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Open letter from the King County Sheriff

Written by Randy Corman 16 Comments

 As a reminder, the city of Renton does not have policing issues…. this letter from the Sheriff affects those crimes that are under the jurisdiction of King County Sheriff –primarily in the unincorporated parts of King County–

–So don’t even THINK about committing these crimes here 🙂

 

Right-click here to download pictures. To help protect your privacy, Outlook prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet.Public Safety
in Peril

In March of this year the King County Executive told me that the Sheriff’s Office would need to take an 8.6% budget cut, roughly equaling $7.5 million for 2009. I have been working closely with my command staff and all of our employees for several months to identify potential areas for reductions. We have carefully evaluated every possible scenario to minimize the impact to the level of service provided by the Sheriff’s Office.
Unfortunately, it is virtually impossible to take such a hit without affecting the way we do business. If the budget situation is not resolved, it is clear that we will have to make drastic cuts to our existing service levels. This will significantly impact service levels in the following areas:

  • Domestic Violence
  • Narcotics & Organized Crime
  • Cold case Investigations
  • Neighborhood Storefront Centers
  • Victim Outreach

I will also have to raise the threshold for investigating property crimes. Although we will respond to the scene and take a case report, any property crime with a loss of $10,000 or less will not be investigated. I was forced to choose between investigating property crimes and investigating person-related crimes such as rape, robbery, assault and homicide.

We have been moving aggressively to scrub the budget and to ‘tighten our belts’. The following are some of the immediate measures we have taken to save money:

  • Reducing overtime by 15% in each Division
  • Reducing the number of pool vehicles available at each Precinct
  • Purchasing gas at pre-selected low cost stations
  • Developing a virtual block watch through the use of email groups
  • Developing online incident reporting

My commitment is to keep you informed and engaged in the budget process and any ensuing decisions. I intend to be out in the community with my criminal justice colleagues from now until November, talking to you about the budget crisis. As your elected Sheriff, it is my responsibility to protect your safety. That is my highest priority.

Your ongoing participation and communication with your elected officials is critical. To find out more about how these cuts could impact services and what you can do to help, please visit my website at:

www.kingcounty.gov/safety/sheriff

Thanks for all the recent comments!

Written by Randy Corman 6 Comments

I have appreciated all the recent comments from readers lately… there are online discussions occurring on many topics from the last few weeks.   Your comments are often more interesting than anything I have to say 🙂

Please peruse the comments on past articles to see what I mean.

Here are the most recent ones from the last few hours.

Thanks again!

Randy
_____________________________________________________

Somebody in Free speech perhaps? Second Berlin visitor to see Hitler figure decapitates it
Try nearly 73 million deaths in WWII: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II_casualties  (Link) (Reply)

Somebody in Friends and relatives join us to help celebrate my middle-son’s eighteenth birthday
Nice pic Randy – rock on !  (Link) (Reply)

Somebody in Some candid writing about the night helicopter rides that have generated countless complaints
There is another pressure point that the City has used before. When does AirO’s lease expire? The City has refused to renew leases of problem tenants at the airport in the past, and this tenant is certainly asking for the same. They should underst (Link) (Reply)

Tragic and criminal– hit and run driver killed a beloved Renton man

Written by Randy Corman 2 Comments

The Seattle Times ran a story this morning about the death of a beloved Renton man from a hit-and-run accident last week.

We need for the driver of the SUV to turn themself in, and give his/her account of what happened. The truth will eventually emerge in situations like this, and there is no statute of limitations on the taking of a life, even accidentally, in our state anymore. Meanwhile, if anyone else has information about this accident on Talbot Road South, please contact the Police at the numbers given below.

And everyone needs to remember to slow down, and concentrate while driving. Keep an eye out for motorcycles and other two-wheelers in particular, as their numbers are growing fast due to high fuel prices.

The loss of Mr. Dougan to his family, friends and our community is immeasurable. Here is the Seattle Times story from this morning:

___________________________________________________________________________

Renton man dies from injuries suffered in hit-and-run accident

Daren Dougan, a Renton man who was critically injured in a hit-and-run accident last week, died Wednesday evening at Harborview Medical Center.

By Christine Clarridge, Seattle Times staff reporter

Daren Dougan, 40, was hit by an SUV while riding his motorcycle June 26.
A Renton man who was critically injured in a hit-and-run accident last week died Wednesday evening at Harborview Medical Center.

