven't attended a recent Federation meeting, please send your name, contact information, and address to rickbarrett@gmail.com to be added to the entry list. No e-mail? Call 206-365-1267. The building is ADA compliant, with ample parking in front.

Go to http://www.livableseattlemovement.org to see the work of the Housing Taskforce
Go to http://www.labwatch.org/docs/html to see Seattle biosafety laboratory locations

SEATTLE COMMUNITY COUNCIL FEDERATION
Regular Meeting
NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency), Pacific Marine Center on Lake Union
1801 Fairview Avenue East
Thursday, March 27, 2008

AGENDA

The Future of Seattle’s Libraries –
A Dialogue with City Librarian Deborah Jacobs

The $196.4 million Libraries for All bond measure approved by voters in 1998 is coming to its conclusion. In addition to a new Central Library, projects have been undertaken in Wallingford, NewHolly, Delridge, Capitol Hill, Green Lake, Rainier Beach, West Seattle, High Point, North East, Beacon Hill, Columbia, Greenwood, Fremont, Ballard, the International District, Lake City, Northgate, Montlake, South Park, Douglass-Truth, Southwest, Queen Anne and the University District. So, what is next? What are the Library’s future needs?

How will the Library continue to build on its history of excellence in serving citizens? Will there ever be sufficient funding to maintain staffing to ensure open access to information, resources and services for our diverse communities and collections on par with King County? Will funding ever be available for the Library’s reciprocal borrowing agreement with King County? How will the Library and the Board of Trustees modify its service plan with funding limitations? These are just a sampling of questions that will be asked of City Librarian Deborah Jacobs and Library Board of Trustees member, Rajiv Shah at the March Federation meeting.

7:00 Call to Order and Introductions
Administration
1. Changes to the agenda
2. Treasurer’s report
3. President’s report

7:15 The Future of Seattle’s Libraries—City Librarian Deborah Jacobs and Library Trustee Rajiv Shah.

8:15 Round Robin—Bring Your Issues!
1. Multi-Family Code Update Task Force Report
2. Pike Place Market Improvement Levy
3. Updating Neighborhood Plans—Advantages and Pitfalls
4. Will the Magnuson Park wetlands be filled?
5. Children’s Hospital Proposed Expansion—Update
6. Other Issues/Projects

9:00 Adjourn

NOAA is a federal facility on high security alert, so attendees must enter by the security gate and may need to present photo ID. If you haven't attended a recent Federation meeting, please send your name, contact information, and address to rickbarrett@gmail.com to be added to the entry list. No e-mail? Call 206-365-1267. The building is ADA compliant, with ample parking in front.


Please check with your organization to see if your annual dues are in arrears. Although the Federation has a “tolerance policy” and nearly infinite patience with member organizations which often face financial challenges similar to our own, we certainly appreciate your attention to keeping your membership up to date. We need to all work together to really be effective

SEATTLE COMMUNITY COUNCIL FEDERATION

INVOICE/INVITATION FOR 2008 ORGANIZATIONAL DUES

Dues. Annual dues are $50. Please send your payment to: Doris Burns, Treasurer, Seattle Community Council Federation, 2511 West Montlake Place East, Seattle, Washington 98112.

Background. Founded in 1943, the Seattle Community Council Federation is one of the nation’s oldest federations of neighborhoods. Its only regular source of funds is the annual dues of its member organizations. Membership is open to any community-based nonpartisan, nonprofit organization with its primary focus in Seattle. We always welcome comments and suggestions, to SCCF President Jeannie Hale, mailto:jeannieh@serv.net or 206-525-5135. Bring the issues of your community to a broader forum.

Contacts Please designate your organization’s representative and an alternate to the SCCF board, and please also list other contacts and those who would like to receive notices of SCCF’s monthly meetings. SCCF does not share its mailing list with other organizations. Please also list name, address, phone and email address for the following positions, and any separate address, website or email for your organization.

Your Organization:


Representative and Alternative to SCCF Board:


President or Chair:


Vice President/Chair:


Secretary:


Treasurer:


Please list others in your organization who would like to receive notices of SCCF meetings on the back of this sheet.

