Andrew Taylor

See the attached brochure for all the details, or pick up a paper copy at the Center (330 - 19th Ave. E.)

•  Half-day preschool, Mon/Wed/Fri 8:30 - 12. Starts November 2nd. Follows Seattle School Calendar
• You must be 4 years old (by Dec. 15th) and potty-trained to join. You (or your parents) will need $220/month.
• 1:7 teacher to student ratio
• E-mail miller.preschool@seattle.gov with your questions, or call the Center at (206) 684-4753

Below, via a speedy E-mail from S-DOT's Ethan Melone, are the rules for the recently funded First Hill Streetcar project, issued on October 5th.

Note especially the requirement for double-tracking:

The Project will be double-tracked, although termini or exclusive-lane segments may feature a short segment of single track if this will not impede service objectives.

Wikipedia:

A double track railway usually involves running one track in each direction, compared to a single track railway where trains in both directions share the same track.

Will the double-tracking requirement make the plans for a loop route impossible? A single-track system obviously just has one set of rails and the trains shuttle back and forth. If the two sets of tracks are on separate streets, does that count as a double-track system? The wikipedia article mentions some "non-parallel" double-track systems, but those were constrained by geography.  My thanks to Jim Erickson of First Hill for pointing out this issue.

Updates:

Andrew: is the double-tracking requirement compatible with the desires of  some neighborhoods to have  a loop route?

Ethan Melone: Yes, this just means we won't have a single track arrangement, like the Waterfront Streetcar.

Jim Erickson: Another factor in this discussion is the water pipeline under the northbound lanes of 12th Avenue. See FHIA's July notes:  http://www.firsthill.org/meetinghighlights.html  The Cedar River water pipeline runs under the northbound lanes of 12^th Avenue, thus precluding any streetcar construction over those lanes. Any streetcar routing on 12^th would have to go in the southbound lanes, or have a dedicated lane in the middle of the street. 

Exhibit A: Minimum Scope of Work for First Hill Streetcar Connector Project

 The purpose of the First Hill Streetcar Connector Project (the Project) is to replace the connection to the regional Link light rail system lost when the First Hill light rail station was deleted from the regional system. The streetcar connector will directly connect First Hill employment centers to the regional Link light rail system at the International District/Chinatown Station at 5th Avenue S and the Capitol Hill Station at Broadway between E. Denny Way and John Street.  If operations begin prior to July 1, 2016, the Project may feature an interim terminus in the vicinity of Pike and Pine streets.

 The Project fleet (inclusive of at least one spare vehicle) and facilities will accommodate the service plan:

1. Service Plan

   1. Service Plan: Span of Service 

   Monday-Saturday 5AM to 1AM

    

   2. Service Plan: Peak/Off Peak Headways

   Peak Periods: Trains Arrive Every 10 Minutes

   Off Peak: Trains Arrive Every 15 Minutes

    

   3. Service Plan: Peak Service Periods

   Peak Periods: 6AM-9AM M-F, 4PM-7PM M-F

The service plan may be adjusted with the written concurrence of Sound Transit.

 The Project will provide local and inter-neighborhood transit service using modern low-floor light rail vehicles, similar to the streetcar vehicles operating in Portland, Seattle and Tacoma.  The streetcars operate in single trainsets.  The streetcars will generally operate in a mixed flow of traffic on urban arterial streets, typically with transit signal priority at intersections, and  occasionally operating in restricted (transit-only) lanes or exclusive right-of-way.  The Project will be double-tracked, although termini or exclusive-lane segments may feature a short segment of single track if this will not impede service objectives.

The Project will meet or exceed all accessibility requirements and includes a variety of passenger amenities on board, at passenger platforms and on the internet, including transit shelters, real-time arrival information, automated passenger information, and wayside and on-board ticketing.  Use of the ORCA regional smart card will be accommodated either on-board, wayside, or with both of these methods of fare payment.

Passenger platforms will typically be spaced at distances of 1,250 to 2,000 feet and will be sited to best balance proximity of service to major activity areas with speed and reliability objectives.

 The Project will include all construction, right-of-way and equipment necessary to meet the service objectives, including but not limited to:

 

• paved track and special track;
•  traction power system and overhead contact system;
• train control system and train signaling;
• passenger platforms and amenities including miscellaneous electrical service to   amenities;
• a light maintenance and vehicle storage facility and vehicle maintenance equipment;
•  roadway and drainage modifications;
• traffic signal modifications;
• street lighting modifications;
• utility relocation, protection and bridging necessitated by the Project;
• relocation of overhead trolley bus wires where necessary;
• mitigation measures; and
•  an Art Program.

 

The Art Program will be administered by the City and is budgeted at $750,000 in 2011 dollars to represent approximately 1% of estimated construction expenditure.

