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FAUNTLEROY WATERSHED COUNCIL Meeting #6 - May 9, 2002 - Fauntleroy Church Hall

Meeting Attendees Park/Creek: Karen Farnsworth, Dennis Hinton, Jon Jolly, Lois Pederson, Gail Hlavacek, Steev Ward, Christine Nack, Judy Pickens Fauntleroy Church: Randy Sleight Fauntleroy Community Association: Phil Sweetland Seattle Parks & Recreation: Don Allen

Facilitator: Dennis Hinton Scribe: Karen Farnsworth

Meeting Notes 1. Introductions The roster circulated for updates.

2. Approval of minutes and agenda The minutes and agenda were approved as distributed.

3. Executive Committee reports/updates Financial Report. Dennis H. reported $304.02 remaining from our $500 grant from Seattle Public Utilities for Council expenses.

Beach Renourishment. Judy P. described the proposed project to reinforce the seawall on the cove side of Lincoln Park with more sand and small rock this coming October. A recent walkaround with Kevin Stoops (project manager for Seattle Parks), Larry Fisher (State Fish and Wildlife), and watershed representatives emphasized community concerns about sand buildup affecting the mouth of the creek, possible implications of the loss of beneficial seaweed in the cove, and more disturbance in the cove when spawners are present. Steev W. spoke to concern about stability of the creek channel on the beach. Phil S. spoke to concern about the sand's making the water in the cove more shallow, which could be contributing to the seaweed stench. A second walkaround with representatives of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is intended to provide more information about hydrology of the cove.

Website. Chris N. reported that the site is 90-percent complete. A list of birds sighted in the watershed is pending and a Council-agenda site is in development.

Summer Project. Judy P. reported that a plan is coming together with Seattle Parks to involve teenagers from Consejo Counseling and Referral Center and young adults from EarthCorps. Work is expected to include removing invasives from Kilbourne Park. The project is to be organized by July 1.

Action Request 1: As proposed by Christy Tyson and announced by Judy P. in her absence, the Executive Committee is publicizing the need for a volunteer archivist to be responsible for maintaining key Council documents on file at the Southwest branch of Seattle Public Library to complement what's available on the Website.

Action Request 2: On behalf of the Executive Committee, Randy S. introduced the need for a policy to guide Council advocacy on issues that arise between Council meetings, for example, correspondence with public officials. He proposed a motion that was seconded. Three possible problems surfaced during discussion of the motion: (1) E-mail isn't available to all and not always answered. (2) How do we determine a quorum without fixed Council membership? (3) Does the Executive Committee represent the views of all Council members? After more discussion, the following refined motion passed with the understanding that all involved will act in good faith and revisit the matter if experience indicates changes in the policy are needed:

Decision: The Executive Committee is authorized to communicate on behalf of the Council on issues of interest or concern arising between Council meetings and requiring prompt action. The Executive Committee will poll Council members by e-mail and phone to elicit the views of as many as possible. If consensus is reached, the Executive Committee will act accordingly. If not, the Executive Committee will not act.

Action Request 3: Judy P. reported that, after reviewing unaddressed action items in the watershed action plan, the Executive Committee decided to see about pursuing two actions having to do with signage. Knowing what funding might be available from Seattle Parks and Seattle Public Utilities would tell us, she said, whether or now we have to look elsewhere. The action items are D4: Define Fauntleroy Park's major trails and their ADA accessibility with signage. D6: Create and install interpretive signage in the park and elsewhere in the watershed to call public attention to and increase public awareness and knowledge of native plants, wildlife, soils, and other features of the ecosystem.

Action: Seattle Parks and Seattle Public Utilities representatives will report at the July Council meeting whether or not their agencies have funds available this fiscal year to advance these actions.

4. Presentation Margaret Glowacki, fisheries biologist/salmon planner with the Seattle Department of Design, Construction, and Land Use, summarized the city's environmental-review process and how individual citizens and the Council can have a voice in land-use decisions. She reviewed key provisions of city and state regulatory codes and how enforcement is supposed to work, as well as the process for public comment. Her handouts are attached for those receiving these minutes by mail and available on DCLU's Website for everyone else. They are "Public Comment on Proposed Land Use Actions," "The City of Seattle's Environmental Regulatory Regime Strategy," and "Making Sense of Seattle's Stormwater, Grading, and Drainage Control Code."

Action: Chris N. and Judy P. will see that the Council's Website includes a link to these resources.

5. Park reports/updates Development of Vegetation Management Plan: Karen F. reported that Mark Mead had submitted a scope of work to the consultant (Sheldon & Associates). The resulting estimate was over budget so Mark is reworking the scope such that is requests less work of the consultant. She invited comment about the number of public meetings (five) called for, saying that the public involvement process was a large line item. The sense of the Council was that this cost could be reduced by efficient use of the Park Steering Committee and regularly scheduled Council meeting.

6. Creek reports/updates Development of Erosion Control Plan: Randy S. reported on information provided the Creek Steering Committee by Bruce Stoker, a geomorphologist who has studied an area of the watershed that includes Fauntleroy Park. Because of area geology, sand will continue to comprise a high percentage of the soil eroding into the creek. Randy explained the sampling techniques used to make this determination and that could be used to monitor sediment after control strategies are in place. Judy P. added that SPU and its consultant (also Sheldon & Associates) expect to have a draft scope of work for committee comment by late spring and to see an increased pace of activity in the fall.

7. Agency reports/updates Parks Reorganization: Don A. outlined some of the changes resulting from Seattle Parks' reorganization to cut costs. Geographic divisions (including our South Division directed by Christopher Williams) have been eliminated in favor of a citywide organization. The volunteer-coordinator position held by Joy Vanderwurff until her retirement this spring has been eliminated, leaving two volunteer coordinators to cover the entire city. Individual projects will have coordinators (including Lynn Sullivan for Lincoln Park Annex).

State Fish and Wildlife Budget: Judy P. reported receiving assurances from Peter Birch, regional habitat manager, that reductions in state funding won't affect the services we've been accustomed to receiving.

8. Announcements Work Parties: Karen F. reminded all of invasive-removal work parties on the second weekend of each month in Fauntleroy Park.

Next Meeting: Thursday, July 11, 7:00 p.m. in the Fauntleroy Church hall.