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NEWS

Roads votes may be linked (on 2007 ballot)

OTHER "STUFF"

DISCUSSION, OPINION & MESSAGE FORUM

G.R.I.T.'s 2002 RECORDING WARS - updated 3/21/06
(When the City tried to stop G.R.I.T. from recording public meetings, with the help of the Boucher Boys, then-Mayor C. H. Rowe, and others....)

FOOD BANK: Put a pre-addressed food bank envelope in your "bills to pay" folder and send a check monthly: $5, $10, whatever you can spare!
For more info, click here.

New - 12/13/06 - G.R.I.T. 12/12/06 Update (in Word, pdf)

New - 12/13/06 - Ex. A to Sultan Resolution 06-17 re PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PLAN (This Plan has never received a hearing.) in Word, pdf (This item is an Action item at tomorrow's 12/14 Sultan Council Meeting.)

Posted - 12/12/06 - U. S. 2 Safety Coalition Chairman and Sultan PD Chief Fred Walser, will be presenting at Today's (12/12) Monroe Chamber of Commerce luncheon at The Rock Church, 146th St. S. E. Lunch will be catered by Nana Carmelas Italian Restaurant. Registration starts at 11:30 a.m., with lunch served from noon - 1:00 PM.

Posted/update 12/12/06 - RE 12/11 County Council UGA Remand Hearing (see below for details): L. Storm testified against the 60-acre annexation, as did a number of other citizens (Josie Fallgatter, Stan Heydrick, Kerry Ourada, Jean Roberts). Testifying on behalf of these city annexations were Mayor Ben Tolson, Developer Neil Latta, Tim Albers, Reid Shockey(Sultan consultant); also attending were City Planner Rick Cisar, and others.

Posted on Monday, 12/11 - 3:00 - 6:30 PM - County Council hearing - This link will take you to the complete GMA/County Comp plan amendment docket table. The specifics for Sultan are the last items on the agenda. However, citizen testimony has traditionally been taken in the order their names appear on the county's sign-in sheets. You can access our direct linksto two proposals for Sultan lands being considered for UGA expansion;Proposal 3-A - Ttext (and map), 40 acres at SBR/132nd St. and Proposal 3B-text and map, 60 acres north of 124th St. SE. The City is aggressively wanting to build 200 homes or more on Proposal 3B, despite the lack of sewer lines at that location, and that the proposal's only vehicle access is by leaving the city limits at 132nd/SBR and traveling one mile on county roads. This annexation and future development is a very, very bad idea. Re Proposal 3-A, the 40-acres at 132nd and SBR, we would cetainly support this UGA enlargement if it is conditioned upon the City bringing the LOS for both police and parks into compliance with its CP.

• Sultan Council agenda packet for Thursday's 12/14 council meeting, in pdf only (The city did not send this in Word or html, so we cannot provide it in those formats, sorry.). It will be a FULL meeting, with two hearings prior (see below).. Of special interest is Res. 06-17 re the City's Public Participation Plan; i.e., mandates on how it communicates with its citizens (and others in, and around, Sultan's UGA) related to GMA/Comprehensive Plan issues. Here's the Resolution only, in pdf.
• 6:00 PM HEARING on 2006 Budget Amendments
• 6:30 PM HEARING on Surface Water Utility (This will be your only opportunity to provide testimony on the creation of a new Public Works utility, the purpose of which is to manage the city's flow of water over impervious surfaces, as well as redirect flows from the wastewater treatment plant in order to provide more plant capacity for future residential development. Question: What will be the additional per-month costs for such a utility? Answer: As discussed in recent council meetings, could range between $3.50 and $15.00. For more information, or to read Sultan's Stormwater/Surface Water Quality Plan, visit our webpage on this subject.

