Council Chair Bob Ferguson supports asking voters to increase Sheriff’s Bargaining Authority

Wednesday, July 21, 2010


Metropolitan King County Council Chair Bob Ferguson released this statement today on a proposed ordinance that would place a measure on the November general election ballot to amend the King County Charter to increase the authority of the King County Sheriff in regard to contract negotiations:
“The Sheriff is the expert on law enforcement administration in King County. She should have a seat at the table when negotiating labor contracts with her employees and the authority to bargain working conditions that put public safety first.


“I am pleased to join my colleague Councilmember Kathy Lambert in a bipartisan effort to ask the voters to amend the Charter to give the Sheriff this authority.


“This is bargaining authority already enjoyed by the Prosecuting Attorney and the Superior and District Courts, and I have asked the prosecuting attorney’s office to thoroughly review the amendment. Barring any unexpected legal impediments, I anticipate voting “yes” on Monday to send this proposal to the ballot.”
Bob Ferguson is Chair of the King County Council and represents a suburban area including the cities of Shoreline, Lake Forest Park, Kenmore as well as a large portion of north Seattle and Finn Hill.

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First Annual "Where Our Wild Things Are" Habitat Tour


By Jennifer Rotermund

On Saturday, July 10, Shoreline held its first annual “Where Our Wild Things Are” Habitat Tour. Sponsored by the Sustainable Shoreline Education Association (SSEA), The City of Shoreline, and in partnership with the National Wildlife Federation, the tour featured seven habitats on private Shoreline properties in the Hillwood and Echo Lake neighborhoods.

The weather could not have been more cooperative, and what was expected to draw about 100 people drew over twice that amount. Thanks to the vision of SSEA Board Member Boni Biery, the leadership of community organizer Afia Menke, the cooperative effort of a dynamic team of volunteers, the generosity of the homeowners of the seven properties who participated and the time spent by all of the people who attended the tour, this inaugural event was an incredible success.
The date for next year’s tour has been set for Saturday, July 9, so mark your calendars now. The WOWTA team is hoping to find enough willing participants to show off their habitats in different Shoreline neighborhoods each year, so please let the team know if you’re interested in having your certified wildlife habitat in an upcoming tour. If your habitat is not yet certified, go to the WOWTA website  to find out how to do that - it is easy and fun.

The WOWTA team is also always looking for enthusiastic people to join in the fun of organizing the next tour. Please let them know if that person is you. You can contact the WOWTA team by posting to the WOWTA Facebook page or by sending an email.
Jennifer Rotermund is the Lead Gardener for Garden of Weedin’ (a local pesticide-free garden maintenance company), owner of Gaiaceous Gardens (an urban vegetable and herb farm and certified wildlife habitat in Shoreline) and Habitat Steward.



Photos by Dorrena Ortega and Pax Ortega

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School Board approves resolution in support of Lake Forest Park levy lid lift

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

The Shoreline School Board has approved a resolution in support of Proposition 1, a property tax levy-lid lift for retention of basic public safety and other services that will appear on the August 17, 2010 ballot. Following is the full text of the resolution:

Resolution No. 2010-13
July 19, 2010

WHEREAS, the City of Lake Forest Park will hold an election August 17, 2010 on Proposition 1, a Levy for Retention of Basic Public Safety and Other Services; and

WHEREAS, approval of this levy lid lift would allow the City of Lake Forest Park to maintain basic public safety, parks, community and other governmental services; and

WHEREAS, the Shoreline School District, having two of its elementary schools, Brookside and Lake Forest Park, within the City of Lake Forest Park, has an interest in retaining those services to the community;

WHEREAS, the Shoreline School District values its nearly 50-year partnership with the City of Lake Forest Park in serving our community and is concerned that additional reductions in the city's budget will further impact its quality of service;

NOW THEREFORE, be it resolved that the Shoreline Board of Directors endorses the City of Lake Forest Park Proposition 1 on the August 17, 2010 ballot, and urges voters to support this measure with a Yes vote.

Adopted by the Board of Directors of the Shoreline School District No. 412, King County, Washington at its regular meeting on July 19, 2010.

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Forum on LFP Prop 1

The League of Women Voters, Lake Forest Park branch, is sponsoring a voter forum on the LFP Prop 1 Levy Lid Lift, Monday, August 2, from 7-8 pm on the Third Place Commons Stage.


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Call to artists, 2011 gallery schedules


The Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Arts Council is looking for artists to show in two local galleries: The Gallery at Towne Centre in Lake Forest Park and Shoreline City Hall Gallery. Artists are invited to submit a letter of interest, resume, artist’s statement, 10-15 images on digital media that reflect a cohesive body of work, an image list with title, medium, size and price and a Self Addresses Stamped Envelope for return of materials. Please specify if you are interested in showing at either location or both.

All work shown in The Gallery and Shoreline City Hall Gallery must be original and for sale. The Gallery at Towne Centre features six week, three person exhibits with each artist showing approximately 12 pieces. A 40% commission will be taken on all sales at The Gallery. The Gallery is located inside, on the lower level of the Lake Forest Park Towne Centre at 17171 Bothell Way NE.

Shoreline City Hall, located at 175th and Midvale Ave N, features three floors of exhibit space in a modern setting. Works are exhibited for three months with approximately 10-15 pieces per artist with a minimum size of 16x20. A 30% commission will be taken on all sales.

