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FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 2013
Vol. CXXIV, No. 66
OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE CITY OF TACOMA Devoted to the Courts, Real Estate, Finance, Industrial Activities, and Publication of Legal Notices
Published Since 1890
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Pierce County receives open government award
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Insurance Commissioner Kreidler recovering after heart surgery Posted online Tues., April 2 Wa s h i n g t o n Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler is recovering after successful heart surgery, officials announced Tuesday. Kreidler's doctors had been monitoring his heart status over KREIDLER the past several months, leading to the scheduled bypass and valve-replacement surgery, performed Monday at Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia. "The commissioner was upbeat and confident about the operation," said Sandi Peck, Deputy Insurance Commissioner for Public Affairs. "He called our office this morning, and he sounds as if he's well on the road to recovery. As a staunch advocate for health care reform, he's definitely looking forward to getting back to work." During Kreidler's recovery, Acting Chief Deputy Deb McCurley will be handling the commissioner's duties. McCurley has been the deputy insurance commissioner for operations since 2006. Kreidler, 69, was re-elected to a fourth fouryear term in November 2012. He is a former member of Congress, state lawmaker and doctor of optometry.
Posted online Thurs., April 4 Photo Courtesy Pierce County A team of Pierce County employees who redesigned part of the county's Web site to make it much easier for citizens to access public records were honored Wednesday by the Washington Coalition for Open Government (WCOG). It was the second time in three years that Pierce County has been recognized by the coalition for contributions to open government WCOG President Toby Nixon presented the organization's Key Award to county communications director Hunter George, the project sponsor, Diane Ladenburg, public records ombudsman, and Al Rose, justice services director. A fourth team member, county Webmaster Angela Gow, has since left the county for the private sector. Nixon presented the awards, given to individuals or organizations that have made a notable contribution to the cause of open government, during Pierce County Executive Pat McCarthy's monthly cabinet meeting. The Web site's new records page includes a list of records or information and where to find it on-
line. The list also includes frequently requested documents from other local agencies such as the local health department. The page provides a link to instructions and forms for making records request for other records that are not available online. The county Web site previously provided a public disclosure link, but it provided only a list of public records officers for each department. The new page offers links either to the records themselves or for the agencies or employees who can provide them. "The Coalition is constantly on the lookout for best practices by state and local agencies that we can recognize and call attention to," said Nixon. "Once again Pierce County is leading the way, demonstrating how to make more public records easily available online or direct citizens to the source. We hope other agencies will follow their lead." The latest Key Award follows one given in 2010 to County Executive McCarthy for a new county policy requiring that all county email be stored in digital format for at least six years. The Washington Coalition for Open Government is a statewide nonprofit, nonpartisan organization
that defends the public's right to know what state and local governments are doing. It backs legislation promoting government transparency and participates in significant court cases involving open government issues.
Posted online Weds., April 3 Downtown On the Go and Transportation Choices Coalition will hold a forum this week to discuss transit-oriented development. According to organizers, the forum will focus on how transit-oriented development spurs economic and community development, Sound
Transit's efforts to expand Tacoma's Link light rail system, and Pierce Transit's efforts to develop an efficient local bus system. Panelists will include Puget Sound Regional Council/Growing Transit Communities Program Manager Ben Bakkenta, Sound Transit Government & Community Relations Officer Chelsea Levy, and Ta-
coma City Councilmember David Boe. The forum will be held on Fri., April 5, between noon and 1 p.m. at the University of Washington Tacoma, Garretson Woodruff Pratt Building (Tacoma Room), located at 1754 Pacific Avenue. More information is available online at facebook.com/events/491338150922515/.
Forum April 5 explores transit-oriented development in Tacoma