"ATTENTION! The comment under this Council Committee story may make you drowsy. Do not operate a vehicle after reading it!!"

For the sake of brevity and your reading enjoyment, I've posted edited excerpt's of my correspondence with City Clerk, Michelle McGehee under "comments".  

To find our Q&A please press the "comments" button underneath this post.

Chair Hank Margeson's Planning and Public Works Committee meeting, 9/17

This committee meeting had quorum and voted to advise staff on an annexation issue.

 L-R Hank Myers, Kim Allen, Richard Cole (by door), Hank Margeson (under clock)

Council President Nancy McCormick

story and photo by Bob Yoder

Mayor Proclaims Riparian Corridor Habitat as "Riparian Habitat of Local Importance"

This month, Mayor John Marchione paid special tribute to the Lower Bear Creek riparian habitat and other riparian corridors in the City of Redmond by proclamation in City Hall.

PROCLAMATION

WHEREAS, riparian corridors are essential for wild fish
populations; and healthy riparian corridors are dynamic ecosystems that perform
various functions that form salmonid habitat; and in addition to habitat
formation, riparian corridors store and convey strormwater and floodwater;
recharge groundwater; and serve as areas for recreation, education, scientific
study, and aesthetic appreciation; and stream restoration and enhancement are
key components of the City's Stormwater Capital Facilities Plan, further
attesting tot he City's commitment to healthy riparian corridors;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOHN MARCHIONE, Mayor of the city of
Redmond, do hearby proclaim

RIPARIAN HABITATS AS HABITATS OF LOCAL IMPORTANCE

in Redmond, and I urge all citizens to recognize the values of these habitats and promote their stewardship.

Signed, John Marchione, 10/17/2008
Sponsored by: Council President Nancy McCormick
Written by: Cathy Beam, Principal Environmental Planner

Commissions are the incubator of city Leadership.

OPINION: In a story a few posts down, I focused on three recent problematic issues surrounding two city Commissions. I hope you'll enjoy reading this positive story about the great good that comes out of our Commissions.

When thinking about "what's right" with our commissions it is clear commissions often serve as an "incubator" for the growth and development of new city leaders, councilmembers, and mayors.

For Example:

1. Four sitting councilmembers were once commissioners. Councilmember Hank Margeson was a past Vice Chair with Parks Commission. Councilmembers Richard Cole, Kim Allen, Pat Vache, and Nancy McCormick were once on the Planning Commission. Of special interest, Pat Vache sat on the first Planning Commission established by the City. I nick-name Mr. Vache "The Commissioner".

2. Tom Payne was on the Parks Commission before election to Council. He has since resigned.

3. Suzanne Querry was a Parks Commissioner before Vice-Chairing the Planning Commission. Suzanne is the only citizen I know who has served on two commissions. She is well qualified to be a councilmember should she choose to run.

4. Richard Grubb has been a long-time community activist, councilmember and eloquent speaker. I don't know if he was ever a commissioner. Maybe a reader could fill in the blanks.

5. Mayor Rosemarie Ives informed me she served on the Planning Commission for six years and as councilmember for four years, before being elected Mayor for 16 years.

6. Mayor Doreen Marchione served on Council for two years.

7. Mayor John Marchione served on Council for four years, though not on a commission.

8. Redmond's first woman Mayor Christine Himes opened up a dozen new parks and a citywide trail system so she may have been on a Parks Commission of sorts before becoming Mayor?

Citizen Advisory Committees and the Redmond Historical Society are other ways to volunteer and grow into a commissioner or council seat. Miguel Llanos, V.P. Redmond Historical Society and Newsletter Editor was recently sworn in to the Landmarks and Heritage Commission. Councilman Hank Margeson served on the Education Hill CAC. Planning Commissioner Querry was the Ed. Hill CAC liaison. Martin and Lori Snodgrass once chaired two different commissions as spouses under the Ives Administration. I posted a story on the Snodgrasses in 2007.

