Give City Your Input On Regional Trails

King County Parks is seeking the public's input on the Burke Gilman and other regional trails:

Tell us about regional trails. Do you use them? If not, why not? What do you like about them? How could they be better? We want to hear about your experience on our regional trails – take this four-minute survey to help us understand how we can improve regional trails in the future. Regional trails are those wide, paved trails or hard gravel paths with gentle grades, such as the Burke-Gilman, Sammamish River, Interurban, Green River and Cedar River Trails. Complete the survey and be entered in a drawing for the chance to win two nights in a yurt at Tolt-MacDonald Park. Just include your email address at the end of the survey. The survey will be open until Friday, Oct 5th.

Do you ride the bus across SR-520? Opportunity To Give Input And Attend Open House On Potential Bus Service Changes

King County Metro is conducting a survey for those who ride the bus to the Eastside:
 
The information says:

 

Metro and Sound Transit are reaching out to transit riders and communities to get input on the future of bus service in the State Route 520 corridor to keep buses moving and make them more reliable (on-time) by connecting them with Link light rail at the University of Washington.

Rider input from earlier this year helped us create two service change concepts. Now we’re sharing these concepts—plus details about what will happen if we don’t make any changes—and asking again for feedback. We’ll use this feedback to shape a single proposal for changing service, which we’ll share for feedback this fall. 

Possible service changes to these routes: Metro:252, 255, 257, 268, 277, 311 and Sound Transit: 540, 541, 542, and 545

Learn more about the concepts on the website and take the online survey.

There will be an open house on June 19th from 3-6pm at Husky Stadium as well as a UW Station transfer tour.

Go here for more information.

2017 Property Value Notices Mailed And How To Appeal

The King County Assessor's office released this information:

2017 Property Valuation Notices Are in the Mail:  Values Continue to Rise Across King County

 

The King County Assessor’s Office has begun the annual process of mailing valuation notices to over 700,000 property owners. Notices will continue arriving to property owners through September. 

In most areas of the county, property values are up again this year. Higher valuations, however, do not necessarily translate into higher property taxes, said Assessor John Wilson.    

“Most people don’t realize that the fluctuating value of your property has less to do with changes in your tax bill than do measures approved by voters,” said Wilson. “Decisions made by voters, in terms of approving special levies; and by elected officials in terms of adopting budgets, determine the total amount of tax to be collected in your area; the value of your property determines your share of that total amount.” 

Wilson continues to encourage property owners to sign up to receive their annual property valuation notice via email instead of through the USPS. This electronic valuation notice program is convenient for property owners, will save money for the Department of Assessments, and is environmentally friendly. To sign up, go here and click on the "Go Paperless" window for details.  

Property owners who believe their assessment may be incorrect, can appeal to the Board of Equalization (BOE). This must be done within 60 days of receipt of the 2017 valuation notice. Details are available here.   

State law requires each county assessor to revalue property annually, and to conduct an on-site physical inspection of each property at least once every six years. Property values are determined by certified appraisers who assess property based on comparable sales, various attributes of a particular property, and/or income generated by the property.

 

 

City Launches Medicine Return Program And Drop Boxes

King County has recently launched a medicine return program funded by the drug companies that sell medicines into King County.

The public can, at no charge, safely dispose of medicines no longer needed by taking them to drop-boxes located throughout King County, including the QFC Pharmacy at the University Village. Participating pharmacies, clinics, hospitals, and law enforcement offices will accept most prescription and over-the-counter medicines for disposal. Mail-back envelopes are also available for residents who are homebound or have limited mobility.

The program aims to decrease the risk of drug abuse, overdose, and preventable poisonings.

The information says:

Unused, expired, and leftover drugs that accumulate in homes increase the risk of drug abuse, overdose, and preventable poisonings while unwanted medicines flushed down toilets and sinks or thrown in the trash can end up in the environment. Ninety nine drop-boxes are available and over four hundred drug producers are participating.

For more information go here.

Tully's Closes, Sunrice To Close, Other Spaces Still Sit Empty After Months

Many Laurelhurst Blog readers have emailed the Laurelhurst Blog Staff about Tully's suddenly closing last Sunday.

One neighbors said:

As a long time Tully's customer I was saddened to learn that it had closed. I was told by employees the rent had tripled.  No word what is planned for the space.

 

The Laurelhurst Blog Staff spoke with a Tully's who said that the landlord "wanted to triple our rent." He added that Kinko's will most likely be downsizing in the same space.

King County Records show that the building, appraised at $3,152,600 is owned by William Guimont of Gemo-Guimont LLC.

