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Notes from Shoreline City Council meeting Sept 9, 2019

Thursday, September 12, 2019

Shoreline City Hall and Council Chamber
Photo by Steven H. Robinson
Shoreline City Council Meeting 
September 9, 2019
Notes by Pam Cross


Mayor Hall called the meeting to order at 7:00pm

All councilmembers were present.

Report of the City Manager Debbie Tarry

Sept 13 - 22 Welcoming Week, Building a Community of Neighbors, begins with a racial history display in the City Hall lobby on Monday Sept 16. This display details the policies and practices that have impacted Shoreline’s racial history and will be available Sept 16 - 20 during business hours. There will be a number of other events throughout the week.

Sept 14 is the first Tween Night of the year. Hours are 6:30 to 10:30pm at the Richmond Highlands Rec and is open for free to kids from grades 5 and 6. Parents must check kids in and out at the door. More information available online.

Park volunteer work parties are Saturdays and Sunday in September. This month work parties will be held at Brugger’s Bog, Twin Ponds, and Hamlin parks. Additional details including times and meeting locations available online.

Public Reminders

The PRCS/Tree Board will hold a retreat on Saturday Sept 14th from 8:30 to 1:00pm in the Council Chamber.

Council Reports 

Councilmember McGlashan and Deputy Mayor McConnell attended the SeaShore transportation forum meeting and heard a presentation on the 5-year capital improvement plan. There’s a surprising amount of work that goes on to support the maritime activity. Pier 5 in West Seattle is being prepped for deep berth ships. Pier 46 near the Colman ferry dock will be divided into a cruise ship terminal and small ship terminal for non-international cargo ships.

The Sound Transit Executive Board has approved $3.7M to the ST board for the preliminary design of our 148th pedestrian bridge.

Councilmember Scully went to the Continuum of Care Board (formerly All Home) meeting (homelessness). The Regional Action Plan has now been released. Right now it is just Seattle and King County but going forward, it creates a new executive board with the intent of bringing order out of the chaos of existing services. They voted on the list of priority projects for Federal funding. There is about $47M of federal funding that is available for local programs that provide homelessness relief efforts. One of the responsibilities of the board is to submit a ranked list of the order in which we think projects should be funded to the Federal Government.

It is still heavily oriented to programs that serve Downtown Seattle. One of his goals is to see that we get regional federal funding for across the county not just Seattle’s Pioneer Square District.

He is pleased that at least one Shoreline project is Tier 1 priority (will be funded). There are a fair amount of non-Seattle projects also in Tier 1. But it is still heavily weighted towards Seattle, and he wants to make sure that isn’t the tradition going forward.

Shoreline wants to continue to provide local programs in conjunction with our non-profit partners and also in conjunction with all the other government agencies in a way that will make sure that all services are located throughout the region.

It is being funded by Seattle and King County. Suburban cities are not being asked to contribute at this point. We don’t want to pay in because we already pay King County taxes.

Councilmember Roberts attended the Association of Washington Cities (AWC) legislative committee meeting. They are planning to forward to the DC board several priorities, including support for our Comprehensive City Transportation Bill, supporting efforts to fully fund the public works trust fund, supporting the creation of tax increment financing option for cities, preservation of city fiscal health, and support funding for medication assisted treatment services in city and regional jails. Also included are support for new resources and policies for increasing affordable housing, and funding for watershed based approaches addressing fish blocking culverts.

Changes that were considered but not included were support of just-cause eviction and changes to the landlord and tenant act.

Mayor Hall took the time to thank all Councilmembers for spending time on these committees and working for the Shoreline Community beyond just attending Council meetings.

The Mayor and Councilmember Roberts attended the groundbreaking for the new ST Lynnwood Link.

Today was the second to last meeting of the Orca Task Force trying to help save the whales and salmon in Puget Sound. Habitat loss and conversion of forests and shoreline armoring (bulkheads) are still a significant issues that are continuing to damage Puget Sound. Compared to several jurisdictions we’re seeing Shoreline City projects are actually improving stormwater and improving habitat.

Public Comment

Pat Anunsen is concerned because the Court of Appeals ruled that Ronald Wastewater has no “right” to service customers in the Point Wells area. Ronald WW has requested a Supreme Court review and Anunsen has several questions for Council.

Robert Doran, from ROIC San Diego, reiterated that as respects #441 (Action item 8b), it is ROIC’s position that approving the Agreement would be premature. ROIC is working with Merlone Geier to resolve their concerns. Although progress has been made. there are still numerous issues to be settled before the Agreement is solidified.

Gail Steele spoke of concerns about AirBNB locations. For safety, neighbors need to know who lives in the neighborhood so Neighborhood Watch knows who belongs. Currently Shoreline has no codes for AirBNB - room rental codes apply. Seattle has codes and regulations specifically for AirBNB. Shoreline needs to establish a means to identify a property as an AirBNB as well as establish taxes, rules and regulations.

Ginny Scantlebury spoke about homelessness. The current failure of government to solve homelessness is why she doesn’t think we need to add yet another layer of government. The regional approach is costly, there are only one or two out of seven members of the steering committee to represent the 38 suburban cities that could potentially belong to this. Other Washington cities have done good work without adding more money. Housing is not the answer. Need help for drug and mental issues.

George Whiteside was unsure if this was the correct venue for his concerns. His children attend Cascade K-8 Community School that is in its 4th year of construction. Kids are actually in a construction zone. Drilling is taking place a floor above the kids' heads and metal shards are falling onto desks. He wants something to be done.

Councilmembers felt he was at wrong meeting because schools are a separate jurisdiction. He should speak at a School District meeting but he left before they could mention it to him. He will be contacted with this information. However, Councilmembers acknowledged that the City does the permitting and has a responsibility to all residents.

