Letters

Mill Creek

Local business helps Mill Creek Library

Mill Creek residents donate thousands of used books for sale by the Friends of the Mill Creek Library, a volunteer non-profit organization. The Friends use the proceeds from the sale of these books in an ongoing sale in the library and twice a year in sale outside the library to purchase extra items for the library and summer reading books, as wells as for special programs for children and adults.

The library does not have space for storage and sorting of the used books. Several Friends have provided garage space in the past, but that has been temporary and inconvenient.

Clock Tower Self Storage at 16618 Bothell-Everett Highway has generously offered a unit which will allow storage and sorting near the library. We appreciate this contribution to the Friends, the library, and the community.

SELMA BONHAM

Mill Creek

Historian, Friends of the Mill Creek Library

Stevens Hospital

Article didn’t point out hospital’s good points

I must respond to the article by Sharon Salyer (The Edmonds Enterprise, March 26). The article was completely negative. Not a positive thing was said. The only thing I agreed with is extending the board to five members. And I understand that has been considered for several years.

In my opinion (and experiences), Stevens has a very caring and dedicated staff throughout the hospital from the medical staff and technicians to the volunteers. I have talked to several of them and they tell me the turnover is very small due to the fact the people like their jobs there.

I have been taken to the ER several times in the past few years and had many tests, MRI, lab testing, x-rays etc. No paramedic has ever “suggested” that I be taken to another hospital. They have all seconded my thoughts of getting the best of care there, which I have always felt to be true.

I know several people who have had surgery, babies, etc. at Stevens and they all tell me how pleased they were with their experience and excellent care from the staff.

BARBARA BORYLLA

Edmonds

Edmonds building code

Council goes against previous agreement

Since a new building code was made law in 1999, everybody has had difficulty interpreting the references that permit a building height of 30 feet rather than the previous 25 foot limit for downtown. An interim ordinance to achieve the intent of the 1999 code was approved unanimously by the City Council at its meeting of Feb. 24.

A public hearing was held March 16. Councilmember Mauri Moore stated that she was “satisfied with retaining the interim ordinance and fast tracking the design guidelines.” And it was the consensus of the Council to move forward with the proposed interim ordinance without change.

At the council’s meeting March 23 it was revealed that Council members Moore, Michael Plunkett, Richard Marin, and Peggy Pritchard Olson had conspired, in the days preceding this meeting, to draft an amendment to the interim ordinance. The amendment would allow 30-foot buildings with flat roofs, and thus undo all of the work done on the interim ordinance. A real debacle! View Channel 21. The pertinent part is on at approximately 1:55 to 2:30 and 8:55 to 9:30 thru April 5. After considerable debate the amended interim ordinance passed by a vote of 4 to 3. Dave Orvis, Jeff Wilson and Deanna Dawson voted against its passage.

Prior to the vote, Dawson and Wilson argued that the issue had been settled and it wasn’t on the agenda for that night’s meeting. Moore and Plunkett countered with a number of untruthful and disingenuous statements, and even a crude remark from Ms. Moore! They downplayed the importance of the amendment saying that it will only be in effect for a short period, etc. For those reasons, and because it was not on the agenda, Dawson and Wilson argued that the amendment should have been scheduled for discussion at a time when the public would be aware of it.

RON WAMBOLT

Edmonds

Edmonds parking

Proposed changes would help businesses

Because a recent well written article in the Edmonds Enterprise about parking was so rich in specifics, I felt it didn’t emphasize the more basic question of, “Why?”

Our current parking codes stifle economic development. Many new businesses can’t move into the downtown because our city requires too much parking. Banks are reluctant to approve loans to builders because our city requires too much parking. Developers push building heights with flat roofs and construct commercial space that doesn’t allow customers because our city requires too much parking. Our downtown core suffers.

At 7 p.m. April 20 in the City Council Chambers is the public hearing on a plan to change parking codes as recommended by the Planning Board.

The Downtown Edmonds Merchants Association endorses the Planning Board’s recommendations. They testified before the Planning Board. The Economic Development Committee and the Board of the Chamber of Commerce endorses these recommendations. The Chamber also testified to the Board. Developers, architects, and citizens all testified.

The most poignant testimony, however, came from a local property owner. He stated that a business is waiting to lease commercial space from him if these recommendations are passed into law by the City Council.

Let’s change the parking codes as recommended by the Planning Board. We’ve already lost enough business.

DON KREIMAN

Edmonds