Renton police are asking for help from anyone who knows of a light-colored sport-utility vehicle with recent damage to the passenger side or who might have witnessed the June 26 accident that occurred about 11 p.m. on Talbot Road South near South 45th Place.

Police and family members said the driver of the SUV left the scene after turning abruptly in front of a Harley-Davidson ridden by 40-year-old Daren Dougan, of Renton. Police said Dougan was unable to stop in time to avoid the accident.

Dougan’s family members said he was taken off life support when physicians determined he was brain-dead. All of his organs, except his liver, which was catastrophically damaged in the accident, were harvested for donation, according to Dougan’s stepmother, Guen Cornutt, of Salem, Ore.

Dougan was a music lover who sang, played guitar and the harmonica and “had a wit you wouldn’t believe,” Cornutt said. He was a devoted brother of three, an uncle of four and a steady worker, managing a Renton-area furniture store for more than 15 years.

“He was the nicest guy,” she said. “He would literally give you the shirt off his back.”

“We’re just hoping that if people know what a wonderful man he was, they’ll take a little more time to look harder at the cars around them” in the search for the hit-and-run driver, Cornutt said.

Anyone with information on the accident is asked to call the Renton Police Department, 425-430-7500 .

Christine Clarridge: 206-464-8983 or cclarridge@seattletimes.com

Cedar river logjams; input from a citizen

Written by Randy Corman 0 Comments

An interesting email council received from a citizen–
_____________________________________________________________

I have 2 concerns regarding the Cedar River.

First:

Just downstream of the Maplewood Park there is a hazard warning sign for a hazard long gone. It makes people wonder about any other warning sign. Is it current or out of date?

Please remove this sign.

Second – A real current hazard, The logjam behind the golf course.

There is a warning about this hazard. However, the other day as I was floating this area of the river, I met a couple on a canoe that put in after the warning. They were not at all aware of the logjam.

Currently, there is a portage to the right. For this one must climb over a couple of trees. The real hazard is on the left side of the stream.

While there is an assumed risk floating on any river, the main part of the logjam I believe presents an unnecessary hazard in a very populated area. While I have not done an environmental study of the logjam, my guess is that the major portion could easily be removed without any environmental degradation and at not much financial cost.

Please remove the major portion of this hazard that could trap someone. Thank you.

Have Fun!

Renton Reporter: ‘Renton Relaxes Under Leadership of New Mayor’

Written by Randy Corman 3 Comments

On June 30th Denis Law will have served his first half-year in the Renton mayor’s office. It’s been a productive and pleasant six months for the council, even though we have had to work through some major work projects (huge annexations, completion of the Landing, Seahawks headquarters construction, rebuilding four train trestles, etc) and many issues (transit center crime, airport leases, helicopter issues, closing of Duvall Avenue, derelict dry docks, etc). We’ve also had to appoint a new council member during this time.

Marcie Palmer, who is serving as council president for the first time this year, has also done an expert job at making this a smooth transition year.

Here is the Renton Reporter story about Denis Law’s highly-successful first six months in office.

Denis- Thanks for doing such a great job for our city!

An update on the Landing

Written by Randy Corman 24 Comments

The Council received an update on the Landing at our Committee of the Whole Meeting on Monday night.

Financially, the road, utilities and parking garage projects are all on track, and coming in within budget. At the same time, Harvest Partners (the owner of the Landing) has been completing lease deals on schedule, and generating the new tax revenues needed to cover the city’s infrastructure. In short, the money is working out.

The more interesting part of the presentation revolved around the new tenants that are signing on, many of whom are still maintaining some privacy at the moment.

The announced tenants are all shown on this chart: (Click to enlarge)



The unannounced tenants are another good news story, although our Economic Development staff has kept a close lid on specific tenant names. In many cases, council does not even know exactly who is coming in. We do know that we have apparel stores, restaurants, a spa, a brew-pub, and many other specialty shops likely to fill out this “second-wave” of smaller spaces at the Landing.

Ironically, the pressure that Westfield is placing on the big-name mall companies is probably helping the Landing to develop into a unique and desirable spot. We are told Westfield (which owns hundreds of malls) is pressuring it’s usual national tenants to stay out of the Landing, which leaves the Landing as a mall for smaller start-ups and high-end Northwest companies. I think this will give the Landing a unique character which will keep our project from being like “Westfield Every-mall USA,” something which may work well for Renton. Especially since we are squeezed between Bellevue Square to the North, which is one of the most successful malls in the Nation, and Southcenter to the South which is about to become the biggest mall in the state. Offering unique shops will no-doubt work well for us.

