The News Tribune from Tacoma, Washington • A3

UTHS(U1M1P MONDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2009 THENEWSTRIBUNE.COM PAGE A3 Tannta Pwir says to Dome New camera will enforce 35 mph limit BY JOHN HENRJKSON The News Tribune Question: Our recent column on Tacoma's new speed camera on Bay Street near the Emerald Queen Casino drew some further questions. Among others, Jim LeDuc of Tacoma wondered what the speed limit is for the stretch of the street enforced by the new traffic en-forcement camera. The earlier PARTNERSHIP: Public utility won't buy naming rights to icon, but it will help upgrade the lighting TACOMA POWER DOME: DEAL OR NO DEAL? To pay for conservation upgrades to the Tacoma Dome, the city has offered to sell the Dome's naming rights to Tacoma Power. Tacoma Public Utilities officials, who say they aren't interested in naming rights, have made a counter-proposal. Here's what each side has offered.

column stated that the posted speed limit was 35 mph. But I 1 .1 ueuuc, wno commutes me route daily, pointed out that TMice one rounds the corner onto Bay Street (a somewhat blind corner I might add) there TPU offer Cost of recommended Tacoma Power-related conservation upgrades to Tacoma Dome: $442,890. Of that: Tacoma Power would pay: $185308 in incentives. Tacoma Power would buy 12 months of advertising on city signage for $36,000. Net cost of conservation upgrades to the Tacoma Dome: $221,082.

Upgrades, in turn, would give the city: Average monthly savings on Dome's power bills (at current rates): $5,430 Zero-interest loan payments for Dome over 60 months of $3,685. Estimated monthly cash flow to Dome: $1,745. Baarsma said of the offer. "But I do think there's a missed opportunity here." The idea to sell naming rights to the Dome in part was sparked from Comcast's unsuccessful bid to buy them in 2003, Baarsma said. After a public outcry tilted the City Council against that deal partly because "Tacoma" wouldVe fallen off the Dome's name, and partly because Comcast is the chief rival of the city utility's own cable network the cable giant abruptly withdrew its offer.

But a competing idea also emerged that Tacoma Power might be a more suitable namesake for the building, Baarsma said. TPU even made an offer that ultimately went nowhere. Six years later, Baarsma said he resurrected the idea because "it makes a whole lot of sense given the current situation." TPU now faces requirements under voter-approved Initiative 937 to get customers participating in conservation programs, on the utility's way to meeting specific energy reduction goals in the coming years. Meanwhile, the budget-strapped Tacoma Dome is still operating with the same inefficient lighting system it has had since its construction in 1983. To make green lighting upgrades BY LEWIS KAMB The News Tribune Imagine traveling Interstate 5 as it sweeps traffic toward the blue-and-white bubble at Tacoma's northern gateway, where a marquee flashes a new name for an aging icon: The Tacoma Power Dome.

"The name," said Tacoma Mayor Bill Baarsma, "has a certain zip to it" But Baarsma's idea to sell the city-owned Tacoma Dome's naming rights to the city-owned utilities for money to "green up" the 26-year-old venue has apparently flickered out Among other problems, TPU officials say, the idea poses questions about the best use of public dollars. "If we were a private industry with a lot of competition, maybe this is something we'd be said Tacoma Public Utilities Board Chairwoman Laura Fox. "But I don't think it's an appropriate use of ratepayer dollars to buy naming rights." The utility has since countered with an offer to buy some advertising at the Dome in addition to carrying out an existing conservation program that would help the facility reduce its power bills by more than $65,000 per year. "It's a great step in the right direc Thecttyt offer TPU would pay the Tacoma Dome $1.25 million over five years. In turn, TPU would get The Tacoma Power Dome name and new logo to be used in all venue promotions and advertisements.