That appears to be the only building he owns in the area as Property Development Associates (PDA), a division of Safeway that focuses on the leasing and disposition, owns the building where Burgermaster is.

Nearby Baskin-Robbins has sat empty since September of last year. 

The manager and also son of the owner, told the Laurelhurst Blog Staff that the new landlord "wanted to raise the rent by more than 50% with all costs included."








So they had to walk away from the business his family has owned for 15 years, and in which it has been located for 40 years .  

Word on the street is that the rent is $7,000 a month for the space. One neighbor said "Probably the only business that can afford that is Starbuck's."

Also empty is the space that used to house Chloe Bistro which closed in January of last year.  Before that, Union Bay Café was there for a number of years.

The landlords, the Spigers, have told potential renters that they only want offices in that space and no more restaurants.

The Spigers own the entire building, which also houses Epic Barber, a variety of offices and businesses.

The Sunrice Café is also in that building and the Laurelhurst Blog Staff has heard that it will be closing very soon, because the rent has suddenly increased.

Blog readers speculate that these spaces will continue to be vacant as the "loss of rent is a tax write-off so no money is lost" one resident said. "Landlords can afford to have their spaces sit empty as long as they want." 

A reader who is a Tax Preparer and Business Development Specialist, wrote in and said:

Landlords still have to pay property taxes and other costs. They can, in some cases, take the loss generated by the property as a reduction in taxable income and, thus, get some tax savings, but that's not the case for most property owners because their incomes are too high for that.

Undoubtedly, most property owners would prefer to have tenants and it may be worth their time and lost rental income to wait for one that will pay a higher rate or to redevelop the property.

 

 

Give Input On Distracted Driver Legislation Sponsored By 46th District Representative

A Laurelhurst Blog reader sent in this information regarding the Distracted Driver Legislation, sponsored by a 46th District Representative, who represents the Seattle neighborhoods of Greenwood, Northgate, Lake City and Laurelhurst in King County:

46^th District State Representative Jesslyn Farrell is sponsoring House Bill 2574 which would update the current law prohibiting texting while driving and talking while holding a phone to your ear.   

The bill is intended to update state law with current technology by prohibiting updating Twitter, sending work emails, or Instagramming while driving.  Specifically, the bill would extend the personal wireless communication device-related activities subject to a traffic infraction to include a person driving while holding a personal wireless communications device in his or her hands or using a personal wireless communications device to read or manually enter data.  

The bill had a public hearing on January 27 and is scheduled for a vote soon.  

To express your support or opposition to the bill, call the free legislative hotline at 1-800-562-6000.  

For more information, contact For more information, contact Phillip Duggan at chair@46dems.org or go to http://46dems.org/. Also contact State Representative Farrell at jessyn.farrell@leg.wa.gov.

Assessor’s Office Conducting Physical Inspections Of Properties In Neighborhood Through March

Appraisers from King County's Assessor’s Office are currently conducting physical inspections of properties (existing residences, residences under construction and vacant parcels) from Sheridan Beach to Laurelhurst through March.
 
The information says:

Appraisers generally conducts physical inspection from 7:00 AM to 4:00PM four days per week, Monday thru Thursday and are identifiable by their County ID badges.  

The Assessor’s Office annually values over 700,000 properties in King County, and physically inspects 1/6^th of all properties.

This annual process allows appraisers to verify and update any property characteristic changes that might have occurred since the last physical inspection.  

To determine property values, The Assessor analyzes sales and market trends within the area or similar market areas.  The analysis includes properties with a variety of features such as lot size, house square footage, year built, quality of construction, view, and other characteristics.  

The 2015 assessment is an appraisal of the property as of January 1, 2015 based on a valuation model which is created from the market sales in the area.  Washington State law requires that the Assessor produce a land value separate from the improvement value (an improvement is considered to be any improvement to the land such as a new or existing house or any accessory item).  

The Assessor’s Office sets property valuations. It does not set taxes, and there is not an automatic percentage increase correlation between your property value increase and future property taxes.

King County taxpayers who need advice and assistance with property tax related matters, including appeals, should contact the King County Tax Advisor at 206-477-1060 or by email at taxadvisor@kingcounty.gov. Property owners with questions for the Assessor’s Office should contact us at 206-296-7300 or email assessor.info@kingcounty.gov.   For information on your property go to eReal Property Search at www.kingcounty.gov/assessor.

