Email Exchange between John Hostvedt and Driftwood Key

Hi Bill,   Thank you very much for your quick response to my email.  I've heard a lot about this "in hindsight argument."  So I feel compelled to address it.   Speed bump advocates, and even folks who did not advocate for the speed bumps, love to give us what I call the "coulda, shoulda, woulda" argument. The "you didn't come to the meeting so you can't complain" argument is absolute nonsense. Silence is not consent.   In browsing through the files, as I have, it's easy to see that GHAAC and RSAC made very little effort to tell residents what they were really up to.  Heck, at last Tuesday's RSAC meeting, committee members nearly bolted from the room when they thought they'd have their photographs taken at a PUBLIC meeting. GHAAC's own Judith Foritiano shouted that she has a "right to privacy" and turned her back to the audience fearing an audience member might snap her photo. RSAC members had similar reactions. I was stunned. Long ago, when I worked in the press, I attended literally thousands of small community gatherings like this.  I've never seen a reaction this bizarre or revealing. Ask any 'real' government official or newspaper editor -- "Can photos be taken at a public meeting?"  They'd say absolutely yes but they'd probably laugh at the question itself.  What part of the word "public" is unclear?   Bill, on reflection, if I had been a party to the foolish speed bump decision, maybe I'd want to hide too.  But it's just not how governance works.  No one gets to make public policy for their neighbors and then hide in the shadows.  Maybe what's equally egregious is that Steve Minor, an RSAC member and Hood Canal Drive bump advocate from beginning, failed to show up at both the November AND December RSAC meeting.  I have to wonder, did he get his speed bumps so now he isn't willing to take the heat?   Please read this note I received from one of the newer members of the RSAC who joined after the speed bump decision was a done deal:   You know what it really interesting, John?  Despite all the talk by RSAC/GHAAC about all the info/research/data etc. they supposedly have done and have in their files, when you press them for that it turns out that very little exists - and almost NONE of it is posted on the web, which is what we all do in these modern times to truly make information accessible.   And yet you, a single individual, have managed to post a WEALTH of data, documents, information, etc. over just a few months period - with nobody at the County doing your work for you, as is the case with GHAAC.....   Makes a person wonder just how much information these folks really wanted to have reach the public.   Bill, I count on my real government, not the GHAAC, to make public policy, especially when it comes to road safety.  Brad Luton, a licensed engineer, stood up last Tuesday and told the RSAC that they were sticking their noses into things they have no business doing.  The applause he received should tell you that many of us share his view.   My government, Kitsap County, like many counties throughout Washington and the US, has a policy in place to prohibit "traffic calming devices" (aka speed bumps) from being placed on collector roads. Furthermore, Kitsap County says that if residents want speed bumps placed on residential streets that don't affect the general public, they must PAY for them. The GHAAC grossly overstepped its bounds in demanding these. The three-person County Commission was fooled by the GHAAC with the help of then commissioner Chris Endresen into thinking there was public support for them. Endresen's replacement, Steve Bauer (a former RSAC member who advocated for the bumps), says he won't listen to anyone on this topic unless they meet his "conditions" which include working only through GHAAC.  And North Kitsap County shouldn't be outraged?   On top of that, the $30,000 project is now, we're told by Public Works, actually $48,000+.  This is criminal.  It breaks my heart when I get emails that say, and I'm paraphrasing,  ...we can spend $48,000 on speed bumps for a few selfish residents but we can't hire a librarian for the high school library?  Or, ...we can put in speed bumps for a few people with an inflated sense of self-importance, but we can't fix other county roads that are falling apart?   Will RSAC and GHAAC members write personal checks to put back the money they basically pilfered from a fund for bike and pedestrian safety to appease a tiny group of residents who want everyone to slow to a crawl while they walk rover and fetch their mail? Will they open their checkbooks again when we have to pay road crews have them removed and have the roads repaired?  I bet not. In my world, that's called ZERO accountability.   Again, silence, by members of DK and residents of other areas in N. Kitsap County, does NOT mean consent.  Bill, I have a tremendously busy life and have no interest in becoming involved in local affairs that would cause me to have to attend evening meetings. I work in Renton, and at the present time I'm on a ten-hour a day, four-day a week schedule. My wife and I stay in our condominium in Kent on weekday evenings. In the past, and hopefully in the future, I've been able to spend much more time here by telecommuting to work from my DK home -- and I still do that from time to time. When I come to Driftwood Key, I'm here to relax and enjoy this wonderful place. If I were in DK 24-7, I would prefer to spend my time boating and enjoying the area.  If I don't have to attend meetings, perhaps there's a role I can play in helping to watchdog the GHAAC.  I'll be happy speak with you further about it.    When we looked at who the county sent mailings for the GHAAC-sponsored May 15th meeting (which, by the way, did not use the terms 'speed bump' or 'speed table' and was mailed so close to the meeting date it made it nearly impossible for recipients to plan) 36% of those mailings went to non-N. Kitsap County addresses. What does that tell you?  The nature of DK, and much of North Kitsap County, is that it's populated by people who are here part-time. Do all of those people leave their rights behind because they don't have time to babysit the likes of GHAAC members?  In some ways, I like to think that my website helps to represent them.   Please understand, I have no beef with community groups.  They can do a lot of good. I thoroughly enjoy walking the greenway trails in Hansville. But speed limits, road "engineering," and other governmental functions must be left up to the experts hired by our ELECTED representatives.  When we have the garden club, et al, deciding road policy, we're really in deep trouble.  The evidence --- bump bump bump bump -- is clear when we leave Driftwood Key.  And the evidence --- bump bump bump bump --- is clear when we return to Driftwood Key.   Again, many thanks for your response.  Please excuse my long-winded reply.  I hope to talk with you soon.   --John Hostvedt

