The organizers of Cove to Clover, the 5k fundraiser race for the Highline Area Food Bank coming March 14th, are issuing a “friendly challenge” to the City of Burien, including councilmembers and city employees, to sign-up to offset city fees that are being charged to stage the event.

Fees that are not being charged by the other city involved in the race, Normandy Park.

Did we mention that this event is a fundraiser, and last year raised $12,000 for the Highline Area Food Bank?

And that John Nelson, the main organizer, is one of four recipients for the City of Burien’s 2010 Citizen Community Leader awards being presented March 6th?

And did we mention that the City of Normandy Park is NOT charging any city fees for the event, which starts at their Community Club, so they have not been challenged?

Oh yeah, I guess we did.

Here’s the “friendly challenge” language from the Cove to Clover website:

Burien City Council: You just got served!

Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Council members,

Thanks for listening to my request last night to waive some fees for the race. I now understand that the fees can’t be waived and have been given some sage advice about how to offset these fees in future year.

However, for this year I have a proposal.

I happened to be at the NP Council Meeting when Rose Clark issued a friendly challenge to the Normandy Park Council to enter a team for the very worthy Relay for Life.

Since I’m new to this game, I’m stealing a play from your own playbook. From Normandy Park, I’m issuing my own friendly challenge to the Burien City Council and City Staff.

I’m challenging every member of the council to secure at least 2 registrations for the 2010 Cove to Clover. I especially encourage you to personally walk or run the race yourselves and to bring a new friend. It will be a lot of fun and I’d love to see our leaders all out there partaking in the goodness.

When you find a victim that is willing to register, make sure they enter “BTOWN” in the “Reg Code” field of the online or paper entry form to get official challenge credit. You can make an extra donation to the cause while registering which will also go to the challenge. You can pick up a paper form at Mick Kelly’s or register at www.covetoclover.com.

For your convenience, I setup a webpage to track the progress of the challenge (www.covetoclover.com/btown). It will be updated daily.

I know your team can do this and will have fun in the process.

Thanks for your consideration,
John Nelson

PS: Next year, we can get NP and Burien into a head-to-head competition but I’ve learned to take baby steps first.

Click here to see how much the City has raised so far (updated nightly).

[EDITOR'S NOTE: as of 6pm Thurs. Feb. 25th, the total amount raised by the City of Burien = $0.00].

To register and for all the race info, visit www.covetoclover.com.

It’ll be interesting to see if, and how, the City of Burien will respond…

• Will they suddenly find a way to waive the fees?
• Will city employees suddenly sign-up en masse?
• Will we see Mayor McGilton and Mike Martin running down SW 152nd?

We’ll keep ya posted…

Ric Jacobson is the Des Moines Rotarian in charge of lining up the largest line-up of wineries – 25 – in the six year history of the Poverty Bay Wine Festival, which is coming to the Landmark Event Center in Des Moines on March 6th and 7th.

Ric reports that the following Northwest wineries will be at the festival on Saturday and Sunday to serve the guests. If you taste a wine you want to take home, bottles will be for sale at the event. All proceeds of the sale of wine will go directly to the Rotary Club of Des Moines, who use the funds for the many great things they do for the community.

The following wineries will be in attendance for the event:

• Canyon’s Edge
• Chandler Reach
• Covington Cellars – NEW
• Coyote Canyon Winery – NEW
• Burien’s own E.B. Foote Winery (WLB Advertiser)
• Eaton Hill
• Erin Glenn
• Fall Line
• Five Star Cellars
• Fort Walla Walla Cellars – NEW
• Kestrel – NEW
• Knipprath – NEW
• Masset Winery
• Otis Kenyon
• Page Cellars
• Pondera – NEW
• Sleeping Dog
• Sodo Vino – NEW
• Stina’s Cellar
• Two Vintners – NEW
• Vashon Winery
• Vin du Lac – NEW
• Waving Tree
• Willis Hall
• Windy Point

Des Moines Rotarian, Dave Loft, in charge of food and goodies at the Poverty Bay Wine Festival has lined up the “best of the best” for food and snacks for wine-fest guests:

