Shoreline City Council Candidates discuss the environment
Friday, October 8, 2021
Because all candidates are running unopposed and Chris Roberts is unopposed and the incumbent, candidates were mostly in alignment and supportive about what’s been done and what they will do.
This forum was a unique opportunity to see each future councilmembers’ strengths and passions in this area and see how they might complement each other as they will eventually be working together on these important issues.
Laura Mork is an engineer by trade and focused on engineering ideas like permeable (water-absorptive) sidewalks, rain gardens, new construction ideas like all electric buildings and painting roofs white, more incentives, and her experience with the Salmon Safe program and the City’s Deep Green Incentive Program.
Eben Pobee, a budget analyst and Ghanaian immigrant, shared his passion and experience with significant community engagement as the city makes these decisions and moves forward on policy and programs.
John Ramsdell, a mental health clinician, spoke fervently about the well-being of residents, the benefits of green space, access to open space, the creation of pocket parks, and eliminating the stressors of life like lack of affordable housing.
Chris Roberts brought specifics to the conversation when discussing the balance of high-density housing and the preservation of large-diameter trees, the comprehensive plan, looking at sidewalk width and how there might be some flexibility, and the planting of more street trees along transit corridors.
The candidates all spoke of the value of multi-family housing / affordable housing along and around transit corridors as a means of managing climate change and the efficient use of land.
They also supported pocket parks to give more residents the opportunity to experience open space. “Everyone should be within walking distance of a park,” said Mr. Ramsdell.
Mr. Pobee suggested raising the cost for tree cutting permits.
Councilmember Roberts would like to see the new parks bond support more open space beyond the areas near the new transit centers. He also discussed more flexibility in sidewalk width requirement.
One question centered around the frustration of being brought into the development process when projects are at 60 percent design and neighbors have missed their opportunity to weigh in. Mr. Ramsdell emphasized the importance of council members attending neighborhood meetings to listen and bring concerns back.
There seemed to be much agreement and passion with this group. They also seemed to complement each other so it may be that they will find agreement to move forward on these issues.
Shoreline Council Candidate Forum
October 5, 2021 Shoreline Council Candidate Forum. Here is the video link to this forum as posted on the League of Women Voters of Seattle-King County website. The video of the forum starts at 1.5 minutes. This forum was co-sponsored by Save Shoreline Trees.
Updated 10-9-2021






























