Written by Randy Corman
Christian Jones, my son-in-law’s brother, walks through my front door late yesterday afternoon. I happened to have my camera at hand when I spotted his artistic-looking silhouette.
My middle-son Kenny was celebrating his eighteenth birthday. Yep, a new Renton voter!
Written by Randy Corman
On June 30th Denis Law will have served his first half-year in the Renton mayor’s office. It’s been a productive and pleasant six months for the council, even though we have had to work through some major work projects (huge annexations, completion of the Landing, Seahawks headquarters construction, rebuilding four train trestles, etc) and many issues (transit center crime, airport leases, helicopter issues, closing of Duvall Avenue, derelict dry docks, etc). We’ve also had to appoint a new council member during this time.
Marcie Palmer, who is serving as council president for the first time this year, has also done an expert job at making this a smooth transition year.
Here is the Renton Reporter story about Denis Law’s highly-successful first six months in office.
Denis- Thanks for doing such a great job for our city!
Written by Randy Corman
The Council received an update on the Landing at our Committee of the Whole Meeting on Monday night.
Financially, the road, utilities and parking garage projects are all on track, and coming in within budget. At the same time, Harvest Partners (the owner of the Landing) has been completing lease deals on schedule, and generating the new tax revenues needed to cover the city’s infrastructure. In short, the money is working out.
The more interesting part of the presentation revolved around the new tenants that are signing on, many of whom are still maintaining some privacy at the moment.
The announced tenants are all shown on this chart: (Click to enlarge)
Ironically, the pressure that Westfield is placing on the big-name mall companies is probably helping the Landing to develop into a unique and desirable spot. We are told Westfield (which owns hundreds of malls) is pressuring it’s usual national tenants to stay out of the Landing, which leaves the Landing as a mall for smaller start-ups and high-end Northwest companies. I think this will give the Landing a unique character which will keep our project from being like “Westfield Every-mall USA,” something which may work well for Renton. Especially since we are squeezed between Bellevue Square to the North, which is one of the most successful malls in the Nation, and Southcenter to the South which is about to become the biggest mall in the state. Offering unique shops will no-doubt work well for us.
Best of all, there appears to be good progress in an area that has been the most-requested feature of all…. a high-end grocery store. We are told that a high-end store is seriously considering the location, and at the same time Harvest Partners is pursuing a “Market Hall” concept to add more variety. The Market Hall would be a shared Market Space, similar to Pike Place Market (only smaller of course), or more specifically Granville Island in Vancouver BC for those of you that have been there. The Market Hall would be a great place to buy cheese, wine, produce, tea, coffee, flowers, and similar items, but would still not provide all the staples of a grocery store.
Click the image below to enlarge it, to see the concept better:
Similarly, we are seeing some hotel proposals around the same site, and in general around the Southshore of Lake Washington.
I’ll share more when I get some more news!
Randy
Written by Randy Corman
HUMAN RESOURCES & RISK MANAGEMENT
DEPARTMENT
MEMORANDUM
June 20, 2008
TO: All Employees
FROM: Nancy A. Carlson
Human Resources and Risk Management Administrator
SUBJECT: USE OF CELL PHONES WHILE DRIVING
On July 1, 2008 a new Washington State Law regarding the use of wireless communication devices will go into effect. Specifically, the law reads, “a person operating a moving motor vehicle while holding a wireless communications device to his or her ear is guilty of a traffic infraction.“
There are some exceptions to the law which include; public safety personnel operating an authorized emergency vehicle, the coroner, and the prosecuting attorney’s office. The law also exempts an individual that is; reporting illegal activity, summoning medical or other emergency help; calling to prevent injury to a person or property, and those who are required to use a hearing aid.
The law does not completely ban the use of wireless communications devises, as it allows the use if the devise can be used in a “hands-free mode.” Hands-free mode has been defined to mean a wireless communications devise with a speaker phone, headset, or earpiece.
City Administrators understand that many of you depend on your cell phones to communicate with your supervisor, colleagues, and customers of the City, and that many of these calls are made while you’re driving from one appointment to the next. Before we all attach a device to our phones to comply with the law, it is important to remember why this law was passed. The legislative intent of the law reads:
“The use of wireless communications devices by motorists has increased in recent years. While wireless communications devices have assisted with quick reporting of road emergencies, their use has also contributed to accidents and other mishaps on Washington state roadways. When motorists hold a wireless communications device in one hand and drive with the other, their chances of becoming involved in a traffic mishap increases. It is the legislature’s intent to phase out the use of hand=held wireless communications devices by motorists while operating a vehicle.
