Letters 7-23
July 24, 2009
Vote no on
Initiative 1033
On first read, Tim Eyman’s latest initiative — Initiative 1033 to “reduce property taxes” — might sound like a good idea. Who is opposed to reducing property taxes?
Yet a more careful read of the initiative raises questions about what the initiative does and its impacts. I-1033 would transfer all revenue in excess of that above a baseline, adjusted each year for inflation and population growth, to a special fund.
The revenue involved includes sales tax revenue and all other revenue to state, county and city government above the limit. However, no one will receive a property tax refund check. The excess revenue will go into a special fund, which will reduce the overall property tax that can be collected the next year.
I-1033 is actually a reverse Robin Hood scheme. It would transfer wealth from taxpayers who pay sales tax to those that own property. For example, last year 57 percent of state tax revenue came from the sales tax. The reduction in property tax will affect both commercial and residential real estate taxes.
So shopping mall owners and real estate developers and people with second homes and mega mansions will all share in a reduction in property taxes if the economy picks up and more revenue comes in. If you own property, you would benefit. The more you own, the more you benefit.
Everyone pays sales tax, yet the U.S. Census Bureau says that only 65 percent of households in the state are owner occupied. So some 35 percent of the households will still pay sales tax. but they will see no direct benefit like those that own property under I-1033 will see. So, instead of using increased revenues to fund schools or teacher pay or classroom reduction or pay for police and fire protection, Eyman’s I-1033 would transfer tax dollars, the majority of which comes from all taxpayers who pay sales tax, to just those who pay property taxes.
This is absurd. How about reducing sales taxes if you think taxes are too high? Sales taxes are regressive. Or how about proposing a property tax break to help low and middle income people keep their principal residence, like a Homestead Exemption would do? Why should my sales tax dollars go to help reduce property taxes for Boeing or Weyerhaeuser or Kemper Freeman’s
Bellevue Square Mall? Some 40 percent of the property tax break would go to commercial interests.
Vote no on I-1033. Support real tax reform, not another tax break for the wealthy.
Steve Zemke
Class reunion was
memorable experience
Not only was June 27, 2009 a day that celebrated the city of North Bend’s centennial, but a day that hosted the class reunion for Valley students graduating between 1937 and 1946.
These students were products of the consolidated district of North Bend, Snoqualmie, Snoqualmie Falls and Fall City. Sixty-five graduates were in attendance, bringing lots of laughter, wonderful memories of past times, and many pictures of then and now, generating a great deal of fun discussion about changes to us all.
Cecile Richards, who now lives in Vista, Calif., and her family decorated the hall and prepared a delicious gourmet luncheon. Without Cecile, we would not have attempted to have a reunion.
It took a great deal of time to contact all the graduates, since most have moved away from the Valley. Thank yous go to Marian Danforth, Angie Crawford, Doris Reynolds, Maxine Dovenberg and Cecile Richards, as well as a special thank you to Doris Wade, who spent hours locating many of the graduates whose invitations were returned by the post office.
Maisie Davis Treas,
North Bend
Vote no on
Initiative 1033
Mount Si High School to get geothermal system
July 24, 2009
By Laura Geggel
Captain Planet would likely approve of the Snoqualmie Valley School District’s updated light bulbs, not to mention its new geothermal system at Mount Si High School.
Using funds from a $27.5 million school bond, construction crews are changing all of the district’s inefficient light bulbs, as well as installing improved heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems at three of the district’s schools — Opstad Elementary, Chief Kanim Middle School and Mount Si High School. Because of its large size, Mount Si also will receive a geo-thermal system.
After all of these changes are implemented, the high school could cut its energy use by as much as 60 percent, said Clint Marsh, construction program manager for the Snoqualmie Valley School District.
“That’s a huge savings that goes on every year, after we’re done with that project,” Marsh said.
Mount Si’s old heating, ventilation and air conditioning system had outdated and broken boilers and chillers that failed to heat and cool the school properly.
Construction crews gutted the old system and will install a geothermal unit, using the power of the below aquifer to maintain the perfect temperature.