• Des Moines’ Anthony’s HomePort
• Des Moines’ Salty’s at Redondo
• Charley’s on Central Avenue in Kent
• Cafe Pacific Catering
• Forte Chocolates
• Kauzlarich Smoked Products
• Panera Bread
• Poverty Bay Coffee
• Waters to go
• Redondo Fred Meyer
• Archery Bistro
• Elliot Bay Brewery

The sixth annual Poverty Bay Wine Festival is surely the hottest ticket in town – well lots of towns, surrounding Des Moines. Your ticket includes fun, music, wine, food and even beer, all presented in the historic and magnificent Landmark Event Center (aka Landmark on the Sound), which is located at 23660 Marine View Drive South in Des Moines.

Tickets for the event are just $20 in advance from CorkyCellars (206-824-9462), Des Moines Drug or your local Des Moines Rotarian.

Parking and free shuttles will be available in the South Marina Parking lot.

All attendees must be 21 years of age and photo ID is required.

Click here for more information.

Normandy Park’s first-ever Winter Festival will be held this Saturday, Dec. 12th, from 11am to 4pm at the Normandy park Towne Center (located at 200th & 1st Ave South).

From their poster (download/view PDF here):

Join us at the first Normandy Park Winter Festival in Towne Square (1st Avenue at 200th) for holiday fun.

A free family event with over a dozen kids’ activities including Santa photos (bring your pets, too!), face painting, cookie decorating, Rockie the Police Dog, karaoke and caroling, and performances by Melanie’s Dancers.

Give back. Bring an item for the “Stuff the Trailer” senior gift drive or a food bank donation, and receive a free cocoa, cider or coffee at the Little League Trailer.

Support your local Normandy Park businesses. Raffles every half hour. Win prizes and gift certificates, receive discount coupons, and shop for hand-made gifts from local artists.

Raffle Sponsors:

• Archery Bistro
• Optimal Health Chiropractic
• SkySoles Reflexology
• Benson’s Best Bites
• Richard Steppic Wood Turning
• Emerald City Smoothie
• Companion Animal Medical Center
• Starbucks

Special thanks for generous sponsorship by:

• Normandy Park Senior Living
• Highline Little League
• Melanie’s Dance Unlimited

City of Normandy Park Arts Commission

The Highline Historical Society is holding an online auction fundraiser, which runs until Tuesday, Dec. 15th, and offers local restaurants, foods, trips and unusual experiences – all perfect gifts for the holidays, all the while supporting a great local cause.

You can access the auction here:

www.highlinehistory.cmarket.com.

Proceeds from the auction will benefit the ongoing programs and activities of the Society, including their capital building campaign for the new Highline Heritage Museum on their property in “Old Burien.”

“We cannot thank our local vendors enough for their participation. I encourage everyone to take a look at the website and support the Society by bidding on something fun for the holidays,” said Terry Anderson, Society President.

The new Highline Heritage Museum, designed by Rohleder Borges Architects, will be located on the Southwest corner of SW 152nd Street and Ambaum Blvd. SW, where Karuna Yoga Arts is currently housed.

The online auction is hosted by cMarket, which is the country’s leading provider of non-profit online auction services. On any day there are as many as 200 cMarket auctions underway online nationwide. With their secure servers and a growing number of community-minded vendors, more and more shoppers are finding that this is an excellent way to shop close to home for the holidays and to also assist a worthwhile local charity.

And you thought the Seattle mayoral race was close – only two votes separate the passing of Normandy Park’s Proposition #1, intended to create a metropolitan park district to manage, control, improve, maintain, and acquire parks & rec programs.

As of 7:34pm Friday, Nov. 6th, only 2 votes separate “Yes” from “No”:

Proposition No. 1:

• YES: 1,255 • 50.04%
• NO:  1,253 • 49.96%

Proposition #1, aimed at creating a “Metropolitan Park District” in Normandy Park, is on the ballot for the Nov. 3rd general election, and, if passed, would take parks “off the chopping block” and create a revenue to continue funding the city’s parks.

