by Ralph Nichols

Greg Duff (pictured, left), president of the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council, found himself out of a job on April 1. Because that day, he became a resident of Burien.

At that evening’s meeting of the unincorporated area council, Duff resigned. He was replaced by council vice president Christine Waldman. Council member Doug Harrell then was elected vice president with all council members – except himself – voting for him.

Patrick Mosley, who serves as a Block Watch captain in North Highline, was unanimously elected to replace Duff on the council.

“I’ve not just said I’ll do something,” Mosley said of his past activities. “I’ve actually done it. That seems the best way to do it.”

In his parting comments, Duff paid tribute to the late Barb Peters, a former member of the unincorporated area council and community activist, “who said one person can make a difference. And she was right.”

He recalled that Peters first encouraged him to seek a position on the council, and later to run for president.

“I hope that in the past couple of years, we made the community a little better than it was before,” Duff said. “Thank you for the opportunity of letting me be your president for the past year.”

At the beginning of the meeting, both Duff and council member Ray Helms, also now a resident of North Burien, were honored by their fellow council members.

REMINDER: Today (Monday, April 5) is the deadline to apply to be on the NHUAC; for more info, including an application form, click here.

by Ralph Nichols

Years of tumult and shouting, planning and study fade into the past today (April 1) as the southern part of the North Highline unincorporated area officially becomes part of the City of Burien.

Now called “North Burien,” the newly annexed area adds more than 14,000 residents and hundreds of business to the city – making Burien the 21st largest city in Washington, surpassing Olympia. Until today, Burien was the state’s 31st largest city with a population of around 31,000.

Although no special ceremony to mark the occasion is scheduled for today, North Burien residents will be welcomed into the city at a reception at 6:30 p.m. Monday (April 5) preceding the regular city council meeting.

In the meantime, at least one of three billboards went up around Burien this week welcoming the city’s new residents in several languages.

And City Manager Mike Martin will give a presentation updating the annexation process at the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council meeting at 7 p.m. tonight at the North Highline Fire Station, which is located at 1243 SW 112th Street.

Annexation is expected to be a largely seamless process for North Burien residents, who likely won’t notice major changes as they become part of the city.

Voters in the southern part of the North Highline unincorporated area approved annexation by Burien by a sizable margin last Aug. 18. But their gradual march toward becoming part of the city really began in 1993 with the incorporation of Burien.

Left out of the new city, however, were neighborhoods to the north that were considered an “organic” part of the larger Highline community. Following incorporation, many residents of the remaining unincorporated area looked forward to eventually becoming part of Burien.

Likewise, many city residents – including a number of city council members over the intervening years – began the long march toward “reunification” with these neighborhoods through annexation.

By 2006, annexation had become a contentious “front-burner” issue. A minority of unincorporated area residents wanted nothing to do with Burien, arguing that their property values would increase more if they became part of Seattle, which would also provide better services.

And some Burien residents, highly vocal in their opposition to annexation, claimed the city could not afford its associated additional costs, and that bringing in “White Center” would cause crime to increase.

In early 2008, the Burien City Council designated all of North Highline a “potential annexation area.” Seattle lawmakers countered a few weeks later by claiming the same area. Eventually, Burien advanced a memorandum of understanding between the city, Seattle and King County that proposed a solution to the competing annexation claims.

When Seattle didn’t sign the memorandum of understanding, Burien acted alone to put the annexation process into motion. But Burien did back away from annexing all of the unincorporated area, deciding instead to propose for the immediate future annexation of only the southern part of North Highline.

North Highline residents finally got their say at the polls following months of open houses, neighborhood informational meetings and heated debates.

Since the vote for annexation, Burien city staff has been working on a wide range of transitional issues, most notably planning and zoning designations and renegotiating the contract with the King County Sheriff’s Office for police coverage of North Burien.

The city has applied existing Burien zoning classifications most comparable with the old King County zoning to the annexation area.

Some 1,250 businesses there have been notified by the city that they must obtain Burien business licenses and will be assessed the city’s business and occupation tax.

Fire, sewer and water service and Highline District schools will not be affected by annexation.

Burien City Council members have consistently assured residents of “old” Burien that annexation will be revenue neutral. Contributing to this financial goal will be about $700,000 a year the city will get through a state sales tax credit to help pay for services in the annexation area.