Stationary placement of Tacoma Power name on Interstate 5 marquee. Advertising on Dome's scoreboard and throughout its interior. Tacoma Dome Web site exposure, with a link to Tacoma Power's Web site. Tacoma Power to receive advertising rights on the Dome's ticket envelope; 12 tickets to all Dome events; and six passes to the dome's new Overlook Club. Complimentary use of the arena on a nonevent day.

would cost the dome nearly $443,000, money city officials say the Dome doesn't have. "As we noodled this, besides just selling exclusive naming rights we thought, Why not green up the dome and help (TPU) meet its (Initiative) 937 obligations in one fell Baarsma explained. Baarsma, City Councilman Jake Fey and Tacoma public assembly facilities director Mike Combs took the idea to the TPU board earlier this month. Combs made the pitch that TPU could buy the naming rights including a new logo and other exclusive perks for 1 25 million over five years. Mease ice DOME, page A4 a 25 mph repeat 25 mph sign just before the camera." Anwwr.

Yes, the enforced speed limit is 55 mph The confusion arises because mere is a yellow caution sign at the curve. "It is advising a safe speed for inclement weather conditions," advised Tacoma police Lt Peter Cribbin. "Speed limit signs are white with black lettering. The speed limit is 35 mph arid the enforcement speed will be set based on that speed, not the 25 mph caution speed." Following a two-week warning period, the camera enforcement starts Wednesday. Violators will receive a $101 ticket Mailbag: Dozens of readers commented on the traffic camera column, and a subsequent story.

Here are excerpts from our online discussion: "God forbid people actually follow the rules of the road If a camera takes your picture if you speed, don't speed. If a camera takes your picture if you run a red light, don't run red lights." TWOODY "Sit near an intersection anywhere in town for a an hour and youH see several infractions. The police cant be everywhere; I'm all for them putting 'eyes' in places they can't always be." DYROID "Try and not speed on the Bay Street curve where the camera is; it is almost IMPOSSIBLE. When going from a dead stop at the Pioneer-Bay StreetRiver Road stop light you are speeding by just coasting down the hfll past the speed trap. I see it is going to be a great revenue machine for the City of Tacoma." RETHOMPSON Got a question about traffic congestion, construction, spending or other transportation issues? Send it to trafGcthenewstribune.com.

Include your name, hometown and daytime telephone number. Well answer as many as we can. Help Your Neighbor zl il I 7 '9 mm Ideas for reaching out this holiday season and beyond. Who'll leading the effort: Sleep Country Foster Kids' annual Secret Santa Toy MUCH u- .7 7 in', uniHiiiiiiiysmst. mo? wan.

t. 7 I Who being ii 1 helped: Foster Children in How you can help: Dona- tions of new, unwrapped gifts, such as toys, games, sporting equipment, musical instruments, gift certificates, electronics, such as MP3 players and digital cameras, music CDs and movie DVDs, can be donated at any Sleep Country USA store. For more Information; For information on the location of the nearest store, please use the Sleep Country store locator at wwwjleepcountry.com -I VL. 1 1-1- i a Umbm ,1 uJiL rNip TOUT NMgnDOT CDratvCu MWI InMMtw nKHrl Willi ciHrnuM nNunnvr no umhimi uppurtwiiiB. smi your oBanizitioirt tvnt or effort tyf-fnittngilpifofttiH utonfrtttaMwrtrfewMxonL Pintc kidudv dotih md i contict nunbcf.

PETER HALEYThe News Tribune Victor Ruiz ii angry and fruitnrted at not being able to find a Job since January. "I gave 20 yean to protect this country, and I've got an MBA. ttt not right," he said. Hii children, I liana and Victor are at left Friday in their Fire rest home that ii in foreclosure. Jobless rate bad? It's worse for vets IN BRIEF ECONOMY: Folks who recently left the military more likely to be looking for employment would provide additional employment training and support for unemployed veterans and establish a program to help veterans start their own businesses.

Murray's bill also would provide grants to states that establish Veterans Conservation Corps to employ veterans to restore natural habitat, maintain local forests and parks and improve storm-water facilities. Murray hopes to introduce her bill in the coming weeks. "I believe how we treat our veterans when they come home is an indication of the character of our Murray said. For his part, Ruiz, who joined the Air Force right out of high 81st Brigade Combat Team of the Washington National Guard were patrolling in such places as Mosul, Balad and Rarnadi in Iraq. Now, after returning home in August, roughly 40 percent of the 2,400 Guardsmen from Washington state are still looking for work.

