10 years ago 1997

The Snohomish County Council postponed the public vote on the countys adult entertainment ordinance, removing it from Februarys election, the Council announced. Februarys election will not include a vote to repeal the countys adult entertainment ordinance because an expected state Supreme Court ruling could mean part of the ordinance is unconstitutional anyway, and the election would cost between $400,000 and $500,000 of taxpayer money, according to the Dec. 29 announcement. Attorney Gilbert Levy, who represents the initial proponent of the petition to repeal the ordinance, requested the Council delay the vote because a state Supreme Court decision challenging a similar ordinance by the city of Bellevue is expected soon. The outcome of that decision could invalidate significant portions of the Snohomish County ordinance and make it unnecessary to seek a repeal of the ordinance, Levy said in a letter to the Council. Levy was the appellants counsel in the matter argued before the state Supreme Court in May 1996. A ruling is expected this month. The Council adopted the ordinance in June 1996, which regulates adult entertainment venues, entertainers and managers. The ordinance changes the space between dancers and patrons from six inches to four feet. At public hearings before the Council adopted the ordinance, Levy stated that placing regulations on exotic dancing is infringing on the dancers art form; its like telling painters they cant use certain colors, he said. Opponents of the new ordinance began circulating petitions in August 1996 to vote on repealing the new laws. In mid-December, the county auditors office verified 11,710 signatures, enough to place it on the ballot. More than 19,000 signatures accompanied the petition. Since then, 36 petition signers have requested their names be removed from the petitions because they said it was presented to them as for adult entertainment regulations, not against. The County Council has the right to call for a special countywide election regarding the appeal of the ordinance, said Deputy Chief Joan Hammond.

25 years ago 1982

The courts are set up to serve the people, not to save money, Cascade District Court Judge Jay Wisman pointed out. Wisman, judge for the district court in Arlington, was speaking out against a proposed plan to reorganize the current district court system. Most of the testimony at last Thursdays public hearing on the issue was against the proposal which would see judges elected at-large from one countywide district. Although judges still would hold court in four separate areas of the county, the administration of the system would be consolidated in Everett. The district courts would be run by a presiding judge in Everett. Judges are elected independently from the four separate districts under the current system. Were established to disperse justice, said Wisman during Thursdays lengthy haring before the Snohomish County Council. Thats our purpose. I doubt theres one court in the state or county that makes money. I cant understand why the county wants to be the first. Mr. [Mark] Sheppards report is bombarded with dollar figures. The purpose of the district courts is to dispense justice. Were the lowest level of court, but we see far more of the citizenry because of the nature of the cases. We generate far more revenue than any other court system in the state, but thats not our purpose. Those courts should be close to the people. Its a court of the people. They should have a chance to become acquainted with the judge on the bench. Judge Wisman pointed out he thought the people of a district should have a choice of judge, and the knowledge of the candidates. The people should continue to have the right to know the judge, and have their choice. With the system Mr. Sheppard supports, you would not have that opportunity. The proposed plan which drew the responses from Judges Wisman was written by attorney Mark Sheppard, hired by the County Council in April of last year. Sheppards assignment was to study the present court system and recommend improvements. Following the public hearing, the County Council asked the countys districting committee to study the proposed plan to reorganize the court system. The districting committee, which has until March 15 to make a recommendation to the Council, is composed of judges, mayors of cities served by the courts, and citizens as well as the County Council chairman. District court reorganization would require a Council decision by May 15. Most of those testifying Thursday night pointed out the proposed changes would end the close relationship the judges and their communities have. Record keeping and problems with changes in venue also were mentioned by those who spoke against the proposal. Acting State Court Administrator Jim Larson from Olympia said there is a considerable difference between local justice and a consolidated administration. Larson said, With the regionalized concept, the courts are more readily available to serve the people. Theyre the peoples courts. Where the new concept falls short is in processing cases. You need clerical staff at those outlying districts. Cost savings may be a dis-savings. Attorney Richard Bailey agreed it is important that people in outlying areas have the courts accessible to them. It seems that with a countywide district plan, judges will tend to reside in the center like Everett so there would be an increasing reluctance to travel to outside courts to serve justice. Its kind of like doctors not making house calls anymore. The study plan wouldnt work. Judge Wisman, at a Smokey Point Chamber of Commerce meeting last fall, said his Cascade District Court in Arlington is one of the few in the state which operates in the black. Our collection is amazing, he said. Were able to collect 60 percent of the claims. It would be counter-productive to go back to Everett. It would set back the system 25 years. I turn more money over to the county than they actually budget for me, said Wisman. Ill turn over something like $625,000 to them for the year. Stanwood city attorney Henry Chapman, president of the Snohomish County Bar Association, also said it was important for people in outlying areas to know their judge. With a system of rotating judges, the judges have no affiliation or feeling for the people, he said. And, no office of their own. Many are motivated to run for judge through the motivation of serving people. People being served should have a personal touch with the justice system. The district system is set up to create a locally based court with enough breadth for a lawyer judge and to encourage municipalities to join up, said Marysville attorney Ruth Ellen Wagner. If you create a system that burdens the cities, they wont be interested. You hurt the public. In a county-based plan with no venue restrictions, how are you going to locate a schedule and locate the responsible people? You create confusion; its a burden on the public. There are problems with efficiency, too. With files moving around the county, theres a good chance of losing some of them. Cash register justice, I dont think people like the idea of supporting a system based on money. Raising revenue is not the purpose of the courts. Its justice they dispense. You dont evaluate a superior court based on dollar values.

50 years ago 1957

The Washington State Highway Commission will open bids Jan. 8, 1957 for a contract for grading of about 4.2 miles of the new alignment of State Highway 1 in Snohomish County from the Pilchuck Hill north of the Stillaguamish River north to the North Burn Road. Two bridges, one to carry State Highway 1 traffic over the Henning Road about 8.5 miles south of Conway and the other to carry the traffic over the Freeborn Road near the north end of the contract, are to be constructed under the contract. Plans for the contract call for a four-lane, divided highway. The two lanes which will carry northbound traffic will be graded and surfaced with selected roadway borrow. The lanes which will carry southbound traffic will be graded only. Both sections of the highway are planned to be paved for a 24-foot roadway in the future.