Best of all, there appears to be good progress in an area that has been the most-requested feature of all…. a high-end grocery store. We are told that a high-end store is seriously considering the location, and at the same time Harvest Partners is pursuing a “Market Hall” concept to add more variety. The Market Hall would be a shared Market Space, similar to Pike Place Market (only smaller of course), or more specifically Granville Island in Vancouver BC for those of you that have been there. The Market Hall would be a great place to buy cheese, wine, produce, tea, coffee, flowers, and similar items, but would still not provide all the staples of a grocery store.

Click the image below to enlarge it, to see the concept better:



As a final note, we received an update that the second property (where the Sonics were considering an arena) is being marketed as possible office space in lieu of more retail. Apparently, the office market is perceived to be strong in our area right now. Such a use would likely bring more high-wage employment opportunities into our city, so we would support such a use.

Similarly, we are seeing some hotel proposals around the same site, and in general around the Southshore of Lake Washington.

I’ll share more when I get some more news!

Randy

City Memorandum on new cell phone law; Effective July 1

Written by Randy Corman 10 Comments

HUMAN RESOURCES & RISK MANAGEMENT
DEPARTMENT

MEMORANDUM

June 20, 2008

TO: All Employees

FROM: Nancy A. Carlson
Human Resources and Risk Management Administrator

SUBJECT: USE OF CELL PHONES WHILE DRIVING

On July 1, 2008 a new Washington State Law regarding the use of wireless communication devices will go into effect. Specifically, the law reads, “a person operating a moving motor vehicle while holding a wireless communications device to his or her ear is guilty of a traffic infraction.“

There are some exceptions to the law which include; public safety personnel operating an authorized emergency vehicle, the coroner, and the prosecuting attorney’s office. The law also exempts an individual that is; reporting illegal activity, summoning medical or other emergency help; calling to prevent injury to a person or property, and those who are required to use a hearing aid.

The law does not completely ban the use of wireless communications devises, as it allows the use if the devise can be used in a “hands-free mode.” Hands-free mode has been defined to mean a wireless communications devise with a speaker phone, headset, or earpiece.

City Administrators understand that many of you depend on your cell phones to communicate with your supervisor, colleagues, and customers of the City, and that many of these calls are made while you’re driving from one appointment to the next. Before we all attach a device to our phones to comply with the law, it is important to remember why this law was passed. The legislative intent of the law reads:

“The use of wireless communications devices by motorists has increased in recent years. While wireless communications devices have assisted with quick reporting of road emergencies, their use has also contributed to accidents and other mishaps on Washington state roadways. When motorists hold a wireless communications device in one hand and drive with the other, their chances of becoming involved in a traffic mishap increases. It is the legislature’s intent to phase out the use of hand=held wireless communications devices by motorists while operating a vehicle.

Your safety is the most important issue. Therefore, we would strongly suggest that you pull over to take or make a call. If it is an incoming call that can wait, let the call go to voice mail and return the call when you stop. You are allowed to use your phone while driving only if it has a speaker, or is attached to some other device which makes it hands free. Departments have been authorized to purchase the necessary adaptors to allow you to use your phone, hands free. The Bluetooth device has not been approved.

Thank you for your cooperation and please drive safely.

PLEASE POST THIS NOTICE IN AREAS WHERE EMPLOYEES DO NOT HAVE INDIVIDUAL EMAIL

New newsletter, ‘Renton Now’, celebrates it’s first anniversary

Written by Randy Corman 0 Comments

Our Communications Director sent this out today. I think her marketing skills, combined with our mayor’s publishing background, are producing some informative and attractive news pieces.

Here is here note:

Attached is the June/July issue of Renton Now, your one-stop information source on city news, new programs, community events, and more. This issue celebrates the one year anniversary of Renton Now.

Renton Now was mailed this week to all Renton area residents along with the utility bill, and also sent directly to multi-family residents and Benson Hill area residents. We hope you enjoy reading Renton Now – please do forward to others and share it with your friends and family.

As part of our ongoing efforts to encourage paper conservation, we will only provide hard copies of Renton Now to employees who are not able to access an electronic version. Renton Now is also posted on our website and you can subscribe to the Renton Now page to receive an email notification when a new issue has been published. To subscribe, click the subscription icon from the page and create an account. Select Renton Now newsletter and save.

