Columbia Citizens

The system was designed and intended only for business district coverage along Rainier Ave from Alaska to just south of Hudson, so you may just be out of the working coverage area. There are a few reasons there could be a "very poor signal." 1) You're just too far outside the intended coverage area, and you can see the signal with your laptop or other wifi enabled device, but the radio in your wifi device isn't strong enough to communicate back to the Seattlewifi radio (in essence still too far away), 2) There is blockage by trees, buildings, reflective windows or other obstruction (wifi technology is far from perfect, as we found out from this public pilot). Locating near a window could help, or getting an antenna booster could help, but not assured. These are available at stores, online or if so inclined, there are instructions at http://www.netscum.com/~clapp/wireless.html and http://www.seattlewireless.net/DirectionalYagi.
The wifi system is over 5 yrs old now, and the access points are old. The city has kept it going with no money to invest in replacement equipment. The design would be different if it was built or replaced, and if community coverage was the intent.