October Meeting Minutes written by Ken Knoke

• Saturday November 4th: Megawatts Gathering of Neighbors event will be held at Sealth High School from 12:00 to 3:00 pm. We will have a slide show of HPAC events and a handout for visitors, as well as other visual aids. We'll have a table next to the Highland Park Improvement Club (HPIC). They are the oldest community club in Seattle; their hall on 12th and Holden is available to rent for events such as weddings or parties.
• Tuesday November 7th: ELECTION DAY. Polling place is Highland Park Methodist church at 9th Ave. and Henderson St., 7AM-8PM.
• December 9th, HPIC Christmas Dance. It'll be pot luck and BYOB. All are invited to attend to check out this fantastic community facility. You can rent this space to host events.
• We voted to purchase new signs to promote membership for HPAC. Twenty signs will run around $270. There was a brief discussion about moving meetings to the Highland Park Improvement Club, corner of 11th and Holden.
• Officer elections are coming up: Term of office runs from January 2007 to December 2007. Current officeholders were re-nominated. It is very important to attend the November meeting. You can nominate someone at the November meeting and elections will be held that night. So far the nominees are:
  Chair, Blair Johnson
  Vice Chair, Jim Glassley
  Treasurer, Betsy Harris
  Secretary, Ken Knoke
  
  Please attend the November meeting to vote for your elected officers.

• Toby Crittenden of People for Transit NOW! spoke about King County's PROPOSITION #2 (on the November ballot). This would increase bus service by 20% and create 5 new transit quarters. The buses would run more regularly so essentially a bus schedule would not be needed because they would run more often. It would also eliminate the long wait periods at transfers, making our bus system more user friendly and increase rideshare. Buses would also run more frequently in the early, late and peak hours. (Approx 18 hours a day). To pay for this, there would be a .point one percent increase (.1%) in sales tax for King County. New buses would be hybrid diesel. Existing buses would extend the hours they would run and fares would remain the same.

Opponents of the proposition at truthintaxation@aol.com were invited but didn't respond.

• Grant / Partnership with WCCDA update: The grant money has been approved at this time. HPAC will be receiving a grant to place 4 trash bins at various locations in the area. Locations are still yet to be determined so come and give your thoughts on where they should be at our next meeting. They will not be at bus stops as that is a SDOT transportation issue. Approved are the 4 waste containers which will be serviced by the city and the money that we asked for to hold a "Summit" meeting in the spring.
  With our grant we will be holding a Summit meeting sometime in the first few months of 2007. The idea is to bring together neighboring community groups such as Riverview and Highland Park Improvement Club to collectively see what we need as a neighborhood. Look for more information at upcoming meetings.
• HPAC's website: The new domain is highlandpk.net (you are there!) Dina will archive past meeting material.Thank you Dina for all your hard work to get this accomplished.
• Highland Park Improvement Club is the oldest community club in Seattle. They are hoping to increase attendance and meet the 2nd Wednesday of the month. HPIC wants to re-connect with the community to build membership. Cost is only $7 per year.
• Ken Berry, a new attendee of HPAC, brought up the issue of planes flying at low altitude, approx 500 ft. Our neighborhood is at about 430 ft above sea level, leaving very little room for error or maneuvering. It's not the noise as much as the low altitude. Planes are required to be below 1100 ft due to SeaTac's commercial traffic. Most pilots would rather fly on the low side of 1100ft so they don't risk losing the license, which put them at about 800 feet above us. If you are also concerned about this issue, please contact Ken Berry at onaoko1@comcast.net
  

• The past month has been fairly quiet in Highland Park.
• On 13th Ave between Thistle and Elmgrove, a renter has been working on cars as a business and there is concern about the oil spills in the street being a hazard. 9445 9th Ave SW also a site of car repairs. As many as 9 cars are on or in front of premises. Parking enforcement should be alerted to address these matters.
• Weed and Seed emphasis patrols seem to be working. Not much activity recently.
• The store on 16th and Henderson has been closed temporarily. Rumor has it that it has been sold although it hasn't been confirmed. Work is being done to get the building back into shape. No one is sure what it will re-open as.
• Rental house on 8800 block of 10th Ave is known for having loud parties late into the night. (2 doors north of Henderson) Please document this if you are also bothered by it.
• City is working on updating website so people can report issues of concern.
• 9011 apartment complex has been recently remodeled and sold. New owner works for the city and will hopefully make a positive impact. Officer Adonis is keeping a watchful eye on the complex.
• A recent roll over accident at 8th and Cloverdale. This intersection is one that is in a valley between hills on the way to the Dog Park at Westcrest. People need to treat these as 4 way stops. Neighbors concerned with this intersection can start the process of having a traffic circle put in.
• 16th and Roxbury. SANE computer store has had recent break-ins since the all ages club opened a few doors down on 16th.
  

Ken writes: "On a personal note, I would like to thank everyone who reads and responds. It's nice to know the information is getting out to people."
"By they way, if you know someone who's thinking about Real Estate and could use my services, please give me a call with their name and number. I'll be happy to follow up with them."
Contact Ken Kenoke, Realtor