Written by Renton’s Cedar River Trail won the “Seattle Weekly’s Best of 2010 Award” for being the best alternative to the Burke Gilman Trail. Hats off to our Renton Parks and Recreation staff (and the other departments who support them) for their excellent work on this trail.
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Flags across Washington at half staff to honor fallen Navy Petty Officer Jarod Newlove from Renton
Our hearts are with Petty Officer Newlove’s friends, family, and fellow service men and women. Received today from the Governor’s office:
Subject: August 5 Flag Lowering
Governor Chris Gregoire has directed that Washington State and United States flags at all state agency facilities be lowered to half-staff Thursday, August 5, 2010, in memory of U. S. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Jarod Newlove, 25, of Renton, who died from wounds sustained from an incident in Logar Province, Afghanistan, on July 23.
Flags should remain at half-staff until close of business Thursday (especially for those agencies on furlough on Friday), or first thing Friday morning, August 6.
Other government entities, citizens and businesses are encouraged to join this recognition.
Renton council debates whether to put annexation of West Hill on the ballot
(Above) West Hill has many beautiful homes with residents that take great pride in their neighborhoods and their rural-county way of life.
The area also could use attention in code enforcement, policing, and economic development, but not everyone agrees on what form this should take or how it can be paid for.
The Renton City Council is once again deliberating on whether to go to the ballot with potential annexation of the West Hill Neighborhood (which is made up of Bryn Mawr, Lakeridge, Skyway, Earlington, Campbell Hill, Panorama, Skycrest, and Hill Top.) I last discussed this issue in my blog in 2008 HERE , with detail and pictures.
The West Hill was in our original Potential Annexation Area (PAA) as defined in our first growth management plan in 1993 under Mayor Clymer. But when Mayor Tanner took office in 1996, he urged removal of West Hill from our PAA after an analysis showed that it would cost Renton taxpayers up to 40 million dollars to annex the area (a number which has remained remarkably unchanged in the last 15 years). Then, in a heated and passionate council meeting in 2005, Mayor Keolker succeeded in getting a divided council to put West Hill back into our PAA, largely on the premise that putting it back into our PAA was the only way we could evaluate funding options. The reasoning that prevailed went like this: if we put West Hill back in our PAA we could request county and state funding assistance for additional study and ultimately for servicing the area. If the county and state agreed to provide us the money we needed, we could then consider annexing. If we ultimately could not get any money (or West Hill chose not to annex), we could take the area back out of our PAA.
Now, after many years of study and fund raising efforts, the state has come though with about half of the money we would need to service West Hill during the first ten years without impacting current residents of Renton– the state can provide us about 2.5 million per year for ten years. Unfortunately, the County has not been able to promise any significant assistance, so we would find ourselves running a deficit of about 1.5 million per year for the first ten years trying to service West Hill, and significantly more than that after ten years if we did not get some sort of major economic revitalization out of their retail corridors by that time.
This has left Mayor Law recommending against annexing the area, and the council divided on what action to take next. The state funding offer comes with a time line in which council has until next week to set an election date for West Hill– if no date is set by next week, the twenty-five million dollars in state funding (2.5 million per year) will not be available.
Some council members are ready to say West Hill Annexation is dead, while others are pushing strongly to promote it, while others might put it on life support. We’ve been told that setting an election date does not mean we are obligated to go through with annexation…it just means we will hear from West Hill whether they want to annex. So some council members were interested in understanding whether we could tentatively set an election in 2012, and then decide by the end of 2011 whether we would would go through with the election or call it off. This would give the county and others more time to find additional money. I was interested in this option yesterday, but I am increasingly less interested because of the confusing messages it sends and the low probability of more money turning up.
Council has been hearing from West Hill and existing Renton residents that are split on this issue. Some in Renton have suggested that the existing citizens of Renton should be allowed to vote on this annexation as well. I’ve heard one other council member express this sentiment as well. We’ve not talked about this, and I don’t know whether it would be supported by a majority of council, but it would not be out of the question for the council to ask for an advisory vote from existing citizens. We would want to be sure we picked an election where everybody was already receiving ballots in order to keep the costs down.
We intend to resolve this issue on Monday August 9th, first at Committee of the Whole which starts at 5:30, followed by final debate and action at the council meeting at 7:00 PM. I’m not certain at this point exactly what I will do. I will possibly vote no to further discussion of West Hill annexation, in which case I will also recommend that we once again remove West Hill from our potential annexation area (so that West Hill would be free to petition Seattle or Tukwila for governance); or I will vote to put annexation on the ballot in mid-2012 with the call-off the election at the end of 2011 if there is no additional money available. I might also float the idea of an advisory vote of existing Renton residents.