(for the complete comments, view the video of the Council meeting online)

The agenda was approved unanimously.

The Consent Calendar was adopted, without discussion, unanimously.

Action Items

8(a) Public Hearing and Discussion of the 2020 Community Development Block Grant Funding Plan

Mayor Hall opened the Public Hearing.

Staff report by Bethany Wolbrecht-Dunn, Grants Administrator

The City financially supports Human Services delivery by non-profit agencies using General Fund and Community Development Block Grant Funding (CDBG funds). Each year, the Council must hold a public hearing on the proposed use of CDBG funds and act to adopt an allocation plan. For 2020, $322,565 CDBG funds is estimated. The Interlocal Agreement with King County for administration of our grants calls for major housing repair (0% loans for roofing and other projects that keep people in their homes), a housing stability project for renters, and capital projects for planning and administration. This provides continued support to the Sound Generations Minor Home Repair Program and support of a housing preservation project at King County Housing Authority’s Westminster Manor (upgrading electrical).

No pubic comment.

Hearing is closed.

Discussion

What amounts are involved in the Major Home Repair and Housing Stability Major home repair? The maximum loan is $25,000 for a 4-6 year term. When the house is sold, the money comes back to the City to replenish the fund. This takes an average of 5 years.

Housing stability loans are much smaller amounts, for example a few hundred dollars used for paying a utility bill. The total for Shoreline is about $16,000.

Is there a backlog of requests we cannot fulfill? Yes, for Housing Stability there is always a backlog.

This will come back before Council on September 23rd.

8(b) Adoption of Resolution No. 441: Approving the Shoreline Place Development Agreement Between the City of Shoreline and Merlone Geier Partners

Rachael Markle, Planning and Community Development Director provided the staff report.

Staff recommends that the City Council adopt Resolution No. 441 with the Planning Commission’s recommended development agreement and modifications. Adoption of Resolution No. 441, as proposed, will authorize the City Manager to execute the modified Shoreline Place Development Agreement with Merlone Geier Partners.

A quick review of the key components of the Agreement followed. During the August 5th Council meeting, members of the City Council articulated potential changes to the proposed Development Agreement. Staff and the applicant subsequently met and negotiated additional changes to the Planning Commission’s recommended Development Agreement.

Motion and Second to adopt Resolution No 441 with the Planning Commission’s recommended development Agreement and modifications.

Discussion

What are the remaining unresolved issues mentioned during public comment?

Jamas Gwilliam, Vice President of Development, Merlone Geier Partners replied:

Two items still waiting for additional information. Merlone Geier and staff agree that issues have been addressed that are in the Development Agreement but other issues are private property decisions that don’t belong in the Agreement. The actual items are primarily site issues more related to CCNRS "covenants, conditions, and restrictions.” These are confidential issues and not applicable in this regard.

The major amendment process is unclear (adding parcels is a major amendment). Margaret King, Shoreline City Attorney, says it is clarifying you don’t have to start at zero. A major amendment opens the Agreement up again, but it is an application for an amendment - not for a new Development Agreement. The amendment will be considered as additive to what has already been negotiated in the previous Agreement. Making additional parcels a major amendment lets further Councils have a say in how this project develops over time.

The amount of retail space is expressed on today’s slide as a percentage instead of square feet. Does this change anything? No, it doesn’t change the number of retail square feet that is in the Agreement itself. This slide is not part of the Agreement.

Articulation features (Building articulation refers to the many street frontage design elements, both horizontal and vertical, that help create a streetscape of interest), seem to have changed from 35’ to 80’, but then later it repeats 35’. Both numbers should be the same. Need to strike 35’ and insert 80’.

City codes may need changes to eliminate some of the changes requested by Council.The project already met the minimums required by code. If those are not satisfactory, we need to increase those code requirements.

It’s regrettable that impact fees are being negotiated on such a large project because they could do a lot of good for the community. We are giving up $1.4M in park impact fees, for example. The cumulative credit column for the impact fees needs to be updated.

Major residential projects will have a huge impact on our schools. Perhaps that should be addressed in future Development Agreements.

The School District has an avenue to address increased number of new students because the State pays on a per student basis. The School District can put forward a capital building project as well as propose that we charge school impact fees. So it doesn’t need to be in this Agreement.

This Agreement might not be perfect and it might be incomplete, but it’s time to move forward instead of trying to get to a perfect Agreement. This is just part of the ongoing process and staff will be involved at every step forward. There are multiple permit applications to follow. 

Motion and second to modify the amendment per the planning commission recommendations passes unanimously.

Motion and second to correct impact fees table cumulative column passes unanimously.

Motion and second to correct final document to strike 35’ and insert 80’ passes unanimously.

The Mayor, Deputy Mayor and all Councilmembers individually thanked all parties for the hard work that went into this project.

Motion and Second to Adoption of Resolution No 441 as amended passes unanimously.

This whole process has been too labor intensive, so by addressing changes in the code this onerous process can be eliminated. Developers of future projects will know what is expected of them, and we will eliminate the need for a Development Agreement for every future project.

Meeting adjourned at 8:20pm



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Letter to the Editor: Thanks for the Ronald Bog article

Sunday, September 8, 2019

To the Editor:

Wow! Great article and dive into the very long background of the bog and its current state of transition and revival. I had heard about the plans for making a park that incorporates the wetlands that have been trying to return via flooding, but your article helped me better understand the scope of the work. And what a treasure trove of junk... an archeological dig into the stuff of decades past.

Thanks for fleshing out the simple story of the construction and the ponies in their hardhats. Now I and my fellow passers-by know so much more about what's going on behind the chain link fences. Another example of why community newsletters are important and how we benefit from your efforts to keep doing it!

