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Neighborhoods
Neighborhood Street Fund:
What would you build with $1,240,000? Sidewalks, Traffic Calming measures, traffic signals, new pavement for a local street? Your neighbors proposed these types of projects for funding through the Bridging the Gap Levy and the Neighborhood Street Fund. Together, Seattle Neighbors decided how to spend $1.2 million available for neighborhood transportation projects in 2008. It's too late to apply for a project this year, but we look forward to your recommendations for 2009's Neighborhood Street Fund.
Neighborhood Plans:
In 1999, the City Council finished the approval process for 38 neighborhood plans created by nearly 20,000 citizens. The plans identify actions needed to ensure that each neighborhood will continue to thrive and improve as Seattle grows over the next 20 years in ways that meet our commitments under the State's Growth Management Act. In the years since approval, much progress has been made on implementing the projects identified in the neighborhood plans. On this site, you can read the plan for your neighborhood, see what's happening with projects currently underway, learn who to contact for information and how you can get involved.
Updating our Neighborhood Plans
Over the course of this year I've worked with the Department of Neighborhoods (DON), the Department of Planning and Development (DPD), the Office of Policy Management and the Mayor's Office on how to best create an effective update process for Seattle 38 neighborhood plans. We now have a proposal to consider.
Here's a brief summary:
We've added a Neighborhood Plan Advisory Committee (NPAC). This is very important to me as way to make sure neighborhoods guide every aspect of the updates. Similar to the group that advised on the Neighborhood Plan creation process in the 1990's, NPAC would serve as an advisory body throughout the update process. NPAC would help design outreach strategies to underrepresented communities, provide advice, and help develop implementation strategies once plans are adopted. Each of the 13 neighborhood District Councils would appoint a representative, joined by two members of the Planning Commission and seven at-large appointments from the Mayor and City Council.
Immediately this fall a city-wide plan and planning area status review will commence. This is a triage and reporting phase designed to gather all types of information that will essentially create a snapshot of where a neighborhood is right now compared to 10 years ago, including demographic shifts, zoning, housing units and affordability, transportation upgrades in the past 10 years, new parks, and a neighborhood plan implementation report. The status reports should help neighborhood advocates and the city recognize gaps and inform decisions about whether to update a particular plan.
The order of plan updates has been an ongoing debate. While the triage and reporting phase is carried out through 2009, light rail will start rolling through Rainier Valley and Beacon Hill to Downtown. Three neighborhoods in Southeast Seattle with light rail stations and significant multi-family and commercial area around them are about to become very popular, very fast -- Beacon Hill, McClellan and Othello. Updates of the plans for these three areas would get under way immediately.
Based on community input and quality, good-faith staff work, we now have three documents. Council will consider:
I encourage you to review them, and I'd be interested in hearing what you think. I've scheduled a public hearing to hear directly from you: Mon., Sept. 8, 5:30 p.m. in City Council Chambers.
Following that, the Planning, Land Use & Neighborhoods Committee will discuss and consider adoption of the proposals and releasing the funds on Wed., Sept. 10, 9:30 a.m. in City Council Chambers. The full City Council could take a final vote Mon. Sept. 22, 2 p.m. in City Council Chambers.
My goal is to ensure an update process that carries forward the best elements of citizen engagement and partnership from the city-wide planning effort of 10 years ago while bringing more varied voices into the fun. Ultimately, updating the neighborhood plans is a chance for us all to recommit to the vision of safe, affordable, sustainable neighborhoods for ourselves and as a legacy.
Helpful Links:
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The Neighborhood Matching Fund:
The Neighborhood Matching Fund provides money to Seattle neighborhood groups and organizations for a broad array of neighborhood-initiated improvement, organizing or planning projects. A neighborhood group may be established just to undertake a project--the group does not need to be "incorporated."
Once a project is approved, the community's contribution of volunteer labor, materials, professional services, or cash will be "matched" by cash from the Neighborhood Matching Fund.
Neighborhood Service Centers
Thirteen Neighborhood Service Centers link City government to Seattle's neighborhoods. Some are payment sites for Seattle City Light, combined utilities, parking tickets, pet licenses, and even passport application processing in some locations.
Click here to locate a Service Center near you.
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Community Technology Program
The Community Technology Program in the Department of Information Technology helps fund community programs working on technology literacy and closing the digital divide.
Seattle has recently launched a pilot program to provide free wireless internet (Wi-Fi) to Seattle residents. Currently, residents of the University District and Columbia City are under the net of free Wi-Fi as well as several Seattle Parks, all Seattle public libraries, and the Seattle Center. Click here if you'd like more information on the Seattle Wi-Fi pilot program or call the Wi-Fi info line at (206) 684-8070.
Every year the Bill Wright Technology Matching Fund awards grants of up to $20,000 to community organizations for projects which 1) help increase technology access and literacy, or 2) use information technology to increase civic engagement. A total of $175,000 was awarded this year. The grant deadline was March 10th. If you didn't make it this year, you are welcome to apply next year.
The point of contact in DoIT is Delia Burke (206) 233-2751.
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P-Patch Program
The Department of Neighborhoods' P-Patch Program, in conjunction with the not-for-profit P-Patch Trust, provides community garden space for residents of 44 Seattle neighborhoods.
Click here to visit the P-Patch web site.
Customer Service Bureau:
The Customer Service Bureau exists to help you get information, solve problems, or resolve complaints regarding any City of Seattle department. Call 684-CITY (2489), the one-stop phone number for all your City questions.
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Neighborhood Historic Preservation Program:
The Seattle Neighborhood Historic Preservation Program is responsible for the administration of 350 historic sites as well as seven historic districts scattered throughout Seattle. Additionally, the Neighborhood Historic Preservation Program oversees the designation of new historic sights or vessels within the City of Seattle.
Race Relations and Social Justice:
Seattle is becoming increasingly diverse. As we grow it is important to remember that all people are valued regardless of their background. The City wide Race and Social Justice Initiative has become a key component of the Department of Neighborhoods to help us build strong united communities. The accomplishments of the Race and Social Justice Initiative so far include: The creation of the Neighborhood Matching Fund, increased diversity on Seattle boards and commissions, and an increased sensitivity to the issues of multi-cultural communities.
If you're interested in getting involved in the Seattle Race and Social Justice Initiative contact Elliot Bronstein at elliot.bronstein@seattle.gov.
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