The bottom line? "Much good" comes out of our commissions! Personally, I have high hopes for an Arts Commissioner to rise up to a Council position. I believe their time is coming.

The Vision of "OneRedmond Foundation" is to be a leader in activating Redmond's downtown, Councilman John Stilin is President

Editor's note:  Jim Stanton is an executive at Microsoft.  Bill Biggs is an executive at Group Health (Kaiser).  Jason Van Nort is at executive for PSE. 


Mr. Yoder:

The mission of the OneRedmond Foundation is to promote, coordinate and fund activities, events and projects that encourage people to live work and play in Redmond and to build community.  Its vision is to be the leader in activating Redmond’s downtowns.

Members of the Board of Directors include: Beth Sigall, Bill Biggs, Dr. Traci Pierce, Jane Wither, Jason Van Nort, Jessica Lambert, Jim Stanton, John Duncan, John Stilin, Mary Morrow, Menka Soni, Nancy McCormick and Pat Vache.

If you have any other questions please feel free to contact me.

Bart Phillips                   

BART PHILLIPS, CEcD | CEO P: 425.885.4014 x101| M: 360.607.3610 8383 158th Ave NE Suite 225 | Redmond, WA  98052 www.oneredmond.org

Council and Mayor "rap" about the Budget

Last night, the Council and Mayor held a long rap session on the City budget.

Of the General Operating Fund and Capital Fund, which do you think is the most political in our community? According to Council President Nancy McCormick, the Capital fund wins. Hmmm. She must be thinking about our newer $50M City Hall. Mayor Marchione would prefer to put large Capital expenditures out to vote.

Marchione's staff also suggested simplifying transfers to the Capital fund from the General Fund. Staff asked to limit transfers from six "bucket" allocations to 3 buckets. The three proposed capital buckets are: 1) Parks, 2) Transportation, and 3) General Government. As compared to the present transfer method, "Parks" allocation would increase by 20%, the "Transportation" bucket would increase by 20% and "General Government" (Fire, Police, Government) decreases 35%. No decisions were made.

Halving the buckets would cut out council's cherished "Council Contingency" bucket. Eliminating this bucket suggests of a Council "working consensus" and trust in the Marchione Administration, qualities that were lacking in the prior Administration. Ostensibly, the Marchione Administration would have greater flexibility and control.

Much talk centered around establishing a "sinking fund" to plan for replacement of the Public Safety Building (PSB) and Senior Center. Mr. Cole considered the PSB a legacy building and wanted to start storing away money for its eventual replacement in 20-30 years. Councilmember Kimberly Allen was cautious about creating "silos" to store biennium surpluses. Councilmember Pat Vache' went with the flow of the conversation speaking in generalities. Both are up for re-election.

"ONE REDMOND" Economic Development Organization still in formative stages

Economic Development was a topic of discussion at last night's joint Redmond City Council - Kirkland City Council meeting in Redmond City Hall.  Mayor Marchione described his plans to consolidate the Redmond Chamber, Redmond Economic Development Association (REDA), and Realize Redmond Foundation into one entity, called ONE REDMOND.

BACKGROUND:  The genesis for ONE REDMOND was May 19, 2009 when Council approved $105,500 taxpayer funding of "Angezo Economics" consultant's stragtegic plan for community development.  Soon thereafter the Council approved $200,000 to fund a public-private partnership with newly formed REDA.  $50,000 of these funds were used to fund an Executive Director for Realize Redmond (John Marchione's mayoral campaign manager, Jeni Craswell).  Another $50,000 were spent to fund REDA's Executive Director, Larry Williams.  And another $50,000 were spent on a "feasibility study" to test market "five key elements of the ONE REDMOND plan."  In that study 60 businesses and 20 community members were surveyed in depth.   Currently none of these entities have an Executive Director. (See my July 12, 2011 story "Redmond's Evolving Economic Development Plan")

In the joint Council meeting with Kirkland, Mayor Marchione listed the five key elements of ONE REDMOND as: 1) Capacity to expand in Redmond which is difficult because of land mostly, 2) retaining companies, 3) recruiting employers from Boston, Austin, Silicon Valley and North Carolina - the competition, 4) transportation, affordable housing and other quality of life and community development isssues, and 5) an educated work force - especially a need for machinists and computer programmers. 