Your safety is the most important issue. Therefore, we would strongly suggest that you pull over to take or make a call. If it is an incoming call that can wait, let the call go to voice mail and return the call when you stop. You are allowed to use your phone while driving only if it has a speaker, or is attached to some other device which makes it hands free. Departments have been authorized to purchase the necessary adaptors to allow you to use your phone, hands free. The Bluetooth device has not been approved.
Thank you for your cooperation and please drive safely.
PLEASE POST THIS NOTICE IN AREAS WHERE EMPLOYEES DO NOT HAVE INDIVIDUAL EMAIL
Written by Randy Corman
Our Communications Director sent this out today. I think her marketing skills, combined with our mayor’s publishing background, are producing some informative and attractive news pieces.
Here is here note:
Attached is the June/July issue of Renton Now, your one-stop information source on city news, new programs, community events, and more. This issue celebrates the one year anniversary of Renton Now.
Renton Now was mailed this week to all Renton area residents along with the utility bill, and also sent directly to multi-family residents and Benson Hill area residents. We hope you enjoy reading Renton Now – please do forward to others and share it with your friends and family.
As part of our ongoing efforts to encourage paper conservation, we will only provide hard copies of Renton Now to employees who are not able to access an electronic version. Renton Now is also posted on our website and you can subscribe to the Renton Now page to receive an email notification when a new issue has been published. To subscribe, click the subscription icon from the page and create an account. Select Renton Now newsletter and save.
Thanks
Preeti Shridhar
Communications Director
City of Renton
1055 South Grady Way
Renton, WA 98057
425-430-6569
www.rentonwa.gov
(Click on each page below to enlarge)
Written by Randy Corman
In Mobile Alabama they are canceling a planned ground-breaking ceremony for the Air Force Tanker finishing center. I am of course glad to hear this, as I am one of the many, many Washingtonians that is confident that our local product was the better one in the Air Force Tanker competition. Still, I can’t help but feel a little sad for the good people of Alabama, who are being whip-sawn in this race just as much as we are here in the Seattle area.
As a Renton councilmember, I can’t help but be uplifted by the latest developments. Even though Boeing moved it’s corporate headquarters to Chicago, the airplane maker’s commercial headquarters home remains right here in our beloved town of Renton. And the tanker airplane is very much a derivative of a commercial product, whether it is on a Boeing 767 platform or an Airbus 330 platform.
So we should celebrate this latest win for our home team, while remembering that there are good people, just like us, in Mobile that are dissappointed.
There are also many Europeans that are dissappointed, and they are also some very nice people; but I still question whether they should ever get the lions share of a 35-billion-dollar US defense contract when our US economy is faltering and good American-made options are available.
Click here for an interesting CNBC blog entry on this topic.
Written by Randy Corman
Renton gets a friendly mention in Seattle Times Columnist Jerry Large’s story on making economic adjustments in downturn:
Here is an excerpt:
My family is making the kinds of adjustments typical of middle-class Americans. We’re driving less ($55 to fill a tank), buying more frozen vegetables and fewer fresh ones, bringing lunch to work more often.
On Father’s Day, we ate fish and chips at Gene Coulon Park rather than going to a more expensive restaurant.
The park is in Renton, which is determined to become the new Kirkland or Bellevue.
The economy looks bright from Coulon, which is ringed by new condos and apartments. It’s on the edge of The Landing, a huge development still partially under construction.
This area has boomed in recent years, but we are now feeling some of the economic bumps plaguing the rest of the country.
Click here for the whole column.
Written by Randy Corman
RENTON POLICE DEPARTMENT
MEDIA RELEASE
June 19, 2008
Contact: Penny Bartley
Rape Suspect Arrested Office: (425) 430-7565 Cell: (206) 930-8823
The Renton Police Department has arrested a suspect believed to be responsible for three rapes in the Renton area in the past seven months. The suspect was arrested as a result of evidence collected from an attempted rape that took place just over two weeks ago. The suspect was arrested at his home without incident on Wednesday, June 18th, and the suspect is currently being held at Renton Municipal Jail.
In all of the cases, the female victims were approached by the suspect when they were alone. The suspect was conversational and friendly. In one case the suspect asked for bus directions and in another case asked for a ride. In all of the cases the suspect either showed or implied that he had a weapon. In some cases the suspect used the victims to get money in order to obtain drugs after assaulting them.
All of the rapes have occurred in the area of SW Sunset Boulevard (which is known as Martin Luther King Way beyond the Renton city limits) and Rainier Avenue South. The suspect lived at a nearby apartment complex and the suspect is registered as a Level III sex offender. Renton Police had previously done a community notification meeting and circulated bulletins regarding the suspect.
Police are concerned that there may be additional victims either in Renton, or in the Rainier Valley area where the suspect previously lived. The suspect is described as a light skinned black male, thin build, 5’ 07” with a scruffy, unshaved face. In all of the cases the suspect was wearing some type of covering on his head, either a cap, a sweatshirt hood, or “doo rag” type cloth.
