The Council’s vote came after four hours of testimony in a closed-record review of the Feb. 9 Hearing Examiner’s decision, and was the latest chapter in a long-standing legal saga that started in 2006 when Burnstead Construction bought the 5.61-acre property from the Edmonds School District and proposed a Planned Residential Development (PRD) for the site. The Southwest Edmonds Neighborhood Association appealed the project on grounds that it violated City ordinances and state laws involving stormwater drainage management, a Fish & Wildlife Habitat Conservation area, traffic congestion, safety, open space and other concerns.

After the City denied the neighborhood association’s appeal, association member Lora Petso and her husband Colin Southcote-Want in 2007 appealed to the City Hearing Examiner, then to the City Council. When those appeals were successful, Petso then sued the City and Burnstead Construction under state Land Use Protection Act  laws for violations of City and state codes. She prevailed in Snohomish County Superior Court and, later, in the State Court of Appeals,

However, the state appeals court left some questions unanswered and sent the case back to the City Hearing Examiner for more information and testimony in the areas of drainage, perimeter set-backs, and open space requirements, setting up the Feb. 9 decision in Burnstead’s favor. (Petso is currently an Edmonds City Councilmember but at the time of the initial legal action through May 2010 she was not. She recused herself from voting on this latest appeal and instead appeared with the neighborhood association and offered testimony on the group’s behalf.)

Monday’s four-hour meeting to hear the neighborhood association’s appeal was a continuation of a review that began during the Council’s May 16 meeting, but was ended at 11:30 p.m. that night after councilmembers determined there were still many unanswered questions and they needed another evening to address their concerns.

Although the Council voted unanimously Monday night to affirm the hearing examiners decision on all three areas – perimeters, open space and drainage plans — councilmembers did take an additional vote requiring Burnstead to meet two conditions. In an effort to address the neighbors’ primary concern that runoff from the development will only make neighborhood drainage problems worse, the council voted 5-1 (Councilmember Frank Yamamoto opposed), to require each lot to have an individual drainage system “if feasible within engineering standards and guidelines,” and for there to be a five-year maintenance bond on the drainage, pending research by Burnstead to determine if a five-year bond can be acquired.

Councilmembers will have another chance to review their decision and make further adjustments after attorney Carol Morris, who was hired specifically to represent the council during the closed records review, puts the proceedings in writing.

Individual councilmembers did spend significant time asking detailed questions on areas related to safety, landscaping and drainage, but were warned by Morris that it was important to make their decision based on whether the development complied with city code — or risk a reversal of their ruling during a future appeal.

For example, Councilmember Adrienne Fraley-Monillas asked whether city staff had looked into the concern by neighbors that Hickman Park draws an overflow crowd to the park for youth soccer games, resulting in parking on both sides of 237th Street Southwest. Increased traffic from a new housing development could prove dangerous for children crossing an already congested street, she noted.

“Obviously we’re disappointed,” said Southwest Edmonds Neighborhood Association member Cliff Sanderlin following the council vote. “The proceedings were treated as if it was assumed that the PRD would be approved. Councilmembers only had the opportunity to vote on ways to ameliorate the problems, but never given a up or down vote.  Several councilmembers expressed concerns over Critical areas, the taking of the neighbors’ property, and safety issues, they were told to ignore that.”

Three venues throughout downtown Edmonds will feature jazz performances by regional and national award-winning student big bands, trios and choirs, as well as an afternoon jam session uniting student and professional musicians for an extraordinary concert. All venues are open to the public and are free, although donations are appreciated to support the event and school music programs.

For more than a decade, Edmonds Jazz Connection has kicked off Memorial Day weekend by bringing together talented students, professional musicians and a music-loving community to showcase the best of local jazz while raising funds to support student music programs.  After a long academic year of practices, performances and touring, the student musicians enjoy the opportunity for a local non-competitive encore performance for their family, friends and neighbors as way to cap off another successful year.

This year, the 22 participating groups are bringing with them numerous national and regional awards. Topping the list are Edmonds-Woodway, Mountlake Terrace and Mead high schools, each selected in past or current years as Essentially Ellington finalists – the top national honor in high school big-band jazz.

