Category: Uncategorized
Why I recused myself from the Blueberry Haven Appeal tonight
We reviewed three appeals tonight on city council, all of them as “quasi-judicial” land-use hearings. In quasi-judicial cases, council is not allowed to take new testimony, and instead is required to make appeal findings strictly from the public record that is already captured in the project file. In this special situation, the council is not acting as a normal political body, but is instead serving the role of judges or juries (hence, quasi-judicial).
In one of tonight’s three cases, the case of the Blueberry Haven Appeal, the public record contained contested testimony about whether Kennydale Creek in the highlands flows year-round; If it does, then it is not a class 4 “intermittent creek” as the city has officially classified it, and it requires larger land-use buffers than the applicant proposed. The Hearing Examiner has already had a hearing on this decision, and he heard testimony from a representative from the State Department of Fisheries, and from numerous citizens, indicating that this was a year-round creek. But the applicant insisted if flows only intermittently, and can not support life. This is similar to the official city classification that was assigned to the creek a few years.
After 20 years of living in the highlands, I have my own observations about Kennydale Creek. To me, it appears that the creek flows year round, every year. I have never seen it stop flowing in 20 summers.
Since I have made this observation on countless walks through my neighborhood, I could not think of a way to keep from being biased by my own observation that this creek seems to always be flowing.
I have seen attorneys reject potential jury candidates based on the candidate being too intimately familiar with a location or other aspect of a case. I understand judges recuse themselves for a similar reason in some cases. Since this was a legal matter based on the existng record, not a political question, I recused myself instead of arguing my belief that this stream is always flowing.
However, I still think it flows year round.
Council Member Marcie Palmer, a resident of lower Kennydale, recused herself for the same reason (as I understand it).
I should add that I feel that my other five council colleagues (who do not live near this creek) did an honorable job of evaluating the case record, and I don’t blame them for the decision they made.
I might introduce the idea that we have a new study commissioned to once-and-for-all decide if we have an intermittent creek or a year-round creek. It probably won’t affect the subject property, but it could affect others.
Eastside Rail Line
The idea of an eastside commuter rail line, which would utilize all or part of the Burlington Northern Rail Line, is getting a lot of traction lately. Puget Sound Regional Council is even setting up a committee to study this project.
Here is a note that city council received on this item:
__________________________________________
You all were copied on a letter from Puget Sound Regional Council to Mayor Law asking for our jurisdiction to appoint a representative to an advisory committee for a study of the feasibility of a commuter rail line on the BNSF Railroad’s Woodinville Subdivision.
PSRC and Sound Transit are establishing an Ad Hoc BNSF Eastside Commuter Rail Feasibility Study Advisory Committee to provide input on policy questions and how local jurisdictions view the potential commuter rail uses of this corridor. The Study Timeframe is quite compressed with the majority of the work occurring in the next 6 months. With that in mind, they are porposing to meet only a couple of times. First in late June to assist with study scope and evaluation criteria and review the compilation of existing studies and later in the fall to review the draft and final study reports.
The first meeting of this Ad Hoc Committee is scheduled to meet on Wednesday morning, June 25, from 9 am to 11 am in PSRC’s fifth floor Conference Room. 1011 Western Ave. in Seattle.
Are any of you interested in serving on this?
Julia
Great speech by Hillary Clinton
Hillary Clinton delivered a fine speech yesterday. Through her strong campaign, she has shown people everywhere that a woman certainly can be president of the United States. Clearly, if Barack Obama had not joined the contest with his message of change (along with his charisma and incredibly organized campaign), Hillary Clinton would have had the Democratic nomination.
And Ms. Clinton certainly brought the necessary commitment to the race to ensure she was never counted out. Her campaign was as historic as Barack Obamas, and will serve to ensure that the next woman who runs for president will never be underestimated by anyone based on her gender. In campaign management terms, Hillary Clinton’s strong performance will help woman get a more level playing field as they raise funds and build early support in seeking future nominations for president.
Along with Barack Obama’s official thanks to Senator Clinton, he has placed a thank you message on on his Myspace page which you can see here .
I love being American, and I’m particularly proud of our nation this year.
More excellent work by our Renton Police officers: Possible tragedy avoided
Denis Law sent this email to council today:
Our officers are continuing to do great work in the Cascade/Benson neighborhood. A recent traffic stop resulted in the arrest of a suspect wanted on warrants. And the alert action of one of our new officers may have prevented a tragic outcome.
Officer Scott Barfield made a stop on a car on Petrovitsky Road, and while waiting to confirm that the warrants were valid, Officer Steve Rice, who recently left Seattle Police to join RPD, observed the suspect reaching under the front seat. He quickly reached through the window of the car and grabbed the suspect’s hand and removed him from the car. The suspect attempted to flee and was arrested following a struggle with several officers. A 9mm semi-automatic, loaded with 13 rounds, was found under the seat.
The suspect is a known gang member and convicted felon. All of the serial numbers on the gun had been filed off. Slowly, but surely, the bad guys are learning that this community is no longer free of police protection!