Anyone with information regarding any of the sexual assaults is asked to contact Renton Police at (425) 430-7500.
###
Written by Randy Corman
Email from our Mayor, our city attorney, our Public Works Director, and our Airport Manager about the recent night-time helicopter operations.
I don’t usually publish emails quite this candid and informal; but this email is already public record, and I wanted citizens to know that City Hall is taking this seriously.
From: “Ryan Zulauf” <rzulauf@ci.renton.wa.us>
Date: June 18, 2008 5:19:46 PM PDT
To: “Law, Denis” <dlaw@ci.renton.wa.us>, “Warren, Larry” <ljwarren@seanet.com>, “Zimmerman, Gregg” <gzimmerman@ci.renton.wa.us>
Cc: “Alexander, April” <analexander@ci.renton.wa.us>, “Briere, Terri” <tbriere@ci.renton.wa.us>, “Corman, Randy” <rcorman@ci.renton.wa.us>, “Covington, Jay” <jcovington@ci.renton.wa.us>, “Hahn, Peter” <phahn@ci.renton.wa.us>, “Medzegian, Julia” <jmedzegian@ci.renton.wa.us>, “Palmer, Marcie” <mpalmer@ci.renton.wa.us>, “Parker, King” <kparker@ci.renton.wa.us>, “Persson, Don” <dpersson@ci.renton.wa.us>, “Taylor, Greg” <gtaylor@ci.renton.wa.us>, “Zwicker, Rich” <rzwicker@ci.renton.wa.us>
Subject: RE: Helicopter
These items have already been suggested and it is up to Mr. O’Leary to patch this mess up when he meets with the Mayor next week.
Ryan
>>> Gregg Zimmerman 6/18/2008 2:35 PM >>>
Thanks, Ryan. I think we need to try to obtain a statement from AirO regarding their intentions with this new line of business. Was this helicopter ride for the highschool students a one-time event? If they plan to do it next year, will they be willing to work with us regarding hours and routes? Do they intend to change the whole character of their presence at the airport and their impact on neighborhoods by expanding this line of business to other events? This would be good information to know so that we can better establish the approach that we need to take. Please ask Mike for a response to these concerns. This is information that the Mayor will want to know if Mike does give him a call.
Gregg
>>> Ryan Zulauf 6/18/2008 11:47 AM >>>
I spoke to Mr. O’Leary this morning and I suggested that he needs to call you directly and have a conversation about the graduation events.
Ryan
>>> “Larry Warren” <ljwarren@seanet.com> 6/18/2008 10:47 AM >>>
As wrong as it seems, the city’s hands are tied about the noise level, type
of craft and time of operation at the airport. Snohomish County is being
forced to negotiate with a commercial carrier for use of Paine Field for
trips to Las Vegas.
It seems that our best course of conduct is to work with the operator to be
a good neighbor. If there is no cooperation, then maybe the complaints
should be directed to the carrier and maybe to the FAA. Also, I suppose the
city could make a big deal about how its hands are tied and this particular
carrier is taking advantage of the system. Having your name on TV every
Monday night or even the subject of a public hearing might be cause to
decide to be a better neighbor.
—–Original Message—–
From: Denis Law[mailto:DLaw@ci.renton.wa.us]
Sent: Wednesday, June 18, 2008 6:31 AM
To: Ryan Zulauf; Larry Warren
Cc: April Alexander; Don Persson; Greg Taylor; Jay Covington; Julia
Medzegian; King Parker; Marcie Palmer; Randy Corman; Rich Zwicker; Terri
Briere
Subject: Helicopter
Larry and Ryan,
Please take a few minutes to examine the details surrounding the helicopter
use this past week at the airport. It seems ridiculous that we have no legal
basis to take action against AirO or others involved in negatively impacting
the community in the early morning hours with a use that only satisfies
their personal gain. While this time it’s for graduation, what prevents this
from becoming a fairly regular event?
I also want us to consider directing complaints to Michael O’Leary, and
anyone else responsible for the activity, unless you feel this is unwise. At
the very least, we may want to work the council to take a closer look at
how we plan to use any extra hangar space that becomes available on the
field, including restricting any additional space for users that will
negatively impact the surrounding neighborhoods. We may want to revisit
costs and funding options of building hangar space that we control and
lease.
Thanks.
Denis
Written by Randy Corman
Boeing has won congressional support for it’s protest of the Airbus Tanker deal!
Here is the story.
Written by Randy Corman
Thank you all for your supportive comments about the Blueberry Haven appeal (see blog from Tuesday below).
In that blog, I mention that I think we need a study to determine conclusively whether Kennydale Creek flows constantly, or is intermittent.
