I got an email from Councilmember Amy Ockerlander in response to a comment from Bart. Bart was interested in a bypass from I-90 to Monroe. Included with the response was information about a monthly newsletter that Councilmember Ockerlander will be putting out. I am including her email below and encourage all of you to take advantage of this opportunity to hear directly from the council.
This is an idea that has been around for more than 40 years, with a lot of history and background. I will be discussing this in my 2nd monthly Newsflash to be sent in the next 2 weeks. Please feel free to encourage Bart to subscribe by sending me an e-mail at amy.ockerlander@duvallwa.gov.
The Monthly Newsflash is an e-newsletter in which I am providing a monthly summary of my council related activities and also provide background on issues, such as this one.
I hope that Bart will take the time to contact me personally regarding this issue. I may also be reached at (425) 844-0930.
Regards,
Amy Ockerlander
Councilmember, Position 6
City of Duvall
amy.ockerlander@duvallwa.gov
I've sent Mrs. Ockerlander an e-mail. I'm looking forward to her response.
ReplyDeleteWow, thanks, Amy for chiming in. I'd also like to hear what you've got to say, so will subscribe, but would also encourage you to share your thoughts more openly here. Thanks again! - Carolyn Durant
ReplyDeleteI am very excited about how open the city councilmembers are becoming. This is really a great thing.
ReplyDeleteRob
It is good to see that the councilmembers are willing to share what is going on with the people. I am encouraged by this new open approach they are taking. Thank you and let's make this the norm.
ReplyDeleteAs a City of Duvall staff member I'd like to invite Bart to present his parks policy recommendations before Council. The next meeting is February 11 at 7:00 pm. City Council meetings are held at the Duvall fire station. Public comment is always encouraged.
ReplyDeleteCity staff member,
ReplyDeleteit is very kind of you to offer Bart this opportunity. I assume that you will be there to meet Bart if he were to show up. Who should he ask for?
Don't be afraid of public speaking, Bart--show up!
ReplyDeleteDon't be afraid of putting your name on it Annonymous--sign it!
ReplyDeleteGeorge
Perhaps we should refocus on the point of the post. Councilmember Ockerlander is sharing insights with the public and we should thank her for that rather than bullying other people that are posting.
ReplyDeleteI doubt that a Walmart/truck stop complex are quite what most people have in mind for Duvall. Hillary
ReplyDeleteI agree with Hillary. "Small town charm" is what Duvall is all about. If there is anything that is done to help with traffic congestion, it must be done with consideration to keeping that solution on the side of town, not through it.
ReplyDeleteWe want convenience without losing our soul to ugliness. - Carolyn Durant
I grew up in a town that thought very much like this Carolyn. That town is now surrounded by other towns and has no land options left to grow, and business have all moved out to greener pastures. New businesses were at one time interested in moving in, and because they were deemed 'too big' or 'not right for the community'. Businesses have gotten the message that growth and change are not of interest to this town and now no longer try to move into such a stale community. The reality of Duvall's situation is that it must adapt, or die.
ReplyDeleteI suggested Walmart and a truck stop / service corridor for the I-90 to Highway 2 bypass as a possible direction - I'm sure that there are others as well.
I disagree that Duvall faces a future of adapt or die. Over the next twenty years Eastside population growth will push out more and more to Duvall. Businesses will come in as our town doubles in size and the number of potential customers increases. Hillary
ReplyDeleteHillary,
ReplyDeleteWhile your assesment is the ideal solution, I think there are some additional variables that we should consider. The topography in the Duvall area may limit the type and scale of development. The actions of the City Council can have a huge impact on whether or not development happens. Changes in the job market and economy can cripple our potential for growth. State regulations relating to growth management can restrict potential growth.
This is why I encourage the citizens to become involved. We need to be part of the discussion and part of the solution. We have some excellent councilmembers but they are not, nor can we expect them to be, experts in all the areas that we need to address to solve the issues the city will face.
I do not expect to solve all the problems our city may face through this blog but I do expect the conversation to happen here and the discussion to happen here.
Thank you to everyone for being part of the discussion with me.
Hillary,
ReplyDeleteDuvall may be all about small town charm today - it's one of the reasons I moved here - I love the small towns and peace and quiet they bring. No matter how much any of us want to keep things the way they are in that respect, we have to face the reality that the east side is pushing out to Duvall. This means that the small town charm will eventaully fade away.
Where would you put the businesses that you say are coming as we double in size? The valley floor to the west and north sides of town cannot be used because of the frequent flooding, and anything south of Big Rock Road is not currently part of Duvall. The only direction left is east of town. Since the 203 corridor contains something like 75% of the businesses, and they are mostly occupied, I don't see room for these new businesses without an additional business corridor.
This is why I suggested the I-90 to Highway 2 bypass on the east side of town. This would provide a second business corridor for Duvall, and also provide some easier access to the lakes, hiking trails, and nature areas to the east. It would also allow us to potentially attract larger business such as Fred Meyer, Walmart, Target, or other general purpose stores.
I'd love to see a bowling alley and pool hall (no alcohol) opened where kids and families can go spend time together. I'd love to see a few more fast food and sit-down restaurants would be awesome - especially if they used locally grown produce.
Bart, there is a lot of room remaining for future new businesses on the existing business corridor between Family Grocer and Copper Hill, and between CH and Safeway. Businesses will also be built east of Safeway up Big Rock Road, and there is also room for a future annex of commercial area south of Safeway on the Burhen property. I just don't think a second business corridor will be needed for how Duvall is planned to grow over the next two decades. Hillary
ReplyDeleteCarolyn, I just wanted to let you know that I appreciated your comment in this conversation. I feel that you really understand our community. Hillary
ReplyDeleteHillary,
ReplyDeleteA well thought out explanation assuming that the Burhen's are able to donate their property.
The untold story here is that this is exactly how the founders wanted things to work. A private citizen providing for the common good without the involvement of the government.
The sad part of the story is that because of government, this is immensely more difficult than it should be and it taking much longer than anyone thought.
Thank goodness for the kind hearts of Ray and Tova and their desire to give back to a town that they love.
I agree that government is difficult to deal with, both because there are many layers and because each layer is trying to satisfy different interest groups that may have competing goals. Duvall's city government has a very small voice on the bottom layer. More like a whisper really. I think Amy Ockerlander will be a valuable member of our city council because she has experience dealing with county and state government. She can help Duvall be heard.
ReplyDelete