September 2012

Press release
Studying ways to prevent cyberbullying in King County
County Council approves effort to ensure online safety of King County residents

The Metropolitan King County, during the week of Sept. 17, gave its unanimous approval to a motion urging the King County Sheriff to study ways to protect the public from an emerging trend in our growing electronic society: cyberbullying.

“I am very pleased the County Council has acted on this motion to study the issue of cyberbullying and cyber predators in King County,” said Reagan Dunn, the sponsor of the motion. “It is critically important the County is prepared and has a plan in place to deal with this growing issue. This study will ensure the relevant authorities have a full understanding of the issue so we can better protect the residents of the county.”

“The internet is now linked to all types of criminal enterprise, including gang use for human trafficking,” said King County Sheriff Steve Strachan. “Predators and bullies are a threat to young and old. We need to take a look at what that means today in King County.”

Press release
Lafayette Elementary Walk-A-Thon – Your Community Contribution!

Without the help of our community the Lafayette Walk- A- Thon would not be what it is today – our school’s biggest fundraising event – taking place on Friday, October 19th! The sponsorship from our community has enabled our school to fund student programs that would otherwise cease to exist.

Your sponsorship is truly appreciated and this year as a courtesy to our local business’ we are doing a “one ask” procurement process – which means we only approach your business once this school year. Business donations are due October 1st to ensure we recognize your sponsorship on our various pieces of media that will highlight your company’s involvement.

Attached is the form to fill out (please click the link provided at the top of the story). Again thank you for your contribution to our community.

Sponsorship Levels:

$500 LEAP Sponsors
- A Banner advertising your business the day of the Walk-A-Thon
- Your company’s website link on the Lafayette School Website
- Bold listing in Lafayette School Directory

By Gwen Davis

Normandy Park experienced a wave of drama recently when several residents complained that the California-based Hanbleceya – a company serving individuals with mental illness – opened treatment facilities in their neighborhood.

The five homes Hanbleceya either bought or rented house individuals with mental illness and drug addiction issues.

However, rumors that the company will soon expand their facilities to Burien and Des Moines are unfounded.

“I don’t have any knowledge of that happening here,” said Mike Martin, Burien city manager. “I am aware of the general issue and we’re monitoring it.”

Des Moines Assistant City Manager Lorri Ericson gave a similar statement: “We are not aware they have any plans at this time.”

Dr. Ian Wolds, clinical director at Hanbleceya said plans for expansion is a nonissue.

“We will not be opening any treatment facilities in Burien or Des Moines,” Wolds said. “The only facility in the Seattle area is in the Normandy Park Towne Center… We have no specific plan to buy or rent houses in either of these areas as our needs are being fully met.”

Press release
The Seattle Department of Transportation will rebuild approximately one mile of Delridge Way SW, beginning in January. The Bridging the Gap funded project will repair the road and install new storm water detention capacity beneath it from SW Orchard to SW Henderson Street. The project may also include Delridge Way SW and 16th Avenue SW, both between SW Henderson and SW Roxbury streets. These added segments depend on the results of construction bids as well as potential savings from other projects wrapping up this fall that might be applied to this project.

A pre-construction Open House is scheduled for October 2, to provide area residents and businesses with more information on the upcoming project:

Date:
Tuesday, October 2

Time:
5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Location:
Learning Resource Center (also known as International Library)
Chief Sealth High School
2600 S.W. Thistle Street

A message from Seattle Police Southwest Precinct Captain Steven Paulsen to West Seattle citizens:

Safe Communities is a partnership between the Mayor's Office and the Seattle Police Department (SPD) to implement the community outreach component of subset of SPD's 20/20 initiative (#19). It's modeled on the Youth and Families Initiative, which brought together more than 3,000 people in over 130 community meetings in 2010 and led to the enhanced Families and Education Levy and a refocusing of the way we use City resources to support youth and families in Seattle.

Safe Communities will follow a similar path, bringing residents, police officers and City departments together for small-group conversations about what we need to do to improve safety. Those priorities will then guide the actions the City, SPD, and the neighborhoods will take together to protect public safety.

This won't be a town hall--just like the Youth and Families Initiative meetings, you'll have facilitated conversations in small groups, and each small group will choose its own top priorities.