 The Project will be designed to allow for connections to other segments of the City's planned streetcar network and may include extensions beyond the minimum scope of work.

Today the McGinn campaign circulated the attached map, showing all the places where Mike has sponsored "Town Hall" meetings. The mailing quoted the Seattle Times:

Part of Mike McGinn's inexpensive mayoral campaign strategy has been to make himself available through 18 town-hall meetings around the city.

and quoted McGinn himself:

"The town halls were a chance not only for Seattle voters to ask me questions, but also a great way for me to hear directly from residents about what they think is important in their community.  All too often a barrier is erected between a few decision-makers and those frustrated many who cannot get their voices heard," said McGinn.

The meetings  do indeed seem to be pretty well distributed around Seattle, except for the Capitol Hill area. Given the high population density of the Capitol Hill area (see attached city density map), this seems to be rather an oversight.

Fortunately, the Capitol Hill Community Council has arranged a Mayoral Forum, so you will be able to question the candidates yourself:

Capitol Hill Community Council Mayoral Forum

Saturday, October 17^th, 4-6pm, Pigott Auditorium, Seattle University.

( http://tinyurl.com/forum-map)

 The idea behind this forum is to highlight community and neighborhood activism.

 We want to dig into the candidates' own history with neighborhood activism, test their knowledge and history of the DON, and generally get an understanding of where they see community groups in the sphere of city politics.

 We are really hoping to have a good turnout because we also want to show these candidates how committed we are to our communities.

Send questions for the candidates to Hong Chhuor at hong.chhuor@gmail.com.

• Saturday, September 19th, 6:30 PM we celebrate the inauguration of our new playfield at Miller (330 - 19th Avenue East): here's a poster to share/print.
• The Capitol Hill Times has an article about the event.
• Here's the City Press Release.

The students of NOVA alternative High School, which shares the Meany School building with the Secondary Bilingual Orientation Center (SBOC) have embraced the event, and are holding a potluck as part of the celebration, and invite you to bring a potluck dish to share (and suggest that it be an ample size, as the SBOC families who have been invited may be unfamiliar with the potluck concept!).

Parks Department translated the invitation into 5 languages for the SBOC familes (Oromo, Chinese, Amheric, Spanish and Vietnamese), and we hope that some of them will be able to attend, and that their tournament-winning soccer team will play on the field.

The evening will include:

• A welcome by Councilmember Rasmussen, chair of the Council Parks Committee
• The potluck!
• Ice-Cream, donated by Bluebird Homemade Ice Cream & Tea Room
• a soccer clinic presented by Seattle University Men’s Soccer. You can cheer the SU Redhawks on against Oregon State at 12:30 on Saturday at  SU Championship Field located on the corner of E. Jefferson St and 13th Ave.
•  a lacrosse demonstration presented by Northwest Women’s Lacrosse Association (NWWLA)

It will be a great chance for the neighborhood to meet the students, staff and parents of both schools, and members of the sports groups who share our playfield.

But wait, there's more!

Later in the evening (about 8:30?):

• NOVA students will demonstrate their unique collaborative sport: Three-Way Soccer. (pictures)
• SBOC teams will (we hope) demonstrate their soccer skills
• The playfield will be available till 10 PM for your pickup soccer games, frisbee or (presumably) lacrosse use!

By the way, a few volunteers would be appreciated to help set-up, serve ice-cream, help tidy up afterwards. Please E-mail Andrew (tayles@jps.net) if interested.

(Project details, history of Miller, Field Scheduling)

(Seattle Parks Dept. Press Release. Please see & distribute the attached flyer, or see the Miller blog. )

GRAND OPENING CELEBRATION FOR RENOVATED MILLER PLAYFIELD

Seattle Parks and Recreation, the Capitol Hill community and sports field users are celebrating the renovated Miller Playfield on Saturday, September 19, 2009 from 6:30 – 10 p.m.  The evening will include an ice-cream social to welcome Nova High School and the Secondary Bilingual Orientation Center to the neighborhood, a soccer clinic by Seattle University Men’s Soccer, a lacrosse clinic by Northwest Women’s Lacrosse Association (NWWLA), and time for community pick-up games.   

The clinics and ice cream social are scheduled from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. and from 8:30 – 10 p.m. will be pick-up games on the field. The field is located at 330 19^th Ave E.

"Between the renovated playfield and the two new schools, there is a new vibrancy in the Miller community," said Parks and Recreation Superintendent Tim Gallagher. "Young athletes, students, and parents are rightly excited about these improvements, which help create community and make this campus the true heart of the neighborhood."

 This project located next to the Miller Community Center replaces the existing sand/silt field with synthetic turf and accommodates for men and women’s lacrosse, adult soccer and softball. The renovation was requested by the community through the Community Capital Suggestion Process. 

