Harry Gatjens

Citizen Harry: Questions and answers about a possible property tax levy

By Harry Gatjens Many conversation are going on right now in the City Council about putting a property tax levy on the ballot on the near future. The council will be working hard on this subject at tonight’s council meeting. Here are just a few of the questions that are being asked. We will look…

Citizen Harry: What should the city do with those high-interest rate bonds?

By Harry Gatjens Refinance? Pay off bonds? Buy parks? A lot of information and misinformation is circulating right now about what the City Council is doing regarding some older, high-interest rate bonds. So what is really happening? The City has a number of bonds outstanding from 1998 and 2001. The original concept was take advantage…

Citizen Harry: Levy committee fine-tuning survey for residents

By Harry Gatjens The Edmonds Citizens Levy Committee met on Wednesday, with the goal of developing both a presentation to the City Council on our progress so far and questions for polling citizens on their understandings and desires. The meeting started with some discussion on what to do with the proceeds from the Snohomish County Fire…

Citizen Harry: What’s new with Citizen’s Technology Advisory Committee

By Harry Gatjens The Citizen’s Technology Advisory Committee met in early December to review the progress being made with the implementation of the City’s fiber network. The agenda included updates on existing projects plus some new areas of opportunity to explore. One new area that was mentioned was the development of “white space” delivery technology…

Citizen Harry: About that $2 million question from the Edmonds Council

Publisher’s note: The following report from My Edmonds News correspondent “Citizen Harry” Gatjens focuses on details surrounding last Tuesday night’s discussion regarding the proposed Edmonds City Council mid-year budget adjustment. Gatjens, an accountant, is familiar with city budget issues due to his work on the 2010 Citizens Levy Committee. The Edmonds City Council’s consideration of…

Today’s ‘Coffee with Citizen Harry’

By Harry Gatjens The first “Coffee with Harry” was held this morning  at Chanterelle Restaurant in downtown Edmonds. First things first: Thanks to proprietor Brooke Baker and her staff for hosting the meeting. The coffee and service were outstanding.  A small group of people showed up to talk and most stayed for at least an…

Coffee with Harry tomorrow morning – 9:30 a.m. at Chanterelle

Here’s your chance to exchange opinions, share information and ask questions of Edmonds’ own Citizen Harry — that’s Harry Gatjens, former Edmonds City Council candidate and a current member of b0th the 2010 Citizens Levy Committee and the Citizens Technology Advisory Committee. It’s tomorrow, Thursday, at Chanterelle restaurant, 316 Main St., which has graciously offered…

Citizen Harry: Edmonds’ rainy day fund

By Harry Gatjens Did you know the City of Edmonds has a $2 million rainy-day fund? It’s prudent for cities to put a little money aside in the event of an emergency, but in the case of our city, almost no one seems to know about our fund. As you know if you’ve been following…

This Thursday morning: Here’s your chance to have coffee with Harry

It’s coming this Thursday morning from 9:30-11 a.m. — your chance exchange opinions, share information and ask questions of Edmonds’ own Citizen Harry — that’s Harry Gatjens, former Edmonds City Council candidate and a current member of b0th the 2010 Citizens Levy Committee and the Citizens Technology Advisory Committee. The place is Chanterelle restaurant at…

Citizen Harry: Report on Citizens Levy Committee Meeting 3

The third Citizens Levy Committee, held Aug. 26,  featured a presentation by Lorenzo Hines, Edmonds Finance Director, plus reports from the various subcommittees. Several interesting discussions came up, and I will expand upon those below. Mr. Hines discussed how the budget is prepared and the components of the City’s financial systems. The City is legally…

Citizen Harry: Meeting three of the Levy Committee coming Thursday

Edmonds resident Harry Gatjens is providing regular reports to My Edmonds News on the workings of the 2010 Citizens Levy Committee. The Edmonds Citizens Levy Committee will have its third meeting this Thursday at 5:30 p.m. in the bracket Meeting Room at City Hall. Our second meeting was held two weeks ago, and the committee…

Citizen Harry: Questions and answers regarding Edmonds’ fiber optic system

The Citizens’ Technology Advisory Committee (CTAC) met again on Tuesday, Aug. 10, to review questions and refine the presentation that the committee will make to the City Council on Aug. 24. This was my second CTAC meeting, and it drew a smaller crowd than the previous one, with a few committee members absent and not…

Citizens Levy Committee to meet again Monday night

The Edmonds 2010 Citizens Levy Committee will meet Monday night from 6-8 p.m. in the Brackett Room, 3rd Floor of City Hall, 121 5th Ave. N. This will be the committee’s second meeting since it was formed by the Edmonds City Council to discuss options for placing a levy before voters. Everyone is welcome to…

Citizen Harry: What all this talk about fiber optics really means for Edmonds

Recently, Edmonds City Councilmember Michael Plunkett asked me if I would be interested in joining the Citizens Technology Advisory Committee (CTAC), and I jumped at the chance. This committee was formed several years ago; its purpose is to advise city leaders on the best use of a fiber-optic cable that was given to the City…

Citizen Harry: The Levy Committee, Meeting 1

Edmonds resident Harry Gatjens is providing regular reports to My Edmonds News on the workings of the 2010 Citizens Levy Committee. You can also read his story chronicling his recent quest for the vacant Edmonds City Council seat here. July 28: Meeting One The City Council of Edmonds has established a citizens committee to look…

Edmonds Citizens Levy Committee to hold first meeting tonight

The first meeting of the Edmonds 2010 Citizens Levy Committee is tonight from 6-8 p.m. in the Brackett Room of Edmonds City Hall The.committee was appointed by the Edmonds City Council to conduct a review of the city’s general fund and also take a look at city financial policies, capital projects and the salaries and…

One citizen’s quest for an Edmonds City Council seat, part two

By Harry Gatjens Special to MyEdmondsNews.com We continue with the story of one citizen’s inside view of applying for a vacant Edmonds City Council seat. You can view Part One here. Part Two: The Application Process Edmonds City Council Member David Orvis vacated his seat — the one in which I was interested — for…