HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-11-2010 - Supplemental MaterialsRachel Baker
From:
Donna Hanson
Sent:
Monday, October 11, 2010 2:49 PM
To:
Carl Lombardi Jr.
Cc:
City Council Mail
Subject:
RE: Council Meeting - Budget review
Mr. Lombardi,
Thank you for your input. Your e-mail will be provided to City Council for their public hearing on the budget tonight. I
would be interested in talking with you about where you feel the city has excess staff. The city has a total of 24
employees. This is the same number since at least 2000 and I think we run very lean. I didn't research more than ten
years, so I don't know how far that head count goes back. If the perception is that there is excess staff then it would be
very helpful to better understand where the community feels we have excess and then we could definitely take a look at
those areas. Again thank you for your input. If you would like to call me you can reach me at 425-233-6400. Don't
hesitate to call. We want to hear from citizens. Donna Hanson
From: Carl Lombardi Jr. [mailto:carl@fieldhouse.com]
Sent: Monday, October 11, 2010 11:43 AM
To: Donna Hanson
Subject: Council Meeting - Budget review
Dear Ms. Hanson,
My family and I reside at 522 86th Avenue, NE. in Medina. I am unable to attend the council meeting tonight
due to family travel. I would like my comments added to the record and provided to the council.
According to the notes I have read from previous meeting packets and comments from neighbors, I understand
there is a desire by some on the council to add a utility tax to the residents of our city. While I am sensitive to
the fact that we are talking about peoples employment, I would like to understand why our council is not
addressing the shortfall in tax revenue with cuts in excess staff positions first.
It is my belief that we are overstaffed in several areas considering the size of our community and current needs
for services. I believe the City Manager is responsible for bringing the opportunity to reduce or add headcount
to the council for consideration when needed, this is one of those times to reduce headcount.
It is my opinion that if the community was more aware of the potential increase in taxes on our utilities to fund
these services you would receive an majority of negative responses. The city must run lean first, then if a tax
increase is deemed necessary I for one would be more supportive.
Reducing staff is not a pleasant alternative, however I do not feel it the appropriate action and urge the council
not to burden our community with a tax increase at this time.
Thank you for your consideration,
Carl Lombardi
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Governor's meeting
On September 10, 4 residents of Hunts Point, including myself,
met with Governor Gregoire in her board room at the State
Capital building. There were five state officials in attendance
including the Governor, Secretary of Transportation and David
Dye.
The Governor listened to our presentation. She asked David
Dye if there would be an additional cost or delay of time if we
changed from the half diamond back to our present loop design.
She was informed that there would be neither a time delay nor
additional dollars needed. She indicated that if some of the
other towns were in favor of the loop plan, that she saw no
reason not to change back to the current loop design.
Later it was suggested that the loop designbe less
expensive.
At the September Medina City Council meeting, Hunts Point
residents told why the loop design would be better for Medina
and for Hunts Point.
Statement by Dan Niles
3033 Fairweather Place, Hunts Point
I made a statement at the last Medina town council meeting about the negative reaction of Hunts Point residents
when they learned about our mayor's desire to change the 84th interchange to a more complicated two stop
configuration.
I spoke about the process undertaken to educate Hunts Point residents on the trade-offs and the strong views
expressed against the more complicated half diamond design, which essentially provides for a larger green
space on Hunts Point land.
The mayor appointed a committee of council members and residents who have worked tirelessly to study and
understand the trade-offs, many of which could not have been evaluated earlier by the mayors of the Points
Communities. Based on a recommendation by this committee to the full town council, the town council voted
unanimously in favour of retaining the 2007 loop design.
Since your last meeting, Transpo, an independent firm of traffic experts, has completed a traffic study which
supports the views of Hunts Point residents- that a two stop configuration has higher congestion risk than the
existing one stop loop design configuration.
Our mayor originally wanted the more complicated half diamond design and the record shows that the other
mayors supported the idea when they were told that it would not negatively impact congestion risk.
Now that the mayors and town councils of the other Points Communities know that the residents of Hunts Point
want to retain the loop design, and have new information about increased traffic congestion risk at the 84th
interchange, we are requesting the mayor and town council of each of the Points Communities to support Hunts
Point in retaining the loop design.
As I mentioned at your last meeting, WSDOT has told the Governor and the residents of Hunts Point that the
Points Communities can retain the loop without delay.
