Last night’s monthly meeting of the Madrona Community Council was a sober one, as officers expressed concern over the lack of community participation and the fear that the council could potentially cease to exist.

“It’s disheartening,” said outgoing MCC president Cynthia Stross, who said the council was “in crisis”. “I don’t know how to increase people’s commitment to any form of involvement.”

Tuesday night’s meeting was supposed to be a venue to accept nominations for new positions on the council, but with only five people in attendance the nominations had to be postponed until next month’s meeting. The council currently has three open positions: president, vice president and treasurer. 

Stross said she was surprised that no one had even expressed interest in the open positions, given that it is a low time commitment and an easy way to be involved in the close-knit Madrona community.

If the council were to dissolve, it would almost certainly mean the end of Madrona neighborhood traditions like the hanging flower baskets, Mayfair and some of the Halloween festivities. The Madrona BBQ has already been discontinued due to lack of organizers for the end-of-summer event.

The end of the council would also mean the end of the community newsletter, which is already in jeopardy. We wrote last month about how the fate of Madrona News is in question with long-time editor Kim Herber set to retire after this year. The newsletter is also running at a deficit and at its current rate will be $5000 in debt each year. 

The council will take nominations from the floor for the open positions at the November 2 meeting, and encouraged anyone with any interest in the positions to attend and learn more about what the council does.

What do you think it will take to get Madrona residents more involved with the community council?

The streets of Madison Valley have been invaded by a variety of big construction machinery. Scores of dump trucks are hauling away dirt every day from Washington Park. Big excavators have been digging deep holes along MLK. And today crews are preparing to launch a large tunnel boring machine under 28th Avenue East.

It’s all part of Seattle Public Utility’s efforts to fix Madison Valley flooding problems once and for all by providing massive new capacity to catch and store rainwater that would otherwise overwhelm the city’s old sewage system.

It’s been almost four years since valley resident Kate Fleming was killed in her basement by a flash flood that roared down the hillsides around Madison Street. The first part of the city’s multi-million dollar project to fix the problem was completed this summer with the opening of an expanded storage basin at 30th & Denny Way.

But now construction is well under way on phase 2, which will add a big new pipeline on the west side of MLK, directing runoff down to a large new storage tank next to the ballfields in the south end of the Arboretum. So far crews have dug two holes 25 to 30 feet deep at MLK & Madison and 28th & Roy. A tunneling machine is now on site, and crews are preparing to lower it down inside the hole closest to Madison, running it north until it hits the hole that has been dug at Roy.

Tunnel boring machine on site, ready to be lowered into the first hole

Inside of the hole where the boring machine will be launched

The next step of that process is under way now, with crews digging another trench in the small triangle of city land at MLK & E. Arthur Place. Over the next year, crews will repeat that process four more times, digging holes, launching and retrieving the boring machine, eventually creating a 48 inch pipeline stretching from 27th & John to the new storage tank north of Madison in the hillside corner of Washington Park. 

Massive amounts of earth are also being moved to create that storage tank. The hillside has been retained to form the west walls of the structure, and crews are now digging down below that and make room for the 2.1 million gallons of water storage that is required for the project. By this time next year concrete will be poured to create the shell of the tank, and it will finally be landscaped to fit in with the rest of the park.

But for residents who may be tiring of beeping, shaking, and the sound of heavy machinery, hang on. There’s about 9 months more of that still to come. 

Excavation under way on the water storage tank in Washington Park

what is going on between jefferson-cherry on 22nd ave?? tons of cops and a fire truck…happened between 550 and 610 pm

Last week we told you how the Central District and surrounding areas fared pretty well in the lean new city budget, preserving existing levels of service in parks, police, and fire protection. But the folks at the Seattle Neighborhood Group have dug into the details and found that some of the programs they provide are at risk of being cut.

The Seattle Neighborhood Group is a social service agency that promotes public safety, helps people with addictions, and helps to organize neighborhoods to build stronger communities. Although they serve the whole city, their headquarters is on Yesler near 18th Avenue.

The mayor’s proposed budget cuts $60,000 in their community building contract, which they’ve used to fund park concerts, community barbecues, community gardens, and more. In an email, SNG’s Executive Director  Kay Godefroy says that they’ll be unable to continue those services in 2011 if the full cut remains in the final budget. She’s asking people to contact the city council and urge restoration of at least $30,000, which would be enough to continue at a smaller scale than in previous years.

