Richmond Beach Congregational pastor gone on six-nation mission

Wednesday, February 6, 2019

Pastor Paul Ashby is on a six-nation trip
Richmond Beach Congregational Pastor Paul Ashby is on a trip to six Asian nations with support from a Lilly Endowment Sabbatical Grant.

Ashby’s trip to Penang, Malaysia; Colombo, Sri Lanka; Phnom Penh, Cambodia; Hanoi, Vietnam; Chang Mai, Thailand; and Taipei, Taiwan is taking him away from the church for January and February.

He says that his goal will be to go into regions where messages of rejection and judgment against other faiths have historically been promoted and to share in dialogues about the compassion of the Jewish rabbi named Jesus of Nazareth.

Ashby said before he left on the trip, “It is often forgotten that Jesus was never a Christian nor did Jesus ever tell anyone they were going to hell.”

He said he would base his dialogues on a theme central to Richmond Beach Congregational Church: "Peace, Respect, and Love in Action."

Ashby said that his inspiration for this mission project was spiritual writer and Trappist monk Thomas Merton, who, in the late 1950s, was a pioneer of interfaith dialogues across many faith groups. 

He noted that Merton provided a method based on sharing common ethical values, speaking respectfully about differences, and reflecting on ways different faiths open the human heart and consciousness to compassion, mercy, service to the poor, and forgiveness. Merton also added the humble recognition that no one has all the answers.

Following the influence of Merton, Rev. Ashby will have public interfaith dialogues with religious leaders who are Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish, and Daoist. He and his wife Pam will also be visiting temples, mosques, and synagogues in various cities. 

A group of monks in Chang Mai has promised to be their guide but add with a note of joy that "there are over 400 temples in this city of 900,000 people and -- fair warning -- bring good walking shoes to walk miles in the shoes of ancient faiths in Asia!”

This Lilly Endowment grant follows three decades of interfaith outreach and peacemaking for Rev. Ashby.

Richmond Beach Congregational is a part of the United Church of Christ.

Before coming to Richmond Beach Congregational, Ashby led a church in Tulsa, where he received a community service award for helping Tibetan Buddhist refugees.

The Oklahomans for Equality awarded him the "Spiritual Inclusion" award for leadership in creating peace and understanding among faith groups, and he received a postdoctoral fellowship to study Asian religions at Harvard University.

In addition to his service as pastor of RBCC-UCC he has been elected twice to serve as vice president of Seattle Soto Zen and he has received the honor of being a lifetime member of the Vedanta Society of Western Washington.

While Rev. Ashby is traveling, a number of lay ministers and ordained pastors conduct worship services at Richmond Beach Congregational.



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Shoreline City Council agenda preview for Feb 11 meeting - all about sidewalks

Shoreline City Hall
Photo by Steven H. Robinson
By Pam Cross

The agenda for the City Council Feb 11, 2019 meeting includes three Study items:
  1. Discussing the American with Disabilities Act Transition Plan for the Public Rights-of-Way. Staff will provide Council with information on the results of the inventory and condition assessment of the right-of-way, review the Draft Transition Plan for removal of barriers within the right-of-way, and present a preliminary schedule for repairs of sidewalk, curb ramps, and driveways.
  2. Discussing Sidewalk Program Implementation. Council is scheduled to discuss the development of the program and program funding needs.
  3. Discussing Ordinances 852 and 853 - 2019-2020 Budget Amendment and Bond for Sidewalks
    1. A discussion of Ordinance Nos. 852 and 853 which are required for a 2019-2020 budget amendment and issuance of the voter-approved bonds for the program.


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Photo: Hummers line up at the juice bar

Photo by Wayne Pridemore


I've never quite seen these maneuvers. Wings in a glide path for one hummer while the other is in full blur but with tail feathers fanned out.

Just think - if you had a bird feeder you could see things like this, too!




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For the Birds: Wintertime Bird Feeding - Helpful Tips

Heated, covered hummingbird feeder
Photo by Chris Southwick
By Christine Southwick

Wind chill, wet weather, snow, and freezing temperatures are deadly to many birds, specially first-year birds.

You can help feed birds in winter with some easy additions:

Hang weather guards above all feeders including the suet, and your hummingbird feeders. This creates a protected environment for the feeding birds.

Keep water available, which means keeping it liquid during freezing weather.

Finding much-needed drinkable water during freezing temperatures becomes a high-energy cost. 

Note: since all local birds, except owls, feed during the day, a 2 inch-deep dish can be kept liquid during the day, with frequent refills. (Wild Birds Unlimited has several models of bird bath warmers. LFP Town Center, next to Albertson's)

Keep leaves in your yard.