Denis
King County budget cuts will hurt ability for Sheriff’s office to fight crime
If I lived in an urban area outside of city limits, this kind of story would be of significant concern to me. Click here
According to the news report, it’s almost as if the Sheriff’s office is giving up in tracking down some classes of criminals. It sounds like burglars, check forgers, identity thieves, car prowlers, and even cold-case murderers will be getting a free pass if they initially escape the scene of the crime.
I’m happy to report that Renton police will still be going after all these crooks if the crime occurs within city limits.
From Kennewick man to Kennydale Man…. experienced anthropologist brought in to investigate bodies
Yep… there is an interesting archaeological dig going on a block from my house.
This story in the Renton Reporter covers the scene well. I’m hoping they can use the new clues to identify the BODIES (yep, there are two now), and hopefully research the extent of the family cemetery there.
Just to be clear… Helicopter ordinance is still coming to city council…
I stated below that Charlie Conner’s temporary helicopter use permit (issued last year) has been overturned by our Hearing Examiner. The permit was tossed mostly on procedural grounds, based on a determination that the administration had erred in allowing a temporary use that was arguably not allowed by ordinance. The fact that city codes do not address helicopter use in residential areas, while allowing them as conditional uses in other zones, is interpreted to prohibit them in residential areas under the current laws.
However, I should have mentioned that a new ordinance allowing limited residential helicopter operation, as a conditional use, is coming to city council in the coming weeks or months. This ordinance would lay out terms for the keeping of helicopters in residentail areas when allowed by FAA. As a practical matter, the new ordianance and current FAA rules would only allow helicopters at a few properties on the lake. And, any personal heliport permits would have to be presented to the Hearing Examiner (the same one mentioned above), who would hear public testimony and could impose additional specific requirements on the use as part of the COnditional Use process.
So, council will weigh in on this, and depending on the outcome, possible turn Mr. Conner’s helicopter permit question BACK to the Hearing Examiner.
Since this is going to council, I wanted to raise a question I’ve been pondering. What are the chances that we are arriving at the future, where personal air travel may in fact become more commonplace? It’s possible that in coming years some of these companies working on new light-weight helicopters, and “flying cars” (lightweight aircraft that don’t require special skills to fly.
If so, do we leave it to the FAA, or do we do we attempt to prepare for the future in today’s city codes…?
I would love to hear your thoughts!
Popular Mechanics, 1951
Clearly, the inspiration for the Space Needle
Charlie Conner’s Helicopter Use Permit revoked by Renton Hearing Examiner
The Hearing examiner has overturned the basis for Charlie Conner’s Temporary Helicopter Use Permit. My understanding is that he will now have to cease helicopter operations (possibly with a ten day grace period… I’m still checking on the process.)
The complete Hearing Examiner’s record is given Here
I read through the decision, and generally agree with much of the reasoning, but there is one point I have a question on. (Please note that this permit was originally issued under the previous administration–which you know my opinion of — and I was never consulted. So I have no strong bias either way on this topic)
I’ll keep that to myself until I check on it, but meanwhile I would be interested on other’s opinions.
Kelley Balcomb-Bartok, Harbor Councilman and Orca Expert joins Renton Mayor’s office
We have found a great addition to our communication staff residing in Friday Harbor, San Juan Island. Click Here for the full story.
Argh! Red light runner causes domino-style collisions, injuring Renton school girls
Read the story HERE
A letter to Renton Police Employees expressing our gratitude and encouragement
Those of us in elected office in Renton are very aware of the extra effort Renton’s police are making to add officers and patrol districts for Benson Hill, and to knock down some chronic problems we have had in our city.
Denis Law summarized our collective feeling in this letter today: Continue reading
Seattle PI: She wanted stability, now she’s helping give it
Here is a touching story from yesterday’s PI about organizations working to provide homes in times of need, including work by Renton’s Vision House. (Several Renton officials attended this unveiling…I’m hoping to get some pictures).
From the story: “Last week, she was in Renton when Vision House, an agency that provides transitional housing for women and children, unveiled four new apartments in the Renton Highlands. The HEDCO Foundation provided $250,000 for the project. CamWest Development of Kirkland served as contractor, recruiting subcontractors at substantially reduced costs. The four units bring to 20 the number of apartments the agency has available. Another three apartments are under way.”
Clay Bennett instructed his colleagues NOT TO TALK about investment in a Renton Arena
Depositions and email about the Sonics arena give increasing insight. This article explains why we never got a clear indication of how much the Sonics would spend, or how much they expected Renton to spend. Clay Bennett did not want anyone to know…
“The city’s attorneys continually pounded away in the pretrial interviews about how Bennett never indicated how much money his group would contribute to a proposed $500 million Renton arena, thus making it difficult for Seattle politicians and residents to get behind the plan.
After a Seattle P-I reporter sought comment from Bennett over how much money his Professional Basketball Club would commit to the project, Bennett e-mailed Gooden, “Please stay WAY AWAY from talking about our investment in the building.”
Here is the story in today’s Seattle PI.
Seattle lobbied against Renton Arena
The Renton Sonics Arena proposal had even less support than I thought. While Renton was spending money studying it, even SEATTLE was lobbying against it. Here is the article in The Oklahoman