The mayor said it's been a difficult process of forming ONE REDMOND and getting people to sign off on the dotted line.  (Below see a list of interim Board members).  "I'm not ready to declare a victory yet but remain optimistic" said Marchione.  

Marchione said he expects "by the 1st quarter of next year ONE REDMOND will be it's own entity and that the Redmond Chamber, REDA and Realize Redmond will have folded into that and no longer exist as their own organizations." 

Councilmember John Stilin said: "ONE REDMOND brings organizations with different interests in one room where they all have to agree on something that's in their mutual interest of all parties involved.  It's no longer 'you-guys', it's 'us-guys.'"

Mayor Marchione said the technology companies on Willows Road had no reason to go to Chamber meetings since they didn't see themselves as retail businesses.  ONE REDMOND gets them more engaged in our economic development. 

According to Council President Pat Vache', the implementing Board of Directors include three members from the Boards of each of the originating organizations (REDA, Realize Redmond, The Greater Redmond Chamber Of Commerce) and three from The City of Redmond :  Read More / See list >>

The "wheels on 166th were in motion" at last night's Public Meeting about 166th AVE corridor improvements.

The wheels were in motion at Redmond Junior High last night! City officials and staff conducted a well-planned, thorough and helpful presentation of their 4 to 3 lane rechannelization proposal. Over 75 concerned citizens had opportunity to enjoy some food, ask questions, give speeches, and make comment after hearing staff's presentation.

I live a 5-minute walk from the Junior High and found only 9 of my neighbors at the meeting! I know they were aware of the meeting. All but two councilmembers were present, possibly 8-10 staff, Martin Snodgrass (past chair of the Planning Commission) but, no current planning commissioners. BTW, there's an opening on the commission.

Councilmember Dave Carson came all the way from his View Point neighborhood to learn about the project and gain some empathy. Council President Nancy McCormick traveled from her Overlake neighborhood. Councilmember Pat Vache left his North Redmond neighborhood home to attend. John Marchione lives so close he may have walked. Richard Cole lived in N. Redmond for years but now lives downtown. Richard attended. Kimberley Allen lives on Ed. Hill. She was present, but I didn't get a chance to talk to her.

A few councilmembers, months ago, had some serious concerns about the proposal but they appeared to have mellowed after the excellent presentation by staffer Don Cairns (a Redmond resident) and a qualified traffic consultant, Victor, from Evans Associates. Ostensibly, travel delays along the corridor would be only about 30 seconds, even when buses, trucks, and cut-though traffic is included.

The gathering public was polite and receptive with ample opportunity to participate. SAFETY is the primary benefit of the project and wasn't argued by anyone.

• Pedestrians and students will have fewer lanes to cross.
• Left land turns are separated from traffic with a dedicated 3rd land - reducing collissions.
• Extending the 3 lane coversion to 100th Street was proven to be the least risky and best improvement option.
• The RHS Prinicpal Prato Barone was emphathic about the safety needs for rechannelization. Many students are walking and 40 student bicyclists are commuting on narrow, unbuffered sidewalks now. To encourage these positive behaviors bike lanes and buffered sidwalks are critical.

A final Public Meeting is planned for the Spring and construction is expected to begin in the summer.

A large white Notice Board announcing the meeting was installed on 104th & 166th for any passerby to see, redmond.gov website was posted, and bulk emails were sent to those who previously commented.

Clearly, Mayor John Marchione is holding up on his promise to "involve the public early in the process" and improve public notice. The complete project review, including a power point presentation and survey from the meeting is found HERE.

