Clyde Hill News: King County Councilmember Claudia Balducci to visit Clyde Hill
Also: Mayor responds to Clyde Hill Elementary students’ request to honor Fred Korematsu; details emerge on Tree Code and plan to address budget deficit
King County Councilmember Claudia Balducci, who represents Clyde Hill as part of King County District 6, will attend the city council meeting Tuesday night. Residents interested in the bigger picture of government in our area are welcome to attend. There are no additional details in the meeting packet about her presentation or plans for taking questions. For reference, here’s a map of District 6:
This month’s council meeting will also include a vote on a request from second grade students at Clyde Hill Elementary, specifics about the plan to address the city’s budget deficit, and a discussion about how to proceed on developing a tree code for the city.
More details on these topics and more, below, but first, from this month’s police blotter: after Clyde Hill PD attempted to stop a vehicle, the “driver refused to exit” and “yelled derogatory comments to the officers:”
Also, a reminder that
“Beginning the week of Monday, April 15, 2024, your recycling, trash and compost collection day is changing to Wednesday” (from Republic Services, link)
Disclaimer: while I am a councilmember on the Clyde Hill City Council, I write this newsletter in my capacity as an individual resident. Any opinions expressed are my own and not necessarily the position of the city. City information and references here are from public sources. I welcome email responses — and if the topic is about city business I will respond from my city email account.
Proclamations, and honoring Korematsu
Second grade students at Clyde Hill Elementary wrote letters to Mayor Steve Friedman earlier this year requesting the city consider honoring Fred Korematsu. From the city’s meeting minutes:
Mr. Friedman explained that Fred Korematsu was a Japanese American and a civil rights activist who worked on behalf of all Americans to defend civil liberties and freedom. Additionally, Mr. Korematsu resisted the internment of the Japanese Americans both during and after World War Two. (link)
Korematsu was later awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The council will consider the following resolution:
The agenda also includes a related item about city resolutions in general (link). The item appears to be related to last month’s extended discussion about a proclamation related to “Sexual Assault Awareness Month.” One council member claimed the original text was racist. The language of the proclamation was then amended so that the vote in its favor could be unanimous.
Fighting the budget deficit, and more
The “City of Clyde Hill Financial Sustainability Plan” is now available to residents (link). The plan begins by noting the reasons “the City’s revenues [have been] unable to keep pace with the rising costs of providing city services” and then discusses possible changes to expenditures and revenues.
Clyde Hill has run an operational deficit, spending more than its revenue intake, for the last four years.
Tree code
The meeting packet includes a document, “Preparing for a Tree Code” (link).
The gist seems to be taking steps to make sure the city listens to resident feedback early on, ahead of any specific code recommendation.
Protecting views, and 65 foot tall amateur radio towers
The packet includes a document for the Planning Commission, asking it to consider whether 65+ foot tall amateur radio towers should continue to be permitted in the city, or if “Clyde Hill residents expect better protection of their views.” (link)
The council referred the topic to the Planning Commission last month. The Commission has not had the opportunity to consider when it will schedule responding to the request.
City to pay over $15K for Overlake Golf & Country Club pond work
Clyde Hill will pay $15,749 for the Clyde Hill “share [of] Pond Dredging,” according to a document in the city meeting packet:
Road improvements
Clyde Hill’s Public Works team published an overview of the road improvements residents can expect to see in 2024:
Meeting start time
The council will vote on an ordinance to change the start time of the monthly city meetings to 6pm (link).
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Dean Hachamovitch