Mayors Update

Update March 8, 2013

(An update to the people from Mayor Pete Lewis)

 

There are some exciting things coming to Auburn. One of them is a favorite of mine and this year it is going to be even more special.

I just got this email in that explained it.” Please check out this "Eric's Little Heroes" segment on one of my sport stacking demo team members that ran yesterday on the KOMO TV News.  Gabby Rivera is a 5th grade girl from Scobee and she is incredibly fast!!!!!   The current Overall World Record for the 3-3-3 is 1.96 seconds and Gabby does a 1.94 second run on this video.  Gabby currently holds the WORLD RECORD for the fastest 3-3-3 for 9-10 year old female in the World.  Eric Johnson @ KOMO has done an incredible job covering our kids, in addition to Christie Johnson from KING 5 News.

We’ll be running our tournament on Saturday March 9th, starting at 9:00 AM so hopefully you can put that on your calendar.  I would love to have both of you be a part of the Opening Talk at noon if you are available. I am very content to keep it right here in Auburn. The City of Auburn has served us very well so why stop a “good thing.”

John Ansotigue, Evergreen Heights Elementary Northwest Region Sport Stacking Director

You bet we will be there! Hope you all come as well.

Council’s committee meetings Monday night after staff’s hours of preparation seemed to go so fast. Your employees work well with Council and support them so that materials they need are out on time. Council does its job well by reading sometimes pounds of documents before meetings in preparation for the work ahead. It makes for a good team effort. Council’s power is in the collective. As the legislative body of the city they must work together, work out problems, come up with agreed upon solutions and they can only do that while at their meetings. To be a council member that accomplishes the needs of the people a person must be able to work in partnership and be an active member, participating and bringing new ideas, not just problems, to the table. Always look at who works together, who does not and who aspires to be on Council and what they will contribute to the whole. If they say they are not a part or do not want to be a part of working with and in the legislative manner – believe them.

 

Tuesday morning I met with the chairs and vice chairs of three different transportation groups in King County. There is on for the eastside, one for the south (that’s the South County Area Transportation Board) and one for the west. These groups grew up to voice their needs to King County over transportation problems in their areas. Independent of each other and the county they have depended on county services such as calling the meetings, minutes and preparing agendas for several decades. We’ve been notified that county staff for this function has been cut and the groups were requested to consider a common charter of the county as well as common rules. As happens often when you introduce people into the equation it’s not that simple. Each of these groups is different. They have different rules for membership, meetings and focus. We worked to see where we could cooperate but not at the cost of our individual identities as we are not a county group but get services from them so they can be at our tables to understand our needs before we go to the county electeds. 

 

That night Deputy Mayor Nancy Backus and I along with an Assistant Police Chief, Transportation Engineer, Emergency Management personnel and our Community Services staff were out in a newer neighborhood on the southeastern corner of our city. They had some specific needs and questions. They’d had some suspicious people in the area and wanted to keep their community safe.  Turns out they wanted a Block Watch and wanted to know what they needed to do for the city to designate their area and how they could interface with our police department. It gives them a way to meet and have a relationship with their police officers and they are well on their way to that goal. They had some issues with speeding and we’re working with them on that as well.

 

The legislative season in Olympia is well underway. While you might be hearing a lot in the media the really hard work is now beginning as your legislators decide which bills will be heard and move further and which will not. Everyone has an issue but most of what we hear is education and transportation. Your city has Councilmembers, myself and staff down there to talk to legislators and to give them practical applications. One of the problems they face is that rarified atmosphere that begins to surround them and the fact that everyone has something they want and the absolutely most urgent need.  I spent a good portion of Wednesday afternoon talking about roads and the sense of urgency that needs action right now. The state and federal governments around the U.S., Canada, and Mexico are investing hundreds of millions of dollars into their ports in preparation for the opening of the newly widened Panama Canal in 2014. They are working to have their ports ready. If, if the state government were decide that this most trade dependent state in the Union must invest in their Port to Freight infrastructure in Puget Sound right now the first project would not be completed until at least 2018. We are already far behind. If we become a second rate port then the employment base of the state drops, the income to the state for things like education drops dramatically and we will leave a legacy for our children of ever diminishing possibilities.  This is not a roads package competing with other road packages, this is our future and the time frame for a decision is passing swiftly. Ask your legislator their position.

 

That night the 35 cities of Sound Cities Association gathered in Renton for the meeting of the Public Issues Committee. You’ve heard it is one of my favorites as there are so many personalities there that know that their position in particular is the only right way yet together the cities forge policies for the benefit of us all and they do it every month at this time. Sounds like more politics but how about the 3 year negotiation on solid waste or trash to keep the garbage rates down. How about the ongoing negotiation with Metro to get more transit (bus) hours of service especially on the south and east side? These are cities. It is practical fix the pothole today type of work and these cities represent a million people in the county, Seattle has about 560,000 and the unincorporated area of the county has about 300,000.

