Washington State Utilities and Transportation Commission approves electric and natural gas rate hikes.

 PGE 

The Washington State Utilities and Transportation Commission orders Puget Sound Energy (PSE) to raise electric rates by 3.2 % and natural gas prices by 1.3%.   The rates are significantly less than originally requested by PSE.  The new rates will take effect on May 14.   

PGE originally requested an 8.1 percent increase for electric service and 3.0 percent increase for natural gas service.  

The commission also approved an increase of about 30 percent in contributions to PSE’s residential electric low-income assistance program. Customer contributions to the program will increase from $.59 to $.76 a month, beginning May 14.

Source:  Letter from WSUTC responding to a public comment.  Read More >>

UPDATED: Evergreen (Public) Hospital responds to citizen requests for access.

UPDATE:  [Read the comments under this post]  Two citizens from Redmond have attended Evergreen Public Hospital Commission meetings in the last few months.  One citizen wanted to learn more about the Commissioner's role in hospital governance, specifically with regard to the decision to add a 4th level to Evergreen's Redmond Medical ER Clinic at Bella Bottega.  As you can read from the Board minutes below, I have been asking for improved public access to the Commission Meetings and Study Sessions. 

On September 17, after making several public email requests and this August 17 public comment, Laurene Burton of Evergreen sent the following message that they would publish agendas and minutes somewhere on their website within the week.       

Sept. 17, 2010
Dear Bob,

Your email is very timely as I have been working with our webmaster and plan on having meeting agendas and minutes posted by the beginning of next week. You will be one of the first to know when that has been completed.

Have a great weekend!

Laurene (H. Burton)
Administrative Director of Evergreen Hospital
Public Records Request Officer

As of 9/27, the Board web page hasn't been updated.   To find the "Commissioner Reports" from their meeting, Read More >>

Comprehensive Update on LWSD Administration and School Board - including salaries, public access, the budget, & elections

School is out for the summer and the Lake Washington School District Board of Directors have suspended their meetings for seven weeks.  But, there is still much to report!

Open This Link to find the following: 

• Participate at the August 9 Board meeting (7pm) when the Final Budget will be proposed (and approved). 
• Learn what we pay LWSD administrators - from the Chiefs to the Coordinators. 
• How do you run for School Board?   Three district terms end in 2011. 
• and much more... 

Report & opinion by Bob Yoder

Matching grants can drive counter to Community needs - Something to ponder

This City of Lynnwood neighborhood issue was on the nightly news this week. It is something to ponder. Could you imagine this happening in Redmond?

"Lynnwood Neighborhood Upset Over Bike Lanes"
--Susan West & Q13 Fox News March 18, 2009

Craig Parsons and his neighbors used to be able to park in front of their homes on 208th Street SW in Lynnwood, but not anymore since the city of Lynnwood put up no parking signs.

Parsons says, "We're very frustrated. We've been blind-sided by this project."

It's part of a bigger plan to put in bike lanes on either side of the road and a middle turn lane for cars. But Parsons say bicyclists rarely use 208th and they have the nearby Interurban Trail to bike on. We were even in the area for over four hours and couldn't find any bicyclists.

Meanwhile, neighbors are now having to park on their lawns. Parsons says they've also got another problem on their hands. He spoke to a real estate agent, who told him the value of their homes has dropped because of the lack of parking.

City of Lynnwood Public Works Director Bill Franz says it wasn't an easy decision, but their city growth plan calls for more bike lanes. They also received a 150-thousand dollar federal grant and heard strong support from the bicycle community.

Franz says, "It's about safety. That's what qualified us for the grant. But it's also for the long term, implementing that vision of Lynnwood of having bicycle facilities throughout the city so that people can get around without having to start the car up."

Parsons says they've contacted U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell's office in hopes of getting heard, but Franz says once the weather improves those bike lanes are scheduled to go in.

Franz says this project has been in the works since 2007 and the city held public meetings. Parsons got citizens to sign petitions opposing the plan but the city council approved the project.

cc: Redmond city officials
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What do you think about this? Could it happen in Redmond? Should grant money be the driver of city projects? Will safety ever be an issue on this Lynnwood Street? Where was the city planning here? Did citizens receive adequate public notice and awareness of this 'safety issue'?

Email you comments redmondblog@gmail.com for posting on this page or make a comment below.