After a valiant fight to recover trails that had been part of the original public-process-approved plans for Westcrest, the Seattle City Council voted not to include the lower trails as part of the new Westcrest design. When it comes time for re-election votes, don't forget how your councilmembers voted!
Subj: colainfo Westcrest OLA loses the Loop Trail Date: 2/7/2003 9:10:53 AM Pacific Standard Time From: cola@coladog.org [On Monday, Feb. 3], the City Council voted 6-3 and refused to include the lower loop trail as part of the Westcrest Park OLA. We are disappointed that a majority of the Council refused to recognize countless hours of volunteer efforts from members of the West Seattle Community Action Network (WeCAN), numerous public meetings and a community consensus on the lower loop trail. This would have added a special Off-Leash exercise experience for those many neighborhood users who enjoy walking along the lower trails at Westcrest Park. The Seattle Times has a small article in the Local Section of the 02/04 paper. It basically sums up the council vote, though it does not report how each council member voted. A link to the article is provided at the COLA web site. Visit www.coladog.org and click on Seattle Times under news and information on the home page. Heidi Wills, Jim Compton, and Nick Licata expressed initial support early on and then wavered, changed their minds and voted against the lower loop trail. I believe Council President Peter Steinbrueck's unrelenting hostility to the lower loop trail was a deciding factor in their flip-flop and the negative votes from the council members. Please feel free to let these and the other three council members know how you feel about their negative vote. At this point I would like to ask that you email and thank Jan Drago, Judy Nicastro, and Margaret Pageler for their unwavering support. All three spoke in strong terms of their support for Seattle's Off-Leash Areas, and unselfishly spoke up in their support of the lower loop trail despite insistent opposition from Peter Steinbrueck and Richard Conlin. Finally, we would like to thank you and the hundreds of supporter that contacted city council over the past two weeks. It is only because of your active participation and vocal support that our Off-Leash Areas exist today. Folks who are interested in discussing off-leash area issues online are invited to join the COLA email discussion list by sending a blank email to offleash-subscribe@coladog.org . Please be sure to leash your dogs when you head out along the lower wooded trails at Westcrest Park. Thanks and I'll see you in the dog park! Jerry Malmo, Chair Citizens for Off-Leash Areas Voted For the Lower Loop Trail Jan Drago (206) 684-8801 Jan.Drago@Seattle.gov Judy Nicastro (206) 684-8806 Judy.Nicastro@Seattle.gov Margaret Pageler (206) 684-8807 Margaret.Pageler@Seattle.gov Voted Against the Lower Loop Trail Jim Compton (206) 684-8802 Jim.Compton@Seattle.gov Richard Conlin (206) 684-8805 Richard.Conlin@Seattle.gov Nick Licata (206) 684-8803 Nick.Licata@Seattle.gov Richard McIver (206) 684-8800 Richard.McIver@Seattle.gov Peter Steinbrueck (206) 684-8804 Peter.Steinbrueck@Seattle.gov Heidi Wills (206) 684-8808 Heidi.Wills@Seattle.gov Council Message Center council@Seattle.gov (206) 684-8888 Call this number to leave a message for any council member. -------------------------------------- A BRIEF HISTORY ON THIS ISSUE: -------------------------------------- Subj: colainfo February 3 Council Vote on OLA Boundary Date: 1/29/2003 10:42:14 PM Pacific Standard Time From: jamalmo@qwest.net Westcrest Park OLA boundary changes are scheduled for a vote before the full City Council this Monday February 3, at 2:00p.m. Correction: It is a business meeting, not a public hearing, so testimony will not be taken. You can best help by emailing and calling your council members. If you have not called and sent an email [to the council, emails below] - now is the time, be sure to do both. Also, please attend this important hearing to voice your support for Seattle's Off-Leash areas. Even if you do not frequent Westcrest, this issue is critical for all Seattle OLA users. If you can't attend, call again on Monday Feb 3 to remind your council members to support Council Bill #114406. People from all over the city who oppose off-leash areas are literally flooding the council with negative messages on off-leash areas. We need to remind the council that OLA users are one of the largest and active park user groups in the city. ------------------- Subj: colainfo Westcrest Park Offleash Trails Date: 1/2/2003 2:51:14 PM Pacific Standard Time From: pauline.m.marshall@boeing.com WHY DOES THE OFFLEASH AREA NEED YOUR HELP? The Parks Department released its final design for Westcrest Park on July 23rd. The downside is that in the new plan, the OLA does not include any access to the trails for off-leash use. This is very disappointing to WeCAN (Westcrest Community Action Network) and the dozens of volunteers who held numerous community meetings and put in countless hours of volunteer time to improve the OLA and trails. The loop trail in the mixed deciduous forest was included in the original plan. However, when Westcrest became part of the Pro Parks levy, a new round of public meetings was held and the Park Commissioners took the recommendation of the project manager and EXCLUDED the loop trail from the final plan. THANK YOU! WOOF! -------------------- Subj: colainfo COLA Call To Action! Date: 1/24/2003 3:53:56 AM Pacific Standard Time From: jamalmo@qwest.net Off-Leash Area Supporters As you may know, the Seattle Westcrest OLA is currently undergoing a redesign that at one point included the lower wooded trails. Parks Department excluded the trails from the final plan but this afternoon, Seattle City Council Members Jan Drago and Judy Nicastro amended the bill to include the lower trails. There was vocal opposition from a number of folks, including Council President Peter Steinbrueck. Mr. Steinbrueck voted against the amended bill, and said he would "urge his fellow council members to vote against the amended bill" when it goes before the full council in two weeks. Mr. Steinbrueck said he received many emails opposing the OLA trails and only a couple emails in support of OLA trails. Opposition is building. Now is the time for action. The bill will go before the entire City Council in two weeks. Please contact the Seattle City Council and ask them to support Council Bill #114406 that includes the lower loop trail in the Westcrest Park Off-Leash Area. Here are some points you can mention:
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