Blow them off your grass, paths and walkways, but keep leaves in beds and under trees to improve the soil and provide food and shelter for ground birds.

Fox sparrow in heated bath
Photo by Chris Southwick
Plant native shrubs and trees for wind, rain and cold shelter from the elements. Native plants provide bugs that birds know and need—non-native plants do not. Plus, native plants will survive in our area with minimal attention and little added water.

Now, watch local birds seeking out your yard, and feel good about helping your local wildlife. It really is a win win for everyone.



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Community Acupuncture at the Senior Center: healing atmosphere and affordable cost

Group acupuncture
Photo courtesy Senior Center


Dr. Ellie Heintze, ND and certified acupuncturist, will now be offering Group or Community Acupuncture every 2nd Tuesday of each month. 

Community acupuncture has become a nationwide movement to create access to acupuncture services by removing the high costs in the healing process. While it may seem intimidating to be in a room with 3 additional participants, there are advantages to a group environment.

Not only does it reduce costs from $70-$100 to a mere $15-$20, you are surrounded by like-minded individuals, and as with any intentional group endeavor, the shared state makes individual treatments more powerful.

Patients share in creating the healing atmosphere as much as the practitioner. You are encouraged to wear loose clothing and as you are seated in reclining chairs, four participants at a time, Dr. Heintze will use points on your scalp, below the elbows and knees to treat the entire body. You may be asked to roll up your sleeves and/or pants but there is no need to undress.

In many cases, back pain can be treated in this environment.

Following the Dr. Heintze last session, she will then facilitate our monthly Living With Chronic Pain Support Group, which is free to anyone. Founder of the Pain Project, Dr. Heintze brings a wealth of wisdom and guidance to each session.

For further information or to schedule an acupuncture appointment, contact the center at 206-365-1536.

The Shoreline - Lake Forest Park Senior Center is located at 18560 1st Ave NE, Shoreline 98155 in the southernmost building on the Shoreline Center campus, facing NE 185th.

Ellie Heintze, ND, LAc
ACUPUNCTURE APPOINTMENTS

Date: Tuesday, February 12th

Time: 8:30am - 11:00am. Acupuncture treatments (individual treatment 30 minutes to 1 hour)

Cost: $15 for Members $20 for Non-members


LIVING WITH CHRONIC PAIN SUPPORT GROUP

Date: Tuesday, February 12th

Time: 12:00pm - 1:00pm. Living With Chronic Pain Support Group

Cost: FREE



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CANCELLED: Brugger's Bog work party on Sunday Feb 10

Work done at Brugger's Bog
Photo by Hannah King-Juhnke
A warm hello to all our volunteers and friends of Bruggers Bog Park restoration,

Due to frozen ground and forecasted snow we are cancelling our normal public restoration work party at Bruggers Bog, which was scheduled for Sunday February 10, 2019.

We'll keep you posted about our next work party, now scheduled for Sunday March 10, 2019 (the same day Daylight saving starts!).

Enjoy the beauty of winter. And if you can provide a bit of food and fresh water to our feathered friends, please do. We look forward to seeing you soon.

Best Regards from the Bruggers Bog Washington Native Plant Society Master Stewards.



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Lead in school drinking water: Rep. Gerry Pollet's HB 1860 would increase standards for schools

Bottle filling station and fountain
OLYMPIA – Rep. Gerry Pollet, D-46, introduced HB 1860 to require all public schools to test and remove lead contamination in school water across Washington.

“One of Seattle’s schools in my neighborhood has a contamination level of sixty ppb. That is completely unacceptable and horrifying to hear as a parent,” said Pollet, who is also a faculty member at the University of Washington School of Public Health,
”It is inexcusable not to test for lead to protect our children’s health and development.”

That lead level, found at Green Lake Elementary, is sixty times the maximum level of lead in water recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). They say anything over one ppb (parts per billion) can cause a loss of IQ in children.

There are no safe blood lead levels for children according to the AAP. Even low levels of lead exposure harms neurological development and reduces IQ.

To protect these school children, Pollet designed HB 1860 to prevent and remove lead contamination from water outlets in Washington’s schools.

Most school districts that get their water from public sources do not test for lead in school water. Those that do test for lead may still have outdated standards for what is an acceptable amount. Seattle schools take action at ten ppb, which is still ten times higher than the level of contamination which will cause harm to children’s development.

Under HB 1860 all schools in Washington would be required to test for lead in their water at least once in the first three years. After those three years, all schools would be required to hold annual tests for lead contamination.
Any school district with lead contamination levels above five ppb would have to prepare a plan of action to prevent elevated lead levels in their water outlets by January 1, 2020.