Miriam Stuart Barnes

Miriam died peacefully at home, February 6th, 2008, after a lengthy, hard fought battle with congestive heart failure and pulmonary fibrosis. She was born January 3rd, 1925, in West Union, West Virginia to Effie Lee and Harold Lyle Stuart, and was preceded in death by her younger brother, Wendell (Sam) Lamar Stuart. She was a caring, loving, and devoted wife, mother and friend, and spent most of her life caring and fighting passionately for others less fortunate than herself. She loved gardening, worked tirelessly as an educator, lab technician, civil rights advocate, and realtor, and was very active in the Unitarian Church. She was an active member in the Mount Baker Community Club, Franklin High School Booster Club, on the Board of Equalization in the King County Assessors Office and was a co-founder, along side husband, Glover, of the Rainier Valley Unitarian Universalist Church in 1998. She and Glover received a letter of salutation from then governor, Gary (Mona) Locke, noting "Through your abiding love and commitment to one another you have set a wonderful example for all of us and....we salute and thank you". They also received the City of Seattle Proclamation of Miriam and Glover Barnes Day from Mayor Greg Nickels in honor of their 30 years of service to the Mount Baker Community Club and their 50th wedding anniversary on January 26th, 2002. Miriam is survived by Glover, her loving husband of 56 years; sons, Erik (Lisa) Barnes of Dallas, Texas and Noel (Nancy) Barnes of Renton; and 3 grandchildren - Ivan, Jalen and Zoey. She will be deeply missed by her family and others touched by her tireless generosity. A Memorial Service is planned for 2:00 p.m. on March 27th, 2008 at Eastshore Unitarian Church, 12700 SE 32nd Street, Bellevue, WA 98005.
A second Memorial Service is to be held on March 30th, 2:00 p.m. at the Mount Baker Community Club, 2811 Mount Rainier Dr. S., Seattle, WA 98144. No flowers, if you wish, please send a charitable contribution to the charity of your choice.
May she Rest in Peace; she has certainly earned the right to do so.


We at the Seattle Community Council Federation are deeply saddened by the Miriam's death. Miriam and Dr. Glover Barnes have been long-time Federation stalwarts. In the 1970's, when United Way withdrew its support because the Federation had taken a stand on the design of Interstate 90, Dr. and Mrs. Barnes led the Federation through that crisis and have continued to give invaluable guidance and assistance, which continues to this day.

For many years, Dr. and Mrs. Barnes have hosted the Federation's annual potluck at their Mount Baker home, and Dr. Barnes will continue to do so. They have proved to be the best of hosts, with Mrs. Barnes cooking an outstanding casserole and fruit pies. Politicians came for the feast as much as to shake hands and keep in touch. During her final years, Mrs. Barnes was on a respirator, but despite this handicap, she actively participated. She had a strong commitment to good schools, to fair treatment for the less fortunate amongst us, and for the quality of life in Seattle. Her comments were insightful and often became the theme of Federation letters.

On their 50th wedding anniversary, well-wishers filled the Mount Baker Community Clubhouse even though it had snowed and the roads were icy that night in 2002. The praise was lavish and well-deserved. Although almost 80, she danced with the energy of one half her age.

We truly miss her.

The Livable Seattle Movement is online!

The Federation’s Multi-Family Code Update Task Force has produced a brand new website and several documents, all to be available at the newly-born website, LivableSeattleMovement.org

Check it out for news and articles about Seattle’s neighborhood housing issues, but remember to be patient, it’s just getting started.
Soon it will include more downloadable articles that will help you to maintain your community’s affordability and livability; links to authoritative commentary on local housing and zoning issues; things that you always wanted to know about why increased density doesn’t seem to result in affordable (or even livable) neighborhoods; and what you can do to improve the current dismal Seattle housing situation.

So far you can download the Four Point Work Plan for the Seattle City council. It’s page 4 in the March 3, 2008 Commentary on the proposed multi-family updates. Click on the Livable Seattle Movement link above, then the Publications tab to get the entire report. Print at least page 4 and take copies to your neighborhood council. ask them to urge the City Council to adapt the four points.


