King County Elections certified the results of the Aug. 17th Primary Election Wednesday morning (Sept. 1st), and announced a total voter turnout of 39 percent, the highest for a primary since 2004, with 421,157 ballots returned.

“We saw a respectable rate of participation considering this was not a Presidential election year,” said Sherril Huff, King County Elections Director. “We were able to process ballots very efficiently and got some great support from many voters who returned their ballots early.”

The general election will be Tuesday, Nov. 2nd, and ballots will be mailed Oct. 13th.

Here’s more from the county’s election website:

As with any election, some ballots could not be counted because they were postmarked after Election Day or had issues with the voter signature. Voters can use the online Ballot Tracker to make sure their ballot was received and sent on to be counted. Voters who may have experienced problems with their signatures or mailing address should be sure to update their registration information now so that they are ready for the upcoming November General Election.

Ballots for the General Election will be mailed on October 13. The deadline to update voter registration information for the election is October 4. New Washington voters can register in person through October 25.

In this election, 8,800 ballots were returned after Election Day. Voters are reminded that ballots must be returned to a Ballot Drop Box before 8:00 p.m. or postmarked by Election Day.

Here are final results that affect our area:

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT NO. 33

Ballots Cast/Registered Voters: *

20128

/

54670

36.82%

State Senator Legislative Dist No. 33

Jack Michalek

Prefers Republican Party

8120

42.14%

Karen Keiser

Prefers Democratic Party

11107

57.64%

Write-in

43

0.22%

State Representative Legislative Dist No. 33 – Position 1

Tina Orwall

Prefers Democratic Party

12306

94.68%

Write-in

691

5.32%

State Representative Legislative Dist No. 33 – Position 2

Dave Upthegrove

Prefers Democratic Party

12651

95.14%

Write-in

646

4.86%

SOUTH KING FIRE AND RESCUE

Ballots Cast/Registered Voters: *

26059

/

69179

37.67%

South King Fire & Rescue Proposition No. 1

YES

11898

48.60%

NO

12586

51.40%

* Reflects the voter registration count as of August 5, following the official logic and accuracy test

Note : The totals on this report reflect the results for King County only.

The Washington State Department of Ecology Tuesday (Aug. 24) extended the public comment time for Des Moines’ Shoreline Master Program, with the new deadline set for Sept. 13th.

In addition, comment time for the city of SeaTac’s program has been extended to Sept. 16th.

The extensions will accommodate those who weren’t notified as requested about the comment periods, due to a database glitch.

More information on Des Moines’ shoreline updates is available here.

As we previously reported July 21st:

The updated master program guides construction and development in the City of Des Moines along its approximately 5 miles of marine shoreline. It combines local plans for future development and preservation with new development ordinances and related permitting requirements.

Under Washington’s voter-approved Shoreline Management Act, Ecology must review and approve the Des Moines program before takes effect.

Des Moines’ proposed program and related documents are available for review at:

City of Des Moines Planning-Building Dept.
21630 11th Ave. S Suite D
Des Moines

Or online here.

Ecology may approve the shoreline program as written, reject it or direct Des Moines to modify specific parts.  Once approved by Ecology, the Des Moines shoreline program will become part of the overall state shoreline master program.  In cases where counties and cities border marine waters, it will be part of the national Coastal Zone Management Program.  Ecology also will help each local jurisdiction legally defend its shoreline program, if necessary.

The City of Des Moines updated shoreline program was adopted by the city council after an extensive local process. The update began with a thorough inventory of existing land-use patterns and environmental conditions to preserve existing shoreline areas while protecting future economic development. Des Moines collaborated over a period of several years with waterfront property owners, commercial property owners, environmental interests and state agencies.

Shoreline master programs are the cornerstone of the state Shoreline Management Act passed by voters in 1972. The programs help minimize environmental damage to shoreline areas, reserve appropriate areas for water-oriented uses and reduce interference with the public’s access to public waters and shorelines.

The law requires cities and counties with marine shorelines, lakes 20 acres in size or larger, and streams and rivers flowing at 20 cubic feet per second or greater to develop and periodically update their locally-tailored shoreline programs.

Key features of Des Moines’ updated program include:

• Improves protection of habitat and water quality for all of Des Moines Puget Sound shorelines, including the annexed shorelines of Woodmont and Redondo Beach, which represent approximately 50% of Des Moines’ Puget Sound shorelines.
• More detailed shoreline environment designations tailored to existing uses and development potential along Des Moines marine shorelines.
• Promotes incentives for reestablishment of vegetation buffers.
• Limits construction of new shoreline armoring along presently unarmored shorelines and encourages the use of soft-bank erosion control methods.
• Includes a restoration plan showing where and how voluntary improvements in water and upland areas can enhance the local shoreline environment.
• Helps support the broader Puget Sound initiative to protect and restore the Sound.

Ecology adopted new guidelines in 2003 that establish the basic requirements for updating local shoreline master programs. The guidelines resulted from a negotiated settlement between business interests, ports, environmental groups, shoreline user groups, cities and counties, Ecology, and the courts.

City of Des Moines joins a growing number of cities, towns and counties that have updated their shoreline programs using the 2003 guidelines.  The state guidelines allow each town, city and county flexibility to customize their programs to fit its local land-use circumstances and vision of local waterfront development.

More than 30 cities and counties have already updated their shoreline programs, with70 updates currently under way.  Most haven’t done so comprehensively in almost 40 years. From 1978 through 2008, the state population grew from about 3.8 million to an estimated 6.6 million people.

Starting July 1, 2009, Ecology provided $7.5 million in state grants to an additional 77 cities and counties to help them begin updating their shoreline policies and regulation – including $3 million earmarked by the 2009 Legislature specifically to help municipalities throughout the Puget Sound region.

Washington has 266 cities and counties with shorelines that qualify them for grant funding, and updating their shoreline programs by December 2014.

by Ralph Nichols

An international spotlight will focus on Des Moines during the 1st World Emerging Industries Summit 2010 in China, which Mayor Bob Sheckler will attend Aug. 31-Sept. 3.

“I just got confirmation that I will be allowed, as requested, to make a speech on behalf of the city promoting local development,” Sheckler told The Waterland Blog in an Aug. 19 interview.

“This excites me and challenges me. Opportunities like this come once in a lifetime, if ever. These are people who represent Fortune 500 companies,” Sheckler said.

“Des Moines, with a population of 30,000, has the opportunity to be promoted before all these international investors and developers in China.”

He added that “a lot of my ability to even go there is due to the city council’s support and help in paying for my trip.” The Des Moines Rotary Club also donated $500 to help with his airfare.

Referring to his successful China trip last November – which he paid for himself and which landed a multi-million-dollar hotel for Des Moines on Pacific Highway S. – Sheckler noted, “If it wasn’t for that trip I wouldn’t have been invited [to this summit].

“This trip is based on relationships I built with government officials and investors I made then. Otherwise this invitation wouldn’t have come my way.”

That invitation came from Wang Rulin, governor, Jilin Province of China, Dominique de Villepin, global chairman of the Asia-Pacific CEO Association Worldwide, and Zheng Xiongwei, global executive chairman of the association.

Sponsored by the Chinese government, the summit – “New Industrial Revolution & Green Economy” – will feature business talks on investment, cooperation and technology exchanges, and promotion of international economic cooperation in emerging industries.

International political leaders, ministers and elected representatives of federal, state, provincial and local governments, CEOs, representatives of industry and related international organizations, and top economists will attend.

“There won’t be a lot of time for one-on-one discussions, which makes my talk all the more significant,” Sheckler said.