During the 12/6 council meeting: The council approved a new CFP (Capital Facilities Plan) and passed the 2007 budget as amended on a first reading (2nd reading next Thursday, 12/14). Amendments to the budget: Added $3,000 to code encorcement for public education re animal control

Another amendment was to reduce Mayor Tolson's recommendation to increase the salary for the police chief by 20% in 2007, downgrading it to a 10% increase in 2007 with another 10% increase in 2008, both of which include COLA increases. In the last several years, Chief Walser has received only COLA increases, while trying to hold the city's police department together with sealing wax and bailing wire and his bare hands, working countless overtime shifts, weekends and holidays and with outdated equipment and skeleton staffs. Meanwhile, the city's "economic development" department has sunk an I.V. into the city finances, draining them via excessive legal bills -- more than twice the 2006 budgeted amount -- needed to defend incompetent or poor plat and land use decisions (and lack of Comp Plan knowledge), and via signifficant and excessive (but needless) staff time required for countless "redos" of previous decisions. (Here's a statement I made on this webpage last March that's even more appropriate today: "Mr. Cisar is making $75,000 in salary while Chief Walser's is $63,000. Interestingly, Chief Walser distributed a letter from the Black Diamond Police Department, canvassing other cities for new police officers. The top pay for a uniformed officer -- not a chief -- is over $67,000. And, say-hey, they even get to drive their police cars home. BLACK DIAMOND's POPULATION (per MRSC.org) is 4,080 and it's located on a rural King Co. road (KC 169), as opposed to Sultan, situated smack on a major U. S./federal highway. Its median household income is $67,092 compared to Sultan's is $46,619. (Is it possible that this city has made better planning choices than Sultan?) Black Diamond's community profie & Sultan's community profile."

I fear Sultan may lose its chief. And who could blame him for leaving? I hope I am wrong. Because Fred Walser is significantly more than a "police chief": He is also a mentor to countless kids and citizens, a tireless advocate for children through his support of the Boys and Girls club, Safe Stop, an officer in the schools and as a leader of the Sultan skateboard park, as well as a champion of an endless number and type of issues and causes, a true Friend of the People.. If Sultan loses the Chief, that loss will run deep and wide throughout Sultan and the entire Sky Valley.

Only John Seehuus and Jim Flower supported the higher salary for the Chief, voting against that amendment. Thank you, Gentlemen, for understanding that security cannot be maintained by cutting back on police while simultaneously increasing the City's population, a known financial drain because of the need for improved and new infrastructure. (Councilman Seehuus was eloquent in his strong recommendation to establish salary ranges for all salaried employees, and Jim Flower, Kristina Blair and Derek Boyd echoed John's comments.)

Council Packet for Wed.'s 12/6/06 special meeting (begins at 7 PM) - 6:30 hearing RE 2007 budget at 6:30 Agenda Packet in Word, pdf

Attachments to council packet:

• Revised Capital Facilities Plan as Word document (or in pdf)
• Current Sultan Parks - Map in pdf
• 2007 Budget in Excel format (or in pdf)

(Posted 11/15/06)- AUDIO - 8.3 mb MP3 file- John Galt's hearing on Vodnick's Plat Application "remand" (which was handled as a new application with a new vesting date, but with (mostly) all the old documentation. Mr. Galt's questions to the City and the applicant as to "new" v. "remand" and vesting date application issues occurred during the first few minutes of the hearing. The applicant's presentation begins at approx. 13-min; Galt's questions re concurrency begins at the (approx.) 20-min. point (directly following the applicant's presentation). The hearing only lasted about 40 min. (GALT RECOMMENDATIONS ON VODNICK PLAT 11-17-06)

(Posted 11/13/06)SULTAN BUDGET DOCUMENTS as presented at its Nov. 2nd workshop (which had no council quorum):

General Ledger (YTD through Sept., 2006) in pdf (384 kb)- What an amazing improvement this is from the manner in which budgeting and financial data has been presented since time immemorial in Sultan. Kudos to Mayor Tolson and the City Council for making this long-needed changeover! (In addition to being easy to read and understand, this new financial software (from Sprinbrook) should protect the city from financial "irregularities.")

