fauntleroy.net 

Attendees Watershed Residents: Steev Ward, Jon Jolly, Ernie Nuler, Dennis Hinton, Jack Lenihan, Fred Burr, Peggy Cummings, Steve Bomkamp Fauntleroy Community Association: Phil Sweetland Seattle Parks & Recreation: Don Allen Seattle Public Utilities: Kathy Minsch Guest: Tracey McKenzie

Facilitator: Judy Pickens Scribe: Chris Nack

Notes 1. Introductions The roster circulated for updates.

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

3. Presentation Tracey McKenzie, consultant for Washington State Ferries (WSF), reported WSF was required to prepare a monitoring plan to protect fish and wildlife during ferry dock construction. The first stage of monitoring included delineating the creek and marking boundaries 10 feet on either side of the creek. To prevent boundary encroachment, another phase of monitoring includes observance of construction crews for compliance. A chief inspector from WSF will be on site every day. In the case of major storm events, the delineation of the creek will be monitored and the boundaries will be adjusted as necessary.

From September to mid October, the first phase of construction will be the placement of a new sheet pile wall in front of the old wall. The existing wall will be removed in January, after the salmon return is over. All in-water work must be completed by October 15th. She noted that WSF would work proactively with the community to allow necessary access during construction to move or clear obstructions in the mouth of the creek. She also said that WSF has examined aerial photos of the beach dating from 1950 and noted an exceptional build-up of sand in the dock area in recent years.

4. Executive Committee news/action requests Executive Committee member: The executive committee is actively looking for a new member and, though desiring Fauntleroy Park and creek representation, the committee opens up membership to any interested party. Dennis H. noted that the council marked its one-year existence and emphasized that, if the council is to continue, its administration needs to be shared more broadly. Steve B. offered to bring this need to the attention of other park volunteers.

Membership Structure: Dennis put forth the executive committee's recommendation that council membership be individual, not by organization, in order to encourage the broadest possible participation. Discussion was generally favorable but no formal action was taken.

Save Seattle Creeks Initiative 80: On the executive committee's advisement and after hearing a pro/con summary by Judy P., the council determined that it could not endorse the initiative in its present form, as it speaks to specifically two creeks and broadly to all other creeks.

5. Project Updates Vegetation management and erosion control plan development: Steve B. reported in Karen Farnsworth's absence that Mark Mead is still negotiating a contract with the consultant for the vegetation management plan. Kathy M. reported that Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) hopes to use Katherine Lynch's analysis of habitat and conditions in the watershed to focus the erosion control study - and that the analysis is taking much longer than initially expected. Kathy said that enough information might be in hand to report to the council in a few months.

Beach renourishment wrap-up: Judy P. received the official public notice for October's beach renourishment at Lincoln Park. Kevin Stoops, manager of major projects & planning for Seattle Parks, responded to the council's letter of concern stating that Seattle Parks believes that the renourishment of the beach can be done without harm to the fish returning to Fauntleroy Creek. The public meeting about the project will be September 17 at Lincoln Park shelter #3 at 6 p.m. Judy P. stated that she is hopeful that this experience will result in earlier community notification next time about major projects affecting watershed habitat.

Recap of summer project: An event was held August 22 to thank the 16 members of the Summer Youth Employment crew that worked in Fauntleroy Park. Seattle Parks Superintendent Ken Bounds attended, representing the mayor, and the project supervisor especially thanked community volunteers working with invasives in the park. Judy P. acknowledged Lori Hinton for writing the article that appeared in the West Seattle Herald and will write a letter to Lori to that effect. Gifts distributed to the youth included a poster of project snapshots from the council. Dennis H. contacted all major media about the event, which Latino Northwest videotaped.

Don Allen mentioned that Lincoln Park also had volunteers working this summer. The council agreed that these volunteers should be included in any recognition next summer. Don suggested the council consider nominating a crewmember or the whole crew for city recognition as well; he offered to advise about the possibilities.