Staff engineer Tricia Thomson at tthomson@redmond.gov is project planner.

The City of Redmond admits some of the 2009 jobs they eliminated were funded by Microsoft.

It is not a surprise to anyone that most government revenues have fallen in 2009 and it is no different for the City of Redmond.

This past summer, Redmond eliminated several temporary positions funded by the Microsoft Corporation when Microsoft discontinued its Redmond construction projects and exercised its option to terminate the funding agreement with the City. This fall, the City has made the difficult decision to eliminate several  more  positions in the Development Review division, due to a marked slowdown in development activity.

"Just as we did this past summer, the City continues to right-size its operations for the current economic conditions," states Mayor John Marchione. "While reducing positions is always done with very deliberate thought, we committed to this balanced approach to our finances during our 2008 budget deliberations."

"Through specific budget reductions, holding the line on expenditures and the one percent property tax increase provided for in the 2009/2010 budget, we are confident we can continue to honor our service and program commitments to the City's residents and businesses," states Redmond Council President Nancy McCormick.

The City of Redmond will begin planning for the 2011/2012 budget biennium early next year. As in 2008, residents and businesses will continue to play a role in confirming the City's budget and service priorities. For information about these next steps, contact the Mayor's office at 425-556-2101 or mayor@redmond.gov .

-- City Web Site, 12/5

UPDATED: Downtown transit station designing moves forward

Redmond council members still haven't formally approved design and construction of the downtown light rail station but may take action soon once Sound Transit signs off. 

From everything I've read and heard, the west Downtown transit station will be elevated and located near Redmond Town Center in the vicinity of 164th Avenue and NE 166th Avenue. A spur may run towards Half Price Books....I don't know why.  Everyone seems to worry the elevated station being an eyesore - I'll be packing my ear-plugs! 

The east station will be in the vicinity of Maryooor Park. About 1400 parking spaces are planned in and around the Marymoor station, mostly to service Sammamish ridge commuters and future aquatics center users. Nancy McCormick (retired councilwoman of 24 years) says the parking spaces will also benefit Redmond commuters "by unclogging east-west streets."  It is not yet known if the parking will be in two garages or scattered around "the new neighborhood." President Margeson  doesn't care a wit for garage parking.  Two Marymoor developers are lobbying council to allow parking in their proposed buildings but they expect compensation for the lost space.  

Some trivia:  In their reports, city planners name the Marymoor station neighborhood a "sub area."  To personalize the sub area President Margeson's been calling it "Joe's Neighborhood."  Councilmember David Carson enjoys calling it "Marymoor Flats" and was the first to suggest a friendly name. Not so trivial, Councilmember Angela Birney insists on a more "eclectic" look and feel for the new neighborhood.  I totally agree...our city is in sorry need of some personality.  

Bob Yoder

Talk around town - Redmond Town Center

This is the first in a series of opinions on Redmond Town Center.

UPDATED, 12/7: Over a long period of time, I've heard talk of an unsavory relationship between Redmond Town Center (RTC) and the City of Redmond. For the benefit of the Center, the City and our neighborhoods, now may be a time to air the laundry that's been hanging around our town.

By no means do I know all the details, or for that matter the facts. Only a word here and there from my neighbors and recently some muffled emoting and non-specific budget adjusting during a recent Council session. It appears the vitriol between Redmond Town Center (owned by Macerich REIT) and City started years ago during the Ives Administration. What I have heard is the corporate owner and operator of Redmond Town Center -Macerich REIT - didn't want anything to do with the City. I heard the blood was so bad, Macerich REIT didn't want anyone from the City of Redmond on their property. My hope is these rumors are overstated and the relationship between Redmond Town Center and the City has mended. But I wonder...