2004 - 2007 Budget (in pdf. 247 kb) - Contains 2004 and 2005 Actuals, the 2006 adopted budget, and requested budget for 2007.

Note: Unfortunately, we do not have the audio of this workshop, as we were unable to attend that evening. We did request the City's digital audio of the workshop from Clerk Laura Koenig. We wwere advised that it was not the city's "practice" to record workshops, thus, audio from the city's new (and expensive) MP3 digital audio system cannot be shared with the public. (Here's our emailed communication, in Word)

(Posted 11/12/06) G.R.I.T.'s SURFACE WATER QUALITY page. It has been updated with the City's Dec. '02 Surface Water Quality Plan (draft). This plan is new to our website, as it has never previously been posted. We thought that, considering the sloppy construction work and lack of BMPs being used by developers recently, and because the city moves ever closer to making its Surface Water Utility a reality, we thought this might hold some interest for our readers.

(Posted 11/12/06) AUDIO & MTG. SUMMARY - Nov. 9, 2006 Council Meeting & Hearing on sewer connection increase fees. (Sorry, we still do not have any agenda packet from that meeting to post.)

(Posted 10/27/06) - COUNCIL - CAO (Critial Areas Ordinance):

Faced with loss of grant funding and low-cost loans for its WWTP expansion, the City Council opted for the "Bitter pill" rather than the knife, passing the Critical Areas Ordinance at their 10-26 council meeting. This ordinance had suffered defeat once, with a follow-up request by the City to bring it back to the table for another vote). Standing firm on their previous denials were John Seehuus, Jim Flower and Bruce Champeaux.

Recognition and deserved thanks should be given to Derek Boyd for making the tough choice in bringing this back to the table for discussion and possible action, especially faced as he was with several of Sultan's Old Guard pro-property rights stalwarts in attendance, all long-time friends and neighbors. Kudos to Councilwoman Kristina Blair, who supported the CAO during her opening comments, stating "We are guardians for future generations." Thanks also to fellow Councilmembers Steve Slawson, Ron Wiediger (and Boyd) for the votes needed to approve.

The City had been denied its request for a $1.0 million taxpayer-supported $1.0 million low-interest loan, with other grants facing certain denial soon to follow, because the City's lack in passing this state-mandated ordinance (for critical areas, among other issues) made it noncompliant with the GMA and its own Comprehensive Plan. Despite this, a majority of council members voted not to pass the CAO 'on a matter of principle." Faced with their funding drying up -- faster than a Winters Creek wetland -- they opted to "take the bitter pill" (a term used liberally during the discussion) rather than a knife to the heart of their funding. The city wisely paid for consultant Reid Shockey to present the finer points of this ordinance, rather than using City Planner Cisar. Following Shockey's presentation of the pros and cons, unfortunately Councilman Flower once again gave his "Wagley Creek is a manmade ditch" speech.

We'll try to have the audio of this 30-minute discussion posted today, or early tomorrow morning.

Unrestrained Kudos & Raves to the City for its new audio/digital recording system. Thanks to Ben Tolson for setting this as a city priority, and to Donna Murphy for dogging the process through to execution, guided by expert Morgan Sound. The system worked great! I could actually HEAR what Rick Cisar was saying. The only possible fly in the ointment is that soft-spoken Clerk Koenig could still not be heard well, as she shares a microphone with Chief Walser and Donna Murphy, a lack I'm certain will be corrected at the very next public meeting. THANK YOU, MAYOR TOLSON & DONNA MURPHY -- AND ESPECIALLY TO THE TAXPAYERS, WHO PAID FOR IT!!!

LINK TO OUR POLICE LEVY PAGE

Here's the literature being distributed by the Police Levy Committee referred to in the above anti-police levy mailer: A flyer/hand-out being taken door-to-door, and a mailer.