Anne Guthrie
Shoreline



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What's happening with Ronald Bog Park? Blame it on Mr. Bean

Friday, September 6, 2019

Lush, green Ronald Bog park has been scraped
Photo by Steven H. Robinson



By Diane Hettrick

If you are one of the thousands of people who have driven by Ronald Bog in recent weeks, you may have been shocked at the appearance.

The whole north end of the Bog, at N 175th and Meridian, appears to be in site preparation for a major construction zone. Even the ponies are wearing hard hats.

Even the ponies are wearing hard hats
Photo by AT

What you are looking at, though, is a major wetland restoration of Ronald Bog Park. Sound Transit is creating wetlands at the north and east ends of the park and doing major clean up along the east side. It's a mitigation site for impacts to the unnamed, and mostly unnoticed wetlands which are primarily south of the Shoreline fire station on N 155th, running along the east side of the freeway.

The work at Ronald Bog is complicated by its history of human use.
The photo was probably taken closer to 1920 than 1930
Historically Ronald Bog was marshy peat formed by decaying plant matter, fed by small streams, and full of cranberries which were harvested by the native tribes that moved through the area and by early settlers.

Duwamish people from the permanent settlements beside Lake Washington, Lake Union and Salmon Bay, and other tribes visiting from Snohomish county, came to the bog to harvest the cranberries and other edible plants that grew there. (Shoreline Historical Museum)

1936 aerial view
The faint red lines show the current lot boundaries.
Photo courtesy King county

Over time bogs may build up so much peat that they dry out because they get elevated above the water table. Property owners, such as Paul Weller, might have diverted the streams. For whatever reason, in the 1936 aerial photo, the bog is dry.

Paul Weller acquired the property in 1936 and began peat mining. In the aerial photo you can clearly see the straight lines where the peat has been harvested. A succession of companies continued to remove the peat up into the early 1960s.

George Webster sits on his tractor in the middle of this photo.
The streets are slightly above his head and the lake is to the left
Photo courtesy Shoreline Historical Museum

In 1949 George Webster acquired the north end of the bog, established the Plant Food Company, and continued the mining of the northern half of the bog. A different company mined the south end.

As they removed the peat, they got closer to the water table and the Bog started to fill with water again. A small feeder stream, unnamed, flows in a pipe under Meridian and into the northwest corner of the Bog. The daylighted North Branch of Thornton Creek still runs north-south on the east side of the Bog.

A resident named John, who was a child in the 1950s, remembers a barge in the middle of what was now a lake, still digging peat from the site.

In 1964 the peat mining was discontinued, and Darwin Bean acquired much of the bog property for his business, Marshall Tippey Landscaping. He began filling the north and east shores of the pond with the intention of building a small tract of homes there.

According to John, "The old dump was also to the south and it was the old school dump with old cars from the 30s, and lots of what now would be antiques. Lots for young kids (pre teen) to explore. There wasn’t any ecology then and when the freeway was built they buried the dump, the ponds, and streams much to our dismay."

So the whole area was basically a dump. Darwin Bean was finding fill material wherever he could and certainly would have welcomed debris from the I-5 construction right next to the Bog.

In 1965 a vigorous coalition of citizens, politicians, and press successfully lobbied the King county council to acquire the land and turn it into a park, which it did in 1970.

Now, Sound Transit has accepted the challenge of turning the park built on a dump back into a healthy wetland.

The concrete is being piled up for removal
Photo courtesy City of Shoreline

The land they are working on is full of chunks of concrete and sections of twisted pipe and whatever else Darwin Bean could find to fill up the pit left by peat removal.

On the land at the north end of the Bog, Sound Transit contractors are digging deep and removing concrete, pipe, and other debris.

The contractor reports that in addition to the concrete and metal, they removed a toilet, kitchen sink, automobile license plates from the 1950s, bricks, and asphalt chunks. They have excavated five feet and in some areas, as deep as nine feet in order to remove debris and build the wetlands.

Sandbags and a turbidity curtain protect the lake
Photo courtesy City of Shoreline


They are also working a few feet into the lake to remove the fill and debris. Temporary best management practices, such as sand bags and a turbidity curtain, are in place during the work to keep from disturbing the rest of the lake.

When they have finished excavating, they will backfill the land with compost and topsoil. Then they will create two separate wetland areas. The central area of the park will be kept clear so residents still have access to an improved trail system and a view of the lake.

Rotary picnic shelter
Photo by Steven H. Robinson

The Rotary shelter is in good shape and will be refurbished and remain in place. Shoreline Parks Director Eric Friedli wants to create some seating areas in the new park with possibly a picnic table under the shelter.

Trees had to be removed from the site in order to create the wetlands -- many because their roots were entwined in concrete and pipe and growing on the fill material.


The new wetlands will not be open to the public but will be designed so that people can see into them. They will help absorb and store floodwater in wet years – another way to help prevent flooding at the intersection of Meridian and N 175th.

The dotted green area on the map will be wetlands which will be boggy or completely under water, depending on the season and rainfall.

The darker green is the buffer area. It will protect the wetland and can also serve to absorb water in wet years.

2010 was a very wet year.
This is along Meridian
Photo by Janet Way

Taller trees will be planted in the northwest wetland, except where the view is being protected. A variety of native species of trees, shrubs and other types of plants will be planted in the wetland and the buffer.

Sound Transit hopes to reintroduce native plants which were there historically, such as Bog laurel and LavenderLabrador tea. LavenderLabrador tea is mentioned in several of the historical records as being native to the site but it has since died out.

The site will be monitored for over 10 years, to make sure the native plants thrive and that invasive plants, such as reed canarygrass and knotweeds, are removed and the wetlands are healthy.