Crews will drill one heating line and one cooling line 550-feet below the earth’s surface, where they will come in contact with an underground waterbed known as an aquifer. The aquifer maintains a temperature of about 55 degrees Fahrenheit year-round.
During the winter, 55 degrees is warmer than the average outside temperature range of zero to 40 degrees. During the summer, 55 degrees is usually cooler than the average temperature range of 50 to 90 degrees.
The mostly-constant temperature of 55 degrees should serve Mount Si well. The geothermal system will have two separate piping systems: one flowing through the school like veins and the other circulating through the aquifer.
If the school is too cold, sensors will alert the system and catalyze a heat exchange. The school’s pipe water will flow to a heat exchange unit, where it will meet, but not mingle, with warmer water from the aquifer.
After it is warmed, the pipe water will return to the school at a higher temperature to heat classrooms and common spaces. The aquifer water will return to the aquifer at a lower temperature.
The opposite will occur when temperatures are too high.
The amount and the temperature change of the returning water will be so small it will not affect the aquifer, Marsh said.
The old system worked in a more inefficient manner. Electricity-using boilers and chillers ran about 60 percent of the time, ensuring a respectable temperature in the school. The new system only requires electricity for its pumps and two emergency backup boilers.
The new system has 160 cooling and heating fan-coil units, and can target a specific area. This should save the district money, as one area can receive more heating without turning on the heat in other parts of the school.
Also, unlike the old system, the geothermal structure has more options than “on” and “off.” Instead of turning on the heat full blast, the geothermal system offers varying degrees of heat.
“The potential for energy-saving on this is huge,” Marsh said.
Marsh hopes the geothermal system will qualify for a federal grant. The $5.2 million project is already set to receive a $500,000 grant from Puget Sound Energy.
“These systems are expensive, but since the school is thinking long-term, they become a very good investment for the district and for the taxpayers,” Andy Wappler, PSE spokesman said.
The district may receive another $500,000 grant from PSE, this time for replacing all the district’s inefficient lighting fixtures with energy-efficient fluorescent bulbs.
The district is spending about $1.3 million to install efficient light bulbs and design an efficient electrical wiring system for it.
The new bulbs will use less energy, but produce the same amount of light.
According to Marsh, energy efficiency is in PSE’s best interest. It would cost the company a bundle to build more transmission lines or another energy source, like a power plant. If Mount Si is using less energy, PSE can divert that saved energy to other establishments.
“The energy we save is cheaper than energy produced,” said Tisha Helmer PSE, senior account manager for business account services.
Captain Planet would likely approve of the Snoqualmie Valley School District’s updated light bulbs, not to mention its new geothermal system at Mount Si High School.
Using funds from a $27.5 million school bond, construction crews are changing all of the district’s inefficient light bulbs, as well as installing improved heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems at three of the district’s schools — Opstad Elementary, Chief Kanim Middle School and Mount Si High School. Because of its large size, Mount Si also will receive a geo-thermal system.
After all of these changes are implemented, the high school could cut its energy use by as much as 60 percent, said Clint Marsh, construction program manager for the Snoqualmie Valley School District.
“That’s a huge savings that goes on every year, after we’re done with that project,” Marsh said.
Valley population still booming
July 24, 2009
By Ryan Piersol
The city of Snoqualmie is still the fastest-growing city in the state since the start of the decade — and it’s not even close.
Numbers recently released by the Office of Financial Management show Snoqualmie’s April 2009 population at 9,730. That’s 370 people higher than the census number a year ago.
Since 2000, Snoqualmie has grown from 1,631, adding more than 8,000 to its population. That’s an increase of 496 percent, easily the highest in Washington. The city of Roy is second on that list at 234 percent, while DuPont is third at 212 percent.
The swell, of course, is expected to continue in Snoqualmie, thanks to developments on the Ridge. Bob Cole, economic development specialist for the city, said the original plan entailed the construction of more than 4,000 homes on the Ridge, and that a little more than 3,000 of those have been built.