And a special census of all North Burien housing units – separate from the 2010 federal census – is underway to ensure the city receives its full share of federal and state funds for providing essential public services.

City lawmakers have also been reaching out to North Burien residents, telling them Burien will be more responsive to their concerns, and will provide them with greater opportunity to become involved in the local government process, than King County has done in the past.

The City has set up a special website here that has more information about its new neighborhood, including specifics for businesses.

Here are other relevant links:

• Map of Annexation Area (PDF file)
• Click here for a pdf version of the Frequently Asked Questions.
• Crime data in proposed area
• Information in Spanish
• Information in Vietnamese

The 8th annual Cambodian Festival will be held this Saturday, April 3rd from 10:30am to 5pm on 98th St. SW between 15th Ave. SW and 16th Ave. SW in White Center, and will include live music, traditional and classical dances, traditional Cambodian food, games, prizes and much more.

It’s sure to be another diverse, cultural celebration that continues to make this community so lively.

Oh, and it’s also FREE!

Here are the details:

WHAT: 8th annual Cambodian Festival

WHEN: Saturday, April 3rd from 10:30am to 5pm.

WHERE: On 98th St. SW between 15th Ave. SW and 16th Ave. SW in White Center.

INFO: Here’s a poster:

by Ralph Nichols

Burien City Council members decided on Monday (March 22) not to adopt at this time a resolution declaring the city’s interest in eventually annexing the remaining North Highline Unincorporated Area.

The southern unincorporated area in North Highline will officially be annexed by Burien on April 1.

On March 8, council members directed City Manager Mike Martin to draft a resolution clarifying Burien’s intentions regarding the remaining unincorporated area.

That resolution – proposed in part as a response to Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn’s expressed support for the annexation by Seattle of the remaining unincorporated area – concluded:

“The [Burien] City Council intends to advance an annexation in ‘Area Y’ [north North Highline] as soon as reasonably possible after successfully incorporating ‘Area X’ [south North Highline].”

And with Seattle eyeing north North Highline, several residents there had implored Burien lawmakers to signal an interest in eventually annexing them so they would have the hope of an alternative to annexation by Seattle.

But last Friday (March 19), McGinn and the Seattle City Council decided to delay annexation of the White Center area and parts of the Top Hat and Boulevard Park areas until at least 2011 because paying for services there would be to expensive at this time.

This, Burien council members decided at Monday’s meeting, rendered the matter moot for the foreseeable future.

“Given ever-changing events,” Councilman Gordon Shaw observed, “the necessity for us to express an interest in this area at this time no longer exists … When I spoke at the last meeting, I said Seattle’s timetable or King County’s timetable would not affect my timetable, and that is still my position.

The intent of this resolution was to let north North Highline residents know they have an alternative to becoming part of Seattle, Shaw said. “I think we do want them … but it has to make sense for Burien.”

He said there is a lot of studying to do before that answer will be known.

Councilwoman Kathy Keene noted the proposed resolution “was originally designed to be a response to Seattle’s motion” to annex north North Highline. “But Seattle has put that off for a year, maybe two.”

Concurring was Councilman Jack Block Jr., who said when it is timely for Burien to declare an expression of interest in the remaining North Highline Unincorporated Area, the resolution can be re-introduced.

A motion to approve the resolution was withdrawn, ending the discussion.

The meeting began with almost an hour of public comment from both Burien and North Highline residents speaking on both sides of this contentious issue, with more opposing any additional annexation than supporting it.

A number accused the council of a breach of trust. Some said the cost is too high – using figures from the Seattle City Council meeting that Mayor Joan McGilton disputed. Others suggested that annexing north North Highline not only would be the best for that area but for Burien as well.

Introduced by the Burien Business and Economic Development Partnership was a list of seven milestones for the city to meet before it considers annexing the remaining unincorporated area.

