SDOT Snow Response interactive map and arterials prioritized for clearing
Winter weather has arrived, so here’s information about SDOT’s snow response resources: SDOT’s interactive map showing which roads have been treated or cleared in the last hour, three hours, and twelve hours. You can view it by neighborhood.
Here’s SDOT’s Winter Weather Response webpage, and SDOT’s Snow/Ice Service Level map of the arterial streets they prioritize for keeping open in snow and ice. They seek to achieve bare and wet pavement on specified streets within 12 hours after a significant lull in a storm.
SDOT’s winter weather response brochure is available here, and also available in Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Somali, Tagalog, Korean, Oromo, Tigrinya, and Amharic.
Stay safe out there!
Garbage Collection in Inclement Weather
If your garbage is normally collected on Monday, you are aware that collections did not occur. Collections also did not occur on Tuesday, but was pushed back by one day, and customers from Tuesday onward should have had their garbage collected already. If you are a Monday customer, your collection was delayed a full week, and you are asked to put out all your garbage on 2/11 and you will not be charged an additional amount.
All of that said, we’re facing another storm starting this afternoon which may affect collections going forward. I encourage you to check out Seattle Public Utilities’ website here for up-to-date information about when garbage collections will occur. I recognize it’s frustrating to not have your garbage collected on time (or at all), please understand that the safety of truck drivers and others is paramount, and I ask that you bear with the utility as we get through this storm.
The Future of Camp Second Chance
Many people have been contacting me about the future of Camp Second Chance at Myers Way.
As you may recall, in December of 2016, the Mayor announced that Camp Second Chance would be one of the city’s six sanctioned encampment. The encampment occupants have worked to make the Myers Way location safe and ensure that it is a good neighbor to the surrounding community. Camp Second Chance has grown to become a place for security and community – moving many people on to get permanent housing.
The Seattle Municipal Code (SMC) Section 23.42.056, Subsection E.1 states that: “A permit for a transitional encampment interim use under this Section 23.42.056 may be authorized for up to one year from the date of permit issuance. A permit for a transitional encampment may be renewed one time for up to one year.” (emphasis added). Nevertheless, there are other sanctioned encampments in the city that have operated for more than 2 year. The city has used its authority under the Temporary Use Permit process (a different SMC) to permit sanctioned encampments to maintain their location beyond two years.
Camp Second Chance has been located on Myers’ Way under this authority for nearly two years. The Mayor’s office, the Interim Director of Human Services Jason Johnson, and his staff have been leading the decision-making over the future of Camp Second Chance. You can get in contact with HSD here and the Mayor’s office here.
Here are the criteria that the Executive will use the decision-making process:
- First, the Homeless Strategy and Investment Division of HSD, in partnership with Department of Neighborhoods and FAS staff conduct a 30-day community notification and open comment period process regarding the renewal of operating permits. Comments are received via email, voicemail, and recorded at community meetings.
- Secondly, they will evaluate whether the program is meeting performance standards. In this case, that is the number of unduplicated individuals and families that have had their emergency needs met and the percentage of households who exit to permanent housing.
- They will also review the property to determine if physical deterioration poses a serious threat to residents and the surrounding community long term.
- And lastly, they will explore and weigh significant unforeseen impacts on the community that are attributable to the ongoing operation of the village.
I attended a meeting at Fauntleroy Church and another at Highland Park Action Council (HPAC) to hear from our neighbors. As you may know, HPAC is conducting a survey to provide guidance on its decision whether to support the permit extension. I encourage you to take the short survey here.
I have renewed my request to the Executive to work on the priorities, from HPAC, heard last year when the Executive was considering the oneyear extension permitted under SMC 23.42.056E1. I support HPAC in its efforts to convince the Human Services Department, the Seattle Police Department, the Department of Neighborhoods, and the Seattle Parks Department to work with the community in its reasonable goals to ensure that the City:
- Develop written neighborhood protocols for sanctioned encampments for the public
- Facilitate a MOA between SPD and KC Sheriff to address cross-jurisdictional public safety challenges
- Develop a plan for the eventual transfer of the Myers Way Property from the Fleets and Administrative Services department to the Seattle Parks Department
West Seattle Junction RPZ proposal up for public comment through March 15; February 28 meeting
SDOT has released proposed parking changes for the West Seattle Junction. The proposed changes would establish new time limits on parking in some areas, and establish a residential parking zone. You can see a map of the proposal at SDOT’s West Seattle Junction Area website.
This proposal is very similar to the draft SDOT released in July. I requested information about what had changed; here’s a link to a document showing the initial proposal, and the changes in the final proposal compared to the initial proposal.
SDOT is required to hold a public hearing and a public comment period before making a decision about whether to adopt these changes. The public hearing will be on Thursday, February 28 at the Senior Center of West Seattle @ California Way SW and SW Oregon Street, from 6:30 to 8:30. SDOT will provide a 15-minute presentation at 6:30 p.m., and public comment will begin at 6:45.
You can also comment through the public comment website through March 15.
Here’s the FAQ about the proposal, and the results of SDOT’s summer 2018 survey.
The process began in 2017 with a “West Seattle Area Access Study,” that was released in February, 2018. A residential parking study was released in April, 2018 that was requested by the Junction Neighborhood Organization (JuNO).
SDOT last studied parking in the West Seattle Junction in 2009 and didn’t recommend any paid parking; an earlier citywide parking study in 2002 also mentioned the West Seattle Junction.
SDOT policy is designed to ensure availability of 1-2 open spaces per blockface (i.e. one side of a block). This can involve setting time limits for parking, or adding paid parking. SDOT is conducting parking studies in several other neighborhoods in Seattle.
Of Seattle’s 7 Council Districts, District 1 and District 5 (North Seattle) are the only districts in Seattle without any on-street paid parking zones.
January Constituent Email Report
Constituent correspondence is a very important task in my office. My staff and I spend time every day helping you improve our community, whether that’s by getting you help from a city department with our constituent case management services or giving you information about legislation that the Council is considering. The unshaded categories and numbers are problem-solving emails answered in January, what I refer to above as “case management services.” The shaded categories and numbers are emails answered in January related to policy or legislation that the Council is considering.
In-District Office Hours
On February 22, I will be at the South Park Community Center (8319 8th Ave S) from 2:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. The final meeting of the day will begin at 6:30 p.m.
These hours are walk-in friendly, but if you would like to let me know you’re coming in advance you can email my scheduler Alex Clardy (alex.clardy@seattle.gov).
Additionally, here is a list of my tentatively scheduled office hours. These are subject to change.
- Friday, March 29, 2019
Southwest Customer Service Center, 2801 SW Thistle St - Friday, April 26, 2019
Southwest Customer Service Center, 2801 SW Thistle St - Friday, May 31, 2019
South Park Community Center, 8319 8th Avenue S - Friday, June 28, 2019
Senior Center of West Seattle, 4217 SW Oregon St - Friday, July 26, 2019
Southwest Customer Service Center, 2801 SW Thistle St - Friday, August 16, 2019
South Park Community Center, 8319 8th Avenue S - Friday, September 27, 2019
Senior Center of West Seattle, 4217 SW Oregon St - Friday, October 25, 2019
Southwest Customer Service Center, 2801 SW Thistle St - Friday, November 29, 2019
South Park Community Center, 8319 8th Avenue S - Friday, December 20, 2019
Senior Center of West Seattle, 4217 SW Oregon St