Judy P. noted that coordination of this summer's park projects had been difficult. The original plan had been to work on invasives in Kilbourne Park. At the last minute, Seattle Parks staff decided that the focus would be on trails maintenance. Judy P. had concern about whether trail work should be completed without a comprehensive trail plan, but Chikundi Salisbury, citywide trails coordinator for Seattle Parks, emphasized that the work in Fauntleroy Park would be customary trails maintenance only. After several requests for details, she received a copy of an extensive trails report (Fauntleroy Park Trail Survey and Recommendation) done for Seattle Parks without community input by EarthCorps. The report identifies three or four areas for public comment. She is waiting to hear from Seattle Parks management to discuss what the council's role could have been when the report was commissioned last spring and what it should be now in relation to the report's recommendations. Judy P. will relay responses to councilmembers Steve Bomkamp, Karen Farnsworth, Scott Dolfay, and Don Allen.

Don A. said that staff would be finishing trail work left incomplete by the summer crew. He was unsure whether) had any crews scheduled to work in the park.

Signage support/budget picture: Don A. and Kathy M. reported for their agencies that the city doesn't have any funding source for interpretive signage in Fauntleroy Park or at the fish-ladder viewpoint. Kathy M. suggested that there might be grant money available for permanent signage or that it might be folded into a larger project.

Fish ladder sediment control: Judy P. reported that SPU placed stones in the ladder as a test and that city and volunteer measurements confirm that silt transport has improved. Tom Linde created a grid of the ladder for slit monitoring with sections marked. A discussion of how to best measure silt levels followed. The council agreed that frequent measurements would provide year-to-year perspectives and improve understanding about seasonal variations in sediment levels. Phil S. requested more rocks and requested that Kathy M. inquire if she volunteers could help with rock placement before this fall's salmon return; he offered his services. Rosewater Engineering (fish ladder design firm) is coming soon to photograph the creek for its files.

6. Agency News/Action Role of ProParks stewardship coordinators: Don A reported that Dawn Blanche is the representative for the south district. ProParks stewards help develop learning programs through community centers and encourage youth involvement in environmental stewardship. Kathy M. noted that the Urban Creek Backyard Steward program is growing.

7. Current events County's nearshore juvenile surveying: Steev W. reported that he had recently audited beach seining on the north side of Lincoln Park directed by Jim Brennan of King County's Department of Natural Resources. The collections were catalogued for size, species, parasites, and tags and findings will be reported when sufficient information is in hand from this summer and last. Steev has photographs available.

Conservation tools outreach opportunity: Judy P. announced that the county has an outreach opportunity for property owners wishing to conserve watersheds and that the council could assist by facilitating a local workshop. Hearing no expression of interest, she will highlight in communication with absent council members and explore the potential for making this a student project.

Salmon watch: The six or seven positions of major responsibility have been filled. Veteran and new watchers are needed. Washington Trout will advise Tom L, Steev W., and Phil S. of any barriers in the lower creek and on the beach that need attention. Authorization has been secured for Steev and Tom to be on the ferry dock during construction to monitor spawners in the cove. The watch starts on October 14 and continues through Thanksgiving if rainfall is steady. This year watchers will survey all fish in the spawning reach, as well as count from a fixed location, to assess both counting methods. Watchers will also be scheduled directly after high tides, both to increase chances of getting worthwhile information and to increase volunteer satisfaction. Those present acknowledged the exceptional work Scott Allen did staffing last year's watch.

8. Announcements o Regular work parks for Fauntleroy Park continue to be held on the 2nd Saturday and Sunday of each month. o Salmon watcher training will be Thursday, October 10, at 7 p.m. at Fauntleroy Church. o A celebration to welcome home the salmon will be Thursday, October 10, at the viewpoint at 6:00 p.m. o SPU is looking for volunteers to sample benthic invertebrates. A training session will be held September 13th. Judy P. is expecting Arbor Heights students to continue monitoring invertebrates in the upper creek. o Next Meeting: On November 14, at 7:00 p.m., Fellowship Hall. The council decided to continue meeting in Fellowship Hall.