Tacoma Daily Index, September 04, 2012
1
OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE CITY OF TACOMA Devoted to the Courts, Real Estate, Finance, Industrial Activities, and Publication of Legal Notices Visit our Web site at www.tacomadailyindex.com 402 Tacoma Avenue S., Suite 200 TACOMA, WA 98402 PHONE (253) 627-4853 FAX (253) 627-2253 INSIDE: LEGAL NOTICES BANKRUPTCIES LIENS ORDERS FEDERAL COURT AUDITORS OFFICE NEW BUSINESSES [email protected] Published Since 1890 OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE CITY OF TACOMA Devoted to the Courts, Real Estate, Finance, Industrial Activities, and Publication of Legal Notices Visit our Web site at www.tacomadailyindex.com 402 Tacoma Avenue S., Suite 200 TACOMA, WA 98402 PHONE (253) 627-4853 FAX (253) 627-2253 INSIDE: LEGAL NOTICES BANKRUPTCIES LIENS ORDERS FEDERAL COURT AUDITORS OFFICE NEW BUSINESSES [email protected] Published Since 1890 TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2012 Vol. CXXIII, No. 171 Posted online Thurs., Aug. 30 Photo Courtesy Pierce Transit Members of a local union representing more than 700 Pierce Transit employees voted Wednesday to ratify an agreement that has no wage increases and redesigns medical and dental benefit plans over a three-year labor contract. "We all worked hard to come together on a fair deal," said Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Lo- cal #758 President Don McKnight. "As I said before, this is about saving jobs, those of our customers and employees." "I am very pleased and proud our Pierce Tran- sit employees/ATU 758 members ratified their con- tract," said Pierce Transit CEO Lynne Griffith. "We knew employees would recognize the importance of holding down costs so we can keep buses rolling." The decision this week is the latest move in an effort to curb budget constraints facing the trans- portation agency. Pierce Transit will host a series of nine open hous- es in September and October before voters decide on a ballot measure on Election Day on Tues., Nov. 6 that aims to help fund transit services. In June, the Pierce Transit Board of Commissioners deter- mined that restoring access to essential services for seniors, the disabled, and people who rely on Pierce Transit required asking voters to approve Proposi- tion 1 in order to utilize the remaining 0.3 per cent (three cents on a $10 purchase) authority. In June 2011, more than 140 people attended a public hearing at Pierce Transit headquarters in Lakewood to express their concerns over proposed service reductions following a ballot proposal that was rejected by voters in February 2011. In addi- tion, more than 350 people provided spoken or writ- ten testimony on the reduction plan. The majority of people told the Pierce Transit Board how essential public transportation is to their lives and how dev- astating the proposed cuts would be: keeping them from getting to work, attending school, shopping, go- ing to church, and visiting friends. Still, Pierce Transit riders began to experience significant service reductions in October 2011, when bus service underwent considerable changes throughout the county. Weekday and weekend ser- vice were reduced, segments of some routes were cut, and in some cases entire routes were eliminat- ed. Yellow bags began covering signs at the bus stops slated to be closed. Approximately 600 bus stops, including 35 with shelters, were closed. Following that, Pierce Transit Facilities Maintenance crews began physically removing the bus stops, including the sign pole, shelter structure, or bench that may be at the site. This overall 35 per cent reduction was necessary due to a $51 million budget shortfall brought on by the economic recession and the failed ballot proposal, according to a Pierce Transit spokesperson. Overall, Pierce Transit has made significant cuts in service since 2008 to mitigate the impacts of the recession. Nearly $111 million dollars has been cut or saved, including 43 per cent cut in bus service, elimination of special events service, sale of land and assets, and a 19 per cent cut in staffing -- including 31 per cent in management. Earlier this month, the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber announced its board of directors voted to oppose Proposition 1, arguing the proposed tax lev- els would push sales taxes for Pierce County to the highest in the state. According to Chamber officials, Tacoma and Pierce County sales tax are tied with Seattle, King County and other cities like Kirkland and Redmond for the highest sales tax rates before the proposed increase. "The Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber has long supported transit in Pierce County -- even sup- plying the headquarters for the establishment of Pierce Transit decades ago," said Tom Pierson, Ta- coma-Pierce County