Dick Decker and volunteers worked in the park for several years
removing invasive plants and planting several hundred native plants
Photo courtesy Dick Decker 2010

Work done over the years by volunteers to restore native plants was primarily in the far northwest section of the site and has not been impacted. (See 2011 article). However, the area is very overgrown now.

Photo by Steven H. Robinson

The popular arboretum remains intact and the large sculpture, The Kiss, has already been moved to a new position on an elevated area. The trail will be raised and leveled with gravel to ADA standards. It will be expanded around the sculpture to reach the Rotary shelter by the lake.

Interpretative signs will be added throughout the area.

The work is expected to be complete by this winter, although some planting may be done in the spring. Sound Transit will continue to monitor the site for up to 10 years.

If you want to do more research or want more specific information on the history of Ronald Bog, check in with the Shoreline Historical Museum at N 185th and Linden, where they have the references, maps, aerial photos, etc. and information on bog use back to Native Americans.

Thanks to John Gallagher, Karin Ertl, and Rebecca McAndrew of Sound Transit, Vicki Stiles of the Shoreline Historical Museum, and Shoreline Parks Director Eric Friedli for material in this article.



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Mulched trees will be used for local Sound Transit projects

Thursday, July 18, 2019

Photo by Steven H. Robinson


Crews were busy grinding up the debris from the trees that were removed for the 185th Station. A day later the construction crew came in and put up fencing which blocks the view of the site. This is early preparation for the actual construction.

As for the mulched trees, Sound Transit says that it is planning to use the "Hog Fuel wood chips” for job wide erosion control and for the Ronald Bog site development.

The plan is that once we have used the amount we need for the project, we will have a community event where we give away wood chips.



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Ronald Bog Park wetland mitigation to begin in July

Tuesday, June 18, 2019



As promised, Sound Transit will soon begin work to restore the wetlands at Ronald Bog Park and plant trees.

Ronald Bog Park will be closed as early as July 1st for Sound Transit to begin construction of wetland mitigation. Sound Transit is using an area of Ronald Bog Park for a wetland mitigation site to replace wetlands affected by light rail construction.

Enhancements to the park, including trail improvements, will be made as part of the project.

Ronald Bog Park will be closed to the public and wetland buffer areas will be fenced off indefinitely for wetland creation. 

The sculpture has already been moved to a new location in the park. (See previous article).

The work includes tree removal and excavation to create new low areas, then planting of trees, shrubs and groundcover plants.

Sound Transit will build a new ADA-accessible Trail featuring interpretive signs to enhance the enjoyment of the park.

They will also install fencing, signs, benches, bollards and habitat structures.

The work will take 18-20 weeks and is expected to be complete by next fall.

Work hours will be from 7am to 5pm.

Ronald Bog Park is located on N 175th St between I-5 and Meridian Ave N. -  2301 N 175th St, Shoreline 98133.


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Wear Orange: Shoreline and LFP declare Friday as National Gun Violence Awareness Day

Friday, June 7, 2019

Present for the photo were: local gun violence prevention advocates wearing orange, Mayor Hall, Deputy Mayor McConnell, Shoreline City Council members Chang and Roberts, and State Rep Davis of the 32nd LD.



Shoreline and Lake Forest Park city councils proclaimed Friday, June 7, 2019 as National Gun Violence Awareness Day as part of a nationwide effort.

On Thursday morning Mayor Will Hall of Shoreline and the Shoreline City Council proclaimed Friday, June 7th, as National Gun Violence Awareness Day in the company of volunteers with the Washington Chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America.

He joined Mayor Jeff Johnson of Lake Forest Park and the Lake Forest Park City Council who issued a similar proclamation during their Council meeting on May 23rd.

Following National Gun Violence Awareness Day, nearly 750 Wear Orange events will take place across the country on June 8th and 9th during Wear Orange weekend. More than 1,000 influencers, brands, mayors, partner organizations and buildings and landmarks in nearly all 50 states and D.C. will participate in the Wear Orange campaign. Learn more about Wear Orange here.

School Board member Heather Fralick
and Shoreline City Council member
Chris Roberts at Orange the Overpass

Volunteers from the Shoreline local group of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America hosted an “Orange the Overpass” event at the I-5 overpass at NE 185th St in Shoreline from 3:00 to 6:00pm on Friday evening.

On Saturday morning, June 8, there will be a “Clean Up the Underpass” event starting at 10:00am at Ronald Bog Park, N 175th and Meridian. Go to wearorange.org and put in zip code 98155 for further details.

On Sunday, June 9, volunteers from the Shoreline local group will join volunteers with the Washington chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, a part of Everytown for Gun Safety, to host a Wear Orange rally and a walk over the I-90 bridge in Seattle to honor the lives of those affected by gun violence and elevate gun violence prevention efforts nationwide. 

Gun violence prevention groups from across the Puget Sound region are supporting partners of this Wear Orange event.

Orange is the color that Hadiya Pendleton’s friends wore in her honor after she was shot and killed in Chicago at the age of 15 — just one week after performing in President Obama’s second inaugural parade in 2013. Orange honors the 100 lives cut short and the hundreds more wounded by gun violence every day — and demands action.



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Notes from Shoreline Council meeting May 20, 2019

Wednesday, May 22, 2019

Shoreline City Hall
Photo by Mike Remarcke

Shoreline City Council Meeting
May 20, 2019
Notes by Pam Cross


Mayor Hall called the meeting to order at 7:00pm

All councilmembers were present.

Report of the City Manager Debbie Tarry

Tuesday, May 21st, there is an Open House regarding 175th Street Corridor Improvements between Stone Ave and I-5 at 6:00-8:00pm in City Council Chamber. An online Open House is also available at shorelinewa.gov/175corridor

Tuesday May 28th is the final Home Improvement Workshop 6:00 to 8:00pm at City Hall. Reserve an appointment to discuss your project at shoreline.gov/homeimprovement.

