Year in Review

Looking back 365 days can be time consuming. So in the way of making life simpler, the following is a listing of milestones in the cities of Shoreline and Lake Forest Park that occured during the past year. All in all, 2006 saw some picketing and some lawsuits. But the cities abound with active residents who hope for the best in the year to come.

JANUARY

Olander voted

interim city manager

The new Shoreline City Council made their first decision of 2006 a unanimous one: to appoint acting city manager Bob Olander as interim city manager.

Olander assumed the duties of former city manager Steve Burkett, who resigned in December. Olander’s hiring came during a marathon seven-hour meeting on Jan. 3, during which 48 speakers addressed the Council and the audience far exceeded the 505 maximum room occupancy.

School district short several million

At a special meeting, members of the school board and the community were told of miscommunications and accounting errors that cost the district $2.8 million it didn’t have.

An independent consultant the district hired in December presented the findings of a study that stemmed from the revelation in late October that the carryover balance from the 2004-05 fiscal year would be approximately $1.5 million less than anticipated. District officials learned that the shortfall is larger than expected and could impact some programs before the end of the fiscal year, Sept. 1.

Public Meetings Act lawsuit filed

Three current and one former Shoreline City Council members received a New Year’s surprise when they were named in a lawsuit alleging violations of the state Open Public Meetings Act. Filed on Jan. 2, the King County Superior Court lawsuit states that council members Maggie Fimia, Bob Ransom, Janet Way and now former Councilman John Chang violated the Open Public Meetings Act.

The lawsuit states that shortly after Way was sworn in, she “secretly conspired with defendants Fimia, Ransom and Chang” to remove Steve Burkett as city manager.

Bob Ransom elected mayor of Shoreline

Bob Ransom is the possessor of the gavel after being elected as the city’s new mayor at the Jan. 3 meeting. He succeeds Ron Hansen, who resigned the title at the Dec. 12 Council meeting in protest of former city manager Steve Burkett’s resignation. Councilmember Maggie Fimia was elected deputy mayor.

Tree-cutting moratorium enacted

A four-month emergency moratorium on tree cutting had relations between the Innis Arden Club board, Shoreline city staff and a community activist group in critical condition. Approved Jan. 3 by the Shoreline City Council, the moratorium came after extensive cutting and clearing in the Blue Heron Reserve in Innis Arden, which city staff said contains both a wetland and stream. Club members contend that trees were cut using a hazardous-tree provision in the city’s critical-areas code.

FEBRUARY

Voters just say yes

to school bond

Shoreline School District voters showed the same commitment to the district on Feb. 7 as they have shown for more than a decade. A replacement maintenance and operations levy and a $149.5 million bond package was approved by voters.

Cottage housing:

a thing of the past

Shoreline Council members voted in favor of repealing the cottage housing code at the Feb. 13 Council meeting. The decision came after a moratorium was enacted in August 2004 to prevent cottage housing developments in the city while the Council deliberated the issue.

MARCH

Schnall gives up

medical license

Long-time Shoreline pediatrician and past school board member Dr. Bill Schnall surrendered his medical license and retired. Schnall, who practiced for almost 30 years, gave up his state license as part of an agreement with the state Medical Quality Assurance Commission after an investigation into allegations that he violated boundaries with a number of adolescent male patients. The Medical Quality Assurance Commission alleged Schnall’s boundary violations were sexual in nature and occurred in the past two years with eight adolescent males.

CRISTA president

bids farewell

Jim Gwinn, the long-time president of CRISTA Ministries, retired after 18 years of leading the Christian organization that operates 10 ministries, King’s Schools, retirement communities and three radio stations. CRISTA Ministries is the largest employer in Shoreline.

40 teachers’ jobs

in jeopardy

More than 40 teaching positions were on the chopping block in a Shoreline School District proposal for the 2006-07 school year.

Hundreds of people gathered at a school board meeting Monday, March 20 to hear Bob Boesche, an independent financial consultant, outline a draft proposal to cut spending by about $4.7 million. The proposal aimed to rescue the district from an ongoing fiscal crisis. The proposed cuts would likely increase class sizes and reduce sports programs and library services. Vocational education, special education, in-school suspension and more would be impacted.

Kragness ready

for role as fire chief

After working as deputy chief of operations for the past three years, Marcus Kragness officially took over as Shoreline fire chief after Ron Mehlert retired in mid-March. Before coming to Shoreline, Kragness worked his way up through the ranks at Bothell Fire Department, where he started his career in 1980 and eventually became chief in 1996.

Olander named new city manager

When searching for a new city manager, city officials opted not to conduct a national search, but favored a much narrower approach. They consulted the current roster of city employees. Former deputy city manager Bob Olander, who has served as interim city manager since January, was unanimously appointed as city manager at the Monday, March 27 Council meeting.

