Why is the Boundary Being Reviewed in the First Place?

The community is growing.  Three years ago, Snoqualmie Ridge growth was addressed with a boundary change that balanced capacity from CVES to SES.  Approval has already been granted for building another 250 – 300 homes in Snoqualmie Ridge.  Kimball Creek is gaining 90 new homes.  North Bend water and sewage issues have been resolved and applications have been made for 387 new homes already (pending approval).  Unincorporated King County areas have had 30 new homes approved in the past two years.

And, of course, while the entire district benefits from the increased taxes brought by the growth, the broader electorate has repeatedly failed to support bond measure that could have alleviated growth problems by increasing capacity in the growing areas.  So, what are we faced with?

Basically, CVES and SES are now balanced and both at full capacity.  It doesn’t even look to me like the projections for NBES and OES incorporate the projected North Bend growth, but that is a story for another day.

Ultimately, I blame the voters that either didn’t get out and vote (you on the Ridge) or voted against bond proposals, but I assume that once the growth hits North Bend and they need their schools back for their own kids, enough voters will engage and pass a future bond.  For now, we have a boundary review.

I Was *So* Admiring the Process…

This most disappoint part is that I was largely content to just let the process work because the process seemed well thought out and objective.  Here is where we’ve been:

• February 11.  The School Board approved the formation of an Elementary Boundary Study committee at their February 11 meeting.  Elementary Attendance Boundary Study Announced.  This page outlines purpose, goals, timeline and identifies the committee members, which did not include an parent representatives.
• March 1-5.  Criteria Survey fielded.  See the results.
• March 5.  The committee announced criteria for the decision.  Elementary Boundary Committee Confirms Criteria.  Notably absent from criteria is proximity to the school – a recommendation from the first community survey which the committee explicitly chose to exclude from consideration.
• March 9.  The committee announce 5 proposed scenarios.  Boundary Committee Develops Five Draft Scenarios. With this announcement, the committee also fielded a second community survey for feedback.
• March ?.  Committee added Option F, described as “a potential solution that would disrupt fewer students than Options A or C.”  [If someone has more details than the district has published about why Option F was introduced, please share in a comment or e-mail.  I’ve heard that all options A – E result in Deer Park kids having a bus route on I90, but I have no substantiating details.]
• March 23.  Committee narrows the options to A, C and F and fields another survey.  Also published why other options were not chosen.

… Up Until Last Week

Then, it seems to go sideways.  Admittedly, the district hasn’t done a stellar job of explaining how Option F got added, but at least it was done publicly and there was a public comment and feedback period after it was done.

• April ?.  A group of families privately submit an 7th alternate option, which appears to have ultimately been adopted in its entirety and proposed to the School Board. 

I have obtained a copy of the letter allegedly from one of the communities affected by Option C, but not affected by the Modified Option C and made it available for download here as a PDF document.

I can’t verify that this is the exact letter, but it seems highly likely in my opinion. 

It appears that the proposal became what is now called a Modified C Option.  This option was not shared or reviewed with the public, as was the case with all other options.  And let’s be honest – this is a new option.  It differs as much as the other options.

Later today, I will follow up with my own analysis of A, C, F and Modified-C in another post and plan to include comment on the “reasons” articulated by the committee for their recommendation.  Feel free to register and comment below, or share links to other information that you’d like to put into the public record.

Full Disclosure – How It Affects My Household

I want to get disclosure out of the way, so fewer people will see bias in my comments.

I live in K-North and we are affected.  In the original 5 options, we stayed at CVES for two options and moved to SES for three of the options.  In Option F, we would have stayed at CVES.  During the previous boundary review in 2007, we really wanted to stay at CVES, however, this time my wife and I discussed the different options and decided we were okay with any of the options.  CVES and SES each have their pros and cons:

• (+CVES) CVES is where our daughter went, is (long) walking distance and keeps our kids with the most of the other children in the broad neighborhood.  Also has ELC across the street for aftercare options.
• (-CVES)  CVES lost their Hi-C program in 2009, doesn’t have all day Kindergarten and is generally still a bit overcrowded.
• (+SES) We had heard great things about SES teachers and environment.  Has all-day Kindergarten and a Hi-C program.  Broadens the kids friend set to children from outside the neighborhood.
• (-SES) Much further to drive to/from the school.  Could affect how potential future home buyers view home value (perception mainly, but a reality.)

I did study each option as it came out and participated in the community surveys, except for the first one about criteria because I didn’t know it was happening.

I am happy to report an excellent addition to the restaurant choices on Snoqualmie Ridge – Brunello Ristorante Italiano – or Brunello’s, as I’ve frequently heard it in the past few weeks.  We’ve now eaten at Brunello’s three times as a family, so I am comfortable giving my complete endorsement to this fabulous Italian restaurant.  The only downside is that the experience is so enjoyable, reservations may become a “must” if you want to have dinner there.