Send materials by October 31, 2010 to: The Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Arts Council, Attn: Gallery Director, 18560 1st Ave NE, Shoreline, WA 98155.

Questions only (206) 417-4645 or email


The Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Arts Council is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to nurture all of the arts in the community through programs and events, arts education, advocacy, and support for artists and arts organizations. Proceeds from the Gallery at Towne Centre and Shoreline City Hall Gallery help fund these programs and events.

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State board advises SCC to reduce expenses

The latest economic news out of Olympia has Shoreline Community College officials thinking about how to make immediate budget reductions.

“The state’s economic forecast isn’t good,” said Shoreline President Lee Lambert. “We’re being advised by staff at the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges to reduce expenditures now.”

According to this month’s report from the state Economic and Revenue Forecast Council, June revenue to the state was 7.7 percent ($91 million) below the forecast, a target that had already been lowered $200 million from the February forecast. The Council report says the U.S. economy is at greater risk of stalling and that Washington’s “near-term economic outlook is weaker than anticipated in June.”

Budget advice to the state’s 34 community and technical colleges came in a July 15, 2010, message from Chris Reykdal, deputy executive director - finance, for the State Board.

“I feel like a broken record here, but please plan accordingly,” Reykdal wrote. “Reducing your spending trajectories immediately will mitigate, in part, some of the cuts that are likely coming. In other words, spread this cut over 11 months by taking action now.

“Waiting until it is official will only leave you with less and less time to make reductions for the current year.”
Lambert said it is instructive that the state system is now advising the approach Shoreline has taken for the past two years. “We’ve been proactive when and where we could be and it has helped to some degree,” Lambert said. “We’ll continue to do that, but now everyone is being told to do it.”

Shoreline’s Board of Trustees Chairman Jerry Smith said the situation requires action. “I believe the College must react quickly to these economic realities,” Smith said. “If we are to continue to serve students and the state, facing these facts sooner rather than later is advisable.”

While the economic trend is gloomy, of more immediate concern is word from the state Office of Financial Management that there is room under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to cut another 4 percent from overall higher-education funding for the current fiscal year.

The ARRA, sometimes called the stimulus package, required maintenance-of-effort equal to 2006 funding levels. In his memo, Reykdal said the State Board was recently notified that state budget officials reviewed the language and believe the level could be $48 million to $50 million lower.

“Of that amount, about half could fall to the community and technical colleges,” Lambert said.

And that number gives Shoreline a potential budget-reduction target, said Vice President for Administrative Services Daryl Campbell. “Assuming the same formula used in recent cuts, Shoreline would be looking at cutting $800,000 to $1 million, this year,” he said.

Just how cuts of that magnitude could be made, given the short timeline and two-years worth of previous reductions, hasn’t been decided, Lambert said.

“However, go back to the list of reduction strategies that we’ve already considered,” Lambert said. “A plan could include holding positions open and using lapsed salaries, furloughs could be back on the table, much tighter spending controls and then reducing the number of employees and moving employees off state funding support.”

It won’t be just higher education in the budget cross-hairs.

“We are hearing that the most likely approach to addressing the potential current year shortfall is across-the-board cuts ordered by the Governor,” said the State Board’s Reykdall. “The other option is a second special session for 2010, but there is little appetite for that among legislative leaders. There are too many unknowns at this point to accurately predict the level of cuts, or our system’s share of those cuts, but a cut of at least 4 percent seems increasingly likely.”

--From Shoreline Community College Public Information Office

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Letter to the Editor: We need a new school board

To the Editor:

The more I learn about what the Shoreline School Board has done the more I’m convinced we need a new board. Instead of respecting the historical, cultural, educational, and tourism values of the Museum in the Historical Landmark Ronald School, the Board excluded the Museum from the planning process (just tenants), instructed architects to prepare two plans, neither leaving the museum where it is, as it is. Then in an eleventh-hour decision; under the guise of creating “parity” between the Shorecrest and Shorewood campuses; promised to move the building 300 feet for the land it sits on.

Rather than displacing the museum and gutting a historical building, why not move the planned campus entrance? Then, redirect the money held to move and repair the Ronald School to build vertical parking above and/or below ground instead.
This would:

  • Allow the City Council to meet their vision of having the Shoreline Museum as a cornerstone of the new Shoreline Town Center.
  • Leave the museum in residence at the Ronald School Building in the heart of Shoreline where it belongs.
  • Help address the campus size parity issue by making more land available for student use.
  • Pave less of the new Shorewood Campus thereby decreasing impervious surface and its storm-water impacts.
  • Probably cost less overall; and could certainly be done quickly.
  • Compliment the Shorewood campus with a local learning resource right next door.
I thought the School Board was wiser than it has demonstrated. I don’t want the Board spending my tax dollars. So long as this board is making the decisions, I will not support another levy. Board members have proven they cannot be trusted.

Boni Biery
Shoreline

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Sprinkler system prevents tragedy


A sprinkler system quickly extinguished a fire caused by combustibles placed on top of a toaster oven this morning at the Blakeley Apartments on Aurora Avenue North. 

Fire investigators say the damage was confined to a small area on the countertop and overhead cabinets. The fire could have spread quickly, done extensive damage and filled the apartment with deadly smoke without the sprinkler system.