From:William Buegel <wabuegel@mac.com>
Date: Sat, Dec 08, 2007 11:17 am
To: info@beep4bumps.com
Cc: Audry Samualson <audreysamuelson@yahoo.com>, Gene Borgomainerio <geneb@fontanini.com>, Dennis Augustine <putter48@hotmail.com>, Jerry Matthewson <jerry052@centurytel.net>, "Bruce O'Conner" <b.oconnor@worldnet.att.net>, Mike Bookey <bookeym@pachenalight.com>, Bill Cummings <WJC4462@aol.com>, Don Jones <djfrogg@comcast.net>, Dennis Hardin <dmhardin@centurytel.net>

"I would hope DK could be a catalyst in demanding that GHAAC be transparent and above board in its activities since they have the ear of County Government (for now). We already know that they ignore state
laws regarding open records and meetings. Let's at least try to keep them from making more harmful decisions that degrade our quality of life."

John, a letter from the DKC board is being drafted at this time regarding your above comment. The letter will go to the GHAAC and all local and county officials involved with N Kitsap business. As to the Keynotes, there should have been no difference in content between the mailed version and the electronic version as they both come off the same program. I will look into this further. Regarding the speed bumps and the board, as I've said before I nor any member of the board past and present has any recollection of this issue being brought before us for consideration. That being said, in hindsight we should have been totally involved with any decision making process involving our community and I can guarantee that from this point forward we will. Any chance you'd like to help us in this regard?

Thanks
-- William Buegel

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From:	info@beep4bumps.com (Add as Preferred Sender)
Date:	Sat, Dec 08, 2007 1:57 am
To:	wjc4462@aol.com
Cc:	b.oconnor@att.net, Audrey Samuelson <audreysamuelson@yahoo.com>, Dennis Hardin <dennidrah@gmail.com>, Gene Borgomainerio <geneb@fontanini.com>, Jerry Matthewson <jmatthewson@centurytel.net>, Mike Bookey <bookeym@Pachenalight.com>, Bill Buegel <wabuegel@mac.com>, Jerry Ulsund <jerandsan@centurytel.net>
Bcc:	Beep4Bumps,

Subject: Sheriff Dept records for Nov. Needed as well as records on phony 25 mph on HCD
From:info@beep4bumps.com
Date: Mon, Dec 03, 2007 5:26 pm
To: KColling@co.kitsap.wa.us
Cc: Elizabeth Watkins <EWatkins@co.kitsap.wa.us>
Bcc: Beep4Bumps,

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Driftwood Key Residents Write to Commission: "Do the Math"

At the www.hansville.org website, if you click on the little purple speeding car at the top of the website, you will be directed to “Time For Facts About Greater Hansville Area Speed Tables.  In this article, it is stated and I quote

“The results of the county studies on speeding surprised even those concerned about speeding and safety.  For example, on Hood Canal Drive an average of 60 cars a day (measured for a 7 day period in 2006) were going 50 mph or higher in that 30 MPH zone.  An average of more than 3 per day were exceeding 70 mph.   About 9 months later and after all the education and greatly increased enforcement, a 1-day survey showed 404 vehicles going over 50 in just one day, and again 3 were exceeding 70 MPH.”

