Festival Days takes hiatus

in 2008

Federal Way’s Festival Days will not take place in 2008, according to Bob Hitchcock, a member of the festival committee.

Hitchcock said he hopes the festival can return in 2009.

The celebration, which includes a parade, live music, carnival rides and local vendors, attracts thousands of people to downtown Federal Way during the last weekend in August. The three-day festival is held in The Commons mall parking lot. According to a report in October 2007, sales suffer for the mall’s tenants during the festival. Some tenants such as Sears and Macy’s lose money as customers compete with festival attendees for parking, the report said.

Judge blocks release of court report

Federal Way Municipal Court Presiding Judge Michael Morgan filed an appeal March 27 to block the release of a report investigating allegations of a hostile court workplace.

In March, Morgan filed a lawsuit against Federal Way City Attorney Pat Richardson to halt the release of “the Stephson report.” The injunction claimed that Richardson was acting on behalf of Morgan, therefore entitling him to attorney-client privilege.

King County Superior Court Judge Kimberley Prochnau ruled March 19 that the report is not subject to attorney-client privilege and can be released. She granted Morgan and his attorneys a one-week stay on the ruling.

Morgan requested April 1 the state Court of Appeals continue to block the records until his appeal is heard. The judge is also attempting to block two e-mail records, addressed to a court employee and the city’s attorney. Prochnau ruled these too could be released, and Morgan has until April 16 to appeal that ruling.

A hearing on the subject is scheduled for April 11.

Nonpartisan county government

Joe Fain, chairman of Citizens for Independent Government, submitted more than 80,000 signatures to the King County Clerk on April 1 to place Initiative 26 before voters. The initiative proposes to make the offices of King County Executive, assessor and council nonpartisan positions, effective in 2009. To be sent to voters, the initiative needs 52,817 valid signatures from registered King County voters.

Once the signatures are validated by the County Clerk and election officials, the King County Council will have until July 5, 2008, to consider the proposal. If the King County Council chooses to adopt the initiative before July 5, it will move directly to the November 2008 ballot.

If the council takes no action, the initiative will appear on the August 2008 primary ballot. If approved by the voters in August, Initiative 26 will become a proposed King County Charter Amendment and appear before voters in the November 2008 general election ballot. The council may also propose an alternative version, in which case both the alternative and Initiative 26 will appear before voters on the August 2008 primary ballot.

Bills in Olympia

On Tuesday, Gov. Chris Gregoire approved $500,000 for pre-construction efforts for a performing arts center in Federal Way. Money to remove an abundance of seaweed in Dumas Bay passed the state House and Senate, but was vetoed by Gregoire.

Recycling

Residents recycled 101 tons of materials at Federal Way’s semi-annual recycling event March 15, according to an April 3 city press release. The event brought the highest participation and recycling rates to date in Federal Way, according to the release.

Curbside recycling, appliances, scrap wood, batteries, tires, electronics, scrap wire and light strands were some of the items collected at the event. The city’s next recycling event will take place Sept. 27 at Twin Lakes Park and Ride. Visit www.cityoffederalway.com to learn more about proper recycling.