Showing posts with label letters. Show all posts
Showing posts with label letters. Show all posts

Letter to the Editor: Shoreline council set the levy rate too high

Thursday, October 13, 2022

To the Editor:

Shoreline’s Proposition 1 on the ballot Nov. 8, 2022, if passed by voters, would increase city property tax by nearly 50%! Prop 1 would also create a $15 million dollar surplus for the City. At the end of 2021, the City already had a surplus of $8.49 million dollars. “Surplus” is money beyond the budgeted items for covering costs for City services. 
 
Please see: www.ShorelineLevy.info for more information. The website is sponsored by Shoreline Citizens for a Fair Levy.
 
The website includes a “No on Prop 1” statement to respond to the Voters Pamphlet. 
 
The City asked a 13 member volunteer citizen Financial Sustainability Advisory Committee in March-May 2022 for input. I served on that committee. 

Committee members did not agree and did not give a proposed levy rate. Committee members raised concerns about increasing city tax costs hurting Shoreline residents if the City Council set the levy lid lift rate too high. The levy rate in combination with property assessments makes Prop 1 nearly a 50% increase in city property tax! 

Unfortunately, City Council did choose to set the levy rate too high at $1.39 with Prop 1. 
 
Shoreline’s current property levy rate of $1.13 per $1,000 assessed valuation is already higher than: Lake Forest Park-$0.84; Kenmore-$0.89; Kirkland-$1.11; Redmond-$0.78; and Woodinville-$0.72. 
 
Voting NO on Prop 1 would allow City Council to submit a new levy proposal with a lower levy rate to Shoreline residents that covers costs for City services and is more affordable. 
 
As a Shoreline resident of over 30 years I care about our community.  I will be voting NO on Prop 1.
 
Lisa Brock
Shoreline


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Letter to the Editor: Vote for Shoreline's Prop 1

Saturday, October 8, 2022

To the Editor:

Next month’s ballot has important decisions for us to make: will we maintain our current level of city services by passing the 6-year maintenance and operations levy ? And will we continue effective programs like RADAR which is funded through the levy?

RADAR pairs a mental health professional with law enforcement when there is a call for behavioral health intervention. Evaluations show for people touched by RADAR there was a

- 67% reduction in adult jail bookings
- 60% reduction in crisis services events
- 14% of individuals became enrolled in publicly funded outpatient behavioral health services.

Top priorities in this summer's citizens survey were city services that emphasized response to homelessness and police response. RADAR meets these priorities and was recently highlighted on KUOW as an effective service.

Passing Prop 1 will allow the city to continue this work. Because the city is the entity managing law enforcement, if the levy doesn’t pass this program cannot continue.

The levy will keep the current rate of 1.39 per thousand dollars of valuation, it does not increase the rate. This will amount to an average $28 more for the average home.

A citizen committee and the city council are recommending passage of Proposition 1 https://supportshoreline.com/

Vote yes for Prop 1

Mary Ellen Stone
Shoreline



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Letter to the Editor: Check out the Shoreline Farmers Market Saturday

Wednesday, June 29, 2022

To the Editor:

This past Saturday I stopped by the Shoreline Farmers Market in its new location at the Shoreline Park and Ride (192nd and Aurora). There was plenty of parking and access from Aurora and the neighborhood streets. And the Market is easily accessed from the Interurban Trail just across Aurora.

There were friendly vendors with fresh strawberries, cherries, vegetables, and a local wine. There were sweets and baked goods and the best fresh ravioli! I was there just before noon and one booth had already sold out of their organic meats. Next week I’ll go earlier.  There were booths featuring local artists and information booths for local groups including Save Shoreline Trees.

I spoke with a Medicare broker for several minutes. I admit, I was first attracted by the free gifts. He provided some friendly advice regarding the cost of prescriptions and never attempted to sell me anything. He did not take my information so I won’t be getting emails or any other type of follow up. I may contact him when my Advantage Plan renews closer to year end.

I stopped to listen to a musician playing guitar and singing. Unfortunately, I arrived just as the musician was taking a brief break. He had a bubble-making machine behind him and a young boy was absolutely delirious with excitement as he ran after the bubbles trying to catch them. His smile was HUGE!  