Topping his list as he promotes the city will be the planned 89-acre Des Moines Creek Business Park just west of Pacific Highway north of S. 216th St. Des Moines will regulate land use planning and zoning since the business park is within its city limits.

The property is owned by the Port of Seattle, which supports Sheckler’s upcoming efforts in China to attract businesses to this planned development.

He will also highlight opportunities for commercial and residential development in the downtown Marina District, especially along Marine View Drive and 7th Ave. S.

“And there remain a lot of places for development along Pacific Highway in addition to the planned Waterview Crossing project and the 300-room hotel with a four- or five-star true Chinese restaurant.”

Sheckler recalled that the hotel originally was going to be built in Tacoma until he developed an international business relationship with its Chinese investor.

Earlier, he said the city’s efforts to attract international developers and investors have “to be a two-way street. We can’t just take and not give. They are looking for good opportunities for investments in Des Moines that will give them a good return for their dollar. Their interest is in profitable investments.

Chinese investors like the Des Moines area because they can’t get its views of Puget Sound anywhere else “without paying premium dollars for them,” Sheckler added. “And the marina is a huge attraction to them.”

King County Elections posted its “early returns” Tuesday night (Aug. 17) around 8pm, and with between 22 – 24% of the mail-in ballots counted, it looks like it’s Karen Keiser and Jack Michalek for the 33rd District.

Both Tina Orwall and Dave Upthegrove ran unopposed.

Here are the initial returns (keep in mind that these are preliminary results, and the final tally won’t be released until Sept. 1st.):

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT NO. 33

Ballots Cast/Registered Voters: *

12931

/

54670

23.65%

State Senator Legislative Dist No. 33

Jack Michalek

Prefers Republican Party

5,003

40.30%

Karen Keiser

Prefers Democratic Party

7,387

59.51%

Write-in

24

0.19%

State Representative Legislative Dist No. 33 – Position 1

Tina Orwall

Prefers Democratic Party

8,176

94.66%

Write-in

461

5.34%

State Representative Legislative Dist No. 33 – Position 2

Dave Upthegrove

Prefers Democratic Party

8,382

95.11%

Write-in

431

4.89%

Also, it’s developing into a very tight race for South King Fire & Rescue Proposition No. 1:

YES

7,554

49.46%

NO

7,718

50.54%

Further north in the 34th District, it looks like a neck and neck race between Mike Heavey and Joe Fitzgibbon (32.8%) for 34th Dist. State Rep., and Joe McDermott (59.3%) and Diana Toledo (19.97%) for King County Council, Dist. #8.

STATE REP. DISTRICT No. 34 – POSITION 2:

Joe Fitzgibbon

Prefers Democratic Party

5,065

32.80%

Mike Heavey

Prefers Democratic Party

5,185

33.58%

Geoffrey Mac McElroy

Prefers Independent Party

2,910

18.84%

Marcee Stone

Prefers Democratic Party

2,191

14.19%

Write-in

91

0.59%

In the King County Council, Dist. #8 race, Joe McDermott is at 59.3% and former King County employee Diana Toledo is at nearly 20%. Normandy Park’s Shawn McEvoy is at 13%.

METROPOLITAN KING COUNTY COUNCIL DISTRICT NO. 8:

Ballots Cast/Registered Voters: *

23,990

/

109,557

21.90%

County Council District No. 8 Unexpired 1-year Term

Diana Toledo

4,182

19.97%

Tim Fahey

1,481

7.07%

Joe McDermott

12,421

59.30%

Shawn McEvoy

2,732

13.04%

Write-in

129

0.62%

Results can change of course depending on which areas get counted when, and we’ll be posting updates as they are released by the county.

In other interesting races (at least to us), here are some early returns:

United States Senator:

• Sen. Patty Murray: 140,192 • 57.98%
• Dino Rossi: 68,501 • 28.33%
• Goodspaceguy: 707 • 0.29%

United States Representative Congressional District No. 7 :

• Bill Hoffman*: 3,598 • 4.32%
• Jim McDermott: 64,258 • 77.16%

* We went to high school with Bill Hoffman; note to Bill: next time, choose a weaker opponent!

If you forgot to mail your ballot in, you can still drop it off until midnight tonight at the Riverton Heights Post Office (located at 15250 32nd Avenue South Seatac, WA 98188-9996 – (206) 241-7061).

by Ralph Nichols

That retail activity is lagging in Des Moines comes as no surprise to city leaders, who continue to deal with a struggling “main street” on Marine View Drive, along with slumping sales tax revenue.

Now a survey conducted by the city reports that almost half of all responding Des Moines businesses – 41.5 percent – say their current volume of customers is less than what they need.

The same number of businesses – in both the downtown Marina District and along Pacific Highway South – says their customer traffic is just “OK.”

Only 17 percent of those responding said the number of people walking through their doors is “excellent.”

Results of the survey, which was mailed on May 15 to 332 licensed businesses, were recently reported to the city council by Marion Yoshino – now the city’s full-time Economic Development Manager.

Only 58 businesses responded to the survey. Yoshino told council members the low response may be due in part to difficulty owners for whom English is a second language had with the questionnaire.

She also noted that “those who had a strong opinion to express would be more likely inclined to respond … those businesses that are successful may be otherwise occupied and not take time to complete a survey.”

For these and other reasons, the survey provides insights into the local business community, but is not statistically valid.

Still, “this does give us some clear ideas about how we can move forward,” Yoshino said. “It also says to business, ‘We have heard you.’”

The best news for Des Moines, based on the information received, is that over 75 percent of responding businesses intend to remain in the city for at least the next three years:

• 48.1% plan to remain at their current location
• 15.4% will expand or remodel at their current location
• 13.5% will relocate within the city

Another 19.2 percent plan to relocate outside Des Moines, and 1.9 percent each will sell their business or the owners will retire.

More good news for the city is that 19 percent of businesses that have had interactions with local government in the last three years described their experiences as “excellent”; 57.1 percent called them “good.”

The city was given a “fair” rating by 16.7 percent, while only 7.1 percent described them as “poor.”

Beyond these encouraging findings, Mayor Bob Sheckler noted that a renewed Destination Des Moines (read our previous coverage here) is taking on “a brand new scope” to promote the city.

Destination Des Moines “will no longer be working on the premise of becoming a new Chamber of Commerce … it will be working on [local] events.

“Hold on and see what happens,” Sheckler added. “It’s going to be a pleasant surprise for everyone … next year’s Waterland Parade will be something else.”

The survey also underscored the small-business nature of much of the commercial activity in Des Moines. Ninety-six percent of responding businesses have eight or fewer full-time employees, with over 40 percent having only one employee.

In addition, 55.8 percent said the city “should take action to promote better maintenance or renovation” of commercial buildings and adjacent areas.

Responses to suggestions for ways the city might improve its downtown and highway business districts include:

• Colorful banners and flower pots along arterials and public art:
  • Very helpful: 47.3%
    
  • Somewhat helpful: 43.6%
  • Not helpful: 9.1&
• Pedestrian-friendly features such as sidewalks, benches, lighting improvements:
  • Very helpful: 54.5%
    
  • Somewhat helpful: 32.7%
  • Not helpful: 12.7%
• More police patrols:
  • Very helpful: 25%
  • Somewhat helpful: 34.6%
  • Not helpful: 40.4%
    
• A promotional city website that highlights Des Moines attractions:
  • Very helpful: 57.7%
    
  • Somewhat helpful: 32.7%
  • Not helpful: 9.6%
• Relaxing building or sign code restrictions:
  • Very helpful, 47.3%
    
  • Somewhat helpful: 27.3%
  • Not helpful: 25.5%

by Ralph Nichols

The Des Moines City approved on Aug. 5 the final agreement with Water District 54 for the Downtown Water System Improvement Project, which is expected to begin early next spring.

