by Attention North Highline Annexation Voters: your Voters Pamphlet contains a steamy, smelly pile of bovine fecal matter about annexation to Burien. Here are some of the dung piles dropped by opponent Mark Ufkes:
Pile #1 — Mr. Ufkes does not live in the voting area – he is not affected by the annexation vote. [full disclosure: I, too, do not live in the voting area, but as a Burien resident will be affected by your vote.]
Pile #2 — The Westwood Village and White Center areas are not included in the voting area, but I’m sure you can find a particular home in N. Burien that is valued lower than a particular home in Westwood. So? Truth is: the homes in unincorporated North Shorewood, Salmon Creek and Boulevard Park (neighborhoods within the voting area) are similar to their long-time N. Burien neighbors’ homes.
Pile #3 — Mr. Ufkes has been a vocal critic of the North Highline Fire Department. That despite the huge satisfaction level of residents. The city of Burien does not provide fire services. All of Burien and North Highline are served by independent Fire Districts — you elect Commissioners who set policies and standards. You will continue to be served by Fire Commissioners you elect, and control taxes for fire services.
Above is Mark Ufkes' "Statement Against" Annexation from the Voter's Pamphlet.
Pile #4 — Burien has no plans to hire more police officers AT THIS TIME because it’s not necessary. Burien and North Highline share police services provided by King County. That will continue after annexation. The size of Burien’s police force will always depend on need.
Pile #5 — Burien has no budget deficit — in the state of Washington, all governments are required by law to have balanced budgets; Burien always has. What Burien doesn’t have is debt – it has operated as a cash basis city.
Pile #6 — If Burien decides to build a new community center with a new tax, the law requires voters to approve any such new tax. There is no new tax on the horizon.
Pile #7 — The is no such thing as a Burien downtown fire department tax for Town Square. Town Square is a private development. No taxes have been or will be used for this private project. There is also no massive property tax giveaway to potential Town Square residents.
Pile #8 — There is no factual evidence that property values have any relationship to your address. Property values are simply the value of your property compared to similar properties in a similar neighborhood. Fire services are also not related to your property value — a mansion gets the same fire truck, the same emergency medical team, as does a modest bungalow. Voters set the level of taxes for fire services.
An 8-year former Burien City Councilmember, I live 4 blocks from the proposed annexation area. I’m anxious to re-unite with my neighbors under one government that promotes strong single family neighborhoods rather than the rampant multifamily projects favored by King County and Seattle. Vote ‘YES’ on annexation.
Stephen Lamphear
North Shorewood
[EDITOR'S NOTE: We welcome all opinions, and publish pertinent ones at our discretion. We advise all residents in the North Highline area to read as much as they can about the upcoming Aug. 18th Annexation vote, and decide for themselves whether they want to become a part of Burien or not. As always, Readers are encouraged to either email us their thoughts, or Comment below...]
by It’s been a long time coming – years of meetings, studies, surveys, and wars of words – but in less than three weeks residents of the southern part of the North Highline unincorporated area finally will have their say on the following question:
“Shall that area of unincorporated King County known as the North Highline South Annexation Area as legally described in City of Burien Resolution No. 292 be annexed to the City of Burien?”
A simple majority vote in the Aug. 18th primary election for this ballot measure, King County Proposition 1, will bring approximately 1,700 more acres into the city, increasing its population by some 14,100 residents.
The south part of the North Highline unincorporated area that will become part of Burien if annexation is approved is defined by a zigzag line that extends west to east along Southwest 112th Street in north Shorewood, South 116th Street, South 112th Street, and South 107th Street in Boulevard Park, ending at Tukwila:
Much of Beverly Park and Boulevard Park, including the Rainier Golf and Country Club, will be absorbed by Burien. Left in the remaining unincorporated area between Burien and Seattle will be the North Highline fire station, Evergreen High School and Pool, and the Top Hat neighborhood.
The August primary will mark King County’s first all mail-in election. Ballots were mailed by the county elections office on Wednesday (July 29th). State law requires a simple majority vote of residents in an area designated for annexation before the merger can take effect. Residents of the annexing city do not vote on the question.
A community informational meeting on annexation will be held August 6 (Thursday) from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Boulevard Park Baptist Church, 11659 First Ave. S. – the last scheduled public forum on the issue before the election.
Burien City Manager Mike Martin, responding to questions posed recently by the B-Town Blog, said the City Council has supported this partial annexation of the unincorporated area because it will unite historic neighborhoods, and because Burien is smaller than Seattle – which at one time also considered annexing North Highline – it will give annexed residents a more responsive city government.
