block watch sign

During the EBCA steering committee meeting last night, the question came up about how to get Neighborhood Block Watch Signs put up in our neighborhood. I emailed Neil Hansen, our north precinct representative, and he  sent me the following guidelines and contacts.

“Block Watch” Sign Installation Guidelines

The following are guidelines that have been established by the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) for neighborhoods for installation of their “Block Watch” Signs from the Seattle Police Department

Before You Install Your Signs, know what is already in the Ground.
Please call 1-800-424-5555 to request the location of all underground utilities before you dig.  They will mark your planting strip for the location of water, electric and gas lines.  Knowing these locations in advance may save your life and save you time and money by preventing an accident from occurring when you dig to install your sign posts.

Checklist to Follow:
Consult with adjacent property owners concerning placement of signs to be installed to have their concurrence on the location.

Call “One-Call” at 1-800-424-5555 for location of possible underground utilities before digging.  (See below)

Guidelines
Signs are to be installed on 4″x 4″ wood posts.  The wood posts must not exceed a height of 9′ from the ground to the top of the sign or a minimum of 3′ below the ground surface.

Signs are to be installed in the planting strip, the signs need to be installed “behind the sidewalk”.

Signs need to be installed a minimum of three feet off the edge of the roadway.

Signs need to be a minimum of twenty feet from any official traffic control signs.

Signs need to be a minimum of fifteen feet from an intersection.

Don’ts
Signs are not to be installed on wood utility poles or City Light metal poles.

Signs are not to be installed in the sidewalk.

Signs are not to be installed with traffic control signs of any type.

If SDOT finds that the signs were installed incorrectly they will be removed by SDOT crews.  The signs will be stored at our Traffic Shop where they can be claimed.  SDOT Traffic Shop is located at 4200 Airport Way S.  Phone (206) 386-1206

Maintenance of the signs will be the responsibility of the Neighborhood Block Watch Group.

Here’s a list of authorized sign makers. I’d say, we should definitely buy local at O’Mega Graphics:

O’MEGA GRAPHICS & SIGNS (Ballard)
4321 Leary Way NW
Phone: (206) 789-5480
Contact Person: Dan Kehoe

THE SIGN CENTER, Inc.
P.O. BOX 4097San Diego, California  92164-9961
(800) 654-5373