Council members adopted the agreement on a 6-0 vote after water district commissioners informed them it has been pre-approved for its share of construction costs – estimated at about $550,000.

The district will also provide funding for the project – estimated at a cost of $1.8 million – from its capital reserves.

Although the exact dollar amount needed by the water district won’t be known until bids are open, commissioners said their lender has said they can get at least that amount. The project may go out for bids by or before early fall.

A $486,000 federal earmark grant – secured by Congressman Adam Smith, D-Tacoma, and dedicated to water system improvements in Des Moines – will pay for the city share of the project’s cost.

In addition, the city will waive all permit fees incurred by the water district, not impose right-of-way fees, absorb all administrative costs associated with permitting and administration of the federal grant, and act as lead agency for obtaining state approval for the project.

Construction to install a new 12-inch water main under Marine View Drive between S. 219th and S. 227th streets is expected to begin in March or April as soon as weather permits, with work completed in about three months.

The 12-inch main will be located along the edge of Marine View Drive to avoid obstacles beneath the street. It will include 12-inch cross connections to east-west lines at S. 220th, S. 222nd, S. 225th and S. 227th streets.

In addition, the district will install 12-inch water mains on S. 220th, S. 222nd, S. 225th and S. 226th streets, connecting the Marine View Drive line west to 7th Ave. S.

Commissioners told council members that, with their pre-approved loan amount, the district now has adequate funds to pay for installation of water mains along cross-streets as part of this project as well – something they anticipated earlier would have to be put off to another year.

The fact the district is a utility will help it obtain the necessary financing since loans for capital projects by utilities are virtually guaranteed through their rates, thereby enabling them to get good terms from lenders.

“That’s all very good news,” Mayor Bob Sheckler said following the council meeting. “Previously [the commissioners] were concerned they would be able only to do Marine View Drive, and the other later.

“Now they can do it all in one fell swoop, which will result in the disruption of downtown businesses only once.”

One of the ironies of the recession-plagued economy, Sheckler noted, is that it puts the city in a good position to receive favorable bids.

“This is a major step forward in the development of the Marina District,” he added. “It now allows us to look more closely at types of construction and building heights that could bring new development that would attract both additional retail and residents downtown.”

by Ralph Nichols

Voters in Burien, Normandy Park and North Highline will help decide the only two contested races in the Highline area on the Aug.17 primary election ballot.

Ballots must be postmarked by next Tuesday, Aug. 17, or deposited in a King County Elections ballot drop-box by 8 p.m. that day.

There are no contested legislative district or local primary races in Des Moines.

A contest that has gained high-profile status is the race for the King County Council seat from District 8, which includes Burien, Normandy Park and North Highline.

The eventual winner in November will complete the unexpired term, with one year remaining, which was vacated by Dow Constantine after his election last fall as King County Executive.

And that outcome, depending on who is elected, may significantly alter the complexion of the county council.

Constantine’s replacement, former Seattle City Councilwoman Jan Drago, did not file for election to that post.

The quartet of candidates includes:

• Tim Fahey, a South Park carpenter who is basing his campaign on the need for immediate action to build a new South Park bridge and the failure of the county to replace the structure before it was permanently closed to traffic.
• Normandy Park City Councilman Shawn McEvoy, who has served as mayor and is a small business owner, and who cites his environmental record for protected critical areas in and surrounding the city.
• Former state Sen. (and Rep.) Joe McDermott of West Seattle, who is running on his 10 years in the Legislature, where he served as a Democrat before resigning to run for this position. He is endorsed by Constantine.
• Diana Toledo of West Seattle, who says her experience from 15 years as a county enforcement coordinator, animal cruelty investigator and licensing supervisor will help her reform and restore financial responsibility to King County government.

Fahey and Toledo both oppose the proposed .02-cent sales tax increase that advocates say is needed to avoid layoffs of sheriff’s deputies, prosecutors and court personnel next year. They maintain that savings can be found within the county budget to avoid those cuts.

McEvoy and McDermott both support the sales tax measure.

In the 34th Legislative District, which includes Burien and North Highline, Democrats Joe Fitzgibbon, Mike Heavy and Marcee Stone, and Independent Geoffrey “Mac” McElroy are running for State Representative, Position 2.

The winner in November will replace state Rep. Sharon Nelson, a Democrat who is running for the State Senate to fill the office vacated by McDermott.

• Fitzgibbon, who is chairman of the Burien Planning Commission, has been a legislative aide to Nelson and also a King county Council legislative aide.
• Heavey currently is director of Outreach and Constituent Relations for the King County Council, and has worked in fraud and identity theft prevention for Expedia.com.
• McElroy owns Mac’s Triangle Pub in White Center. A military veteran, as a member of the White Center Chamber of Commerce he is involved in community development.
• Stone, a legal administration professional who has worked for several law firms, has been a professional actor and a local political activist.

by Jack Mayne

The Seattle-Tacoma International Taxicab Association (STITA) lost another round in its fight to retain a contract with the Port of Seattle to be the sole provider of cab service leaving the airport, a contract it has held for about 20 years.

The Washington Supreme Court on Thursday (Aug. 5) declined to review an appeals court decision upholding the Port of Seattle’s award of the outbound taxi service contract to Yellow Cab. The Court also dissolved a stay preventing a new contract between Yellow and the Port and, within moments of the high court’s decision being announced Friday morning, the Port signed a new contract with Yellow that will take effect on Nov. 1

Chris Van Dyk, the principal of the Bainbridge Media Group and the person who authored the Yellow Cab bid, issued a news release Friday:

“You will be pleased to know that . . . the Washington State Supreme Court denied certiorari (review) of the STITA appeal of the temporary injunction that had been issued, blocking contract signing between the Port and Yellow, in this case,” Van Dyk wrote. “Accordingly, the Port of Seattle has signed the contract for outbound taxicab services with Puget Sound Dispatch dba Yellow Taxi Association, and Yellow will begin outbound on-demand (curbside pickup) taxicab service at SeaTac on Nov. 1, 2010.”

The original STITA contract was supposed to have ended on August 31, but was extended by the port for 60 days because of the legal battle, plus the fact Yellow would need time to redeploy cabs to the airport and to make other arrangement to take over the service, said Perry Cooper, spokesman for the airport.

Despite the setback, STITA attorney Michael Goldfarb of the Seattle firm of Peterson Young and Putra, said the case was still a long way from being over.

Goldfarb says he plans to file a motion in another suit involving cab service at the airport. STITA will allege the contract signed between Yellow and the Port is illegal because there were “significant changes: made after the contract outlined in Yellow’s original bid.

“Our position is that the Port negotiated wholesale changes to the agreement and any such changes were never approved by the Port Commission (in a public meeting),” said Goldfarb. “We will ask the (King County Superior Court) to nullify the contract,” the attorney said.

“Even though the important issues raised by this first case won’t be heard by the state’s highest court, we still have a strong position in a second case,” said Jesse Buttar, STITA spokesman. “We still look to the Port to restore the public trust in this contract and process.”

The Port of Seattle has signed a new contract with Yellow Cab company after the Washington Supreme Court rejected an appeal on an earlier ruling by the State Appeals Court.

The new contract will not take effect until at least October 31, as the Port has extended the current agreement with the Seattle-Tacoma International Taxicab Association (STITA) two months because of the pending legal cases.

People needing to hire a cab from the airport until Nov. 1 will still use the familiar STITA cabs, STITA officials said, until the new Yellow Cab contract takes affect.