“So, (the population) will keep going up. The big question is when that is going to happen,” Cole said. “Prior to 2007, things were moving along at a pretty rapid pace. Now, in 2009, new construction in all of our cities has really slowed down.”
Cole said that he and city officials see no shortage of reasons why people want to move to Snoqualmie.
“I think that Quadrant and the city of Snoqualmie have done an excellent job in design with the homes on the Ridge. They’ve created a place where people want to come and live,” he said. “People love the concept and the proof is how rapidly they’ve bought the product. It’s probably the biggest reason why we’ve been so successful.
“In addition to that, access to I-90 and Bellevue and downtown Seattle has been very helpful. And, of course, is there any place more beautiful to live than the Snoqualmie Valley?”
North Bend’s population stayed steady — as it has done the entire decade — increasing from 4,710 to 4,760. City officials, however, do not expect it to stay that way for long, thanks to a recent annexation and a series of scheduled developments.
Last month, the city annexed the Tanner addition, which will add another 900-1,000 to the city’s population. Earlier this year, North Bend also officially ended a decade-long building moratorium by striking a new water deal. The end of the moratorium is expected to spur a significant amount of new developments.
“It’s going to take at least 2009 to build and construct,” Community and Economic Development Director Gina Estep said. “But, in the next two years, we’re looking at another 1,500 people.”
Development projects officially scheduled include 68 cottage homes planned off Trasher Avenue, another 56 single-family homes off Ribary Way and 120 single-family homes in a project north of town.
Reach editor Ryan Piersol at editor@snovallesytar.com or 392-6434. To comment on this story, go to www.snovalleystar.com.
The city of Snoqualmie is still the fastest-growing city in the state since the start of the decade — and it’s not even close.
Numbers recently released by the Office of Financial Management show Snoqualmie’s April 2009 population at 9,730. That’s 370 people higher than the census number a year ago.
Since 2000, Snoqualmie has grown from 1,631, adding more than 8,000 to its population. That’s an increase of 496 percent, easily the highest in Washington. The city of Roy is second on that list at 234 percent, while DuPont is third at 212 percent.
Search still on for chamber director
July 24, 2009
By Michael Bayless Rowe
The search for a new CEO for the Snoqualmie Valley Chamber of Commerce is making progress, said Chamber Board President Steve Rackets.
“We’re hoping to complete the search by the end of the month,” Rackets said.
Former Snoqualmie Valley Chamber of Commerce CEO Karen Granger stepped down at the end of May for health reasons.
Rackets said the chamber has received a large number of resumes from people who are interested in the job. Chamber Board Vice President Gregory Malcolm has been in charge of the ad-hoc search committee that seeks to fill the open position.
The ad-hoc committee has finished its first round of in-person interviews. Before the first round of interviews, candidates were screened in phone interviews.
Rackets hopes that final interviews will begin soon. However, the Aug. 1 date for having a new director is only a target, Rackets said. He said that the decision on who becomes the new chamber director might come down to the wire.
“It’s more important to select the right candidate,” Rackets said.
He said that the chamber board was pleased with the number of quality candidates who had applied for the job. The mix of candidates includes people with prior chamber experience, including former chamber executives, as well as people with industry and business experience.
Reach reporter Michael Bayless Rowe at mrowe@snovalleystar.com or 392-6434, ext. 248. To comment on this story, go to www.snovalleystar.com.
The search for a new CEO for the Snoqualmie Valley Chamber of Commerce is making progress, said Chamber Board President Steve Rackets.
“We’re hoping to complete the search by the end of the month,” Rackets said.
Former Snoqualmie Valley Chamber of Commerce CEO Karen Granger stepped down at the end of May for health reasons.
Rackets said the chamber has received a large number of resumes from people who are interested in the job. Chamber Board Vice President Gregory Malcolm has been in charge of the ad-hoc search committee that seeks to fill the open position.
Snoqualmie downtown construction pushed back to 2010
July 24, 2009
By Michael Bayless Rowe
Improvements to downtown Snoqualmie will not begin in 2009.