Laurelhurst Bus Route 25 Under Consideration To Be Replaced By Week-day Only Route To Connect With Link Starting In March, Give Your Input Now

King County Council is considering a final set of bus changes in NE Seattle that would replace Laurelhurst bus  Route 25 week day only service to new Route 78 starting in March of next year when Link light rail begins service.

The King County Council is considering this route and other recommended changes in the latest proposal submitted by Metro bus service that would help commuters connect from bus service to the light rail service at the nearby Husky station and other new stations.
 
Route 78 would serve Wedgwood, View Ridge, Laurelhurst, the University District, and the University of Washington Link Station every 30 minutes during the day and peak hours and every 60 minutes in the evening. The hours would be 6:30am-10:30pm.
 
Public comments are being accepted by the King County Council, the final decision maker.

"These service changes are extensive and Council discussions are now underway. We need you to be part of the process and hope you will please send us your comments and concerns by using our submission form" the website says.
 
The King County Council is expected to make a decision on the recommendations soon. 
 
The information says:

Link will give riders a reliable eight-minute trip between Husky Stadium and downtown Seattle, avoiding freeway and surface-street traffic.

Metro’s recommended changes would make it easier for riders to connect with the new service. The changes would also improve bus networks in northeast Seattle and on Capitol Hill, using resources saved by trimming bus service that duplicates new Link service. 

 

Here are the proposed route changes:
Route 78

Replacement for route 25 that currently serves Laurelhurst and runs every 30 minutes

 

Route 65

Touches the corner of Laurelhurst by Children's Hospital and runs every 10-15 minutes

 

Route 31 and 32

Both start near Children's Hospital on Sand Point Way and run every 20-30 minutes

 

Here are comment the Laurelhurst Blog received:

The routes will connect nicely with the new Link light rail station near Husky Stadium when  it opens.

We recently moved to Laurelhurst and were surprised by how bad the bus service is to downtown. My wife works in Pioneer Square and tried a couple bus options. The 25 meanders through the U District and Capitol Hill taking an hour to get downtown in the morning. She also tried parking by the Center for Urban Horticulture and taking a bus on Sand Point Way to the U District and transferring to an express bus. It was still just under an hour. Now she ends up driving to Sodo and catching a bus there. 

It's nice to see the proposed route changes are centered around connecting with the Link light rail. The frequency of the trains is being increased to every 6 minutes during commute times. Combined with the advertised "8 minute travel time to downtown," Laurelhurst will hopefully be only a half hour away from downtown via a connection with the new route 78. 

SDOT and King County Metro are cutting some commuter bus lines or re-routing them through the U District to feed the light rail stations, even after Seattle voters approved more $ for buses.

For more information:

•  here to see the detailed news release
• proposed changes to north Seattle service: including travel times to primary destinations from key transfer points.
• map showing bus stops, and the routes that would serve them, near the University of Washington light rail station
• interactive map that allows you to compare the current transit network with the proposed one
• submit comments

 

 

 

Possible May Day Related Traffic Delays

King County Metro Transit issued the following alert

Today, all commuters in the greater Seattle area are advised to expect possible significant delays in transit service due to traffic, crowds and congestion associated with multiple planned May Day events.

It is not possible at this time to know which streets will be affected or when. Metro staff will work throughout the day to advise transit customers of impacts to service as they happen. There are currently no pre-planned reroutes. 

Any bus service that travels near or through the downtown Seattle and Capitol Hill areas may be subject to delays during Friday's events. Bus riders are advised to plan accordingly, stay tuned to media sites for updates, revise travel plans if necessary and allow plenty of travel time. For more information, go to: http://metro.kingcounty.gov/

Learn About Metro's Transit Incentive Program

Metro Bus service is offering tickets for eight free rides through the Transit Incentives Program.

The information says:

Each household in King County that registers at least one vehicle per year throuhg May 2014 is eligible. King County residents receive an order form when they register their vehicle.

To order tickets, fill in the information requested on form.  

 For more information go here.

People can also donate the ticket value to the county’s human services ticket program.

Metro Bus Route 25 Rerouted in Laurelhurs​t Through September

Route 25, that serves Laurelhurst, is being rerouted weekdays through September 28th due to street closures in Laurelhurst.

Route 25 will be rerouted off of 47th Avenue NE, East Laurelhurst Drive NE,  NE 33rd Street  and 43rd Avenue  NE, and will not be serving those streets, along with 42nd Avenue NE.

Metro advises using the temporary stop northbound 48th Avenue NE at NE 41st Street or the posted stops along the route.

Metro Bus Route 25 Potential Reduction In Frequency Next Year

 

Metro Bus Route 25 that serves Laurelhurst may have a reduction in service from every 30 minutes to 60 minutes during peak hours starting in September of next year.