Thanks

Preeti Shridhar
Communications Director
City of Renton
1055 South Grady Way
Renton, WA 98057
425-430-6569
www.rentonwa.gov

(Click on each page below to enlarge)









 

National view of tanker dispute

Written by Randy Corman 2 Comments

In Mobile Alabama they are canceling a planned ground-breaking ceremony for the Air Force Tanker finishing center. I am of course glad to hear this, as I am one of the many, many Washingtonians that is confident that our local product was the better one in the Air Force Tanker competition. Still, I can’t help but feel a little sad for the good people of Alabama, who are being whip-sawn in this race just as much as we are here in the Seattle area.

As a Renton councilmember, I can’t help but be uplifted by the latest developments. Even though Boeing moved it’s corporate headquarters to Chicago, the airplane maker’s commercial headquarters home remains right here in our beloved town of Renton. And the tanker airplane is very much a derivative of a commercial product, whether it is on a Boeing 767 platform or an Airbus 330 platform.

So we should celebrate this latest win for our home team, while remembering that there are good people, just like us, in Mobile that are dissappointed.

There are also many Europeans that are dissappointed, and they are also some very nice people; but I still question whether they should ever get the lions share of a 35-billion-dollar US defense contract when our US economy is faltering and good American-made options are available.

Click here for an interesting CNBC blog entry on this topic.

Seattle Times: “Good Life May Soon be Redefined” — it may even include Renton ;-)

Written by Randy Corman 1 Comment

Renton gets a friendly mention in Seattle Times Columnist Jerry Large’s story on making economic adjustments in downturn:

Here is an excerpt:

My family is making the kinds of adjustments typical of middle-class Americans. We’re driving less ($55 to fill a tank), buying more frozen vegetables and fewer fresh ones, bringing lunch to work more often.

On Father’s Day, we ate fish and chips at Gene Coulon Park rather than going to a more expensive restaurant.

The park is in Renton, which is determined to become the new Kirkland or Bellevue.

The economy looks bright from Coulon, which is ringed by new condos and apartments. It’s on the edge of The Landing, a huge development still partially under construction.

This area has boomed in recent years, but we are now feeling some of the economic bumps plaguing the rest of the country.

Click here for the whole column.

Renton Police arrest suspect in multiple rapes

Written by Randy Corman 1 Comment

RENTON POLICE DEPARTMENT
MEDIA RELEASE
June 19, 2008
Contact: Penny Bartley
Rape Suspect Arrested Office: (425) 430-7565 Cell: (206) 930-8823

The Renton Police Department has arrested a suspect believed to be responsible for three rapes in the Renton area in the past seven months. The suspect was arrested as a result of evidence collected from an attempted rape that took place just over two weeks ago. The suspect was arrested at his home without incident on Wednesday, June 18th, and the suspect is currently being held at Renton Municipal Jail.

In all of the cases, the female victims were approached by the suspect when they were alone. The suspect was conversational and friendly. In one case the suspect asked for bus directions and in another case asked for a ride. In all of the cases the suspect either showed or implied that he had a weapon. In some cases the suspect used the victims to get money in order to obtain drugs after assaulting them.

All of the rapes have occurred in the area of SW Sunset Boulevard (which is known as Martin Luther King Way beyond the Renton city limits) and Rainier Avenue South. The suspect lived at a nearby apartment complex and the suspect is registered as a Level III sex offender. Renton Police had previously done a community notification meeting and circulated bulletins regarding the suspect.

Police are concerned that there may be additional victims either in Renton, or in the Rainier Valley area where the suspect previously lived. The suspect is described as a light skinned black male, thin build, 5’ 07” with a scruffy, unshaved face. In all of the cases the suspect was wearing some type of covering on his head, either a cap, a sweatshirt hood, or “doo rag” type cloth.

Anyone with information regarding any of the sexual assaults is asked to contact Renton Police at (425) 430-7500.

###

Some candid writing about the night helicopter rides that have generated countless complaints

Written by Randy Corman 14 Comments

Email from our Mayor, our city attorney, our Public Works Director, and our Airport Manager about the recent night-time helicopter operations.

I don’t usually publish emails quite this candid and informal; but this email is already public record, and I wanted citizens to know that City Hall is taking this seriously.

