April 1, 2025 Meeting notes
Tuesday, April 1, 2025
On Zoom
Attendees: 29 Attendees, including: Ching Chan and Trilce Vallalobos from SDOT, David Decoteau, deputy director KCIA, Troy Chen, KCIA, John Parrot, KCIA, AJ McClure representing Port of Seattle
6:30
Updates on the Council - Maria
Elections for the Board will occur in May. Our Bylaws allow for a Board of up to 15 members and we currently have 7. Please get in touch with a board member if you are interested. Several attendees showed interest.
Review of the District 2 Safety meeting with Mark Solomon.
Maria reported on meetings with Nate Moxley about the $12.5 million US Forestry Grant for Reforesting Seattle. The first areas to be addressed are the Chinatown International District (CID) this year, and Beacon Hill, probably in 2026. A meeting was held via Zoom on 3.13.25 with 16 people involved in trees on Beacon Hill and some good connections were established. We will be in further contact with Nate Moxley.
Maria also reported on programs to save on home heating and an upcoming home fair.
Maria presented her goals for BHC and there was some discussion.
Motion 1: I move that we send a letter to the Seattle Comprehensive Plan advocating for the following Anti-displacement policies:
Prioritize and accelerate Housing Levy funding investments for low income housing in Beacon Hill
Incentivize the building of Additional and Detached Dwelling Units by deferring the cost of permitting ($60-70K) at the point of sale.
Reduce renting disincentives by reviewing the https://www.seattle.gov/rentinginseattle/ to rebalance the landlord and tenant responsibilities
Implement housing parking equity by allowing parking on the front setback space of residential properties.
Develop a tree preservation and growth strategy and plan for trees on private property.
Motion 2: I move that to reduce aviation air and noise pollution, we advocate for King County Council ordinance for the :
King County Public Health to develop and submit an aviation health mitigation plan in one year based on Seattle King County Dept of Health Community Health and Airport Operations Related Pollution Report December 2020
(https://app.leg.wa.gov/ReportsToTheLegislature/Home/GetPDF?fileName=Community%20Health%20and%20Airport%20Operations%20Related%20Pollution%20Report_c7389ae6-f956-40ef-98a7-f85a4fab1c59.pdf)King County Executive Office Climate Office submit an aviation greenhouse gas reduction and community mitigation plan in one year based on the King County 2023 Strategic Climate Action Plan (https://your.kingcounty.gov/dnrp/climate/documents/2024/2401-13286w-SCAP-biennial-rpt.pdf) added report by the Joint Aircraft Emissions Technical and Community Task Force report (https://your.kingcounty.gov/dnrp/climate/documents/2023/2023-king-county-aircraft-emissions-task-force-report.pdf)
King County Department of Natural Resources to develop a strategy and plan to preserve and grow the tree canopy on private property and add it to their King County Public Lands Plan to help provide a healthy environment for residents living in densified areas.
Motion 3: For Tree canopy preservation and growth:
Continue to advocate for 30% tree canopy in the Seattle Comp Plan with other organizations.
Continue to advocate for trees AND housing on public and private property.
Join the Seattle Parks Foundation Tree Equity Network to co-promote tree preservation and growth, and amend the Tree Protection Plan to be more efficient and effective.
Ask the King County Natural Resources and Parks to promote tree preservation and growth on private and public property.
King County International Airport (Boeing Field)
Troy Chen & David Decouteau from King County International Airport presented their KCIA Vision 2045 & Part 150 Study briefing
Vision 2045 is the Airport Master Plan and Part 150 is a Noise Study. They are also working on Strategic planning. They are hoping that Vision 2045 and Part 150 will be completed by 2026.
They have had several open houses about these studies to gain public input. Project 150 is a program an airport can voluntarily undertake to address noise and land use compatibility. This helps provide for long term planning. Vision 2045 is a Federal Regulation. It is not an airport master plan, environmental review document or safety study. Not an opportunity to close the airport or a forum to explore other options.
Troy presented Noise Exposure Maps (NEMS) of the neighborhood. They describe Day Night Average sound levels (DNL). The FAA considers that anything less than 65 db non impactful. Comparing 2023 and 2030 (projected) noise levels show a slight increase.
The next steps are to prepare the NEMS contours, which must be approved by the FAA, then they can look at mitigation. They reported that the FAA did some reconfiguration of approaches to decrease noise.
This is the link to their information:
KCIACommunityOutreach@kingcounty.gov
They also have a noise hot line, 206-316-2515.
Some discussion followed.
SDOT
Ching Chan and Trilce Villalobos
Trilce Villalobos reported on the Dr. Jose Rizal Painting Project. This is Seattle’s oldest steel bridge, built in 1911. When it was previously painted, it was painted with paint containing lead. SDOT will safely remove the existing pain, using a tent system similar to what was used on the Aurora Bridge, and this will begin in the next few weeks. -Built in 1911, when lead paint was commonly used. They will remove this, using a sealed containment tent, such as was used at the Aurora Bridge. It will be repainted with 5 layers of paint that meets today’s environmental standards, preserving the current color. The painting will help preserve the bridge, avoiding more disruptive projects in the future.
Much of this work will take place underneath the bridge, where it crosses S Dearborn. They will keep travel lanes and the sidewalk fully open, except during nighttime work and when temporary lane reductions are needed to safely complete key activities. Bike lanes, drive lanes and bus stops on 12th Ave S will remain open.
They are also working with the Unified Care Team to work with the unhoused people living under the bridge.
Ching Chan reported on the Beacon Avenue S safety project
She acknowledged that the signage about the Tree Evaluation was a bit alarming for people. The project area on Beacon Ave S from S. Juneau St to S Monterey has been completed.
Tree evaluation
S Morgan - S Monterey Pl, east side, no trees removed, 4 trees retrained
S Eddy sT - S Morgan St, east side : no trees removed, 5 trees retained
Sidewalk repair S Eddy - E Monterey Place. She noted that in some instances, the sidewalks have to be removed to fully examine the tree roots.
Some planning has begun for middle and south Beacon Hill for Bike safety.
Ching said she would give further updates on the Safety project at the May meeting.
7:55 Meeting adjourned.
Board Meeting: 7:57
Attending: Maria Batayola, Amy Kaminishi, Whit Bouton, Simon Knaphus, Kalia Carter, Gerry Chambers. Adam Vance was ill
Agenda:
Amy: Treasurer’s report $5559.71 Square Space website expenses $30 and $274.11 for purchase of the new website.
Gerry nominated Whit for vice president, Kalia seconded, unanimously approved, Adam absent
Maria moved to adopt Motion 1 on Anti Displacement strategies and a letter to the Seattle City Council, as noted above. Seconded by Simon, passed unanimously, Adam absent.
Whit read Motion 2 concerning Aviation and noise pollution, as noted above. Gerry moved to adopt, Simon seconded, approved 5, absent Adam, Amy abstained
Motion 3 : For Tree canopy preservation and growth, moved by Simon, seconded by Whit, approved unanimously, Adam absent.
Maria will communicate with Nate about tree stewardship. Whit has worked with Nate and checked out properties on Beacon Hill and plans for some tree planting along the Chief Seattle Trail
May 3 Jefferson Community Center next meeting, in person. Kalia may be out of town. A planning meeting was scheduled for April 14, 6:30 PM, via zoom.
Meeting adjourned 8:35 PM