February, 2008 Meeting Notes (These are not minutes)
Our February meeting featured a presentation by a group that has drawn up a proposal for independent oversight of Seattle’s numerous biological safety laboratory laboratories, as outlined here:

Proposal - Independent Oversight of Seattle Biosafety Laboratories

Seattle got a wake-up call three years ago when the University of Washington campus in the center of the city was temporarily proposed as the site for a Regional Biocontainment Laboratory, a large-scale high-security facility to study disease-causing agents. One result was public awareness of biosafety laboratories already operating within the city.

There are currently no provisions for the protection of human health that govern the siting of such laboratories. There are inadequate provisions governing the operations of such labs.

To remedy this situation for the future, we have drafted regulations for the City of Seattle that will create an independent biosafety oversight committee located within our public health institution, the Seattle-King County Board of Health.

Self-regulation is insufficient for the protection of the public or for the development and preservation of public trust in both government and industry. The biotechnology industry is playing an increasingly important part in the local economy. Independent oversight is essential, by representatives of the public who are unconnected to biohazardous research and who have no financial or other self-interest in the conduct of such research.

Although publicly funded labs are subject to the National Institute of Health Guidelines, these do not have the enforcement power of regulations. Privately funded biosafety labs have no governmental oversight and may not even be identified to local authorities.

These regulations will create a level of transparency and accountability which will help ensure that the biotechnology industry in Seattle operates safely and responsibly. We seek your endorsement of this concept and your backing to forward these draft regulations to City Council for review.

Submitted by Kit O'Neill, Steve Reisler, Randy Baker and Mike McCormick.
For background and the draft regulations, go to http://www.labwatch.org/docs.html
Contact: Mike McCormick nobioterrorlab@yahoo.com

Motion passed to support the above proposal, and to write to the Seattle-King County Board of Health and other governmental organizations as appropriate.
Note: This proposal is also being supported at a state level by House Bill 3385 (attached).

THE MAP BELOW SHOWS THE LOCATIONS OF LEVEL 3 BIOSAFETY LABS IN SEATTLE

For a comprehensive overview, go to http://www.labwatch.org/

THE LIVABLE SEATTLE MOVEMENT
livableseattlemovement.org
PUBLISHES DOWNLOADABLE DOCUMENTS.
The first of these is:

Commentary on the proposed multi-family updates. This document includes history, photographs of good/bad multi-family homes, analysis of lot coverage suggested by these updates, and an action plan for addressing the unintended outcomes of these updates.
The Four Point Council Work Plan below is on the fourth page of the Commentary, which has been well received by the City Council's Planning and Land Use Committee (PLUNC) and several Community Councils. We urge you to download the entire document and present it to your Community Council or other neighborhood group for endorsement.
Other documents will soon be posted on the Livable Seattle website.
You can copy the Four Point plan and distribute it to other interested parties. This is a March 27, 2008 Federation Agenda item.

Four Point Council Work Plan

1. Clarify and strengthen the urban village strategy so that buildings outside villages actually do conserve the diverse and individual characteristics of Seattle’s cherished neighborhoods and so that the buildings inside villages actually do produce over time new or revitalized neighborhoods of comparable merit.

2. Keep and strengthen the following time-tested, essential standards of the existing code. They are really all it takes to assure predictability and a “sustainable” city.
a) Setbacks (known to us variously as streetscapes, yards, gardens, outdoor rooms (e.g, play areas, sun rooms, dining rooms, patios, etc.) Even very different buildings fit together well if they have similar setbacks.
b) Height limits, preferably in stories and without excessive “exceptions” for various features or groups. The current method of calculating heights needs to be re-examined, for heights have been going up without a change in standards, so that new buildings in 30-foot-height zones are often forty feet. This is not what was expected, the result is appalling, and the public is confused. (See the attached photo essay for some representative photos of wrong-size buildings that are probably legal, but all wrong for their location – and for their hapless neighbors.)
c) Meaningful lot coverage limits are the least expensive, surest way to implement the “low impact development” initiatives now being discussed by other Council committees. If the City wants to debate high-tech versus low-tech solutions to its runoff problems, people in the City are more than ready to join the discussion. But it should not be rushed through, half-baked, as part of something else.
d) Open space, with a new definition that incorporates the upcoming “low impact development” initiative as well as the City’s urban tree cover goals. Again, this requires careful consideration, with all the parties involved in the discussion—not a dialogue of planners.
e) Parking that is accessible, not just in name only with the burden shifted to the streets. See the attached photo essays for some really bad examples of what goes on now in the name of parking. This is the sort of problem that needs fixing, not expansion.