These plans could include installing filters, certified by the National Sanitation Foundation, at all potable water outlets with elevated lead levels. If unable to fix the lead level of an outlet, a school must provide a clean alternative source of water for students.

By taking these steps and more to prevent lead in school water, Rep. Pollet hopes to see great improvements in the health and well-being of students throughout the state. “We’ve known the dangers of lead contamination for years. By removing the lead from our schools, we address a major problem and provide a healthier and brighter future for all children,” said Pollet.

According to Shoreline Public Schools,
In 2016 we tested all water fixtures and and replaced and retested any fixture that had a level of 10 parts per billion or higher. North City and Aldercrest were tested to ensure they met the same standard when they came back to use as schools.
Our plan has been to test every five years, as recommended by the Department of Health. If the Legislature passes and funds legislation to test and replace more frequently, we would do so. At this point, our next round of testing district-wide would be in 2021.

Pollet has been working with Environment Washington and WashPIRG who will soon be releasing a study on lead contamination in school water in Washington.

He represents the 46th legislative district which includes Lake Forest Park, Kenmore, and NE Seattle.


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Shoreline CC is closed Wednesday

Update:

CAMPUS CLOSURE ALERT: Campus is closed Wednesday, February 6 due to icy conditions on campus. All day and evening classes are canceled. No campus services will be available.
For additional updates, visit www.shoreline.edu.



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Photos: Snow gallery

Photo by Mike Remarcke

Paramount Open Space
Photo by Janet Way

Hillwood Park
Photo by Lee Lageschulte

RB Saltwater Park
Photo by Frank Kleyn

Snow in the Cascades
Photo by Jon Ann Cruver

Commuter parking
Photo by Seattle Poppy


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Lake Forest Park Deputy Mayor Catherine Stanford elected to Sound Cities Association Executive Committee

Deputy Mayor Catherine Stanford
Lake Forest Park
Lake Forest Park Deputy Mayor Catherine Stanford has been elected to the 2019 Executive Committee of the Sound Cities Association (SCA), which represents 38 King County cities and provides a regional voice for more than one million people.

She is one of five members of the SCA Executive Committee. SCA provides regional leadership in areas such as economic and community development, transportation, land use, health, government operations, the environment, education, public safety, social welfare and other public policy issues.

“I’m looking forward to working even more closely with Catherine in her leadership role on the critical issues facing our region,” said Rod Dembowski, King County Councilmember. 
“Having worked with her on housing, transit, and environmental policy for several years, I know she brings deep experience, seriousness of purpose, and thoughtful ideas to help advance our collective work in these areas. The region is lucky to have her voice and values on the SCA Executive Committee.”

“Deputy Mayor Stafford brings tremendous experience to our Executive Committee and is known as catalyst who can get things done, locally and regionally,” said Deanna Dawson, SCA Executive Director. “We look forward to her leadership in the coming year.”

Catherine Stanford was first elected to City Council in 2008. Catherine grew up in San Francisco, California, and moved to Lake Forest Park in 1989. She is married and has two children and four grandchildren. Prior to serving on the Council, Catherine served on the Lake Forest Park Planning Commission for ten years (Chair for five) and the Board of Third Place Commons, chairing the Farmers Market Committee.

Deputy Mayor Stanford also served as President, Puget Sound Regional Council Economic Development District Board and is a member of Association of Washington Cities Legislative Priorities Committee.

Her career spans over 35 years in commercial real estate and includes work in both the public and the private sectors. She is currently the owner of a Seattle-based consulting business that specializes in real estate and assists clients in government and public affairs; strategic planning; and property development. Her clients include municipalities; developers; non-profit groups and industry associations.

She also teaches classes in Strategic Facilities Planning and Project Management. Prior to starting her own business, she was the Director of Real Estate for Pike Place Market in Seattle; Corporate Real Estate Manager for a worldwide high-tech manufacturing company in the San Francisco Bay area; and Director of Asset Management for a real estate development company, also located in the San Francisco Bay area.

SCA, which was formerly known as the Suburban Cities Association, was established 50 years ago to help King County cities of all sizes act locally and partner regionally to create vital and thriving communities through advocacy, education, leadership, mutual support and networking.



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American Legion meeting rescheduled to Feb 19

Due to the snow, the American Legion Post 227 in Shoreline has postponed their Tuesday, February 6 evening meeting to February 19, 2019. A meet and greet starts at 6:30pm and the program starts at 7:00pm. Both veterans and the public at large are invited and welcome to attend.