However, STITA says it has other matters to take before courts that it hopes will prevent Yellow from taking over the cab service at the airport.

Dear Editor –

There seems to be a lot of confusion about Proposition One that our local fire district, South King Fire & Rescue, has put on the upcoming Primary election on August 17, 2010. Unlike cities and counties, junior (which SKFR is one) taxing district’s sole source of income comes from property values in the fire district. With the economy in a major slump the last couple of years, it has increasing had to look at ways to cut back and balance its budget without cutting back on services.

The District Commissioners decided two years ago to establish a “contingency ” fund knowing that the economy was on a downward cycle and they would need to protect the district as best as they could under the circumstances. This fund will not last past 2011 and without a way to stabilize revenues, service levels may have to be curtailed or reduced. SKFR is one of only three fire districts in the state to have a Class 2 insurance rating (Seattle and Bellevue are the others) there are NO ones. The Prop One measure on the ballot is to help the district maintain this high level of service.

There has been a lot of rhetoric flying around recently about our taxes going up by a whopping 60%. These people are simply confused about this different form of taxing property. Proposition One allows our district to stabilize its revenues for the next 6 years by instituting a Benefit Charge. Normal taxes are levied at $1.50 per $1,000 of property value. Under a Benefit Charge, the $1.50 is rolled back to a $1.00 and the remainder amount is calculated on the square footage of the property structures. The Board of Commissioners will set this rate every year in an open public process depending how much is needed to stabilize revenues and allow the district to maintain the high level of services the public has come to rely on.

Many other Washington State fire districts long have used this form of taxing properties without overly burdening its citizens unfairly.

I hope voters get involved in the election process and vote for Proposition One. By voting yes we are voting to maintain fast response times to fire and Emergency Medical Services responses so important to our community. As a side note, EMS now counts for over 80% of the calls for service in the district.

– Wayne Corey
Publisher
www.publicsafe.org

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Have something you'd like to say? Then email us your "Letter to the Editor" by clicking here. Be sure to include your real name and a way to contact you, and, pending our review, we'll most likely post it. Otherwise, feel free to leave a Comment below...]

The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) announced Wednesday, July 21st, that it is seeking public comment on the City of Des Moines’ recently updated Shoreline Master Program, an effort that will increase the protection and restoration of Puget Sound shorelines.

Ecology will accept public comment on Des Moines’ shoreline program through Aug. 20, 2010.  Comments and questions should be addressed to:

Barbara Nightingale
Department of Ecology
3190 160th Ave. SE
Bellevue, WA 98008

Or via email at: Barbara.Nightingale@ecy.wa.gov.

The updated master program guides construction and development in the City of Des Moines along its approximately 5 miles of marine shoreline. It combines local plans for future development and preservation with new development ordinances and related permitting requirements.

Under Washington’s voter-approved Shoreline Management Act, Ecology must review and approve the Des Moines program before takes effect.

Des Moines’ proposed program and related documents are available for review at:

City of Des Moines Planning-Building Dept.
21630 11th Ave. S Suite D
Des Moines

Or online here.

Ecology may approve the shoreline program as written, reject it or direct Des Moines to modify specific parts.  Once approved by Ecology, the Des Moines shoreline program will become part of the overall state shoreline master program.  In cases where counties and cities border marine waters, it will be part of the national Coastal Zone Management Program.  Ecology also will help each local jurisdiction legally defend its shoreline program, if necessary.

The City of Des Moines updated shoreline program was adopted by the city council after an extensive local process. The update began with a thorough inventory of existing land-use patterns and environmental conditions to preserve existing shoreline areas while protecting future economic development. Des Moines collaborated over a period of several years with waterfront property owners, commercial property owners, environmental interests and state agencies.

Shoreline master programs are the cornerstone of the state Shoreline Management Act passed by voters in 1972. The programs help minimize environmental damage to shoreline areas, reserve appropriate areas for water-oriented uses and reduce interference with the public’s access to public waters and shorelines.

The law requires cities and counties with marine shorelines, lakes 20 acres in size or larger, and streams and rivers flowing at 20 cubic feet per second or greater to develop and periodically update their locally-tailored shoreline programs.

Key features of Des Moines’ updated program include:

• Improves protection of habitat and water quality for all of Des Moines Puget Sound shorelines, including the annexed shorelines of Woodmont and Redondo Beach, which represent approximately 50% of Des Moines’ Puget Sound shorelines.
• More detailed shoreline environment designations tailored to existing uses and development potential along Des Moines marine shorelines.
• Promotes incentives for reestablishment of vegetation buffers.
• Limits construction of new shoreline armoring along presently unarmored shorelines and encourages the use of soft-bank erosion control methods.
• Includes a restoration plan showing where and how voluntary improvements in water and upland areas can enhance the local shoreline environment.
• Helps support the broader Puget Sound initiative to protect and restore the Sound.

Ecology adopted new guidelines in 2003 that establish the basic requirements for updating local shoreline master programs. The guidelines resulted from a negotiated settlement between business interests, ports, environmental groups, shoreline user groups, cities and counties, Ecology, and the courts.

City of Des Moines joins a growing number of cities, towns and counties that have updated their shoreline programs using the 2003 guidelines.  The state guidelines allow each town, city and county flexibility to customize their programs to fit its local land-use circumstances and vision of local waterfront development.

More than 30 cities and counties have already updated their shoreline programs, with70 updates currently under way.  Most haven’t done so comprehensively in almost 40 years. From 1978 through 2008, the state population grew from about 3.8 million to an estimated 6.6 million people.

Starting July 1, 2009, Ecology provided $7.5 million in state grants to an additional 77 cities and counties to help them begin updating their shoreline policies and regulation – including $3 million earmarked by the 2009 Legislature specifically to help municipalities throughout the Puget Sound region.

Washington has 266 cities and counties with shorelines that qualify them for grant funding, and updating their shoreline programs by December 2014.

UPDATE 5:45pm 7/21/10: We’ve added Audio, as well as Photos of the event as shot by Michael Brunk, to the bottom of the story:

by Ralph Nichols

All four candidates for King County Council District 8 agreed at a July 20 forum that county government must become more efficient, more effective, and related better to suburban cities.

Beyond that, Tim Fahey, Joe McDermott, Shawn McEvoy and Diana Toledo offered varying approaches – some pronounced, others marginal – on how to improve the way the county operates.

Sponsored by The B-Town Blog, the forum was moderated by KIRO radio talk show host Dave Ross. A panel of Journalists, including this Reporter, along with T.M. Sell, Phd, Professor of Journalism at Highline Community College, and George Erb, Editor of the Puget Sound Business Journal. Questions were also offered up by several of the 35 or so attendees.

The four will square off in the Aug. 17 primary election, with the top two vote-getters facing each other in November.

Current District 8 County Councilwoman Jan Drago, who was appointed to replace Dow Constantine after he was elected King County Executive last year, is not seeking election to that office.

Fahey, a carpenter who resides in South Park, was motivated to run because of the closure of the South Park Bridge after years of failure at all levels of government to replace it.

McDermott, from West Seattle, has served in the State Legislature since 2001 and was appointed State Senator in 2007. He ran unopposed for the seat in 2008.

McEvoy is a city councilman and a former mayor of Normandy Park.

Toledo is an enforcement coordinator for King County, where she has worked for 15 years.

“King County has been a little dictatorial with the way they treat the suburban cities,” Burien City Councilwoman Kathy Keene noted when the forum opened to questions from the audience. “How will you work with us so we can do our job better or be a better partner with you?”

[Note: Candidate responses will be presented in the order they answered specific questions.]

