SOUTH ROSE HILL/BRIDLE TRAILS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION
General Meeting - Tuesday, January 9, 2007
Vice President Andy Held called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m. Andy introduced the SRHBTNA Officers in attendance.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
A SPECIAL THANK YOU to Dana and Rhoda, once again, for bringing the refreshments to our meeting and to Starbucks for donating the coffee.
116th AVE NE – The water main construction project will begin soon.
REPORTS
2007 STRIKE OUT FAMILY VIOLENCE BOWL-A-THON - Margo Mitchell
The SRHBTNA was invited to participate in the Eastside Domestic Violence Program Annual Bowl-a-thon which will take place this year on March 3rd at Kenmore Lanes. The goal of the Bowl-a-thon’s is to have fun and raise money for Eastside Domestic Violence Program’s services for victims of abuse. It is hoped to have Kirkland residents contribute one-third of all the contributions raised. The NA is being asked to sponsor two bowling teams from the neighborhood with participants raising $170 each ($680 per team). To preregister, please go to www.EDVP.org or call (425) 562-8840.
KAN UPDATE – C.Ray Allshouse
KAN has been sponsoring “Neighborhood U’ training sessions designed for representatives from various neighborhoods to allow them to do a better job in supporting the neighborhood associations. Topics covered include: what makes a good meeting; how are ideas shared; how to do a better job; how to be heard; and how to make a difference. These classes also help the Council and staff get a better sense of what City needs.
GOOD THINGS – Andy Held
Andy was asked to talk about some of the accomplishments the Neighborhood Association had over the past year. Andy mentioned:
· the Bridle Trails neighborhood sign at the park ‘n ride lot and the new planter and landscaping
· the new South Rose Hill sign on at 116th/70th
· the garbage trucks “right turn only” leaving Houghton Transfer Station
· provided key input on the two new parks (Rose Hill Meadows and the Park at Ben Franklin School)
· a flashing beacon sign in front of Ben Franklin Elementary
· code enforcement issues
· the Equestrian Advisory Board had had success in not only stopping a noncompliant proposal, but in raising flags with future development
· participation on the 85th Street Action Team
· the NA played a role with the City in zoning code amendments regarding home occupation business and regulations about running a business out of your home
Emergency Preparedness - David Baum (www.greenhammer.net)
David pointed out that our recent experience with the power outage was a failure of one utility infrastructure. In a severe earthquake, many parts of the utility infrastructure will fail simultaneously and catastrophically. We will be required to get home and then survive at home for days or possibly weeks. We need to make preparations in advance for that very possible catastrophe. David defined a scenario for an earthquake along the Seattle fault with a magnitude of 6.7. He discussed the consequences of the quake and its aftermath, over weeks and months, to both homes and businesses. Hospitals will be unable to provide care because of damage to their facilities and to transportation. Shelters will be very limited due to damage to schools and community centers. Water will be very scarce, electrical power and natural gas will be out, and the sewer lines will break. The Red Cross will have inadequate resources for the first 72 hours to two weeks; after that, help will come from outside the region.
What do we need to do to prepare - in our own homes and in concert with our neighbors? The most important thing to have stored is water. Bridle Trails Market manager has offered to sell bottled water at cost for $5.00 a case through David. We also must be able to live out of our car and survive if you’re trying to get back home. We need to be able to evacuate and be prepared to carry what we need to survive for 72 hours. Kits (are available from the Red Cross at RedCrossStore.org) but should including: water, batteries, dust mask, flashlight, whistle, moist towelettes, survival foods (coconut shortbread is the best), first aid kit (first aid courses are very important), plastic sheeting for sheltering in place and for collecting rain, duct tape, light sticks, emergency ponchos, emergency blankets, treats, and personal items like prescription medications. For communications, battery-powered and hand crank radios work well, as well as walkie talkies. Five-gallon buckets can be converted to portable toilets “Luggable Loos” using two plastic bags (powdered Clorox is handy in this application). Another very useful item is a fire extinguisher. They come in different sizes and have different ratings. The five pound unit is very good. To discharge, remember “PASS”, “Pull, Aim, Squeeze, and Sweep”. However, if the fire is bigger than one corner in one room – get out! Extinguishers rated ABC are good for paper, gas, and electric fires. All this information and more can be found on David’s informative website www.greenhammer.net
BREAK
President Jeanette Simecek began the meeting after the break after having returned from a HAM Radio class at Ben Franklin.
HOT LIST – Jeanette Simecek
Jeanette asked people to contribute items which are of concern in the neighborhood:
Easements to the landfill are not being maintained (i.e., tree over the easement at 116/67 cul-de-sac)
Puget Power undergrounding utilities on Street N.E. 85th
At Ben Franklin School – cars/school pathway conflicts, also adding “Local Access Only” sign
Streetlights along 60th - the light at 60/122nd needs to be upgraded and the light is out at 120/60th
122nd Ave NE should be marked and signed as a “School Zone - 20 mph”
A bike lane should be installed on the south side of N.E. 80th Street from the high school to the City limit
What is going in where the muffler shop used to be at 128th/85th?
What is going in at the corner of 132nd/85th?
NATIONAL COUNT OF HOMELESS - Margaret Schwender
Margaret recruited volunteers to work on January 27th, from 1:30 – 5:30 a.m. to count the homeless (and get a free breakfast). To volunteer, please contact MargSchwender@comcast.net
The meeting was adjourned at 8:32 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Deirdre DeWan Johnson
Secretary