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 (heart) 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.

So…what’s your vote regarding annexation?

Please take our poll, or leave Comments below…

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”:

Photo of Burien City Manager Mike Martin by Michael Brunk

by Ralph Nichols

It’s official. Several thousand North Highline residents now can mark Aug. 18th – primary election day – on their calendars as the date they will decide at last whether to be annexed by Burien.

City Manager Mike Martin said Friday (May 22nd) the 30-day period to appeal the King County Boundary Review Board’s prior approval of Burien’s plan to annex the south part of the North Highline unincorporated area expired May 18 with no challenge being filed.

“In all these years of talking about annexation, we’ve never been to this point,” Martin noted. “This is a major advancement … I encourage them, whether they like the idea of annexation or not, to vote.”

The August primary marks “the first time the county will hold an all mail-in election,” he continued. “I hope this increases voter turnout. After all these years, we’re looking for something definite about the preference of residents up there.”

In the meantime, language for the ballot measure will be written, and Burien will continue to hold informational forums in North Highline. The next forum is scheduled for Tuesday, June 16, from 6 to 7:15 p.m. at Southern Heights Elementary School, 11249 14th Ave. South.

State law requires a simple majority vote of residents in an area designated for annexation before the merger can take effect. Residents of an annexing city do not vote on the question.

As seen in the map at left, the south part of the North Highline unincorporated area that will become part of Burien if annexation is approved by voters 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.

Left in the remaining unincorporated area between Burien and Seattle would be the North Highline fire station, Evergreen High School and Pool, and the Top Hat neighborhood. Much of Beverly Park and Boulevard Park, including the Rainier Golf and Country Club, would be absorbed by Burien.

Proposals to annex North Highline have generated controversy in both Burien and North Highline – and between Burien and Seattle after 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 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 16.

If North Highline voters approve annexation on Aug. 18th, the city will begin the legal and logistical processes of incorporation and those residents will become part of Burien in March 2010.

On April 21st we reported that the city of Burien had requested August 18th as the day for the vote on its annexation of the North Highline area, and Monday (May 11th) it was made official by a King County Council confirmation vote.

Burien’s annexation attempts have been going on for several years, and this will give residents of the proposed “Area X” (seen in the map above in yellow) a chance to decide whether they want to officially become Burienites or not.

The proposed North Highline annexation area is bordered on the west by West Seattle, the south by South and SW 128th Streets, Tukwila on the east and a border of South and SW 107th to 116th Streets to the north.

Valuation has been assessed at $1.16 billion dollars, with 1,679 acres and just over 14,000 residents.

White Center’s 6th Annual Spring Clean Up is coming Saturday, May 16th, from 8:30am to 2pm, and volunteers are needed to help clean up.

“This is our 6th year, and we are always excited to make it the best one,” said Aileen Balahadia, Executive Director of the White Center Community Development Association (WCCDA).

This annual clean-up event is intended to make White Center a better place to live, work, and play by promoting community building and neighborhood revitalization.

King County Community Service Officer, Vary Jackson, notes “Right around May, I am full of energy and enthusiasm, looking to help plan, coordinate and participate in this wonderful community event ever since it was first sponsored by the WCCDA.  From a law enforcement perspective, I am a firm believer that a clean community is a sign of a clean, safe and strong community, thanks to my late partner, Deputy Steve Cox of the White Center King County Sheriff’s Storefront, who came up with the idea of assisting about ten residents in the White Center neighborhood to remove trash and debris for senior citizens and families with financial hardships who were unable to do so themselves.”

Sping Clean is brought to you by the White Center Community Development Association, as well as:

• Boeing Employees Credit Union
• Community Schools Collaboration
• King County Sheriff’s Office
• Seattle Neighborhood Group/Weed & Seed
• The Triangle Pub

To sign up as a volunteer, please call Soona Vili at the WCCDA at (206) 694-1082 or download and fill out this form (PDF) and email it to info@wccda.org.

Registered volunteers will receive:

• A complimentary t-shirt
• Continental breakfast
• Refreshments
• Lunch

For event information or to sign up as a volunteer, refer to additional information on the WCCDA’s website www.wccda.org.

Last year, over 250 community members mobilized at many different project sites including the community gardens at Greenbridge, downtown White Center, Hicks Lake at Lakewood Park, Holy Family Church, North Shorewood Park, St. James Place, White Center Food Bank, White Center Heights Park, and several residential blocks.

“Through continued community support, this year we expect a similar level of community participation to work on projects in White Center parks and open spaces, residential areas and downtown streets, sidewalks, and alleys” said Balahadia.

This annual event brings together youth and elders from diverse backgrounds and includes residents, business owners, property owners and interested folks from all over the area. It is a day to celebrate, build community, spruce up a public streetscape and have FUN!

For more information, please check the WCCDA website for updates and additional info.

The city of Burien announced Tuesday (4/21) that its proposed annexation of the southern part of North Highline will be heading toward a vote of residents this summer, after receiving final approval from the Boundary Review Board last Thursday, April 16th.

The proposed election day for the vote is Tuesday, August 18th, so if you live in the affected area (the yellow “Area X” in the map above), be sure to mark your calendars – this will be your chance to help decide whether Burien annexes your community and becomes your new overlord.

Or not.

A simple majority is all that’s needed for this to pass, and if approved, the annexation will take effect in early 2010.

For more information, or to determine if you live in the proposed annexation area, visit the City of Burien website at www.burienwa.gov/annexation, or call 206-241-4647.

by Gina Bourdage

The Washington State Boundary Review Board for King County met for a Public Hearing Monday March 30th, to review the City of Burien’s efforts in annexation of the North Highline neighborhood. Board members heard public and officials representing public groups with interests in the community.

The Board gave preliminary approval of Burien’s proposed annexation. They will vote on final approval at their April 16th regular meeting.

“We don’t want to be forgotten. We would like to see the same attention,” said Karen Valloria, President of White Center Community Development Association. Valloria spoke in support of annexing to Burien and expressed concern for the lack of progress on Seattle’s attention to the Northern part of White Center.

North Highline Unincorporated Area Council member Ron Johnson expressed favor of the proposed neighborhoods to officially become part of Burien: “We are hoping that with a successful annexation they (Burien) will be able to come back for the rest of us.”

Fire Chief Scott Lavie spoke on behalf of the fire departments in support of Burien’s efforts reached through mediation.

Property owner Daryl Tappio was one of the dissenters, expressing his dislike of the lower zoning regulations in Burien – currently Seattle allows 48 residences where Burien would only allow 24. Burien City Manager Mike Martin later addressed Mr. Johnson’s concern confirming the regulation stating that future consideration for changing the regulation could be examined with expressed community interest.

Martin was able to present progress of the annexation, addressing the concerns of all whom spoke.

Many residents would have liked to have seen the entire North Highline area brought into Burien as a whole community.

“As a practical matter the current annexation proposal is a good idea,” Martin said. “Doubling the size of of a 15-year old community is too risky in my opinion. The economic reality is that annexing the entire North Highline area is not possible, at this time.”

In review of public and officials comments and concerns the review board moved to approve Burien’s efforts in annexation of the proposed North Highline area.

Voters in the proposed area will get to vote in August 2009. Should the annexation be approved, Burien would be welcoming 14,000 new residents in March 2010.

The fate of the remaining White Center area is still up for debate.

The next Annexation Informational Open House is scheduled for April 16th at Hilltop Elementary School. Click here for meeting details.

Residents in the Burien Proposed Annexation Area can expect to vote on this issue soon, likely on August 18th. You can download a Map of the Proposed Area here [PDF].