There is also a vendor fair that does not require an appointment.

Thursday June 6th is the State of the City Breakfast from 7:00-8:30am at Shoreline City Hall. RSVP to Heidi Costello at hcostello@shorelinewa.gov or call 206-801-2214. The event is free.

Public Reminders

The PRCS/Tree Board will meet Thursday May 23rd at 7:00pm in room 303.

In honor of Memorial Day, City Hall will be closed Monday, May 27th. There will be no Council meetings. The next Council meeting will be held on Monday, June 3rd.

Council Reports

Councilmember Chang attended the monthly Regional Transit Meeting that featured a workshop addressing equity and sustainability when integrating Metro buses with all ride shares, scooters, bicycles etc. and how technology will assist in the coordination.

Mayor Hall met with Edmonds Mayor Ed Earling to advocate for funding for improved non-motorized access to light rail stations.

Public Comment

Susie McDowell, Robin McClelland, Jim Wigfall, Lyn Sherry, Aaron Franklin

Ed Vanna, Theresa LaCroix, and Joanne Donohue made favorable comments regarding the CAC.

Students Simon and Spencer requested Council impose a ban on plastic straws. They can’t be recycled with current equipment. The benefits to the environment outweigh the cost.

The agenda was approved unanimously.

The Consent Calendar was adopted, without discussion, unanimously.

Action Item 8(a) Public Hearing and Discussion on the Reprogramming of 2018 and 2019 Community Development Block Grant Capital Funding to Implement Approved Programs and Projects

Staff report by Bethany Wolbrecht-Dunn, Grants Administrator

This City receives City General Fund dollars and federal CDBG funds (approximately $320,831) annually. After allocation to regional projects, administration and local capital projects, about $154,00 remains. A Public Hearing is required to “reprogram” these funds. The recommended projects are (1), $108,000, (2) $44,189, and (3) $42,404.

“Housing set aside” has been used in Shoreline, however there are no housing projects currently able to use the funds.

There are four applications for use of these funds
  • Center for Human Services (CHS) – Fire Escape/Play Area
  • Compass Housing – Water Leak Repair at Ronald Commons**
  • Hopelink – Shoreline Service Center Capacity Improvements (carpet and room divider)
  • Contingency to Compass and Hopelink to reach total funds

**The water damage is caused by water flowing between floors, not by improperly installed or damaged water pipes. See discussion below.

The Council is expected to vote on this June 3rd.

No questions from Council.

No public comments.

Council discussion

Compass Housing water issue: City would have to sue the contractor/designer in order to recover funds if negligence can be proven. It was designed and built to code and is a newer building, but there are gaps from floor to floor allowing water to travel down to lower floors.

Housing set aside: why do we set it aside if it’s so hard to use? It isn’t a large amount of money, and there are federal rules and “strings” attached. This money can be added together to use for a larger project. Unfortunately federal funds are decreasing from year to year. We always ask for more.

In the future, hope we can attract more and larger projects. Hate to have to find these smaller projects that aren’t high priority. When we ask for increased funds we need better projects to show how we’re spending the money.

Study Item 9(a) Discussing Community and Aquatics Center and Park Improvements Priorities and Funding

Staff report by Eric Friedli, PRCS Department Director

Thanks to staff members and for input from the community.

This project started in 2011 and included outreach efforts to various stakeholder and community groups as well as concept designs, forming an advisory committee, and a community survey.

The 2017 PROS Plan established a goal to build a new Community and Aquatics Center with an objective to “place a proposal for a new community/aquatics center before the voters by 2020 and open a new facility in 2022.”

The most recent cost estimate for the Community and Aquatics Center is $88.1 million. In summary, the staff recommendation is for the following:

• Provide a Community and Aquatic Center that includes an 8-lane lap pool, a pool viewing area for approximately 500 spectators, increases the community facility space by 6,000 square feet which will include a commercial kitchen to provide for dedicated time for senior use or could proceed without these options

• Site the Center at 17828 Midvale Ave N and proceed with acquisition of this property at about same cost if built on SD property

Staff requests Council to direct staff to prepare legislation and other materials for placing a 20-year $88.1M bond measure on the ballot at the November 2019 General Election.

Does the Council concur with staff’s recommendations of:
1.  Additional features included in CAC (listed above)

2.  Location on Midvale instead of offered SD property on a 50 year lease (cost is about the same at either location)

3.  Size and duration of bond measure (SD may contribute $2.4M and/or there may be funding from the King County Levy $5M). If we request less money than we need, a new bond measure will be required to fund the difference. If we approve more than we need, repayment would be lower because the grants or gifts would go to pay off the bond.
The contribution by the SD was based on earlier negotiations regarding the use of their land. They offered three options: the land, capital investment of $2.4M, or providing operation and maintenance costs. Their preference was the land.

KingCo Parks Levy includes funding for pools in form of grants with a maximum of $5M. It will be a competitive grant we would have to apply for but don’t know the details and won’t know until after the primary if this will even be available.



4. Timing of the bond measure. An alternative to the November ballot would be a Special primary or general election in 2020.

5. Not including additional park improvements in the bond measure for Brugger’s Bog, Hamlin (Briarcrest), Richmond Highlands, and Hillwood. Including them would increase the bond to $106M.

Next Steps:
  • 6/10 for continued discussion, or
  • 6/24 discussion of a resolution authorizing the placement of a ballot measure on the 2019 General Election
  • 7/29 Adoption of the resolution
  • 8/06 Deadline to submit!
Discussion

Additional features

The recommendation from staff is still expensive but the additions of senior center space and two additional swimming lanes will be a real asset.