“I am the one who first proposed the idea that we reunite neighborhoods” through annexation, Burien Deputy Mayor Rose Clark added. Just as the city and the North Highline area are both part of the Highline School District, “they were part of our community even before we were a city.”
But, argues Mark Ufkes, president of the White Center Homeowners Association and a member of White Center Residents for a Secure Future, “Burien is the least best choice” for North Highline. Although Ufkes lives one block north of the proposed annexation area, he says if it becomes part of Burien the value of his property will be impacted.
Property taxes are about the same in both Burien and Seattle, “but you get so much more (services) in Seattle, and a Seattle address is a very positive asset to home values,” he says. “We will lose our legal Seattle address with annexation to Burien.”
And, Ufkes claims, “Burien doesn’t have the resources for our complex community,” from public safety to social services. “Annexation is supposed to make our lives better. If it doesn’t, then annexation is not a good thing.”
He adds that, in three years of monitoring Burien’s annexation process, “not once have I heard anyone say that annexation is about North Highline. It’s about Burien … in reality.”
But Greg Duff, new president of the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council, says with less than a month before the election, “it looks very good” for annexation. “From surveys that we’ve done, people want to annex to Burien….
“We’re really not hearing much opposition. The people opposed don’t want annexation because they have property to sell and they think that by going to Seattle property will increase in value, which is ridiculous.”
Duff suggests, “It is better to be a part of Burien because we will have a bigger voice in government – 14,500 people will have a much stronger voice in Burien with a (current) population of about 30,000, than in Seattle with a population of more than 500,000.”
And, he continues, “I’d much rather have Mike Martin and the Burien City Council as my governing body than (Mayor) Greg Nickels and the Seattle City Council. Mike wanted to annex North Highline from the beginning, regardless of whether the Legislature provided funds for annexation. But Nickels wavered. He was after money from the Legislature, it was not about the people.”
Two other key reasons that Duff says support annexation by Burien are, “I don’t want to be part of all the silly rules and regulations in Seattle like the tax on plastic bags,” and “Seattle sees the south end of King County as the slums … I really feel that’s the way (Nickels) feels.”
He believes annexation by Burien “will be a simple transition” and that the city can provide all services needed by its new residents despite opponents’ claims to the contrary.
More information about the proposed annexation, both pro and con, is available in the King County Voters Guide, which can be accessed online here.
Martin notes that if annexation is approved by North Highline votes, the area won’t become part of Burien overnight. “We will have a lot of work to do…. It’s not like the vote takes place on August 18 and annexation happens on the 19th.”
Burien city staff will have to do “a whole lot of work in between” to reach out incorporate the annexed area. He thinks the annexed part of North Highline officially would become part of the city “probably in March.”
Proposals to annex North Highline have generated controversy in both Burien and North Highline – and between Burien and Seattle after Nickels claimed the White Center area and beyond for his city – ever since Countywide Planning Policies, a regional offshoot of Washington’s Growth Management Act, called for King County’s unincorporated urban areas to be included in cities by 2012. The county also targeted North Highline for annexation in 2003 in the wake of the first in a succession of severe budget shortfalls, and offered financial assistance to cities that annex unincorporated urban areas.
In 2006, Burien, Seattle and King County agreed to work cooperatively for annexation of the entire unincorporated area by one or both cities. But despite their Memorandum of Understanding to resolve the issue, Seattle never responded to offers by Burien to settle competing claims on North Highline. This inaction led Burien to adopt independently early last year its plan to annex the south part of the unincorporated area.
Seattle objected to Burien’s annexation plan and challenged it before the Boundary Review Board. Following a public hearing in March, the board formally approved Burien’s request on April 16th.
So…what’s your vote regarding annexation?
Please take our poll, or leave Comments below…
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The National Weather Service issued a “Special Weather Statement” late Thursday afternoon (July 23rd) warning about a heat wave that will begin this weekend and last into next week, with projected highs in the 85-95 degree range.
Here’s the official warning:
… Hot weather beginning this weekend and lasting into next week…
The hottest weather of the year is likely to occur this weekend and early next week. High temperatures will be in the 85 to 95 range. Overnight lows will be in the 60s. All areas of western Washington could be affected.
The first really hot day will be Saturday or Sunday. The hottest days look like Sunday through Tuesday. At this time models predict the hot weather could last into Thursday or beyond.