Snoqualmie has received permission from the Economic Development Administration to postpone the start date of its downtown improvement project, which is funded by a $1.4 million EDA grant. Special projects coordinator Alan Lobdell said that the city has received a verbal extension of the start date and is waiting for written confirmation.
The EDA grant originally called for an October 2009 start date. The city asked for an extension because it had not come to an agreement with Puget Sound Energy that would allow the city to bury electric utility lines along Falls Avenue.
“We have time to get an agreement with PSE and extra money for the work,” Lobdell said. “Right now, the plan is to bury the utilities, but something could always backfire, but that is the plan now.”
Another reason to postpone the work is that the trenches needed for relocating the utilities could become flooded during the rainy season.
The work is now planned to start in February or March 2010. The grant gives the city two years to complete the project. Lobdell previously estimated that the bulk of the work would only take about seven months to complete.
In addition to the utility relocation work, the project will include new street lighting, sidewalks, angled parking, and improvements to water and sewer pipes on Falls Avenue.
Construction costs for the project are estimated at $2.3 million, but the overall cost of the project, including design and placing utilities underground, is about $3.5 million. Besides the $1.4 million in EDA grant money, the city has $1.8 million from a bond, leaving the city $300,000 shy of what it needs to fully fund the project.
The city has approached Congressman Dave Reichert’s office in search of some additional federal funding for the project.
Reach reporter Michael Bayless Rowe at mrowe@snovalleystar.com or 392-6434, ext. 248. To comment on this story, go to www.snovalleystar.com.
Improvements to downtown Snoqualmie will not begin in 2009.
Snoqualmie has received permission from the Economic Development Administration to postpone the start date of its downtown improvement project, which is funded by a $1.4 million EDA grant. Special projects coordinator Alan Lobdell said that the city has received a verbal extension of the start date and is waiting for written confirmation.
The EDA grant originally called for an October 2009 start date. The city asked for an extension because it had not come to an agreement with Puget Sound Energy that would allow the city to bury electric utility lines along Falls Avenue.
Planned river work sparks flooding concerns
July 23, 2009
By Ryan Piersol
Having lived in Carnation since 1994, Bob Seana has witnessed many a flood creep its way onto his property.
Last year, after flood waters ravaged his farm worse than ever, he wondered whether there was a correlation between the increased damage he suffered and recent work done on the Snoqualmie River. Now, as another project is being planned for the river, he’s wondering even more.
Seana and other residents from Carnation, Fall City and Duvall have planned a meeting for 7 p.m. July 26 at the Sno-Valley Senior Center to discuss a scheduled project in which Puget Sound Energy will lower a diversion dam near Snoqualmie Falls by two feet.
“They’re impacting us and we haven’t been notified. There’s never been any consideration,” Seana said. “Our lives, our livelihood is in the balance here.”
The project, slated to begin next year, is associated with PSE’s 1994 Federal Energy Regulatory Commission operating license renewal. One of the requirements involved with the license was that PSE officials were to find a way to alleviate flooding upstream from Snoqualmie Falls.
In consultation with the city of Snoqualmie, King County and the U.S. Army of Engineers, a decision was reached to lower the dam near Snoqualmie Falls by two feet. According to PSE Spokesman Roger Thompson, this could provide significant flood relief for Snoqualmie, while only minimally impacting those downstream.
“There’s concern that, by lowering the dam two feet, that it’s going to cause greater flooding downstream,” Thompson said. “But all of the analysis that was done by the corps of engineers — and was confirmed by one of the leading hydrology consulting firms in the Northwest — was that it would provide about a foot and a half of flood relief during a 100-year flood, while increasing flood levels in Carnation by one inch.”
Seana said residents were told something similar at the start of 2004’s Snoqualmie 205 Flood Reduction Project, created to relieve flooding in Snoqualmie.