It doesn’t make sense to spend a lot of money on a big building and not fulfill some of the basic needs of the community. It is a relatively small increase to add the senior center and extra lanes.

Without the diving well, the pool will be deep enough at one end to dive and play water polo. The six lanes had already included the extra depth. A separate well would add too much cost for half a dozen users.

The space for the senior center is not dedicated - it is shared-use with programming, parks, and classes - with priority to senior center and their offices.

This project is a “legacy piece.” Council has listened and incorporated the improvements that have been included.

Is this the right size and the right cost for all of the elements that have been included? Answer: staff has gone through numerous iterations, what we offer and want to offer, hours of operation, cost of operations, maintenance and construction etc, We believe this is the right size of building for Shoreline. Also, building as one project is less expensive than separate rec and pool centers.

Location

“Free” land from the School District was very tempting but further research determined that the it was revenue neutral. The reason is the MUR zone of that location has different environmental regulations. It would have to meet “passive house.” The building proposed will not meet passive house because it would then be “$10M more expensive.” Passive house is really designed for residential structures and there’s no way to determine how it would affect greenhouse gas savings in this type of building. The Midvale site is designed LEED Gold.

The Midvale location is centrally located and has less impact on neighborhoods than it would at the SD property. And investing a large amount of money on a site the City doesn’t own, even with a 50 year lease, is taking an unnecessary risk. We could have the same problem we have with the senior center and the Historical Museum. Both were SD buildings that needed to move.

Construction on the SD property was going to be quite challenging.

Additionally, there were conditions on the SD property and parking was a distance away. Midvale is more accessible by public transportation.

Bond measure size and duration

How long will the building last? Maybe we should use 30 years and include some of the park issues? How long does the public want to carry that debt?

Unfortunately, the interest rate goes up if you go to 30 years. CAC is only thing being discussed now. It is possible if the SD gives $2.4M could we reduce the bond by that amount. But we won’t know about the KingCo. Levy. It is possible that there will be a lot of private fundraising, but we can’t reduce the bond amount betting on private fundraising.

A lot of people are “aging at home” and are not cash rich. Even $50/month can be too much for people on a limited income. Even $20/month could be the breaking point.

When you look at the numbers comparing a 20 to a 30 year bond, the total interest paid is higher on a 30 year term. The average annual payment is a little less, but over the additional 10 years it’s $30MM more.

We need to fund the full amount but be aware that $5-10 might be tremendously important to many benefitted by having the extra money. 20 years is preferable but should not be the deciding measure.

It is financially responsible to retire the debt sooner which would also help future Councils. With the debt gone, they can move on to other priorities that arise.

We should reduce the amount and advise the SD that they should be funding the increases that are improvements to serve the entire competitive swim programs and local SD. Why should Shoreline taxpayers pay for those increases? If we reduce the bond measure, the SD may feel more pressure to ante up. We should also include the KingCo levy. By showing we don’t have it fully funded, we are showing our need for the levy funds. We can tell the taxpayers we are looking at other revenue streams. This will show potential private contributors that we need more money, instead of asking for donations to fund a fully funded project.

4 to 3 in favor of 20 year term

6 to 1 in favor using full amount

Timing

There has been plenty of outreach and plenty of response so a November ballot does not seem too soon. The current pool is on its last legs.

2020 is a presidential year so more people vote, but every delay increases the cost.

We need to make sure this is a standalone. If there are other local measures, this would be an even higher lift .

Staff presents the right time for a bond when it has its best chance of passing.

We need to take advantage of momentum.

The Council 100% in favor of November date.

Park Improvements

We need to include the parks because we need parks for our growing population. We need to find ways to fund and improve our parks.

But the price tag for CAC is so high and yes, we need more parks, but added to this, it will be too much.

We should rely on grant funding for parks.In a few years look at a park improvement.

We are talking about improvements to four parks. No major land purchase and some areas really need work, especially this list of 4. They missed the last park bond. This is a little increase on a big ask.

It could be two separate ballots but don’t want them to be competing.

Need to keep it simple on the ballot. Don’t make voters decide between parks and pool.

Hillwood Park always get put aside.It’s a wetland, and there is nothing to draw people there unless you want to play soccer in the mud. But more people will use the pool/rec center.

We don’t want ballot confusion. More people go to parks than the pool but no one wants to threaten this big landmark.

Moved to June 24, Discussion. Last time for public comment.

Scheduled for adoption on July 29th,

Meeting adjourned at 8:50pm.



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Photo: Smooch

Friday, April 5, 2019

Photo by Gloria Z. Nagler


Gloria found this couple in Lake Washington. There are turtles all over Shoreline. At Echo Lake and Ronald Bog the turtles line up on logs like this (although this one looks like a beam left over from dock building).

They seem to be sunning themselves because we only see them on warm, sunshiny days.

Gloria says these are painted turtles. I assume we are looking at a parent and a juvenile. If you look closely at the smaller turtle you can see the pattern which is so prominent on the adult.

Another dress design, perhaps?

DKH



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Construction starting soon for the Lynnwood Link in Shoreline

Thursday, March 28, 2019

The Lynnwood Link Extension is preparing to enter construction this spring, with work beginning in Seattle and Shoreline. 

This is a major milestone to bringing light rail to north Seattle, Shoreline, Mountlake Terrace and Lynnwood by 2024! 

The online open house is an opportunity to learn about what to expect as work gets underway and how to stay informed throughout construction.

Upcoming work near you

Sound Transit is committed to being a good neighbor and keeping you informed, click on your future station to learn about upcoming work near you.

Shoreline South/145th Station
Shoreline North/185th Station
Mountlake Terrace Station
Lynnwood City Center Station

Interested in a specific topic?

If you are interested in a particular aspect of construction click on your area of interest below to learn more:

Tree removal and replanting
Noise walls
Ronald Bog
General project sequence
Parking changes
Road closures
Who do I call with a question?