Shoreline Fire reminds residents to watch what you heat, don't leave cooking unattended, and be sure you have working smoke alarms and an escape plan!

Want to follow Shoreline Fire activities daily? Check us out on FaceBook and Twitter. 

Photos and article from Shoreline Fire Department

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Shoreline’s draft Town Center Subarea Plan available for review


Shoreline’s draft Town Center Subarea Plan is now available for review on the City website.  Go to the following link, then click on the picture of the plan in the upper right corner of the page. The draft Subarea Plan includes a brief history of the area, a Town Center Vision Statement, and goals and policies founded on principles of sustainability.

This document builds upon public input from last fall’s Town Center Open House, last spring’s Town Center Design Charrette, an online visual preference survey taken by over 300 citizens, and a Vision Statement drafted by the Planning Commission.

The public is invited to submit comments on this draft to the City staff before a final proposed Town Center Plan and Zoning is prepared and presented at public hearings this fall. Comments and suggestions are due by August 20 to project manager Paul Cohen 206-801-2551.

--Joe Tovar, Shoreline Planning and Development Services Manager 
Shoreline City Hall photo by Steven H. Robinson

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Stolen truck in Echo Lake

Sometime early Monday morning, a stolen truck was driven into Echo Lake. The thief drove the truck to Echo Lake Park, wedged the gas pedal and aimed it into the north end of the lake off the small beach.

It ended up in about 30 feet of water. It was towed out by Shoreline Police, assisted by the King County Dive Team, who attached cables to the vehicle.

The beach is closed to swimming until all the contaminants from the vehicle have surfaced.

The Echo Lake Neighborhood Association will still hold its annual work party at 4 pm, but will not be putting new sand on the beach because of concerns about trapping oil from the truck.

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Letter to the Editor: Leave my yard signs alone

To the Editor:

Around noon on Monday, a white sedan stopped in the street in front of my house, a guy hopped out of the passenger side, yanked up my YesLFP Prop. One sign, smashed it on the asphalt three or four times, threw it in the drainage ditch and sped away.

The frenzied destruction of my sign in broad daylight got my attention. Teaparty-style tactics in a Lake Forest Park election?

We're talking about an average tax increase of less than $12 a month to close a persistent budget gap. A gap caused not by wild spending, but by the 1% property tax initiative defeated by Lake Forest Park voters ten years ago, but passed statewide.

I took another look at the "No!" mailer I received the other day. As expected, it includes the “No!” campaign’s favorite scary, and cleverly misleading, "38% property tax increase" statistic. Their grim unemployment figure covers the entire Seattle metro area (the local percentage isn’t as spectacular.) Three stock photos showing models posed in front of ordinary houses are juxtaposed with two plaintive quotes not attributed to real people. And, come on, guys -- every governing body in America is making budgets "based on unknowns in the national, regional and local economy."

As a grownup, I know the tax increase is based on the 11% of my total property tax returned to Lake Forest Park, not my entire property tax bill. Grownups gladly pay for city services like police, street repairs, septic tank oversight, sewer maintenance, etc. because these services don't happen magically. They take people and they cost money.

Here's a real quote from a real person prepared to forgo a couple of lattés to keep services at their present level:

"I support the levy. Leave my signs alone!"

Teri Howatt
Lake Forest Park

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Shoreline is throwing a party - and you're invited!

Monday, July 19, 2010

Swingin' Summer Eve is a party in the park with food for sale benefiting a good cause, wonderful, lively music on the Showmobile stage, information booths, and a huge pre-owned book sale benefiting the Council of Neighborhoods. Bring the entire family and enjoy a night out together.  Paramount Park, NE 155th and 8th NE, 5:30 - 8:30 pm.

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Start collecting school supplies for the Back to School Event


School supply sales are just around the corner and a great time to organize a school supply drive for this year’s Back to School Event serving Shoreline School District families. The Back to School Consortium estimates that over 1,000 Shoreline School District students will need assistance with new socks, underwear, backpacks and school supplies to start the school year.

Any family, neighborhood or group can organize a drive. For more information visit the Back to School Event website and click on “Opportunities to Give.”

Members of the Back to School Consortium:
City of Lake Forest Park; Embrace Shoreline Schools; Hopelink; City of Shoreline; Shoreline Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Services; Shoreline PTA Council; Shoreline School District and the Readiness to Learn Program; Center for Human Services; The Vineyard; Turning Point and YMCA. 

--Sarah-Ann Woodfield

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County Council places sales tax ballot measure on November ballot

Proposal to raise $80 million in revenue sent to general election ballot

Facing a projected $60 million budget deficit, the Metropolitan King County Council today approved sending to the voters in November a proposal to raise the sales and use tax in King County by two-tenths of one percent. The revenue raised by the ballot measure would go predominately to public safety services.

“Keeping the public safe is an essential County function,” said Council Chair Bob Ferguson. “Voters deserve the opportunity to decide whether critical criminal justice services should be preserved.”

If approved by voters, the increase would generate approximately $59 million in revenue for King County in 2011 and $80 million in 2012, the first full year the levy would be collected. Under the proposal, the County’s portion of the proceeds would be used solely for public safety programs ranging from the Sheriff and Prosecutor’s Office to Public Defense and Jail Health Services.

In addition, 40 percent of the tax proceeds would go to the 39 cities within King County based on their population. This would mean that approximately $24 million would go to city governments with the County. State law requires that cities must spend one-third of the proceeds on criminal justice services.