“They told us it was only going to impact us by an inch. But the study had a plus-or-minus margin of error of about 10 inches,” Seana said. “What happened last year is that I personally experienced a flood 10 inches worse than had ever been on record. Without an analysis, I don’t know why I received 10 inches more. But I know that project was completed last year and I know it had an impact. I just don’t know how much.”
Even if the impact from this new project is only a half-inch, that’s still too much, Seana said.
“Even though it’s only a half-inch, it makes the water move faster. It carries soil with it. It’s a bad thing,” he said. “Cumulatively, we can’t take any more.
“Come down to my house and see what a difference a half-inch makes during the next flood. Spend a few days in the flood waters and see how you like it.”
The dam that is scheduled for construction is not designed to trap water — it’s simply meant to divert water into power houses, before it’s dumped back into the river. Thompson said the original plan was to construct an inflatable dam that could be raised and lowered, but recent projects changed the hydrology of the river and forced that plan to be scrapped.
Seana said, like most of his neighbors, he wishes he would’ve been more informed while all this planning was going on, just as the city of Snoqualmie was.
“I’m really amazed. We don’t make any plans without consulting the people below us,” he said. “King County talks about how they want farming to continue in the Valley, but they allow things to happen that put that in jeopardy.”
Having lived in Carnation since 1994, Bob Seana has witnessed many a flood creep its way onto his property.
Last year, after flood waters ravaged his farm worse than ever, he wondered whether there was a correlation between the increased damage he suffered and recent work done on the Snoqualmie River. Now, as another project is being planned for the river, he’s wondering even more.
Seana and other residents from Carnation, Fall City and Duvall have planned a meeting for 7 p.m. July 26 at the Sno-Valley Senior Center to discuss a scheduled project in which Puget Sound Energy will lower a diversion dam near Snoqualmie Falls by two feet.
“They’re impacting us and we haven’t been notified. There’s never been any consideration,” Seana said. “Our lives, our livelihood is in the balance here.”
Snoqualmie’s fine request turned down
July 23, 2009
The Washington Department of Ecology has turned down Snoqualmie’s request to avoid a penalty for violations at its wastewater treatment facility.
The state’s environmental agency sent the city a letter July 7 giving them notice that they were still on the hook for a $24,500 fine.
Read more
Sheriff discusses possibility of levy
July 23, 2009
By Michael Bayless Rowe
King County Sheriff Sue Rahr is exploring the idea of a levy to pay for public safety.
Rahr discussed that idea and other public safety issues with a group of North Bend area residents July 20 at the North Bend Public Library. She said a levy could be one way to get more deputies and better service in unincorporated King County.
“In this economic environment, the idea of a new tax is repugnant. But I’m so worried by the lack of a stable funding source,” Rahr said.
The sheriff said that there was no timeline set for bringing a levy to voters for approval. It might be several years before the levy is presented, Rahr said. She is meeting with groups of citizens around the county to listen to their public safety concerns and get their reactions to the idea of a levy.
Rahr said that she is studying what she called a successful public safety levy in the Fort Worth, Tex., area. One idea she floated by the North Bend focus group was to replace the county’s levy for ferry service that benefits few residents in the rural eastside and communities like Snoqualmie. The county funds ferry service between Seattle and Vashon Island and the West Seattle passenger-only ferry.
At least one member of the focus group was surprised that he was paying property taxes to support the ferries. Chuck Walsh, a resident of the Wilderness Rim subdivision, said that he would look at his property tax assessment closely now that he was aware of the ferry system levy.
Rahr encouraged the group to advocate for public safety during the county’s budget deliberations. She said that health and human service groups are successful at getting funds from the county’s general fund because they make their voices heard during budget time. She feels that health and human services funding comes at the expense of public safety, whereas those organizations receive most of their funding from state and federal sources.
The sheriff also heard about safety concerns that are on the minds of area residents. Walsh said that his neighborhood was having problems with juvenile delinquents. He is frustrated with the response by sheriff’s deputies who have told him that they have to catch the kids in the act, before they can be charged with a crime. He has called the sheriff’s department multiple times about problems with juveniles, and said that one of the troublemakers threatened to kill his dog if he called the police again.