Unlike many previous hot spells… this one could also affect the coast and other places near the water. Also it is rare to have many hot days in a row in western Washington… but this heat wave could last several days.
Western Washington is having a dry Summer… and no rain is in the forecast for the next week or so. Fire danger will increase during the hot weather. There is also a risk of air stagnation during this period.
The National Weather Service will issue more statements about this event over the coming days.
And according to meteorologist Cliff Mass:
“I took a look at the long-range forecasts and was shocked.
The temperature climbs through the weekend…into the lower 90s on Sunday and mid 90s at least on Monday and Tuesday.
Too far out to be sure now….but be ready for real heat.”
BTW, Cliff also adds that:
“2009 is the driest 20 May-19 Jul period on record using the combined SeaTac/downtown observations”
So…have a great weekend, but stay cool, slathered up, and be sure to check in on elderly neighbors/relatives and drink plenty of water!
This is King County’s first capital project funded by federal economic stimulus money.
The King County Road Services Division project is a small piece of the larger White Center neighborhood plan and supports the vision identified and promoted by the White Center Community Development Association and dozens of community groups and participants. It estimated that 20-30 jobs will be directly created from this construction project.
When it is completed, residents from the 1,000-plus units at Greenbridge will be able to walk, or ride to more than 130 businesses and the transit hub in the White Center business district.
The new pathway will be constructed at the intersection of SW 98th Street and 12th Avenue SW. Currently, a steep wooden stairway connects the Greenbridge development with SW 98th Street. The stairway will be replaced, and the county will build an accessible paved ramp that gradually slopes down the hillside. Both feature safety lighting, landscaping, and artistic elements composed by local artist Andy Cao.
The walkway builds upon county efforts to spur private investment and foster a vibrant, healthy, mixed-income community at Greenbridge. It also supports King County’s Healthscape objectives by reducing automobile dependency with more opportunities to be physically active and improve air quality.
Total construction cost for the project is $1.4 million, with $1.27 million coming from federal stimulus dollars. Construction should begin this week, and take approximately four months to complete.
The project plan was initiated and overseen by a community steering committee. Design and preliminary engineering for the project was made possible by contributions from King County Road Services, King County Parks and King County Water and Land Resources Division, King County Housing Development Authority, 4 Culture, and Feet First.
Here are some photos courtesy Shelli Park of White Center for the Arts of this last weekend’s Jubilee Days:
| Jul ’09 |
| 29 |
| 6:30 pm |
The City of Burien is hosting its second-to-last Annexation Informational Open House on Wednesday, July 29th at Burien City Hall (400 SW 152nd) beginning at 6:30pm.
As with previous open houses, this one is intended to provide information about what annexation will mean for current Burien residents as well as for the people within the proposed annexation area.
The election date for residents of the North Highline area to vote yay or nay on being annexed is Tuesday, Aug. 18th.
The final Informational Open House is scheduled for Thursday, August 6, 6:30 – 8 p.m. at Beverly Park Baptist Church, which is located at 11659 1st Ave.
Many of the questions and comments raised at the open houses are summarized on the Burien annexation web page located at www.burienwa.gov/annexation.
Here’s a map of the proposed annexation area, labeled as “Area X”:
According to The Seattle Times, Tracy A. Clark, the man convicted of brutally “gutting” Scat, a therapy cat at White Center’s Cross Church, was sentenced Friday to nine months in jail, as well as undergo alcohol treatment.
As we reported April 21st, Clark, 47, was arrested by King County Sheriff’s officers on animal cruelty charges after he allegedly severely injured the animal with a box cutter knife.
Another resident was awakened by Clark around 1am on Monday, April 20th, who told him that he had “gutted the cat.” The resident thought the suspect was intoxicated, and both men ended up going to bed.
The next afternoon the church pastor found the severely-injured cat in the parking lot.
According to court documents, Clark claims that the cat “attacked him” first, forcing him to defend himself. He said he grabbed the cat by the throat, threw it against the wall and then stabbed it with his own knife.
Scatt spent ten days at the South Seattle Veterinary Hospital and is still recovering.
Read the full story here.
The Highline school board announced Thursday (July 16th) that it has voted to adopt a “Pay for Play” system, which will charge students a fee for participation in middle school and high school athletics.
While some school board members expressed concern that the fees will discourage students from participating in sports, Superintendent John Welch told the board staff that he is working with the Highline Schools Foundation for Excellence to establish a scholarship program.