The sales tax increase would remain in effect for a maximum of three years.

Along with an increase in the sales tax, the measure would use a portion of the County’s unincorporated area levy—$9.5 million in 2011—to fund police services in the County’s unincorporated communities.

The adopted ordinance now goes to the voters on November 2 as part of the general election ballot.

From the King County Council Communications Office 

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Shoreline Police Blotter 7-1 to 7-13-2010


By Diane Hettrick
Categories and Comments are my Creation

Sounds very serious
7-1…..145xx Stone. Threats, theft. (sorry, no other information)
7-2….30xx NE 145. Dad reporting child abuse. Kicked child, caused bruises. (I’m following up with the police.)

Theft
7-6….14xx NW 204 Pl. Stole lawnmower from fenced yard. (And they’ll probably fence it).
7-12…145th 15th NE, Goodwill. Stole purse from shopping cart. (Happens at the grocery store, too.)
7-13…19290 Aurora, YMCA. Billfold stolen from unsecured locker. (Doesn’t actually matter if it’s secured – thieves can pop those things open in a heartbeat. I’d say to leave your wallet in the car, but then we’d just get reports of car prowls at the Y. Other suggestions?)

Still the 4th of July for some
7-6….N 198/Aurora, Costco. 1:29 am. Saw car cruising in known crime zone. Stopped to check. In possession of fireworks and marijuana. (Wonder what they were planning with the fireworks?)
7-6….199xx Dayton N. Suspect used triangle bomb firework to blow up a mailbox. (Oh – that’s what they were planning. What? Different person? Ok) (Cross-reference this one to the Punks category).
7-7….21xx N 185. Fireworks, loud parties. (The guy you don’t want to live next door to.)

Homeless
7-7….15403 Westminster, Aurora Square. SG trespassed from Big Lots after trying to set up camp in the rear parking lot.
7-7….15xx NE 146. Two women sleeping in car. One said that her mom will be home in Shoreline the end of the week and they can stay with her, but they are homeless for now.

Punks and Drunks
7-9….174xx 5 NE. Two suspects followed woman from Shoreline Library. Asked her for money then stole her purse. Adolescents, Asian male, Black female.
7-9….200xx Whitman. Report of drunk wandering in parking lot. Officer located man, who has misdemeanor criminal warrant.

Deals on Wheels – their turn in the spotlight
7-9….15730 Aurora, Deals on Wheels. Owner tried to use a company check and it was declined. He checked with his bank and discovered unauthorized withdrawals from his account.
7-12...15730 Aurora, Deals on Wheels. Saturday night 11:10 pm. Night watchman attendant who lives on-site was in office with girl friend when a woman he knows by name came in, stole keys to vehicle, wallet, cell phone and drove vehicle from premises.

Other Fraud
7-10...15222 Aurora, Caspar’s Restaurant. Victim checked his bank account online and saw it was overdrawn. Realized he had left his card at the restaurant and it was being used. 14 charges, 18 overdraft fees.

On the road again
7-10….N 175/Aurora. Driving With License Suspended. Cited, car impounded.
7-10….155xx Stone. Abandoned car.
7-11….19xx N 155th. Traffic stop for defective tail lamp. Arrested for Driving With License Suspended. (There are different degrees of DWLS and different reasons for a license suspension)
7-11….N 145/Corliss. Woman driving with DWLS. Cited, car impounded.
7-13…160xx 26 NE. Vehicle collides with parked, unattended car. Driver flees on foot. (It always amazes me that the bad guys have the energy to run from car crashes. Most people just sit there and bleed.)

Cop job description: Must enjoy dealing with the public
7-10….17828 Wayne N, Ambitions Care Home. Resident was threatening to harm herself.
7-11….14622 15 NE, Zaika’s. Subject disobeys police warning and refuses to ID himself. Cited.
7-12….Police Station. Subject turned himself in for warrant from Snohomish County on drug charges.
7-12…15001 15 NE, Colonial Gardens Apts. Woman called 911 to say her cousin was acting crazy. Deputies arrived, cousin tried to barricade himself in a room and then attacked deputies with a knife. Subdued with a Taser and booked into King County jail for assault.
7-12…N 152/Aurora. Lying jaywalker booked on warrants. (No, not because he lied, because he had warrants – what were you thinking?)

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Letter to the Editor: Museum is in a fight for its life


To the Editor:

The Shoreline Historical Museum has done a great job of educating our children and the public about the history of the Shoreline-Lake Forest Park and North Seattle area, but it is once again in a fight for its life.

The Shoreline School District (SSD) wants to rebuild a shiny new Shorewood High School next door and after all is said and done, plans include the removal of the museum. As members of Golden Wheels Fraternity Vintage Racers, my friend and I have a strong involvement:
  • Memorabilia such as racing films, scrapbooks and photo albums are archived there.
  • We hold our annual static vintage car show there.
  • Two of our members are long time active members of the Museum, and
  • We participate in the production of the Museum's vintage car show at the annual Celebrate Shoreline event in August.
Of course it impacts many other organizations and individuals, as well as the community at large.

The pending possibility of the demise of the Museum is offensive on many levels. The SSD has shown extreme lack of respect for process, for the heritage of the area, for the functions of the Museum, and for the public who is paying for this fiasco.

