April 2015

UPDATE 6:50pm
Seattle Fire Investigators determined a two-alarm fire that damaged three homes was accidental, caused by an improperly installed heater on a back porch. The damage estimate is $2.7 million dollars total for all three homes.

The complete story from the Seattle Fire Department follows:

On Thursday April 30th at 4:44 p.m., multiple 911 calls came into the Fire Alarm Center reporting smoke coming from a home in the 6700 block of 46th Avenue SW. The first responding engine company saw a large column of black smoke and called for a two-alarm fire response which doubled the number of fire units and personnel responding to the fire.

When crews arrive, they found two homes on fire with flames exposing to a third home. Soon, the third home was on fire. The Incident Commander called for three additional engine companies to assist with current fire crews on scene. At the height of the fire, nearly 100 firefighters and dozens of fire units were on scene.

information from King County

As construction progresses, King County will continue to provide monthly project updates to keep the community informed. King County will notify the community and ferry commuters should any ferry lane closures or work requiring additional notification occur.

Previous work
Over the past month, crews worked on site restoration, including pouring concrete for the pump station driveway. Crews also finished the retaining wall between the Barton Pump Station and the north side of the Fauntleroy Ferry Terminal.

Upcoming activity
Over the next month, crews will continue site restoration, landscaping, irrigation and artwork installation. Crews will also pour concrete for the driveway and sidewalks in front of the job site.

What to expect
 Work hours – Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
 Heavy equipment on site.
 Noise and dust typical of a construction site.
 Cove Park will reopen to public access when all work is complete, expected by late spring 2015.

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The City of Seattle has chosen to suspend their Summer Streets celebration on Alki for 2015 (it would have been the 8th year). The annual event was notable for the music, community organizations taking part, and the closure of Alki Avenue. Now some community organizers are going ahead anyway to continue the neighborhood event under a different name, Alki Daze.

The event will feature music, the well known costumed bike parade, and a community bonfire, but no street closure the weekend of May 16 and 17.

Saturday May 16th: 6:00 pm
Community meet and greet at the Alki Huddle 2806 Alki Ave Sw.

8:00 pm Community bonfire
Alki fire pits

Sunday May 17th:
1:00 pm 3rd annual Costumed Bicycle Parade. Meet at 63rd and Alki Ave Sw. Please wear a costume if you can. The parade route will be on the bike path as to not block off the precious street.

2:00 pm Live music on the 2600 block of Alki. The bands this year are Slow Dance, Darci Carlson, Project Wonder Bread.

3:00 pm 1st annual Alki Bicycle Drag Race. 3/4 block length drag strip!! All ages.

Mayor Ed Murray toured Ballard last Saturday April 25 and spoke with business owners and residents about issues in the community. Murray focused extra attention on housing affordability and public transportation in Ballard.

Residents and community leaders gathered at the Starbucks on NW Market Street and 20th Avenue NW to start the tour. Secret Gardens Bookstore, Hot Cakes and Ballard Health Club were just a few businesses Murray visited.

“So how’s business?” Murray asked owners.

Murray also asked owners what he could do to improve commerce in the community. Parking and rent affordability was a major issue mentioned by owners.

“It’s very important that the mayor is here today in Ballard to see what’s happening in the community and meet community leaders,” said Mike Stewart, Executive Director of the Ballard Chamber of Commerce.

The court case for disorderly conduct charges filed against Seattle City Councilmember Kshama Sawant and two other demonstrators from last November is currently underway. If convicted the maximum penalty includes 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine for each defendant.

The story on her arrest and charge in SeaTac can be found here: http://www.highlinetimes.com/2014/12/08/news/seattle-city-council-membe…

The Highline Times managed to catch up with Sawant before the jury selection process of her trial began and ask a few questions.

Sawant has opted to act as her own attorney in the case and when asked “why?” she responded: “I want to be able to demonstrate my motivation to stand in solidarity with these workers”. She went on to say that she doesn’t believe it is her and the protestors who should be on trial today but rather the heads of Alaska Airlines for their treatment of their workforce.

Come out to the Sunset Tavern in Ballard this Saturday May 2nd for a KEXP Audioasis Community Concert - all net proceeds will benefit City Fruit! Headlining the show is local band The Weather, with openers Navvi and Winnebago!

Tickets are $7 in advance, $8 at the door. Buy tickets here!

Each month KEXP Audioasis Community Partnerships holds a concert featuring local bands to benefit a community organization. A big thanks to KEXP for featuring City Fruit during the month of April!

A proposed amendment to Senate Bill 5954, co-sponsored by Sen. David Frockt, D-Seattle and Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles, D-Seattle, would have reduced tuition by 5 percent for all students of public colleges and universities in Washington.

Today’s effort by Senate Democrats would have helped an additional 9,000 eligible students receive State Need Grants.

“This amendment is all about finding some sort of middle ground,” said Frockt. “Not only is this important for our community and technical college students, it’s important for our students attending independent colleges and universities. This bill ensures fairness for these students who otherwise would receive less financial aid under the current Senate budget proposal that eliminates $75 million for State Need Grant funding.”

In response to ongoing development, the community’s desire to retain Ballard’s character, and Sound Transit’s planning for light rail to Ballard, Seattle’s Department of Planning and Development (DPD) and Department of Transportation (SDOT) are working with neighborhood groups and non-profits, organized as the Ballard Partnership for Smart Growth. This meeting is an opportunity to review recommendations for shaping growth in the Ballard Business District and to explore transportation issues.

The collaboration will develop an Urban Design Framework (UDF) and a multimodal transportation plan called Move Ballard that will articulate a shared vision to guide future development and transportation investment while ensuring Ballard’s people and places thrive. Through Move Ballard, we will engage community members to recommend innovative solutions for enhancing the transportation environment for all, regardless of how they travel to and through the area. The City and Ballard Partnership for Smart Growth are holding an open house on May 7 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Leif Erikson Lodge to:

Receive comments on the draft recommendations to better guide development