Proponents of the Proposition are holding a rally on Sunday, Nov. 1st, and here are the details:

WHAT: Prop. #1 Park Rally

WHEN: Sunday, Nov. 1st, beginning at Noon

WHERE: Marvista Park

INFO: From their website:

“In response to revenue shortfalls for the year 2009, which have reduced available funds for Parks & Recreation spending, the Normandy Park City Council has adopted Resolution 817, placing Proposition 1 on the November 3, 2009 ballot. Proposition 1 asks voters to decide if a Metropolitan Park District should be formed for the purpose of operating and managing parks, natural areas aquatics and recreation programs.

In 2010, the City will face a $400,000 deficit, unless new revenue sources are identified. Cuts to be considered will reduce the level of services provided in public safety, parks and recreation, and maintenance of streets, storm drainage and public facilities.

Metropolitan Park District
Proposition 1 would create a Metropolitan Park District, which would have boundaries coterminous with the boundaries of Normandy Park. The Park District would be governed by the City Council serving as the Ex-officio Board of Directors. The Normandy Park Metropolitan Park District would have authority to levy property taxes to enhance and maintain the Normandy Park Parks and Open Space System as well as provide aquatics, cultural and recreation programs.”

For more info, go to www.peopleforparks.info.

Here’s the language from the Voter’s Pamphlet:

City of Normandy Park
Simple Majority (RCW 35.61.040)

Proposition No. 1
Metropolitan Park District

The Normandy Park City Council passed Resolution No. 817 in order to allow voters to decide whether to create a Normandy Park Metropolitan Park District with boundaries coterminous with the boundaries of the City as now or hereafter established and to be governed by the Normandy Park City Council as the ex officio board of commissioners to support parks, aquatics, and recreation programs. Shall the Normandy Park Metropolitan Park District be so created and governed?

FOR THE FORMATION OF A METROPOLITAN PARK DISTRICT TO BE GOVERNED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF NORMANDY PARK AS THE EX OFFICIO BOARD OF THE METROPOLITAN PARK DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS

AGAINST THE FORMATION OF A METROPOLITAN PARK DISTRICT

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

If approved by the voters, this proposition would create a metropolitan park district to manage, control, improve, maintain, and acquire parks, parkways, boulevards, and recreational facilities, and to provide recreation programs. All property in the City of Normandy Park would be in the metropolitan park district.

The City of Normandy Park currently owns five destination parks, one neighborhood park, one low-intensity nature preserve, and twelve mini-parks. Most City parkland consists of passive parks and open space, but approximately eighteen acres are developed for active recreation. The City also owns and operates a recreation center and provides recreational programs. All expenses for these facilities and activities are currently paid from the general tax revenues of the City. In recent budget years, rising costs of providing other City services has limited the City’s ability to adequately fund parks and recreation.

If this proposition passes, acquiring, improving, maintaining and operating parks and park and recreation programs would become the responsibility of the separate metropolitan parks district. The Normandy Park City Council would act as the metropolitan park district’s board of commissioners but the district would acquire, improve, maintain and operate its facilities and programs separately from the City. To pay the cost of doing so, the metropolitan park district would have the authority to levy a general property tax of up to 75 cents for each one thousand dollars of assessed valuation. All revenues generated by this tax would be used to acquire, improve, maintain and operate parks and park and recreation programs.

Statement For Normandy Park residents live in a distinctly unique community intertwined with wonderful parks and green spaces that enhance our quality of life. The current economic climate presents our City with an approximate $400,000 budget shortfall. Our City’s situation is similar to many other municipalities. We must make tough choices by reducing services, including maintaining parks facilities and infrastructure. Approval of Proposition 1 will allow us to keep our parks open as well as improve, maintain and expand our City’s park system, NOW! • Improve hiking/walking trails throughout the City, remove invasive ivy, and enhance salmon and wild life habitat. • Increase capacity and improve safety for existing play fields, outdoor sport courts, maintenance and operation of existing recreation facilities. • Support continued community and arts events, youth, adult and senior recreational programs. • Maintenance and operations of and improvements to the Mt Rainier Pool. If approved, the estimated cost to a homeowner of a property with an assessed value of $500,000 about $225 per year, or 45 cents per $1,000 of assessed value. The Park District levy would be subject to the 1% cap for any future increases. Please support Proposition 1. Keep the “Park” in Normandy Park! Rebuttal of Statement Against Proposition #1 is providing residents with fiscally responsible choices: PROTECT EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE, PAST INVESTMENTS, PROPERTY VALUES • Keep Open Mount Rainier Pool, ball fields • Fix and Complete existing or approved infrastructure improvements: Marvista, City Hall, Brittany, Nist Parks, Walker Preserve • Take Care of existing, but degraded parks, forests, streams, beaches, green spaces • Finish trails for seamless walking/running/biking. Please invest in our children’s neighborhood! Dedicate funds to keep the “Park” in Normandy Park!!! STATEMENT PREPARED BY: Linda Peterson Hughes, Walter Hunt, Earnest Thompson

