Thirteen-year-old Ben Parrish, a Duvall Life Scout with Troop 411, attended Duvall City Council on April 9 as one of the requirements for earning a Scouting Citizenship in the Community Merit badge. Hopefully, he left the meeting with a better understanding of citizenship but also insight on how decisions today will affect him as an adult. He will likely already have traded in his bike for a car by the time the much-discussed new 520 bridge is completed.

State representatives Larry Springer and Roger Goodman, of the 45th District, provided a 2008 Legislative update, reviewing accomplishments and discussing issues, followed by answering questions from council members.

Representative Springer explained that the budget surplus originally expected to be 1.2 billion dollars was now closer to only 800-900 million dollars, due to the slowdown in the economy. The majority of surplus funds are pledged for the reserve account to help compensate for future anticipated deficits. Councilmember Gary Gill was concerned about the projected $2.4 billion deficit, challenging the reported 33 percent spending increase.

“Let’s talk about spending,” he said, mentioning specifically the $300 million additional expenditures for this year: “What are we doing about it?,” and asked why the anticipated deficit couldn’t be projected more closely.

Springer pointed out the difficulty of being able to project more specifically on 2009 deficits, due to the economy’s state of flux.

The looming 520 bridge project and extreme likelihood of a toll also caused concern from council. Councilmember Gerard Cattin discussed his concerns about tolls being too exorbitant and a prospective $10 toll fee.

Springer assured him, “I don’t know of a legislator who would support a $10 toll.”

The Tacoma Bridge’s current toll of two dollars was used as a more likely example, though it was pointed out that the Tacoma Bridge’s toll was soon already increasing to three dollars.

Springer stated he feels very encouraged by recent developments in the 520 discussions, which have finally both east and west sides agreeing on where the bridge lands on each side, a contentious point prior. The bridge support design allows for future growth.

The next step, he said, was “cobbling together the funding to pay for it.” The issue of whether or not there would be a toll on the current bridge to pay for the new one would be dealt with later.

Cattin wanted to recognize and thank Goodman and Springer’s efforts regarding availability of the 72-hour kits during emergencies but wanted to point out that last year’s lengthy power outages still left a sizable time gap between 72 hours and seven days and hoped some efforts were being made to better plan for this. Representative Goodman had stated he was glad to pull through House Bill 2053, a measure requiring some gas stations to install back-up emergency generators, “ensuring citizens access to fuel during power outages.”

Another bill that Goodman was particularly proud of was H.B. 3254, a measure that could save 100 lives per year “by expanding the use of alcohol-detection devices in known drunk drivers’ cars.” The alcohol ignition interlock device system has been very successful in the five other states that require it.

Goodman explained how a new alcohol ignition interlock works to thwart efforts to disable or trick it, by using ongoing sweat sensory technology to monitor the driver’s sobriety (while driving). He stated that Washington state is, unfortunately, in the “Top 5 Drunk Driving States” and used the European example of zero tolerance (a .02 blood alcohol level) as something to strive for, versus our .08 standard.

The mayor and council were very appreciative of both representatives’ support on both the Lake Washington Technical College project and the city’s annexation efforts/comprehensive plan amendments regarding property being donated by Ray and Tove Burhen. The King County Comprehensive Plan meeting was held in Duvall on April 8 and was well attended by City Council members present to support the annexation.

“What happened was an amazing feat,” said Councilmember Cattin, referring to the unity and reception at the meeting, where the proposed Heritage Park was discussed.

He thanked the Burhens “for their generous gift and foresight – so many things are coming together.”

In Duvall Days news, Economic Development Director Doreen Booth touched on a couple of events scheduled. A T-Shirt Design contest that celebrates the theme of 2008 Duvall Days: “Small Town, Big Neighborhood” is open to children from kindergarten through 12th grade. She also announced the Duvall Idol finals for kids aged 12 through 20 will take place at Duvall Days, with elimination try-outs held in town during the weeks prior.

Also being added this year are additional activities (a downtown sidewalk sale) on Sunday, June 8, after the Pancake Breakfast at the Fire Hall.

In other news, Mayor Will Ibershof announced the return of Broadstripe to the April 24 council meeting. Also, council confirmed Mayor Ibershof’s reappointment of Karen Wallin to the Duvall Library Board, appointment of Laura Smith to the Youth Advisory Board and Holly Krueger to the Duvall Planning Commission.