New to the project and looking for more background?

Visit Project Overview to get up to speed.


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Sound Transit begins mitigation work at Ronald Bog by moving sculpture

Tuesday, March 26, 2019

Courtesy City of Shoreline


Photos by Martin De Grazia

Sound Transit is offsetting impacts to wetlands as a result of light rail construction in Shoreline by creating new wetlands at Ronald Bog Park on N 175th and I-5. (see previous article)



The first step in constructing the Ronald Bog Wetland Mitigation Site was to move Michael Sweeney’s The Kiss to a new location.



Workers constructed a new earthen mound approximately 200 feet east from the sculpture's current location and then carefully transferred the sculpture to the new mound.



The entrance to the park was reconfigured with access to The Kiss. The sculpture is still visible from the Bog.




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Plans for public works maintenance facilities to be displayed at open house Wednesday, Mar 20

Thursday, March 14, 2019

Hamlin Maintenance Yard
Photo by Jerry Picard


Shoreline City Maintenance Facility Project Open House is Wednesday, March 20, 2019, 6:30 to 8:00pm at the North City Water District office 1519 NE 177th St.

Come learn more about plans to address the City’s maintenance facility needs and provide input on the preferred designs. If you are unable to attend the open house, you can find all the material on the City Maintenance Facility Project webpage. You can also provide feedback. The feedback page will remain open until March 22.

After listening to community concerns regarding impacts to Hamlin Park and doing a thorough analysis, we developed two alternatives that will have much less impact on Hamlin Park.

The new approaches would both minimize tree impacts; however, the preferred alternative (Scenario A) will impact the fewest number of trees even though it will require a small expansion of the Hamlin Yard site.

The Hamlin Yard expansion under Scenario A is also offset by a larger expansion of Brugger’s Bog Park into the North Maintenance Facility property. Scenario A provides the greatest and most efficient use of the Hamlin Yard property and best meets the needs of our maintenance crews while still limiting impacts to Hamlin Park.

Purpose of and need for the City Maintenance Facility Project

Since 1996, the City’s maintenance crews have shared space at Hamlin Park. This facility is called Hamlin Yard. Its main users are Parks and Public Works crews. Maintenance needs have grown over time, and Hamlin Yard can no longer serve these needs safely and efficiently. In 2015, we began to study building a new Public Works maintenance facility.

North Maintenance Facility
Photo by Steven H. Robinson


The location first chosen for building was the North Maintenance Facility property (19547 25th Ave. NE), which the City purchased in 2013. The study found that building a maintenance base at this property had higher cost and risk than the City was comfortable with.

After further Council discussion, we looked at ideas to use other properties for a maintenance base. Overall, we found that:

  • There isn’t a single City-owned site that would enable us to build a one large maintenance facility; and
  • It isn’t feasible to purchase new property to construct one, large facility.

How to address this need

Following the earlier studies, in 2017 the City Council asked staff to look at making the most of the three existing maintenance properties the City currently owns, plus the Ronald Wastewater District (RWD) property.

Ronald Wastewater property
Photo by Steven H. Robinson


The RWD property is not owned by the City at this time but will be upon the completion of the City’s assumption of RWD. Property ownership is expected to transfer within the long-term timeframe of this project.

These four properties (below) will serve all facility needs for the City’s Public Works and Parks crews, including the new Grounds Maintenance crew, and the utilities crews.


Our analysis showed:

1.  Ronald Wastewater District site is best suited for the City's Wastewater and Surface Water Maintenance crews.

2.  Brightwater Portal site is best for snow/ice operations, fueling, vehicle wash, and sweeper decant/spoils.

3.  NMF site is best shared between multiple priority uses. These uses include expanding Brugger’s Bog Park and restoring Ballinger Creek. The back half of the NMF site is needed for City maintenance storage and parking needs.

4.  Hamlin Yard is the best location for a 20,000 square foot new building. This building would include Parks, Streets, and Grounds crew spaces and shops. This site would also have covered areas for priority vehicles, equipment, and storage.

We developed eight alternative layouts for Hamlin Yard and NMF sites. Our goal was to find the best overall configuration. One high priority was reducing tree impacts at Hamlin Yard. The preferred alternative that will be presented at the open house achieves those goals.

For more information visit the City Maintenance Facility Project page. For questions, contact Project Manager John Featherstone at (206) 801-2478 or jfeatherstone@shorelinewa.gov.

--City of Shoreline



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Photos: Birds in snow

Sunday, February 10, 2019

Photo by Martin DeGrazia


Ronald Bog froze in the first snowfall. I wonder if it confused the geese to be walking on a frozen surface.

Photo by Lien Titus

Echo Lake didn't freeze over - but might yet. The white duck is a Muscovy. The others are mallards.


Photo by Frank Kleyn

Photo by Frank Kleyn

Not sure what these little birds are. Frank Kleyn thinks the first one is a fox sparrow and I think the second one is a sapsucker because of the long, pointed beak.

The little bird with the berries is a perfect Christmas card with the snow and red berries and the little fat bird. The second bird has green wings. Covered with lichen like everything else around here?

Photo copyright Gloria Z. Nagler

Gloria Nagler thinks that this glowing golden bird on her fence is a thrush.

I'd be amazed at the variety of birds but I already know that Chris Southwick has identified over 50 different birds in her Shoreline - Lake Forest Park back yard.



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Rob Oxford: Pleeeease, Say It Isn't Snow?

Saturday, February 9, 2019

Photo by Rob Oxford


By Rob Oxford

If Shoreline Area News' resident forecaster Carl Dinse is correct (see latest forecast), it appears as though we may be in for a "significant snow event" this coming weekend and quite possibly well beyond.