Fahey – “King County does not know better for Burien what’s good for Burien. You guys can make decisions for yourself.”

McDermott – “I want to continue to work with the cities, not come and tell you what to know.” Former State Rep. and former Mercer Island City Councilman Fred Jarrett, now Constantine’s deputy executive, is helping the county build relationships with the cities.

McEvoy – Cities need to be an “equal partner … a regional partner” with the county, which needs to maintain regular contact with the cities.

Toledo – “There is no doubt that over the past decade or more, King County has exhibited an arrogance that turned the cities off by shoving things down their throat. There is evidence that this is shifting” and the county “needs to continue to be part of that shift.”

White Center resident Liz Giba wanted to know their positions on future annexation of the remaining North Highline unincorporated area by either Burien or Seattle:

McDermott – “The key is there is going to be a public vote” and the county should remain neutral. “It’s up to the public in the area to decide.”

McEvoy – The determining factor should be “what is best for the citizens of the region. White Center would be far worse off going to Seattle … Burien is the best fit for White Center.”

Toledo – “Burien is the best choice for the North Highline area. As a council member we should have an opinion and should voice that opinion.”

Fahey – “I fully and actively am in support of annexation by Burien.” North Highline “needs would be better served” in Burien than in Seattle,” and the area would remain free of the “yoke of Seattle’s business tax.”

Will they vote for or against the 0.02 percent sales tax increase to help fund public safety that the current county council approved on July 19 for placement on the November ballot?

Toledo – I will vote for public safety. I will vote for protecting our people. But I will not vote for it [the tax increase] … I’m particularly disturbed by the characterization of the sales tax [increase] as it’s for public safety.”

Fahey – “Certainly not a sales tax increase. We need to find where wasteful spending is going on.” A lot of King County deputies disagree with Sheriff Sue Rahr “that she can’t cut her budget” without cutting officers.”

McDermott – “I support it. It’s a small increase that will bring in $59 million in 2011 and $80 million in 2012. The choice is between that and cutting 60 deputies and 12 prosecutors.”

McEvoy – “I’m not a big fan of tax increases but I would say this is vital … it’s a temporary tax increase.”

What would they do with Metro Transit in light of a new study by the Washington Policy Center, which found that Metro got sales tax increases in 2000 and 2006, by 2009 had collected 20 percent more from those tax hikes than it needed, but had implemented only a third of the new bus service promised while diverting 60 percent of this revenue into bus driver salaries for average raises that are two times the rate of inflation.

Fahey – Metro bus service is “heavily subsidized” and commuters “should be willing to pay $5 per ride … as a union person, I always hate to see this come down to the union.” The popular ride-free-zone in downtown Seattle not only reduced Metro revenue but attracts “undesirable people” and creates “a law enforcement problem.”

McDermott – Initiative 695, which was approved in 1999 to limit car tab fees to $30, “is to blame” for a lot of revenue lost to Metro and other transit agencies. “We need to build relationships with other transit agencies” throughout the state … we need to hold people accountable. I want to be careful not to blame public employees but hold costs down.”

McEvoy – In addition to what the Washington Policy Center found, another Metro program to increase suburban bus service – the 40/40/20 plan – “has not been allocated as stated … it’s time for Seattle to pay its fair share” for bus service … we need to look at efficiencies and consolidation.”

Toledo – “This question highlights why I’m running for the county council … what does real reform, real accountability mean?” Although it’s hard to comment on the salary increases for drivers, the report shows a need “to cut some at the management level.”

What is the single most effective thing that can be done to help business in King County?

McDermott – “Provide all the things that people value,” including “transportation to work and from work” and getting supplies to businesses and products out.

McEvoy – “We need to foster an environment conducive to small business” and “initiate public/private partnerships to encourage small businesses.”

Toledo – “We need to cut red tape … and look at ways to create jobs that will bring in more taxes.”

Fahey – “Transportation and access to businesses obviously is paramount. Government cannot generate enough jobs.”

Citizens want all of the services government can provide for free. So what services should be cut?

McDermott – “The easy things to take out have been picked off a long time ago. We need to look at what government no longer needs to do.”

McEvoy – “We do need to examine central services. We need to make sure service levels match budget levels. There are probably some inefficiencies … no one thing is glaringly obvious … if junior programs get whacked, I’m sorry.”

Toledo – The county needs “to seek out more private partnerships … I have seen individuals collecting six-figure salaries, not because of what they know but who they know. We spend millions of dollars on audits and when the problems are not fixed a couple of years later, we ask for more audits … we need to eliminate waste, fraud and abuse.”

Fahey – “The cornerstone … is eliminating the [county] Department of Transportation … except to analyze roads and prioritize projects. Let the county fund projects … [and] replace all sercie work with union low-bid contracts.”

Is it the role of local government or the private sector to develop jobs?

Fahey – “The highest priority of elected officials is concern about jobs … everything said about unemployment is true – it’s dispiriting and sags your initiative … this government needs to get out of the way and make it easier for business to do business here … and hire people.” Examples of interference by government are cumbersome permitting and business licensing processes.

McDermott – “The public sector definitely has a strong role to play in job creation.” Ways to do this include Sound Transit development, building a new South Park Bridge, and apprenticeship programs.

McEvoy – It is “imperative for local government to be involved in economic development. It is in King County’s interest to build a strong economy” through infrastructure that helps “small and disadvantaged businesses” and encouraging “a quality of life that builds a strong workforce.”

Toledo – With a $60 million [county] budget shortfall, we need to look at ways to help get us out. Unless the sales tax and property tax [revenues] go up, the gap will increase.” Red tape and overregulation are “detrimental … we definitely need to provide for public safety … but when it goes too far it impedes economic activity.”

Instead of increasing taxes to cover his state’s budget shortfall, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is taking on public employee unions to get them to renegotiate contracts and reduce pay raises and benefit packages. Should King County adopt this approach?

Toledo – We can find money by cutting wasteful spending. Our priorities are out of what in King County? Why cut sheriff’s deputies when there are other priorities?”

Fahey – “I admire Gov. Christie. I definitely would like to see contracts re-examined. I don’t think it’s unreasonable for people in government service for taxpayers to hold them to a different standard” including heavy cuts in middle management that would save King County “tons of money.”

McDermott – “The perception that public employees have not paid a price is in error … over 10,000 state employees were laid off” in the last two-year budget cycle. “It’s not the council’s role to unilaterally reopen union contracts” already approved.

McEvoy – “People want more government for their money, not more money for government. But it’s not the council’s place to reopen contracts. I agree that we need to cut mid-management.”

Here’s a Photo Slideshow of the forum as shot by Michael Brunk:

Click to Play Michael Brunk’s Photo Slideshow

AUDIO: Here’s an MP3 of the raw audio from last night’s forum. Please note that it is incomplete, only because of some minor technical glitches that stopped the recorder; however, it contains one-hour and 36-minutes of audio of the event:

by Ralph Nichols

Des Moines council members approved on July 15 the use of $1,400 in city funds to help pay Mayor Bob Sheckler’s airfare to China for the 1st World Emerging Industries Summit 2010.

But not before Councilman Dan Sherman repeatedly tried to block the contribution by the council.

Sheckler received a personal invitation in June from Wang Rulin, governor, Jilin Province of China, Dominique de Villepin, global chairman of the Asia-Pacific CEO Association Worldwide, and Zheng Xiongwei, global executive chairman of the association.

All his expenses for attending summit from Aug. 31 to Sept. 3 – except travel – will be paid by the Chinese government.

Full airfare is expected to cost as much as $3,500, Sheckler informed the council before the vote.

