West Seattle Herald / White Center News - Environment

Letter: Sewer district buys brother's share of property

ericm — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 00:06:59 +0000

The Highline Times stories about this Wrangling over the Road has a lot greater following than I thought. Dozens of people I don't know or haven't seen for years are asking questions about it. "Oh, you're that guy I read about in the Highline Times..." It's clear the Highline Times has reached deep into the communities. People are upset with the abuse of government and municipal power already. This is a "poster child" case.

This situation has become a serious ethics question. The Southwest Suburban Sewer District historically hasn't kept its written agreements, promises or word with my family, continues to find legal loopholes to satisfy their determination to use my property as a shortcut diminishing the value of this incredible place with their constant intrusions, loud diesel trucks grinding up and down the road, waves of diesel smoke, industrial vehicles crossing by each other, bumper to bumper seconds apart robbing this place of its natural beauty, peace and quiet.

The Southwest Suburban Sewer District just did an end game run around to gain full time use of the compost road through my property. They purchased my brother's 25% share. That makes them a tenant in common with me, allows them 24/7/365 "access" to the entire property, potentially the house if they choose to do so legally.

Escrow closed June 12th at 2:30 pm. The District became a co-owner as tenants in common with me, an unbelievable turn of events.

The compost access road was specifically built for compost/sludge hauling only. The original easement agreement they signed is very specific. In several recent meetings, the District has been discussing discontinuing composting because it costs too much. I reminded them that the road was built only for this reason, not general use.

The District has plans to build a new maintenance facility at the old YMCA property on S188th scheduled to be completed in the summer of 2014 which they claim will eliminate 8 of their maintenance vehicles trips. Their terminated "Temporary License" was intended for these trips. In reality, 45-65% of their daily trips are their Taurus, Prius, small Ford x-cab pick up trucks, an SUV and vendor/sales vehicles.

Today, the daily use shot up to 50 vehicles as they revel in their new purchase at ratepayer expense, a rate of 13,000 vehicles through my yard and our neighborhood per year if sustained. The road was built for compost trucks, 390 per year is the average originally expected and a specific restricted limited easement granted for.

Of today's 50 vehicles for which they claim employee "safety reasons", includes turning a BLIND 90 degree corner onto and from the concrete compost road: (Safety reasons?)

29------58% Taurus, Prius, x-cab pu's, van, suv, employee vehicles
12------24% mini dump truck, flat bed, box utility truck
4-------8% Vactor truck
2-------4% Camera Van
2-------4% Compost 3 axle dump truck-originally permitted
1---- 2% 24 foot box delivery truck
50 100%

Their claims of "employee safety" for all these small vehicles needing a short cut are completely bogus. They have their own original entrance to use since the mid 1960's. An arrangement could have been made for the larger vehicles, giant flatbeds and such if they could honor any agreement they make.

This is the ultimate betrayal of ratepayers trust and end game run-around at rate-payers' expense in my opinion. Their purchase makes them unwanted co-owners with me and my boyhood home, the historic old Fish house and property.

That means all the employees could have a key to my house, sit on my couch, use my bathroom, sleep over, make coffee and wander around the place, watch movies, share my space.

While this is not their expressed interest it makes their current decades old easement a moot point allowing them "access" any time, any day or night, weekends, holidays 24/7/365 without restriction.

I am trying to research case law that defines a difference between 24/7/365 right to "access" vs. use! When the gates are open, they are using. Their attorney assures me in no uncertain terms that if I try to limit their access, they will sue and get a restraining order on me. (More never ending threats)

Their stated intent is to partition the property or administratively adjust the boundary lines to their property and that they have "no current" interest in any other use. We're talking about 24/7 access, any time, day or night, weekends, holidays, no limits.

There are 24 hours in a day, 168 hours in a week. They own a 25% "undivided" share. My position is they can only "use" the property 25% of the time. That potentially means, in a 5 day week, 8.4 hours per day, in a 7 day week, 6 hours per day.

Being "occupied", another co-owner has NO right to disturb the person or tenant occupying the property. This is where case law needs to be researched. If you have any ideas, please let me know! I can't do this alone.

I can assure you that every single vehicle disturbs me greatly and seriously affects this nature sanctuary setting my family and I have tried to be good stewards of and worked so hard to preserve for 75 years!

The District says their aging infra-structure needs to be replaced. Do the ratepayers approve of spending $150,000 of their monies for a short cut through private property?

The Sewer District phone number is 206-244-9575. The next Commission meeting is June 18th, 2013 @ 6:30 p.m. Sewer District fees will almost certainly increase to pay for this extravaganza.

To my neighbors, my apologies, I tried my best.