From: “Ryan Zulauf” <rzulauf@ci.renton.wa.us>
Date: June 18, 2008 5:19:46 PM PDT
To: “Law, Denis” <dlaw@ci.renton.wa.us>, “Warren, Larry” <ljwarren@seanet.com>, “Zimmerman, Gregg” <gzimmerman@ci.renton.wa.us>
Cc: “Alexander, April” <analexander@ci.renton.wa.us>, “Briere, Terri” <tbriere@ci.renton.wa.us>, “Corman, Randy” <rcorman@ci.renton.wa.us>, “Covington, Jay” <jcovington@ci.renton.wa.us>, “Hahn, Peter” <phahn@ci.renton.wa.us>, “Medzegian, Julia” <jmedzegian@ci.renton.wa.us>, “Palmer, Marcie” <mpalmer@ci.renton.wa.us>, “Parker, King” <kparker@ci.renton.wa.us>, “Persson, Don” <dpersson@ci.renton.wa.us>, “Taylor, Greg” <gtaylor@ci.renton.wa.us>, “Zwicker, Rich” <rzwicker@ci.renton.wa.us>
Subject: RE: Helicopter

These items have already been suggested and it is up to Mr. O’Leary to patch this mess up when he meets with the Mayor next week.
Ryan

>>> Gregg Zimmerman 6/18/2008 2:35 PM >>>
Thanks, Ryan. I think we need to try to obtain a statement from AirO regarding their intentions with this new line of business. Was this helicopter ride for the highschool students a one-time event? If they plan to do it next year, will they be willing to work with us regarding hours and routes? Do they intend to change the whole character of their presence at the airport and their impact on neighborhoods by expanding this line of business to other events? This would be good information to know so that we can better establish the approach that we need to take. Please ask Mike for a response to these concerns. This is information that the Mayor will want to know if Mike does give him a call.

Gregg

>>> Ryan Zulauf 6/18/2008 11:47 AM >>>
I spoke to Mr. O’Leary this morning and I suggested that he needs to call you directly and have a conversation about the graduation events.

Ryan

>>> “Larry Warren” <ljwarren@seanet.com> 6/18/2008 10:47 AM >>>

As wrong as it seems, the city’s hands are tied about the noise level, type
of craft and time of operation at the airport. Snohomish County is being
forced to negotiate with a commercial carrier for use of Paine Field for
trips to Las Vegas.
It seems that our best course of conduct is to work with the operator to be
a good neighbor. If there is no cooperation, then maybe the complaints
should be directed to the carrier and maybe to the FAA. Also, I suppose the
city could make a big deal about how its hands are tied and this particular
carrier is taking advantage of the system. Having your name on TV every
Monday night or even the subject of a public hearing might be cause to
decide to be a better neighbor.

—–Original Message—–
From: Denis Law[mailto:DLaw@ci.renton.wa.us]
Sent: Wednesday, June 18, 2008 6:31 AM
To: Ryan Zulauf; Larry Warren
Cc: April Alexander; Don Persson; Greg Taylor; Jay Covington; Julia
Medzegian; King Parker; Marcie Palmer; Randy Corman; Rich Zwicker; Terri
Briere
Subject: Helicopter

Larry and Ryan,
Please take a few minutes to examine the details surrounding the helicopter
use this past week at the airport. It seems ridiculous that we have no legal
basis to take action against AirO or others involved in negatively impacting
the community in the early morning hours with a use that only satisfies
their personal gain. While this time it’s for graduation, what prevents this
from becoming a fairly regular event?

I also want us to consider directing complaints to Michael O’Leary, and
anyone else responsible for the activity, unless you feel this is unwise. At
the very least, we may want to work the council to take a closer look at
how we plan to use any extra hangar space that becomes available on the
field, including restricting any additional space for users that will
negatively impact the surrounding neighborhoods. We may want to revisit
costs and funding options of building hangar space that we control and
lease.

Thanks.
Denis

Randy’s hundred-dollar study of Kennydale Creek

Written by Randy Corman 15 Comments

Thank you all for your supportive comments about the Blueberry Haven appeal (see blog from Tuesday below).

In that blog, I mention that I think we need a study to determine conclusively whether Kennydale Creek flows constantly, or is intermittent.

After thinking about it for a couple days, I decided I can do a study for free, or at most one-hundred dollars, depending on the outcome.

Here is my study.

I WILL GIVE $100 CASH TO THE FIRST PERSON THAT CALLS ME IF KENNYDALE CREEK STOPS FLOWING (as long as it has not been artificially damed up).

If it dries up, as has been claimed by some people, give me a call and get $100! My number is 425-271-6913. As an alternative, you can also post to my blog if it dries up, and I’ll drop by, see for myself, and then send you $100. (Be sure you leave me some contact info). This offer will never expire… so keep you eye on the creek this summer, next summer, the summer after that, and the one after that, etc!

For the record, I don’t think I’ll be having to give $100 to anyone.