If you're able to join us next Thursday, we'd love to have you. Details are as follows:

The nook of a park at 6311 California Ave S.W. (just north of Beveridge Place Pub) is nearing a significant expansion at the Seattle City Council Parks and Neighborhood Committee approved a plan on Sept. 20 to move forward in acquiring land to the north, currently in use by a drycleaner and Short Stop convenience store.

Lise Ward with the Parks Dept. presented the latest in their acquisition efforts to purchase the land and expand Morgan Junction Park from 8,500 square feet to 28,878 square feet (as seen on the Seattle Channel).

The final acquisition go-ahead will be before the full City Council on Monday, Sept. 24, for a vote.

Providing history on the park’s inception, Ward said, “Several years ago we purchased a property in the Morgan Junction Urban Village and it was quite a creative deal actually.”

Ward said Gary Sink with Beveridge Place Pub purchased the land from the defunct monorail project and Parks worked with him to create a lot line adjustment.

“(Sink) kept what he needed for the pub and we have a park next to a pub now.”

Press release:

Since 2008, volunteers in Walker Preserve have removed large amounts of invasive plants and planted many native trees and shrubs. Walker Preserve is in the City of Normandy Park, along Walker Creek. You can help restore native vegetation along the creek to benefit salmon and other wildlife.

Please join us this Saturday, September 22, to continue this work!

This stewardship project is a joint effort of the City of Normandy Park, and the Miller and Walker Creeks Stewardship program.

Address: SW. 168th St. and 2nd Ave. SW. in Normandy Park, up the road from Normandy Park City Hall. If driving, your parking options include:
Three spaces in the small lot at SW 171st St. and Second Ave. S.W.
On the street along SW. 168th St.

Date/Time: Saturday, September 22, 2012, 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Please plan ahead - this park does not have a restroom.

Activities:
· Seek out English ivy and remove it from trees and pull roots out of the ground. Seek out Himalayan blackberry plants, cut them back, and then dig out the root balls.
What to bring:

Press release:

The City of SeaTac has received the first overall municipality 5-Star EnviroStars Certification rating from the EnviroStars certification program that recognizes businesses on their environmentally friendly practices and policies.

Government facilities usually submit as individual departments and are certified independently as SeaTac’s Parks/Public Works Maintenance Facility did previously in 2011.

The City worked closely with EnviroStars Program Manager Laurel Tomchick and submitted the very first overall city government application earlier this year that included the Parks Maintenance Division, Public Works Maintenance Division, Fire Stations, City Hall, Facilities Division, and Community Center, that also encompassed parks properties (buildings and public land areas), public works properties and right of way practices, along with city staff behaviors and practices.

Two prominent Highline city staffers are leaving for other cities.

Normandy Park City Manager Doug Schulze was selected Wednesday night, Sept. 19 to become the city manager of Bainbridge Island. The town has a population of 23,000, considerably larger than Normandy Park’s 6,000.

While Schulze is going west to Bainbridge Island, Burien Community Director Scott Greenberg is headed east to another island, Mercer Island where he will be Development Services director.

Schulze denies that Normandy Park’s financial woes led him to bail out of the city.

“Almost every city or state has financial problems,” Schulze told the Highline Times. “Normandy Park’s problems may be a little more severe. But they were not a factor in my decision at all.”

Instead, Schulze noted, that after managing smaller cities for the majority of his career, he was looking to head a larger organization.

He said he has been admiring the 26 square-mile city for a number of years.

“It is an attractive community with lots of potential and some new challenges.”

UPDATE for Oct. 30
Anyone with concerns over current aircraft noise or other issues is invited to a public forum with the FAA and Port of Seattle, with jurisdiction over SeaTac Airport and Boeing Field.

Here are the details from the FAA:
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Port of Seattle (Port) will facilitate a public meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 13 to provide information on existing flight procedures into and out of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and Boeing Field.

The meeting details are as follows:

Who: Representatives from the FAA, Port of Seattle and King County Airport/Boeing Field.

When: Tuesday, Nov. 13, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Where: Cleveland High School - Auditorium
5511 15th Ave S.
Seattle, WA 98108

Update for Oct. 19
UPDATE 3: Oct. 23 FAA/Port of Seattle Public Forum cancelled; Will be rescheduled for November