The meeting will be held at Post 227, located at 14521 – 17th Ave. NE, Shoreline, 98155. [Behind Goodwill @ NE 145th St and 15th Ave. NE]

Post 227 Second Vice Commander John Brady will conduct the Four Chaplains ceremony. The ceremony commemorates the heroic actions of four chaplains aboard the USAT Dorchester when it was sinking in the Atlantic Ocean in 1943 after being torpedoed by a German U-Boat. Also, Post 227 Chaplain Richard Bologna will discuss the duties of the post chaplain. There will be an opportunity for questions after the presentation.

A brief intermission for refreshments after the talk will allow visitors to depart. Post 227 members are urged to stay for the post meeting that will follow the intermission. We hope to see you at the meeting.

While you are at the meeting, you can check out the Post Library that includes a large collection of military related books, video tapes and DVDs. Any of these can be checked out, used and returned by post members and community without charge. Also check out the Post 227 web site at:



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Understanding Screen Time with Dr. Hilarie Cash Feb 19

Tuesday, February 5, 2019

Eastside CHADD presents Hilarie Cash, Ph.D., “Understanding Screen Time” Tuesday, February 19, 2019, 7 - 9pm.

Boys and Girls Club of Bellevue (2nd floor), 209 100th Ave NE, Bellevue 98004. Park in the Bellevue Downtown Park Western Parking Lot.


The increased reliance upon computers, large and small, has led to concerns about their pervasive role in our lives. Is there a difference between in person communication and online communication?

What is FOMO and how does it affect sleep and mental health? How does screen time affect cognitive, language, and emotional development of very young brains? 

What effect do video games have upon developing brains? 

Do parents need to set limits? Do kids need to set limits? Why? 

Now that the World Health Organization has declared video gaming disorder a mental health condition, what is at stake in unlimited screen time?

Dr. Hilarie Cash is co-founder and Chief Clinical Officer for reSTART Life, PLLC, a residential program (first in the US or Canada) designed explicitly for adults and adolescents who are experiencing serious problems because of addiction to the Internet and video games. 

She began her work in the emerging field of Internet addiction in the mid-90's. In 2008, she co-authored the book Video Games and Your Kids: How Parents Stay in Control. Dr. Cash is recognized as one of the nation's leading experts in the growing field of Internet and video game addiction. She is a public speaker, workshop presenter and has appeared in well over 600 news reports about Internet addiction.

Teens are Welcome

All are welcome to join us for this informative meeting. 

Eastside CHADD Members : No fee - a membership benefit 

Non-members: Suggested donation of $7 to help defray the meeting costs and chapter expenses

Eastside CHADD normally meets the third Tuesday of the month, September - June (except December). Support and information for families and individuals living with ADHD.



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Update: Wednesday: open and closed

Photo by Christine Southwick
Most places appear to be back on schedule for Wednesday, except as noted. You may want to stock up though, WeatherWatcher Carl says we have several more storms coming in and no rise in the temperature. More snow on the way...


Schools

Tuesday school was canceled after an early morning assessment. At this writing, Wednesday is a two hour late start and still an early release day. Watch for early morning alerts or check the webpage Wednesday morning in case the decision changes.

Garbage/recycling/yard waste - 

Recology service update (subject to change based on weather/road conditions):

Shoreline customers - Mon/Tues customers should place all 3 bins at the curb next week on their normal service day. All Monday and Tuesday customers will be collected with extra material (equivalent to service level) at no extra charge.

Weds-Fri customers will be on normal schedule.

Republic Services suspended all Tuesday February 5, 2019 service routes. Customers will be able to place out doubles at no extra charge on their next scheduled collection day.

Wednesday appears to be on normal schedule.

Dale Turner YMCA

The Y will open Wednesday, February 6 at 10am unless otherwise noted. Early Learning Centers will also open at 10am on Wednesday. All school age childcare and morning KidsU are cancelled Wednesday morning.

Shoreline Pool and Spartan Recreation Center and Richmond Highland Rec Center

On Wednesday, all recreation facilities will be open from 8:00am to 5:00pm. We expect to return to a regular schedule on Thursday.

Shoreline Community College
CAMPUS CLOSURE ALERT: Campus is closed Wednesday, February 6 due to icy conditions on campus. All day and evening classes are canceled. No campus services will be available.

For additional updates, visit www.shoreline.edu.

Community Ride and Community Van 

Metro’s newest transportation services – launched Tuesday in Shoreline and Lake Forest Park. However, due to road conditions, the on-demand Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Community Ride will not operate tonight and will resume service as soon as conditions improve. Because Community Van is reserved in advance, you can still contact the Community Transportation Coordinator to book future group trips.



