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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2012
Voters soundly rejecting Proposition 1 Measure to increase property taxes to pay for streets, parks failing by wide margin
INSIDE More election results, page 7
BY STEVE HUNTER shunter@kentreporter.com
Kent voters appear to be rejecting a property tax increase to help pay for street and park repairs. Proposition 1 had 57.64 percent (13,457 votes) against and 42.35 percent (9,887 votes) in favor of the measure, according to the Tuesday
night results compiled by King County Elections. “I hope the numbers will turn around because I really think the folks who live here realize we need to fix our safety issues involving our parks and roads,” said City Coun-
cilwoman Elizabeth Albertson who gathered with others at the Long Dog Tavern downtown to watch election results. “I’m saddened by the early results and I hope things turn around.” If approved, the measure would increase taxes by 37 cents per $1,000 assessed property value and cost the owner of a $300,000 home about $111 per year. The levy would raise about $29 million over six years, $18.3 million [ more LEVY page 7 ]
INFLUENCE
BY TRACEY COMPTON tcompton@soundpublishing.com
Youth, dogs benefit from training program BY MARK KLAAS mklaas@kentreporter.com
[ more PAWSITIVE page 4 ]
Partnership: Anthony Srey and Roscoe, a 2-year-old Labrador, got the best out of each other from the Pawsitive Works program. MARK KLAAS, Kent Reporter
Consultant: Kent could provide regional services to other cities BY STEVE HUNTER shunter@kentreporter.com
As the sixth largest city in the state, Kent might want to become a regional provider of services to smaller, neighboring cities to help solve budget shortfalls, according to a
Kent Reporter
Citizens chime in on plans for a better downtown
PAWSITIVE Roscoe is a lively and friendly Labrador, a 2-year-old bundle of energy who is ready for a loving home. Anthony Srey knows as much. For the past five weeks, Srey has spent significant time with Roscoe, teaching him basic obedience skills by using positive reinforcement under the watch of professional trainers. As it turned out, both man and animal learned and matured from the fulfilling experience. “It’s been good,” Srey said of participating in Pawsitive Works, a program that helps struggling youth identify and modify their damaging behavior through the care and training of shelter dogs.
Early returns: Kent City Councilwoman Elizabeth Albertson and Mark Prothero monitor results of Kent’s Proposition 1 Tuesday night during an election gathering at the Long Dog Tavern. STEVE HUNTER,
consultant’s preliminary report. Kent could possibly contract with other cities to provide jail space, police, parks maintenance or other services, said Michael Hodgins, of BERK consulting in Seattle, during an Oct. 30 report to the Kent City Council.
“A city of Kent’s size (119,100) could contract services out to neighbors,” Hodgins said. “You could become a contract provider to others. You need to look at what you do well and how there may be an opening there. It’s rich for discussion as a big city.” [ more SERVICES page 8 ]
Frankie June, who co-owns Down Home Catering in Kent with her daughter, Brandy Dollarhide, came to an open house hosted by the city seeking information last week. She has some issues with development downtown that she wanted to address and see where the city stood with plans. “We do see there’s no foot traffic in our area,” June said. “We just had two businesses close on this street because of lack of foot Kent City Planner Gloria traffic because Gould-Wessen hears feedback people go on downtown development from to the (Kent Station). They attendees at a recent open house. TRACEY COMPTON, Kent Reporter don’t come here.” Attendees to the Venture Downtown Kent Open House last Thursday were asked to share their ideas and complaints about development downtown with the city by writing their issues on huge white boards. Just a handful of people attended, including June, to this first and last open house on the issue. The effort is part of plans to revise a Downtown Strategic Action Plan that was developed in 2005 by the city of Kent. It’s being renamed the Downtown Subarea Action Plan and it [ more INPUT page 8 ]