For the COVID-conscious (like me) there was plenty of room to walk at a safe distance from others and many folks were wearing masks. 

I saw people walking home from the Farmers Market, and I noticed they were all carrying bags of purchases.

I encourage everyone to stop by and support our City and our local farmers, artists, and the food trucks. The vendors vary from week to week so there's always something new to enjoy. And the Shoreline Market is one of the few that still welcomes dogs.

Pam Cross
Shoreline 



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Letter to the Editor: Take the City Survey on the new sidewalk for 20th Ave NW

Friday, June 3, 2022

To the Editor:

The New Sidewalk Program was approved by Shoreline voters in 2018 by a narrow vote of 52% to 48%, and is funded by a City sales tax. There are 12 specific sidewalk installations in this program. The sidewalk design for 20th Ave NW between 190th and 195th Streets is 60% complete and the City is currently conducting a survey to gain citizen input to the design. The current design is a bi-directional shared sidewalk for pedestrians and bicyclists and is 8' between 190th and 193rd then widening to 10' to 195th.

Community concerns about the proposed design are: 1) the proposed shared-use between pedestrians and cyclists, 2) that mature trees are at risk, especially those at the entrance of the park at 190th St, and 3) that the current design does not adequately address the problem of speeding vehicular traffic.

A continuous 8' sidewalk on 20th Ave would be in compliance with the Shoreline Engineering Development manual and would allow adequate space for bi-directional pedestrian traffic including those with disabilities and small children on bikes/ trikes. Cyclists would continue to share the road with vehicles. The money saved could be used to address the speeding traffic.

Additionally, the City needs to make a good-faith effort on sidewalk designs and construction methods that will keep the mature trees along 20th Ave intact and healthy. We are losing far too many of our mature trees to development and construction.

The survey for 20th Ave NW sidewalk will be available until June 25. Take the survey now and provide your input.

Carla Carroll
Shoreline


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Letter to the Editor: Make room for swimmers and picnickers at Lake Ballinger

Sunday, April 24, 2022

To the Editor,

Thank you for the ongoing updates about improvements to Lake Ballinger recreational area. One thing I haven't noticed is the word "swimming" in any of the published materials. Fishing and Kayaking seem to be the focus for the updated Lake Ballinger access. My experience has been that the Lake is a very popular family friendly location for kids to swim and for family bbq's. I haven't seen that many fishers in the summer months. I wonder how much of the family oriented activity will be curtailed by the fishers who will take the very limited parking for extended time periods. Same with Kayakers. The loss of even 4 parking spots to individual recreational uses would severely curtail family activity at the lake. Most family recreation fills the car with at least 4 people. I wonder if seasonal priorities could be established? Swimming and related picnic table uses June, July, and August, with Fishing and Kayaking, given the nature of the climate, the remaining months. Myself I ride my scooter to the lake as there really aren't any parking spots in the small lots.

P.S. I really love the landscaping done between the Senior Center and swimming access area. Really top-notch!

Wm King
Lake Forest Park



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Letter to the Editor: Trees on 5th Ave NE cut down

Thursday, April 21, 2022

Trees along 5th NE

To the Editor:

Save Shoreline Trees (SST) tried for two years to save 17 trees in good and fair condition along 5th Ave NE from being cut down for the new sidewalk project which includes 6-foot-wide sidewalks on both sides of 5th Ave NE from NE 175th to NE 182nd Ct. We understand the need for sidewalks. Our concern is 6-foot-wide to 11-foot-wide sidewalks in residential zones.

In February, the City project manager emailed SST: “…the Contractor cannot remove any trees until the project is staked and the City and/or arborist review the staking against the tree removals. In other projects we have had the opportunity to preserve trees once the project is staked. We will review and evaluate again at that time.” This statement was repeated in the

Staff Study Report, item 8b
, March 21, 2022, page 4: “Staff will review the proposed tree removal in the field after the project improvements are 'staked' by a surveyor and evaluate opportunities to preserve trees before they are removed.”

Public notification was posted on the 23 trees to be removed on Tuesday 4/12. The notice included that the trees would be “removed on or after 4/25/22”. This included 13 public trees.

Most of the trees have been cut down. The Western red cedars #114 (46” dbh) and #117 (36” dbh) are still standing as of Wednesday evening 4/20 but large red “X” marks are on the tree trunks.