After thinking about it for a couple days, I decided I can do a study for free, or at most one-hundred dollars, depending on the outcome.
Here is my study.
I WILL GIVE $100 CASH TO THE FIRST PERSON THAT CALLS ME IF KENNYDALE CREEK STOPS FLOWING (as long as it has not been artificially damed up).
If it dries up, as has been claimed by some people, give me a call and get $100! My number is 425-271-6913. As an alternative, you can also post to my blog if it dries up, and I’ll drop by, see for myself, and then send you $100. (Be sure you leave me some contact info). This offer will never expire… so keep you eye on the creek this summer, next summer, the summer after that, and the one after that, etc!
For the record, I don’t think I’ll be having to give $100 to anyone.
Written by Randy Corman
Written by Randy Corman
We reviewed three appeals tonight on city council, all of them as “quasi-judicial” land-use hearings. In quasi-judicial cases, council is not allowed to take new testimony, and instead is required to make appeal findings strictly from the public record that is already captured in the project file. In this special situation, the council is not acting as a normal political body, but is instead serving the role of judges or juries (hence, quasi-judicial).
In one of tonight’s three cases, the case of the Blueberry Haven Appeal, the public record contained contested testimony about whether Kennydale Creek in the highlands flows year-round; If it does, then it is not a class 4 “intermittent creek” as the city has officially classified it, and it requires larger land-use buffers than the applicant proposed. The Hearing Examiner has already had a hearing on this decision, and he heard testimony from a representative from the State Department of Fisheries, and from numerous citizens, indicating that this was a year-round creek. But the applicant insisted if flows only intermittently, and can not support life. This is similar to the official city classification that was assigned to the creek a few years.
After 20 years of living in the highlands, I have my own observations about Kennydale Creek. To me, it appears that the creek flows year round, every year. I have never seen it stop flowing in 20 summers.
Since I have made this observation on countless walks through my neighborhood, I could not think of a way to keep from being biased by my own observation that this creek seems to always be flowing.
I have seen attorneys reject potential jury candidates based on the candidate being too intimately familiar with a location or other aspect of a case. I understand judges recuse themselves for a similar reason in some cases. Since this was a legal matter based on the existng record, not a political question, I recused myself instead of arguing my belief that this stream is always flowing.
However, I still think it flows year round.
Council Member Marcie Palmer, a resident of lower Kennydale, recused herself for the same reason (as I understand it).
I should add that I feel that my other five council colleagues (who do not live near this creek) did an honorable job of evaluating the case record, and I don’t blame them for the decision they made.
I might introduce the idea that we have a new study commissioned to once-and-for-all decide if we have an intermittent creek or a year-round creek. It probably won’t affect the subject property, but it could affect others.
Written by Randy Corman
The idea of an eastside commuter rail line, which would utilize all or part of the Burlington Northern Rail Line, is getting a lot of traction lately. Puget Sound Regional Council is even setting up a committee to study this project.
Here is a note that city council received on this item:
__________________________________________
You all were copied on a letter from Puget Sound Regional Council to Mayor Law asking for our jurisdiction to appoint a representative to an advisory committee for a study of the feasibility of a commuter rail line on the BNSF Railroad’s Woodinville Subdivision.
PSRC and Sound Transit are establishing an Ad Hoc BNSF Eastside Commuter Rail Feasibility Study Advisory Committee to provide input on policy questions and how local jurisdictions view the potential commuter rail uses of this corridor. The Study Timeframe is quite compressed with the majority of the work occurring in the next 6 months. With that in mind, they are porposing to meet only a couple of times. First in late June to assist with study scope and evaluation criteria and review the compilation of existing studies and later in the fall to review the draft and final study reports.
The first meeting of this Ad Hoc Committee is scheduled to meet on Wednesday morning, June 25, from 9 am to 11 am in PSRC’s fifth floor Conference Room. 1011 Western Ave. in Seattle.
Are any of you interested in serving on this?
Julia
Written by Randy Corman
Hillary Clinton delivered a fine speech yesterday. Through her strong campaign, she has shown people everywhere that a woman certainly can be president of the United States. Clearly, if Barack Obama had not joined the contest with his message of change (along with his charisma and incredibly organized campaign), Hillary Clinton would have had the Democratic nomination.
And Ms. Clinton certainly brought the necessary commitment to the race to ensure she was never counted out. Her campaign was as historic as Barack Obamas, and will serve to ensure that the next woman who runs for president will never be underestimated by anyone based on her gender. In campaign management terms, Hillary Clinton’s strong performance will help woman get a more level playing field as they raise funds and build early support in seeking future nominations for president.
Along with Barack Obama’s official thanks to Senator Clinton, he has placed a thank you message on on his Myspace page which you can see here .
I love being American, and I’m particularly proud of our nation this year.
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