APRIL

Superintendent

on paid leave

School Board members voted unanimously at their April 3 meeting to place Superintendent James Welsh on administrative leave with pay, effective immediately. The Board’s vote came after hours of public comment at the crowded meeting, where calls for Welsh’s resignation were met with resounding applause.

Towne Centre gets design guidelines

Specific design guidelines for the redevelopment of Lake Forest Park Towne Centre were adopted. The Council unanimously approved a design guidelines ordinance at the March 23 Council meeting. The guidelines will eventually be the basis of negotiating with a future developer and include recommendations for housing, environmentally friendly building methods and structures, transportation, parking and other criteria.

School deficit is more than $3 million

Just when it seemed the Shoreline School District’s money problems couldn’t get worse, they did. District officials expect the general fund balance for 2005-06 to run more than $3 million in the red, not $2.7 million in the red as anticipated.

That’s because the district, under the leadership of superintendent Jim Welsh, took a questionable approach to capital fund dollars, according to a committee that scrutinized the fund.

Fodor Homes under state scrutiny

The state Department of Social and Health Services investigated a cluster of group homes in Lake Forest Park. No new children were admitted to Fodor Homes until allegations have been fully investigated and a safety plan implemented. Fodor Homes, LLC, operates six foster homes in Lake Forest Park with 29 autistic children. Information was gathered that caused concern over the health and safety of the children in regards to staffing levels, meal compliance, safety preparation and the documentation of prescription medication.

Recall filed for mayor and deputy mayor

A recall petition was filed with the King County Records and Elections Division by six residents who hoped to remove Shoreline’s mayor and deputy mayor from elected office.

The petitioners contended Mayor Robert Ransom and Deputy Mayor Maggie Fimia committed a series of acts involving misfeasance, malfeasance and violations of their oaths of office. The grounds for the petition cite actions occurring both before and after the resignation of former city manager Steve Burkett, indicating Ransom and Fimia made arrangements pertaining to Burkett’s resignation agreement in secret.

MAY

Hundreds of students protest at school

Several hundred Shorewood High School students marched to Shoreline School District headquarters on May 9, to protest cuts proposed for their high school. The students, many skipping their second period classes, walked peacefully in a long line north to Shoreline Center, the district’s administrative offices.

About one-sixth of Shorewood’s roughly 1,800 students participated. When the students arrived at the Shoreline Center field, a handful of district officials stood watching. Organizers standing in the bleachers above the students rallied the crowd. They then asked students to sit down on the spot and write letters about what they wanted district officials to save in the budget process.

Green glory: parks bond passes

The Shoreline parks and open space bond was strongly approved by voters, which is perhaps no surprise since the glorious sunny special election weather indicated even Mother Nature’s support. The bond issue included open space property acquisitions and improvements for a total of $18.5 million. For the owner of an average-valued home of $289,000, the estimated monthly cost is $7 or $84 per year. The tax takes effect in 2007 and the bond will take about 15 years to be paid off.

JUNE

Walker named new superintendent

The Shoreline School District had a new superintendent. Sue Walker, formerly assistant superintendent, was voted into the position by the School Board at its June 5 meeting.

At the same meeting, the board approved a settlement with former superintendent James Welsh, who accepted $113,000 to resign from his position.

The controversial decisions were made before a packed board room that buzzed with tension and anger. Audience murmurs, retorts and even sarcastic laughter punctuated some board member comments.

Eight of nine Fodor Homes are closed

Susan Fodor closed all but one of nine homes she owned in Lake Forest Park that serve primarily autistic children. The move was part of an agreement between Fodor and state Department of Social and Health Services officials following a June 1 extended deadline to comply with state ordered changes at the homes. State officials said Fodor failed to meet requirements, resulting in the closure of homes serving between 25 and 35 autistic children. The agreement allows a maximum of four children to stay in the remaining home in Lake Forest Park.

Lambert is no longer ‘interim’ president

Lee Lambert was named President of Shoreline Community College on Friday, June 9. Lambert was filling the role on an interim basis since October, taking over for President Holly Moore.

Classrooms powered by some sunshine

Sunshine is now lighting up the inside of a second public building in the city. A solar electric power system was installed on the roof of a building at Parkwood Elementary, which will provide “green” power to the school. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on Friday, June 7, in celebration. Solar panels were previously installed atop Meridian Park Elementary.

Recall petition suddenly withdrawn

Just three days before a scheduled hearing in King County Superior Court, a group of residents withdrew a recall petition aimed at removing Mayor Bob Ransom and Deputy Mayor Maggie Fimia from office. The decision, said the petitioners, was based on timing. The petitioners withdrew the petition on June 13, which was filed March 30 with King County Records and Elections Division.

