Seattle Public Library – Capitol Hill Branchi
425 Harvard Avenue
April 8, 2013
5:45 pm – 7:45 pm
Minutes
Members Attending:
Andrew Taylor, Miller Park
Janis Maloney, Madison Park Bus.
Association
John Akamatsu, Capitol Hill Comm. Council
Anita Bowers, Montlake Community
Council
Elaine King, Montlake Community
Council
Kristen O’Donnell, Yesler Terrace
Community Council
Erin Abu-Rish, Capitol Hill Community
Council
Janice Tufte, Interfaith Taskforce on
Homelessness
Gene Brandzel, Madison
Park Community Council
Guests:
Ron Williams,
Seattle Action Network
Alex and Clara
Stockton, Capitol Hill residents
Christine Brushwood,
Capitol Hill resident
Tim Sage, Seattle
Cop Block
Ryan Hobson, Capitol
Hill resident
Art Himmelman,
Jefferson Terrace resident
Dennis Bejin,
Jefferson Terrace resident
Jennifer, Anatoly
and Mikhai Chermoshnyak, Capitol Hill residents
Gina Biber, The
Capitol Hill Times
Monique Ming Laven,
KIRO 7
Staff: Karen Ko, Neighborhood
District Coordinator
The meeting was called
to order by Andrew Taylor at 5:50pm.
The first item on
the agenda, “Park Legacy Plan” was removed as the Representatives from the
Seattle Parks Board of Commissioners were not present. A handout titled Love Your Parks was
distributed.
The minutes from the
March 11th East DistrictCouncil meeting were approved.
Andrew Taylor
introduced the next item on the agenda, “A
Conversation with the East Precinct”.
Captain Ron Wilson, Lt. Matt Allen, Operations, and Sgt. Casey Sundin,
CPT, Community Police Team. They introduced
themselves and the purpose of their attending this meeting.
Captain Wilson
stated that the East Precinct has 126 sworn Officers. At any given time up to a third of them are
on leave, etc. There are three full
operations “watches” plus a bike team.
The boundaries of
the East Precinct are, roughly, I-5 to Lake Washington and the ship canal to
Atlantic Street.
Early last year the
Seattle Police Department and the Mayor launched the “Safe Communities Initiative” – a mechanism to engage the community
(city-wide) in conversation to identify issues and actions the Police can
implement to create safer communities.
Five Precinct-wide forums were held last year inviting all community
members to attend through small group discussions with SPD officers at the
table, people came up with lists of “problem areas” they wanted to see
addressed. At these forums, delegates
were selected to attend a focus group later whose job it would be to come up
with some next steps – an action plan.
Delegates from the East Precinct met in March, completing the second big
piece of the Initiative. A report with
all of those action steps, and ideas should be coming out in May.
The 23rd Avenue Action Plan is an
effort, led by the Department of Planning and Development, to reinvigorate area
improvements such as lighting, sidewalks etc. The first community meeting is next Saturday
at the Garfield Community Center. All
neighbors are encouraged to attend. More
information can be found on the City of Seattle website, under the Department
of Planning and Development – 23rd Avenue Action Plan.
CPT: addresses incurring problems in an area, e.g.
multiple 911 calls.
East Precinct
Advisory Council meets monthly on the 4th Thursday of the month.
Question: How many Seattle Police Officers live within the
city?
Answer: I don’t know. Although SPD hopes to find recruits who live
in the communities, they cannot make it a requirement. The Assistant City Attorney, Matthew York, is
now assigned to the East Precinct to facilitate solutions to various problems,
e.g. , abatement of a business that is the nexus of issues of disturbance.
Question: Is crime increasing in our area?
Answer: You can go online and find
mapping of neighborhood crimes. It also
indicates types of crimes and trends. All calls to police are triaged and
prioritized for response.
Answer to Question regarding panhandling:
Panhandling is not a crime unless intimidation is in play, creating
“pedestrian interference”. The problem
on Capitol Hill was discussed in particular as it seems to have increased.
Crisis diversion
center many be able to refer mentally ill or substance abusers to City
Services. There was a question: Must
there be a crime to be committed? The
answer was, 911 is not just for emergencies.
Call and you will be triaged.
Question: What jurisdiction do you have over clubs?
Answer: It is a lengthy
process, but call 911 immediately. The Washington
State Liquor Control Board is involved as are the noise issues. How did the permit get issued? It then goes to a review. They must show a nexus between the club and
the issues that arise.
Question: The 12th
Yesler Terrace Hookah Bars, how long does it take to abate a nuisance.
Round Robin of Neighborhoods
Madison
Park: Jim Erickson said there is
talk of establishing an East Capitol Hill Neighborhood Council.
There are plans to
rebuild Meany High School.
Yesler Terrace: Has 2 arterial
streets closed for 2 months due to streetcar construction. They worked with CM Tom Rasmusson to get one
reopened.
Jefferson Terrace stated the Chief knows of their problems.
There is also a
concern about BRT scheduled to run on Madison.
While planning 10 new apartment towers in an area while eliminating
parking for businesses located on Madison.
Melrose Promenade received a ‘small and simple’ grant to hire a consultant
and hold public input meetings.
Montlake: Montlake
Elementary School has been declared an historic structure. The 520 pontoons are continuing to crack and we
just learned that an off ramp of the 520 is planned for Lake Washington Blvd.
The infamous ‘ramps to nowhere’ in the Arboretum are being removed.
Jim Erickson gave a
report on the City Neighborhood Council
with a handout with the agenda for the meeting he attended. He feels we should
support their agenda as they seem to have a fresh perspective.
A question was
raised about “The Federation”, a group formed many years ago. Jeannie Hale is
the current Chair. Not much is known of
their agendas or influence.
Karen Ko distributed
material from PACE, People’s Academy for
Community Engagement. The 2013-14
Session is Starting. Emerging leaders,
or community people who are interested are encouraged to apply.
The meeting was
adjourned at 7:40pm.
Submitted by
Anita Bowers,
Secretary
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