Hunts Point wants this project to continue without delay. We are asking for your support to make this happen.
Respectfully
10/11/10
Report from WSDOT Eastside Mayors Meeting Oct. 5th, 2010
Topic: Review Status of SR 520 Eastside Transit and HOV Project as it relates to 84th Ave. NE
Interchange
Attended by:
Dave Dye, Julie Meredith, Daniel Babuca, Michael Homtvedt, Linda Mullen, Deb, Eddy, David
Cooper (Yarrow Point), Ted Frantz (Hunts Point), George Martin (Clyde Hill), and Mark Nelson
(Medina)
Dave Dye reported:
1. Procurement of Design Build Contractor
2. Opening up scores of the 3 submittals the week of Oct. 11th, announcement of selected
contractor to be by the end of the month.
3. Schedule: Ground breaking will be next spring.
4. Meeting with the Governor & Hunts Point Loop Proponents:
a. The Governor listened to the Loop Proponents. She stated that one of the big
reasons that the Eastside project is proceeding into the construction phase is
that the Points Communities, Bellevue, Kirkland and Redmond have been united
on a plan.
b. Governor stated that she is willing to consider a loop design with three
conditions:
L The Loop design will not change the schedule
ii. The Loop design won't cost more than the Half Diamond design
iii. That all the Points communities must agree to the change
Ted Frantz summarized the Transpo Group report (SR 520-84th Street NE Interchange Review)
just recently completed and emailed to the WSDOT staff and handed out to the Points Mayors
Oct. 5th, 2010, at the Points Communities Mayors Breakfast.
The Executive Summary states that the differences between the two designs are minor. Each
has elements that need mitigation. (see report handed out with packets)
Because the report was just recently completed, both WSDOT staff and the Points
representatives have not had the time to thoroughly study and analyze the report.
The preliminary conclusions from the discussion are:
1. Based on current limited understanding of the Transpo Report, there was not persuasive
information or data to persuade the representatives of the Clyde Hill, Yarrow Point to
move away from the current Half -Diamond on ramp design.
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a. Plus, WSDOT has already addressed many of the negatives of the half diamond
design by,
b. Providing an underpass for the bike path,
c. Adding taller trees along the north side of the sound walls to visually buffer the
effects of the tall walls,
d. Adding a lane on NE 28th (Points Drive) to allow for easier access into Hunts
Point,
e. Modifying the lanes on 84th in front of Medina Circle to allow for access and
egress to and from Medina Circle,
f. Providing higher visual screens on the bike and pedestrian paths to provide
privacy to the neighbors along north side of the on ramps.
g. WSDOT has proposed a stop light at the intersection in lieu of a stop sign. The
stop light could be activated by traffic to allow Hunts Points residents to pass
thru the intersection without having to stop on low peak times.
In addition, the Mayors of Yarrow Point and Clyde Hill reported that all the eastside
representatives supported the concept of 3 lids, not separate, but each one working together
and supporting the communities indifferent ways. The 84th Ave. lid was to be a larger lid that
provided connectivity between Hunts Points and Medina and Clyde Hill. It provided a larger
park -like setting, and open space allowing for larger community gatherings. Going back to the
Loop On -Ramp design would destroy that regional amenity. In addition, the Loop design was
seen as a historical traffic problem. The current loop design has caused congestion along 84th
and blocks right hand turns from northbound 84th onto NE 28th/Points Drive and to 6 residences
along 28th. This causes motorists trying to go eastbound on 520 to travel thru Clyde Hill streets.
This is what Transpo's report refers to as "... local community gradual mitigation and learned to
adapt to issues that have occurred from typical queue back-ups."
The representatives for the Points Communities of Clyde Hill, Yarrow Point and Medina were
not persuaded by the issues brought up by the Transpo Report to change their support of the
benefits of the Half -Diamond design. In addition, it was felt that the current changes to the
Half —Diamond design proposed by WSDOT would improve the design and mitigate most (7 out
of 8) of the Hunts Points concerns about the Half Diamond design. The taking of land, is
something the WSDOT is still looking into and will work with the selected design bidder to see if
an alternative, that does not take any additional land, can be worked out.
It was discussed that another meeting would be considered after everyone had a chance to
study and analyze the Transpo Report and after the Design Build contractor was selected.
Mark Nelson
Medina Councilman
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