The milestones are:

• Successful incorporation of [south North Highline] (partial annexation approved by the voters on August 18, 2009) into the City of Burien.
• Development of a new vision statement for Burien given changes in the city’s geographic boundary and population size and distribution.
• Completion of a new comprehensive assessment of the total operational and capital costs of annexing the remainder of North Highline … including an evaluation of a revenue neutral option.
• A full build out of the Town Center project.
• Achievement of sufficient occupancy rates for retail, commercial and industrial space on 1st Avenue, on 152nd and 153rd Streets, on Ambaum Boulevard and in the Northeast Planning Area.
• Meeting full performance funding for basic public services (e.g., police, roads, parks and community programs) in Burien and [south North Highline].
• A public vote by the residents of Burien and [south North Highline] endorsing the Council’s consideration of additional North Highline annexation options.

Comments by citizens to Burien council members on this annexation issue will be posted later today.

Low-income Seattle Public Utilities customers in and around White Center are eligible to get brand new, water-efficient toilets for FREE.

This free offer is open to all income-eligible customers (see table below) with older toilets, regardless of the customer’s age. In other words, you don’t have to be a senior to benefit.

Free installation is included.

Here’s a press release from the city:

Save water, save money, with high efficiency toilets

Seattle Public Utilities provides free toilets for low-income homeowners

In this economy, everyone is looking for ways to save money. One way is to reduce water use. Toilets are the biggest water-user in most homes. Replacing old toilets is an excellent way to reduce indoor water use.

According to Seattle Public Utilities, replacement of older toilets with high efficiency models can save a family of four up to 24,000 gallons of water and $140 each year.

“For some homeowners, the cost of replacing old toilets is prohibitive,” says Irene Stewart, director of the Seattle Mayor’s Office for Senior Citizens. “That’s why we’re collaborating with Seattle Public Utilities and Senior Services’ Minor Home Repair to provide low-income homeowners with free toilets. Toilets offered by Seattle Public Utilities flush well, help conserve water, and save homeowners money.”

If you meet the following criteria and income guidelines, you can qualify for free toilets and installation by a licensed professional plumber:

• You are a homeowner of any age with a Seattle Public Utilities account.
• You currently live in the home you own.
• Your existing toilets were manufactured before 1994.
• You meet income guidelines for your household size (examples below).

Household Size	Annual Income	Monthly Income
1	$ 28,560	$ 2,380
2	$ 37,344	$ 3,112
3	$ 46,140	$ 3,845
4	$ 54,924	$ 4,577
5	$ 63,708	$ 5,309
6	$ 72,492	$ 6,041

To sign up, or for more information, call Minor Home Repair at 206-448-5751 or e-mail UDP@seattle.gov.

The City of Burien recently mailed out a letter to approximately 1,250 businesses located or working in the North Highline annexation area, in an effort to provide the newly-annexed businesses with an overview of some of the opportunities available in Burien, such as the Taking Aim at Graffiti (TAG) program or the “pre-submittal meetings” offered by Community Development.

The letter also provided businesses with notice of some of their responsibilities, such as obtaining business licenses and updating their tax code on Department of Revenue forms.

Also, according to the city, as of April 1st, Comcast subscribers in the annexation area should be able to view Burien Channel 21 and Puget Sound Access on Channel 77 – and as we all know, nothing makes one feel more like part of a city than being able to watch live, exciting council meetings.

Here’s the text of the letter:

RE: City of Burien Annexation

Dear Business Owner,

I would like to welcome you to the City of Burien. As you probably know, on August 18, 2009, a majority of voting residents in the proposed annexation area, located in the southern portion of North Highline, chose to join the City of Burien. As a result, your business will officially be located in Burien as of April 1, 2010.

As a business new to Burien, your local opportunities and responsibilities will change on April 1. I encourage you to reach out and take advantage of some of our local resources. For example, Burien sponsors a Taking Aim at Graffiti (TAG) program, which provides graffiti removal to commercial properties – free of charge. Another City service you can take advantage of is the “pre-submittal meetings,” where you can meet with a City planner prior to expanding or moving your business. That way, you are aware of zoning & land use issues, parking, setbacks, signage and design criteria before you lease, buy or alter a new space.