 The event is co-sponsored by Seattle Parks and Recreation, Bluebird Homemade Ice Cream & Tea Room, capitolhillseattle.comand the Design Kompany. To see Seattle University (SU) Men's Soccer skills in action earlier in the day attend the SU Redhawks game against Oregon State at 12:30 p.m. on SU Championship Field.

 For more information, please contact Parks Project Manager Ted Holden at (206) 684-7201; e-mail ted.holden@seattle.gov or visithttp://seattle.gov/parks/maintenance/millerplayfield.htm

###

I (Andrew) note that the efforts to involve the two new schools at Meany (Nova High School and the Secondary Bilingual Education Program) are going well, so I hope many neighbors will be available to welcome the schools to our neighborhood AND to try out the new playfield.  Soccer, baseball and lacrosse were being practiced simultaneously there this evening!

Please share the attached poster with your friends and neighbors.

8 PM, Saturday, September 5th, at the corner of East Pike Street and 12th Avenue

If you've been to Bluebird, you've probably noticed our stage. This Saturday, come see it christened as local indie/folk band Lemolo performs live!

An almost-full moon hangs over the almost-completed FieldTurf playfield at Miller Community Center (and Jupiter is almost visible to the right of the moon).

Save the evening of Saturday September 19th for a little inauguration celebration for our new field, coupled (we hope) with the chance to meet the staff and students of the two new schools at Meany (Nova Alternative High School & the Secondary Bilingual Orientation Center).  Details next week.

(preamble: YES I did encourage you to submit your thoughts online, and YES, many of us did do so, but the City has relented and offered us an in-person make-up session, to make up for the very slim attendance at the earlier meetings. The City is promoting the meeting for the Central Area, which includes Madison-Miller, but will bring left-over handouts for the nearby areas: Capitol Hill, Pike-Pine, 12th Avenue. Should be a good chance to discuss ideas of joint interest.    BTW: note that after the meeting we can all retire to the nearby Bottleneck Lounge to celebrate their expansion and continue the discussion.)

Miller Community Center, 330 19th Ave. E 98112, 6 - 8 PM, Thursday, September 3rd.   Please join members of the Seattle Planning Commission and the Neighborhood Planning Advisory Committee on for an important community meeting.

These two citizen groups want to hear your thoughts. Come and tell us how the Central Area, Pike/Pine and Capitol Hill has changed since the creation of their Neighborhood Plans. Your comments and input at this meeting will help the City of Seattle complete a status report that will look at how well your neighborhood plan is achieving its goals and strategies.   More details, and links to plan documents are available here.

The resurfacing of Miller Playfield with synthetic turf continues. Previous reports are here and here.

I returned from vacation to find that the field had turned green, and that crews were busy installing the assorted colored lines for the assorted sports: soccer, baseball and lacross (the red lines). The lower Miller parking lot, formerly full of rolls of FieldTurf, is now taken up with about 50 enormous (marked 3000 lbs) bags of something! Some have what looks like ground-up tires spilling out of them, but it's more complicated than that.

Surprisingly (to me, at least) the synthetic turf goes down first, then the "infilll" is added on top! Project Manager Ted Holden notes:

FieldTurf crews are making good progress with their installation.  They expect to complete the inlay of the lines and begin to infill by Thursday.  This should take about a week weather depending.  To expedite the process and to reduce a safety concern I've had, I given permission to completely close off the 'bike path" running east/west by the gymnasium so the infill materials can be moved onto the path and the asphalt area between the basketball court and the gymnasium.  This should speed up the process and get the field open sooner than if the fork lifts had to run between the field and the north parking lot where the material is now stored.  By moving the material closer to the field by extra crew now, that will reduce the hurried traffic past the play area and basketball court during the infill process. It is only for a short period and will expedite the project in the long run.

He then notes:

Parks usually does not do opening celebrations for Major Maintenance projects.  However if the community really, really wants something, I'm sure we can arrange a small function.  Please let me know your thoughts on this.

I, in turn, invite you to send me your thoughts (maybe check with your sports-playing friends), and I'll pass them on to Ted. (E-mail Andrew)

(recall that Nova Alternative High School and the Secondary Bilingual Education Program are moving to the Meany School Building next to Miller Community Center. Here's a chance to welcome them to the neighborhood in a practical manner, by helping clean up the building).

Meany building clean-up

Saturday, August 29^th

9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Come for a few hours or spend the day.

Bring your work gloves, gardening tools, wheel barrows and any other supplies that could be used

 We will be weeding, raking, planting and doing a few extra touches to make the Meany building home for

 Nova and SBOC

 Donations will gladly be accepted for plants and other supplies.

 For any questions, please contact Dora Taylor dora.taylor@gmail.com, 206-853-9790