[cid:image001.png@01DAE909.AAA9C080] The Vuecrest View Newsletter, August 2024 Urban wildfires near Vuecrest a stark reminder of fire dangers! Recently there were two wildfires very near our Vuecrest Community. Thankfully the Bellevue Fire Dept. was quick to respond and kept the fires from involving homes, structures or large trees in the area that would have caused even more damage and risk for the community. Normally we only see these stories on the news and they're happening far away from us, but not anymore. It was a stark reminder of how quickly something like this can happen, so we thought it would be a good idea to provide a few reminders of what we all can do to minimize fires happening in Vuecrest (keep reading below). [cid:image025.png@01DAE91A.2984C700] [cid:image004.png@01DAE909.AAA9C080] [cid:image005.png@01DAE909.AAA9C080] The reminder is simple - It's super important to properly maintain your landscape so it doesn't become a fire hazard. We all have dry lawns and plantings that have probably seen better days. Look around the exterior of your home and if you have any dry, dying or dead grass, plantings of all kinds - it's time to do the following; * Create defensible space around your home by; * Remove any/all dying or dead plantings immediately * Keep non-watered grass areas mowed at 3" (inches) or less * Keep your overall landscape plantings trimmed and away from the house or any other structures * Remove wood or other clutter from around the outside of your home or sheds Hopefully by doing these very simple things you can avoid plantings going from this to this in a matter of seconds! [cid:image006.png@01DAE909.AAA9C080] Good Neighbor Compliance Committee updates Since the Vuecrest Fine and Enforcement Policy became effective in June 2024, the Board developed a process to help engage neighbors, track and bring potential issues/violations to resolution via an updated Good Neighbor Compliance committee. Below is a visual to better understand what the committee does and how the process works. Chris Bodiford, former Vuecrest President, has agreed to chair this new committee. The next Good Neighbor Committee meeting will be August 26th Please contact Chris at goodneighbor@vuecrest.net<mailto:goodneighbor@vuecrest.net> if you have interest in joining this fun, helpful committee or have a concern you need help. Hope to see you at the next meeting! [A diagram of a company Description automatically generated with medium confidence] City of Bellevue Responds to Vuecrest on Traffic Safety Vuecrest community has been vocal to the City of Bellevue, asking for enhanced safety measures to be taken at the roundabout at 100th Ave NE & Belfair Lane. Since installation of the roundabout, Vuecrest residents have noted cars traveling south on 100th and entering the roundabout at excessive speeds. The City of Bellevue has heard our concerns and is taken action. During the week of August 5th, they are installing new flashing yield signs on 100th Ave NE & Belfair Lane. Vuecrest residents have also requested once the new signage is up, the City of Bellevue Traffic and Engineering coordinate with Street Maintenance to trim trees to enhance driver visibility approaching the new signage and roundabout. The City has responded they will further assess this concern. The following photos were submitted to the City to highlight the needed changes. [cid:image026.png@01DAE91A.2984C700][cid:image027.png@01DAE91A.2984C700][cid:image028.png@01DAE91A.2984C700] REMINDER: August Vuecrest Board meeting The next Board meeting is Thursday, August 8th, at 6:00 -7:00 PM PT Owners are always welcome to attend. Join Zoom Meeting click here<https://us02web.zoom.us/j/5687915826?pwd=b1c5L0phbEx2TXV3Z1EvMm1PSnlQZz09&omn=86334348079> Meeting ID: 568 791 5826 Passcode: 962269 Upcoming 2024 Monthly Board and Annual Meeting schedule * August 8th 6-7pm, Zoom virtual call * September 5th 6-7pm, Zoom virtual call * October 3rd 6-7pm, Zoom virtual call * November 7th 6-7pm, Zoom virtual call * November 12th 6-7pm, Vuecrest Community Annual Meeting, Zoom virtual call * December 5th 6-7pm, Zoom virtual call Vuecrest Social activities * Saturday, September14th * Vuecrest annual pic nic for Vuecrest Community members * Saturday, August 17th, 2-4pm: * Vuecrest summer ice cream truck will return and have free ice cream for Vuecrest Community members * Listen for the music and visit the truck for some great ice cream [cid:image029.png@01DAE91A.2984C700] Vuecrest Street Light Cleaning in progress The crews will be onsite the next couple of weeks doing several projects around Vuecrest Community including; * Street lights and post cleaning to keep them looking their best * Brick walls being re-sealed to protect against weather and other damage * Vuecrest entrance signs being refurbished so they stay shiny and welcoming for years to come! * Trimming or removal of overgrown plantings from areas to help improve intersection sightlines [cid:image030.png@01DAE91A.2984C700] Trash/Recycle/Yard waste tote etiquette Here's a few reminders