There are also several local business organizations offering networking, collaboration and public input:

• Discover Burien: Steve Gilbert 620 SW 150th St. Burien, WA 98166 (206) 433-2882 www.discoverburien.com Promotional marketing. Meets 2nd Wednesday of each month at Burien City Hall 6:30 pm.
• Southwest King County Chamber of Commerce Nancy Hinthorne 14220 Interurban Ave. S. Tukwila, WA 98168 (206) 575-1333 www.swkcc.org Regional voice and business networking. Monthly meetings at various locations.
• Burien Business & Economic Development Partnership (BEDP) Dick Loman City of Burien Economic Development Manager (206) 248-5528 dickl@burienwa.gov Advisory Board to the Burien City Council. Meets 2nd Friday of each month at Burien City Hall 7:00 am.
• Small Business Development Center (SBDC): I especially want to call your attention to our Small Business Development Center at Highline Community College. Experienced business professionals are available by appointment to confidentially work with you on expansion, marketing, or financial needs you may have – also free of charge. You may contact Zev Siegl at (206) 878-3710, ext. 5151 or zsiegl@highline.edu.

Burien Business License
In addition to new opportunities, there are also new responsibilities. A Burien Business License is required to do business within our City limits. Business licenses are valid August 1 – July 31. For the remainder of this business license year, from April 1 through July 31, the license fees will be waived for newly annexed businesses. However, starting August 1, 2010, owners of annexed businesses will be expected to comply with the licensing requirements. For more information, please refer to the Burien Municipal Code Chapter 5.05, available on our website at www.codepublishing.com/wa/burien, or call (206) 988-3714.

Burien Business and Occupation (B&O) Tax
The City of Burien collects a .05% business and occupation tax on gross receipts earned within the City. For example, a business with $100,000 in gross receipts would pay $50 in Burien B&O taxes. However, there is a threshold, which means that businesses with annual gross receipts of less than $100,000 are not subject to the tax. The tax is remitted quarterly and forms will be mailed to you. For more information, please refer to the Burien Municipal Code Chapter 3.11 or call (206) 988-3714.

State and Local Sales and Use Tax
The amount of state and local sales and use taxes you will be collecting and remitting through the Department of Revenue will not change, but the local reporting code will change so that Burien receives its share of the taxes. For taxes collected on or after April 1, 2010, the local code is 1734, instead of 1700. For more information, please contact the Washington Department of Revenue at www.dor.wa.gov.

Our goal is to assist and welcome our new businesses and residents during this transition. For additional information on how the annexation will affect business owners and residents, please visit our annexation section on the Burien website, www.burienwa.gov/annexation, or call the Burien Annexation Information Line at (206) 436-5555. We look forward to working with you.

Sincerely,
Mike Martin
City Manager

Here’s the actual letter:

The White Center Community Development Association is holding its annual Spring Clean on Saturday, May 15th, from 8:30am to 2:30pm, so get your gloves, cleaners, brooms and buckets ready.

We recommend that you sign up before April 16th – this way you’ll get a FREE “I ♥ White Center” t-shirt, as well as a free offer to become a CDA member.

Here are the details:

WHAT: White Center Community Development Association’s annual Spring Clean

WHEN: Saturday, may 15th from 8:30am – 2:30pm

WHERE: Starts at White Center CDA Office – 1615 SW Cambridge Street (Corner of 17th and Cambridge)

INFO: From a poster:

WHITE CENTER COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION INVITES YOU ALL TO:

WHITE CENTER SPRING CLEAN 2010

SATURDAY, MAY 15, 8:30am-2:30pm

White Center CDA Office – 1615 SW Cambridge Street (Corner of 17th and Cambridge)

Register before April 16 to receive a free “I Heart White Center” t-shirt, light breakfast, and lunch!

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE REGISTRATION FORM.

You can submit the form to whitecenterspringclean@gmail.com, fax it to our office at (206) 658-8344 or drop it off at our office at the address above. If you have questions about the event, please contact Nhan Nguyen at (206) 694-1082 x166.

Let’s get together for a cleaner White Center!

The City of Burien will be conducting a special census of the newly-annexed southern portion of the North Highline area between March 12th and April 25th.

This area, which contains approximately 14,100 residents, officially becomes part of Burien April 1st. Residents approved annexation during the August 18, 2009 election.

As part of the annexation process, the City is required to conduct a special census of all housing units. Households in the annexation area will be visited by a census worker wearing a fluorescent vest and a City of Burien identification badge between March 12 and April 25, 2010.

The only information required in this census is the names of all individuals residing in a household. Annexation residents may also provide this census information directly, at any time after March 12th, by calling the Burien Census Hotline (available 24 hours a day) at 1-800-635-6594.