Brett Fish
Normandy Park

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ericm

06/16/2013

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Update: Disparity in compromise highlighted as Burien council approves new shoreline plan

ericm — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 00:06:00 +0000

Update: The ad hoc committee was tasked with trying to resolve four areas of contention between the city of Burien's originally submitted Shoreline Master Program and the state Department of Ecology. One of these areas was the buffer and setback requirements for the marine shoreline. The city and DOE had already agreed on the Lake Burien setbacks.

Here is our previous coverage

Yet another hitch appeared June 3 as Burien lawmakers appeared ready to approve a compromise shoreline master plan and resubmit it to the state Department of Ecology (DOE).

Three Burien council members voiced concern the compromise granted more lenient conditions for Puget Sound property owners over Lake Burien residents.

But the prospect of dragging the five-year-long process along for even one more council meeting caused two of the three dissenters to decide to approve the plan in hopes it may be amended later.

Councilmember Rose Clark commented that while the council has focused on the Lake Burien and marine properties shore plan, “the rest of the city has been ignored.”

The vote was 6-1 with Councilmember Jack Block Jr. the lone dissenter.

Under a compromise worked out by an ad hoc committee headed by Burien Marine Homeowners Association president Michael Noakes, private property near the shore would be divided into two zones.

In the first zone nearest the shore, any new adverse impacts would be severely limited, according to Noakes. In the second zone, some adverse impacts would be allowed if mitigated by restoration in the first zone.

Properties along the marine shoreline would be divided into three categories, depending on how altered they had become. Zone 1 measurements would vary from 20 feet to 50 feet. Zone 2 measurements vary from 15 feet to 100 feet.

For Lake Burien, the setbacks are 30 feet for Zone 1 and 15 feet for Zone 2. Some lake residents have pushed to eliminate the zones on the lake and have the 45-foot buffer be considered a single entity.

Burien lawmakers previously submitted a plan to the DOE establishing a 20-foot setback between the ordinary high water mark and a home or other building on marine properties. The DOE rejected that part of the plan and insisted on a 65-foot setback (50-foot buffer plus an additional 15-foot setback.)

As a result of the standoff, Burien council members appointed the ad hoc committee, which came up with the compromise which Burien officials say is likely to receive the required approval from DOE.

But the June 3 hitch came when Councilmember Joan McGilton said she was concerned about the fairness of the compromise.

“I want to make sure it is absolutely consistent between Lake Burien and the marine properties,” McGilton said.

In a later interview with the Highline Times, senior planner David Johanson sought to clarify the complicated compromise.

Johanson said in Lake Burien’s Zone 1 (the 30 feet nearest the lake,) homeowners would not be able to make many alterations beyond maintaining existing structures.

In Zone 2 (15 feet) homeowners may be able to construct “at-grade” structures such as a patio or deck. The structures could not be over 18 inches high. However, the homeowner would have to mitigate for the structure in Zone 1. Mitigation could include adding native vegetation.

On the Puget Sound (marine) shoreline, homeowners could “potentially” add on to their home in Zone 2 “depending on the location of the house,” according to Johanson. Homeowners could possibly expand their home toward the water inside of Zone 2.

Johanson emphasized the word, “potentially.” A worksheet has been developed that lists requirements and mitigation needs.

During the council meeting, McGilton said the nuance was important to bring up but she wanted to move ahead with a vote. She noted there are eight properties on Lake Burien with homes close to the 45-foot setback requirement.

Clark also expressed reservations about the disparity between requirements for Lake Burien and marine properties but decided to vote for approval.

Mayor Brian Bennett said the compromise was “unprecedented.” He praised the city of Burien and Noakes for pushing back against the DOE without resorting to a lawsuit and, instead, working with the state agency.
Bennett, who lives on Lake Burien, said he knows neighbors who no longer talk to each other because of the controversy.

“If we are not able to work together, we won’t be able to move forward,” the mayor declared.

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ericm

06/13/2013

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Sea-Tac Airport installs honeybee hives

ericm — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 20:32:20 +0000

Port capitalizes on open space to increase the hardiness of Northwest bees

Port of Seattle press release:

Sea-Tac Airport’s newest residents, 500,000 honeybees, have joined ranks with the 777s and other aircraft that call the airport home.

Made possible through a partnership with the Port of Seattle and the nonprofit The Common Acre, the project — named Flight Path — makes Sea-Tac one of the first airports in the country to feature an apiary.   Six hives sit at three vacant, undeveloped sites near the airfield.

Like most airports, Sea-Tac has large tracts of open land that provide an added buffer for both safety and noise mitigation such as the runway protection zones

With open space around the airfield and bee populations in decline, the airport is uniquely suited to host honeybees and other pollinators. The long-term goal is to promote hardy bee populations in the region by increasing their genetic diversity and supporting them with adequate habitat.

“As a leader in sustainability, we are pleased to become one of the first airports in the U.S. to host bees,” said Port of Seattle Commissioner Bill Bryant. “Bees are a critical part of the food chain and connect with our goal of growing sustainably and increasing the economic contributions of the port while reducing our environmental footprint.”