The following groups will be performing:

Jazz Bands
Arlington High School Jazz Bands*
College Place Middle School
Edmonds Community College
Edmonds-Woodway High School*
Everett High School
Lynnwood High School
Mead High School (Spokane)
Meadowdale High School
Meadowdale Middle School
Mountlake Terrace High School

Jazz Choirs
Cascade High School
Edmonds Community College Soundsation
Edmonds-Woodway High School*
Kings Middle School
Mariner High School*
Meadowdale High School*
Shorewood High School

* Schools with more than one group performing


In addition to being a wonderful community event showcasing the talents of student musicians, Edmonds Jazz Connection raises funds to support school music programs and students pursing music and education at colleges and trade schools. Corporate and personal sponsorships, as well as donations to the event, are appreciated and can be made by contacting Ron Keimer at 425-774 – 2466.

The proliferation of smartphones provides businesses with new opportunities to be more relevant and helpful to consumers. Text messaging and mobile social media are rapidly becoming key to promoting business and getting the word out on events and special offers.

Panelists includes Michele Graves, Edmonds Community College Public Information Officer; Jeremy Baker, Owner of JTB Internet Marketing and Greg Urban, Owner of Ideas Unfold.

Graves is a communications specialist and journalist with 15 years experience in writing and editing, publications, media relations, Web content, and new media. She is the voice behind the college’s e-newsletter, blog, and Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+, and Pinterest accounts.

Baker, owner of JTB Internet Marketing, helps businesses build databases of targeted groups of customers who are interested in receiving updates & special offers/coupons via text messaging which results in new customers & increased frequency of transactions.

Urban, owner of Ideas Unfold, specializes in Web design, photography and graphic design. He works with client on various aspects of marketing, including branding, building brand loyalty, visual marketing services and graphic design.

Eighteen veterans a day commit suicide. Unfortunately, this is not “new” news, nor is it encouraging. Despite the increase in education and dollars, some of America’s finest men and women continue to lose hope as well as their sense of purpose and call it quits.

Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki, recognizing the issue, is working aggressively to find a solution and recently announced that the department would add approximately 1,900 mental health clinicians to include nurses, psychiatrists, psychologists and social workers, as well as nearly 300 support staff to its existing workforce of 20,590 mental health staff, as part of an ongoing review of mental health operations.

VA’s ongoing comprehensive review of mental health operations has indicated that some VA facilities require more mental health staff to serve the growing needs of veterans. The VA is moving quickly to address this as top priority.

And the solution needs to be found quickly. The Army released suicide data a few days ago for the month of March. During March, among active-duty Soldiers, there were 18 potential suicides: Three have been confirmed as suicides and 15 remain under investigation.

Also during March, among Reserve Component Soldiers who were not on active duty, there were 10 potential suicides (seven Army National Guard and three Army Reserve): Four have been confirmed as suicides and six remain under investigation.
Bottom line: one suicide is one too many.

Soldiers and families in need of crisis assistance can contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Trained consultants are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year and can be contacted by dialing 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or by visiting their website at http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org.

Michael Schindler, Navy veteran, and president of Edmonds-based Operation Military Family, is a guest writer for several national publications, author of the book “Operation Military Family” and “The Military Wire” blog. He is also a popular keynote and workshop speaker who reaches thousands of service members and their families every year through workshops and seminars that include  “How to Battle-Ready Your Relationship” or “What Your Mother-in-Law Didn’t Tell You.”  He received the 2010 Outstanding Patriotic Service Award from the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs.

The rest stop at 76th and McAleer Way includes a bench and signage.

Work is in progress on the trail connecting 76th Avenue West to 74th Avenue West.

The City of Edmonds says work on the Interurban bike and pedestrian trail connection through Edmonds’ Lake Ballinger neighborhood should be completed in a few weeks.

My Edmonds News took a few photos Sunday of the progress at Ballinger Station, a landscaped rest area for trail users at 76th Avenue West and McAleer Way.