I urge everyone to get informed on this issue. The issue is to save a precious cultural landmark at its current location and to incorporate it into plans for the Town Center and future economic development. Doing so would prevent certain damage to the 100 year old Ronald School House, preserve the Museum's important functions, and protect the heritage of our area, all at a fraction of what it will cost the SSD (and us) to prevail with their plans to destroy those things.

Those who have become informed no longer take the word of the SSD at face value. No amount of pretty words on their part will make up for the way they are mismanaging this whole project.

Vicki Westberg and Art Waller
Shoreline, WA 

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Shoreline City Council Special Meeting Monday, July 19

The Shoreline City Council will meet Monday evening, 6:30 pm, July 19, in the council chamber at Shoreline City Hall, 17500 Midvale Ave N.

Council meetings alternate formal meetings with work/study sessions and this meeting is a "Special" aka work/study meeting.

The standard agenda has the formal opening, city manager Bob Olander's report, and brief remarks from council members. The approval of the agenda has been contentious in past councils, but seems peaceful with this council.

The Consent Agenda is a grouping of items which are either routine or have already been discussed extensively and agreed upon. Hence, this consent agenda includes formal approval for a motion to file a petition to Snohomish county about the terms they set for development of Point Wells.

The study items scheduled for this meeting (the links will allow you to download the staff reports):

a. Property Tax Ballot Measure: a discussion of whether to ask the citizens to raise their property taxes to maintain city services.

You may want to download the entire city council packet for July 19, 2010 so you can see the same documents the council members have.

The meetings are on the web through the city website. The meetings are broadcast on Comcast Cable Services Channel 21 and Verizon Cable Services Channel 37 on Tuesdays at 12 noon and 8 pm, and Wednesday through Sunday at 6 am, 12 noon and 8 pm.

Rules for public comment
Members of the public are provided an opportunity to address the City Council about agenda items for three minutes or less, depending on the number of people wishing to speak, after the staff report and before Council review. The total public comment period on each agenda item will be no more than 20 minutes, and comments shall be limited in scope to the specific agenda item. If more than 10 people are signed up to speak on an item each speaker will be allocated 2 minutes. When representing the official position of a State registered non-profit organization or agency or a City-recognized organization, a speaker will be given 5 minutes and it will be recorded as the official position of that organization. Each organization shall have only one, five-minute presentation. Individuals will be required to sign up prior to the start of the agenda item on which they wish to speak and will be called upon to speak generally in the order in which they have signed. If time is available, the Presiding Officer may call for additional unsigned speakers.


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Photo: Moonlit Tree

Moonlit Tree.  Photo by Steven H. Robinson.

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Shoreline Schools, questions and answers re change of plans for Shorewood

Sunday, July 18, 2010


By Diane Hettrick

I asked some follow-up questions after the Shoreline School district's press release about incorporating Ronald School into the Shorewood design, and after hearing from the Museum which would be dispossessed by the School District's actions. My questions, as posed, and the answers follow:

1. Why are you playing hardball? Major property purchases can take a very long time. What are the deadlines on the federal money - is that the primary driver?
The state has given the District a commitment for $17 million for Shorewood, but with certain deadlines that must be met to qualify for the funding. The District has been clear with the Museum Board as to the timeline for the project. When the Museum failed to execute the Agreement in Principle despite repeated efforts over the past five months, failed to purchase an adjacent piece of property, and appealed the SEPA determination, the District felt it must move forward to keep the project on the timeline.

2. Is the design you are going back to one of the ones at the original open house, where the new school is built right into the wall / walls of the museum, or a design that leaves the 45' clearance around the Ronald School.
As you reported, the District will now return to its original plan of including the Ronald School as part of Shorewood. The minimum 45-foot clearance would only have been required if the Ronald School were to left on its own and not a part of Shorewood.

3. Are you actually planning to gut the building and use it?
Working with the King County Landmarks Commission, the Bassetti Architects will create a plan to incorporate the historic Ronald School building into the Shorewood design - honoring, preserving and restoring the original school building structure, while bringing the unreinforced brick masonry building up to code and making it a safe structure for student use.

The District’s FAQ on the Ronald School goes into more detail about restoration of the building:

4. Isn't this a second-best design and use of the site?
As far as historic preservation is concerned, the highest purposes of historic properties are the original ones for which the building was built. In this case, the historic Ronald building will be returned to use as a school, just as it served the community for nearly 60 years.

5. Is the City involved this time around in trying to find a solution?
Members of the City Council and city staff were present for a number of meetings between the District and the Museum.

6. Are you at all concerned about negative public opinion?
The District has a made a commitment to the communities it serves to modernize/replace Shorecrest and Shorewood High Schools. In February, 10,788 voters supported the bond issue to modernize/replace both high schools. We are looking forward to completing two new high schools that will serve the Shoreline and Lake Forest Park students, families and communities for decades to come.

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Statement from the School District re the Ronald School and Shoreline Historical Museum


New Shorewood to incorporate historic Ronald School building - full statement from Shoreline Schools

Despite repeated efforts over the past five months, the Shoreline School District and the Shoreline Historical Museum, currently housed in the Ronald School, have not been able to finalize the agreement to relocate the building to an adjacent site. Therefore, the Shoreline School District will now return to its original plan of incorporating the historic Ronald School building in a new Shorewood High School.