SST emailed City management and Council these questions the evening of 4/20: why were the trees cut down before the 4/25 removal date notice; and, when did the project staking and City arborist review regarding possible retention of trees take place? It seems the information provided to the public is inaccurate.

Melody Fosmore
Kathleen Russell
Save Shoreline Trees



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Letter to the Editor: Substantive proposed tree codes are being denied

Tuesday, March 15, 2022

To the Editor

The Tree Preservation Code Team (TPCT) submitted proposed tree codes to the City in November 2020. Several of these proposed codes are tree definitions, and Amendment 10 will require 6’ height of tree protection and removal of floppy orange plastic at construction sites, which the Planning Commission recommends to Council.

However, several of the substantive proposed tree codes are being denied. These tree codes come before Council on March 21, 2022. Amendment 2, item 4, will make a difference in preserving trees in Shoreline. This proposed code revises the measurement of a Significant tree from 8” dbh (diameter at breast height) for conifers and 12” dbh for non-conifers, currently in Shoreline Municipal Code, to 6” dbh for all trees.

This measurement change means more established trees will mature and contribute to Shoreline’s tree canopy. The survival rate of tree replacements can be as low as 30%, but 6” trees are already established and will thrive.

On February 3, Commissioner Lin said she agrees with the recommendation of the 6” definition and Chair Sager agreed. Their consensus was they would like to see more study regarding this recommendation. TPCT provided more study including three science-based research articles supporting the importance of tree maturation. The three studies confirm that trees, if allowed to grow larger, will store greater amounts of carbon.

If Shoreline protects more trees 6” dbh trees, which are already established, these trees will have the opportunity to grow into mature trees, contribute to carbon sequestration, and be part of Shoreline’s tree canopy.

In addition, Shoreline will join many jurisdictions that include the 6” dbh Significant tree measurement including Edmonds, Lake Forest Park, Kirkland, Seattle, Redmond, Mountlake Terrace, Issaquah, Lynnwood, Woodinville, Bellingham, and Snohomish.

Bill Turner
Shoreline
former North Cascades National Park forester


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Letter to the Editor: Our world needs the action of more Forgiveness right now

Monday, March 14, 2022

To the Editor:

Our world is experiencing a test of vengeance or "getting even" which is a very serious emotion that intensely imprints our bodies.

Vengeance is so intense it can be passed on through our DNA. I have done a great deal of past life work and know that vengeance can be reenacted for many lifetimes.

The best way to heal this deep wound is through Forgiveness. It isn't just Forgiving another; it is Forgiving Self as well.

I have facilitated UnMarrying Rites and Rites of Forgiveness since 1986 and have seen how difficult it can be to Forgive Self.

Our world needs the action of more Forgiveness right now. We may not realize how authoritarian our own relationships are and that we then add to that collective energy.

Authoritarianism is that need, that love, of having power over another. The fear of being left or abandoned can imprint this feeling, this need to "get even" which is a misunderstood message from our instinctual body.

In order to actually "feel equal or even" one must Forgive Self.

A Rite of Forgiveness is approximately 2 hours and can be done in person or on Zoom by Isis Charest, Creator and Facilitator of Rites of Forgiveness and UnMarrying Rites. 206-883-5568

Isis Charest
Shoreline


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Letter to the Editor: Proposed amendments to Tree Code apply to specific zones and are not city-wide

Tuesday, March 8, 2022

To the Editor:

As reported in Pam Cross’ column “Notes from Shoreline Council meeting on February 28, 2022”, Council voted 6 to 1 to remove the construction contract for the new sidewalk program along 5th Ave NE. 

This item returns to the Council agenda on Monday, March 21. Regarding the proposed tree code amendments submitted by the Tree Preservation Code Team, several Councilmembers had questions, which we hope will be addressed on March 7. When asked “which zoning designations do these amendments apply to”? Staff responded, “Unless they’re specifically called out zones, they apply citywide.” 

I am commenting on this response as the proposed codes do not apply “citywide.” Per Shoreline municipal code 20.50.310.5. Exemptions from permit: all trees can be clear-cut and no tree replacements are required on the following zones in Shoreline: Community Business (CB), Neighborhood Business (NB), Mixed Business (MB), Mixed Use Residential (MUR-70’), and Town Center 1-2-3 unless within a critical area or critical area buffer. 