From what we understand, this work is actually being contracted through a company called Calm River, which, according to their website:

Calm River Demographics focuses on providing comprehensive census, demographic and mapping solutions for cities, counties, non-profits, universities, libraries, healthcare and human service organizations.

According to the city:

Any information provided will be held confidential. Cooperating with this special annexation census ensures that the City of Burien receives a full share of state funds allotted for essential public services.

This special annexation census is in addition to the U.S. Census conducted by the federal Census Bureau later this spring in which residents will receive a 10-question census form in the mail. More information about the federal census is available at http://2010.census.gov.

Residents should be aware that neither census will require them to provide their social security numbers, credit card numbers, bank account information or pay any fees. Residents should not provide such details to anyone who claims to be a census worker and asks for this kind of information. Legitimate census workers will have identification badges with a phone number that residents can call if they would like to verify their identities.

Residents may contact the City at (206) 241-4647 with questions or concerns.

by Mark Neuman

The gavel came down hard last night (Thursday, March 4) in a spirited meeting of the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council.

The prospect of annexation with either Seattle or Burien focused the minds of the approximately 50 citizen attendees at the meeting, held at the headquarters station of the North Highline Fire District on SW 112th Street.

“You’ve had your chance to speak, and the public comment period is over,” council president Gregory Duff told one member of the audience as he hit the table twice with his gavel. That audience member at least three times tried to question invited speakers who were officially addressing the council.

Some attendees, almost all residents of North Highline, voiced dissatisfaction that the public comment portion of the meeting preceded the arrival of Kenny Pittman, Senior Policy Analyst for the City of Seattle.

Twenty citizens addressed the council during the comment period, all speaking about the annexation issue.

Fifteen spoke in favor of annexation with Seattle, three in favor of joining Burien, and two spoke in general terms without clearly stating a preference.

Barbara Dobkin favors annexation with Burien.

“I can call (King County Deputy Sheriff) Jeff Hancock on his cell phone, and he answers it,” Dobkin told the council. “There was a house fire a few doors down from me recently and the fire department was there in about two minutes. I see the high density of Seattle. I don’t want White Center to look like Delridge.”

Liz Giba, of a group called “People for Burien”, addressed the council.

“I would like to have an educated vote,” Giba said. “Seattle will focus on their affluent neighborhoods.”

Mercedes D’Antona has lived in White Center for about five years. She told the council:

“I get a little emotional about annexation. I am Hispanic. Seattle is a huge, humongous beast. Seattle has huge demand (on its services). We would not benefit. I like the laid back lifestyle we have here. I do not want to be suffocated.”

Brad Truesdell, a twelve-year resident of White Center said “Seattle is the best choice. They have three times the gang unit” than is currently available.

Truesdell, who envisions Ambaum Boulevard blossoming from time to time into a “multicultural open air mall,” said that White Center, once annexed with Seattle “could become the real International District of Seattle.”

Stephanie Dotson, who opposes annexation with Burien, told the council: “I have lived here forever. I find it extremely distressing that this council and audience have very few people of color.”

Mark Ufkes, who heads the White Center Homeowners Association, illustrated with placards that Seattle’s list of services to the public exceeds services provided by Burien.

“All we want is a chance to vote (on annexation),” Ufkes told the council.

One man who did not address the council was Gill Loring, a homeowner in White Center since 1998. He told The White Center Blog following the meeting that he favors annexation with Burien.

The newest member of the King County Council, Jan Drago, said at the meeting she will “not oppose” North Highline annexation. Drago recently completed four terms as a member of the Seattle City Council.

Pittman, of the City of Seattle, said North Highline District firefighters who might be temporarily displaced in the event of an annexation with Seattle would immediately go to the top of a re-hire list for firefighter jobs that open up at any fire station in Seattle.

King County Deputy Sheriff Jeff Hancock introduced nine members of the Sheriff’s gang unit. They reported that during 2009, the number of street gangs attempting to do business in and near North Highline was reduced from 21 to 15.

More information on the NHUAC is available at their website.

(Graphic courtesy North Highline Unincorporated Area Councils website)

According to the White Center Community Development Association, funding is available for facade improvements in Downtown White Center.