I telephoned Kitsap District Court today to find out what the “going rate” was for a speeding ticket.  I was told you absolutely can’t get off for less than $100, that it depends on the speed limit, and how fast you would be going over the speed limit, but a bare minimum would be $100+.

This is what I don’t understand.  If a 1-day survey was conducted showing 404 vehicles exceeding the speed limit to the extent of 50 mph, why in the world doesn’t the sheriff’s department set up shop out on Hood Canal Drive for one day a week.  Do the math, 404 times $100 is $40,000.   In two days, they could collect $40,000 for the work that has gone into the Speed Bumps and another $40,000 to get rid of these ridiculous obstacles in the road.   They could set up shop one or two days a month and make $80,000 every month.  Speeding would come to a grinding halt and the people who are guilty would be punished, not the innocent.  This is a far more equitable solution.

I work in Seattle 3 days a week.  When I come home on Thursday’s, I don’t bother leaving Driftwood Key unless I absolutely have to until I go back to Seattle on Tuesday morning.  It is so annoying to drive over those damn bumps in and out of Driftwood Key.  It’s like someone deliberately set out to “trap” us.   My shopping is now done on the Seattle side before I come home – no Kitsap revenue from me.  

Chris Endreson and Steve Bauer have done a great disservice to the folks at the North end of Kitsap County.  I do hope the voters will remember their actions when election time rolls around.  Certainly those who are tiring of the honking horns will remember who brought this level of noise and confusion to the north end of Kitsap.

 Tom & Maryln Nelson, Driftwood Key

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Commissioner Jan Angel Responds to Nelsons; Says Endresen Told Commission "This is what folks wanted... Now it is done --- and folks do not appear to want or need them"


From: Tom & Maryln Nelson
Sent: Monday, December 03, 2007 3:53 PM
To: Hostvedt, John
Subject: Fwd: Re: Hansville Speed Bumps

John,
An answer from Jan Angel - FYI
 

Received: Mon, 03 Dec 2007 03:45:42 PM PST
 From: "Jan Angel" <JAngel@co.kitsap.wa.us>
To: "Tom & Maryln Nelson"
Subject: Re: Hansville Speed Bumps

Hello Maryln, Yes we have received many e-mails on these "speed tables" and most all feel as you do. When this first came to the county, Commissioner Endresen insured us there had been community meetings and this is what folks wanted, even if it appeared to be outside the policy of the public works department. Now it is done - - - and folks do not appear to want or need them. I will forward you comments on the speeding on to Sheriff Boyer - -but I will bet he already knows this.

On a side comment, I was in Hansville at a meeting on Saturday, it started to snow, it was beautiful, I put the Christmas music on in my  car - enjoying the moment and with in 5 min. I was in one of the worst snow storms -Man!! - and I have lived in Colorado and Alaska - - it  took over 1 * hr. to get back to the Southend - - but it sure was pretty (except for folks that do not know how to drive in snow, tehehe) Thanks for  your comments, they are always appreciated. Jan



Contact Your Human Rights Commission

Hi Everyone,

Bauer Says He Will Only "work with folks..." Who Meet His Three Conditions

This is in response to John Wiegenstein's email to Bauer posted here.

-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Bauer [mailto:SBauer@co.kitsap.wa.us]
Sent: Tuesday, November 27, 2007 8:50 PM
To: John Wiegenstein
Subject: RE: Speed Tables

Hello John,

I have reread my November 19 email to you. I believe that it fairly describes my understanding of the issue and my position on it. i also believe that it responds to your questions. There really is nothing I choose to add.

