HPAC

We will be having a guest speaker from the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) program for our February meeting. As explained on their website:

“LEAD is a pre-booking diversion program developed with the community to address low-level drug and prostitution crimes. The program allows law enforcement officers to redirect low-level offenders engaged in drug or prostitution activity to community-based services, instead of jail and prosecution. By diverting eligible individuals to services, LEAD is committed to improving public safety and public order, and reducing the criminal behavior of people who participate in the program.”

We are interested in learning more about this program and understanding if it could be a good fit for our neighborhood and the entire Delridge District, so please come and hear what it is about and what we can do to support it.

We have three candidates for District 1’s City Council seat confirmed on our upcoming agendas, and we will continue to have candidates join us for informal chats as the election approaches. Amanda Kay Helmick will be at our February meeting, Lisa Herbold will join us in March, and Dave Montoure in April.

Also on the agenda is a quick discussion and vote about HPAC leadership- if you’re interested in a leadership position, please join us- we are happy stay on or to pass the baton. We also need to hear from people that are interested helping with specific things that impact our neighborhood- so if you have something you’re interested in let us know, we need your help. (for example: schools, traffic, transportation, trails, parks, planning, community service projects, etc.)

February 25th, 6:30 Potluck, 7:00 meeting. 12th and Holden, HPIC.

As discussed in this West Seattle Blog article, we heard from SDOT’s Jim Curtin about the Highland Park Way / Holden intersection at our January HPAC meeting. The short version: patience, finding funds takes time. The longer version: Curtin presented a roundabout plan and a signal plan, both VERY schematic – please don’t get hung up on the details of these drawings yet! They help show us an idea of what is possible at this intersection to help traffic flow smoothly, which will help cut down on cars zipping through the neighborhood streets trying to avoid the intersection. The exciting part: it may be Seattle’s very first roundabout- an alternative to a traditional signal which has proven to reduce emissions, crashes, and congestion. There will be plenty of time for public input as this moves forward.

Please join us for a 6:30 potluck, 7:00 meeting at HPIC on Wednesday, January 28th. We have invited SDOT to discuss the Highland Park Way / Holden intersection backup and subsequent traffic bypassing the intersection on residential streets. HPAC is looking for new leadership or a new leadership team- if you or someone you know might be interested in this please join us at this meeting.

No HPAC meeting for November- it falls on Thanksgiving eve, and no meeting for December either as it falls on Christmas eve this year. Happy Holidays!

Please join Highland Park Elementary for Dinner and a Square Dance on Friday October 24 from 6-9pm. (free) dinner at 6p, and the dance is from 7-9p. It’s a public dance with a live string band, everyone is invited, all ages & abilities! Every kid gets to take home a pumpkin! Donations will be accepted as a PTA fundraiser, Contact: peteweiss@me.com if you have questions.

The week of October 13, crews will be conducting geotechnical investigations and utility locates as part of the Delridge Natural Drainage System (NDS) project. The work will take place in areas along 17th Avenue SW from SW Kenyon Street to SW Henderson Street, and along SW Kenyon Street between 17th Avenue SW and 15th Avenue SW. Work hours are 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Anticipated impacts include:

• Noise from construction trucks, vehicles and equipment
• Temporary traffic disruptions, including vehicle lane closures with construction flaggers, and closed sidewalks
• Temporary reductions of some nearby on-street parking
• Testing and utility markings on the ground

The project team will be presenting at our next HPAC meeting at 7pm on Wednesday, October 22, held at the Highland Park Improvement Club at 1116 SW Holden Street, 98106.

FOR MORE INFO
Contact the project manager, Don Anderson at (206) 233-1086, or donald.anderson@seattle.gov.
To learn more about the Delridge NDS project, please visit: www.seattle.gov/cso/delridge.

We are hosting the Westwood/Roxhill/Arbor Heights (WWRHAH) Community Group this month for a joint conversation with the Seattle Police, including Captain Steve Wilske. Please join us at HPIC (12th and Holden) for a potluck at 6:30, and meeting at 7 on Wednesday, September 24th.

We had an outstanding turnout for our Highland Park Elementary Forum last week. We had dedicated folks there from the School, from the School District Offices, from the Mayor’s Office, from City Council, Parents, PTA Members, Community members without kids at the school, and even our amazing Community Police Officer. Tracy from the West Seattle Blog has written an overview that is more comprehensive than anything I could post here. The most important event that happened at the meeting is people meeting each other, people with a similar vision of a school with a healthy learning environment for all students. We will be posting here any opportunities that we hear about for our community to be engaged with the school, and doing what we can to support the efforts made there. 

One thing we want to go ahead and get out there is that Connie Wolf started a group focused on families with toddlers in the Highland Park Elementary school zone called the “Future Parents of Highland Park Elementary” this past May. Their goal is to build community and excitement around the neighborhood school. Anyone who has an interest in Highland Park Elementary is welcome to join: 

http://www.facebook.com/groups/FPoHPE/
http://www.futureparentsofhighlandparkelementary.blogspot.com

Seattle’s amazing ReLeaf program is about to be open for it’s yearly applications for free trees. Available trees this year include the Persian Parrotia, and Tulip Tree- two of my favorite trees! They offer free trees, up to 4 per household- and beautiful trees are a huge part of the equation when it comes to what makes a neighborhood livable- so apply, it’s that easy. Applications are available on August 4, they’ll teach you how to plant it, give you a watering bag, apply for a permit for you if you’re planting in the right of way, and even send you reminders to water it when it gets hot. Check out their website for more information, and see what trees are available and make sure you get your applications in right away, it’s first come first serve.