Troubling events requiring further investigations

From Jon Spangler, Dept. of Natural Resources

BOB YODER -
Thank you for taking the time to e-mail us (and for hiking the Hartman park wetland). The City has been visually monitoring the wetland for the last several years. The dry conditions you experienced are not unusual for this time of year given the current weather patterns. The Natural Resources Division has had some preliminary consultant investigation done on the wetland in recent years and there are options to adjust local drainage patterns if conditions do deteriorate. For now we plan to continue our visual observations. Jon Spangler, Stormwater, C.O.R.
Tuesday July 3, 2007
- ----------------------------------------------------
Thank you for your concerns and suggestions regarding the Hartman Park wetlands. In the future, we will actively monitor these wetlands for implementation of appropriate management practices to ensure their health. We will also work cooperatively with the Natural Resources Division on this situation. Please contact me if you have any further concerns or suggestions.

Dave Tuchek, Assistant Manager City of Redmond Park Operations,
MOCPK425-556-2318Fax 425-556-2373
dtuchek@redmond.gov
Monday July 9, 2007 -


The following are experiences and observations we will investigate in greater detail:

8/6 - DELINEATION (SURVEYED MAP) OF THE 3.5 ACRE PERRIGO HEIGHTS "GREENWAY" THE CITY PURCHASED FROM CAMWEST
- FROM MR. ROBERTS -- "Unfortunately, it seems that such a map has not yet been created. I have been assured that as part of the Final Plat for Perrigo Heights, a map based on a survey will be created that has the information you requested. I think this should occur within the next 60 to 90 days. Please let me know if you have any questions about this or any other matter." Jim Roberts.

It is my understanding the 3.5 acres should not include the portion involving the 3 public easements (water,stormwater,sewer). I recieved Mr. Roberts answer after submitting a written public request. ie. the information didn't come easy. BYoder

12/20/07 Update: The map presented was not a detailed survey map, rather more of a site map. It appeared the water and stormwater easements were part of the of the 3.5 acre greenway purchase. These easements constitute at least 1/3 acre. B.Yoder

6/14/09 - Camwest has failed to landscape according to plan, leaving the development bare, without plantings, trees, and shrubs in most of the development. The City is withholding over $300K in performance bonds.
7/25 PERRIGO SPRINGS HISTORIC MARKER AND WILLOW MEMORIAL - the city doesn't appear to want to take responsibility for their contractors. The pile of crushed rock that was dumped only 3 feet from the Marker (for over 2 months has now been raked into the soil next to the historic marker! Additional construction materials have been dumped next to the Willow. They look like large rusty sewer couplings. The city has been notified and we are awaiting their response.

UPDATE, 8/20/07 the rusty couplings and junk was removed. Historical Society members raked back the crushed rock and weeds from the marker and laid bark around the Marker. b.y.
UPDATE, 5/12/09 - in 2008 the Marker was vandalized. In 2009, the Marker was replaced by the "Daughters of the Revolution". A bark base was laid around the Marker, bordered by wood edging, with gravel outside. A camera on the water towers pans the area. b.y.
6/14/09 - Blackberry weeds are growing in and around the springs. They need to be pulled.

HARTMAN WETLANDS - I hiked across the Hartman forested wetlands this afternoon...something I've wanted to do for three years. The CAMWEST earth-movers were noisy in the background. I entered the wetlands from the south by the row of cedar rows adjacent the trail, and tracked north. After cutting through the berry bushes it was easier going but slow. I found no surface or soil water --only evidence of water. Under the "duff" matted forest floor I found peat- very deep! I've read and heard that Hartman wetland is classified as a Priority bog, but seeing is believing! With the Perrigo Heights forest watershed removed how will the wetland fair? Rainwater from the CAMWEST project will be diverted to the creek downstream away from the wetland. The intense southern exposure to sun and wind will dry the wetlands further. Public Works may need to divert water into the wetland to preserve it. Cedar seedlings are encroaching from the north; they are dominant and may eventually take-over the aspen grove wetland. Without water in-flows, the wetlands could transition into a forest. The invasive berries to the south could spread like "wildfire" from new sunlight exposure. Parks needs to be aware of the new threats to Hartman wetlands from the destruction of Perrigo Heights forest watershed.

COUNCIL VOTING RECORDS -- People have been correcting me on some of my quotes of council and planning commissioner voting. I asked the City Clerk for a consolidated voting record of officials for reference and elected accountability. The Administration doesn't keep an ongoing spreadsheet record of council and commissioner votes! One has to call the Planning Dept. for specific issues of interest. For a council record, you have to ask the Clerk to look up the specific meeting minutes. Not good! How hard is it to record the votes on a spreadsheet after each meeting? Not!

LAND-USE REVIEW PROCESS - "PARTY OF RECORD" - After numerous visits to the Permit Center, I've confirmed the City of Redmond is not properly accounting of Party of Records (POR) for land-use projects. Staff will give you up to four different Party of Record lists and none of them match. Not good! I've committed to audit the Development / Permit dept. for P.O.R. accountability. HOW IT WORKS: When citizens "comment" (by email, snail mail, phone, fax) on a land-use project or sign-in to a meeting, they become a Party of Record. By attending meetings (Neighborhood, Community, Public, Appeals) and signing in, one becomes a Party of Record (P.O.R). Timely commenting entitles you to participate in the appeal process and receive "mailings" on the project. "Commenting" on land-use "registers" you as POR and is somewhat like "registering" to vote. Both involve a legal process and you can't be HEARD unless you "comment" or register by a certain time.

After further investigation on these topics, I'll be back to you.
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