I had an interesting experience yesterday as I was going down to the post office - across one of the speed tables - to get the mail. For the first time since moving here, I saw a relatively young man in a wheelchair with his dog obviously getting exercise using the side of Hansville Highway. The only problem is that the paved shoulder in "downtown" was too narrow for his wheelchair so that he occupied part of the vehicle lane. I've already described the steady use of this area by kids, pets, families, groups and the elderly and my concerns that illegal speeding and passing in the downtown area represents a serious threat to those people and any sense of a "village" that we might create here as the population increases. I don't believe you responded to those concerns. So I still don't know if you condone illegal speeding from your responses so far. That seems like a pretty straightforward question. If we don't agree that there is a problem then we certainly can't agree on a solution.

I don't mind dissent and difference of opinion. That is the foundation of this country. What I do mind is the way some opponents have chosen to make this personal rather than sticking to the issues. For example, a neighbor knocked on my door last Sunday to tell me that someone had put a "wanted" poster on the stop sign to our street. That is not civil discourse in any meaning of the term. It is not how issues used to be resolved in Hansville but apparently, for some folks, it is now.

I believe the process was inclusive and fair. The community identified a problem. The entire community had an opportunity to be involved. Those that bothered to attend expressed their opinions and the County responded to them. I believe that the Traffic Safety Committee and the Greater Hansville Area Advisory Council continue to be open to revisions or alternatives that meet the goal of increasing traffic and pedestrian safety for our Community. I am clear that you don't like the traffic tables. I suspect no one likes driving over them. But I haven't heard any proposed alternatives that would solve the problem better.

We have both agreed that we are very busy and need to concentrate on dialogue that is purposeful and constructive. I want to be respectful and clear about this. I am happy to work with any of my neighbors and constituents. However, on this topic, I will confine myself to working with folks who: 1) acknowledge that speeding is a problem, 2) are committed to seeking cost effective solutions to the problem (even if they are different than the speed tables), and 3) are willing to work through the Traffic Safety Committee and GHAAC.

Sincerely,

Steve Bauer

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Resident Comments on Sheriff Patrols in Driftwood Key

Founding Chairman of Road Committee Speaks Out Subject:   correction From: "NEAL KELLNER" <nwkellner@centurytel.net> (Add as Preferred Sender)   Date: Fri, Nov 23, 2007 11:46 pm To: <info@beep4bumps.com>

Regarding my being listed on your Roads Safety Committee memership list… here is some background information about the committee and my role on it… that your readers should be apprised of:   I was a member of the Road Safety Committee, (in fact… God forbid… I organized it!).  But… I had resigned from that committee by April of 2007… because at the last meeting I attended the discussion topic was “Planning a strategy as to how to Eliminate (or nearly Eliminate) any organized opposition <to the speed bumps>  from “taking-over” the <then> coming May 2007 <so-called> public meeting about the proposed speed tables”.      Please that note words within brackets <  >  are mine, not part of a quote.    My strong opposition at this last meeting to the committee’s planned approach to what that group called “public meeting planning” was forcefully counter-attacked… and it was made abundantly clear in no uncertain terms that neither my views, nor my presence were welcome - at this meeting, or at any other future meetings.  When I told the committee again, (for the umpteenth time during this and a series of prior meetings over a period of many months), that if the committee ignores the strong undercurrent I am hearing in the community against this bump plan, and if the committee does not provide other options besides the maze of bumps proposed… then the GHA would end up going to war with itself… leading to major dissension, pitting neighborhood against neighborhood, and perhaps more importantly… damaging our newly founded local government structure, the GHAAC - which I had worked with others so very hard to get started.   To para-phrase using kind language… “I was told I was full of it”.   In any event, my projections were wrong… they were a gross understatement of the negative outcomes which have occurred following the installation of these speed bumps.   Another unhappy fact regarding the last Road Committee meeting I attended… the discussion on how to eliminate “opposing views” from “taking over” the then coming May Public Meeting… was led by none other than our new county commissioner, Mr. Steve Bauer, (who, late in the 2 year committee process, had stepped forward as leader of the Downtown Hansville contingent on the committee).  Steve later worked closely with the Road Safety Committee leadership and the Cliffside Contingent including Judy Foritano of Cliffside, (who is the reigning leader of Cliffside, the current leader of the GHAA, and the vice-chair and next year’s leader of the HCC).   What this sadly means is that our community leaders have their own agendas, which are not representative or responsive to the community as a whole.  Hence we have the current lack of meaningful response from community leadership… to the questions and concerns of the many community members opposing the bumps.   This all said… this committee’s project outcome was not an over-night or out-of-the-blue result.  It started out as a well researched plan which included input from a cross-section of community members representing the GHA as a whole.  The project started with community-wide representatives who, as a group, worked hard toward a “community-based” solution to a clearly identified and prioritized set of problems.  But sadly, most community members were steadily driven away by increasing numbers of shall we say “outspoken” Cliffside and Downtown Hansville attendees… who eventually took over the group, and changed its direction and purpose away from a community-based solution.  The rest is history.   In closing, I do wish to share my antagonism toward those who claim they had no chance to input on this project as it evolved.  The many meetings of this group were, in fact, well advertised for nearly two years.  The leadership of this committee, and its actions, were determined by those who actively attended the meetings.  If anyone did not know this process was underway, it was because they chose to not know, or just chose to not care.  To those of you who read this that fall into this group… I suggest this might be a good lesson in civil rights.  If you choose to ignore your rights to participate as a citizen, then you open the door for strong-willed and often selfish minorities to alter your community in ways that you do not want.  If you want to undo this community mess, then you need to get off your backsides… and get involved in changing both the leadership - and the direction of your local (and perhaps county) government.  If you do not, you can certainly complain forever, but please be advised that nothing you dislike will likely ever change.   Neal Kellner ***************************

