FREMONT WEATHERS A WINTER OF CHANGES
by Kirby Lindsay
This column was published in the North Seattle Herald-Outlook on January 21, 2009.
On January 21, Mary-Catherine Snyder and Mike Estey, of the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT), bravely faced the ire of attendees to the Fremont Chamber of Commerce general membership meeting. Regardless of citizen concerns about due diligence and flawed data, SDOT will install pay stations and a Residential Parking Zone (RPZ) in Fremont by the end of February, according to Mary-Catherine.
In contrast, a week later, on January 28, Greg Phipps, Andrea Burgess and Randy Simonsen, of the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), encountered concerned but calm criticism to their presentation on the SR99 Aurora Bridge Fence Project.
Design of the safety barrier, or fence, is 50% complete, according to Andrea. Draft drawings show frames of 8 feet, 8 inches tall with vertical lengths of stainless steel cable set 4” apart. Pointed stainless steel rods crown the top. This barrier will run the length of the bridge, attached to the bridge structure and 8” outside the 3’ 6” historic pedestrian railing.
Designed to “provide maximum transparency,” Andrea explained, the barrier “won’t be invisible.” It is “meant to be a deterrent,” but she allowed that “a very determined individual might be able to get over it.”
Since its construction in 1931, an estimated 230 people have committed suicide from our bridge. According to www.seattlefriends.org, since 1995 there have been 50 deaths. Additionally, recent events have increased concerns here over the number of attempts and the risks to those who live and work beneath the bridge.
This presentation marked the end of a long information gathering sessions. Since July 2008, an Advisory Council has met in public forums six times, a Design Committee met approximately six more times and WSDOT representatives met with the City of Seattle Architectural Review Committee.
Two large hurdles still loom. WSDOT will submit their final design for review by the Landmarks Board. A public hearing will be held, hopefully this spring. Currently, the $5.92 million estimated cost for construction of the barrier is included in Governor Gregoire’s 2009 – 2011 proposed transportation budget. This will require approval by both the State Senate and House of Representatives.
To learn more about the project, visit www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR99/AuroraBridgeFence. For a presentation to other community groups, contact Greg Phipps at 206/464-1265. Also consider sending comments to your Washington State Senator and/or Representative.
To learn more about street parking changes coming to Fremont, visit www.seattle.gov/transportation/parking/cp_fremont.htm
Or stop by the City of Seattle Neighborhood Service Center at 908 North 34th Street. Open Monday to Friday from 9a.m. – 5p.m., the office has materials available for viewing on both the SDOT and WSDOT projects.
Phoenix Rising
“It’s been a topsy-turvy winter,” Leslie Zenz said of the Fremont Arts Council (FAC), “but there is a whole lot of energy here.”
Last October 2008, the FAC held its annual elections for its 2009 board. By January 8, all had resigned but Leslie. Rumors have circulated that the elected board was ‘stacked’ (people stood for election to deliberately force their agenda.) When asked directly, Leslie emphatically responded, “No! Absolutely not.”
There was “an overall sentiment to place a board of new people, with new energy,” Leslie said of the election, and of approximately 170 members eligible to vote, only 40 ballots were returned.
Jessica Randall, an FAC past president, allowed that there were “people elected that members had never met. Some were new. Some more experienced.” However, of the seven elected, three had served previous terms on the board.
“To their credit,” Leslie said, “they came in very robustly.” The 2009 board wanted, “to shore up the organization,” she said, but didn’t understand its history. Jessica credits the 2009 board with great intentions, but she knew, “people in the organization are very vocal, either positive or negative.”
The 2009 board faced some tremendous challenges – especially debt that included unpaid taxes. When the snowstorms of December wreaked havoc, the board chose to cancel a sacred FAC tradition, the Winter Feast.
Jessica believes every group, and event, has its hey-day, followed by a natural decline – and that the FAC will be stronger for having weathered through this one.
After all, one day after the resignation of four of the five remaining 2009 board members, Leslie sent out an e-mail naming an Interim Board. Five volunteers, most of them long-time FAC members (with 20+ years experience), had agreed to serve – including Jessica.
“The interim board doesn’t have any complaint,” with the actions of the aborted 2009 Board, Jessica stated, “We understand the pressure they were under.” The new board also faces tough challenges. On January 28, Leslie, in her new role as President of the Interim Board, announced their difficult decision to lay-off the FAC Operations Manager, their only staff person.
Anyone interested in helping rebuild the FAC, and seeing the Solstice Parade flourish again this year, would be welcome. Volunteers may attend a Committee Of the Whole meeting (held on the second Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. at 3940 Fremont Avenue) or contact the FAC through www.fremontartscouncil.org. “We’re calling this our phoenix rising out of the ashes,” Jessica joked, and all are invited to help raise the wings.
©2010 Kirby Lindsay. This column is protected by intellectual property laws, including U.S. copyright laws. Reproduction, adaptation or distribution without permission is prohibited.