voice of bainbridge

Why Seattle's Tree Canopy is disappearing

This story in the Seattle Weekly. What about Winslow's Tree Canopy?

The city could/should regulate the presence of trees in parking lots via a green ordinance for urban sustainability

Thinking about what happened to the trees at the ferry terminal parking I wondered about existing city regulations elsewhere. Just google parking lots and trees: here comes the regulation adopted by the city of Sacramento. It is about shading trees but it makes perfect sense to require the presence/planting/maintenance of trees on parking lots. Looks like the city is going to hire a consultant...and as usual such regulations already exist.

Who is responsible for the disastrous "pruning" of the trees in the parking at the ferry terminal?

Reading the February 20 issue of the Bainbridge Review we don't learn what firm was responsible for this job. A manager for Diamond Parking does not provide any specific information nor apologize for anything wrong. The City acquiesces by saying nothing inherently wrong (illegal) was done and we get the usual argument about private property. Diamond Parking is a big corporation, they claim to be the biggest private parking company in the world (and I bet they are). It is not clear that they were in charge of this "pruning" as they could only be in charge of operating the parking while the property is owned by somebody else. This somebody else could be an entity called Winslow Marine LLC but the property tax map does not provide any clue about who they are, but for the address of an accounting firm in Bellevue. I think the people deemed "responsible" should publicly say so and offer a compensation to our community or explain to us why all is well. What type of compensation? They could plant more/new trees in this parking lot and/or provide money for trees to be planted. They should come up with internal guidelines to avoid such bad practices in the future.

City Hall blasted (once more) by 2 local blogs

We have been frequently shocked by the hiring of consultants by the City: any problem seems/ed to deserve a (usually very pricey) consultant.  Local blogs Bainbridge Island Postscript and Bainbridge Island Notebook detail (once more)this costly (and not very effective) practice that also raises questions of basic trust, lack of transparency, eventual conflicts of interests :(

Tattoo programs at KRL

Should programs about tattoos be part of library programs? I am not so sure. Not that I have anything against tattoos (I have nothing for them either): I am just not sure this is relevant to the library's missions.
Especially when there is a significant financial problem that remains to be actively addressed.
On the other hand, starting to install "self service" machines goes into the right direction. A better presentation of the DVDs would also be welcome.

31 years ago: Jimmy Carter about the energy crisis

Jimmy Carter delivered this televised speech on April 18, 1977.

Here is the audio.

Requiring green building standards

That's coming... unfortunately too late for the on going construction at the high school...

Don't forget the meeting at the American Legion Hall

The American Legion is sponsoring a New England-style town meet on Tuesday, February 5 at 7 p.m. at the American Legion Hall near Hyla to give people a chance to voice their feelings and concerns and pose questions to elected officials about island government. The Legion has asked Charlie Bermant to moderate the discussion, and he will work with a roving microphone, giving people time to follow up their questions and to have a real community dialogue. The Legion has invited the Mayor and City Council members to attend, listen, and respond to questions.

What if City Hall roof had solar panels?

That would make sense. The same goes for the high school.

Did the high school consider solar energy?

I don't think it did. If not, it's too bad but maybe not too late? Here is an interesting program promoting the installation of solar panels for schools (in Camas, La Center, etc.)