At this time, rumor has it that Redmond Town Center is demanding **$1,097,000 from the City in exchange for land they own buffering Bear Creek. The City needs the land to restore Bear Creek for flood control and habitat preservation. It is hoped negotiations will bring repair and renewal for all parties. **The latest number is lowered - to the mid-six figures.

Redmond Town Center is owned and operated by Macerich REIT out of Santa Monica, CA. (ticker MAC). They are a one of the largest owner-operators of retail space in the country. Macerich is a Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) with 72 retail centers, 72MM square feet, 3,000 employees. 2007 revenues were $813,272,000 -- not far from a billion. Have you heard of Tyson's Corner Center, VA.? They own it.

Retailers (who depend on us) are having a rough time with this economy. Fortunate for Macerich, Redmond Town Center's 10-year leases expired last year and Redmond Town Center has signed more lucrative tenants with higher lease payments. The City is not raising business taxes this biennium. The bottom line: Redmond Town Center is not hurting, has deep pockets and tax support from the City. Macerich REIT stock was up 4% on Black Friday.

What appears to be hurting is Macerich-RTC's ability to overcome their past problems and renew a positive relationship with the city and neighborhoods that support them.

Redmond Town Center advertises Redmond's Bear Creek natural area as an amenity to attract customers and further their business. The RTC website advertises: "Conforming with the active, outdoor Pacific Northwest lifestyle, the Center is also surrounded by 45 acres of dedicated green space, active salmon-spawning habitat and a regional trail system." Look at RTC's LOGO and you'll see a rendering of Bear Creek! (top of page).

ATTN: REDMOND TOWN CENTER: As our community partner, please dedicate to Redmond and Redmond neighborhoods your portion of the 45 acre buffer to protect the spawning-habitat we all value. Please partner with Redmond to share in the costs of restoring the Bear Creek buffer. Please re-invest your resources back to our community for a better, safer Redmond for shareholder satisfaction.

An excerpt from Macerich's website on social responsibility: "We strive to meet community challenges through a combination of employee volunteerism, financial support, in-kind donations and partnerships with non-profit organizations whose missions are consistent with our own vision and values." We have similar values! Let's work together to save what we cherish.

It is hoped that Mr. Steven Chaffee, Senior Property Manager of Redmond Town Center can help us. Additionally, Redmond Town Center's owner Macerich, must know they built their Center on a 100-year flood plain and will enjoy flood protections from this restoration.

Comments? (Mayor Marchione commented)

CC: Mayor John Marchione, Rob Odle (Dir. of Planning and Development), Nancy McCormick (Council Pres.), Steven Chaffee, Macerich Corporate Headquarters - Executives, Redmond Neighborhood Associations (9), RTC merchants, Chamber of Commerce, Lake Washington School District PTSA members.

Rosemarie Ives Upset With Redevelopment Process Of Redmond Town Center

Good evening Mayor and Council.  My name is Rosemarie Ives, former Redmond mayor 1992-2007, and I am here to provide comment and some history relating to the Town Center Amendments on tonight’s agenda.  Although I would like to comment on Tree Regulations, four minutes is hardly enough time for such important issue.  Such a full agenda precludes the public from giving any substantive testimony on more than one item. I hope that Madam Mayor would consider my making a few remarks after testimony from others is concluded.

I was on the Planning Commission when the first conceptual plan for Town Center was presented in preparation of the annexation of the beloved, treed 120 acre property into the City and the heart of our downtown. The Planning Commission worked for 18 months in 1986-1987.  I was an opponent of “the enclosed mall that was initially proposed  while the late former councilmember Richard Cole was a proponent.  Once the land use decision was made, together Mr. Cole and I authored  the 39 conditions that constituted a compact with the community and that were eventually placed on the development.  In 1987, Mr.  Cole and I were elected to City Council….Together we led the council through much of its process of deliberation over the next two years.  In 1992 when  I was elected mayor, Town Center owners proposed a new open air, pedestrian and downtown oriented design incorporating the 39 conditions encouraging redevelopment and revitalization in the adjacent downtown. that was approved in 1995 in Development Guide Amendment 94-004.   Construction began in 1996.

