by Ralph Nichols

Voters in Burien, Normandy Park and North Highline will help decide the only two contested races in the Highline area on the Aug.17 primary election ballot.

Ballots must be postmarked by next Tuesday, Aug. 17, or deposited in a King County Elections ballot drop-box by 8 p.m. that day.

There are no contested legislative district or local primary races in Des Moines.

A contest that has gained high-profile status is the race for the King County Council seat from District 8, which includes Burien, Normandy Park and North Highline.

The eventual winner in November will complete the unexpired term, with one year remaining, which was vacated by Dow Constantine after his election last fall as King County Executive.

And that outcome, depending on who is elected, may significantly alter the complexion of the county council.

Constantine’s replacement, former Seattle City Councilwoman Jan Drago, did not file for election to that post.

The quartet of candidates includes:

• Tim Fahey, a South Park carpenter who is basing his campaign on the need for immediate action to build a new South Park bridge and the failure of the county to replace the structure before it was permanently closed to traffic.
• Normandy Park City Councilman Shawn McEvoy, who has served as mayor and is a small business owner, and who cites his environmental record for protected critical areas in and surrounding the city.
• State Sen. (and Rep.) Joe McDermott of West Seattle, currently representing Burien, White Center, West Seattle, and Vashon and Maury Islands, who is running on his 10 years in the Legislature. He is endorsed by Constantine.
• Diana Toledo of West Seattle, who says her experience from 15 years as a county enforcement coordinator, animal cruelty investigator and licensing supervisor will help her reform and restore financial responsibility to King County government.

Fahey and Toledo both oppose the proposed .02-cent sales tax increase that advocates say is needed to avoid layoffs of sheriff’s deputies, prosecutors and court personnel next year. They maintain that savings can be found within the county budget to avoid those cuts.

McEvoy and McDermott both support the sales tax measure.

In the 34th Legislative District, which includes Burien and North Highline, Democrats Joe Fitzgibbon, Mike Heavy and Marcee Stone, and Independent Geoffrey “Mac” McElroy are running for State Representative, Position 2.

The winner in November will replace state Rep. Sharon Nelson, a Democrat who is running for the State Senate to fill the office vacated by McDermott.

• Fitzgibbon, who is chairman of the Burien Planning Commission, has been a legislative aide to Nelson and also a King county Council legislative aide.
• Heavey currently is director of Outreach and Constituent Relations for the King County Council, and has worked in fraud and identity theft prevention for Expedia.com.
• McElroy owns Mac’s Triangle Pub in White Center. A military veteran, as a member of the White Center Chamber of Commerce he is involved in community development.
• Stone, a legal administration professional who has worked for several law firms, has been a professional actor and a local political activist.

There will be a Special Fire Commissioners meeting for the North Highline Fire District at 10am Thursday, July 1st at their headquarters station at 1243 SW 112th Street.

This is an Open Meeting to the public.

According to Pat Price, this meeting is open to the public.

The agenda will include:

1. New-hire Firefighter
2. Chief Administrative Position

Also:

“A portion of the meeting may be held in executive session pursuant to RCW 42.30.140(4) to discuss the strategy or position to be taken by the board in its professional negotiations.

Final action may be taken at the meeting.”

The North Highline Unincorporated Area Council will be holding its monthly meeting this Thursday night, May 6th, beginning at 7pm at the North Highline Fire Station at 1243 SW 112th Street.

Also, they will be holding their annual election on Thursday, May 20 from 6 pm to 8 pm at the same location; a list of candidates and who can vote is on their website here.

Here’s the agenda:

NORTH HIGHLINE UNINCORPORATED AREA COUNCIL

www.northhighlineuac.org

North Highline Fire Station 1243 SW 112th St. Seattle, WA 98146

AGENDA: May 6, 2010

• 7:00 p.m. Call to order
  • Flag salute
  • Roll call
  • Approval of agenda
  • Approval of minutes
• 7:05 p.m. Public announcements
• 7:10 p.m. Public comment – 3 minutes for individuals
  • 5 minutes for groups
• 7:15 p.m. KCSO – Report
• 7:25 p.m. Rachael Levine – White Center Library Guild
• 7:35 p.m. Dick Thurnau – Friends of Hicks Lake
• 7:45 p.m. Election Candidates
• 8:00 p.m. Treasurers Report
• 8:05 p.m. Corresponding Secretary Report
• 8:10 p.m. Committee Reports
  • 1. Governance
  • 2. Arts and Parks – Flower Planting & Movies in the Park
  • 3. Public Safety
  • 4. Housing and Human Services
  • 5. Public Outreach
  • 6. Transportation
  • 7. Steve Cox Memorial
• 8.20 p.m. Old business
• 8:25 p.m. New Business

NHUAC MEMBERS: Pat Price – District 1: Teresa Vert, Heidi Johnson – District 2

Jessica Stoneback – District 3: Ron Johnson, Christine Waldman – District 4: Douglas Harrell, Russ Pritchard, , Rebecca Lopes – At large.

COUNCIL OFFICERS: President – Christine Waldman Vice President – Douglas Harrell

Treasurer – Ron Johnson Corresponding Secretary – Jessica Stoneback

With all the news of recent earthquakes, it’s no surprise that on Monday (April 5) King County’s Department of Development and Environmental Services (DDES) decided to offer citizens in unincorporated parts of the county free home earthquake retrofit permits on homes that meet specific criteria.

