Kistenmacher/Storm
33520 – 116th Street SE, Sultan, WA 98294 · 360.793.6683 ph 360.793.7389 fax · email
dellastreet@premier1.netFebruary 19, 2002
To: Planning Commission Members
From: Loretta Storm
Re: (1) Discussion Items for 2/19/02 Meeting
(2) Attached Article, Governments are from Saturn, Citizens From Jupiter
Dear Planning Commissioners:
In lieu of my actual physical presence at tonight's meeting, despite my desire to do so, I thought I'd give you a bit of feedback.
As I'm sure you do not need to be reminded, when you accepted the privilege of being a Planning Commissioner, you also accepted the responsibility to incorporate citizen and taxpayer input into your decision-making process. That can best be done through an open and free exchange of information and ideas. This has not been the case in Sultan. An example of that is the list of discussion items for this week's meeting, where discussion and agenda items are given no "meat" for citizen review. I would like to see this practice changed.
1) DISCUSSION ITEMS:
(a) PUD's: How and when did the subject of PUD's come up again? It was my understanding that this was eliminated from our code two years ago. And, what has changed in Sultan that would justify the revitalization of this ordinance?
(b) SEPA exempt levels: Again, it would be great to receive a bit of "meat" along with the menu item.
(c) Public Notice Requirements: All you need do is look at my website or read the January 2000 comments on the comp plan amendment process I handed out at the 2/5/02 hearing to know where I stand on this issue. It is unconscionable that the city is not using its website in order to "put the meat on the table," so to speak. There is virtually nothing that is transmitted via the city's consultants and/or city staff that is not computer generated, making it easily transmittable and simple to upload onto the city's website. I have made at least two written requests to Mayor Rowe that until such time as the city's website becomes operationable and maintainable on a regular basis, he allow the information to be forwarded electronically to me for posting on our website. At the very least, the city should have available to those who request to be on the distribution, a daily or weekly list of studies, memos, draft ordinances, etc. that are available from the city that they can request to have forwarded to them electronically.
2) ATTACHED ARTICLE: I have attached an article that I think is excellent. It details some of the problems in communicating with government, from both perspectives. I will say that this article omits one vitally important element as one of the causes for citizen/taxpayer cynicism: LACK OF GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY.
Thank you for allowing me to comment.
Loretta Storm