LETTERS
Published 3:41 pm Monday, November 24, 2008
Shoreline update at owners expense
I am writing regarding the city of Kirkland’s “update” of the Shoreline Master Program. This is an environmental program designed to protect fish and wildlife. The city has employed the UW and Watershed Inc. to provide data with respect to the shoreline along Lake Washington in Kirkland. The city has identified some areas of paramount importance in protecting fish. The primary one, according to the city, is tearing out all bulkheads and armoring.
For many living along the lake, this is not possible without destruction of their homes. For these homes that might be destroyed by loss of bulkhead, a geotechnical study would need to be conducted to prove the bulkhead is required by a qualified agency at the homeowner’s expense. Also possible if the bulkhead cannot be removed, the owner may be required to add fill to the lake to create a sloping bank for salmon fry. Also the owner’s expense. These proposals are being considered by the Planning Commission and will be sent to the city council for ratification next year. The irony is that the city, as the largest owner of shoreline property in Kirkland, has largely exempted itself from its requirements for shoreline property owners.
Need more? The next large issue is water runoff polluting Lake Washington. his water needs to be filtered. Who will pay for that? They also plan to change the face of city parks and plant native vegetation along the shores.
Have you considered that a city with that kind of power might not require you at some point to filter rainwater from your roof, driveway or patio? At your expense? If your answer is no, also consider this: I believe the city acquired the public walkways along the lake not by paying for them but through the permitting process.
J.F. Rogers, Kirkland
New budget, more taxes
The council is about to adopt a budget that includes higher fees and taxes to make up for their inability to balance the budget. Not a single Councilmember at the budget hearing addressed the impact of raising fees and taxes on the citizens of Kirkland.
It was evident that their budget had priority over family budgets. They spoke of budget reductions and the difficult decisions they had to make; however, the budget is still greater than last year, and we will end up paying for it even though we’re in a recession, something the council has a hard time accepting.
Councilmember Greenway said this is not the time for “a business as usual budget” but she is only one of seven. She was ignored. The budget that’s about to be adopted is greater than last year and over spends. It’s business as usual.
The proposed budget is not a bottom line budget. There’s still a million or more that could be cut from non-essential services before they raise fees and taxes. The manager only came up with a plan to make up for a 3.5% shortfall when there is a 12% deficit. That’s not balancing the budget.
Instead, the council will adopt a budget that overspends, raises fees and taxes, and put greater economic pressure on the 47,000 citizens of Kirkland. The council needs to wean itself from overspending. Our quality of life depends on it.
R.L. Style, Kirkland
Kudos, Juanita girls
(A letter that went out to the Juanita High School Boosters by Cheryl Dunphy.)
Thanks to a number of incredible individual and relay-team efforts, the Juanita girls swim and dive team topped off their fantastic 9-0 regular season with a second-place finish at the Class 3A state swim meet in Federal Way recently. The team finished behind swimming powerhouse Kennedy, which won the state meet for the second year in a row, and ahead of third-place Mercer Island and fourth-place Bellevue.
Kelly Tannhauser won the 200-yard free (1:52.52) and placed second in the 500 free (4:55.25) missing out on first by only 6/100ths of a second in this distance event! Emilie Kaufman took first in the 100 free (52.51) and second in the 100 breast (1:03.05). Congratulations to our two state champion swimmers!
Three other Juanita girls also had great individual performances that added critical points to the team’s total: Celia Pinczower placed third in diving (367.20 points), Rachael Kurtz placed seventh in the 200 free (1:57.57) and seventh in the 500 free (5:12.50), and Melanie Langsam placed eighth in the 100 breast (1:10.12).
In the meet’s kick-off 200-medly relay, Hilary Langsam, Melanie Langsam, Rachael Kurtz and Amanda Wilson placed fifth (1:54.93). In the 200 free relay, Emilie Kaufman, Hilary Langsam, Amanda Wilson and Kelly Tannhauser took second place (1:38.58). And in the meet’s final event, the 400 free relay, Emilie Kaufman, Hanna Armstrong, Rachael Kurtz and Kelly Tannhauser placed third (3:34.99).
Rory Wilson, Kirkland