Local businesses based in the “downtown” area of the Dub-C can get up to $10,000 to re-design or improve their storefronts, and/or up to $2,500 for new signage or awnings for their business.

The program aims to:

• Beautify Downtown White Center
• Strengthen our local businesses
• Increase public safety
• Build pride in our community

The WCCDA announcement continues:

The White Center Façade Grant program is designed to improve the appearance of the business district by encouraging property and/or business owners to make physical improvements in their storefronts. The White Center CDA will offer a grant to help offset the costs of the improvements. In some cases, the grant may pay for the majority of the work. This program will take place from February 2010 – July 2010. The program is administered by the White Center CDA.

Program Goals
:

• Stimulate economic activity and increase business viability through good design visible to customers, neighboring merchants and residents.
• Renew or improve the exterior of businesses in a manner that recaptures the integrity of the buildings’ design and character.
• Enhance the shoppers’ experience of the commercial district.
• Improve neighborhood safety.
• Encourage investment in the neighborhood.

Eligible projects include: 
Non structural building improvements such as new signs, new awnings, painting, replacement of doors and windows, new lighting or lighting improvements, removal of bars on storefront windows.

For more information, download the Application by clicking here (PDF file).

According to The Seattle Times, Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn announced Wednesday (Jan. 27th) that he wants to ask White Center residents in November if they want to be annexed to Seattle.

Since Burien’s annexation of the southern North Highline area goes into effect April 1st, we’re presuming McGinn is targeting the remaining area north of there and south of the Seattle city limits, which holds approximately 20,000 residents.

Seattle City Council President Richard Conlin confirmed that he anticipates the council will now vote to put the measure on the November ballot.

Last year, Seattle was at odds with Burien after then-Mayor Greg 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 council will discuss the idea at a 9:30am meeting this coming Monday, Feb. 1st, at City Hall.

So…what do YOU think? If it were put on the ballot today, would you vote FOR or AGAINST annexing the rest of White Center to Seattle? Please take our Poll below, and add Comments if you have ‘em:

by Ralph Nichols

Burien Mayor Joan McGilton began a special City Council meeting on annexation Monday night (Aug. 24th) by rolling out the welcome mat for 14,100 North Highline residents who will become part of the city early next year.

Councilwoman Kathy Keene, observing the “long, hard fight” to bring the south part of the North Highline unincorporated area into Burien is over, added, “We just want to assure everybody that it will be a seamless transition and a welcoming transition,”

Sally Nelson, a city council member since Burien incorporated in 1993, said, “We feel like you’re one of us now. We’ve erased that line (dividing the city from the neighborhood immediately to the north) and we have a new line and we hope someday to erase that line too.”

City Manager Mike Martin said these future city residents will “see no changes until annexation actually occurs,” which is expected to happen in late March or early April. Even then, he continued, “they will not see substantial changes” unless services are enhanced.

With 2,472 ballots cast in last week’s primary election counted through Monday, 55.91 percent (1,363) of registered voters in the North Highline annexation area favored becoming part of Burien in last week’s primary election, while 44.09 percent (1.075) opposed the merger. The current total represents 38.72 percent of voters in that area.

“We do not consider this to be a mandate, but it certainly is a very strong showing,” Martin told council members. “We want to thank everyone who was involved, and they are legion … there was a lot of heavy lifting that went on here” in the months leading up to the vote. He extended special thanks to the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council “for their steadfastness” in support of annexation.

When annexation becomes official, Burien will be the 21st largest city in Washington with a population of about 45,000. Currently the city ranks 31st in the state. The annexation area extends north from South/Southwest 128th Street to a line that zigzags 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 the new Burien city limits and Seattle will be the North Highline fire station, Evergreen High School and Pool, and the Top Hat neighborhood.

Martin noted that after a lengthy telephone conversation with interim King County Executive Kurt Triplett, “it appears extremely unlikely that any (county) parks in our annexation area will be shut down.” Triplett has proposed closing 39 parks in unincorporated areas to help balance the county’s budget next year. Five of these parks are in the annexation area.

The city’s contract with the King County Sheriff’s Office will be modified to hire more deputies as city police officers, many of whom already work in North Highline. All special districts – fire, water, sewer, library, and Highline schools – will continue to provide services in the newly annexed area without interruption or change, Martin added.