As always, I would love to hear from the citizens of Renton and West Hill on this topic. Send your letters and emails to Renton City Hall, and feel free to engage in debate here on my blog.
Two motorists survive collision in Houser Way bypass tunnel; bus fire backs up I-405
It was a tough day for drivers and traffic. A bus fire described in this Renton Reporter story snarled I-405 this morning, while drivers at Sunset and Houser were slowed by police activity at the Houser Way Bypass tunnel after a high-speed collision.
Here is Mayor Law’s own photos and write-up about the accident on Houser.
Renton Police Traffic Investigators were called out to a serious, head-on collision near the Houser St. tunnel at Sunset Blvd. in Renton this morning. Both drivers miraculously survived the crash. One driver traveling at a high rate of speed lost control in the tunnel and slammed into the oncoming car. Alcohol may have been involved. New safety features in automobiles and the quality service provided by our fire fighters and medics has clearly increased the chances of survival.
Photos by Denis Law
Tony Ventrella, Mack and Zoe Strong talk about all the great places in Renton
The Seahawks have posted a really nice video about Renton featuring former Seahawks fullback Mack Strong and his wife Zoe. They talk about the Seahawk training camp, Coulon Park, the Farmers Market, the Landing, Renton’s 258 restaurants (including espresso stops), and many other amenities which will give visitors a perfect day when they come to watch Seahawks training. Sportscaster Tony Ventrella hosts.
Click here to view the seven minute video “Your visit to Renton”!
Interesting Finance Committee Meeting today; hybrids, open-space, and new libraries
Tonight’s Finance Committee was quite interesting. In addition to the usual review and approval of city spending vouchers, we discussed a few other issues.
We agreed to some terms that will allow us to receive state grants for assistance in purchase of additional alternative fuel and hybrid vehicles. We currently have some hybrid passenger cars in our motor pool, and we have a hybrid boom truck; the state grants would provide us approximately $140,000 in funds to upgrade some other vehicle purchases to hybrids, potentially including other work trucks, an Aid Car, and other passenger vehicles. The State is also making money available for installation of Electric Vehicle charging stations, but we will have to compete with several other jurisdictions in King County to win a share of the charging station money.
In separate business, we recommended that the full council approve the hiring of a consultant for preparation of an updated six-year parks and open space plan. We last developed one of these plans in 2003, and it “expired” in 2009. A current plan must be on file with the state for us to qualify for certain grants which are essential for Renton to fund the development of trails and other open space improvements. The creation of the new parks and open space plan will be a highly public process– a consultant will gather and document community input regarding future priorities for new park development. So start thinking about new park amenities you would like to see in the next six years. (I mentioned tonight that a trail on May Creek, where we have been procuring land for 20 years, is high on my list.. but I’m sure readers all have their favorite ideas). In addition to making us eligible for grants, this plan will ensure that the park projects are well coordinated with other city growth management plans.
The last thing we discussed was the plan for determining the sites for two new (modern and larger) public library branches. A consultant will assist us in selecting and acquiring a new site in downtown (probably somewhere near the Piazza and parking garage) for a new Downtown Branch, and a new site in the Highlands (likely on NE Sunset) for a replacement Highlands Library. The Council has expressed interest in building these new library branches as early as next year using bonds that would be paid off with money that was previously dedicated to library operations. As a reminder, starting in 2011 library operations will be funded by KCLS from proceeds of a new levy on Renton property, as a result of the library annexation that was narrowly approved by Renton voters earlier this year. The council and mayor wish to get the new branches built soon to get maximum benefit from the new King County Library Service. Renton and KCLS officials have been working collaboratively on the siting of the new library branches, and a consultant will be assisting them make final siting and acquisition decisions.
Don’t forget!… Starting in a few hours, I-405 will be closing both directions through Renton
The old Benson Ave Bridge over I-405 is coming out tonight, to allow the freeway to be expanded with an extra lane each way. The bridge removal will require that the entire freeway be closed both directions from starting in a few hours. The freeway will reopen by 11:00 AM Sunday. Note it will be closed all day Saturday, so plan your driving carefully to avoid traffic jams. We’ve tried to get motorists to take I-5 and I-90, but much freeway traffic will also be detouring through Renton.
Here is more info in the Seattle Times.
Saturday, July 10 (11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.) Doggapalooza at The Landing in Renton
Don’t forget Doggapalooza at the Landing tomorrow! I’ll be down there serving as a judge. I hope to see you!