Statement Against The new Parks District isn’t about parks, it’s about revenue. It’s about creating another taxing district “pocket” for the City, with the revenue being controlled by the same elected officials and administration, and for the same purposes. It’s really all about creating a larger tax base for city government. Unfortunately, that’s not the whole story. The current administration wants more city staff and facilities. A new city hall, a new rec center, a new maintenance facility and commensurate additional staff have all been under discussion at the city, and all can be at least partially funded by this new Parks District levy. Complicating this is the apparent inability of our administration to appreciate the dangerous state of the economy, with plummeting revenues and skyrocketing personnel cost, and a state and county government which will be continually pushing large portions of their deepening budget shortfalls down onto us, making our financial situation even more precarious. This is a time for fiscal restraint, not expansion. A “Yes” vote without an individual commitment from the voter to vigilantly work to restrain city spending will result in much higher taxes and an unmanageable deficit in our immediate future. Tread carefully. Rebuttal Of Statement For No rebuttal submitted. STATEMENT PREPARED BY: John Rankin

Complete Text of Resolution

CITY OF NORMANDY PARK RESOLUTION NO. 817

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF NORMANDY PARK, WASHINGTON, PROVIDING FOR THE SUBMISSION OF A PROPOSITION TO THE QUALIFIED VOTERS OF THE CITY OF NORMANDY PARK AT THE NOVEMBER 3, 2009 GENERAL ELECTION, FOR THEIR APPROVAL OR REJECTION, PROVIDING FOR AUTHORITY TO CREATE A METROPOLITAN PARK DISTRICT PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 35.61 RCW TO BE GOVERNED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORMANDY PARK SERVING AS THE EX OFFICIO BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF SAID METROPOLITAN PARK DISTRICT; AND PROVIDING FOR OTHER MATTERS PROPERLY RELATED THERETO.

WHEREAS, the city of Normandy Park is an Optional Municipal Code City, located in King County, Washington, duly organized and existing pursuant to the laws of the state of Washington; and,

WHEREAS, Chapter 35.61 RCW authorizes a city to create a metropolitan park district wholly within its boundaries; and

WHEREAS, the City’s General Fund is facing a shortfall in excess of $0.40 million for calendar year 2010; and

WHEREAS, across-the-board reductions in expenditures paid from the General Fund could require a 15% or larger cut in individual departments or services; and

WHEREAS, Parks and Recreation services and programs are substantially funded by the General Fund. Additional funding is received in the form of gifts and user charges; and

WHEREAS, the City Council has taken steps to increase user fees and charges for Parks and Recreation facilities; and

WHEREAS, the City’s General Fund cannot support ongoing operation, maintenance and repair required for Mt. Rainier Pool; and

WHEREAS, in order to minimize the impact of cuts in services to people using Normandy Park Parks and Recreation facilities and services the City Council has directed City staff to prepare a proposition to be placed on the November 2009 ballot authorizing the creation of a metropolitan park district pursuant to Chapter 35.61 RCW; and

WHEREAS, a metropolitan park district has additional and independent authority to tax property to raise funds restricted to parks and recreation purposes provided for in Chapter 35.61 RCW; and

WHEREAS, Normandy Park Parks and Recreation are an essential element to the livability, public health, safety and welfare of Normandy Park residents; and,

WHEREAS, the City of Normandy Park does not have available sufficient moneys to sustain and maintain the facilities and services of Parks and Recreation departments of the City; and,

WHEREAS, in order to provide and maintain the Parks and Recreation facilities and services an additional source of funding is necessary; and,

WHEREAS, it is necessary that the funds needed for such expenditure be raised by an additional regular taxes levied in accordance with the law.

NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORMANDY PARK, WASHINGTON DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:

Section 1. Election.  Pursuant to RCW 35.61.020, the Normandy Park City Council hereby calls for submission of a proposition to the qualified electors of the City asking whether the Normandy Park Metropolitan Park District shall be created.  The Director of the King County Records, Elections and Licensing Services Division, as ex officio supervisor of elections in King County, is hereby requested to call the election in the City of Normandy Park on November 3, 2009 in conjunction with the general election to be held on that date.

Section 2. Ballot Proposition. The proposition to be submitted to the electorate of the City of Normandy Park shall read substantially as follows:

CITY OF NORMANDY PARK

PROPOSITION NO. 1

METROPOLITAN PARK DISTRICT

The Normandy Park City Council passed Resolution No. 817 in order to allow voters to decide whether to create a Normandy Park Metropolitan Park District with boundaries coterminous with the boundaries of the City as now or hereafter established and to be governed by the Normandy Park City Council as the ex officio board of commissioners to support parks, aquatics, and recreation programs.  Shall the Normandy Park Metropolitan Park District be so created and governed?

[ ] For the formation of a metropolitan park district to be governed by the City Council of Normandy Park as the ex officio Board of the metropolitan park district commissioners.

[ ] Against the formation of a metropolitan park district.

Section 3. Boundaries of the Normandy Park Metropolitan Park District. The boundaries of the Normandy Park Metropolitan Park District shall encompass the City of Normandy Park, as fully described in Attachment A, attached hereto and incorporated by reference.

Section 4. Effective Date. This Resolution shall be in full force and take effect immediately.

PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORMANDY PARK, WASHINGTON, THIS 14^th DAY OF JULY, 2009; AND SIGNED IN AUTHENTICATION OF ITS PASSAGE THIS 14 ^th DAY OF JULY, 2009.

The Normandy Park City Council, in a unanimous vote, adopted Resolution 819, Opposing Tim Eyman’s Initiative 1033.

City Manager Doug Schulze explained how I-1033 will reduce future revenues for the City.

Schulze reported that revenue shortfalls in 2009, required over $400,000 in cuts and additional cuts of $500,000 are needed for 2010 without I-1033. The City’s annual operating budget is $4.3 m.

I-1033 is intended to reduce property taxes, a regressive tax, which means the amount paid increases as the value of property (wealth) increases. As a result, I-1033 shifts the tax burden to progressive taxes (sales), which are paid equally by everyone regardless of income or wealth.

Based on the projected $500,000 annual impact to the City, the benefit of I-1033 is projected to be $180 for the owner of a $600,000 home in Normandy Park.

However, the owner of a $6.0 m commercial property would see an estimated $1,200 annual benefit.

And according to our sister site The B-Town Blog, the neighboring City of Burien also voted to oppose I-1033.

Normandy Park Blog Advertiser BECU is holding a free seminar called “Surviving in Today’s Economy” on Thursday, Sept. 24th from 5pm to 6:30pm at the Woodmont Library in Des Moines.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Free “Surviving in Today’s Economy” seminar

WHEN: Thursday, Sept. 24th from 5pm to 6:30pm

WHERE: Woodmont Library, 26809 Pacific Highway S., Des Moines, WA

COST: NO COST. NO OBLIGATION. REGISTER TODAY.

INFO: Space is limited – call 206-439-5910, visit www.becu.org or stop by any BECU Neighborhood Financial Center to register.

Sponsored by BECU Neighborhood Financial Center, whose free seminars are led by experienced financial educators.

On the 34th anniversary of the opening of Des Moines’ Mt. Rainier Pool (Sept. 15, 1975), a campaign called “Save Our Swimming,” intended to help pass Proposition 1, launched its website at www.mrpoolsos.com.