Council members also encouraged residents of the North Highline annexation area to become involved with their new city government now. Councilwoman Rose Clark invited them “to come to council meetings” and to offer comments. “I encourage that. We need all the advice we can get.”

McGilton reminded them that they “can come to (advisory) commission meetings and participate” both before and after annexation takes place, even if they are not commission members. “You do not have to be at the table” to contribute.

Following a lengthy discussion, council members backed away from a proposed ordinance to allow North Highline annexation area residents to become members of the Arts, Parks and Recreation, and Planning commissions before they become part of the city.

Planning Commission member Jim Clingan reminded lawmakers that city policy has been to have no geographic preference for council positions and commission memberships. To make this exception now could result in preferential treatment, he cautioned.

Councilman Gordon Shaw and McGilton, who agreed there should be no geographic preference, noted the council’s normal process is to invite applications for membership on these commissions in January, review them in February, and appoint new members in March – about the time the annexation area will become part of Burien.

The council directed staff to draft a new ordinance, relating to participation on city commissions by residents of the annexation area on city commissions, that states they can apply for membership on commissions before joining Burien.

During public comment, North Highline resident Karen Veloria told council members, “I wanted us to go to Seattle … but I’m now in Burien. That’s OK with me. I’m willing to work with you all.”

Another North Highline resident, Richard Beaubelle, told them, “I pledge to assist in making this a smooth transition.”

Burien resident Cherisse Luxa added, “I’m so proud of the people in the south part of North Highline for choosing to become part of Burien.” Extending her welcome, Luxa said, “I can not wait until north North Highline” also becomes part of the city.

Liz Giba of North Highline exclaimed, “I can’t wait until we become part of Burien.” She said she will keep on working on annexing the rest of North Highline into the city “and will remain hopeful.”

The special Burien City Council meeting on annexation is tonight (Monday, Aug. 24, at 7pm), with the goal of discussing “how in general to do this whole thing,” according to City Manager Mike Martin.

Residents in the newly-annexed southern North Highline area are invited to attend, along with those in Burien, to discuss what’s next for the new part of the city, and how best to “get there.”

“We plan on listening to that community to find out how their vision fits with that of our existing Burien residents,” Martin said. “There seems to be a strong feeling that something was torn apart when Burien incorporated in 1993 and this starts to put that back together again.”

The session will be at 7pm at the new Burien City Hall, which is located at 4th Avenue SW and SW 152nd Street in downtown Burien. To download a PDF of the agenda, click here.

by Ralph Nichols

With North Highline voters approving annexation to Burien by a comfortable margin, Burien Mayor Joan McGilton declared Wednesday morning (Aug. 19th), “I’m pretty excited about having a whole historic part of our community brought together again in the city.”

Burien City Manager Mike Martin added, “I’m very pleased with the results and welcome our new residents. We’ll do our best to serve them well.” He said “in recent weeks, people expected it to go this way.”

After the first two reports from King County Elections on the results of yesterday’s primary election – the county’s first all mail-in election – votes “For” the annexation issue led with almost 59 percent of the ballots cast, compared to just over 41 percent to those “Against” the move.

Ballots counted on election night represent slightly more than 23 percent of registered voters in the part of the North Highline unincorporated area that will be annexed – 1,491 ballots out of 6,384 registered voters – with 862 yes votes and 603 no votes. Election officials predicted that about 35 percent of registered voters would cast ballots in the primary.

When annexation becomes official, probably sometime in late winter or early spring, Burien will be the 21st largest city in Washington with a population of approximately 45,990, surpassing Olympia. Currently the city ranks 31st in the state. Some 14,100 new residents will come into the city as Burien takes in an area extending north from South/SW 128th Street to a line that zigzags west to east along SW 112th Street in north Shorewood, So. 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 the new Burien city limits and Seattle will be the North Highline fire station, Evergreen High School and Pool, and the Top Hat neighborhood.

“City staff will be working really hard to make this transition as seamless and as welcoming as possible,” McGilton assured the future new city residents.

The first step will be a special City Council meeting on annexation on Monday, Aug. 24, at 7pm, to discuss “how in general to do this whole thing,” Martin said. “In the immediate future, we plan on listening to that community to find out how their vision fits with that of our existing Burien residents. There seems to be a strong feeling that something was torn apart when Burien incorporated in 1993 and this starts to put that back together again.”