Happy & safer days are here again! Our School Resource Officers are back!

8/14 - "I think that it's key that we are able to expand our value to Redmond taxpayers and sometimes this can mean using existing staff in new and innovative ways and that's exactly what I'd hope would happen here." - Councilman David Carson

Have you heard the great news?! The city has made preliminary plans for bringing School Resource Officers back to our schools this year at RHS and RJH! This wonderful news can't be found in the local Reporter or posted in City Hall! It's right "here" in the City of Redmond website!

The website Minutes (abridged) from The Council Public Safety Committee meeting on 6/19/08, Chaired by Councilman David Carson state:

"The City Council Safety Committee met on June 19, 2006 and
decided on a well thought out plan to reinstitute the popular School
Resource Officers (SRO) Program! It was decided
that Human Services would work closely with the School Resource
Officers. Weekly meetings between SRO's and Teen Center
staff will take place to discuss current issues, at-risk youth, and
HS programs. Chair David Carson thanked Ms. Kelly (Human
Services) for attending, and concluded that it is a wonderful
thing to have the SROs back in the schools after a year of absence."

THANK YOU, Mr. Carson and your committee (Allen & Vache) for your good works on bringing SRO's and greater safety back to our schools! Certainly, the John Marchione Administration has come a long way in a very short time to rebalance our priorities with our resources; and take the gaming out of budgeting.

Read my old post of 11/16/2006, to see how far we've come from the brash days of using our SRO's (student safety) as a bargaining chip for passing the budget!

To confirm this report, read Mr. Carson's full committee minutes or email Councilman David Carson. The exact number of officers and hours were not reported. As usual, your 'comments' are appreciated.

Council President Nancy McCormick and Councilwoman Kim Allen commented.

Large male cougar was hit and killed by a car on SR520 near Marymoor Park Saturday night.

A large male cougar was hit by a car and killed Saturday night near Marymoor Park in Redmond.

 Sgt. Kim Chandler of the Department of Fish And Wildlife says the cougar was hit on Highway 520 West. The driver of the vehicle was unhurt.

It is the second cougar to turn up in a populated area of King County this week. The first cougar, a 140-pound male, had a luckier fate after it was captured in Discovery Park and returned to the wild Sunday.

Chandler said it's unusual to have a cougar running around in the Redmond area. He said the animal's remains will be buried at a rural area later Sunday.

  --  reported by Fischer Communications staff (not the photo)

Nancy Mauritson McCormick - Another neighborhood picnic in the record books, the 28th, and not only did we have a cougar killed the other night on SR520 close by, but it turns out we have also had a bobcat a block away from my house. Wow. Redmond is supposed to be an urban center -- and we have cougar, bobcat, raccoons, deer, and bunnies, all sighted this summer.  -- FaceBook entry  9/09

Lake Sammamish neighbors storm City Hall about "view corridors".

In the last two weeks over 40 citizens living along the west bank of Lake Sammamish have approached the Planning Commission to be heard about the proposed Shoreline Master Plan update and View Point Neighborhood plan. THEY ARE NOT HAPPY!

"View corridors" 30% of lot-width are proposed to allow the passing public views to the lake. It limits the height of new construction and would necessitate falling older trees. Mostly, the residents complained about poor public notice. They felt the Administration was trying to push this through to limit citizen input. What do you think?

Many West Lake Sammamish residents argued eloquently for their 5th Amendment rights protecting private property owners from "taking" their land without just compensation. The Shoreline Master Plan HERE requires review by a state regulatory agency, the Department of Ecology.