But it’s not all bad news. The GOTS program, which works to take long-term drug addicts off the streets and into treatment, is recommended for full funding in the mayor’s budget. That’s the first time in recent years that the program has received mayoral support.

As part of an action-packed week in Madrona, Wilridge Winery will be celebrating their fall release this week with sampling and sales of their wines.

The winery at 1416 34th Ave will be open Wednesday, October 6, and Thursday, October 7, to feature the release of Wilridge’s 2008 Red Mountain Melange. Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate gave this wine 91 points and called it “a classy red blend.”

Also new for the party are the 2008 Sangiovese and the 2007 Old Vine Nebbiolo. The last few bottles of dessert wine from their new Estate Vineyard will be on sale, only available at this event.

Finally, the party is also a rally in support of Initiative 1100, the proposed vast legal changes to alcohol distribution in Washington State. Representatives from the Yes on 1100 campaign will be on hand to distribute literature and answer questions about the initiative. 

Lots going on this week – who is planning to attend?

Here’s the full report from Seattle’s East Precinct on a sunny Tuesday:

There was one surprise in the draft list of projects slated to receive funds from the Parks Levy. While we’ve talked a lot about the 12th & James Woonerf, the proposed park 19th & Madison was news to us and many of our readers in the Miller Park area.

A query to the Seattle Parks Department produced the 19th & Madison project application, which proposes for the city to buy the vacant lot on the southwest corner of the intersection and hold it for future development of a small park.

The corner was the historical home of a neighborhood fruit stand. When the brothers who ran the stand passed away in the previous decade, the property was bought by developers who started the permitting process for a mixed-use building on that site. But like so many others, that project died in the turmoil of the great recession.

Project plans call for a “tranquil green oasis” in that urban stretch of Madison Street. It would be fully accessible to all the neighbors near it, including the many residents of the nearby Hearing, Speech & Deafness Center (HSDC) and the Seattle Association for Jews with Disabilities.

The property is a small 5,000 square feet, but the project planners want to take advantage of the angled corner of the lot to create “interesting streetscape features” and make good use of the space available.

HSDC has secured a one-year option to buy the property for $450,000, and will transfer that option to the city if the project is funded. The remaining portion of the $473,000 project budget would pay for administrative costs and legal fees on the property transaction.

It’s important to note that the project is only funded for property acquisition and not park development. Organizers say they have an offer of pro-bono design services from a landscape architect to design the details of the park. But that would still leave a multi-hundred-thousand dollar bill to construct the park and make the project a reality. Funding for that is not identified in the project documents, but will likely require a future application through one of the city opportunity funds.

The  magazine man is making his rounds again.  Charging for Seattle Child which is a free publication.

Oprah, President Obama and the debut last week of Waiting for Superman have put education in the national spotlight.

To rally the community around improving public education, the League of Education Voters is bringing former NBA star and Mayor of Sacramento Kevin Johnson to Seattle to speak at Mount Zion Baptist Church on October 7 at 7 p.m.

Mayor Johnson will speak to a diverse group of local students, parents and community leaders about how communities can make a difference in their schools and help all students have the opportunity to attend college.

 From the NBA to Education Reform

Kevin Johnson, Mayor of Sacramento & Founder of St. HOPE

Thursday, October 7 at 7 p.m. (Mayor Johnson speech begins at 7:20 p.m.)

Mount Zion Baptist Church

1634 19th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122

Mayor Johnson founded St. HOPE Public Schools, which help inner city kids get to college through community engagement, quality educational opportunities, and after-school programs.

The public is invited to RSVP for this free event at www.educationvoters.org.

As one new home furnishings store moves into Madrona this fall, another one is celebrating seven years of doing business in the neighborhood.

Decor on 34th, the home furnishings store at 1421 34th Avenue, is hosting its 7th birthday party this Thursday, October 7.

From 5-8 p.m., customers can swing by for refreshments, a peek at new items and discounts and specials in honor of the shop’s anniversary. 

The party is one of a few events going on in the neighborhood this week – stay tuned for details on the others.