Addressing “those who didn’t want to join Burien,” he stressed “there is room in this city for dissenting voices. We welcome that, and hope we will win them over in the future and they will feel comfortable in our city.”

Not sharing their enthusiasm over the annexation vote was Mark Ufkes, president of the White Center Homeowners Association and a member of White Center Residents for a Secure Future, and a leading opponent of the proposition who argued before the primary that “Burien is the least best choice” for North Highline.

“All I can offer is that they’re predicting a 35 percent (voter) turnout and last November there was an 80 percent turnout. Would the election outcome be different if everybody participated? My contention all along was that Burien wanted a low turnout and they got it.”

But Greg Duff, president of the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council disagrees. Approval of annexation by Burien is “not a surprise because NHUAC did a survey and it showed that people wanted to go to Burien rather than Seattle. At that point, the council began working on annexation and supported the people’s wishes. I had a good idea based on the response to our survey they would vote to support annexation.”

Duff noted that survey results reflected a preference by a majority of all North Highline residents to become part of Burien – including those residing in “north” North Highline, which will remain unincorporated for now.

He extended thanks to Martin “and the Burien City Council for having the vision that North Highline is an asset. And I thank the citizens of North Highline who worked so hard to make this possible. This was a real grassroots effort.”

Ufkes, who lives one block north of the annexation area, said what happens to the remaining unincorporated area is not for him to decide. “It’s up to the community members.” But, he said, “Seattle has expressed interest in moving ahead (with annexing that area) next year with a vote – in November.”

Duff questioned Ufkes’ claim. “I belief this annexation to Burien is going to be successful,” he said, adding that would increase the interest of residents outside the city in becoming part of Burien, too. The unincorporated area council needs “to sit down and decide what’s our next move. We can’t wait. But it’s really up to Burien.”

He also said he is unaware at this time of any interest by Seattle in the remaining North Highline area, and that that city’s mayoral and council races could affect its future position on annexation.

A resident of the area that will be annexed, Duff will resign soon from the unincorporated area council.

McGilton repeated her earlier statement that Burien’s annexation of “south” North Highline needs to be given time to settle in. Then the council can “look at it. I’m a phase one, phase two person … if this is a success, then that will give us credibility to move on north.”

She acknowledged “the tremendous work that Mike Martin and Jennifer Ramirez-Robson, who set up the community meetings, and (Community Development Director) Scott Greenberg, who worked on this for so long compiling the numbers so they came together and will not increase cost to the city. Many others were instrumental as well, but these three were out in front.”

At Monday’s council meeting, “we will bring a resolution to modify the municipal code so North Highline residents in the new annexation area can serve on city advisory boards and commissions now” – through the regular appointment process as positions become open,” Martin noted. That “will give folks in that area a direct say in advising the city council.

“In the next few weeks we will be hiring staff and taking inventories of capital needs (in the unincorporated area). We will need to start figuring out planning and zoning issues up there.”

Martin repeated that “south” North Highline will not become part of Burien immediately. The process of bringing the unincorporated area into the city will take several months, with annexation becoming official sometime in late winter at the earliest.

The city’s primary focus on bringing the annexed area into Burien will be planning and zoning, streets and storm drains, and code enforcement, as well as adding staff to work on these matters. In addition, Burien, which adopted a two-year budget for the first time this year, will need to modify it for 2010 to allow for both increased revenue and spending.

The city’s contract with the King County Sheriff’s Office will be modified to hire more deputies as city police officers, many of whom already work in North Highline. All special districts – fire, water, sewer, library, and Highline schools – will continue to provide services in the newly annexed area without interruption or change.

As of 9pm on Tuesday, Aug. 18th, Burien’s annexation bid for the North Highline Area has the following returns, from just over 23% of the 6,384 ballots sent out – nearly 59% “For” and 41% “Against”:

North Highline South Annexation Area Proposed Annexation to the City of Burien

Ballots Cast/Registered Voters: 1,491 / 6,384 • 23.36%:

• FOR ANNEXATION: 862 – 58.84%
• AGAINST ANNEXATION: 603 – 41.16%

As more returns are tabulated, we’ll update the results, so be sure to check back often.

by Ralph Nichols

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.

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