The proposed tree code amendments do not affect these 7 zones. In addition, the proposed tree code amendments, C8 and C9, pertaining to the director authority to reduce tree retention and tree replacement do not apply, as proposed, to R-4 or R-8 zones so the example of a single family home with one significant tree causing foundation and utility issues is not impacted by this proposed tree code. 

Removal of director authority to reduce tree retention or tree replacement applies to R-8 thru R-48, MUR-35’, and MUR-45’ zones only. In addition to C9, tree supporters ask Council to approve the following: 6” significant tree definition; penalties if a tree is destroyed or removed at a construction site; and, a cap on hundreds of tree removals at large property sites without review by Staff, this does not apply to 7 zones that, by code, can remove all trees. The proposed tree codes are not extreme but will help accomplish the City goal of “no net tree loss”.

Kathleen Russell
Tree Preservation Code Team/Communications


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Letter to the Editor: Enthusiastic support for the School District Replacement levies

Saturday, February 5, 2022

To the Editor:

We want to share our enthusiastic support for the Shoreline School District Replacement Levies. 

Our family relocated to Shoreline because of the community’s strong support for education and we remain grateful for the generosity of voters in helping to make Shoreline one of the best school districts in the state.

Our boys have all benefited from the remarkable investments the community has made in education:
 
  • Our eldest, a senior at Shorewood, has benefited as a highly capable student and as a member of the band and tennis team.
  • Our middle enjoys athletics at Einstein and will be among the first to graduate from the new middle school.
  • Our youngest is enjoying his first-year learning percussion. He’s a voracious reader that found his love of books at the school library.

And of course, all of them benefited from the technology investments during the pandemic.

While it is disappointing that after the McCleary decision we still need levies, it’s important to note that the services these levies support are beyond the definition of “basic education” and therefore not funded by the state. While we’re grateful for the increased funding levels due to McCleary, we’re still dependent on voters to support things like special education, highly capable programs, nurses, librarians, music, drama, building maintenance, and technology. Whether they should be funded by the government is irrelevant – our students require us to step in to fill that gap.

These are extraordinary times for our teachers, staff, and administrators. Please join us in demonstrating support for education in Shoreline. World-class education is the community value that makes Shoreline a special place to live. More than ever, we need to demonstrate that support to ensure the future of our children.

Please join us in voting YES for Shoreline Schools!

Leslie and Keith Boyd
Shoreline   


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Letter to the Editor: New Sidewalk Discussion at the Shoreline City Council Meeting Feb 7

Thursday, February 3, 2022

To the Editor:

Many residents are concerned about the new sidewalk widths in the upcoming installations.

5th Ave NE (between NE 175th to NE 182nd Ct).

The approved design has 6’ wide sidewalks along both sides of a narrow street and will necessitate the removal of 23 tall, mature trees. If the 23 mature trees are removed, the character and the look of 5th Ave NE will be significantly changed.

20th Ave NW (between NW 190th and NW 195th St.)

The proposed design will have a 10’ wide shared use sidewalk along one side of the street. There are a number of significant trees at risk including 3 in the City right-of-way that are located across from the entrance to Richmond Beach Saltwater Park.

There are concerns about the new sidewalk to be designed for Westminster Way N (N 145th to N 153rd) in 2022 and the remaining eight additional sidewalks approved.

In 2018 the New Sidewalk Program was narrowly approved by 52% of the vote. The 0.2% sales tax increase over 20 years pays for these sidewalks. At the time of the vote the sidewalk width in the then current Shoreline Engineering Development Manual was 5’ wide. In 2021 sidewalk widths were changed to a minimum of 6'wide. Many voters who approved the new sidewalks did not know the sidewalk widths would increase.

Help protect the character of our neighborhoods and our trees. Email the City Council, council@shorelinewa.gov, or make a public comment to the Council on February 7th  www.shorelinewa.gov/government/council-meetings/

Carla Carroll
Shoreline


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Letter to the Editor: Special Needs PTSA Board Members Support Shoreline Parks Proposition 1

Saturday, January 29, 2022

To the Editor:

Many students with disabilities are not able to access and enjoy our current play spaces; this park bond will finally address that big need in our community. The proposed design for Richmond Highlands park includes a sensory trail and playground, which would be such a wonderful addition to our community. 