Mayor Pro Tem Dave Kaplan and council members Melissa Musser, Matt Pina and Carmen Scott joined Sheckler in approving the expense.

The $1,400 is the balance remaining in this year’s general fund budget for authorized travel expenses by City Council members.

Before casting his no vote, Sherman displayed apparent ignorance of Chinese culture and customs by suggesting the city send someone other than the mayor, perhaps Economic Development Manager Marion Yoshida, to the summit.

Sheckler noted, however, that this invitation was extended to him personally following a successful trip he made to China last November, where he made contacts with government leaders and business investors.

For the city to send someone in his place, he said, could be viewed as an insult by the Chinese hosts. “Sending a substitute would set that person up for failure.” Sheckler added later that “failure is what Dan Sherman wants.”

Sherman also questioned without offering specifics the legality of ties the mayor is developing between Des Moines and Chinese officials and investors – a suggestion that appeared to leave other council members perplexed.

Voicing support for the city’s contribution, Councilwoman Carmen Scott noted that Sheckler “went [to China] last year, not at the city’s expense, and the city is already reaping rewards from that trip. So I think we should pay for a small portion of his trip this time.”

Sherman, however, countered that plans for a hotel financed by a Chinese investor, which will be located on Pacific Highway South, were already moving forward by the time Sheckler was in China.

Sheckler agreed the hotel already was being planned at the time of this trip – for Tacoma – and that contacts he made with the developer while there resulted in the project going to Des Moines instead.

The 300-plus-room hotel, now in the design and permitting stage, will include a four- or five-star authentic Chinese restaurant (not Chinese-American) and, possibly, retail space.

Earlier, he called the invitation “quite an honor … I look forward to the exchanges I will have with my hosts, and reporting back to our city when I return.”

He said Chinese investors “are looking for good opportunities for investments in Des Moines that will give them a good return for their dollar. Their interest is in profitable investments.”

And they like the Des Moines area because they can’t get its views of Puget Sound anywhere else “without paying premium dollars for them.”

On Monday (July 19), the King County Council announced that it had approved placing a proposal on the November ballot to increase the sales and use tax in King County, with revenue going predominately to public safety services.

According to a release, if approved by voters on Nov. 2nd the increase would generate around $59 million in revenue for King County in 2011 and $80 million in 2012, the first full year the levy would be collected. Under the proposal, the County’s portion of the proceeds would be used solely for public safety programs ranging from the Sheriff and Prosecutor’s Office to Public Defense and Jail Health Services.

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

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

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

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

Here’s the full press release:

County Council places sales tax ballot measure on November ballot

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

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

“It’s important to remember that the Council did not raise taxes today,” said Councilmember Julia Patterson, Chair of the Budget and Fiscal Management Committee. “We’re giving voters the chance to tell us if they support public safety services provided by King County and every other city in the County.”

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

“A sales tax increase is absolutely necessary to save vital services such as sheriffs, prosecutors and programs that serve to lower our jail costs,” said Councilmember Larry Gossett. “What is at stake is the quality of life that we treasure so much in our county. This is the reason we are asking King County voters to support this crucial measure at the polls this November.”

“With public safety being the paramount concern of people in King County, voters must have a chance to weigh in about whether to cut $60 million in criminal justice services or preserve them with temporary higher taxes,” said Councilmember Larry Phillips. “Knowing the difficult choice this will be for voters struggling through this Great Recession, I worked to lower the tax burden and add accountability to the proposal by including a three-year sunset provision.”

“The Council’s decision today is all about giving voters a choice,” said Councilmember Jan Drago. “Cutting $60 million from the budget will touch every part of county government, and that’s just too big a number and too big of a decision to make without the public’s input. We need to know what people are willing to pay for or willing to give up in these tough economic times.”

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

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

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

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

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

Our sister site The B-Town Blog wants to remind our readers of its next Candidates Forum, featuring the contenders vying for Dow Constantine’s former seat on the King County Council.

It will be this Tuesday, July 20, from 7pm to 8:45pm at the Highline School District’s E.R.A.C. Building, 15675 Ambaum Blvd. S.W. in south Burien, across the street from Azteca Restaurant and just north of Hi-Line Lanes.

Moderator for the evening will be longtime local reporter and radio talk show host Dave Ross. Ross’s show airs 9am to noon Monday through Friday on 97.3 KIRO-FM.

All four candidates for the seat have been invited and all four have agreed to attend.

They are:

• Diana Toledo, former King County employee.
• Shawn McEvoy, former Normandy Park mayor and current Normandy Park city council member.
• Joe McDermott, current 34th district state senator.
• Tim Fahey, professional carpenter and South Park resident.

The forum format is to have area journalists ask questions for the first 45 minutes or so, followed by questions from the public. There is no admission charge and anyone and everyone is welcome to attend.

The 8th District council seat everyone is duking it out for is currently held by Jan Drago. Drago is not running for election.

The primary is August 17. Mail-in ballots will be sent to voters later this month. The two candidates garnering the most votes advance to the general election in November.

Tuesday, Aug. 3rd will be “National Night Out” in Des Moines, an event dedicated to encouraging neighbors, police and others to improve the quality of life in our community.

“National Night Out” is an opportunity for all parts of the Des Moines Community to come together and focus on build strong and healthy communities.

Key messages of “National Night Out” include:

• Cohesive, healthy neighborhoods are key to preventing crime and violence.
• Active block watch groups build community, increase hope and create harmony.
• Positive activities displace negative activity.
• Combating crime is a partnership of citizens and police.

If your neighborhood would be interested in participating in this year’s event, please contact CSO Tonya Seaberry at (206)870-7619 or tseaberry@desmoineswa.gov.

Story and photos by Michael Brunk

On Wednesday, July 14, workers and local dignitaries joined together to celebrate the “topping out” of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport’s new consolidated rental car facility. When the new structure opens in spring of 2012, it will house all rental car related operations for the airport.

The ceremony, which by most accounts dates back to ancient Europe, marks the completion of the building’s basic structure. After the mandatory speeches, the dignitaries and labor representatives each signed the large steel beam that acted as a back drop for the day’s ceremony.

Bedecked with a banner representing the Iron Workers Local 86, an American flag on one end and an evergreen tree on the other, the beam was lifted by one of the large tower cranes and “flown” around the job site before being maneuvered into place on top of the structure.

With the final piece of structural steel in place, the construction project is around the half way point with a lot of work remaining in order to meet the scheduled opening date in early 2012.

Speakers at the event included Dave Soike, the Deputy Managing Director of Sea-Tac Airport, Port of Seattle Commissioner John Creighton, SeaTac Mayor Terry Anderson, rental car industry spokeswoman Lorie Tallarico, King County Labor Council AFL-CIO board member Lee Newgent, and Jack Beaudoin, Vice President and General Manager for Turner Construction.

All of the speakers emphasized the degree of cooperation and coordination required across multiple agencies, including the Port of Seattle, City of SeaTac, and the construction company and labor unions, for the project to move ahead and be successful despite roadblocks along the way.

The project was paused in December 2008 when economic conditions deteriorated. Construction resumed in July 2009 after the Port approved the sale of $317 million in revenue bonds to help fund the $419 million project. Almost the entire cost of the project will be paid back by fees paid by rental customers.

In the meantime, over 3,000 family-wage jobs will be generated over the life of the project and the City of SeaTac will collect nearly $2 million in tax revenue.