Meantime, the Pentagon during the third quarter reimbursed the Labor Department nearly $186 million for veterans' unemployment benefits, an increase of more than 70 percent from a year ago. "It's just said Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash. They volunteer, serve our country honorably and come back and cant find a job." Murray, a senior member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, is working on legislation that "I am the most educated of my three siblings, but I am the one moving back home," Ruiz said. Ruiz's story isn't uncommon.

Many veterans, especially younger and injured ones, are struggling to find civilian jobs in a troubled economy. The unemployment rate for veterans who left the military during the past three years is 18 percent, nearly twice the national average. The average for all veterans is about 11.6 percent Even those numbers, however, may not reflect the situation as the economy worsened. Six months ago, members of the BYLESBLUMENTHAL The News Tribune WASHINGTON Victor Ruiz has been looking for work since January. An Air Force pension helps, but it's not enough to keep his family afloat.

His house is in foreclosure, and he and his two teenage children are leaving Fire rest to live with his parents in Chicago. Ruiz, 39, is a retired Air Force major who has an MBA, oversaw an $80 million computer network that helped track mcoming missiles and nuclear detonations, and at various times supervised more than 100 people. see VETERANS, page A4 KENT Local firefighters' toy drive itarti today Kent firefighters will launch their annual toy drive today. Collection bins will be set out at several locations for the Toys for Joy program. Kent Fire District 37, Kent firefighters Local 1747 and Kent Firefighters Foundation will be collecting new, unwrapped toys for needy children in the community, firefighters reported.

They also will accept nonperishable food donations. The donated toys are sorted, wrapped and delivered to the Kent Food Bank for distribution. "The Toys for Joy program was designed to allow adults to provide guts to their children that they might not otherwise be able to a news release said. The following locations will have toy collection barrels: Fire Station 71, 504 W. Crow in downtown Kent Fire Station 72, 25620 140th Ave.

S.E., on Kent's East Hill. Fire Station 73, 25612 Military Road on Kent's West Hill. Fire Station 74, 24611 116th Ave. S.E., on Kent's East Hill. Fire Station 75, 15635 S.E.

272nd St, Lake Meridian. Fire Station 76, 20676 72nd Ave. in North Kent Valley. Fire Station 77, 20717 132nd Ave. S.E., on the East Hill.

Fire Station 78, 17820 S.E. 256 St, in Covington. Kent City Hall, 220 Fourth Ave. S. downtown Kent Centennial Building, 400 W.

Gowe St, downtown Kent StMy Mu lick. The NiwiTribuic Toymaker carves whatever your heart desires NEW BUSINESS: Man creates custom-made eco-friendly items v' tomers of all ages can design their own woodcrafts for Flynn to build. Once assembled, the custom wooden items everything from toys and bookends to pic for in terms of wooden toys made in the United States," said Flynn, whose son, Huckleberry, just turned 2. And, he said, many toys are manufactured in ways that arent environmentally sustainable and coated with finishes that include toxic chemicals. By contrast, all of the wood Flynn uses is either salvaged or harvested in a sustainable way.

In addition, he uses nontoxic finishes made from organic materials, including Real Milk Paint and Chinawood oil, which is derived from the seeds or nuts of the tung tree. "I searched high and low for coat ings that kids can chew on," he said. Flynn's product line includes a truck, three cars, a waddling duck, a push toy, a rolling ball turtle and a leap frog. His son serves as the official Whittle toy tester. "He loves it down here," said Rachel Smith, Huckleberry's mother.

"He thinks they are all his "If they don't sell, hell have 600 toys for Christmas," Flynn said with a chuckle. About 60 percent of Whittle's business is generated by walk-in custom- Heaae Me TOYMAKER, page A4 BY JOHN DODGE The Olympian Kyle Flynn has turned his woodworker attention to wooden toys, after 20 years as a carpenter and cabinet maker. Whittle, a new business and wood-shop in downtown Olympia, is home to his product line of nine heirloom wooden toys and a place where cus ture frames and mobiles are turned over to the customers to paint in the woodshop at 1 16 Capitol WayN. Flynn, 40, said the genesis of the business he opened last summer is fairly simple. "I couldn't find what I was looking.