briefs

Published 6:52 am Monday, March 3, 2008

Terrace sidewalk project stalls

The City Council balked at approving a roughly $190,000 contract to build sidewalks, three parking spaces and a planter along 60th Avenue, west of Veterans Park as well as a gravel trail through the park to a bird watching vantage south of the Mountlake Terrace Police Station.

After a 3-to-3 split vote, the Council decided to reconsider the issue at its Aug. 1 meeting.

Council members Michelle Robles, Laura Sonmore and Angela Amundson voted no, while Doug Wittinger, Jamie Gravelle and John Zambrano voted yes.

Luc Boileau and Doris Cannon, who live in the neighborhood, argued the construction would disturb the wildlife, remove a grassy area where children play and put sidewalks on a dead end street rarely used by pedestrians.

Canon also noted at least a dozen residents have seen eagles in the area.

If the project is canceled, city staff argued, Mountlake Terrace will lose favor with block grant committees. Cancellation would result in returning a $127,000 Housing and Urban Development Community Development Block Grant.

Staff also noted the council heard public testimony, made several changes to appease neighbors and approved the project earlier this year .

Church seeks zone change for campus

A Lynnwood church has announced plans to build a campus with affordable senior housing, child care center, gardens and arboretum for outdoor events.

The Good Shepard Baptist Church is asking the City of Lynnwood to change the zoning for the nearly five acre site, located in the 6900 block of 196th Street, which is currently zoned for single family homes.

The Lynnwood Planning Commission has scheduled a public hearing on July 28 to consider the request. The meeting will start at 7 p.m. in the Lynnwood Council Chambers, 19100 44th Ave. W. For information, call Ron Hough at 425-670-6655.

Terrace, banks settles lease

The City of Mountlake Terrace, the Redmond National Bank and Shoreline Bank reached an agreement on July 18 about the Ballinger Golf Course, which leaves the city free to find new golf course management.

The city will pay $200,000 to the banks for control of the golf course’s lease. The city will not assume the $1.4 million loan from the bank to Ballinger Recreation Inc, the golf course operator that walked away from the lease and the loan last year.

The city is seeking an interim golf course operator through March 31, 2006, to reopen the course as soon as possible. Proposals, which are due Friday, July 22, will be considered by a committee. The council is expected to consider the applicants as early as August.

Police catch

bank robber

Carl Dean Goode was arrested at the Royal Casino, 13010 Highway 99, at about 6 p.m. Thursday, July 14, for robbing two Lynnwood banks, the Lynnwood Police announced.

Lynnwood police arrested Goode, 49, without incident and booked him into the Snohomish County Jail on two counts of robbery.

Surveillance cameras show Goode robbing Cascade Bank, 19419 Highway 99, on July 5 and the Watermark Credit Union, 18801 Alderwood Mall Parkway, on July 13. Someone recognized the suspect and notified police.

Terrace seeks next city manager

The City of Mountlake Terrace hired Prothman Company of Seattle for $21,500 to find the next city manager. The company will meet with community leaders to consider what the city wants in an ideal candidate.

The job will be advertised in 11 Western states this summer, with interviews tentatively scheduled for the fall. It is unclear if the council will hire someone before the new council is seated in January.