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WeatherWatcher: Snow Day scenes, More on the way

Interurban Trail at Echo Lake Park, February 4, 2019.
Photo by Carl Dinse

A snow day for most on Monday, with 4 to nearly 5 inches on the ground throughout Shoreline and Lake Forest Park. Our high temperature of 30°F was at midnight and the temperature just kept dropping from there. The storm picked up and added a couple more inches of snow on top of Sunday's snow and graupel overnight into Monday morning. Our daytime high temperature at about 2:15pm was 26-27°F.

North-northwest winds got pretty gusty too, bringing down some trees and tree limbs, knocking out power to thousands in the area. We had gusts at the Richmond Beach station of about 29 mph before it lost power, and again after power was restored a couple hours later.

Fallen tree on power lines, Wallingford Ave N at N 197th Pl
Photo by Carl Dinse

This was the scene on Wallingford just south of N 200th St. The tree was knocked over pointing south. We may have had a few good wind storms this winter but all have been south winds. We haven't had a "pruning" of trees with winds from the north until Monday. North winds combined with moderate snow accumulation on the trees resulted in the widespread power outages.

10th Ave NE looking south by North City Park, February 4, 2019.
Photo by Carl Dinse

We've have some really cold air in place now. Our low temperatures dropped into the teens Tuesday morning. Richmond Beach reported a low of 19°F, while inland the Northridge station reported a low of 17°F. Other areas further from water and north where heavier snow fell saw low temperatures in the lower teens. Our high temperature on Tuesday was 30°F, and 31.7°F in Richmond Beach, just enough for sunny spots to have a little melt off.

Here's our daily high and low temperatures, graphed compared to the average at the Northridge station:


Forecast: More snow is on the way. In fact there isn't a real end to this cold arctic weather even in the 10 or 15 day forecasts.

It's probably a good idea to be prepared to deal with this stuff for a couple of weeks at least. I haven't seen a forecast or weather pattern like this since December 2008 (also known as snowmageddon). Some of you who have been here long enough may remember the infamous metro bus hanging over I-5 in Seattle.

Here's what I can tell you right now, there's uncertainty as always when it comes to forecasting snow timing and snowfall amounts here.

We have a storm coming in Friday evening. It is anticipated that snow will probably start falling around the 5-6pm time frame. This snow is expected to continue through Saturday afternoon. Total accumulations from this next storm are very uncertain, but ranges have been between 4 inches and 14 inches or so. None of the models have suggested anything less than 4 inches. Some have suggested up to 20 inches but I think that is unlikely at this time.

After Saturday's storm, we are looking at a chance of snow showers Sunday and Monday morning. Another storm approaches the area Monday evening for another round of accumulating snow, then a break Tuesday. Hints of even yet another snow event follow on next Wednesday.

I'm not going to try to give accumulation forecasts for the following storms until we get through the Friday/Saturday storm. As always keep checking back here for updates, I will provide them as new information becomes available.


For current conditions visit www.shorelineweather.com



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Notes from Shoreline City Council meeting Feb 4

Shoreline City Hall
Photo by Steven H. Robinson
SHORELINE CITY COUNCIL MEETING
FEBRUARY 4, 2019
By Pam Cross

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

In spite of the snowy weather, all Councilmembers were present.

City Manager’s Report

Debbie Tarry began by commenting on the inclement weather. More freezing temperatures are expected tonight so there may be changes to some schedules tomorrow. Check the City website for the latest information.

Saturday Feb 9th is Tween Night at the Richmond Highlands Rec from 6:30 to 10:30pm. This is a free event for 5th and 6th graders. Parents must sign the attendees in and out at the door.

Sunday Feb 10th is the meeting of the Shoreline Social Justice Book Club from 2:00 to 4:00pm. The book is The Leavers by Lisa Ko.

Public Reminder: the Planning Commission will meet Thursday Feb 7th at 7:00pm in the Council Chamber.

Council Reports

Councilmember McGlashan and Deputy Mayor McConnell attended the SeaShore Transportation Forum. It appears that the 145th interchange over I-5 is on the WSDOT radar. Sound Transit did an update on the 522/523 BRT. The bus stop at 25th on 145th is back for review. There were no other real changes. ST is working with all the cities to get the best outcomes possible.

Public Comment

John Hibbs, ND feels there is a real need to move the Senior services into the new Community /Aquatics center. Their social needs cannot be met by keeping them isolated. Other cities are adopting this practice and studies support this practice.

Ginny Scantlebury spoke in favor of a dedicated space for seniors within the new community center. The current senior center is leased from the School District and therefore temporary. It would be easier to coordinate and avoid duplication of some activities, and cross-generational services could be offered if the senior center moved to the community center. She would like Shoreline to be a good place to grow up, and a good place to grow older.

Janet Way commented on the planned use of the Fircrest property. She would like to delay any decisions in order to offer more time for public comment. It is a very complex plan and the vulnerable residents of Fircrest need our support. Changes to the property will affect the residents, neighbors and Fircrest. First and foremost, we need to protect the residents.