An Email Exchange Between Commissioner Bauer and Committee Member John Wiegenstein that Started with this  Request for Information

From: John Wiegenstein
Sent: Thursday, November 22, 2007 8:01 AM
To: 'Steve Bauer'
Subject: RE: Speed Tables

Commissioner, now that I have let your email response sit for a few days, and have taken some further time to review and consider its content, I have the following comments:

1.      Of the 6 specific questions I asked, you answered only #2, and partially answered #4 (no dates given and not clear as to whether you were a member of the RSAC or GHAAC or just attended meetings as a resident/citizen).

2.      Questions 1, 4, 5, and 6 were not answered.  I did not think answers to those questions demanded much time or text, nor any extended discussion.   They sought basic information, which could be given via short factual answers.   What I received instead was a lengthy sermon about "the process."  Part of that suggested that people who oppose these devices are "pro-speeding" and "against the law", which is pretty much like our Criminal-in-Chief George Bush's practice of denouncing anyone who dissents from a given act of his crime team as being "for terrorists" and "hating America", etc.  I've heard plenty of this from pro-speed bump people already, and it doesn’t achieve legitimacy simply by being repeated over and over.

3.      I suspect that the ongoing investigation of this whole project will reveal that speed bumps were on the agenda as the end-goal long before those words (or "speed tables", or whatever sanitized term people want to use) were ever disclosed to the public.  It is self-evident that having a few more speed traps with the sherriff, or education, would not eliminate speeding in Hansville - or anywhere else, for that matter.   So the goal set by RSAC and the other proponents could only be met with these devices, and that had to have been known to the proponents from the outset.

4.      The immutable fact is that these devices benefit a specific few people, who pushed for them, and in exchange punish every person  who has to use the roads in question - and there is no alternative, less residential, routing for people to use.   Knowing that, I continue to be amazed at the professed "surprise" and "dismay" of proponents that there is a substantial backlash against these.   I am at a loss to understand how they could fail to have seen that coming.

5.      I sympathize with your long work days - I have long days too, as do many other residents of the area.  But you at least have the luxury of coming and going from your home (assuming I am correct as to your residence) without having to drive over these devices.   That is a luxury that a very large group of Hansville residents don’t have any more.

I would still appreciate short, direct answers to my questions 5 and 6 in particular, if you are willing to do so.  Those are absolutely critical, because without those answers I (and others of similar views) cannot know whether the political mechanism of governance in place in Kitsap County can function in a democratic way on this issue.

And, I trust you will accept these comments for what they are:  legitimate questions and feedback from a citizen and resident who happens to be one of your constituents, and who is looking for some answers.  It is not intended to be a personal attack on you.  One of the things I have seen in my activity of the last few months on this issue is that there are plenty of people who confuse dissent and difference of opinion with being "anti-community", etc., and that is simply not how I view this kind of debate.