If passed, it will allow families with special needs to enjoy the parks on a whole new level. We love that the plan includes better play surfaces that are accessible to students with mobility challenges.

Please return your ballot and vote YES on Prop 1.

Ananda Scott, Jessica Mercer, and Kirsten Bannister
Shoreline Special Needs PTSA Board Members



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Letter to the Editor: Vote Yes for Shoreline Schools

Thursday, January 27, 2022

To the Editor: 

One of the greatest assets any community has are its schools. Our schools both educate our children and are a source of community pride. We are proud of the programs the Shoreline School District provides our children and their families. We support the levies on this February’s ballot and we hope you will join us in voting “YES” for Shoreline Schools.

In a time where we all feel the effects of the pandemic, our children and their families need our continued support. Proposition 1 provides funding for education programs not fully supported by state and federal funding. Counselors provide direct support for our children. 

Our family advocates connect families to resources in the community, access to food, clothes and housing, support students in foster care or experiencing homelessness, and provide assistance to families in crisis. 

Proposition 2 provides the technology, support, skills, and resources critical in preparing our students for their future.

Our kids, our families, and our community need your continued support for our public schools. Please vote YES on Shoreline School District Proposition 1 and Proposition 2. 

Doris McConnell and Chris Roberts
Shoreline


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Letter to the Editor: Let’s continue to strengthen the legacy of our parks

Wednesday, January 26, 2022

To the Editor:
 
When I first visited Shoreline years ago, I was struck by how green the city was. The year was nineteen-ninety-something, and I was cycling from Ballard to Edmonds.

As I crossed 145th, I was surprised to see so many trees, and I knew I would live in Shoreline someday. Fast-forward to 2022, and I’ve been a Shoreline resident for 15 years.

During that time, I have not only enjoyed the trees, but also our school system, our sense of community, and our Parks.
 
Shoreline enjoys a network of public Parks across the city. While some of our Parks are well-appointed and beautifully-maintained, others are in desperate need of attention, improvement, and deferred maintenance. 

Our big Parks receive a great deal of use and attention, but if you are like many of my friends and neighbors, odds are you live near a City Park that you didn’t even know was there, or perhaps you knew it was an Open Space, but you didn’t realize it was actually a public Park.

Some of our Parks are inaccessible and could benefit from safe pathways, while other Parks have playground equipment sitting in a bog for much of the year. Some of the Parks in desperate need of such improvements will benefit from the passage of Proposition 1.
 
Shoreline enjoys a rich history of support for Parks over the years, and the previous voter-approved Parks Bond is now due to expire. With the rapid growth of our city, providing quality Parks for everyone will remain an important investment and will help to bolster equity across our city.

Please remember to vote on February 8th, and give us an opportunity to continue our Legacy of great Parks in Shoreline for years to come.
 
Bill Franklin
Shoreline



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Letter to the Editor: It’s time to Vote YES for Parks and vote YES for Proposition 1

Sunday, January 23, 2022

To the Editor:

Last April, over 72% of Shoreline voters said yes to Proposition 1 park improvements, but we needed just 122 more people to turn in their ballots to meet the validation requirements. We get another chance to pass this bond measure now and we know our community will support it once again.

Shoreline has a long history of investing in great park facilities. With the existing parks bond expiring, now is the time to continue that legacy and vote yes on Proposition 1. There is something for everyone in this bond measure, and for only $3 more per month for the median household, there will be improvements throughout our city's park system.

The bond will fund new picnic shelters, playgrounds, perimeter trails, sport courts, and playfields. We will get two new off-leash dog parks, ADA park improvements, splash pads, public art, and an expansion of green spaces.

The past year we have all come to appreciate and depend on public outdoor areas even more. By voting yes for Proposition 1, you will be supporting the health of our community, improving the parks we have, adding to our green spaces, and making sure everyone in our city has access to great parks.

Proposition 1 Pro Statement Committee
Brian Branagan, Mary Ellen Stone, Katie Schielke



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Letter to the Editor: Equality unites us while equity divides us

Monday, January 17, 2022

To the Editor:

As we celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday, we need to remember that he fought for equality of opportunity, not equity of outcome.

