Second plan for Parkplace submitted
Touchstone Corporation, the Seattle-based development firm owned by Douglas Howe, recently submitted a plan for Parkplace redevelopment that meets with current city zoning codes, city staff told the Kirkland City Council at its meeting last week.
The plan, which was described by staff as essentially an “office park,” is now the second proposal for Parkplace redevelopment Howe has submitted. The first, a 1.7 million-square-foot development that asks for several private amendment requests, including the elimination of 20-foot setbacks along Central Way and a maximum-height increase from four to eight stories, is currently under consideration by the planning commission.
Howe has said the second plan, which will now go to the Design Review Board, is a backup should the first — and its contentious height request — not get approval. The new plan is believed to be around 1.2 million square feet in size.
Schierman murder trial moved to Dec.
The murder trial for Conner Schierman, the man accused of stabbing to death four members of a Forbes Lake-area family and setting fire to their home, has been moved back to at least Dec. 1 after a King County judge reset the trial date last month.
The judge postponed the case saying forensic experts for the defense wouldn’t have had enough time to analyze the evidence by May, when the trial was supposed to start.
Leo Milkin was on military duty in Iraq when his wife Olga Milkin, 28, her sister, Lyubov Botvina, 24 and Milkin’s two sons, Justin, 5, and Andrew, 3, were found dead in his burned-out home.
The 26-year-old Schierman, who lived across the street, is charged with four counts of aggravated murder and one count of arson. He could face the death penalty.
Oemig transparency bill signed into law
Gov. Chris Gregoire last week signed into law a bill sponsored by Sen. Eric Oemig, D-Kirkland, that aimed at increasing the transparency of state finances.
Senate Bill 6818 directs the Legislative Evaluation and Accountability Program (LEAP) to create a Web site that will provide quick and easy access to details in the state’s operating, capital and transportation budgets.
“If this information is not accessible, it is not useful” Oemig said. “LEAP is making a lot of the same data that is already publicly available into a format that can actually be used.”
The new Web site will allow users to examine expenditures and revenues by specific programs and by entire departments. The site will also have information about governmental contracts.
LWTC offering free tuition and books
For a limited time, the Worker Retraining program at Lake Washington Technical College can now pay for tuition and books for anyone who needs training to avoid a layoff situation and for certain workers impacted by the December 2007 storm and floods.
The Washington State Board of Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC) recently added the storm and flood educational funding through its Worker Retraining program. Individuals are now eligible for this free educational funding if they resided in a Washington state area declared a disaster area stemming from the December 2007 storm and floods.
The SBCTC also recently re-authorized funding for working individuals who may be vulnerable to a layoff. Individuals taking advantage of the free educational funding must meet two of the following three requirements:
* Working, but the job description has changed so new skills are needed to avoid a layoff situation
* Have not achieved a degree with more than 45 college-level credits
* Working, but the job title is considered to be “not in demand”
“The Worker Retraining program is a great way for individual workers to jump start their current career or potentially start a new career,” said Brian Bashinski, LWTC worker retraining coordinator.
LWTC’s Worker Retraining program will also continue to offer free tuition and books for individuals who collect unemployment insurance benefits.
s to a close at Washington Sno-Parks
OLYMPIA – April 2, 2008 – Due to warming temperatures, the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission Winter Recreation Program has begun to close Sno-Parks for the season.
Visitors are advised to check the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission Web site at www.parks.wa.gov/winter, to make sure their favorite Sno-Parks are still open before buying a Sno-Park permit or venturing to the mountains.
More than two dozen Sno-Parks have closed. Other Sno-Parks may be transforming into spring and summer recreation sites, as well as trailheads for hikers and bikers.
Parking fees will change from the Sno-Park Permit to those normally imposed during the spring and summer season. For example, the U.S. Forest Service will require the Northwest Forest Pass at trailheads such as the Swauk Discovery Trail.
Should heavy snowfall occur this month, the Sno-Park Permit will not be in effect at the parking lots. The end of the winter season also means the end of all trail grooming services for snowmobile and cross-country ski trails. Sanitary facilities for winter recreationists are removed.