3. Enforce existing code(s), then amend as necessary so that townhouses are restored to their standing as a very desirable housing type.
a) Correct problems in the land use, building, and fire codes themselves
b) Correct informal, probably illegal interpretations
c) Decide what to do about existing townhouses that are now hard to resell, hard to access, and neighborhood fire hazards

4. Change the planning culture to one that invites us all to participate as we come to public judgment, instead of one that imposes expensive misunderstandings, wasting time, money of all varieties, and our physical environment.
a) Correct planning processes to avoid the use of narrowly selected “focus” groups substituting for real citizen involvement (and hearing from skeptics).
b) Correct problems that result with personnel who simply don’t have enough expertise to be doing what they are trying to do.
c) Correct problems in the Design Review Program and the proposal to turn the review over to plan-checkers
d) Correct problems between City Departments so that, for example, design review, storm water drainage and fire safety issues are properly addressed.

Reminder - Federation meets Thursday, February 28, 2008, 7:00 p.m.

SEATTLE COMMUNITY COUNCIL FEDERATION
Regular Meeting
NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency), Pacific Marine Center on Lake Union
1801 Fairview Avenue East
Thursday, February 28, 2008

AGENDA

Should Seattle require Lobbyists and their Employers to file reports with the Ethics and Elections Commission? Is it time for Independent Oversight of Biosafety Laboratories in Seattle?

Transparency in government means providing as much information as possible to citizens on how city government makes decisions. There is now a proposal from Councilmember Nick Licata to require lobbyist registration and reporting. Other cities require reporting. Is this the direction Seattle should take? Learn the details from Newell Aldrich, Councilmember Licata’s legislative assistant.

Seattle got a wake-up call three years ago when the University of Washington campus in the center of the city was temporarily proposed as the site for a Regional Biocontainment Laboratory, a large-scale high-security facility requiring biocontainment to study disease-causing agents. One result was public awareness of biosafety laboratories already operating within the city. There are no provisions in place for the protection of human health that govern the siting of such laboratories. There are inadequate provisions governing the operations of such labs. Learn about the proposal for independent oversight of Seattle Biosafety Laboratories from those who drafted the proposed regulations.

7:00 Call to Order and Introductions

Administration
1. Changes to the agenda
2. Treasurer’s report
3. President’s report

7:15 Reporting by Lobbyists and Lobbyists’ Employers—Newell Aldrich, Legislative Assistant to Councilmember Nick Licata

7:45 Independent Oversight of Biolabs in Seattle—Kit O’Neill, Steven Reisler, Mike McCormick and Randy Baker

8:15 Round Robin—Bring Your Issues!
1. Proposed Multi-Family Code Changes—Update
2. Updating Neighborhood Plans—Advantages and Pitfalls
3. Annexation of North Highline—Update
4. Pike Place Market Improvement Levy
5. Children’s Hospital Proposed Expansion—Update
6. Other Issues/Projects

9:00 Adjourn

NOAA is a federal facility on high security alert, so attendees must enter by the security gate and may need to present photo ID. If you haven't attended a recent Federation meeting, please send your name, contact information, and address to rickbarrett@gmail.com to be added to the entry list. No e-mail? Call 206-365-1267. The building is ADA compliant, with ample parking in front.