"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character."

"From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs."

One of these ideas comes from Dr. King, the other from Karl Marx. Which is which?

Equality unites people by providing equal access to educational resources and empowering everyone with the tools to succeed, but achievement requires students to put in the work.

Equity divides people into oppressed or oppressor castes, adjusts standards up or down caste by caste, and allocates resources unequally in an attempt to engineer equivalent demographic outcomes -- irrespective of individual differences in aptitude or work ethic.

In the fake world of the baseball cartoon, there's unlimited potential for everyone to see the game over the wall if we hand out boxes only to shorter statured people. In the real world, there are limited places for people in the ballpark and limited boxes to stand on. Having one's box taken and given to someone else could impede even an excellent student's potential.

Likewise, job openings, university admission slots, etc. are finite rather than infinite. An equity perspective postulates -- offensively -- that Black people cannot compete on an equal footing, and adjusts standards to where an Asian candidate's 3.5 GPA generates the same admission score as a Black candidate's 3.0 GPA.

Dr. King would bristle at the racist notion that Black people require lowered standards to succeed when they are just as capable as everyone else. We should bristle at the same notion.

Choose equality. Reject equity.

Dan Adams
Shoreline



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Letter to the Editor: Insist that park maintenance be a priority

Monday, January 10, 2022

UPDATE: See the response from the City here

To the Editor:

Shoreline's Parks Proposition 1 proposes wonderful additions to Shoreline’s parks including new space. What it does not address is the continual maintenance that our parks need and deserve.

My backyard faces Hillwood Park. Friday night someone burned down the port-a-potty. The park had restrooms that were closed when Einstein Middle School began remodeling almost three years ago. The City agreed to allow the construction company use of the park and its facilities while Einstein was undergoing its transformation. 

The old restrooms were closed and a port-a-potty was installed in the parking lot. In return the construction company and school district agreed to resurface the tennis courts and build new restrooms. The tennis courts were resurfaced nearly a year after construction was completed. The restrooms have yet to be added. Teachers and students have been using their new building for over a year. How long must the neighborhood wait for the promised restrooms?

At this moment my husband is using our leaf blower to clean the tennis courts. After they were resurfaced at the end of this summer the parks department abandoned their upkeep. My husband has tightened the nets when needed and sweeps or blows debris from the courts at least every other week. 

We’ve witnessed court users bring their own tools, brooms and leaf blowers, so that they may finally use these courts that were not available for two and a half years. Yes, people do use tennis courts in the winter! Right now the weather might be cold, but the snow has melted and the sun is shining. It’s a new year and city parks offer a place for residents to recreate.

While Prop. 1 is offering more recreational facilities for Shoreline, voters need to look at how our parks are maintained now and how the city plans to maintain them in the future. Hillwood Park has had downed trees and debris in its creek for years. The summer maintenance crew mowed around these hazards. Park users continue to roll logs around, building bridges and dams. Park maintenance should be the City’s responsibility. Please insist that maintenance be a priority.

Cheryl Mathisen
Shoreline



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Letter to the Editor: A single source of energy can be dangerous when that source fails

Wednesday, December 29, 2021

To the Editor:

On December 6th, Shoreline City Council passed Ordinance 948 banning fossil fuel heating from all new 4+ story multi-family dwellings. Our activist City Council is thankfully prevented from doing this to all residential construction by state law, but they openly stated that they intend to lobby other municipalities and the state to spread this idea. Don't think that they wouldn't ban gas from all residential construction if they were given the statutory authority.

As of December 27th, PSE reports 7000 households without electricity. These outages are concentrated around Sedro-Woolley where it is currently 9 degrees. Roads are essentially impassable without 4WD. People in outage areas who have only electricity are in a real bind. They have no furnace, no stove, and no hot water. Meanwhile, people with gas/propane can cook a hot meal and take a hot bath, since gas water heaters do not require external power. Those fortunate enough to have wood stoves are toasty.

While we struggle with bone-chilling temperatures, what is to become of people left freezing in the dark? If they can't make it to a warming shelter because they are snowbound, is their best option to eat cold canned food and to hunker under a mountain of quilts? Will some of them bring outdoor grills inside for the warmth? Approximately 17 people die every year from doing exactly that. Many more die of hypothermia.

