Clyde Hill News: Mayor offers “strategic priorities;” possible changes in how residents engage in budget process
Also: Comprehensive Plan costs pass $250K; Clyde Hill PD wins awards; leaf blower limits ahead?
Residents interested in understanding the city’s priorities for 2025 can now read a draft of the mayor’s “strategic priorities” document (link). Tuesday’s city council meeting agenda includes a public discussion of these priorities as well as possible changes to how residents engage in the city’s budget process.
Residents can provide feedback on these items, as well as other potential changes like leaf blower hours of operation, at Tuesday’s meeting in person, virtually, or via email ahead of the meeting.
More details on these topics and more below, but first, an item from Clyde Hill PD (link) that might be of use to residents: make sure your license plates haven’t been switched. From the police blotter:
Officers received a FLOCK hit and found vehicle with stolen plates attached. They had been switched with the owner’s plates without his knowledge. Plates removed and owner advised to report his and get new plates.
Also, one last reminder of next week’s “spring clean up” event. Clyde Hill residents have the “opportunity to place bulk items, extra furniture and yard waste out for pickup” on May 15th (the regular pickup date). More information is available 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.
City goals and priorities: the “big picture” view
Briefly: for the first time, residents can read a clear statement of the city’s larger goals and priorities.
At just over two pages, the “2025 Mayor’s Strategic Priorities” document (link) covers public safety, land use and zoning, improving communication with residents, and financial sustainability, among other topics. From a resident point of view, the document provides a good overview of what services residents can expect from the city today.
As a resident, this document is a welcome upgrade in many ways from the city’s planning communication to date. It provides a broad overview with enough operational specifics that residents can make sense of what’s going on without getting stuck in too many details. Striking that balance is hard, and it’s great for the community to see this progress.
Community feedback opportunity
The draft document is a great starting point for public discussion. Feedback from residents can help make it even stronger.
For example, the document suggests a potential tree code but doesn’t mention strengthening or streamlining protection of views. I expect that while some residents will react positively to tree canopy protections, others will express concerns about views.
As with any discussion of priorities, there’s nuance around communication and opportunity for misinterpretation. I expect some residents may have questions about relative priorities. For example, public safety is currently “Priority 2: Safe & Livable Community” while general administration is currently “Priority 1: Government Performance & Sustainability.”
Residents can provide feedback during the public comment section at the beginning of the meeting. The public meeting starts at 6pm at City Hall on Tuesday May 14th. Information on how to attend virtually is available here (link). Residents can also send public comment ahead of the meeting via email.
Resident “Budget Advisory Committee” changes ahead?
Another document in the meeting packet offers “alternative options” (link) to re-constituting a resident advisory group that has participated in the city’s budget process for over twenty years.
On the one hand, it’s good to be thoughtful and consider options and not just operate on autopilot. Based on conversations I’ve had with members of the Budget Advisory Committee over the years and public comments from city staff, there are opportunities to improve and refine the process.
That said: running a feedback process like the Budget Advisory Committee is genuinely hard on many levels. The challenges start with scheduling and logistics and keep going… for example, getting everyone on the same page about the subtleties and legal requirements around public spending and government accounting.
Residents interested in more information have lots of options. (Feel free to reach out to me if you don’t find what you’re looking for at the city’s website or in the meeting packet.)
Leaf blowers, and more
Other items from the meeting agenda that might be of particular interest to residents:
Should the city further limit the hours of operation for leaf blowers? A document (link) in the meeting packet suggests that limiting noisy gas-powered equipment does not appear feasible in the short term. To address residents’ concerns about noise, limiting hours of operation is an option on the agenda. Currently, the permitted hours for operating leaf blowers in the city are between “7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. on weekdays (other than holidays), and 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.”
Land use, Comprehensive Plan, and the Planning Commission
City staff announced another schedule change to completing the Comprehensive Plan update. The council vote on adopting the plan has moved out a month, from September to October (link).
Also, the city’s expenditures on the Comprehensive Plan passed $250,000 last month:
The council will vote (as part of the consent agenda) on a “housekeeping” change (link) to the city code that establishes the Planning Commission.
Also, last month’s memo about “Planning Commission Workflow” has apparently been revised (link). The council voted 4-1 in April to refer it to the Planning Commission “subject to additional review.” The revisions appear to be the result of that review.
Police awards
Police Chief Kyle Kolling’s report this month (link) includes news about awards Clyde Hill PD earned in 2023 from the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission, Lexipol, and the FBI-Law Enforcement Executive Development Association.
Clyde Hill PD first earned state accreditation by Washington Association of Sheriffs & Police Chiefs (WASPC) under Chief Kolling’s leadership in 2021 (link).
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Dean Hachamovitch