Indira Vemuri spoke as a property owner regarding Ordinance No 849 Action Item (a). She asked that Covenants restricting new construction to single family residences be removed. (The City has no control over neighborhood Covenants. These are considered contracts between private parties/pac).

Nathan Wayne commented on the need for sand trucks to make the streets more passable in the snow.

Ray Burns spoke to the delay in development of his property due to title restrictions. He is in favor of Ordinance No 849 in order to remove some of these arcane restrictions.

Eric Hatcher also requested the lifting of the restrictions on the development of his property on 145th. These restrictions date back to the 1940’s and are no longer relevant.

The Agenda was approved unanimously.

The Consent Calendar was approved unanimously.

Action Item 8(a) Public Hearing on Ordinance No. 849 - Adopting Interim Regulations for Plat Alterations

This is a required hearing on an Ordinance the Council has already adopted on an interim basis. Unless Council decides on another Action, the Ordinance will remain in effect until this spring when they adopt permanent regulations.

The Staff report was provided by Julie Ainsworth-Taylor, Assistant City Attorney, by phone.

The Interim Ordinance was adopted at the Dec10, 2018 meeting and was summarized by Ainsworth-Taylor. The interim regulations were amended from notification of changes to everyone within 500’, to notification of all property owners of the plat. They would be the ones who could call for a public hearing to decide whether the plat change should be made or not. A couple of administrative changes were made as well.

After tonight, this will move to the Planning Commission Public Hearing Feb 21, 2019. It will then return to Council for final review and adoption.

Council had the following request: for clarification for the Council and as part of public education, it would be helpful for staff to develop a one-page document explaining the difference between plat alterations and changes to a covenant, as well as the City’s role in each. This document could also include what the City does versus the State or Federal regulations regarding restrictions on race or other discriminatory limitations (terminated by operation of law). Staff will prepare this.

Study Item 9(a) Discussing Fircrest Master Plan and Underutilized Property Land Use Options

The staff report was presented by Nathan Daum, Economic Development Program Manager and Rachael Markle, Planning and Community Development Director

This is just the beginning of the overall discussion of the potential underutilized property at Fircrest. Tonight’s meeting is to identify Council’s initial preferences and direction. Staff will provide an update of discussions with State Agencies regarding this property.

There is interest in the State Legislature, specifically Speaker of the House Frank Chopp, to repurpose some of the Fircrest Campus property for affordable housing. It should be noted it has not yet been formally determined to be underutilized property. Assuming it is determined to be underutilized property, current City policies that come into play include the Comprehensive Plan goals for protection of the Fircrest residents, evaluating property along transportation corridors for multi-family, mixed-use, and commercial uses, and use of the excess property to create long-range jobs, annual goals to develop a Fircrest Master Plan in partnership with the State to expand economic development by creating jobs, and the PROS plan to ensure adequate park land for future generations.

Ownership of the land is divided between State DNR , State DSHS, and State Dept. of Health.

Fircrest has a land use designation of Campus. The purpose of “Campus” designation/zoning is “to provide for the location of charitable, educational, health, rehabilitative and other institutions and ancillary or compatible uses to the primary institution.” Affordable housing does not fall within this description. It is possible Fircrest may be selected as one of up to nine locations for Behavioral Health Facilities. We won’t know what the State decision for the BHF will be until after this Legislative Session that ends in April. There are multiple ways to change this zoning. But before anything can happen, there has to be a Master Plan

Council Discussion

Does the City have any say in locating the Behavioral Health Facility? No. Once the State decides on property, the Hearing Examiner will make the decision.

This is going to be a long process and we are at the very beginning stages. At this point, many things are vague. There was a long discussion of the degree to which the City want to be in control of this project.This is a very large property, with potentially conflicting interests, that Council needs to be on top of this to make sure we get it right. And we need community involvement.

Do we want the Council to to act as gatekeeper? If so, then we can’t have the State apply for a Master Development Plan Permit that would be approved by the Hearing Examiner instead of the Council.

Or, underutilized property could be subdivided off and treated like any other property (since no longer a “campus”). For the Fircrest Campus, the MDP will apply just like it did for Crista and Shoreline CC.

If the State decides part of the property is “surplus” then the City can be a part of the discussion of the property that has nothing to do with Fircrest. However we still need to be attentive to developments in order to avoid being blindsided. We need to keep our goals and vision as part of the conversation. But a year could go by and the state comes back with something everybody hates.

Does the state really want to partner with us to develop affordable housing? Or does the State see this as any business would with the bottom line first and foremost. What we really need to do, is wait for the State to decide what they’re doing with this process.