Riders are encouraged to fill out a comment form here right away, to let Metro know what you think about this proposed changes and others listed here.

This is part of the June 2012 transit reinvestment project as outlined on their website:

Metro is making changes. We are moving toward our new vision for public transportation, striving to build a highly productive transit system that takes people where they want to go and gets the most value out of every dollar spent on transit.

The recommended June 2012 service changes will be presented to King County Council for consideration in early December and adoption by January.

Take The Washington State Transportation Survey

The Washington State Transportation Commission has created an online survey for the public to let  local and state leaders know what transportation needs are most important and what the transportation priorities should be.

"This is an opportunity for you to help shape the future of your local, regional, and statewide transportation system," the information says.

The survey is part of the Commission’s statewide outreach program in which the Commission asked King County to help inform people about it. The results of the survey will be reported to the Governor, Legislature, policy makers, and advisory groups such as the Connecting Washington Task Force.

The survey which takes about 20-30 minutes to complete asks questions about what type of transportation is most important, how it should be paid for, how tolling revenue should be used, and other similar questions.

"The Transportation Commission reviews and assesses the entire transportation system and issues the state’s 20-year Transportation Plan. It also adopts tolls for state highways and bridges and fares for Washington State Ferries.  The Commission also provides a public forum for transportation policy development," the website says.

Community's Input Needed In Preparing Seattle Area Plan On Aging

Irene Stewart. a Planner, with the Aging and Disability Services  (ADS), a state-designated Area Agency on Aging for King County, sent us email about an on-line survery available to everyone to fill out. 

Every four years, ADS prepares a new Area Plan on Aging for King County, which guides their work. And especially now as they are preparing a new plan for 2012-2015,  they would like to have input from Seattle and King County residents to include.

Community members of all ages are encouraged to complete the online questionnaire and especially those who are 60 years or older, adults with disabilities, and family caregivers.

The input received from the questionnaire will help shape the development of strategies over the next four years, in promoting quality of life, independence and choice for older people and adults with disabilities.

"Everybody is aging, so everybody should care" Irene wrote in her email.

For more information about the Area Plan on Aging or the questionnaire, contact ADS planner Karen Winston at 206-684-0706.

King County Offers Healthy Tips for Trick or Treating

Andrea, on behalf of Public Health of Seattle and King County, sent us these tips for Trick or Treating that are in the latest King County Health Matters newsletter:

KING COUNTY OFFERS HEALTHIER TREATS FOR HALLOWEEN

Halloween is right around the corner. Wondering how to keep your ghouls and goblins from gorging on candy that they bring home? Parents, try these healthier options from Public Health – Seattle & King County.

Eat a healthy meal before trick-or-treating. Kids are less likely to gorge on candy if they are full. Consider a peanut butter sandwich or some fruit before trick-or-treating.

Offer healthier alternatives. Try sugar-free gum or hard candy — it typically has sugar but no fat. Other great options include individually wrapped packages of raisins, pretzels or trail mix. Kids also love non-food treats like stickers, superballs, temporary tattoos, spider rings and small bottles of bubbles.

Be a role model. Eat candy in moderation yourself. To help avoid temptation, buy candy that you are less likely to eat and make the purchase at the last minute.

Save some for later. Candy usually has a long shelf-life. Put some in the freezer to have later in the year.

Get physical. Use trick-or-treating and other Halloween activities to get your daily dose of physical activity. Kids should get at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day.


Cut back on sugar-loaded drinks. With all the extra Halloween candy around your home, pay attention to the total amount of sugar your kids are consuming —it all adds up. Cut back on sugary drinks like sodas, sweetened juices, and energy drinks which can lead to obesity. These sugar-loaded beverages pose hidden health risks for kids including: obesity, Type 2 diabetes, tooth decay and high blood pressure.

Burn Ban Starts Today Through September

King County has issued a Phase 1 burn ban starting this morning through September 30th. The burn ban applies to all of  King County including the incorporated and unincorporated areas.

The King County news release says:

"Forest and yard debris burning is not allowed under a Phase 1 ban. This burn ban does not apply to federal forests or national parks, although these jurisdictions may have similar restrictions in effect.

This Phase 1 burn ban still allows recreational campfires in approved fire pits. However, campfires and fire pits are allowed only if they are located on private land with the landowner's permission and if built according to the specifications found here.

'With local temperatures rising, we have called this burn ban to protect public health and safety during the summer months,' King County Fire Marshal Jim Chan said, announcing the burn ban."