Federation Newsletter for February 2008

Meeting Highlights - January 24, 2008 Meeting

These highlights are based on the editor's notes --- they are not official minutes)

President's Report:

The Federation sent letters to government officials after our November meeting:

• to support funding for the Central Area Senior Center;

• to support continued funding for the Wallingford Senior Center;

• to ask the City Council to follow its established policies and standards for rezones rather than make a "legislative" change to the Northgate Overlay over a wide area in order to accommodate a Safeway store at a precise location in Pinehurst;

• to ask election officials to require readable type in the Notice of Elections published in Seattle newspapers rather than continue using tiny print that requires a magnifying class to read;

• to ask the Port of Seattle to return Christmas trees to the Sea-Tac Airport;

• to call for an independent staff responsible to the Port Commission in light of the performance audit by the State Auditor;

• to support HB 1551 before the 2008 legislature allowing public funding for local political campaigns .

Seattle Port Commission:

Geof Logan (Fremont) spoke at the Port Commission hearing on January 8th on the performance audit of the Port by the State Auditor finding gross irregularities. He supported a recommendation that the Port Commission have staff to ensure that it gets accurate, objective and verifiable information. Currently the Port Commission hires two people: its own clerk and the Executive Director. The Executive Director hires and fires all others and filters all information going to the Commission. As shown by the Audit, the Port's activities are so vast that the Commission needs staff, directly responsible to it, in order to get an independent perspective; to verify reports; to follow-up on whistleblower type complaints; and to get information that the Executive Director may deem unimportant, overlook, secrete, or not know.

First United Methodist Church:

Marietta Foubert (Ballard) has been monitoring the efforts to preserve the historic First Methodist Church Sanctuary Building at 811 5th Avenue. Daniels Development Company has replaced Nitze-Stagen as the developer; and the Rainier Club has withdrawn its participation. The new developer is proposing departures from the City's guidelines and the earlier Master Use Permit.

Northgate Overlay/Pinehurst Update:

Rick Barrett (Haller Lake) and David Miller (Maple Leaf) have been engaged with what is commonly known as 'the Pinehurst Safeway rezone'. The City Council passed the Northgate Overlay zoning code amendments proposed by the City's Department of Planning and Development as Council Bill 116066. [See President's Report]. This set a bad precedent; other property owners may seek to take advantage of it. The affected community groups are conferring on an appropriate response. More at our February meeting.

Arboretum Foundation Plan for SR 520:

Jorgen Bader (Roosevelt) reports that following up on a suggestion by the tunnel consultant in the SR 520 mediation, the Arboretum Foundation has proposed an option that would place State Route 520 below grade from an east portal at Foster Island to a west portal near the parking lot of the Museum of History and Industry. The current Arboretum Interchange would be replaced by on and off ramps at the MOHAI site, which ramps would merge with the main on and off ramps to Montlake Boulevard East. The section through the Arboretum would be tunneled, bermed, or covered. The option would reunite the Arboretum, reduce noise, restore the waterfront trail, remove the ramps to nowhere, and protect bird and fish habitat, among other advantages.
Motion passed to send a letter to the City Council requesting that the Parks Committee invite the Arboretum Foundation to make a presentation on its proposal.

Thornton Creek Area Flooding:

Renee Barton (Meadowbrook) reports that to relieve chronic flooding in Meadowbrook, Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) worked up a program that would put in a large wetland detention area west of Meadowbrook pond; replace a series of culverts on Thornton Creek and Kramer Creek, a tributary; and clean storm drains. In November, SPU told the Meadowbrook Community Council it had cut back its project to cleaning the existing system. On December 3rd, the creeks flooded, Nathan Hale High School closed, NE 110th St. and 35th Ave NE were barricaded with police standing guard; and sewerage bubbled up in the basements of homes. The Mayor proposes to reinstate part of the program. Motion passed to write to City officials asking that the full program be funded and implemented.