In response to tightening finances, Des Moines City Council members in July decided to allow residents the opportunity to put the pool on firm financial standing. Prop. 1 would create a metropolitan park district with the soul purpose of administering Mount Rainier Pool. It will be governed by a five-member board of commissioners that will also be elected on the general election ballot. The district would have the authority to levy up to 20 cents per $1,000 assessed valuation to operate the pool. With $280,000 the average assessment of a Des Moines home, the levy would be $56 per year, or approximately $1 per week.

If the measure fails, the pool will close on Dec. 31st.  Could the fate of this pool be similar to the Evergreen Pool in White Center, which was shuttered Sept. 1st? Only time will tell.

The new website carries information about Prop. 1 and how citizens can get involved in the effort to preserve swimming in our community. Upcoming events will be listed and details about Prop. 1 will be outlined.

Since voters approved Forward Thrust – a comprehensive bond package – in 1968, the citizens of Des Moines have supported a wide-range of water-related education at Mount Rainier Pool. Literally thousands of children have been taught to swim, seniors are extending both the length and quality of their lives with low-impact water aerobics, and families have had a safe, supervised place to recreate.

“Statistics show that nine Americans drown every day. Three of them are children,” said Gene Achziger, campaign media consultant. “The best way to combat those tragedies is to teach kids how to swim. And what better goal for ‘The Waterland City’ than to have water safety education available to every child?”

But Mount Rainier Pool does much more. One of the biggest proponents of the water aerobics program is soon-to-be 105-year-old Faith Callahan of Wesley Homes who exercises at the pool three days a week. SCUBA lessons are taught there and both Boeing and Alaska Airlines use the pool for water certification exercises for their flight personnel. Kick in the pool parties, CPR and lifesaving training, family swims and occasional full-immersion baptismal ceremonies and you’ve got one busy pool.

And then there are the girls and boys swim teams at Mount Rainier High that produce some of the best competitive swimmers in the state, many of whom continue their educations on scholarships at colleges and universities across the country.

Mount Rainier Pool also trains some of the best athletes in the world. Federal Way native Ariana Kukors swims for KING Aquatics Club that is based at the pool. She just shattered the world’s record in the 200IM while competing last month in Rome. Two of her practice partners are Olympians Megan (Quann) Jendrick and Margaret Hoelzer.

“Mount Rainier Pool has been one of the best kept secrets in Des Moines,” Achziger said. “Partly because it’s not on the main drag, and partly because it wasn’t able to advertise its services when the county operated the pool, not that many people realize what a gem we have here or even where it is.”

But thousands of school kids do know where the pool is and any previous times the City Council has addressed the issue of whether to close it, those kids and their parents have flooded City Council chambers to advocate for its retention.

“Parents have always strived to leave their children a better world than their parents were able to leave for them. Forty years ago, voters approved this wonderful opportunity for their children. It’s a wonderful legacy and certainly one worth preserving for the next generation,” Achziger added.

SOS is chaired by Willie C. Salmond Jr. and the treasurer is Nancy Kuehnoel. They can be contacted at: sosmrpool@yahoo.com.

Here’s more info on Proposition 1 as well as the history of the pool:

ABOUT PROPOSITION 1:
Prop. 1 would form a Metropolitan Park District to be governed by a five-member elected board of metropolitan park commissioners for the purpose of generating funds for Mount Rainier Pool maintenance, operation and capital improvement expenditures.

The initial levy amount would be set at 20 cents per
 $1,000 of assessed property valuation ($56 annually
 on a typical $280,000 Des Moines home). Under state
 law, once the tax rate has been set, it can only
 increase by a maximum of 1% per year unless
 approved by the voters.

POOL BASICS:
Located on the southwest edge of the Mount Rainier High School campus, Mount Rainier Pool is a 14,640 square foot facility in the City of Des Moines.

The tank itself is a six-lane competition style pool that varies from 3 feet in the shallow end to 12 feet in the diving tank/deep end. There is a movable bulkhead that separates the pool into two sections that is currently fixed in place due to several challenges associated with moving it. The volume of the pool is 240,000 gallons that are circulated every 6 hours through two high rate sand filters.