After both the Museum Board and the Shoreline School Board approved the "Agreement in Principle" in January and voters approved the February 9, 2010 $150 million bond measure to replace both Shorewood and Shorecrest High Schools, the District directed the Bassetti Architects to develop a new architectural design for the Shorewood that did not incorporate the Ronald School into the project, assuming that the building would be moved from the property. Since that time Bassetti staff has worked on the new plan exclusively.

In a surprise move on June 1, the Museum Board legally appealed the District's Determination of Non-Significance (DNS) under the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) process related to relocating the Ronald School building to an adjacent site.

As efforts to purchase the necessary adjacent property by the Museum stalled, July 1 was determined by the District to be the last possible date to direct the architects to return to the pre-February 2010 design plans which incorporated the Ronald School into the Shorewood design.

"Any further delay in this decision will most certainly disrupt the design, construction timeline, and threatens the significant state funding of approximately $17 million associated with the replacement of Shorewood High School," said Superintendent Sue Walker.

Representatives from the Museum and the District have met several times since the February election to discuss the agreement to move the Ronald School. Consistent with the District's previous communications on the subject, the District clarified three items that needed to be in place by July 1 in order for the District to know there is a good faith effort and/or the ability on the part of the Museum to execute the "Agreement in Principle" reached in January. The three items were:

  1. A signed purchase agreement on a piece of property adjacent to the Shorewood site.
  2. A signed legal agreement with the District stipulating all of the necessary conditions to be met outlined in the "Agreement in Principle" and discussed at the meetings.
  3. A written withdrawal of the SEPA appeal filed by the Museum Board.

The Museum did not secure the necessary property to which the Ronald School can be moved and there is no signed agreement, other than the original agreement in principle. The SEPA appeal has not been withdrawn and is still in progress. The District feels that it has no choice but to move ahead with plans to incorporate the Ronald School building into the Shorewood design.


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County council meetings, July 19-23

Monday, July 19
Metropolitan King County Council – 11:00 a.m.
Councilmembers are scheduled to discuss and possibly act on:
  • An ordinance creating a Public Facilities District to acquire, own and operate the Washington State Convention Center (Ordinance 2010-0366).
  • An ordinance that would submit to voters a proposal authorizing an additional two-tenths of one percent sales tax for criminal justice and other general governmental purposes (Ordinance 2010-0367). The Council will consider this ordinance starting at 1:30 p.m.
Tuesday, July 20
Government Accountability and Oversight Committee – 9:30 a.m.
Committee members are scheduled to discuss and possibly recommend to the full council:
  • A motion requesting the executive review and report on cash handling, management and security practices and develop and implement policies, procedures and internal controls for the improvement of cash handling, management and security (Motion 2010-0401).
Briefings:
  • Customer Service and Public Engagement—Community Forums (Briefing No. 2010-B0142).
  • Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Plan 2010 Progress Report (Briefing No. 2010-B0140).
Budget and Fiscal Management Committee – 1:30 p.m.
Committee members are scheduled to discuss and possibly recommend to the full council:
  • An ordinance relating to the annual reconciliation of capital funds and projects and making technical corrections (Ordinance 2010-0370).
Wednesday, July 21
Committee of the Whole – 9:30 a.m.
Agenda TBA

Regional Transit Committee – 3:00 p.m.
Briefings:
  • Service Changes Update: September 2009 and February 2010 Transit Service Restructuring for Link Light Rail Start-up (Briefing 2010-B0144). 
  • SR 530 Urban Partnership: Planned Transit Service Improvements (Briefing 2010-B0145).

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Aurora Corridor Construction week of July 18

N 165 to N 185th

Traffic shift and lane restriping on Aurora (night work)
On Monday and Tuesday nights, crews will stripe new lanes on Aurora between N 165th and N 175th Streets. Traffic will be shifted east on Aurora by Wednesday morning and construction will begin on the west side of Aurora. This will be very similar to how the temporary traffic lanes were established at the beginning of the project. Two lanes of traffic will be maintained in each direction. Please drive carefully and pay attention to signage indicating where vehicles are and are not allowed to turn.

Construction beginning on the west side of Aurora between N 165th and N 175th
After traffic is shifted east, crews will set up a work zone to begin roadway excavation on the west side of Aurora. Construction on the west side of Aurora will look very similar to construction on the east side, including such improvements as underground utilities and new sidewalks and driveways. Construction will generally begin at the south end of the project area, near N 165th Street, and proceed north. Asphalt removal and roadway excavation is expected to begin late this week.

Completing driveway and sidewalk construction on the east side of Aurora between N 165th and N 175th
On Monday and Tuesday, crews will complete work on driveway entrances, sidewalks and bus pads between N 165th and N 175th Streets.

Excavation and grading on Midvale Avenue and the Interurban Trail
Next week, crews will excavate and grade Midvale Avenue and the Interurban Trail, north of N 175th Street. A single lane closure will be necessary on Midvale during the day to provide enough room to complete this work.

Joint utility trench (JUT) installation along N 185th Street
Crews will install the JUT along the south side of N 185th Street, east of Aurora. Traffic lanes will be reduced to one westbound lane on N 185th Street on both sides of Aurora to provide enough room for this work.