Chamber President and CEO. "Unfortunately, the proposed sales tax levels are simply unacceptable. As the Chamber continues to welcome businesses and jobs to the area, we need to stay competitive with the communities around us. Having the highest sales tax rate in the state is not a distinction Tacoma-Pierce County would want to be known for. Being a community that preserves a reasonably business-and-economy friendly atmo- sphere is the sort of favorable distinction we should strive for instead." Pierce Transit's first open house to discuss Prop. 1 will be held on Weds., Sept. 5 at 6 p.m. at Univer- sity Place City Hall, located at 3715 Bridgeport Way West. More information is online at More information is online at piercetransit.org/ prop1. Wage freeze for Pierce Transit workers Posted online Thurs., Aug. 30 Metro Parks Tacoma crews will begin a sub- stantial upgrade to the irrigation main at Point Defiance Park on Tues., Sept. 4. Construction to replace nearly 7,000 lineal feet of main line, roughly the length of 20 football fields, is ex- pected to take approximately eight weeks. The work will affect pathways and turf from the Pearl Street entrance through the grassy bowl, pond and garden areas, as well as around the Visitors Center, Pagoda and tennis courts. Parking and the exit road on the backside of the gardens will be closed. It may be necessary to temporarily reroute traffic for a day or two at a time as connecting lines that run under road- ways are replaced. "Our contractors will do everything possible to minimize the impact on visitors, but we want to prepare folks that this will be a major under- taking and will create some temporary incon- veniences," said Vito Iacobazzi, Park Superin- tendent. The replacement is an important long-term solution to address leakage issues that have persisted, despite repairs over the past decade, according to Metro Parks Tacoma officials. Mil- lions of gallons flow through the leaking main to irrigate this portion of the park. The upgrade is expected to reduce water usage by roughly 20 percent in this area. Replacing the main will reduce leaks, helping conserve water and elimi- nating ongoing repairs. The project is part of a comprehensive energy service contract that Metro Parks has entered into with the State of Washington, which is designed to provide con- servation and operating efficiency benefits. Major irrigation main upgrade ahead for Point Defi ance Park
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September 04, 2012 edition of the Tacoma Daily Index
Transcript of Tacoma Daily Index, September 04, 2012
OFFICIALNEWSPAPEROF THE CITYOF TACOMA
Devoted to the Courts,Real Estate, Finance,Industrial Activities,and Publication ofLegal Notices
Visit our Web site atwww.tacomadailyindex.com
402 Tacoma Avenue S., Suite 200TACOMA, WA 98402PHONE (253) 627-4853FAX (253) 627-2253
INSIDE:LEGAL NOTICESBANKRUPTCIES
LIENSORDERS
FEDERAL COURTAUDITORS OFFICENEW BUSINESSES
[email protected] Since 1890
OFFICIALNEWSPAPEROF THE CITYOF TACOMA
Devoted to the Courts,Real Estate, Finance,Industrial Activities,and Publication ofLegal Notices
Visit our Web site atwww.tacomadailyindex.com
402 Tacoma Avenue S., Suite 200TACOMA, WA 98402PHONE (253) 627-4853FAX (253) 627-2253
INSIDE:LEGAL NOTICESBANKRUPTCIES
LIENSORDERS
FEDERAL COURTAUDITORS OFFICENEW BUSINESSES
[email protected] Since 1890
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2012 Vol. CXXIII, No. 171
Posted online Thurs., Aug. 30Photo Courtesy Pierce TransitMembers of a local union representing more than
700 Pierce Transit employees voted Wednesday to ratify an agreement that has no wage increases and redesigns medical and dental bene� t plans over a three-year labor contract.
"We all worked hard to come together on a fair deal," said Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Lo-cal #758 President Don McKnight. "As I said before, this is about saving jobs, those of our customers and employees."
"I am very pleased and proud our Pierce Tran-sit employees/ATU 758 members rati� ed their con-tract," said Pierce Transit CEO Lynne Grif� th. "We knew employees would recognize the importance of holding down costs so we can keep buses rolling."
The decision this week is the latest move in an effort to curb budget constraints facing the trans-portation agency.
Pierce Transit will host a series of nine open hous-es in September and October before voters decide on a ballot measure on Election Day on Tues., Nov. 6 that aims to help fund transit services. In June, the Pierce Transit Board of Commissioners deter-mined that restoring access to essential services for seniors, the disabled, and people who rely on Pierce Transit required asking voters to approve Proposi-tion 1 in order to utilize the remaining 0.3 per cent (three cents on a $10 purchase) authority.