Much was made of the focus on minimizing the environmental impact. Turner Construction General Manager Jack Beaudoin stated that 95% of the materials used in constructing the facility were recycled, and that nearly 99% of construction waste leaving the site is being recycled. Beaudoin also declared the structure will be “salmon safe” with 85% of the car wash water reclaimed, filtered and reused. LEED certification is also being pursued for the facility

Once the new rental car facility opens, it will bring together operations that today are located at the airport and scattered across several off-site locations. In the process it will increase the number of companies providing cars from the five available at the airport today to a total of eleven. It will also free up more than 3,200 parking spaces in the main terminal garage.

Photographer Michael Brunk attended today’s ceremony and assembled the following slideshow. Click on the images to advance.

Click to Play Michael Brunk’s Photo Slideshow

Story and Photos by Janet Grella

An enthusiastic crowd of about 30 citizens, merchants, a city councilmember, realtors and community activists met Tuesday night (July 13) at the Des Moines Police Station to elect a new board for Destination Des Moines.

Joe Jewell, city and marina events guy, introduced the meeting by saying that this gathering was to “kick new life into Des Moines by breathing new life into Destination Des Moines.”

“The Board” of Destination Des Moines (as they are called) are:

• Bradley Hawthorne, Sales Manager Prudential Northwest Realty and Des Moines resident
• Brenda Anders, Senior Services & Marketing Professional
• Susan Goegebuer, Seaport Petroleum
• Tony Hettler, Broker/Owner John L. Scott in Des Moines
• Michelle Fawcett, owner Salon Michelle
• Gene Achziger, Des Moines Pool Commissioner
• Amber Scott, Mt. Rainier High School student & Des Moines Farmers Market

Many of these new board members have been long-time community activists and welcome the opportunity to serve.

It is the purpose of Destination Des Moines to create an event planning and marketing organization, totally independent of the city, that will bring people into Des Moines as well as streamline the communication process within the business and civic communities. It will serve as a clearing house for all events in Des Moines.

Joe Jewell ended the proceedings by saying that the Waterland Parade, the marina car shows, the 4th of July Fireworks and Concerts on the Pier were all something we could look forward to next year. Hear! Hear!

The meeting was adjourned with audience members invited to watch the proceedings as the new board went to work on electing the executive committee, who are:

• President: Bradley Hawthorne
• Vice President: Brenda Anders
• Treasurer: Susan Goegebuer
• Secretary: Tony Hettler
• Membership Chair: Michelle Fawcett

The board went right to work and hammered out a few housekeeping decisions including splitting the combined secretary/treasurer position, as well as settin a new annual membership fee structure:

• Resident/Individual: $15
• Nonprofit: $25
• Business 1-10 employees: $30
• Business 11-25 employees: $50
• Business 26+ employees: $75

They plan to meet bi-monthly for a couple of months to organize operating procedures and will hold a public meeting soon. Look for meeting announcements here on The Waterland Blog.

Vice President Brenda Anders commented that “This group is all about open communication. If you have questions, comments or ideas you would like to share, please contact us, we want to hear from you!” she later added, “We will announce our contact information, phone number, email & web address and Facebook page information in a few weeks.”

The Port of Seattle announced Monday (July 12) that, due to requests received at the last workshop, they’re holding a technical session on the “Part 150″ airport noise study on Thursday, July 29th from 12:30pm – 1:30pm at Sea-Tac Airport.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Port of Seattle “Part 150″ Technical Session.

WHEN: Thursday, July 29th from 12:30pm – 1:30pm.

WHERE: Sea-Tac Airport’s Office Building’s Beijing Conference Room on the mezzanine level.

INFO: To download the session agenda, click here (PDF file).

From a press release:

In response to requests at the last Part 150 Noise Compatibility Public Workshop, a technical session regarding detailed noise modeling and input data topics will be held on July 29 from 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM at Sea-Tac Airport. Led by Vince Mestre, the Part 150′s noise analyst task leader, the meeting will be held in the Airport Office Building’s Beijing Conference Room on the mezzanine level.

Participants at the session will have the opportunity to discuss the mathematics and detailed data used to measure as well as model aircraft noise levels in the vicinity of Sea-Tac Airport. Participants will also discuss sound propagation effects associated with different types of meteorology. The discussions will be informal and focus on questions raised by the participants.

The comprehensive report from the June 9th public workshop is now available at Sea-Tac Airport’s Part 150 Web site.

By Ralph Nichols

Mayor Bob Sheckler will return to China late this summer – invitation in hand – for the 1st World Emerging Industries Summit 2010.

Sheckler, who said his invitation is “quite an honor,” hopes to interest investors there “in any type of development that would complement the city, either on the highway or downtown.

“This has to be a two-way street. We can’t just take and not give,” he added. “They are looking for good opportunities for investments in Des Moines that will give them a good return for their dollar. Their interest is in profitable investments.

“I look forward to the exchanges I will have with my hosts, and to reporting back to our city when I return.”

Sheckler said Chinese investors like the Des Moines area because they can’t get its views of Puget Sound anywhere else “without paying premium dollars for them. And the marina is a huge attraction to them.

“We’re squared away to bring in investments on Pacific Highway and to downtown now that the water issue is taken care of – and to Des Moines Creek Business Park,” he continued.

Sheckler was invited as the result of personal contacts he made with government leaders and business investors during his China trip last year.

He went there in November to build foundations for a sister-city relationship with Changle and an exchange program between Chinese community college students and Highline Community College.

But Sheckler came home with a lot more – an agreement for a multi-million-dollar hotel in Des Moines in addition to those relationships.

In addition to the hotel, with more than 300 rooms, this development – at the old state vehicle emissions testing site along Pacific Highway S. north of Kent-Des Moines Road – will feature a four- or five-star Chinese restaurant and, possibly, retail space.

“It will be a true Chinese restaurant,” Sheckler noted. “Not a Chinese-American restaurant.”

The project is currently in the planning and design stage. Groundbreaking for construction is expected sometime next spring, perhaps sooner.

Matt Chan of Normandy Park, who is planning the multi-phase Waterview Crossing development on Pacific Ridge, accompanied Sheckler on his China trip last year and introduced him to business investors there.

Sponsored by the Chinese government, the Aug. 31-Sept. 3 summit – “New Industrial Revolution & Green Economy” – will include business talks on investment and cooperation, information and technology exchanges, and promotion of international economic cooperation in emerging industries.

International political leaders, ministers and elected representatives of federal, state and provincial, and local governments, leaders of Fortune 500 companies and other industry-leading companies, representatives from industry and related international organizations, and top economists have been invited.

The invitation came from Wang Rulin, governor, Jilin Province of China, Dominique de Villepin, global chairman of the Asia-Pacific CEO Association Worldwide, and Zheng Xiongwei, global executive chairman of the association.

“As Des Moines continues to reach across the Pacific to Chinese investors who are interested in the potential for them in Des Moines,” Sheckler declared, “I feel confident that the majority of city council members will embrace these opportunities for future economic development.”

by Ralph Nichols

King County Executive Dow Constantine liked what he saw during a brief tour of Des Moines – guided by Mayor Bob Sheckler and City Manager Tony Piasecki – Thursday morning (July 8).

“Des Moines has so many natural advantages … with great views everywhere,” Constantine said as the visit wrapped up, citing in particular the city’s marina and Beach Park on Puget Sound.

He also expressed excitement over recent progress by the city and Port of Seattle toward development of Des Moines Creek Business Park on 89 vacant acres north of S. 216th St. just west of Pacific Highway S., and plans for revitalizing the downtown marina district.

“This will help Des Moines and it will help all of King County,” Constantine added. “Quite frankly, it will help tax revenues as well … once the economy turns around, it looks like Des Moines is poised for quick economic recovery.”

Sheckler said later “it was a pleasure to have Executive Constantine visit our city. He showed considerable interest in what the city has to offer, and my impression is that he will be supportive of our economic development efforts.”