“We will work hard to see that no student is turned away from playing a sport,” said Welch.
Welch said the fees are necessary to support the rising costs of athletic programs.
“In order to continue to offer both middle and high school sports, we must implement a pay-for-play fee structure,” said Welch. “If we don’t charge a fee, we will have to cut some sports.”
Welch noted that Highline’s athletic offerings now include middle school soccer in response to high demand and strong community support for adding that program.
The fee structure will be in place for the 2009-10 school year.
For high school sports, the fees will be:
- $50 per sport ($25 per sport for students who qualify for free or reduced lunch)
- Fees will be charged for up to two sports per student per year; there is no charge for a third season.
- Maximum $175 per family per year ($85 for families qualifying for free or reduced lunch)
Fees for middle school sports will be:
- $30 per sport ($15 for students who qualify for free or reduced lunch)
Fees will be chared for up to two sports per student per year; there is no charge for a third season. Maximum costs will be $105 per family per year ($50 for families qualifying for free or reduced lunch).
We here at The B-Town Blog would love to know what you think of this idea – please vote in our Poll and/or leave a Comment below…
Sorry, there are no polls available at the moment.Detectives from the King County Sheriff’s Department are turning to the public in the hopes of identifying this pair of likely mail thieves who used a stolen debit card in several area cities:
This photo was taken in early June of the suspects using the stolen card in Puyallup.
The two suspects “hit the motherlode” when they stole mail which included a brand new debit card and PIN.
The stolen card was subsequently used in Federal Way, Tacoma, Tukwila, and Puyallup.
The fraud was discovered recently when unknown charges popped up on the victim’s new debit card account. The bank had supposedly mailed the card and PIN in separate envelopes, but both appeared to have been stolen from the mail.
The victim is a resident of SeaTac, and the loss is several thousand dollars.
If anyone recognizes the suspects they are asked to call the King County Sheriff’s Office at (206) 296-3311 (24 hours) or 9-1-1.
| Jul ’09 |
| 18 |
| 5:00 pm |
Our friends at White Center for the Arts will be heavily represented at Jubilee Days this coming weekend (Saturday, July 18th and Sunday, July 19th).
For both days of the event, White Center for the Arts will have a booth in the community area where everyone can participate in a future public art project. This will be the first of many community art projects that they’ll host, and will consist of a clay mosaic.
“Do what you want with your piece of clay, sign your name or initials, and we will make sure that your piece is placed in the finished mosaic,” they say in a press release. “Fun for one and all. And you’ll be a famous artist!”
White Center for the Arts will also have a float in the parade, which starts at 1pm at the McDonalds on 16th Ave SW near 114th. They’ll be handing out candy and flyers as they float towards downtown White Center on 16th Ave SW with the rest of the crew.
“You’ve got to see what we are making this time!” adds the press release with more than just a hint of intrigue.
White Center for the Arts is hosting another Art Event this coming weekend in conjunction with Jubilee Days in the parking lot of the Skate Building on 17th Ave SW. They’ll be active for their regular hours of Saturday night from 5pm to 10pm, and encourage fairgoers to enjoy the nearby Beer Gardens, and the music flowing from the stage while you watch art in action!
For more information, visit their website here.
| Jul ’09 |
| 27 |
| 6:00 pm |
Grace Church is offering up a free “Kickin’ It Soccer Camp VBS” from Monday July 27th to Friday July 31st, from 5:30pm-8:00pm at their campus at 10323 28th Ave SW.
This Soccer Camp is intended for kids entering Kindergarten through 5th grade, and here’s a blurb from the church:
Come on over and bring your friends for soccer, food, crafts and all sorts of FREE fun!
We will start each night out with dinner from 5:30-6:00 then off the kids go for an action packed evening (parents are welcome to stay and watch, or they can go and have a relaxing child-free evening).
To register online, click here to download a PDF registration form, which you should then print, fill out and mail it in to:
Grace Church
10323 28th Ave SW
Seattle, WA 98146
If you have any questions call 206-937-8400.
| Jul ’09 |
| 18 |
| 10:00 am |
| Jul ’09 |
| 19 |
| 10:00 am |
White Center’s 21st Annual “Jubilee Days” Street Fair is coming Saturday and Sunday July 18th and 19th, celebrating our community this year with the theme, “Living The Dream.”
