The city is sprucing up Counterbalance Park (no pun intended).

Over the last week nine new trees have appeared at the gravel and concrete laden ‘urban park,’ most of which have yet to be planted.

The new trees make me wonder if we should trade in some of that gravel for fresh grass? What do you think?

Just in time to enjoy the nice(r) weather, the city of Seattle—or at least its Department of Transportation—is asking its residents to cut two car trips a week in July by taking the Walk Bike Ride Challenge, which runs from July 4 to July 31.

Maybe for someone like me, who drives my car nearly everywhere, this might be a good incentive to follow the example of our bike riding mayor and take out my two wheels, or use public transportation more, or walk, whether it’s for work or play.

Seattleites can register any time to start cutting car trips as early as Independence Day. Each time someone reports a week they are entered into a drawing to win one of two $250 REI gift certificates, a one night stay at the Pan Pacific Hotel Seattle, or a $175 Zipcar package.

Businesses can go to the same Web site and pledge to support their employees in taking the challenge.

Walk Bike Ride is a multi-year initiative. As part of the initiative, the city will update the Transit Master Plan, implement projects like the Dexter Avenue N buffered bicycle lanes project, keep freight moving, engage the public, focus on future funding, protect and expand transit, integrate Walk Bike Ride principles into neighborhood planning, and promote sustainable transit-oriented communities with thriving business districts.

As part of an ongoing effort to make crime reports more readily available to the public, the city and the Seattle Police Department have created an interactive map that displays all manner of crimes, including robberies, homicides, to theft and graffiti.

This screenshot shows incidents recorded in Queen Anne and Magnolia from Tuesday, June 22 to Tuesday, June 29, and almost all fall under the category of property crime/theft.

Different crimes are represented by color-coded icons. And according to the city, crimes should be visible on the map within 12 hours of being first reported to police. (For up to the minute updates, see SeattleCrime.com’s interactive crime map). Along with the map of a particular incident location, a pop-up dialogue box also offers a brief description of the crime and a police report number that can be used to look up the report on the SPD  crime report website unveiled last month.Q

Queen Anne View reports on most crimes in the neighborhood, including car prowls, vandalism and break-ins. However, we don’t always find out about everything. If you know of a crime in our neighborhood, please email us at tips@queenanneview.com

Last week we reported that Metro is considering replacing the city’s warn down fleet of electric trolley buses with diesel ones, which are cheaper to produce and thus less of a budget constraint.

The county is holding an open house tonight, Tuesday, June 22 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Plymouth Congregational Church, located at 1217 6th Ave, and invites the public to take part in the discussion. The meeting will cover the Trolley Bus System Evaluation, a study that will examine the 14-route trolley system and “help the county make an informed decision about the best vehicle technology to use on these routes as the current trolley buses wear out.” For more information, check out the City of Seattle’s electric trolley bus network data (.pdf).

Two more Parks and Recreation furlough days are coming up this week and next, on Friday, May 28 and Tuesday, June 1, as part of ten unpaid off days City of Seattle employees are taking this year due in an attempt to help fill the budget gap.

Seattle Parks and Recreation has worked hard to schedule furlough days in a way that has the smallest possible impact on customers, and that provides as much coverage as possible. Parks will not take furloughs in July and August – the peak season for park users.

The following facilities and services will be closed on Friday, May 28:

• Grounds maintenance
• Community centers (except child care and late night programs, which will still operate)
• Swimming pools
• Environmental Learning Centers
• Lifelong Recreation (except Food and Fitness programs, which will still operate)
• Business Service Center

The following facilities and services will be closed on Tuesday, June 1:

• Administrative offices (communications, correspondence, Park Board support, web management, public outreach, human resources, finance and administration)
• Planning and Development Division
• Magnuson Park office

All Youth Violence Prevention Initiative sites, also known as Extended Hours Program sites, will furlough today, Wednesday, May 26. In addition, all facilities will be closed on Monday, May 31 for Memorial Day. On both furlough days there will be no trash pick-up, and no bathroom cleaning or maintenance. Park maintenance staff will be on duty on Memorial Day to empty trash cans and clean restrooms.

“We’ve done everything we can to limit the impacts of the furlough on our patrons, customers and visitors; however, the public will experience parks with diminished maintenance on Friday, May 28,” said Christopher Williams, Acting Superintendent. “If park patrons encounter overflowing trash cans, we encourage you to pack out your own trash. We are asking the community to help us keep our parks clean on the few days this year that we are not able to clean them ourselves.”

The city of Seattle legalized backyard cottages this last November, and is now giving owners of previously built, unauthorized cottages a grace period to legalize the structures without penalties.

Homeowners have until Wednesday, June 30 to apply for a building permit, and Friday, December 31 to obtain final inspection of the unit.

Owners who submit for a building permit before June 30, and receive a final inspection before December 30, 2010, will not be subject to violation penalties. Owners who do not take advantage of this grace period opportunity and are found to be in violation may be subject to civil penalties including per-day penalties and a one-time penalty of $5,000.

Permit fees for backyard cottages will vary. It often takes several weeks to obtain a permit, so please plan accordingly.

For information on permit requirements for backyard cottages, it is recommended that owners begin by reading DPD’s Client Assistance Memo (CAM) 116B, Establishing a Backyard Cottage. Additional information on permit requirements for backyard cottages can be found on the project website, or by contacting the Permit Specialist line at (206) 684-8850. For further information about legalizing a backyard cottage that is currently occupied by tenants, please contact Diane Davis, dianec.davis@seattle.gov.

The strange summer-to-fall weather we’ve been having brings back memories of the beautiful snow that fell on Seattle streets last year, and the weeks of immobility and difficulty navigating the roads that followed. In preparation for another out of character winter, the City of Seattle has gotten a head start on this years’ snow response plan. In a press release sent out yesterday, the city announced its new plans for this season’s potential winter storms and snowfall (including the use of more salt and the hiring of a new street maintenance director who has considerable snow removal experience).

Take a look at the full press release:

City Debuts New Snow Plan for Seattle

Applies national best practices, hires new Street Maintenance director

SEATTLE – The city of Seattle today announced the completion of a comprehensive effort to revamp and upgrade its winter storm readiness and response plan. In addition, the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) welcomes aboard Monty Sedlak as the new director of Street Maintenance.

“Based on nationwide best practices, our new plan will ensure Seattle is ready for any kind of winter storm,” said SDOT Director Grace Crunican. “With an aggressive, high-tech oriented approach and new leadership, SDOT will keep people and goods moving in Seattle during challenging winter weather.”

Plan highlights include:

-A new approach to snow that includes an expanded use of salt brine and salt, and limited use of sand;

-Significant improvements to facilities and fleet to include GPS technology and weather awareness;

-An improved organizational structure and significant training for winter storms;

-A commitment to better communicate with the people of Seattle and agency partners; and

-Performance measures to objectively evaluate accomplishments.

Designed in consultation with King County Metro Transit, city agencies and other key partners, the plan will facilitate a coordinated response that keeps buses moving and critical institutions accessible, including hospitals. Businesses and residents are reminded of their obligation to shovel sidewalks near their properties.

Mr. Sedlak, formerly the Road and Bridge Division manager for Arapahoe County, Colo., possesses significant winter storm experience and will be a key leader in applying SDOT’s new snow response procedures as of October 26. To learn more about the plan and the new snow map, visit http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/winterweather.htm.

The Seattle Department of Transportation builds, maintains and operates Seattle’s $12 billion transportation infrastructure. To further Mayor Nickels’ goal to get Seattle moving, the department manages short- and long-term investments in streets, bridges, pavement and trees, that better connect the city with the region.