Synthetic Turf:

Kris Fuller (Wallingford) and Rick Barrett (Haller Lake) say that Seattle Parks Department and School Districts have been engaged in an aggressive effort to replace natural grass with ‘synthetic turf’, the bureaucratic euphonism for what is sometimes called ‘plastic grass’, (a term that is not allowed in public meetings held by the City). Critics of this relatively new policy have usually been denigrated andcharacterized as zanies or luddites, but new evidence of harmful effects are emerging, including increased injuries to sports participants and long-term health consequences. Seattle government has so far turned a deaf ear to these concerns but may be forced to consider them if other municipalities take notice.
The New York Times, January 23rd, carried an article captioned [New York] "City Parks Officials seek Safety Review of Synthetic Surfaces." NYC has 77 synthetic fields made of recycled rubber. Its Parks Department Has now suspended the use of rubber infill synthetic turf in parks. According to the article, "Critics said synthetic material creates 'heat islands' in the summer because the surface absorbs sunlight and emits heat...” Researchers have also found that the rubber contains polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH)s - that may be carcinogenic." Some Synthetic Turf fields may also be nylon, and although not mentioned in the NYT, some even contain recycled Nike sports shoes, with all the above noted toxins plus microbes, bacteria and fungus.
See: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/23/nyregion/23turf.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=synthetic+turf&st=nyt&oref=slogin
For info on “Nike Grind” fields: http://www.hispanicprwire.com/news.php?l=in&id=6029&cha=5
And for more technical and medical information: http://www.precaution.org/lib/06/prn_toxins_in_synthetic_turf_rev.060921.htm

Magnuson Park:

Four North East Seattle Community Councils wrote to the City Council objecting to the proposed 20 year lease of Hanger 27 to Arena Sports LLC (a for-profit corporation) for thirty years at below market rents. Hanger 27 is now used for a variety of mixed-use community activities and events. No public process preceded the proposed agreement. Discussion continued to our February meeting.

LAND USE ALERT! PASS IT ON!

Citywide Upzone Outside Villages Being Rushed Through by Planning Staff
Seattle Urgently Needs Your Help

Over the holidays, the Department of Planning and Development (DPD) quietly issued a Declaration of Non Significance (DNS) on what it bills to the public and Council as a "Multi-Family Update."

Adrienne Quinn, the City's Housing Director, perhaps unwittingly, misrepresented the code changes to City Council when she described them as "some proposed changes to the multi-family code, really more clean-up". (This occurs at 4:13:12 of the meeting of the Urban Development and Planning Committee 12/12/07). See: http://www.seattlechannel.org/videos/video.asp?ID=2140731

Actually this "cleanup" is a total rewrite of all of the development standards for all the multi-family zones, a complete change in the comprehensive plan.

Most important, it destroys the consensus reached after a long process in 1988 and 1989, when the city rewrote the code to deal with ugly, excessively dense conditions created by the city's 1980's attempt at an "experimental code." The 1989 process took over a year and had an enormous amount of citizen input. Now the planning staff proposes to bring back the very problems that caused the 1989 rewrite—and even worse—to break all the promises made to communities who agreed to take Urban Villages. Some of the worst changes will:

• Purge the rezoning criteria of definitive aspects that ordinary people can understand.

• Upzone the most common apartment zones (L2 and L3) and bring back huge ugly, ugly multifamily buildings where both the existing code and Department of Planning and Development's own proposal says they do not belong—outside villages.

• Sell zoning—additional height and bulk within villages (in addition to already increased standards) creating even huger buildings in villages that didn't get listed against L3 upzones.

• Dispense with all limitations to assure compatibility with existing development (overweighting DPD Objective 2--"foster creative design through development flexibility." The rest of this list enumerates how this single-minded focus loses all sight of the comprehensive plan's urban village strategy.

• Repeal, in some places, and in other places enlarge building width and depth limits—critical limits that did away with appeals by discouraging the assembling of lots outside villages.

• Replace lot coverage limits in all zones, and density limits in L3 with the complex FAR (floor area ratio) used in commercial zones, so complex that neighborhoods lose the predictable densities and lot coverages promised in 1989.

• Increase permitted height in all the zones below L3 (from 25' to 30' high).

• Replace front, rear, and side setbacks with a flat seven feet (7') all around.

• Leave townhouse disasters unaddressed, if not worsened by the setback relaxations.

• Repeal "open space" and "ground related”, even remove these terms from the glossary.