Here are the details:
WHAT: White Center’s 21st Annual “Jubilee Days” 2-day Street Fair
WHEN: Saturday, July 18th from 10am – 11pm and Sunday, July 19th from 10am to 6pm
WHERE: 16th Avenue SouthWest between Southwest Roxbury Street and Southwest 100th Street White Center, WA. 98108
COST: It’s FREE! Lots of FREE PARKING!
Saturday, July 11th at Noon: A Golf Event at Foster Golf Links in Tukwila
SATURDAY, JULY 18th – 10am to 11pm & SUNDAY, JULY 19th 10am to 6pm:
- Sat. at 1:30pm: A 1K “Microthon” Fun Run
- Saturday at 2pm: Parade, starting at SW 112th St, Heading North to SW 100th St
- Check In: Saturday, July 18, 2009 at 12:30 to 1:00
- Assembly Staging: at McDonalds in White Center
- Award Categories – Classic and antique Cars, Specialty, Novelty, Drill Teams, Marching Bands, and commercial groups.
- Walking, Marching and Dancing units (carried by the forward left-sided person)
- Distribution of objects, such as candy, flyers, etc.: Must be handed out curbside. Please do not drop objects in the street where children may be tempted to retrieve them. No silly string. Please use litter containers.
- FOR ENTRY FORMS CONTACT: AMANDA AMEND (253) 592-2048 or email your entry at amend2@comcast.net
- An Art Show. Wonderful Arts and Great Crafts
- Information and Food booths
- Beer Garden
- Two Stages with Entertainment!
- A Kids Center with free hands-on activities
- FREE PARKING!
INFO:
- Cleanliness – Please keep the area clean. Local businesses have supported this fun activity and with everyone’s help we can leave it as good as, or better, than we found it.
- Manners – Rude or threatening behavior will not be tolerated. Please be courteous to one another and volunteer staff as well.
- Food – Food is available in the parade staging area at Mc Donalds and from the Street Fair Food Court at the end of the parade route.
- Parade Route – Starting at SW 112th St, Heading North, to SW 100th St. Leave the area via 15th for easiest departure. You can leave your car at the beginning or end of the parade route to avoid any unnecessary walking. Please do not leave valuables in your car and lock your doors. Jubilee days is not responsible for lost or stolen items.
- Announcer’s Stage – Hosted by First Choice Espresso.
- Awards – Amanda Amend will contact the winners and send out the awards accordingly
- Activities – The Street Fair offers food, crafts, the Kid’s Center, entertainment on two stages, and the carnival.
- HAVE FUN!
If you’d like to volunteer, click here: http://www.jubileedays.org/Volunteer.htm
If you’d like to become a sponsor, click here: http://www.jubileedays.org/2.htm
Maps/Directions: http://www.jubileedays.org/6.htm
More information available at www.jubileedays.org.
According to The Seattle Times, two counts of third-degree assault were filed Monday (July 6th) against a 16-year-old Burien girl who allegedly sicced a pit bull on two women in SeaTac.
The female suspect remains at large. Sgt. John Urquhart of the King County Sheriff’s Department said a warrant has been issued for her arrest, and that she is being sought by deputies. She is slated to be arraigned on July 14th.
In addition to the Burien girl, the Times also reports that three White Center boys, ages 11, 12 and 13, who were with the girl during the attacks will not face charges because the girl is believed to be responsible.
The suspect, who is not being named because she is underage and is being charged in King County Juvenile Court, had trained “Snaps,” the pit bull (pictured above), to attack, according to charging papers.
Court documents (view/download PDF here) allege that the female and a group of boys were found abusing the animal on June 21st before the two women were attacked by the dog.
A 63-year-old woman says she saw four youths kicking the dog and pulled her car over to see if they were okay. The girl cursed at the woman and told her to butt out.
When the woman threatened to call 9-1-1, the female suspect leaned into the car, grabbed the woman’s hair and took her cellphone. The girl then beat the woman with her own phone, court papers said.
All this was witnessed by a 41 year-old Seattle woman, who followed the group to nearby North SeaTac Park. When the 15 year-old figured out they were followed, she walked up to the woman and head-butted her, then threw punches to her head and body.
Next the dog joined the fray and became increasing violent as the rest of the group egged the dog on. The woman suffered serious bite injuries, including wounds to her head and face, as well as serious gashes and puncture wounds to both arms. Her left forearm was flayed open and the bone could be seen.
Sheriff’s deputies arrived and found the four nearby, still with the dog. All were taken into custody without incident.
To read the full story, click here. To read the court documents, click here for a PDF file (warning: contains mature language).