(posted Monday, 10/16) - October 12, 2006 - Audio & Council Summary (Also a bonus - a Transcription of selected discussions)

(posted Saturday, 10/14) - Herald Letter to the Editor by Sultan's Daniel Smith: "Charming Sultan knows how to grow." While we certainly agree with the overall message of Mr. Smith's statement, "Surrounded by the natural wonder of the majestic mountains and rivers, Sultan is destined to become the jewel of Snohomish County," we would replace the words in red font to: "with proper planning, Sultan can become." (Is the Daniel Smith of this letter the very same Dan Smith who recently had his Dyer Road 3-lot short plat application approved as an administrative decision by City Planner Rick Cisar? The City never sent us the legal notice for this action; see below.)

(posted Saturday 10/14) - LEGAL - October 9, 2006 Notice of Decision, Dan Smith 3-lot Dyer Road Short Plat: Approved (City did not send this legal notice to us as previously required and requested as a known party of record for ALL land use actions and decisions.)

(posted Saturday, 10/14) - PROPOSED NEW WWTP SEWER PER-D.U. CONNECTION FEES - Unpublished Agenda Discussion Item during Oct. 12 Council Meeting.

New (posted 10/13) - Press Release from C/M Kristina Blair, Chairman of this year's Sultan Harvest Thanksgiving Dinner (in Word, pdf)

New (Post 10/13) - G.R.I.T.'s 10/13/06 Update (in Word, pdf)

New (Posted 10/13) - Sultan Basin Road & U. S. 2 Dedicated as "Wold Corner" by Sultan Council during their 10/12/06 meeting.

New (posted 10/13) - Council passes Resolution 06-15 (in Word, pdf) Supporting the Police Levy set for the Nov. 7th election. You can still register to vote (see note right)

New - Sultan City Council Agenda Packet for Oct. 12th Meeting (in Word, pdf)

New - LEGAL - Notice of DNS (Determination of Non-Significance) dated Oct. 6, 2006 -- to create a new code section 16.54 to allow mixed use in city's H.O. (Highway Oriented) zone citywide, and to amend 16.56.060 to provide for residential mixed use as an exception. (This legal notice also available in Word and pdf)

Unfortunately, the City did not send us a copy of the text of this important code change, the result of which could severely push Sultan's population skyward, along with traffic congestion and drains on current infrastructure. Citizens can request copies of these code changes from city hall by making a public information request -- here's how. (Developers and real estate-interested parties will no doubt receive these changes free of charge -- and in electronic format -- by placing a phone call or sending an email. Indeed, I have no doubt that these code changes are being made at the request of a specific developer, as well as being authored by them, as has happened so often in the past.)Comment period ends October 20th.

New Page - Proposed NEW Sultan code: "Property Maintenance" & Code Enforcement (the city wants YOUR comments)

NEW (10/4) On September 12, 2006, Sultan's Police Chief Fred Walser escorted Snohomish County Prosecutor Janice Ellis on a tour of "sites" near Sultan....

Recent (10/4)- Snohomish FD #5 Resolution 2006-06 in Word (in pdf), supporting Sultan's Police Levy. G.R.I.T.'s UPDATED LEVY PAGE: Everything you want to know about the Sultan Police Levy (Photos, transcription of Walser comments at Levy kick-off meeting, audio of council discussions, documents, etc.) If any group or individual wishes to write a letter of support for the SPD Levy, please contact Levy Committee Co-Chairpermen: Jeff Aikens and Gerry Gibson.

Recent (10/4) - Well it does seem these days that everything's about the Sultan Police, doesn't it? And here's a real feel-good story about how Councilman Jim Flower got the Sultan PD flag flying again (at the request of Dave Helman).