Click below for all the details:
At least two Rentonites helped Fremont reclaim the world record for the most “Zombies” in one place
It appears that Seattle has retaken the world’s record for the most “zombies” in one place. Seattle obtained this record at their first annual “zombie walk” last year, only to lose it to England shortly afterward. But now we are once again the zombie capitol.
This year Seattle got some help from some of the Renton Corman clan, as my son Kenny and his wife Anastasia dressed up as zombies, signed in for official counting, and then danced “Thriller” with thousands of others.
Here are a couple videos which give a sense for this event. The first one was put together by a youtube user, and shows off the crowd’s costumes and dancing. The second video is one I took of Kenny and Anastasia practicing their “Thriller” dance here at the house.
I’m thinking I may have to try dressing up as a Zombie next year… it looked like a lot of fun.
Thousands of Zombies dance “Thriller” in Fremont last Saturday
Son Kenny and his wife Anastasia practice their dance before the big event
Renton welcomes Miss Washington contestants to our town for their 2010 pageant week
Miss Washington Contestants from across the state pose for a photo at their official welcome event at Renton’s Tea Palace Restaurant (Photos by The Tea Palace)
Miss Washington contestants from across the state have been arriving in Renton for their annual pageant week. They have many official pageant activities planned, and a few public stop-offs. I’ve heard you might be able to see at least some of the contestants at the Farmers Market tomorrow.
Yesterday they attended an official welcome ceremony at the Tea Palace Restaurant in Renton Highlands. Here are a few more photos from this event. (The Tea Palace is an outstanding venue for very large banquets. Their food and service are excellent, and they can accommodate over a thousand people.)
Happy Fourth of July Renton!
Fourth of July Parade, sometime before 1918. (Do any of you readers know antique cars well enough to identify the precise year?)
The above photo and other historic photos can be found here.
And if you have the chance, be sure to catch the festivities at Coulon Park today. The Celebration runs all day, and will culminate with a professional fireworks display tonight after dark (around 10:00 PM).
The above photo was shot by Mayor Law during last year’s display.
Newer residents may not be aware that 62.57 Percent of Renton Voters wanted fireworks banned
We received an email today from a citizen suggesting council consider a less-restrictive ban on fireworks. I’ve attached the email below.
I personally enjoy SAFE fireworks on the Fourth of July, and I’m always interested in hearing from citizens; but unless things have changed significantly since November 7, 2006, council would probably be reluctant to change the ban on fireworks.
This is because this issue went to the voters during the 2006 general election, and voters overwhelmingly chose to maintain the fireworks ban. Renton voters favored a ban at a rate of 62.57 percent to 37.43 percent.
Voters chose to maintain a ban that had been put in place by council by unanimous vote (including me) in 2004. Council had originally put the ban in place after the state had allowed the definition of “Safe and Sane” to become so inclusive that flaming rockets could now be labeled “Safe and Sane”, followed by a Fourth of July in which two Renton building burned to the ground from fireworks: a brand-new single family home and a publicly owned building on park land (across the Cedar River from Carco Theater).
Voters affirmed the council fireworks ban in 2006. Here is the link to the 2006 ballot proposition, and here is the link to the election results.
Below you will find the recent email council received on this topic.
To: Council
Subject: Fireworks ban
Sent: Sunday, July 04, 2010 9:39:29 AM
I exchanged several emails with Lisa Garvich, and she directed me here to ask my questions about the fireworks ban. I have looked at the meeting minutes and wanted to know the best way to propose that the current ban be amended.
I believe that the same improvements to the safety and security can be achieved with a less restrictive ban that would allow citizens their freedoms to celebrate and allow for additional revenue inside the city.
I have analyzed the numbers associated with fireworks injuries and fires, and compared this to other legal activities. I have also evaluated the causes of injuries related to types of fireworks, and believe if the ban were to be limited to specific types it would still achieve its desired purpose.
I know it is too late to affect this independence celebration, but I hope to get a change for the next.
Thank you,
A.B.
Vampire fever grips the Northwest again
My son Kenny and his wife Anastasia have the right look for The Twilight Saga: Eclipse. Photo by Gabe Tompkins.
Twilight Fans get their third installment of the motion picture series starting tonight at midnight. The popular series covers romance, vampires and werewolves, and it is set in Forks. Regal Cinemas at the Landing will no doubt be seeing a line-up.
Dog Days of Summer at The Landing
The press release announcing Dog Days of Summer at The Landing was sent out earlier this week. I’ll be helping judge the dog-onwer look-alike contest at Doggapalooza on July 10. I hope to see many of you at the Landing for some of these great events!