JUT installation, grading and curbs on N 175th Street
Crews will continue installing the JUT along N 175th Street, east of Aurora. Late this week, excavation and grading behind the existing curb on the north side of N 175th Street will begin in preparation for pouring new curbs. While lane excavation is not necessary at this time, a single westbound lane of N 175th Street will be closed between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. to provide enough room to complete this work.

Light pole installation
Light pole installation between N 175th and N 185th Streets will occur this week.

Contact info
Please contact the 24-hour hotline at (206) 801-2485 or email aurora@shorelinewa.gov if you feel there is an unsafe situation on the roadway.

Construction hours
8:00 a.m. Sunday through 5:00 p.m. Friday.
There will be no construction on Saturdays.

Regular daytime construction hours
Sunday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Monday to Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Night-time construction hours allowed
Sunday to Thursday, 8:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.

Schedule
Construction on the project is expected to be complete in summer 2011, weather permitting.
 
Photos by Steven R. Robinson

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Fifty-Seven customers in Richmond Beach without power on Sunday

Fifty-seven customers in Richmond Beach are without power for a second time in as many days. Yesterday’s outage was due to a failed underground cable. City Light crews have been dispatched to the site. The estimated time of restoration is 3 am, Monday, 7/19.

Photo courtesy Seattle City Light

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Lunch at the Senior Center


You may not have considered the Senior Center as a spot to meet friends for lunch, but they are centrally located, have a large dining room, and great food. A $3 donation is suggested for Seniors 60 and older; and $6 for those under 60.

This week's main dishes:
Monday.........Beef Stroganoff with curly noodles.
Tuesday.........Sweet and Sour Chicken, with brown rice
Wednesday....Beef Taco Salad
Thursday.......Vegetarian Lasagna OR Roast Beef Sandwich
Friday............Glazed Ham with Scalloped Potatoes OR /Tomato and Rice Soup, Pastrami Sandwich

Each meal generally comes with a vegetable and/or salad, roll or bread, fruit or dessert. Note menu is subject to change.

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Lake Forest Park Police Blotter 7-6 to 7-12-2010


By Diane Hettrick
The Categories are my Creation

Neighbor of the week awards
7-6…..195xx 38 NE. Party, racing cars on street. Quiet when police arrived.
7-6…..160xx 30 NE. Party, backyard bonfire. Warned.
7-6…..185xx 30 NE. Juveniles playing paintball in backyard. Next-door neighbor worried about his pregnant wife and 3-year-old son being hit in their backyard. Juveniles promised not to play when 3 year old is outside, but neighbor not satisfied.
7-6..…181xx 33 NE. Caller said van had been parked on street for five weeks. Owner said they move it every day but neighbor just doesn’t want it parked there even though it’s not in front of his house.
7-8…..181xx 33 NE. Neighbor called again about van on street. This time claimed it was blocking his visibility.
7-11….40xx NE 195. Loud music.
7-12….174xx 47. Caller captured neighbor’s peacock in caller’s back yard. Said it is noisy and messy. Owner told to contain it or it has to go.

People who are glad we don’t put names in the police blotter
7-6…..17000 Bothell Wy, Arco. Welfare check requested for Arco station. No one at station and cars are lining up. Apparently evening manager locked up and left early.
7-6…..36xx NE 155. Person cut himself with samurai sword while training. Not pleased that police responded with aid workers.
7-9…..40xx NE 178. Teenaged girl, home alone, parents on vacation. Neighbor heard her screaming, and slapping sounds. Police found that her boyfriend was there and they were playing. Girl very embarrassed.

Here’s a clue: if you give someone access to your house, either turn off the alarm or give them the code
7-6…..187xx 23 NE. Alarm. Police and fire responded. House is empty and for sale. Real estate agent tripped the motion sensor.
7-6…..189xx Forest Park Dr NE. Alarm. Houseguest didn’t have codes.
7-8…..180xx 28 NE. Alarm. Worker had key to house but not the alarm code.
7-11….148xx 37 NE. Alarm. Son’s home.
7-12….202xx 33 NE. Came home with Russian caretaker, who set off the alarm.

Fumble fingers and more false alarms
7-6…..45xx NE 203 Pl. 911. Meant to dial 411. Caller gave his name; has outstanding assault warrant; but address with number is someone else.
7-6…..160xx 34 NE. 911. Checking voice mail.
7-6…..156xx 36 NE. Alarm. Motion sensor. Can’t contact homeowner, no sign forced entry.
7-8…..191xx Ballinger. Alarm.
7-11…167xx 45 NE. Alarm. Homeowner mistyped, manual alarm.
7-12….Woman has panic alarm on key fob. 4 year old set it off by mistake.

Worthy of Sherlock Holmes
7-6…..50xx NE 188. Theft of garden art. Two cement plaques worth $200.
7-6…..204xx 55th Pl NE. $1903 missing from purse and locked drawer as well as business account paperwork. No suspects. No relatives or visitors have been in house.

On the road again…
7-6…..187xx 50 NE. Found, mountain bike. Abandoned one week.
7-6…..174xx Ballinger. Traffic stop. Driver has warrant for DUI. Was in custody but was bailed out of Seattle. County advising that as of July 1 there are no more meets with LFP. Booking to King Co jail.
7-9…..149xx Bothell. Driving With License Suspended.
7-10....168xx Bothell. Driving With License Suspended. Trip permit violation. Interlock devise required. No insurance. Cited, released, car towed.
7-12….NE 170/Beach Dr. Driving With License Suspended.