The Winter Recreation Program, which administers the Snowmobile and Non-motorized (winter sports) programs, was created by recreationists in the 1970s to help fund winter sports and recreation. Today’s program removes snow from more than 100 parking lots, maintains 3,500 miles of groomed snowmobile trails and 700 miles of groomed cross-country ski trails, including marked snowshoe and dog sled trails, and provides tubing hills, signage, mapping, education and enforcement.
The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission manages a diverse system of more than 120 parks and several recreation programs, including long-distance trails, boating safety, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling. The 95-year-old park system will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2013.
State Parks reminds boaters about new education law
OLYMPIA – April 02, 2008 –– Boating season is right around the corner, and the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission reminds boaters about the boater education card requirement in effect under state law.
Washington boaters are required by a law passed in 2005 to take and pass a boater education course and have their education card with them when operating a vessel of 15 horsepower or more in Washington waterways. Boaters ages 12 to 20 years are now required to carry the card when operating a boat. The card requirement for other age groups will be phased in through 2014. Boaters born before Jan. 1, 1955, are exempt from this law.
To meet the new education requirements, boaters can take approved courses in a classroom, online or at home. Once the course is passed, boaters pay $10 for the card, which is good for a lifetime. Information is available online at http://www.parks.wa.gov/boating or call (360) 586-6590.
Spring is a good time for boaters to prepare for a safe and fun boating season. The majority of classes are offered between fall and spring, with fewer classes offered during summer months. It is statistically shown that boaters who take a safety class are less likely to be involved in a boating mishap or fatality. Course topics include basic boat handling, safety equipment, navigational rules and boating emergencies.
The boater card requirement is phased in for different ages of boaters under the following timeline, starting on Jan. 1 of each year for each age group:
· 2009: 25 years and younger
· 2010: 30 years and younger
· 2011: 35 years and younger
· 2012: 40 years and younger
· 2013: 50 years and younger
· 2014: 59 years and younger
The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission manages a diverse system of more than 120 parks and several recreation programs, including long-distance trails, boating safety, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling. The 95-year-old park system will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2013.
On Tuesday, Joe Fain, Chair of Citizens for Independent Government, submitted over 80,000 signatures to the King County Clerk, to place Initiative 26 before voters. Initiative 26 will make the offices of King County Executive, Assessor, and Council, nonpartisan, effective in 2009. The initiative needs only 52,817 valid signatures to qualify. The last King County Initiative that qualified for the ballot submitted fewer than 75,000 signatures.
“Despite having to collect signatures in the snow, rain, and freezing temperatures, our success is a true indication of this reform measure’s popularity among voters,” said Fain, who has served both Democratic and Republican members of the King County Council as well as the nonpartisan King County District Court. Fain noted, “Elections should be about choice, local government should be about service. Nonpartisan elections will bring greater competition to county elections while placing the focus on competency and qualifications, instead of party politics. County government must respond to the day-to-day needs of our communities, from water treatment and law enforcement, to building permits and buses. Influence on these fundamental services should come from the people, not through a partisan process.”
Not surprisingly, many voters agree with Fain. Initiative 26 has a broad base of support, particularly from city officials throughout the county. Fain acknowledged, “We are honored to have so many nonpartisan city councilmembers and mayors endorsing this effort as well as prominent Republicans and Democrats like former Governor Booth Gardner.”
The process leading to Initiative 26 began in April 2007, when King County Councilmember Pete von Reichbauer introduced similar legislation before the council. The council did not grant a hearing to discuss the proposed legislation.
Once the signatures for Initiative 26 have been validated by the County Clerk and elections officials, the King County Council will have until July 5, 2008, to consider the proposal. If the council takes no action, it will appear on the August 2008 primary ballot. Once approved by the voters in August, Initiative 26 will become a proposed King County Charter Amendment and appear before the voters on the November 2008 general election ballot. If the King County Council chooses to adopt the initiative before July 5th, the Charter Amendment will move directly to the November 2008 ballot, saving King County taxpayers the expense of a redundant election. The council may also propose an alternative version, in which case both the alternative and Initiative 26 will appear before the voters on the August 2008 primary ballot.