Wishing you a Happy (and not too bumpy) Thanksgiving -

John H. Wiegenstein
HELLER WIEGENSTEIN PLLC
144 Railroad Avenue, Suite 210
Edmonds, WA 98020-4121
(425) 778-2525 Tel
(425) 778-2566 Fax
(360) 509-9070 Mobile
johnw@hellerwiegenstein.com
Admitted in Washington, Oregon, and the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office


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-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Bauer [mailto:SBauer@co.kitsap.wa.us]
Sent: Monday, November 19, 2007 10:28 PM
To: John Wiegenstein
Cc: Judith Foritano
Subject: Speed Tables

John,

I have received your letter.  I presume that most of your questions are rhetorical since you already appear to know many of the answers.

I did indeed sit in on about one-third of the meetings of the Traffic Safety Committee.  North Kitsap Fire and Rescue was an active member.  The issue first arose 2-3 years ago when a community meeting was called about traffic safety concerns.  This was also a big issue for the Community in developing the Greater Hansville Futures Plan and in a survey of community values that was completed in 2004, if I recall correctly.  All of that information can be found at hansville.org.

I attended the meeting because I was tired of seeing cars passing each other across the double line in front of the post office so they could be doing 50-55 mph by the time they hit the hill on the way out of town.  The meeting was well publicized and was attended by over 100 people (which would be the equivalent of about 16,000 people attending a meeting in Seattle!)  The Sheriff's Office, public works, the fire district and Commissioner Endresen attended the meeting.  The group asked for more speed enforcement from the Sheriff.  The Sheriff responded that he had limited resources and that any effective plan had to include three parts: 1) enforcement, 2) education and 3) physical road changes.  Volunteers were requested from the audience to serve on a traffic safety committee.  The first effort was to get increased enforcement which did happen.  There was a big effort to educate the community with articles in the Greater Hansville Log and, I believe, occasional articles in the Kingston News and the North Kitsap Herald.  A radar speed trailer was brought in and placed throughout the area to remind people about their speeds.

No one wanted speed tables but it was clear that the first two, by themselves were not working.  The committee researched the issue and found information that speed tables - as opposed to speed bumps - actually worked to allow drivers to maintain the posted speed but not speed.  The committee made field trips to Port Townsend and Silverdale to look at tables actually in place.  A baseline speed survey had been completed in the past and a new one was done before a second community meeting this Spring/Summer which showed that speeding had actually increased in spite of the enforcement and education efforts.  The County sent out notices to everyone in the Hansville area and the meeting was held to present the work of the Committee, including the speed tables.  There were about 100 people at that meeting  and there was only one person who objected to the speed tables.  At that meeting, both the Sheriff and Kitsap Fire and Rescue supported the recommendations.  It was only after that meeting that Commissioner Endresen moved the issue ahead at the County.

I was the one who proposed the mini-round at the entrance to downtown Hansville because I thought that if it were landscaped it would make a nice entry into the downtown and would be less abrupt than another speed table.  There were concerns expressed at the meeting and I made the recommendation at the next meeting to remove the mini-round to reflect the concerns of local residents.

I support the process that was followed and the results of that process.  I don't think anyone started out wanting physical devices but all the other options didn't solve the problem.

It is interesting to me that very few of the opponents of the speed table have agreed that the speeding is not acceptable.  And none of them so far have suggested better solutions.  I certainly think the committee sought those alternatives.

You ask if I can be objective.  I am objective about speeding.  The law needs to be obeyed.  I am also objective about protecting kids, pets and families in downtown Hansville and in other areas in Greater Hansville.

You suggest that I haven 't responded to contacts from opponents.  That simply isn't true.  I'm writing this from the office at 10:30 at night after a day that started at 8:30.  I still have an hour drive home and then at least an hour of homework for meetings that start in Bremerton at 8 am tomorrow.  Somehow, I misplaced two phone messages from opponents so I didn't return them. I haven't responded to John since the first couple of messages because, as he said, I am really pressed for time and could forward his requests to staff.   I have forwarded his messages to my staff and he has received everything in our possession that he has asked for.  My days are frequently 12-14 hours long and then I have preparation for the next day so I don't always get back to folks as promptly as I would like but I do try to get back.

Sincerely,

Steve Bauer

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