 

After spending Thursday afternoon up at our Harvard on the Hill Green River Community College I went down to Fife for the meeting of the 23 Pierce County Cities and Towns. There is a difference in size in the cities between King and Pierce counties but not a difference in the needs of the people. They are beginning to work closer together and we will see what develops.

 

Friday came and there is hope for the sun right along with it. Now I told you at the beginning about the cup-stacking event which is the WSSA NW Regional Sport Stacking Championships on Saturday, March 9, 9:00 am at the Auburn High School gym, 800 – 4^th St NE

 

Would you please take a moment to really think about this one? There is a group of people from the hospital, doctors, nurses, dentists and so many more that donate much of their free time to care for others in need of medical attention.  This could be your neighbor’s little girl or boy right next to you that has no choice and perhaps little hope. You can make a difference by attending a dinner on your Saturday night.  This Saturday please consider attending the 2^nd Annual Fundraiser Dinner and Cake Auction to Benefit Christ Community Free Clinic Saturday, March 9, 6:00 pm The Truitt Building, 102 W Main St

 

Want to bring your friends for some laughs and cheer? Come down to The Ave Theater for Bravo Series Presents, “80’s at 8:  Top Gun” – that’s the movie and watch it on Friday night, March 8, 8:00 pm Auburn Ave Theater, 10 Auburn Ave

 

“My Wedding My Way”, O.K. I know there’s some that are going to be really interested in this one Saturday, March 9, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm Lindbloom Student Center @ GRCC, 12401 SE 320^th St

 

As long as you are there think about it you can come see “My Way”  to Green River Community College for The House of Blue Leaves by John Guare Friday, Saturday, Sunday,  March 8, 9, 10, 7:30 pm Bleha Performing Arts Center at GRCC, 12401 SE 320^th St

 

Oh this will be a biggy. It’s time for the First Annual Garage Sale Saturday, March 9, 11:00 am – 2:00 pm Auburn Valley YMCA, 1620 Perimeter Rd SW

 

Down at the Auburn Library there’s Spanish Story Times / Cuentos En Espanol Saturday, March 9, 10:15 am, Genealogy Assistance Saturday, March 9, 1:00 pm ,The Bushwick Book Club Performs, “Pride & Prejudice” Saturday, March 9, 2:00 pm, Drop in to learn about E Books Saturday, March 9, 3:00 pm all at the Auburn Library, 1102 Auburn Way S

 

You cannot have any more fun anywhere so you might as well come down to The Ave Theater again to see the Ave Kids presents, “Skippyjon Jones” Saturday, March 9, 2:00 pm Auburn Ave Theater, 10 Auburn Ave

 

There’s always time for Jazz with Mark Lewis and Karin Kajita Saturday, March 9, 6:00 pm Auburn Wine & Caviar, 2402 A St SE

 

If that’s not enough in this wonderful city of ours Bravo Performing Arts Series presents Michael Tomlinson Saturday, March 9, 7:30 pm Auburn Ave Theater, 10 Auburn Ave

 

But there’s also Auburn Actors Guild presents, “Beauty & the Beast” Thursday, Friday, Saturday, March 7, 8, 9, 7:00 pm Performing Arts Center, 700 E Main St

 

Can you believe you also have a choice of Auburn Riverside Theater Players presents, “Oliver?”

Thursday, Friday, Saturday, March 7, 8, 9, 7:30 pm Auburn Riverside Theater, 501 Oravetz Road

 

I really like this idea of Jane Austen’s “Regency Style” Afternoon Tea Sunday, March 10, 2:00 pm Auburn Senior Center, 808 – 9^th St SE

 

To top it all off hear a part of the largest symphony orchestra outside Seattle as the Auburn Symphony Chamber Concert, “Behold the Bold Umbrellaphant” is held this Sunday, March 10, 4:00 pm in a beautiful setting at St Matthew Episcopal Church, 123 L St NE

 

And if you need a reason to go to our marvelous While River Museum then there’ I DO!  Traditions of the American White Wedding Friday, Saturday, Sunday, March 8, 9, 10, noon – 4:00 pm White River Valley Museum, 918 H St SE

 

Look at all of this and this is only what we could find in this wonderful city bursting with energy and enthusiasm that’s really has become More Than Anyone Imagined!

 

Pete Lewis

Mayor of Auburn

 

 

 

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