regarding trash/recycle/yard waste tote etiquette in the Vuecrest community; * Totes should be put out the day before collection and then pulled back in the day after collection * Totes should be stored on your property in a place not visible from the street * Place totes at or nearest the end of your driveway for collection only * Secure all bin lids in the down position, especially the garbage bin to ensure lids are down and garbage is contained and helps keep birds and other critters from making a mess before collection * Ask a neighbor to put your totes out or bring them in if you are planning to be out of town * Never leave totes out on the street for an extended period of time * Promptly clean-up any trash or other debris that may have occurred near your property during collection day Visit Republic Services Bellevue <https://www.republicservices.com/municipality/bellevue-wa> for more information and multilanguage translations. Thank you! [A group of trash cans Description automatically generated] [A group of hands holding up letters Description automatically generated] Safety Matters, Mike Wittman, Vuecrest Safety Committee Lead The focus of this article is "Vehicle Speed and the Invincibility of Youth". We currently have two radar speed detection trailers provided by the City of Bellevue in the neighborhood. We are hoping that the strategic location of these devices will encourage both inside and outside of the neighborhood vehicular drivers to slow down. We have two carts for four weeks. They will remain in their current locations for two weeks, and then will be relocated within the neighborhood for another two weeks. The one on Vineyard Crest is (in my opinion) pointed in the wrong direction, as Vineyard seems to be a favorite route for cut-through traffic heading west, and I have asked that it be turned around, facing East. The one on Evergreen seems well-situated as it is near the crest of that road, pointed east. Evergreen also seems to be a favorite cut-through for those heading to Medina or West Clyde Hill. Both trailers have a "Slow Down" message if a driver is exceeding 25 mph. (Note that the City of Bellevue has an initiative to eventually reduce neighborhood speeds to 20 mph throughout the City). So, why the focus of "Vehicle Speed and the Invincibility of Youth?" Your author has observed that the use of E-bikes (and in a few cases, golf carts) has increased in our neighborhood over the years, and many riders of these personal motorized vehicles are relatively young. They often ride together, more than one abreast, have music playing and are freely chatting with their fellow riders, astride of them. They seem somewhat invincible to the dangers of the speed at which they are travelling, and I worry that this could be a disaster waiting to happen - with the possibility of one of our neighbors backing out of a driveway unaware of smaller vehicles arriving, or of a dog on or off-leash feeling threatened by a fast-moving bike and reacting in an unpredictable way. I was personally once surprised by a neighborhood dog while riding road bikes in my younger years with a group in Spokane, well before the advent of E-bikes. A dog came out seemingly from nowhere, barking and feeling threatened or excited, who knows. Unfortunately, it collided with my front wheel, I took a tumble but was relatively unhurt and then I went looking for the injured dog in hopes of finding it's family. I would hate for the opposite to be true. This is just to say, please counsel your children about safe riding practices. Stop signs mean stop, then proceed. Speed limits apply to all vehicles, no matter what size. (Washington recognizes three classes of electric bicycles: Class 1 e-bikes are pedal-assist only, up to 20 mph; Class 2 e-bikes offer throttle-assisted power also up to 20 mph; and Class 3 e-bikes are pedal-assist up to 28 mph.) Kids just like to have fun, and zipping around a safe neighborhood like ours can be a lot of fun, but please consider your children's safety and coach them up on safe riding practices! [cid:image021.png@01DAE909.AAA9C080] [A blue and white circle with a letter b in it Description automatically generated] Reminder - if you see something, say something! Download the City of Bellevue APP where you can easily report non-emergency issues like nonworking street lights, noise violations, parking violations, abandoned grocery carts and much more. Download the app from your smartphone App Stores or here's a click here <https://bellevuewa.gov/city-government/departments/finance/mybellevue> to access from your computer and learn more. [Colorful hands in different colors Description automatically generated] Vuecrest volunteers Needed We're looking for volunteers to help the gears of Vuecrest go around. Right now we are looking for a Vuecrest Secretary, Newsletter editor and more social committee volunteers. Please contact the Vuecrest Board of Directors at directors@vuecrest.net<mailto:directors@vuecrest.net> if you are interested and have some time to invest in our community.