The possible sale of the back-nine of the Wayne Golf Course has been in the news for the last 3-6 months. The Bothell Planning Commission and the Bothell City Council have had “standing-room-only” meetings in recent weeks. When our own mayor admitted that he had an interest in developing the back-nine of the Wayne Golf Course, the requests for a full independent investigation was voiced by many citizens and council members alike.
It was the time when our own City Council should have been finding a way to keep this last open space for our city and Bothell citizens. The mayor and his crony’s found a way in executive session not to exercise the right to buy. They also did not divulge the information to the public that there was no specific money for the immediate purchase of the back-nine. Instead, they had a front-row seat, behind the scenes in executive session, in an attempt to buy and then develop this magnificent open space. The conflict of interest could not have been more obvious, as well as the violation of public trust. It appears that some City Council members and the city manager are making decisions based on personal agendas. Perhaps the investigation should come from the state for full disclosure.
So what’s next? Paving over the back-nine with houses and roads? During the last few years, there have been hundreds of homes built just to the south of the golf course and many new ones are being developed right now. Many of those homes also have our mayor and his development companies involved. The public has just recently found out that there has been no transparency in the City Planning Commission and City Council meetings, concerning these developments. Many of the meeting agendas were not even sent to citizens living right next to the proposed development. The city said it was a “clerical” error. Are there legal considerations involved here? And, especially, are there ethical considerations involved? If the mayor was truly a citizen of Bothell he would be fighting to keep this last open space. Instead, it appears to be the citizens against the developers – the mayor and his crony’s.
Beyond the Bothell citizens, there is also a wildlife issue. These include: deer, coyotes, eagles, beavers, muskrats, otters, waterfowl, blue herons, and of course fish. All of the present wildlife has been “herded” onto the back-nine where they appear every day. They have been forced to congregate there, because there has been “clear-cutting” of all the trees in the housing developments to the south. Water runoff is also a serious problem on the steep hillside, and now we have traffic gridlock on Waynita and 100th Avenue because of the new homes. It’s obvious there should be no new development along the Sammamish River, including the back-nine of the golf course. This open space cannot be duplicated.
The credibility of the council activities, and their “Economic Development Committee,” may already be damaged for years to come. It’s obvious from the newspapers, radio and the public meetings that we have a serious problem. The more quickly an investigation can be done, the better. All real estate dealings with the council and their contractors, including housing developments and city buildings are necessary. Then it is likely the citizens will feel justified and satisfied with their elected officials and feel they have a voice.
Dr. Robert Tadlock, Bothell