Honeybees pollinate approximately one third of all U.S. crops that humans eat and three quarters of all of the flowering plants in the world. As a key part of the food chain, bees provide a regional benefit and further the Port’s goal of helping the local economy through a robust agriculture industry and related jobs.

An estimated $15 billion worth of freight, including agricultural products, is exported through Sea-Tac each year. In the face of the massive national and regional decline of bees, the program will contribute to the number of healthy bees in the region.

Deforestation, disease, urbanization, invasive species and harmful agricultural and land management practices all contribute to the decline of honeybees. The project will raise and select for the highest quality queen bees to help strengthen hive health for other beekeepers in western Washington.

Bees at Sea-Tac also will contribute to the port’s local conservation efforts at the airport’s wetland mitigation sites where nearly 150,000 plantings and other restorative projects have been underway since 2007.

“We’re excited to work with the Port of Seattle to support pollinator health,” said Bob Redmond, director of The Common Acre and lead beekeeper for Flight Path. “This project is a poster child for land stewardship: the habitat, the bees, and our food system all benefit.

“The port’s leadership is exemplary — I hope Flight Path becomes a model for other projects in the region and nationwide.”

Seattle-based non-profit The Common Acre advocates healthy agriculture through practical programs like this one, as well as through arts and education programs. In addition to the conservation elements of Flight Path, The Common Acre also is launching an arts program to educate and inspire youth and adults.  Bees and Aviation

To increase public awareness of the importance of honeybees, Sea-Tac Airport will host a bee art and educational exhibit on concourse B. The exhibit, slated to open in January 2014, will include work on the subject of flight and bees by local artists Mandy Greer, Jason Puccinelli, David Lasky, Celeste Cooning and many others.

The parallels between the aviation industry and bees are illuminating. Air traffic controllers at Sea-Tac direct an average of 850 planes each day, transporting 33 million people and 283,500 metric tons of cargo a year.

Honeybees also rely on efficient operations, each hive logging up to 200,000 flights a day and requiring visits to two million flower blossoms to generate one pound of honey.

Like planes, bees have wings, fuselages and landing gear. They use terminals, runways, and complex navigation and communication systems. Bees transport cargo from a hub to the home port. These pollinators consume fuel for their journey, and gather resources at both ends of their trip.

The 2013 budget for promoting this conservation effort at Sea-Tac is $500. In May 2011, Chicago’s O’Hare Airport was the first U.S. airport to start an apiary. German airports, including Hamburg, Munich and Dusseldorf International, led the effort, with the first airport apiary programs starting as early as 1999.

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ericm

06/05/2013

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HCC’s MaST Center launches bottle cap collection campaign

ericm — Fri, 17 May 2013 18:34:47 +0000

Press release:

Highline Community College’s Marine Science and Technology Center (MaST) is pleased to announce the launch of the “Got Caps?” plastic bottle cap collection campaign on Saturday, June 8th from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. The MaST Center is partnering with community organizations and local schools to collect bottle caps to prevent accumulation in our landfills. The caps will be reused for eco-art educational projects and distributed to partnering organizations for proper recycling.

The launch event will include workshops to teach different ways to reuse caps for things such as children’s projects or garden art, and a “Sink Your Boat” contest. Attendees that bring a grocery bag of plastic bottle caps to the MaST Center will be entered to win prizes such as a Salty's at Redondo gift certificate, an iTunes gift card, a “sustainable” gift package and more.

Despite common perceptions, plastic bottle caps are one of the least commonly recycled items. These caps eventually become litter in our oceans, streams and beaches. Each year countless birds, mammals and sea turtles die from ingesting caps and other plastic debris. Even in a landfill, a plastic bottle cap can pose a threat to scavenging birds and land animals.

There are currently no measures to guarantee that municipalities recycle bottle caps. In response, the MaST Center will be collecting bottle caps to prevent further build up in landfills. School groups and other organizations are welcome to become involved in collection efforts.

The campaign was also prompted by the gray whale that beached on Arroyo Beach in April 2010 where an examination of his stomach revealed large amounts of plastic. For community awareness and education, the MaST Center permanently showcases the skeleton of the gray whale along with an exhibit of the actual stomach contents.

“After discovering the plastic debris in the stomach of the gray whale and working on a research project involving marine debris and microplastics, I realized the direct impact we as humans have on the Puget Sound and our ecosystem. I hope this campaign will spread awareness that these recyclable caps will end up in our waterways unless we properly recycle them,” said campaign director Nicole Bostic.

The MaST Center is located at 28203 Redondo Beach Dr. S. in Des Moines, Wash. For more information about the “Got Caps?” campaign or collection efforts contact Nicole Bostic at nbostic@highline.edu or visit mast.highline.edu/bottlecaps.php.

