Tonight’s Finance Committee was quite interesting. In addition to the usual review and approval of city spending vouchers, we discussed a few other issues.
We agreed to some terms that will allow us to receive state grants for assistance in purchase of additional alternative fuel and hybrid vehicles. We currently have some hybrid passenger cars in our motor pool, and we have a hybrid boom truck; the state grants would provide us approximately $140,000 in funds to upgrade some other vehicle purchases to hybrids, potentially including other work trucks, an Aid Car, and other passenger vehicles. The State is also making money available for installation of Electric Vehicle charging stations, but we will have to compete with several other jurisdictions in King County to win a share of the charging station money.
In separate business, we recommended that the full council approve the hiring of a consultant for preparation of an updated six-year parks and open space plan. We last developed one of these plans in 2003, and it “expired” in 2009. A current plan must be on file with the state for us to qualify for certain grants which are essential for Renton to fund the development of trails and other open space improvements. The creation of the new parks and open space plan will be a highly public process– a consultant will gather and document community input regarding future priorities for new park development. So start thinking about new park amenities you would like to see in the next six years. (I mentioned tonight that a trail on May Creek, where we have been procuring land for 20 years, is high on my list.. but I’m sure readers all have their favorite ideas). In addition to making us eligible for grants, this plan will ensure that the park projects are well coordinated with other city growth management plans.
The last thing we discussed was the plan for determining the sites for two new (modern and larger) public library branches. A consultant will assist us in selecting and acquiring a new site in downtown (probably somewhere near the Piazza and parking garage) for a new Downtown Branch, and a new site in the Highlands (likely on NE Sunset) for a replacement Highlands Library. The Council has expressed interest in building these new library branches as early as next year using bonds that would be paid off with money that was previously dedicated to library operations. As a reminder, starting in 2011 library operations will be funded by KCLS from proceeds of a new levy on Renton property, as a result of the library annexation that was narrowly approved by Renton voters earlier this year. The council and mayor wish to get the new branches built soon to get maximum benefit from the new King County Library Service. Renton and KCLS officials have been working collaboratively on the siting of the new library branches, and a consultant will be assisting them make final siting and acquisition decisions.
“Maximum benefit from KCLS”?!!?! What…. new paint and carpets for $5.6 million per year isn’t good enough?
The KCLS merger sucks even worse that I thought. The shelves are bare, the librarians are quitting due to the clustering, and the tax bill is getting larger.
The 6 members of the council promised that KCLS would be better than Phase II of the Renton Library Master Plan and yet KCLS will only commit to 30,000 sqft in Renton instead of the 72,000 sqft of space that Phase II had.
What sort of “better” is that?
Hold KCLS to their promises before we go giving them MORE of our tax-money.
You know, constantly repeating the same behavior over and over and expecting a different result is the very definition of insanity.
Time to move on.
If we have people in power who can’t figure out Renton taxpayers don’t need millions in more taxes during a recession then they need to go.
Yes, lets get rid of the 50% + 1 voters that voted for the choice to annex to KCLS. The nerve of some people. 🙂
Quoth the expert.
Hooray! We’re getting a library that doesn’t look like a floating WWII bunker.
Wouldn’t the old McLendon’s location downtown be the most logical place to put a new library?
I’m fairly new here. Where did McLendon’s used to be?
Maybe the ballet lot too? As nice as it is, I don’t see it being used for much else.
The ballet studio used to be McLendon’s. The current McLendon’s used to be K-Mart.
It would be a better site. A few clever council members mentioned that the city could build a mixed used facility and lease part of the building to KCLS. That way title wouldn’t pass to KCLS unlike the other municipalities that would not own their own building if they decided to leave KCLS. That’s what keeps Mercer Island from leaving KCLS as KCLS owns the building that used to belong to Mercer Island.
Interesting, the PDC just fined the pro-KCLS side for violating campaign finance laws.
The only place I saw that mentioned was on the “save” Renton library site but I have never seen any source? Do you have one?
http://www.pdc.wa.gov/archive/compliance/status/pdf/2010/06.14.10.Spr.pdf – It’s on Page 2. They broke two laws. it looks like they paid the fine: http://www.pdc.wa.gov/qviewreports/results.aspx?rpt=http://hera.pdc.wa.gov/PublicAppXtender/ISubmitQuery.aspx?DSN=IMAGE&AppName=PDC&FILER+NAME=RENTON%20FOR%20KCLS%20NOW&FORM+TYPE=List:%20%27WARNLTR%27,%20%27STIP%27,%20%27MISC*%27
Thanks. Was a bit search-challenged today.
Here’s the enforcement decision by the PDC. Basically they hid their expenditures. Given who was on their committee, they knew what they were doing was wrong. http://www.docstoc.com/docs/40632979/PDC-Decision
Interesting reading, Renton for KCLS Now was charged with a violation for not clearly stating what the expenditures were used for. There was no charge that I could find that showed that Renton had put out the incorrect information. While that does show that Renton for KCLS Now was incorrect in not explaining what the expenditures were used for, nothing about the City of Renton and there is no change to the election noted in the violation.
Did anyone read the decision?
While they deserve the fine they received, there were not “two” violations nor was there any discussion or finding that expenditures where “hidden.” They late filed an attachment to a report. Big whoopie. Get over it people.
Here’s the original complaint: http://www.pdc.wa.gov/archive/compliance/complaints/pdf/2010/10061.CUI.pdf The PDC sustained her findings that KCLS expenses were not reported according to the law.
I’ve read about six of these master plans (I won’t name them as to no piss people off, I realize that good people worked on them) and all of them sucked donkey-b@%@$%
They all were basically wish-lists of expensive things with no restraint and no cleverness. Any idiot can come up with “We need lots more expensive shiny things.” It takes some brains to come up with “If we do these small changes then more people would get a lot more enjoyment.”
Let’s hope the new Park Master Plan will take into account the economy and suggests something clever rather than throw money at the problem.
A good example of clever: The RUFF Dog Park. For peanuts, it provides a lot of joy for a lot of people in a way that only government could do.
KCLS input
I am curious to know if the City Council has had any meetings with KCLS regarding these new sites. Are these sites that have been proposed by KCLS to the City or vice-versa? It will be interesting to see what the consultants come back with as acceptable sites, who is hiring these consultants and who is floating the bill. It would make sense that since tax-payers are now giving over $5M in taxes that this would be covered by that. Also, has the council taken into account that the Fairwood Library is scheduled for an upgrade starting in 2012? Have they asked KCLS how this would impact the new Renton libraries? Just something to consider, I would think that our Renton branches would be the substitutes for when the Fairwood renovation happens and I can only imagine that KCLS would want to avoid a PR nightmare that could potentially be present if all 3 branches are under construction at the same time.
Re: KCLS input
If you consider the Kent remodel that just happened then the area branches will see larger use but not all at one location. Also the temporary library site will handle quite a few. So while there would be a temporary increase to other library branches, the service will continue with little change.
dude!
anyone know what’s going on in Upper Kennydale with all the police action tonight?