Fortunately, we aren't having power outages here in Shoreline, but we have the tree canopy to take down the power lines if windy conditions develop. What happens then?

Robustness matters when it comes to household energy sources. A single source of energy can be dangerous when that source fails, and electricity tends to fail at the most inopportune times. Able-bodied people will trudge through the snow to find a warming shelter. How many of our frail, elderly, and/or disabled can do the same? If their phone runs out of power, they could even find themselves unable to call for help.

A poorly conceived law like Ordinance 948 has consequences. Instead of spending so much energy dabbling in state and national climate policy, the City Council needs to narrow its focus and consider how its citizens survive emergencies.

Dan Adams
Shoreline



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Letter to the Editor: Removing cars from Pike Place is a disaster for the Public Market

Sunday, December 26, 2021

To the Editor,

The idea recently floated to remove cars from Pike Place in the Public Market is not new and has been discussed for years. The idea was finally implemented decade or more ago by the Market landlord for one month during high summer season. The results were a disaster for merchants in the 4 floors of retail below street level, known collectively as Down Under. 

While most locals have eventually discovered the grand variety of small specialty shops that make up this distinct below grade Market treasure, it is not obvious to the there-for-the-day, street-level tourist. 

Over time, the Pike Market has moved from being a resource market for locals to being an "experience" for tourists.  As the tourist bodies crowd Pike Place, the impression the tourist gets is that great mass of bodies and the shops nearby at street level is the "Pike Market experience". 

An hour or so is spent wandering at top street level, possibly a visit is given to the gum wall or lunch is ordered and enjoyed, then that's it;  The "Market Experience" has taken place, on to the Space Needle! 

Believe me the Market landlord, the PDA, heard plenty of outrage from the merchants bypassed by those enjoying the "Market experience" during this experiment. And so quietly the results of the "car free" experiment in the Pike Place Market were shelved. It turned out that cars on Pike Place served as distributors, forcing pedestrians to take a variety of routes to wind there way through the Market. Then too, many regular Market Folk enjoy this  interaction between cars and pedestrians because clearly pedestrians dominate the cars, an uniquely urban experience.

Another surprising disaster for Market Merchants is the use of Victor Steinbrueck Park for political rallies. Crowding 10,000 or so single minded citizens into the North end of the Pike Place Market simply kills business in the main Market for crucial retail hours. 

Allowing tour busses onto Pike Place doesn't work either.  All these seemingly good ideas have the tendency to kill the goose that laid the golden egg. It really is important to let the organic nature of the Pike Market find its way and persist. Other than that courts small business disaster.

Billy King
Lake Forest Park
Former Market Mayor



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Letter to the Editor: Delay in Shoreline's code amendments means that more trees will be lost to development

Sunday, November 28, 2021

To the Editor

Pursuant to the earlier letter published in SAN on Nov. 15, the next step for Tree Preservation Code Team (TPCT) proposed tree code amendments will happen on Thursday, December 2, 2021, where the Planning Commission will continue reviewing them. In the December 2 Staff Report, City Staff noted that it needs more time to study several of the TPCT proposed tree codes. TPCT feels the longer the review process takes, more of the pending permits will be issued under the current tree code, which will mean more trees are lost to development. For more details, open link, Dec. 2 meeting.

TPCT's proposed tree codes do not have drastic changes, and in fact do not apply to seven (7) zones in Shoreline where major construction is taking place (CB, MB, NB, TC1-2-3 and MUR-70’). On these 7 zones, developers can remove all trees and no tree replacements are required. TPCT's proposed tree codes apply only to construction on multi-family lots in residential zones known as subdivisions, and development on MUR-35 and MUR-45 zones.

Following the December 2 meeting, a public hearing will be scheduled by the Planning Commission in January 2022 and then proposed codes will proceed to the City Council for study sessions, public hearing and decision, currently calendared for February, 2022, subject to change. TPCT asks the Planning Commission and Council to “[m]ake timely and transparent decisions that respect community input.” (Framework Goal 11, the Comprehensive Plan) to avoid loss of more Shoreline trees.

Susanne Tsoming
Shoreline
Tree Preservation Code Team Member



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