Unfortunately this is Washington State. The Puget Sound. We have Convergence Zones and Indian Summers, Lenticular Clouds and the Beaufort Scale. We also have hundreds of descriptive ways to describe the rain including: abundant, big, constant, continual, severe, deluge, downpour, driving and drizzle. Not to mention freezing and mizzle (a very fine rain). There's Scotch Mist (a mixture of mist and light rain), shower, spit, sleet, sprinkle, incessant and plenty more I assure you.

However there aren't that many ways to describe snow of which I am aware. There's powder for great skiing and wet, for snow forts and snowball fights.

Living in Shoreline for the past 20 years I've learned to not get overly excited when I hear the "S" word. As more than often the "S" word stands for "Sorry! False Alarm". But I must confess, it still makes me giddy with excitement.

Dog in Bog
Photo by Martin DeGrazia


As a kid living on the hill in Fife, I remember having enough snow that ours was the house where everyone came to be served hot chocolate and tube down our driveway. Then upon moving to Rochester New York in the 6th grade, we experienced one of the worst winters I can remember. Snow that measured in feet not inches for weeks at a time and still we managed to go to school.

I realize there are certainly adverse effects to unwanted snow accumulations, icy roads, power outages and school closures, to name a few. However, I also realize we live in the Pacific Northwest not the Northeast or Midwest.

But I get it, you either like snow or you don't. Personally, I LIKE SNOW!

I like to watch it fall and pile up. I like to watch kids sledding and tobogganing.

"Tobogganing"?...look it up. I like to watch cars spin out because those set on driving profess to be the only ones on the road who "know how to drive in this stuff".

Ronald Bog shelter
Photo by Martin DeGrazia


I of course like to do all of these things from the comfort of my living room with a fire roaring in the fireplace. What I don't particularly like is being the butt of jokes from my friends who are "Townies" from New England or "Upstaters" (residents of New York) for not being able to drive in the snow, but it does come with the territory.

Our lack of consistent yearly snowfall has prevented us from being able to adapt to such conditions. In addition, depending on where you live or work, traversing Seattle's 7 Hills can prove treacherous.

Despite its challenging topography, the fact still remains that some of us here in the Puget Sound really shouldn't be on the road when it snows. Then again, some of us shouldn't be on the road in August either.

In all seriousness, remember that a major snow event like what is forecasted doesn't happen all that often and prepare yourself. Have your Emergency Kit handy. Make sure you have flashlights, batteries and candles. Stock up on food and fill your car's tank with gas. ...Just in case you find yourself having to share the road with the "only guy in Seattle who knows how to drive in this stuff".

Finally, if you have neighbors or family members who may need extra care, now is the perfect time to pay them a visit.



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Sound Transit to remove 1,000 trees along track - 3,700 replacement trees will be planted - most in Ronald Bog

Saturday, January 19, 2019

Sound Transit graphic


Report from Juniper Nammi, Sound Transit Project Manager for the City of Shoreline. Part of the agenda packet for the Parks/Tree Board meeting



Sound Transit has been working with the Washington Department of Transportation to negotiate tree replacements along the light rail development corridor.

Most of the track is on the ground. Tree removal 35 feet on either side of the track is required, resulting in the removal of over 1,000 trees from Washington Department of Transportation property, City right-of-way, and from individual property. 

Approximately 2,700 native trees and over 1,000 non-native trees will be replanted to meet or exceed City of Shoreline replacement requirements.

All of the trees will come down at once in March 2019. 

Replacement trees must be planted in Shoreline. (See Sound Transit's flyer: More Transit - More Trees.)

A partnership with King Conservation District would allow funds from Sound Transit to offer a package of trees and shrubs to private land owners for a landscape buffer in areas where the code requirements for landscape buffers do not apply along the rail.

This could contribute roughly 400 additional trees in the Ridgecrest neighborhood and portions of North City and Ballinger. 

Final designs will be shown at an open house in February. The last opportunity for public comment is prior to the final issuance of permits.

Early work, expected to begin in March, involves tree removal, noise barriers, staging equipment, moving utility lines, and demolishing remaining houses.

Neighborhoods will be notified by direct mailings and articles in Currents as well as door-to-door outreach. 

Actual construction will begin mid-summer. The Board would appreciate talking points on this topic including the facts related to the project. 

Sound Transit is taking measures to survey for bird nests in existing trees and to deter initial nesting habits. The Department of Fish and Wildlife is guiding that effort. 

Comments and questions can be directed to Ms. Nammi through shorelinewa.gov/lightrailpermits



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Kiss sculpture being relocated within Ronald Bog park

Friday, January 18, 2019


Sound Transit is offsetting impacts to wetlands as a result of light rail construction in Shoreline by creating new wetlands at Ronald Bog Park on N 175th and I-5. (see previous article)

The first step in constructing the Ronald Bog Wetland Mitigation Site is to move Michael Sweeney’s The Kiss to a new location within the park.

The Kiss
Michael Sweeney, artist
Photo courtesy City of Shoreline
Starting today, Sound Transit will construct a new earthen mound approximately 200 feet east from the sculpture's current location and then carefully transfer the sculpture to the new mound.

Construction of the wetland mitigation site is expected to begin in summer 2019.

A few parking stalls will be temporarily occupied for construction use. A temporary road access will be installed for equipment access to work site.

The work area will be marked and fenced off from public access. Work will occur from 7am - 4pm, Monday – Friday and take approximately five weeks to complete.

Contacts
  • Outreach Specialist: My Nguyen, lynnwoodlink@soundtransit.org or 206-398-5300.
  • After-hours construction hotline: 1-888-298-2395.
  • King County Public Art Collection: Jordan Howland, Jordan.howland@4culture.org or 206-263-1589


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