The story is still unfolding. Ongoing developments can be found on the commission's & candidate video archive HERE and on RCTV-21 at Wednesday on 7pm commission meetings. Mail your comments to planningcommission@redmond.gov

Some of this issue is about is BUFFERS. We create buffers to protect our steams, wetlands, lakes, flood zones, and hazardous slopes. The Shoreline Act and city administration want to mitigate the buffers from the regional traffic on W. LK. Sammamish Parkway. Residents of the West Lake Sammamish Association (WLSA) say they need the buffers to protect the slopes from erosion, protect the lake wate r quality, buffer from traffic noise, and bicycle safety...and most of all, protect their property rights.

This is an interesting twist. Lake residents are the custodians of the lake. They care for it. They live in a natural habitat that's protected by buffers now threatened by government regulation.

According to a citizen, it is RUMORED that the view corridor must be granted to the City of Redmond as an easement and there is no plan for compensation to the property owner. Vegetation would have to be cleared and the view maintained by the property owner. Most lots in this segment of shoreline are valued in excess of $1m each, taking 30% of that property and converting it to public use with the property owner responsible for maintenance is a huge imposition on private property rights.

Sidebar: If a Redmond resident had to vote for Mayor just on this one issue would he/she choose Marchione or Robinson? Robinson lives in the View Point neighborhood but he has voted down buffers in the past. At the Critical Area Ordinance Public Hearing of 5/17/2005, Jim Robinson motioned to amend the Critical Area ordinance "to retain the existing [small] buffers". The motion died for a lack of a second. Trees help to buffer street noise and anchor slopes from erosion and filter run-off along the Lake Sammamish shoreline.

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FROM: KIM ALLEN:

Bob - Just a reminder of what happened at the meeting you mention above. "Robert S. Yoder, 10019 169 Avenue NE, asked the Council to designate riparian habitat as a Habitat of Local Importance, since Redmond is a green city, with lakes, rivers and streams with fish and wildlife. He said the habitat protects against erosion and protects water quality.Councilmember Robinson suggested that the Council consider including the term “Riparian Habitat of Local Importance” in the Definitions section of the Critical Areas Ordinance."Minutes of 5/17/05 Council meeting, pp.198-200.As to the final vote on the Shoreline Plan, including the buffers, here was the final vote:"Ordinance No. 2259, adopting Findings of Fact, amending the Natural Environment Element of the Redmond Comprehensive Plan in order to update the city’s goals and policies relating to critical areas, adding and amending various definitions in Chapter 20A.20 of the Redmond Community Development Guide relating to critical areas, amending Chapter 20D.140 of the Redmond Community Development Guide in order to update the city’s critical areas regulations and incorporate the Best Available Science, providing for severability and establishing an effective date, was presented and read.Upon a poll of the Council, Cole, Marchione, McCormick, Paine, Resha, Robinson, and Vache voted aye. Motion carried unanimously (7 – 0)."5/17/05 Council meeting minutes p.200
Sunday October 14, 2007

FROM BOB YODER

10/14Hi Kim - In friendly response to your above comments. 1) Robinson suggesting Riparian HOLI be relegated in the CAO solely as definition, is almost an insult, though it was one crumb more than the rest. A definition is far from a symbolic gesture. Nancy McCormmick's suggestion during the same public hearing that the Planning Commission vet the issuance of a proclaimation that Riparian be our Habitat of Local Importance. Riparian is truly proving to be one of our cities most valuable habitats for monitoring our water quality. It's just very unfortunate that Mr. Robinson was the only counclmember motioning to reduce riparian zones from the CAO plan. Yes, of course all candidates voted FOR the new Critical Area Ordinance. Wouldn't it be nice if council voting records were duly recorded for easy access by the public...tabulated on a spreadsheet. Unfortunately, the Administration hasn't provided this critical assessment service. Finally, Kim, I want to thank you again for the tremendous support you gave me during my presentations for Riparian HOLI. Unfortunately, the administration wrote a C.3 report to council killing this wonderful idea which had potential to attract many citizens and students into the process of sustaining our natural resources and environment. Regards,Bob