______________________________
The Landing in Renton Announces Series of Summer Events and Promotions
RENTON, Wash. – June 20, 2010 – While families across the country prepare for summer vacation out of town, many in the Pacific Northwest opt to stay in town to enjoy the best time of year. Luck has it that Renton residents won’t have to look far — The Landing in Renton is pleased to announce The Dog Days of Summer, a series of summer events and promotions which encourage local residents to escape the summer doldrums and visit The Landing’s small boutiques, convenient national chains and mix of eclectic dining options.
Starting July 10 through mid-August, there are a number of ways your family, friends and furry companions can enjoy The Landing. From strolling with your sweetie, dining al fresco with your dog or catching a flick with your family, The Landing’s Dog Days of Summer event series has everything you need to spice up the summer months.
Here’s a sample of what we’re planning this summer at The Landing:
I. Renton’s Fabulous 4th of July Presented by The Landing
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Start the summer off right with an exciting family Sunday “fun day” sponsored by The Landing. The all-day event, hosted at Coulon Park will feature face painting, live music and a spectacular 22+ minute fireworks show.
7:00am Coulon Park Opens
12:00 – 8:00pm Free Inflatables & Face-Painting for Kids
1:30 – 9:30pm Stage Entertainment
10:00pm Fireworks off the Shores of Coulon Beach Park
II. Doggapalooza
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Doggapalooza is The Landing’s signature event of the Dog Days of Summer. The event will feature KISS 106.1’s Bender and his dog Ted, kid-friendly activities and a dog and owner look-alike contest with great prizes valued at up to $500.
11:00 – 11:30am Dog / Owner Look-alike Contest Registration
10:00 – 1:00pm Balloon artists, face painting, pet adoption services and more
12:00 – 12:30pm Dog / Owner Look-alike Contest Judging
12:45 – 1:00pm Winners Announced
Contest entry: Suggested donation of $10 to benefit the King County Humane Society ($5 with a pet food donation)
III. Friday Date Nights
Fridays, July 9 through August 13
Bring your sweetheart and enjoy a romantic evening at The Landing complete with live music, extended shopping hours and special Friday-night deals for movie ticketholders.
IV. Saturday Strolls
Saturdays, July 10 through August 14
Enjoy summer Saturdays at The Landing. Shop, stroll and picnic with your pooch, al fresco of course!
V. Summer at the Movies
Prizes Announced Mondays, July 12 – August 9
Escape the heat with movie-ticket giveaways to The Landing’s Regal Cinema. Follow Facebook.com/thelandinginrenton or Twitter.com/landinginrenton for chances to win. Winners will be announced via Twitter and Facebook and contacted via phone or e-mail.
VI. Regal Cinema’s FREE Family Film Festival
Tuesdays and Wednesdays, June 22 through August 26.
Family friendly just got more fun! Free screenings of select G or PG movies for families of all age at 10:00 a.m. Limited capacity.
VII. Seahawks Training Camp
The Landing will once again be official transportation center for Seahawks Training Camp. Seahawks fans with tickets to training camp must park at The Landing to catch convenient shuttles to the Virginia Mason Athletic Center. Dates, times and ticket purchasing details will be announced in early July. For more information, visit www.seahawks.com
City unlikely to operate school speed cameras for summer school this year; watch for kids/lights
The city has been working to tighten up the timing of the school zone speed enforcement cameras. As of now, the mayor does not expect to operate any of the cameras even during summer school this year. This should reduce confusion on the part of motorists. This will please many people, and I think it is a good decision.
But now the disclaimers and reminders: Don’t forget that everyone is still expected to adhere to the 20 mile per hour speed limit when children are present (on the sidewalk, in the street, or near the street/sidewalk) regardless of whether the lights are flashing. Furthermore, the mayor’s email says they are not PLANNING to use the camera, but it is potentially subject to change. Finally, there could be flashing lights around other schools, where there are no cameras. These are still enforceable by the police. So note the lights when you pass by the schools.
__________________________________________
Here is a recent email from the mayor about summer speed camera plans:
From: Denis Law
Sent: Tuesday, June 22, 2010 8:07 AM
To: Council
Cc: Jay B Covington
Subject: School zone photo enforcement
FYI – In case you receive any inquiries:
We are not planning to operate our photo enforcement cameras in the school zones this summer. In addition to the confusion to motorists who are not aware of summer school classes, there are many classes that have been canceled due to budget cuts. We have decided not to operate the cameras in these zones until classes resume in the fall.
Mayor, City of Renton
1055 S. Grady Way, Renton, WA 98057
425 430-6500
rentonwa.gov
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