(Ongoing; posted 9-18) - Shockey-Brent was selected by council at its 9/14 meeting (instead of Berryman & Heniger, previously approved by council) to guide the City through required revisions to its flawed 2006 Comprehensive Plan. In Layman-speak, Sultan's 2005-06 comprehensive plan was found non-compliant by the CPSGMHB (Central Puget Sound Growth Mgt. Hearings Board), the result of an appeal to that Board by Josie Fallgatter and Jeff Kirkman. The City is mandated to correct these flaws by next June, 2007, putting the new Plng. Board under the gun. Thus, the reason for this consultant. All of this time and expense could easily have been avoided, had the Plan been done correctly the first time around. Unfortunately, it was largely the result of a heavily-weighted pro-developer Planning Commission, led by City Planner Rick Cisar.

(Ongoing; posted 9-18) - Garth York's letter under Steen Park LLC letterhead, to the City Council re objections to the City's "double-dipping." And, although we have not yet had time to review the specific codes he references, I believe Mr. York may just be correct. And if so, then Mr. Cisar may have placed the city and taxpayers in serious financial/legal jeopardy (again).

Legal Notice - Giese, 812 Dyer Road MDNS (Mitigated Determination of Non-significance; "The Applicant proposes to remove 15 feet of an existing concrete access drive and rocks located below the ordinary high water mark and place logs and root balls within that area to prevent erosion." (Notice in Word, pdf)

Ongoing - Sultan Police Dept. Activity (calls for service) 2004 & 2005 (in pdf): This was the Powerpoint slide show presented at Sultan's 2006 Council Retreat in January. (Note: I was the only citizen attending, despite the fact that this was a public meeting.)

Ongoing - POLICE LEVY MEETING - There was a good turnout of approx. 20 people at the Aug. 30th meeting, plus Chief Walser and Interim Fin. Directory Gordon Hey). A Pro-Levy committee has been formed. Co-Chairs are Gerry Gibson (799-1736) and Jeff Aikens (793-6819). Please contact them if you can donate funds or your time. They could use some help. In these days of dwindling funds and taxpayer patience, this levey could be a tough one. Councilman Jim Flower was the only council person in sight (except for good-hearted die-hard former Councilman Perry McPherson). A Church board meeting prevented Mayor Tolson and Ron Wiediger from attending. FOR a CD of the meeting in MP3, email us.

Ongoing- Herald article re Police Levy & Wed.'s SPD Levy meeting (The City is still blaming revenue lost from the Eyman's I-695....Hel-LO? That was how many years ago? If citizens want to know the real reasons for the City's financial demise, how about checking out these pages/info: State auditor findings (for year-ending 2004) and the Prothman Report OTHER REASONS: City has not been fiscally responsible; e.g., it has not increased its road impact fees (which pay for future roads and other future capital road improvements, such as improving the Sultan Basin Road on which 1400 new homes will be built in the next 2-3 years), nor has it adequately increased its development fees and other fees. This, and other behavior, has invited many lawsuits and other legal actions.

Wednesday's (8/30) POLICE LEVY MEETING - HERE'S A FLYER announcing Wednesday's meeting on the SPD levy that YOU CAN PRINT OUT AND DISTRIBUTE TO YOUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS. CLICK HERE FOR OTHER INFO ON THE POLICE

RESULTS OF SURVEY TAKEN DURING 8/17 TOWN MEETING (380 kb pdf file):

Some dramatic results (at least to me) were:

• Which City department(s) staff should be cut first (if cuts are required): A total of 76% of the total respondents indicated Administration (38%) and Community Development (28%) (Slide #5)
• The City should focus greater attention on (1) Growth Management Planning (31%) and Creating a "business friendly" environment (31%) (Slide #6)
• What do you consider to be the top priority for the police department? Reducing drug activity, 36%, Neighborhood Patrol (or proactive policing), 33%. (Slide #10)
• 77% of respondents stated there are not sufficient police to properly perform needed duties (Slide #13)
• 77% indicated it is "vital" for SPD to have at least wtwo officers on duty 24x7. (Slide 16)

Surprising to me were the following responses:

• Slide #21 re whether the city needa a dedicated animal control officer, the vote was 50/50%.
• That in 2004 when the city ran a levy to replace police officers lost in 2002, 29% indicated they did not vote, while 35% said they voted for both 911 service (i.e., for the cost of required, "no-choice" 800 mhz equipment for 911 & added police. (Slide #12)