• Replace nature's way of accepting storm runoff–-open space—with the "Green Area Factor," a complicated numbers game just adopted for business districts that has not been demonstrated to have any real benefits.

• Replace predictable development standards with vague design standards, such as ‘choice of articulation,' with the DPD director (which usually means plan reviewer) as the sole judge and no community participation or appeal allowed.

The Comprehensive Plan still elaborately documents the Urban Village strategy that neighborhood planners honored and expect to be honored—attractive density increases in villages, and in-fill projects that fits in outside villages. This "cleanup" cleans out the urban village strategy and replaces it with high density again scattered randomly around the city. It throws out neighborhood plans and upzones with a code change.

None of the members of the present Land Use Committee of the City Council were there in 1989.
The Department of Planning was there, and has the audacity to think we have all forgotten.

“He who forgets history is doomed to repeat it”

We do not need another round of experimental zoning.

This is the opposite of Simple.

This is the opposite of Cheaper, Faster Permitting.

There is no emergency yet, but there surely will be if we let this "cleanup" pass.


CONTACT THE CITY COUNCIL TODAY!

Seattle City Council
600 Fourth Avenue, 2nd floor, P.O. Box 34025
Seattle, WA 98124-4025


tim.burgess@seattle.gov ..........684-8806

sally.clark@seattle.gov ............ 684-8802

richard.conlin@seattle.gov ......684-8805

jan.drago@seattle.gov ..............684-8805

jean.godden@seattle.gov .........684-8801

bruce.harrell@seattle.gov ....... 684-8804

nick.licata@seattle.gov ............ 684-8803

richard.mciver@seattle.gov .... 684-8800

tom.rasmussen@seattle.gov ....684-8808

In your own words, tell them that this proposal is unnecessary, and then ask many others to do the same.

A written comment sent via postal mail outweighs an e-mail, a telephone call is even better because even if you speak with a staffer your message will be counted.

All the City Council knows about this proposal is what they've been told by the proponents, now they need to hear from us, the affected citizens.

For questions or more information contact SeattleFederation@Gmail.com.
Comment by clicking the "COMMENT" button below.

SEATTLE COMMUNITY COUNCIL FEDERATION

Regular Meeting
NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency), Pacific Marine Center on Lake Union
1801 Fairview Avenue East
Thursday, January 24, 2008

REVISED AGENDA

A Dialogue with Councilmember Tom Rasmussen
Chair, Parks and Seattle Center Committee

What changes can parks supporters expect with a new Parks Superintendent and a new chair of the City Council’s Parks Committee? Is Seattle heading down the road of commercializing its parks? What direction will be provided in the Parks Strategic Business Plan? With the Pro-Parks Levy expiring in 2008, will there be any funding sources for parks and open space projects? Will the City ever live up to its legal obligation to enforce Initiative 42, which prohibits conversion of park property to non-park uses unless rigorous requirements are met?

Learn about Councilmember Rasmussen’s vision for Seattle parks and recreation and the work of his council committee. Share your views on parks issues confronting your community and the city.

The January meeting will also include a round robin and is your opportunity to brief our citywide membership on projects and issues that your community council or organization is working on—and matters that the Federation should involve itself.
If you have informational materials you would like distributed at the meeting, please email electronic copies or links to Jeannie Hale at jeannieh@serv.net and copies will be provided at the meeting.

7:00 Call to Order and Introductions

Administration
1. Changes to the agenda
2. Treasurer’s report
3. President’s report

7:15 A Dialogue with Councilmember Tom Rasmussen

8:15 Round Robin—Bring Your Issues!
1. Flooding Issues—Renee Barton
2. Northgate Overlay / Pinehurst Update
3. Multi-Family Code Update
4. Land Use Committee Update
5. Children’s Hospital proposed expansion update
6. Other Issues/Projects

9:00 Adjourn

NOAA is a federal facility on high security alert, so attendees must enter by the security gate and may need to present photo ID. If you haven't attended a recent Federation meeting, please send your name, contact information, and address to rickbarrett@gmail.com to be added to the entry list. No e-mail? Call 206-365-1267. The building is ADA compliant, with ample parking in front.