Notes from Shoreline City Council Meeting Monday August 6
By Devon Vose Rickabaugh
The Shoreline City Council unanimously adopted an ordinance authorizing the city to acquire and operate the water utility currently owned by Seattle Public Utility (SPU) serving the part of Shoreline on the west side of I-5. The council also directed the city to draw up a ballot measure to be put before the voters on November 6th to authorize the acquisition of Seattle Water Services in Shoreline.
The council members agreed that acquiring the water utility would be beneficial to Shoreline in giving the city local control over rates, maintenance and upgrades. Mayor McGlashan said that Seattle City Council members had acknowledged that SPU Seattle customers' rates would go up if they sold the utility to Shoreline. “SPU is discounting Seattle rate payers now by charging Shoreline extra.” He said the Seattle Mayor has decided that to sell to Shoreline is the right thing to do.
Former councilmember Robert Ransom, who was on the citizen’s steering committee, said “the city has basically no debt and is in excellent financial shape.” And that “the city council should seize the moment, ignore the nay-sayers and approve the ballot item to let the public decide”.
Council member Hall said the city has made many improvements at lower cost by integrating services. “This is going to be a slam dunk for the community. It will save the rate payers money with better water service and it will be integrated with the other utilities.”
The city has substantial debt for the city hall ($18 million), debt for the surface water program, and debt for the parks bond, Bob Ransom was on the city council that authorized the parks bond, but for someone who has been living continuously in Shoreline since he left the city council, he is woefully uninformed. Amazing, totally amazing, he is has somehow bamboozled the voters into believing there is a Point Wells sewer district (there is not) and is on the SPU steering committee.
ReplyDeleteNo wonder he was booted off the Shoreline city council.
@anonymous 12:42,
ReplyDeleteJust to let you know, the Parks Bond went to a general vote on the ballot and was wholeheartedly approved. It wasn't a decision by the council to authorize them, it was a decision of the people.
The only way a bond can be placed on the ballot is by a city ordinance, just to let you know @anonymous 4:18 pm; meaning that the parks bond was an official act of the city council that Bob Ransom was a member.
ReplyDeleteMaybe should learn more about how local elections work since the SPU acqusition was placed on the ballot by an offical City ordinance by the present city council.
Actually, I know how elections work - do you? That council may have put it on the ballot, but it still needed to be approved by the citizens. You must have voted against it since you are upset about it. But the majority of your neighbors were in favor. I think your anger with that particular issue is a bit misplaced.
ReplyDelete@anonymous 8:57 am - You are assuming too much and clearly you don't know how to read for content. I never said I was upset about the parks bond. I merely stated this: Mr. Ransom was incorrect about the city had no debt as the city had indebted itself through the parks bond, the city hall, and the surface water program, go back to the beginning of the thread. In fact, learn how to read a thread, or maybe you just got lost.
ReplyDeleteQuit trolling and changing the topic starting this thread.
Wow, angry much? Just clarifying your statement that implies Mr. Ransom is responsible for that debt. He may have authorized it, but the citizens approved and are the responsible parties.
ReplyDeleteSorry, not trolling - but it apparently did inflame you. Settle down.
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