PREVOUS ARTICLES & HOME PAGES CAN BE FOUND IN ARCHIVES - If you're looking for a previous article or legal, etc., search for it in the Google window at the top of our pags:

Nov. 3 thru Dec. 5, 2006

Oct. 2 - thru November 3, 2006

Mid-August thru October 2, 2006

May thru approx. mid-August 2006

ALL ARCHIVED HOME PAGES

Here's an idea for an appropriate T-shirt for taxpayers:
"Representation by Litigation"

"Put down that bag of potato chips and step away from the TV!" In other words, unplug yourself from your "TV I.V." and GET INVOLVED! The world moves fast, but don't be confused. Just take it one hearing and meeting at a time: Attend them,, speak your mind and your heart, ask questions and you will soon be making a difference. Tell your city officials what you want (and don't want). There are no stupid questions, and NO ONE will laugh at you or what you have to say. These are YOUR tax dollars, and you have a say in how they are spent. The only time your voice doesn't count is when you don't use it...

This website is designed and maintained by non-paid volunteers for the purpose of providing news and information to taxpayers and citizens who otherwise would have little or no knowledge of the events going on in the Sky Valley, but most particuarl in Sultan. Let us know if you want to learn more, or if you would like to volunteer to help us sculpt our mutual future. From the Washington State Public Disclosure Act: "The people, in delegating authority, do not give their public servants the right to decide what is good for the people to know and what is not good for them to know. The people insist on remaining informed so they may maintain control over the instruments they created." (How to make a Public Disclosure/Information Request) "Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could only do a little." "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." Both quotes attributed to Edmund Burke (1729-1797), an Irish philosopher and statesman.

CITY OF SULTAN CONTACT/email INFORMATION:
319 Main Street
PO Box 1199
Sultan, WA 98294
360-793-2231-ph
360-793-3344-fax

• Mayor Ben Tolson
• City Councilmembers (see below)
• Interim City Administrator Leeland Walton
• Interim City Finance Director Gordon Hey
• Interim City Clerk Laura Koenig (for council agenda and Public Info requests)
  
• Interim Community Development Director,
  Rick Cisar

CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS (most council members' mailboxes are almost always full):

Kristina Blair
Derek Boyd
Bruce Champeaux (does not wish to use email)
Jim Flower
John Seehuus
Steve Slawson
Ron Wiediger

EMAIL ADDRESS The "formula" for city hall staff and officials: is
firstname, then a period, then their last name, then @ci.sultan.wa.us.
Example: Laura Koenig's address is: laura.koenig@ci.sultan.wa.us

PLANNING BOARD: (Established June, 2006) Their first official meeting was July 11, 2006. For information on Sultan's previous planning entity -- called the "Planning Commission," disbanded in early 2006, click here.):

• Chairman Kurt Latimore
• Board member Jeff Cofer
• Board Member Sarah Davenport-Smith
• Board Member George Schmidt
• Board Member Charles Van Pelt
  

NOTE: We are keeping the below note regarding Sultan's PLANNING COMMISSION on this website for a little while longer to remind folks of either the backdoor shenanigans of the City of Sultan or its incompetence (one of the two must be true).
As of the 2/8/06 via Ord. 904-06, Sultan's PC duties were placed in the hands of the city council, which will be acting as its own PC. However, during their first meeting, it was determined that they did not have the time to fulfill this role. The City is currently seeking NEW APPLICANTS to serve on a NEW Planning "Board." if interested, contact city hall at 360-793-2231 or visit their website: www.ci.sultan.wa.us

Prior to its disbandment, the PC consisted of the following individuals, with two positions vacant):
Bart Dalmasso (resigned just prior to disbandment, and urged that the PC be dissolved)
Josie Fallgatter
Ray George (term expired, not reappointed)
Tom Green (term expired, not reappointed)
Jeff Kirkman