Teenagers – just remember how cute they were when they were babies
7-6…..34xx NE 184.  Father and 16 year-old son fight over chores.  Son says he’s leaving and takes off. Does not drive or take the bus. Advised father to call back if son did not return. Father did not call back.
7-6…..Towne Centre, Sally Beauty. Two girls, repeat shoplifters. Gone when police arrive. Advised staff to call as soon as they show up so they can be caught or Trespassed.
7-10….193xx 35 NE. 10-12 year olds. Girl and two male friends. One boy screaming obscenities. Police told them to stop.
7-10…..Towne Centre. Man asked for help with 15 year old son. Disrespectful. Attitude. In counseling and on meds for bipolar. Police took him home.
7-12….45xx Shore Dr. Skateboarders.

And you thought soap operas were far-fetched?
7-6…..190xx Lago Pl NE. Caller reports suspicious vehicle parked with people in it smoking. It left, then returned. Police found scantily clad woman walking up street toward vehicle. She has a warrant for prostitution. Driver is Driving With License Suspended. Male passenger is owner of vehicle, drunk. Gave permission to search vehicle. Found crack cocaine pipe. Citations for DWLS and drug paraphernalia. Seattle police arrived and took custody.
7-7…..202xx 33 NE. 911 call with screaming in background, woman yelling “I’m going to knock you out.” Hung up phone. History of domestic violence at address. Police call back, spoke to woman who said that 20 year old daughter was “out of control.” 4 adults and 2 grandchildren in home. Daughter has one month old baby and may have post partum. Daughter threw a bottle of water on her father and alleged he hit her and the baby. No signs of trauma. Daughter changed story.
7-10…..174xx Brookside. Two people stole Boston Terrier and drove off. Husband in pursuit. Driver said she was taking dog to vet because she found it running in the road with no collar.

Sad
7-9…..54xx NE 198 Pl. 18 year old, brain-injured child out of control. Helped parents restrain daughter and took her and mom to Evergreen.
7-9…..50xx NE 197. Assist with aggressive and agitated 80 year old patient. She bites. Dual call to fire and police. Fire had her under control, so no assist needed.

Still the 4th of July for some
7-7… Police station. Citizen brought in a baggie of model car rockets. He was escorted outside and King County Sheriff’s Office explosives unit called in.
7-9…..35xx NE 190 Pl. 8 people with fireworks. Warned.

Not quite right
7-7…..169xx Bothell Wy. Suspicious female in bushes. She took a short-cut.
7-7…..167xx 32 NE. Shots heard at Grace Cole Park. Told to call 911 the next time.
7-8…..182xx Ballinger. Man and dog at vacant home. Man hired by realtor to clean the house.
7-10….190xx 35 NE. Citizen asked for welfare check for elderly woman who appeared to be lost. Police couldn’t find her.
7-11…..145xx Edgewater Ln. Man screaming on Burke-Gilman Trail.

Officer Friendly
7-8…..Police station. Visitor got lost and ended up in Briar. Briar police gave him courtesy ride to LFP. LFP police took him to the house where he was visiting.
7-8…..26xx NE 195. Police standby while woman, recently separated from husband, picks up kids and moves her things out of the house.

Officer Unfriendly
7-11….170xx 25 NE. Citizen called for police to pick up dead cat on city easement. Not happy when told that it would have to be Public Works on a weekday. Told he could pick it up. Not happy.

Crash bang
7-8…..Ballinger/Bothell Wy. Traffic accident. One driver has head and neck injuries.

Rite-Aid should sell driver training
7-8…..Towne Centre. Possible DUI. Woman driving erratically, not staying in lane, backed up and nearly hit things. Police stopped her. She had just dropped husband at Rite Aid and was driving around, trying to quiet infant grandchild.
7-12….Police station. Citizen followed driver to Rite Aid, then reported a possible DUI. Police found she was not drunk just a really bad driver.

Inter-jurisdictional departmental reciprocity
7-8…..145/Bothell. Seattle had a DUI but got a pursuit call. Asked LFP to take over the DUI. Returned from pursuit and took him back.
7-9…..Aurora Village, Office Max. Assist Shoreline. Driver is huffing cans of air. Followed to location in Mountlake Terrace.

Crime
7-9…..170xx 37 NE. Car stolen.
7-9…..Towne Centre. Shoreline man parked on upper level had tires slashed.
7-12….160xx Beach Dr. Opened Comcast account under caller’s name,  different address.

Maybe crime
7-9…..167xx 45 NE. Mail box lid open and no mail in box.
7-11….204xx 33 NE. Pen, ink graffiti.
7-11….47xx NE 204. Woman called about two men on the street checking out the cars. Husband went to chase them off. Police picked up adult males and one juvenile.
7-11….36xx NE 155. Fired employee still returns to see friends. May be responsible for malicious mischief damages. Told to call when she returns and they will Trespass her.

Car prowls
7-11….47xx NE 203. Car prowl. Unlocked car. Took notebook.
7-11….203xx 54 NE. Car prowl. Took sunglasses, case, $2.
7-11….47xx NE 203. Car prowl. Got speaker box, gym bag, clothes. Police found shoes in bushes.

Beware the full moon
7-12….168xx Bothell. Dog running loose, no collar. Looks like a wolf.

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