In June 2011, more than 140 people attended a public hearing at Pierce Transit headquarters in Lakewood to express their concerns over proposed
service reductions following a ballot proposal that was rejected by voters in February 2011. In addi-tion, more than 350 people provided spoken or writ-ten testimony on the reduction plan. The majority of people told the Pierce Transit Board how essential public transportation is to their lives and how dev-astating the proposed cuts would be: keeping them from getting to work, attending school, shopping, go-ing to church, and visiting friends.
Still, Pierce Transit riders began to experience signi� cant service reductions in October 2011, when bus service underwent considerable changes throughout the county. Weekday and weekend ser-vice were reduced, segments of some routes were cut, and in some cases entire routes were eliminat-ed. Yellow bags began covering signs at the bus stops slated to be closed. Approximately 600 bus stops, including 35 with shelters, were closed. Following that, Pierce Transit Facilities Maintenance crews began physically removing the bus stops, including the sign pole, shelter structure, or bench that may
be at the site.This overall 35 per cent reduction was necessary
due to a $51 million budget shortfall brought on by the economic recession and the failed ballot proposal, according to a Pierce Transit spokesperson. Overall, Pierce Transit has made signi� cant cuts in service since 2008 to mitigate the impacts of the recession. Nearly $111 million dollars has been cut or saved, including 43 per cent cut in bus service, elimination of special events service, sale of land and assets, and a 19 per cent cut in staf� ng -- including 31 per cent in management.
Earlier this month, the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber announced its board of directors voted to oppose Proposition 1, arguing the proposed tax lev-els would push sales taxes for Pierce County to the highest in the state. According to Chamber of� cials, Tacoma and Pierce County sales tax are tied with Seattle, King County and other cities like Kirkland and Redmond for the highest sales tax rates before the proposed increase.
"The Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber has long supported transit in Pierce County -- even sup-plying the headquarters for the establishment of Pierce Transit decades ago," said Tom Pierson, Ta-coma-Pierce County Chamber President and CEO. "Unfortunately, the proposed sales tax levels are simply unacceptable. As the Chamber continues to welcome businesses and jobs to the area, we need to stay competitive with the communities around us. Having the highest sales tax rate in the state is not a distinction Tacoma-Pierce County would want to be known for. Being a community that preserves a reasonably business-and-economy friendly atmo-sphere is the sort of favorable distinction we should strive for instead."
Pierce Transit's � rst open house to discuss Prop. 1 will be held on Weds., Sept. 5 at 6 p.m. at Univer-sity Place City Hall, located at 3715 Bridgeport Way West. More information is online at
More information is online at piercetransit.org/prop1.
Wage freeze for Pierce Transit workers
Posted online Thurs., Aug. 30Metro Parks Tacoma crews will begin a sub-
stantial upgrade to the irrigation main at Point De� ance Park on Tues., Sept. 4. Construction to replace nearly 7,000 lineal feet of main line, roughly the length of 20 football � elds, is ex-pected to take approximately eight weeks.
The work will affect pathways and turf from the Pearl Street entrance through the grassy bowl, pond and garden areas, as well as around the Visitors Center, Pagoda and tennis courts. Parking and the exit road on the backside of the gardens will be closed. It may be necessary to temporarily reroute traf� c for a day or two at a time as connecting lines that run under road-ways are replaced.
"Our contractors will do everything possible to minimize the impact on visitors, but we want
to prepare folks that this will be a major under-taking and will create some temporary incon-veniences," said Vito Iacobazzi, Park Superin-tendent.
The replacement is an important long-term solution to address leakage issues that have persisted, despite repairs over the past decade, according to Metro Parks Tacoma of� cials. Mil-lions of gallons � ow through the leaking main to irrigate this portion of the park. The upgrade is expected to reduce water usage by roughly 20 percent in this area. Replacing the main will reduce leaks, helping conserve water and elimi-nating ongoing repairs. The project is part of a comprehensive energy service contract that Metro Parks has entered into with the State of Washington, which is designed to provide con-servation and operating ef� ciency bene� ts.
Major irrigation main upgrade ahead for Point Defi ance Park