Property bought for Shoreline city hall

Shoreline City Council approved buying two properties adjacent to City Hall for a new civic center at the June 26 meeting. The estimated price for a new civic center was $24.75 million, which includes the cost of the primary site and construction of a new city hall. Buying the second parcel was a separate cost of $3.3 million.

JULY

District closes public relations office

Shoreline School District administrators closed the district’s Community Relations office. Marjorie Ledell and Robert Teodosio, the department’s two employees, no longer work for the district.

A new position, a public relations officer, was hired to execute the department’s tasks, said Superintendent Sue Walker. The change will save the district at least $100,000, she said.

Doors to close on last Fodor Homes

Not long after Susan Fodor closed eight group homes in Lake Forest Park that serve primarily autistic children, she closed two more. One home is in Lake Forest Park and another is located in Snohomish County. When Fodor’s probationary license expired on Aug. 1, her license was revoked.

Tree regulations divide Innis Arden

Some members of the Innis Arden community are calling more stringent hazardous tree regulations a victory. Others call it a great concern. On July 24, the Shoreline City Council adopted an ordinance allowing the city planning director to review a hazardous tree evaluation form, conduct a site inspection, issue approval or denial of the exemption and establish a list of city-approved arborists. The new regulations apply citywide.

North City Project pleases many

The North City Project has had its share of opposition, most notably from a handful of business owners on 15th Avenue Northeast opposed to the roadway reconfiguration from four lanes to three between Northeast 172nd and Northeast 180th streets. Four lanes were eventually retained and now, together with wider sidewalks, lampposts, newly planted trees, new street signals and underground utilities, most business owners are pleased with the $7 million project. Construction began in May 2005.

AUGUST

Late filers liven up state races

Six political hopefuls decided the last minute was the perfect time to make election season in the 32nd District a little more interesting. With a filing deadline of 5 p.m., Friday, July 28, six previously unannounced candidates filed that very day.

Running for re-election was incumbent Sen. Darlene Fairley, D-Lake Forest Park, who was challenged in her bid for a fourth term by newcomer Chris Eggen in the primary. The winner of the primary faced Kenmore resident David Baker in the general election. Three Democrats filed for Pos. 1, including incumbent Rep. Maralyn Chase, D-Edmonds, and newcomers Maryn Wynne and Stacy Gillett, who intended to withdraw. In the primary for Position 2 were incumbent Rep. Ruth Kagi, D-Lake Forest Park, and newcomer Larry Owens, along with Republican Steve Gibbs.

Owens, Wynne withdraw from races

The political strategy of a few Democratic challengers included not only filing to run for elected office, but also withdrawing those bids of candidacy. On Aug. 3, newcomers Larry Owens and Maryn Wynne withdrew from their 32nd Legislative District House races, saying they had only filed to run because there were too many uncertainties about whether the incumbent Democrats would file.

Lake Forest Park Towne Centre sold

The “for sale” sign was taken down at Lake Forest Park Towne Centre after the 16-acre property was purchased by Madison Marquette.

Madison Marquette, the company that managed the mall, secured the property in mid-July. GE Capital previously owned the site, valued somewhere between $20 million and $30 million.

Parents want to pay for teacher

Last spring, Highland Terrace Elementary School parents discovered that the school’s fourth- grade class had swelled to 33 because of district budget cuts. What followed is unprecedented in the Shoreline School District: They donated $77,000 to fund a teacher.

Man’s life lost after shelf falls from truck

A metal shelf unit that fell out of the bed of a truck resulted in a fatal crash that claimed the life of Gavin Coffee, a Lake Forest Park man. On Friday, Aug. 18, a black Ford truck traveling northbound on Interstate 5 lost a metal shelf unit out of the truck bed as it approached NE 175th Street in Shoreline.

SEPTEMBER

Laptops for students

at schools

In August, laptop computers that cost $1,100 each were put in the hands of students at all middle and high schools in the Shoreline School District to use in class and take home. The program was approved by voters in February as part of a $149 million bond that’s paying for the initial costs. The purchase of new technology and the initial training and software for it comes from the capital projects fund, which is healthy.

School board OK’s PTA donation

A controversial $45,000 donation from the Highland Terrace Elementary School PTA to the school got the OK from the Shoreline School Board at its Sept. 11 meeting, but only narrowly.

The Board voted 3-2 to accept the donation — technically with no designation on how it’s to be used. However, board members stated they knew the money would likely be used to fund classified classroom help at the school.

Fairley easily leads in Dem. primary

Voters in the 32nd District were loud and clear in declaring which Democrat they favored in the primary election — state Sen. Darlene Fairley, D-Lake Forest Park. A longtime incumbent, Fairley was well-ahead of her challenger, newcomer Chris Eggen, in the Sept. 19 primary election.