The tour marked Constantine’s 27th visit to cities throughout King County since he became county executive late last November. He went to Normandy Park later in the day, and has already made visits to SeaTac and Tukwila.

Constantine said he plans to visit Burien later this year, although he has already been there – which was in his district as a King County councilman – on at least two occasions as executive.

He noted these visits are part of his stated objective of “laying a foundation between the county and its cities” for new, cooperative relationships to realize and share mutual benefits.

“I have managed to make it clear to our city partners that we really want to work with them. We want to work with cities as we want them to work with the county on issues of mutual interest.”

Joining the tour were Councilwoman Melissa Musser, Assistant City Manager Lorri Erickson, and Parks and Recreation Director Patrice Thorell.

by Ralph Nichols

After more than a decade of finger pointing and inaction, a major upgrade to the water system in downtown Des Moines is on the brink of becoming reality.

Des Moines City Council members voted unanimously on Thursday, July 1 to direct staff to prepare a contract with Water District 54 that implements the Downtown Water System Improvement Project.

“In my opinion, history’s been made here tonight,” Mayor Bob Sheckler told district commissioners Alli Larkin and John Rayback following the council action. “In my 15 years here, this has been a top priority but it never happened until now.”

Larkin, chairwoman of the Water District 54 board of commissioners, said later, “History was made today as Bob Sheckler said. This is a good day … concessions have been made by both sides and we’ve come to an agreement.”

Construction to install a new 12 inch water main under Marine View Drive between S. 219th and S. 227th streets is expected to begin in early spring 2011, with work completed in about three months.

This time frame will give both parties “plenty of time” to do the design work, get through the bidding process, and have everything ready to go, said Loren Reinhold, assistant public works director for utilities and environmental engineering.

The city will provide funds from a $486,000 federal earmark – secured by Congressman Adam Smith, D-Tacoma, and dedicated to water system improvements in Des Moines – for the project, which was estimated earlier at $1.8 million.

It will also waive all permit fees incurred by the water district, not impose right-of-way fees, absorb all administrative costs associated with permitting and administration of the federal grant, and act as lead agency for obtaining state approval for the project.

The district, which will provide partial funding from its capital reserves, agreed to secure additional financing to make up a funding shortfall to pay for the project.

Commissioner John Rayback said he will meet for preliminary loan negotiations with bankers on July 8, “but I won’t know how much to borrow until I know how much I need.”

The 12-inch water main along the edge of Marine View Drive to avoid obstacles beneath the street will include 12-inch cross connections to east-west lines at S. 220th, S. 222nd, S. 225th and S. 227th streets.

In addition, the district will install 12-inch water mains on S. 220th, S. 222nd, S. 225th and S. 226th streets, connecting the Marine View Drive line west to 7th Ave. S.

Extensions east to 8th Ave. S. will not be part of this project, but will be included in the district’s Capital Improvement Program and completed in the next five years.

City council members and district commissioners met in mid-April to re-open discussions on improving downtown water service.

But in May, several lawmakers expressed frustration over what they considered to be a pull-back by the commission from a preliminary agreement reached at the April meeting.

Then on June 3, instead of an anticipated confrontation – with a possibility that the city might begin the process of assumption, the takeover of the water district, if council members didn’t get the answers they wanted – a joint solution was proposed.

“The commissioners think the district can now put a line down Marine View Drive,” Rayback told the city council. The water district, in turn, would “need the city’s assistance and … concessions from the city” to do that.

Rayback said the city would need to waive all permit fees associated with the project “if you’re really serious” because “we need to keep costs down.” But, “we think it can be done.”

South King Fire & Rescue has, in the past, said the downtown water system falls short of providing a required sustained flow of 3,500 gallons per minute for three hours for fire suppression, while still providing water service to the rest of the area at reduced pressure.

The city, in turn, has insisted that new development, needed to revitalize a moribund downtown business district, can’t proceed without a water system upgraded to this standard.

Water District 54, however, has consistently disagreed, and maintained that its system is capable of providing this level of service.

Council members were told at the July 1 meeting, “While the project does not fully address the future fire flow needs for many properties that may develop along the east side of Marine View Drive, staff recommends that … the city enter into an agreement with the district to implement the project as proposed.”

That recommendation included “the condition that the district address the needs of these properties within the time frame” as noted.

“I believe we’ve come up with something this time that the city and the district agree on, that is doable, and that will be of benefit to the customers of the district and to the city,” said Councilman Dan Sherman.

Mayor Pro Tem Dave Kaplan added, “This has been an important issue for the city for a long time.”

He thanked the water district “for working with us and coming up with a long term solution for the water district, for the fire district, and for economic development,” and acknowledged it has been under “a lot of pressure to redo things” required by state and city projects.

“There has been a big hole in the south end [of downtown] for a long time” that this project will help fill,” Kaplan said.

Councilwoman Carmen Scott expressed hope that the job can be finished before next summer’s July 4th celebration and Waterland parade later that month.

City Manager Tony Piasecki said if all work isn’t finished by then, the contractor could arrange to have the construction site be “minimally disruptive” for these events.

The mailman delivered our latest gizmo gadget (a state of the art Ultra Flip HD Camera) a few weeks back and we thought “what the flip should we do with this ding-dang newfangled thingamabob?”

Out of the red, white and blue, it occurred to us that our third President, one Thomas Jefferson, who loved new gadgets and devices and inventions and discoveries, would have gotten a kick out of this powerful little digital camera, the size of a deck of cards, not much smaller than a hand-held booklet-sized copy of what is known as the Declaration of Independence.

It was 234 years ago right now, that our Founders were “cutting and pasting” their final draft of what became known as that treasured and precious document, the Declaration of Independence, whose primary author was the then 33 year-old future President Jefferson.

So someone said:

“Let’s take our camera around Des Moines and Burien (and Normandy Park and White Center) and ask our fellow neighbors and friends and passersby to read aloud the Declaration into our new little camera, piece the quotes together into one colorful video, and release it to the nation and world on our various neighborhood news blogs.”

And so we did – well actually Mark Neuman did, then Scott Schaefer edited it – see if you can find yourself, or a friend or two:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grzhgTJx_7g[/youtube]

(…at the end of the video, look for some amusing outtakes as well as terrific “Happy Birthday USA!” salutations)

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY FROM THE WATERLAND BLOG!

During a recent Farmers Market, WLB Photographer Michael Brunk noticed that a there was a substantial amount of vehicle traffic driving through Des Moines Beach Park, across the public beach and across an area marked “private” to houses north of the park.

Michael took some photos of the practice, which we found to be somewhat odd – we can’t say we’ve ever seen vehicles “park” on public beaches on Puget Sound before (but then again, we don’t get out much…).

Here are some pics:

Being the inquisitive (and yes, possibly ignorant – does everyone but us know about this?) types, we checked with the city to determine if there is an agreement or law in place that allows vehicular traffic across public or private beaches. This is the response we got from City Manager Tony Piasecki:

The City of Des Moines has given people who own beachfront property just north of Beach Park access through the park to drive on the beach to get to their homes at low tide.  They have had this access for years, even before the City acquired the Park.  No one else can drive through Breach Park and onto the beach without authorization from the City.  Not all of the beach in front of a private piece of property is considered private.  How much is considered private is a little complicated because it depends on what class of tidelands is in front of the property.

Generally, the property line is at the mean lower low tide line.

Hope this helps.

- Tony

So, what do YOU think? Should cars be allowed to drive through Beach Park and onto the beach? Do you think this is hazardous? Safe? Ecologically sound? Please leave your Comment below…