9(b) Discussing the 2019 Federal Legislative Priorities

James Hammond, Intergovernmental and Communications Program Manager, presented the staff report.

We now have a new congress, and the government has reopened, He works with a consultant, Jake Johnston, who has represented Shoreline in Washington DC since 2003. He worked to bring federal funds to support the Aurora Ave Corridor project and to construct the Interurban Trail through Shoreline. Currently funding and support for the NE 145th corridor has been a major area of emphasis. He works to support program changes for federal funding. We are not a rural area, so we must compete with large cities (Chicago, NYC for example) for federal funds.

Currently, there are a lack of federal funding programs that the City can use for its transportation goals including ongoing support for the Lynnwood Link and other regional transit projects. We continue to seek support for community and economic development programs - for example, preserving access to internet-based sales taxes and supporting other municipal tax authority.

Congress is considering restoring earmarking of funds only for public entities. (Comment from Council: the problem is, this doesn’t create new money, it just sets it aside. We should take advantage of it, but refrain from being a big proponent.) Finally there is talk of a new federal program to strengthen federal tools for addressing culvert and stormwater issues. (Council: it is appropriate for the federal government to be funding culverts and stormwater issues since most of what we do is in order to comply with federal laws/policies.)

8:53 Council retired for an Executive session Litigation Update

8:55 Adjournment



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DUI driver in the snow finds a safe parking place - at LFP Police station

Photo courtesy LFP Police


Lake Forest Park police report that a DUI driver found a safe place to park - at the LFP Police Station "police parking only" where she nodded off with her foot on the brake.

When arrested, she did say, "At least I saved you gas."


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Wastewater spill at Richmond Beach pump station Monday


King County Wastewater Treatment workers responded quickly when a power outage during stormy conditions in the February 4 storm caused a wastewater spill at the Richmond Beach Pump Station.

About 19,400 gallons of wastewater spilled into Puget Sound from the pump station when the power outage occurred at about 9:02am on Monday, February 4, 2019. 

A King County wastewater operator responding to the outage was able to swiftly reset pump operations.

King County reported the overflow to health and regulatory agencies and will initiate beach monitoring near the pump station, which is located at 2740 NW 198th St.



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Free Ham Radio class starts Feb 19


Ham radio is not just a hobby. In the event of a disaster (remember earthquakes?) it will be the only means of communication.

This is a free class but you will need to buy the book. If you want to operate from home, you will need to purchase radio equipment.

This class is sponsored by NEMCo and will be held at the Northshore Utility District office in Kenmore, 6830 NE 185th St on Tuesday evenings, 7-9pm starting February 19, 2019.

Reserve a spot by contacting Carl Lunak 425-354-1744. clunak@northshorefire.com



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Third Place Gamers meet Wednesday


Game Night Wednesdays! Sometimes it's a small group. Sometimes it's jam-packed with game lovers. But no matter what, there's always room for you and there's always a game to be played.

Join us for Game Night this Wednesday night in the Stadler Room (and on Wednesdays the rest of the month out in the Commons).#AlwaysFunAlwaysFree

Third Place Commons, Town Center Lake Forest Park, intersection Bothell and Ballinger Way NE.



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Happy New Year - it's the Year of the Pig

Monday, February 4, 2019



The Pig is the twelfth of the 12-year cycle of animals which appear in the Chinese zodiac related to the Chinese calendar. In the continuous sexagenary cycle of sixty years, every twelfth year corresponds to hai, 亥; this re-recurring twelfth year is commonly called the Year of the Pig 豬.
--Wikipedia

The Pig is also associated with the Earthly Branch (地支—dì zhī) hài (亥), and the hours 9–11 in the night. In terms of yin and yang (阴阳—yīn yáng), the Pig is yin. In Chinese culture, pigs are the symbol of wealth.

Their chubby faces and big ears are signs of fortune as well.





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Shoreline Schools on 2 hour delay Tuesday

Echo Lake
Photo by Gregg Haughian
From Shoreline Public Schools

Due to Monday’s snow and forecasted freezing temperatures, all schools except for Cascade K-8 and Home Education Exchange will be running on a two-hour delay Tuesday, February 5.

Cascade K-8 and Home Education Exchange will be closed for the day to assess the snow’s impact on construction infrastructure at the Aldercrest Campus. All other schools will run on a two-hour delay.

Road conditions will be reassessed early Tuesday morning. If a closure is required, an additional announcement will be made by 6:00am. If you are not receiving the alerts from the school district, check the webpage

A two-hour delay means:
  • All zero period secondary classes will be canceled.
  • K-12 and Head Start classes will begin 2 HOURS LATE.
  • AM Early Childhood Program, STEP Preschool, and out-of-district transportation will be CANCELED.
  • PM Early Childhood will begin at REGULAR TIMES.

