The Normandy Park City Council discussed public issues including public safety, infrastructure and community development at its meeting on Tuesday, August 13, 2024.
Residents raised concerns about sidewalk accessibility and the inconvenience of fireworks, while the City Council took steps to improve public safety by implementing Flock camera technology.
In addition, the council gave top priority to the creation of a new park and multi-purpose sports field, signalling a renewed focus on community facilities.
Public comments
One speaker thanked the City Council for responding quickly to a request to repair a section of sidewalk after she fell out of her wheelchair while navigating the rough terrain. She then asked that the curb cuts at the crosswalks be painted yellow. She said they should all be yellow to improve visibility, and that there is one in particular along 1st Avenue that is difficult to find when it is covered in fall leaves. She said she would be willing to help purchase the yellow paint, and perhaps some high school students could do the work to fulfill their community service duty.
Another speaker asked the council to reconsider the city’s fireworks policy. He said that since all neighboring cities have banned fireworks, people from other areas are now coming to Normandy Park to set off their fireworks. He and his neighbors are concerned about the fire risk because trees and shrubs are so dry every summer. He said he knows there may be opposition to the idea of changing the fireworks ordinance, but he thinks it’s worth considering.
Mayor’s report
Mayor Eric Zimmerman reported on a recent countywide mayoral meeting to discuss the King County Regional Homelessness Authority (KCRHA). He said the message from the meeting was that King County and Seattle are calling on surrounding cities to do more to help the homeless, including providing land, housing and funding. However, Zimmerman said there was a consensus among mayors that the KCRHA is really struggling to do its job effectively. He said there was general agreement that the authority has not yet found an effective response to homelessness, despite having a significant budget and plenty of time to address the problem.
Flock cameras approved
The council has approved funding for the first year of Flock cameras to combat crime in busy shopping districts. These cameras will be deployed regionally to identify vehicles wanted for crimes, such as getaway cars or stolen cars. Flock cameras are widely used in Federal Way and Des Moines, and when deployed in multiple cities, the system will make it very difficult for criminals to evade police. This pilot program will fund the cameras in busy shopping districts for the first year, and after that time, business owners will decide if it is worth paying for them themselves. If a crime were committed at a store, the cameras would be helpful in catching the perpetrator.
Park improvements prioritized
Council has unilaterally decided to prioritize the creation of a new park on the Heath property. Council member Mike Bishoff argued that this issue should not be put off any longer. He said it has been shelved as unimportant for the past decade and it would be beneficial for everyone to do something about it sooner rather than later. He said the property has a lot of potential. Council will discuss this property, as well as the possible creation of a multi-use sports field, at the October meeting. Initially, both projects will be handed over to the parks department to work out the details.