Fifteen employees arrested at Sugar’s

A routine business check at Sugar’s, in Shoreline, resulted in the arrest of 13 dancers, one of whom was underage, and two managers. The undercover sting took place on Friday evening, Sept. 22, at the topless dancing establishment, and resulted in the closure of the business for the remainder of the evening.

The arrests were made for violations of dancer conduct, which pertains to how dancers conduct themselves on and off the stage. The 16-year-old underage dancer and the adults were booked into King County Jail.

OCTOBER

Thompson deployed to Afghanistan

Lake Forest Park Councilman Dwight Thompson, who served as the Council’s mayor pro tempore, was deployed to Afghanistan.

A colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve, Thompson vacated his Council seat more than a year early for military leave. He will be mobilized for about 16 months, spending about one year in Afghanistan. While he’s on active duty, Thompson requested that his Council seat be filled.

Grace Cole park: a dream come true

Residents gathered to celebrate the opening of Grace Cole Nature Park on Saturday, Oct. 28. The park is named after the late Grace Cole, a state representative in the 32nd Legislative district for 16 years. Improvements to the site include a boardwalk that extends through the main part of the wetland up to the eastern edge of the pond, where there is a viewing platform.

NOVEMBER

32nd District incumbents win

Voters in the 32nd District sent all three women incumbents back to Olympia after the Nov. 7 general election. State Sen. Darlene Fairley, D-Lake Forest Park, was elected to another four-year term and state Reps. Ruth Kagi, D-Lake Forest Park, and Maralyn Chase, D-Edmonds, were strongly supported in their bids for two-year terms.

Plusch appointed to LFP City Council

Lake Forest Park resident Steve Plusch was appointed to fill a temporary vacancy on the City Council. Plusch and three other residents were interviewed for a temporary council position at the Nov. 9 council meeting during open session. The vacant seat is due to Council member Dwight Thompson being deployed to Afghanistan for more than a year.

Haineses move

to retreat center

Resigning from their positions with the cities of Lake Forest Park and Shoreline, Karen and Paul Haines moved to a remote retreat center called Holden Village in the Cascade Mountains near Chelan, Wash.

They won’t have access to telephones and mail isn’t delivered every day. Even e-mail is a very recent addition to the village community that has no TVs or radios.

The Haineses have two key management positions at Holden Village. Paul is public works director and Karen, who was city administrator for Lake Forest Park for four years, is village business manager.

DECEMBER

South Woods will be kept as park

Although money doesn’t grow on trees, it can certainly help preserve them. Both the Shoreline school and water district boards, in separate decisions, approved selling the remaining acres of South Woods to the city. The property will be kept open space, as part of the city’s parks system. The city is paying $2.73 million to the school district for 4.79 acres and $4.16 million to the water district for 7.79 acres.

School’s out

for snow days

For many children, the school closures caused by snow were cause for celebration. School was closed for two days and opened 90 minutes late two other days. For city crews, however, the snow days meant working 24 hours a day plowing and sanding streets. City crews received many calls pertaining to accidents, trees down and snow and ice problems.

No code violation

found at garage

No code violations were found to have occurred at what may be the most talked-about garage in the city after an investigation by the city’s planning director.

Neighbors contended that Richmond Beach property owners Greg and Lila Smith have repeatedly violated zoning regulations by using a space above the garage as a living area or as rented business space. Lila Smith is chair of the 32nd District Democrats.

Neighbors said a man lives in the space above the garage, rather than in the main house. The city’s planning director, Joe Tovar, made a determination that the Smiths have not violated the city code, much to the dismay of many residents.

No power? no problem

Public works crews in Shoreline and Lake Forest Park were out all weekend doing recovery work after a severe wind storm that left many residents without power, essentially clearing debris from roadways and getting ready to remove large branches extending onto public roadways. Although some residents opted to stay with friends or pay for a hotel room, many residents went without power for as long as five days

Clerk killed while working night shift

Flowers, intermixed with notes and balloons that say “thank you” and “you’ll be missed,” decorated the corner of 165th Street and Fifth Avenue NE, next to the 7-Eleven store where Ho Nhat Ton, a clerk, was killed. Officers responded to the 7-Eleven shortly after 4 a.m. on Dec. 10, when a customer reported that a man, who was apparently the clerk, was dead from a gunshot wound.

School closures

are likely

There’s only one more meeting scheduled for a Shoreline School District advisory committee that’s recommending $2 million in cuts for next year.

The bulk of the savings is expected to come from closing elementary schools. In an informal thumbs up/thumbs down vote at the Dec. 19 meeting, there was unanimous support for closing two elementary schools. The committee has reached formal consensus to keep Room Nine Community School open and move it to another building. The same goes for the Home Education Exchange.

The two moves are estimated to save the district almost $400,000, though some have contested those numbers. In tandem, closing two elementary schools and moving the two programs is estimated to save $1,848,214, which is shy of the $2 million goal.