Rahr encouraged Walsh to keep calling 911 about the juveniles and to let her know if nothing was being done about the problem.
She said that if the department had more money they would try to do what is called “broken windows” policing, which refers to a theory that crime rates drop when police investigate and prevent smaller scale crimes that affect the quality of life.
The sheriff’s department has experienced an upswing in property crimes. Rahr said that this is probably due more to the economy than to a reduction in policing. However, she worries that criminals may become bold if they think there is less chance they will get caught.
“Over time, the attitude becomes one of ‘it’s open season,’” Rahr said.
Reach reporter Michael Bayless Rowe at mrowe@snovalleystar.com or 392-6434, ext. 248. To comment on this story, go to www.snovalleystar.com.
King County Sheriff Sue Rahr is exploring the idea of a levy to pay for public safety.
Rahr discussed that idea and other public safety issues with a group of North Bend area residents July 20 at the North Bend Public Library. She said a levy could be one way to get more deputies and better service in unincorporated King County.
“In this economic environment, the idea of a new tax is repugnant. But I’m so worried by the lack of a stable funding source,” Rahr said.
The sheriff said that there was no timeline set for bringing a levy to voters for approval. It might be several years before the levy is presented, Rahr said. She is meeting with groups of citizens around the county to listen to their public safety concerns and get their reactions to the idea of a levy. Read more
Huge birthday cake in the works for North Bend celebration
July 23, 2009
From Staff
North Bend has put out a call for cakes.
One of the ways the city plans to celebrate its centennial is with a community quilt cake. Like a normal quilt made of many different pieces of fabric, quilt cakes are made of different pieces of cake.
The community quilt cake will be the centerpiece of the city’s 100th birthday celebration at the Festival at Mt. Si. The cake will be comprised of 154 smaller cakes. It’s designed to serve 2,200 people.
The idea for the quilt cake came from North Bend fourth-grade student Annika Laufer. She suggested that the city gather a group of bakers to make the world’s largest birthday cake. The city liked Laufer’s idea and now wants to make it a reality.
The city seeks volunteer bakers to help with the project by baking cakes. To volunteer, contact Cynthia Golpe of Cakes by Cynch at 425-281-5211 or by e-mail at cgolpe@hotmail.com. Volunteer bakers must register by July 31 to take part in the community quilt cake.
The community quilt cake will be served at the Festival at Mt. Si on August 8. Volunteers will deliver cakes to the festival grounds at Si View Park, 420 Orchard Drive SE, at 8 a.m. The cake will be served at 1:30 p.m. on Aug. 8.
For more information on the community quilt cake and other centennial events, please visit the city’s Web site at www.ci.north-bend.wa.us and click to view the centennial page.
North Bend has put out a call for cakes.
One of the ways the city plans to celebrate its centennial is with a community quilt cake. Like a normal quilt made of many different pieces of fabric, quilt cakes are made of different pieces of cake.
The community quilt cake will be the centerpiece of the city’s 100th birthday celebration at the Festival at Mt. Si. The cake will be comprised of 154 smaller cakes. It’s designed to serve 2,200 people.
Exploring the birds of the Valley
July 23, 2009
Trailsfest at Rattlesnake Lake offered a chance to get familiar with local bird life
Snoqualmie Valley starling lovers can indirectly thank Shakespeare for the presence the black bird with white speckles has in the area.
In 1890, New York Shakespeare aficionado Eugene Schiffelin decided that every bird mentioned in the bard’s texts should have a home in Central Park. Thanks to a mention of the starling in “Henry IV,” Schiffelin imported 60 of them, according to National Geographic.
“They’re actually being blamed in the area for the decline of some native birds,” said board member of Seattle Audubon Society Neil Zimmerman, who said the first Seattle recorded starling observation was in 1952.
Seattle Audubon Society member Neil Zimmerman shows a red-shafted woodpekcer at the Trailsfest workshop, ‘Birds of Rattlesnake Lake with a Master Birder,’ as Tom Sernka of Auburn looks on from the right.
