Traffic tops Bothell council race issue

Published 9:00 pm Thursday, September 6, 2001

By Janice Podsada

Herald Writer

BOTHELL — Candidates in a three-way race for Bothell City Council Position 5 have focused on land use and development regulations, but the big issue is traffic.

City officials estimate that 80 percent of the city’s traffic is cut-through traffic. When tie-ups clog the state highways and local arterials, Bothell’s residential streets become shortcuts for traffic, creating hazardous streets for cars and pedestrians.

Michael Foote, 39, and Mike Johnson, 41, are challenging incumbent Jeff Merrill, 41, who is seeking his third four-year term.

The Sept. 18 primary election will trim the number of candidates to two. The top two will advance to the Nov. 6 general election.

Council members earn $500 per month.

Merrill said two of his top priorities are making Bothell’s residential streets safer and making the city more attractive to new businesses.

Attracting retail sales tax revenues is better than the alternative "raising property taxes, which I don’t support," Merrill said.

As for the highway snarls that spill into city streets, it is imperative that city officials put pressure on state and county governments "to step up to the plate and assist us in averting cut-through traffic," Merrill said.

"We want to eliminate the cut-through routes and enhance our arterial to keep traffic out of residential neighborhoods."

Johnson, who has been a Bothell planning commissioner for five years said the current council is ineffective and has not listened to citizens’ concerns when it comes to traffic and growth issues, favoring development over the city’s quality of life.

Johnson said neighborhood groups have gone before the council with their concerns, as well as ideas on how to solve problems, only to be ignored by the council.

"A lot of weight and consideration should be given to their views, but the council has not given them that.

"Jeff Merrill is a nice guy, but he’s stronger for development than he is for citizens," Johnson said.

Candidate Foote describes himself as a concerned citizen.

"I’ve only got one issue I’m looking at," Foote said. "Traffic."

He said the city council has ignored how new apartment developments have affected the city.

"Whenever they change land use, it changes traffic patterns — a 110-unit apartment is going to add from 100 to 200 cars to the road — but the council doesn’t seem to be addressing that," Foote said.

"I may not win, but my $60 filing fee may be enough to get them to listen and do something about the traffic problem."

You can call Herald Writer Janice Podsada at 425-339-3029 or send e-mail to podsada@heraldnet.com.