Ballinger Station includes an open shelter with a park bench and two interpretive historical panels that tell the story of the Interurban Trolley Line, which ran from Seattle to Everett until 1939. A drinking fountain is still to come, said City of Edmonds Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Director Carrie Hite.

The city is planning on a ribbon cutting ceremony in mid-June, Hite added.

The council began the hearing during last Tuesday night’s meeting, but decided late in the evening to continue it to 6 p.m. Monday after councilmembers agreed they still had far too many unanswered questions. You can read the background on what happened at last week’s meeting here.

On Tuesday night, the Council will honor long-time Councilmember Michael Plunkett with a reception from 5:30-6:30 p.m.,  followed by a brief business meeting and a two-hour Edmonds Strategic Plan & Visioning Retreat with the City’s Planning Board
and Economic Development Commission. You can access the documents that will be discussed at the retreat — the fifth one in the strategic planning process — on the city’s website (look for strategic plan information in the middle of the home page).

Following the strategic plan discussion, the council will consider a request to authorize design services for the Main Street Improvement Project and will hear the city’s 2012 first-quarter financials.

Both meetings will be in the council chambers, 250 5th Ave. N.

Photo by Paul Anderson

With the Northwest poised to become the country’s leading coal-export region, fights are emerging on several fronts, our online news partner The Seattle Times reported Sunday.

On the table are proposals to capitalize on Asia’s thirst for cheap energy by building a half-dozen terminals in Washington and Oregon that would export coal from the Rockies, The Times said.

Physicians fret about an explosion of locomotive exhaust, while mayors grumble about the potential for long traffic-snarling trains, The Times added. Washington state fears 1,200 new barge trips on the Columbia River could spark more accidents and marine-vessel groundings. Tribes worry that spilled coal could poison aquatic food webs.

Local environmental groups have been meeting in Edmonds for several months in an effort to organize opposition to the coal-filled trains that would run along the Edmonds waterfront, citing the health and environmental impacts of coal dust.

You can read the entire Times story here.

Building landlord Bill Wilson of Wilson Investments said he has been working out of his warehouse since the incident, but the office is being re-carpeted and he will be moving back in next week. Other businesses, including Alberto’s Churros and Edmonds Autobody, have been “operating at less than full capacity” — able to use some parts of their office space but not others, Wilson said. The only business that escaped damage was MS Helping Hands.

Wilson said he expects all of the businesses to be able to fully use their office space by the end of next week.

Send your name and a brief statement on why you would be a good couple to follow to arts@MyEdmondsNews.com. We’ll follow the selected couples and highlight their big night online. Upcoming prom dates are June 1 for Meadowdale High and June 5 for Edmonds-Woodway High.

According to the VFW Post’s news release, the scholarship was established “to identify and reward deserving graduating seniors who have achieved an outstanding record of academic achievement, leadership, and community service and understand and value the freedom and rights guaranteed to us all by our Constitution.”

The $1,000 scholarships were awarded to two students each from the Edmonds and Mukilteo school districts.

In addition to their transcript and a resume, students were asked to write a 500-750 word essay in which they explained the meaning of freedom to them and how the U.S. Constitution establishes and maintains a culture of freedom.

During her four years of high school, Nguyen maintained a 4.0 GPA and established an impressive record of involvement in school activities, community service, and varsity sports. She has held leadership positions and has devoted countless volunteer hours in a variety of school and community organizations. She is also a past winner of Post 8870’s Voice of Democracy audio essay contest.

Willcock has received numerous awards for his participation in varsity football and wrestling. He is a member of the National Honor Society and has volunteered his time to tutor fellow students and provide services to a variety of Edmonds youth organizations. He plans to pursue a degree in engineering.

Jay Bennett of Kamiak High School and Madison Azim of Mariner High were the winners from the Mukiteo School District.

In addition to being honored during their schools’ academic recognition programs, the four scholarship winners will be publicly recognized at the Post’s July meeting, at which tine will be reading their Freedom Scholarship essays.

– Submitted by Fred Apgar