Morgan Community Association Minutes, April 18, 2007 (7:00 pm)

Meeting held at The Kenney

Introductions, Announcements, Updates

Southwest District Council Updates

Chas. Redmond reports that the West Seattle plan for 'walking routes' has been developed. Maps, information kiosks, and signage are being prepared. Three main areas are: The City College area, Graham to Lincoln Park, and Admiral plateau to Alki.

The Seattle Parks Foundation (www.seattleparksfoundation.org/project ) has released a new plan "Bands of Green", available on CD - also a CD on "Trails Only". A new West Seattle bike route plan has been developed. The West Seattle Chamber of Commerce is working on a walking map of the area, with transit sites. For more information on these plans, contact This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Summer Festival
MoCA is prepared to hire someone to coordinate 2007 efforts. If no applicant emerges by the end of May, there will be no 2007 Festival. The 2008 festival is Planned in coordination with the Gatewood School 100th anniversary celebration.

Myrtle Street Reservoir/Morgan Park Planning
At the open house on March 14, key items discussed were:

Re. Myrtle Street Reservoir: make sure the view from the highest point in Seattle is enhanced. Make sure the park is for the use of all in the neighborhood.

Both support and opposition for skate-board park.

Re. Beveredge Place Park: Make this a focal point of the community, with public art and bulletin board. At least one more open house is planned, then the design and construction processes. Completion now set for 2008.

Orchard Street Ravine
An application for a grant has been submitted to assist with cleanout of steep-slope areas..

Traffic concerns re. Paving of I 5 and closing of Sylvan Way
Re. I 5: SDOT expects heavy congestion August 10-29, repairing and repaving the expansion joints. North-bound will be narrowed to 2 lanes, with night and weekend closures.

Re. Sylvan Way: Closed from last week of May, through mid-June.

Myrtle Park Cell Tower
The new cell tower is for the expansion of the Metro Transit Communications system for emergency preparedness communications.

7204 California Ave Development
Issues have been raised by resident neighbors that the developer did not follow the CEPA plan for entire development. We have sent a letter asking that care be given re. issues of zoning, etc., and that we wanted assurance of green spaces for the Green Crescent plan.

Megawatt Garage Sale
May 12, 9:00 to 3:00 West Seattle Community Garage Sale. Over 100 anticipated individual and block sales.

Gatewood Elementary School Master Plan - Tom Gut

Playground improvement master plan has been developed through the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods grant.

Application for a large Project Grant has been made (with MoCA support) to include: Bank restoration, Playfield renewal, Big-toy construction, learning garden, re-striping of playground, and the creation of an amphitheater by widening stairs.

Some benches and safety enhancements have already been purchased.

Volunteers are needed for work parties for matching-fund hours. Check needs at gatewoodelementary.org.

2008 is the 100th anniversary of Gatewood School

Question: re. on-going maintenance?

The expectation is that the School District will assume maintenance costs, with help from volunteers.

Emergency Preparedness

June 23, 9:00 to 12:00 SNAP (Seattle Neighborhoods Actively Prepared) program briefing with police, fire department, communications/media. The major issues to be addressed are: What are the city expectations? How can we assure good communication? What's our local MoCA plan?

There will also be information for businesses (info. Re. insurance, preparedness, emergency kits, etc.)

The current plan for the MoCA neighborhood is that the emergency coordination center will be at Thriftway parking lot, with emergency kit stored there for communications, coordination of resources.

Question: re. serious injuries?

The City will open the Community Center at High Point for our greater neighborhood area. Ham radio operators will be part of the reporting processes.

Grant Applications

Small and Simple

The Orchard Street Ravine project has applied for a grant. The next deadline for Small and Simple grants is July 9.

Cumulative Reserve Fund

Grants available up to $100,000, for parks, community, traffic. Last year we submitted 2 applications: improved pedestrian access to Morgan Junction Park and Orchard St. Ravine.

Bridging the Gap

Grants up to $500,000 for transportation oriented appeals - walkways, Intersections, improvements.

CIP grants

We applied for 6 projects last year: street improvements on Fauntleroy and California, Solstice Park improvements, Bicycle lane connections to Beach Drive, electronic speed monitoring signage. For 2007 we'll add applications for bike racks, p-patch improvements, tennis court repaving -due May 18. Community input is welcomed regarding ideas.

Items suggested:

Master neighborhood plan development, signage

Sidewalk to Solstice Park

Traffic Circle at Holly and 41st.

Bus Shelters at several sites

Bike path improvements from West Seattle to Downtown - especially in

anticipation of viaduct closure

Sidewalk south from Loman Park on west side of Beach Drive.

Election of Officers for 2007-2008

Chair: Steve Sindiong, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Vice-chair: Charles Redmond, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Secretary: Eldon Olson, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Treasurer: David Fansler, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it


Questions, Concerns

Question: any change in building height regulations?

No

Concern: need parking on Holly between California and 42nd St to be on one side only.

Check with SDOT re information on citizen appeal process.

Thanks to Toby Weymiller for his service as Vice Chair.

Next Meeting, July 18, 2007 (7:00 pm at The Kenney)

Submitted by Eldon Olson, Secretary