Shoreline Children’s Center and Extended Day sites will open 2 hours late, at 8:30am instead of 6:30am. Preschool classrooms scheduled to begin at 8:45am, 9:00am or 1:00pm will start at normal times.



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Drive carefully in Lake Forest Park

Officer Zelenock’s first day on the job
Photo courtesy City of LFP
From LFP Police Chief Steve Sutton

The past 24 hours has been tough on our roads. 

Thanks to those who stayed home today, we had very few issues. 

Reminder that the forecast calls for clearing, but cold temperatures. It doesn’t appear that the temps will get above freezing until Tuesday afternoon. 

If you decide to venture out Tuesday morning, the roads will likely be very slick. 

Our public works department will be out around the clock treating the main roads and neighborhoods as they can.

We have some tips on our website for this time of year, check them out: Snow removal in Lake Forest Park.



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Only 12 customers without power

Power outages 10:24 pm 2-4-19

Shoreline and Lake Forest Park are down to one power outage with 12 customers. City Light estimates power will be restored by midnight.

Photo by Callie Hynek
This is on 8th NW and NW 203rd, where a tree came down, hit the lines and blew out the transformer.

Those always take longer to get back online. They have to turn off the power, get crews out to remove the tree, then repair the lines. It very often involves bringing in a new utility pole.

Transformers are very dramatic when they blow. The explosion sounds like a bomb has been dropped.

Very often there will be flames from the top of the transformer.

If you don't know what it is - and even if you do - it can definitely raise your heart rate.






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Complaining: What gets plowed and what doesn't

Priorities: #1 black, #2 purple, #3 red, #4 yellow
By Diane Hettrick

Many questions today on social media about what roads were and were not plowed in Shoreline.
Here's the map with the City's planned response and the page with the storm response information.

A reader commented that he drove from Everett to Shoreline today. "Everywhere I drove between Everett and Shoreline was compact snow and ice. Even the freeway. Shoreline surface streets however were clear in most spots, especially intersections."

If you live on a neighborhood street, you get to wait until the snow melts or risk getting stuck in a snowdrift half a block from your house.

I am seriously missing CleanScapes. They were the garbage utility for Shoreline before they merged with Recology. During the last major snow event, years ago, CleanScapes put snow plows on the front of their collection trucks and plowed the streets as they went about their routes.

The street was clear in my small neighborhood the day after the snowstorm.

I called Recology / Cleanscapes today and they didn't even know what I was talking about.

It's hard to explain that you can't get to a meeting (or to work) when the only street still snowed in is the one in front of your house!



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Shorecrest JV Hip Hop team takes 1st place at Eastlake competition



At their first ever competition, the Shorecrest JV Hip Hop team took 1st Place.

Varsity continued their run towards post-season with a 1st Place finish as well!

The competition was held at the Dance Your Heart Out competition at Eastlake High School in Sammamish.



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CANCELLED: Smart kids: What parents and educators need to know

This presentation has been cancelled because of snow and road conditions. Look for it to be rescheduled.

The Shoreline Hi Cap Parent Association, in partnership with the Shoreline PTA Council, is excited to welcome back Austina De Bonte, president of the Northwest Gifted Child Association (NWGCA), to Shoreline for her presentation, "What Parents and Educators Need to Know About Smart Kids."

It was originally scheduled for Monday, February 4, 2019.




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Here's why N 175th was closed

Photo by Martin DeGrazia

This is N 175th, between Densmore and Ashworth this morning. The city closed the road, which has a steeper climb than most people are aware of in good weather.

Photo by Martin DeGrazia

Buses did well in this morning's snow.




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Shoreline City Council will meet tonight

The Shoreline City Council will proceed as usual with their planned meeting on Monday, February 4, 2019.

7.
CONSENT CALENDAR

7:20




(a)
7a1-1


7a2-1





8.
ACTION ITEMS






(a)
8a-1
7:20




Public hearings are held to receive public comment on important matters before the Council. Persons wishing to speak should sign in on the form provided. After being recognized by the Mayor, speakers should approach the lectern and provide their name and city of residence. Individuals may speak for three minutes.




9.
STUDY ITEMS






(a)
9a-1
7:35




(b)
9b-1
8:20




10.
EXECUTIVE SESSION: Litigation Update – RCW 42.30.110(1)(i)

8:35


The meeting will be livestreamed and the video archived for later viewing. Instructions here.

Meetings are held in the council chamber of city hall, 17500 Midvale Ave N. (remember to avoid N 175th).



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