Personal Service

During each of our visits, we were greeted at the door by the owner and given a personal welcome, and each interaction with the staff was equally friendly and helpful.  Upon our first visit, I asked for recommendations and ended up ordering, to my delight, the Gnocchi.  To be honest, I’ve ordered it twice again when we dined there again.  On our most recent visit, we had a small wait, but the owner took us in hand and offered a glass of wine – on the house – during our wait.  I am sure that it is this sort of personal touch that will ensure that Brunello Ristorante Italiano will become a landmark restaurant destination for the area.

Excellent Food (and Wine) at Reasonable Prices

I’ve already confessed that I’ve only had the Gnocchi (with a delicious meat sauce!), but Jacki and the kids have each had other dishes and we are unanimous in our opinion that the food is excellent and worth many happy return (visits).  On my first visit, I was also pleased to see a flight of wines on the menu that gave me the opportunity to sample three of the wines served.  I enjoyed all three, though in subsequent visits, I’ve been very happy with my standard order of Pinot Grigio to go with my Gnocchi.

Location and Directions

Brunello’s is located right at the end of Center Blvd in “downtown” Snoqualmie Ridge, at the intersection of Ridge St, just across from the tennis courts next to Cascade View Elementary School.  If you don’t know where that is, here are the one-click directions.

The agreement is not binding, but rather lays out what the YMCA of Greater Seattle would be responsible for in running a community center.

Opponents to the YMCA agreement said they felt ignored by the city.

“It goes legal,” Snoqualmie Ridge resident George Isaacs said after the meeting.

He and other residents and business owners have voiced concerns with the city’s plans at several public meetings over the past two months. Their concerns have covered a broad range of issues, including the plan’s costs, the size of the proposed site, parking and traffic.

However, City Council members felt confident about moving forward with the agreement and passed it 7-0.

The center would be 9,500-13,000 square feet after its first phase, which is expected to cost about $4 million and include a meeting room, half-sized gymnasium, fitness facility and youth room. A second phase, estimated to cost $10 million, would include a pool.

The city’s plan is to have the YMCA build the facility, which Snoqualmie would then buy from the group and lease back to it. The YMCA would then operate the community center. The Seattle YMCA is ready to sign the agreement with the city.

A tentative agreement has been reached between the city and the YMCA that would reduce monthly user fees by 15 percent and the joining cost by 50 percent for Snoqualmie residents.

[Read the full article at snovalleystar.com]

Maybe the problem is we call the one place you should park the “Drive” way and the freaking geniuses we have here in the great state of Washington are confused by this and other shiny objects. To be honest and fair this may only be a problem in the city of Snoqualmie. To begin with our roads are not very wide, and people who park in the street never get very close to the curbs. (These are the same people that take multiple spots at the mall during Christmas) Why don’t you road hogs park in the driveway and get off the streets. (At least my street)

We also get those who feel it necessary to drive to my street and park just to catch the bus. I have an idea WALK….

Don’t clutter and clog it up for everyone else, just so you can lay claim to an eco-friendly existence.

The “king” of the city is also making the problem worse by building and proposing to build city attractions that have no provisions for parking except the streets. Where do you park at the new city hall, the street that’s where. The proposed and hopefully doomed YMCA backed community center has very little provisions for parking. The King and court claim they have made arrangements with the elementary school, but that seems unlikely given the laws of the state. (Can you say Perv parking)

How about just building some parking spaces you can call it a parking lot, or Snoqualmie car collection facility.

I actually think a better idea would be not to build a YMCA backed community center, and rename Driveways to Parkways to avoid confusion.

Wait that won’t work!

The district’s Elementary Boundary Study committee, charged with developing new attendance boundaries for Snoqualmie Valley elementary schools, has released five draft scenarios. Parent and community input is being sought through a Web-based survey regarding five draft boundary options from March 9 through March 18. (The survey will close at 8am, Thursday, 3/18.)

For you’re quick review, here are images of the current elementary school boundaries and the five options under consideration. You can click on any image for a full-page view.

[Show as slideshow]

“Hey Tony, lets pass a law that raises the sales tax by 3-4% that should get people pretty angry. Great thinking Lisa, once they are angry we can get them to vote it out in favor of what we really want. Yeah a state income tax on people making over $200k. Then after a couple of years we will lower it from $200k to $75k and up the percentage of sales tax. The best part is it’s all legal, as long as you can forget the constitution.”

What is wrong with our state?

Hopefully, this will never come to a vote on the senate floor. (But then again this is Washington)

Sadly again this type of behavior has spread to the public sector. More often than not we are being asked / forced to pay for services and products we do not need or want.

I got a bit miffed the other day when I saw a jump in the gas prices of .06 cents per gallon. I asked why the big jump, and the reason given. In my best “Bellevue Righteous” accent:

“We have switched to the more expensive summer blend for better automotive efficiency”.

Granted it has been a gentle winter by all accounts but Summer??? (not even close).