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ericm

05/17/2013

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New church to clean SeaTac streets Sunday

ericm — Wed, 01 May 2013 21:14:13 +0000

Members of a new church in SeaTac are holding a street cleanup in their new city this Sunday.

The World Mission Society Church of God, located at 18435 42nd Ave. S. is sponsoring the cleanup. They will begin at noon along South 188th Street, go north on International Boulevard to South 176th Street and back to 42nd Avenue South. The event goes until 4 p.m.

The members are inviting other volunteers to join them.

“Living in a clean environment contributes much to a person’s well being and allows a much more pleasant life,” the church said in a press release.

For more information, contact Amanda Tello at 520-256-3142 or Deborah Kwon at 206-465-0255.

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ericm

05/01/2013

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Environmental Science Center announces free healthy soil workshop on May 19

ericm — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 22:40:27 +0000

Press release:

The Environmental Science Center (ESC), Cascadia Consulting Group, Master Gardeners, and Sustainable Burien with support from the city of Burien, King County, and The Russell Family Foundation are sponsoring a FREE workshop for the public.

Please join us in the Multipurpose Room at the Burien Library (400 SW 152nd Street, Burien) on Sunday, May 19th, 2013 from 2:00pm – 4:00pm.

A beautiful garden or yard depends on healthy soil. Learn how to achieve this while also keeping the Puget Sound and our community vital. Master Gardener, Mary Machala, will show you examples and tools to use to build soil health inexpensively.

Gretchen Muller, Senior Associate at Cascadia Consulting Group, will also speak on low-impact development practices and protecting our watershed.

Practicing sustainable yard care can be beneficial not only to the environment, but also to your pocketbook. Simple practices such as using natural pesticides and organic fertilizer from yard waste help protect waterways from being polluted with toxic chemicals. Keeping our watershed healthy ensures the longevity of resources such as salmon and drinking water. Correctly managing stormwater runoff on your property prevents unwanted elements from polluting Puget Sound. Also, by using native plants in landscaping, you ensure that wildlife such as butterflies and birds have the natural habitat on which they depend.

Please REGISTER:
Email outreach@envsciencenter.org or call 206.248.4266 to reserve your spot. Light refreshments will be served.

For more information visit www.EnvScienceCenter.org

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ericm

04/24/2013

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Update: More information released about giant salmon invading Burien next week

ericm — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 23:44:57 +0000

A giant salmon will swim into Burien Town Square next week.

Actually, it’s FIN, a fiberglass salmon that children can walk through and learn about the life cycle of the salmon. It will be at the square next to the Burien Library, 400 S.W. 152nd St., on Wednesday, April 17 and Thursday, April 18, noon-7 p.m. each day.

The fun educational opportunity is hosted by Sustainable Burien and the Community Salmon Investigation (CSI.)

Burien resident Grace Stiller rented the fiberglass salmon from the North Olympic Salmon Coalition for display at Newcastle’s Earth Day celebration, beginning April 20.

Stiller contacted Sustainable Burien to see if the group wanted to display FIN before it swam over to the east side.

Besides volunteers to help with the educational display, Sustainable Burien is seeking a budding actor to “embody” or, more accurately, “in-body” the costumed Bert the Fish, who also may make a Town Square appearance.

According to his biography, Bert was born in 1996. He notes he has always been concerned with water quality. Preserving natural habitat by slowing the flow of storm water and replanting native plants, and preventing pollution like pesticides from entering our local waters are his passions.

To volunteer, contact rdare2@yahoo.com.

For more information on FIN and the Newcastle event, visit http://newcastleweedwarriors.org/Earth%20Day%202013/Newcastle%20Earth%20... or http://nosc.org/education/fin/

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ericm

04/11/2013

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ESC's spring season is officially sold out with a newly expanded Beach Heroes program

ericm — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 20:39:50 +0000

Press release:

This spring, more than 2,000 students will hit the beach with the Environmental Science Center's naturalists to explore intertidal Puget Sound. A new component this year includes an expanded field study from one and a half hours to two hours so that students can learn about the harmful effects of marine debris on our oceans and actions they can take to be a Beach Hero.

Taking advantage of ESC's new facility at Seahurst Park, students will be able to explore plastics collected from the "Great Pacific Garbage Patch" in the North Pacific Gyre, view satellite imagery of earth's ocean currents, and learn how to pack a sustainable lunch box by minimizing single use plastics.

When students make the pledge to REFUSE, REDUCE, RE-USE, and RECYCLE plastics in their daily life, they will receive an official Beach Hero identification card.

Most of the more than 90 classes that ESC will serve this spring receive a one-hour classroom session, two-hour field study, and bus transportation free-of-charge.

If you would like to support kids in South King County to become Beach Heroes, please consider DONATING online to the Environmental Science Center.

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ericm

04/10/2013

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