The pool had a minor upgrade in 1987 and a major mechanical system upgrade in 1997. A small amount of electrical system and architectural ceiling work was also completed as part of the 1997 upgrade.

Mount Rainier Pool is managed by Aquatics Management Group, which also manages the former Kent Forward Thrust pool.

The pool is generally open to the community year round from 5:30 a.m. until 9 p.m. In addition to recreational and lap swimming, classes in beginning swimming, lifesaving and CPR are conducted. There are programs for low-impact aerobics for seniors and the infirm. The pool is also rented periodically for events ranging from birthday pool parties to baptismal ceremonies. SCUBA lessons are conducted and, periodically, both Boeing and Alaska Airlines use the pool to train personnel for water safety certification.

Also, the pool is heavily used for competitive sports on the local high school and swim club levels. Mount Rainier Pool is the “home” facility for the Mount Rainier, Highline and Tyee high schools swimming and diving teams. KING Aquatics Club, which boasts both Olympic and World Champion level swimmers, also uses Mount Rainier Pool as a practice facility.

ABOUT FORWARD THRUST:
On Feb. 13, 1968, King County voters passed Proposition 3, the $118 million parks and recreation component of the comprehensive Forward Thrust bond issue. The vote was 64.7 percent in favor. At the time, it was the largest parks and recreation bond passed in the United States.

This led to the construction of Mount Rainier Pool in Des Moines. The pool was formally dedicated on September 15, 1975. Virtually all of the pools were erected on local school district property, in this case the Highline School District.

KING COUNTY BUDGET CRISIS:
Facing budget constraints, King County announced in 2003 that it intended to transfer ownership of its Forward Thrust pools to local municipalities or close them unless such agreements could be reached. Mount Rainier Pool was operated by King County until Jan. 1, 2004, when the cities of Des Moines and Normandy Park assumed the Mount Rainier Pool Lease Agreement originally negotiated between King County and Highline School District. On March 6, 2009, ownership of the pool was transferred to Highline School District.

LOCAL BUDGET PROBLEMS:
By interlocal agreement, the cities of Des Moines, Normandy Park and SeaTac, along with Highline School District, are members of the Mount Rainier Pool Contributors through Dec. 31, 2009. With the opening of a new YMCA pool in SeaTac, that city has now dropped out of the contributors group. Highline School District has indicated it will no longer contribute to the MRPC after the end of the year, but will negotiate a lease to a suitable entity for continued operation of the pool.

In response, both the cities of Des Moines and Normandy Park have placed propositions on the Nov. 3 ballot to create metropolitan park districts to oversee and operate Mount Rainier Pool.

There are, however, important distinctions between the two propositions. Des Moines Prop. 1 would levy an assessment of 20 cents per $1,000 assessed valuation and encompass only the operation of the pool, while Normandy Park Prop. would levy an assessment of 75 cents per $1,000 assessed valuation an encompass operation of the pool and Normandy Park’s entire parks and recreation operation.

Also, while the Normandy Park metropolitan park district would be governed by the existing city council, the Des Moines pool metropolitan park district will be governed by an independently elected 5-member board of commissioners.

Candidates for those positions will also be on the Nov. 3 ballot.

Because each city’s propositions will be approved or rejected independently, the assessment in the Des Moines proposal would generate enough funds on its own to maintain and operate Mount Rainier Pool. The amount of the Des Moines levy could be reduced if both cities pass their propositions.

Based on Des Moines’ 2009 assessed valuation of $3,239,586,031, a levy of 20 cents per $1,000 assessed valuation will generate $647,916 per year. Broken down to the average $280,000 household, the share of the levy would be $56 per year, or $1.08 per week.

The current operations subsidy for the pool is approximately $100,000. However, since transfer of the pool from the county in 2004, there has been little maintenance of the facility. It is a 35-year-old building and does need repairs and upgrades. Consultants have identified $4.7 million in improvements that would need to be made over the next 10 years, thus the need for the extra revenue generated by the levy.