I am not ordering a fine wine at the pump I am putting regular gas into my 1996 Hyundai Accent, do you think it cares or is going to be more efficient with a Summer blend? Why don’t they just tell us that they want to charge more for gas during the travel season? I have heard that Honesty is the best policy, and people should be told the real reasons they are being made to pay more.

What is wrong with telling the truth?

Living in Snoqualmie I should be acclimated to people asking me for money without being told the whole story. I wish someone would tell us why the unneeded City Hall was way over budget? What are the real costs and reasons to have a YMCA backed Community Center?

As a city we should be open and honest about all city projects and expenditures. The city should be buying “Regular” gas with our money and not paying for the “Summer” blend.

What is wrong with our City? (I think we all know, we even know his name)

A drive down Center Street feels like a real town, with people and restaurants and the odd skateboarder that cannot read the signs to stay off the damn sidewalk. I love to eat out and the choices we have today have never been better. Italian, Mexican, Thai, Irish (Well ok Irish is really just for the beer) and if you are really in a hurry you can get a mean fried chicken at the Gas Station.

After “Sampling” which sounds so much more dietetic for me than feasting, I have come to a few scientific culinary conclusions.

1. If you cannot pronounce the name of the food on the menu it is guaranteed to taste fantastic and take days off your life, which I freely give to the folks at Brunello’s

2. Wine makes everything taste better (More things I cannot pronounce)

3. Beer makes everything taste better (Hoegaarden from Finaghtys)

4. Margaritas make everything taste better (Straight from Anna’s bar to your lips)

5. I had water once but it did nothing for me

Hmmm, seems that I have been talking about drinking more than eating, well they do go hand in hand and you do order drinks first before the meal. Here are my food favs in no particular order and you can figure out who serves what. It will be like a contest that no one judges and no prizes are awarded.

Chili Cheese dog with mustard, onions, jalapeños. Fish and Chips (Or as we like to call them in Texas, French Fries). Carne Asada with chips and hot sauce, Pad Thai 4 stars, and Veal (Yes, I eat young cows, but only the willing ones)

And when you get done with all of that “Sampling” you can go workout at the Snoqualmie Ridge Health Club, and not at the King’s folly that is a YMCA backed Community Center.

Check please!

Has anyone gone looking for the ROA lately? Guess what?

They have moved to new and more expensive digs, and yes sadly again we will pay the bill. I don’t remember the ROA asking me if this is something I would like to help pay for, but then again I don’t think they are in the habit of asking for anything. They have our checkbook. Does anyone understand how they set fees, what benefit we get for those fees and under what circumstances the ROA fees can be raised? If so, you should definitely share.

To be fair, I think they had to move because of the Church on the Ridge expansion. This was probably all of the excuse they needed to seek out what might arguably be the most expensive new home they could find. I am sure good arguments can be made why they are now located on Center street, and it would have been refreshing had they actually done that.

I probably just worry too much!

The ROA has saved plenty of our money to make such moves because I, for one, realize very little (i.e. none) value from my homeowner dues. Sure they mow my medians – wait no they stop mowing before they reach my house. Only a few streets get that treatment – I wonder if they pay more?

How can I forget all of the events they put on in the park for families with small children? Not having small children we sadly missed watching movies in the cold and rain … but it is just as well since I did hear about a few awkward moments during the showing of Animal House to some very interested yet confused toddlers.

Again I should be fair; I do on occasion get little notes indicating that there are weeds under my mail box. I am not sure why I only get that note and not the other six mail boxes owners who have violated this sacred land. I think I must be special or at least have an earmark on my folder.

Seriously, though, none of us can afford to covet what others have and live beyond our means. In these economic times, we all need to be fiscally responsible for our families and, though I may be a dreamer, I’d love to see our community organizations and local government be fiscally responsible too.

Organizations like the ROA should be setting the example for the rest of us since they represent the interests of all of us. I’d like to say more, but I need to get started pulling those weeds.

In my humble opinion city government should do it’s best to be in harmony with its citizens and surroundings. It should be a steward for the city’s money and resources, spending only towards providing a safe and sound home for its citizens. Government and its officials should strive to be transparent and not become larger than life.

It is not hard to see that our city officials have spent our money on a gleaming monument of fiscal irresponsibility when it built the new City Hall. Take a drive downtown to 38624 SE River St. and see if you can spot Waldo, it will be the building that stands out like a sore thumb in what used to be a charming small town setting.

Some say it was necessary to bring all of the city officials together for efficiency.  I have not seen any such efficiencies gained, so it must be cheaper to have the one new building instead of having two old ones. Well, given initial cost and the delays in construction and the associated cost overruns, I just don’t get a good feeling that that is the case.

I’ve got it! We needed a building worthy to hold our leadership.

They surely deserve better than the old City Hall, and they certainly should not have to hold council meetings at the fire department – for goodness sakes!

Snoqualmie Mayor and City Council – you should realize you were elected to serve the people, not to rule the people.  We don’t need any more pyramids – one is enough.  Actually one is too many.

More info: City of Snoqualmie New Release