Language that will appear on the Nov. 3rd ballot (for DM residents) for Prop. 1 (download/view PDF file here):

PROPOSITION NO. 1

FORMATION AND FUNDING OF DES MOINES POOL METROPOLITAN PARK DISTRICT

Des Moines Resolution 09-095 proposes creation of the Des Moines Pool Metropolitan Park District coextensive with the City’s boundaries pursuant to 35.61 RCW, including the authority to levy a general tax on property within the District each year not to exceed twenty cents per thousand dollars of assessed valuation, for the purpose of acquiring and operating a pool facility. A five- member board of commissioners, elected at large, shall govern the District.

o For the formation of a Metropolitan Park District to be governed by a five-member board of commissioners to be elected at large.

o Against the formation of a Metropolitan Park District.

The Planning Association of Washington, The Washington State Department of Commerce and The Washington Cities Insurance Authority are sponsoring “A Short Course on Local Planning” at the City of Normanday Park’s Council Chambers on Thursday, Sept. 24th from 6:30pm-9:30pm.

Here are the details:

WHAT: “A Short Course on Local Planning”

WHEN: Thursday, Sept. 24th from 6:30pm to 9:30pm

WHERE: City of Normandy Park Council Chambers – City Hall 801 SW 174th Street, Normandy Park, WA 98166

AGENDA:

• WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS: Anne Fritzel 6:40 – 7:40
• THE LEGAL BASIS OF PLANNING IN WASHINGTON STATE: Phil Olbrechts; The statutory basis of planning in Washington State, Constitutional issues in land use planning, the Open Public Meetings Act, the Appearance of Fairness Doctrine, conflicts of interest, quasi-judicial and legislative functions of the planning commission, ex parte communications and how to deal with them, the conduct of meetings, the uses (and misuses) of email, and recent case law affecting land use planning.
• 7:40 – 7:55 BREAK
• 7:55 – 8:00: ANNOUNCEMENTS: Anne Fritzel 8:00 – 8:30
• COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING BASICS: Roger Wagoner; An overview of the basic components of a comprehensive plan, including the goals of the plan, the basic elements which need to be addressed, the concepts of consistency and concurrency, and suggestions for involving citizens in the planning process.
• 8:30 – 9:00 PLAN IMPLEMENTATION AND THE ROLE OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION: Michael Booth; The tools and techniques available for implementing the comprehensive plan, discussion of the role of the planning commission, how to develop good working relationships among the planning commission, elected officials, and planning staff, and suggestions for holding effective meetings and hearings.
• 9:00 – 9:30 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS: Everyone

The evening will be Moderated by Anne Fritzel, AICP Senior Planner Growth Management Services Department of Commerce (PO Box 42525 906 Columbia St SW Olympia, WA 98504 (360) 725-3064) anne.fritzel@commerce.wa.gov; www.commerce.wa.gov/growth

PRESENTERS:

• Phil A. Olbrechts, Attorney at Law Ogden Murphy Wallace 1601 Fifth Avenue, Suite 2100 Seattle, WA 98101-1686 (206) 447-7000 polbrechts@omwlaw.com
• Roger Wagoner, AIA, FAICP Director of Community Design BHC Consultants 1601 Fifth Avenue, Suite 500 Seattle, WA 98101 206.505.3400 roger.wagoner@bhcconsultants.com; www.bhcconsultants.com
• Michael Booth, AICP Director of Environmental and Community Planning Perteet Inc. 2707 Colby Avenue, Suite 900 Everett, WA 98201 (425)252-7700 (800)615-9900; MBooth@perteet.com; www.perteet.com

REGISTRATION:

• Please go to www.wciapool.org and click “training schedule.”
• Click until you get to the month of the training, then click on the title of the training and click “sign up.”
• First time registering online? Click “First Time Online Registration” and complete the Participant Form and create a user name and password to use to register for future trainings.
• Registered before? Enter your personal user name and password
• If you have any questions about registration, please contact Member Services Assistant, Maria Orozco at mariao@wciapool.org and or 206-575-6046 ext. 241.
• For a schedule of Short Course trainings please visit: http://www.commerce.wa.gov/site/395/default.aspx