DDES has published a bulletin called Obtaining A Voluntary Home Earthquake Retrofit Permit, which is available for download here (PDF file).

According to the document, eligible homes must:

• be of wood-frame construction;
• have a light-weight roof;
• not be irregularly shaped;
• have a reinforced concrete foundation;
• not exceed two stories in height; and
• be on a relatively level lot.

Free earthquake retrofit permits at DDES can usually be issued over the counter if a complete application has been submitted. (Homes that do not meet these criteria can still secure an earthquake retrofit permit, however the process involves more review time and permit review fees are charged.)

“I hope more people will take advantage of this important program,” said DDES Director John Starbard. “Our region dealt with the impacts of the Nisqually earthquake in 2001 and, although that event was not of the same magnitude as more recent international earthquake disasters, modern building codes minimized the physical and economic damage of the 2001 quake for the benefit of the entire region.”

For additional information on earthquake retrofit permits at DDES, please contact Paula Adams, DDES Public information and Records Officer at 206-296-6682.

by Ralph Nichols

An emergency services contract between the Burien/Normandy Park Fire Department and the North Highline Fire Department was signed by an April 1 deadline, Fire Chief Mike Marrs reported to the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council last week.

Marrs, who is chief of the Burien/Normandy Park department, now serves as North Highline chief as well.

The new contract “is a win-win for both Fire Districts 2 (Burien/Normandy Park) and 11 (North Highline),” he said. “It provides a seamless delivery of services back and forth” between the two departments.

“That’s the way it will be for another two years at least,” Marrs said.

A separate professional services contract, which includes training, is still being negotiated. But, he added, “we’re trying to work it out … [and] expect it will be signed later this year.”

Marrs stressed the most important factor is “that we deliver really good service” throughout the two fire districts.

While “40 percent of old North Highline is now in the city of Burien … I have a vested interest that things are going well up here,” he said.

He told unincorporated area council members that “I meet with them [Fire District 11 battalion chiefs] at least once a week. I’m here because I care.”

While there is “no chief in name, in function that duty is spread between the three battalion chiefs,” Marrs added.

Declining property tax revenues, a shrinking service area due to the annexation by Burien of southern North Highline, and the retirement in February of Fire District 11 Chief Scott LeVielle have left the North Highline department in a state of flux.

Yet the department still provides essential fire and aid services to North Burien and the remaining unincorporated area. The two contracts will ensure a continued cooperative relationship, including mutual response, between them, with Marrs having overall supervision of department functions as chief.

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

From President Greg Duff comes this corrected, updated agenda for Thursday night’s North Highline Unincorporated Area Council meeting, which begins at 7pm at the North Highline Fire District Office, located at 1243 SW 112th Street.

Looks like a full meeting too, with visits from Burien City Manager Mike Martin, Burien Fire Chief Mike Marrs and several King County Sheriff’s Department officials.

AGENDA – April 1, 2010

• 7:00 p.m. Call to order
  Flag salute
  Roll call
  Approval of agenda
  Approval of minutes
• 7:10 p.m. Public announcements
• 7:15 p.m. Update from Mike Martin, Burien City Manager
• 7:25 p.m. Major Jim Graddon, KCSO
  Captain Carl Cole, KCSO
  Captain Patrick Butschli, KCSO
• 7:45 p.m. Chief Mike Marrs, Burien Fire Chief
• 8:00 p.m. Update sent in by Deputy Jeff Hancock, KCSO
• 8:05 p.m. Public Comment – 3 minutes individuals
  5 minutes groups
• 8:20 p.m. Treasurers Report
• 8:25 p.m. Committee Reports
  1. Governance
  2. Arts and Parks
  3. Public Safety
  4. Housing and Human Services
  5. Public Outreach
  6. Transportation
  7. Steve Cox Memorial
• 8:35 p.m. Old business
• 8:45p.m. New Business

NHUAC MEMBERS: Pat Price, Ray Helms – District 1: Teresa Vert, Heidi Johnson – District 2
Jessica Stoneback – District 3: Ron Johnson, Christine Waldman – District 4: Douglas Harrell, Russ Pritchard, Greg Duff, Rebecca Lopes – At large.

COUNCIL OFFICERS: President – Greg Duff Vice President – Christine Waldman

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.

From the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council’s website comes this news – they’re seeking applicants for open positions in District 1, District 3 and At-Large, with a filing deadline of 6pm Monday, March 29th.

Here’s the blurb:

The North Highline Unincorporated Area Council is seeking applicants for open positions in District 1, District 3 and At-Large.  District candidates must be 18 years and older and a resident of their district. At-large candidates must be a resident of the area, and/or a business/property owner in the area or an official representative of a non-profit in the area.  The Burien annexation of a portion of North Highline has created the openings, whose terms end June 2011.  Filing deadline is 6:00 PM on March 29, 2010, and the selection of the candidates will be April 1, 2010, at the regular meeting of the NHUAC.

We are also accepting applications for the upcoming May 20 election. One position in each district and three At-Large positions will be up for election to a two year term.  District boundaries are: District 1, the unincorporated area east of highway 509; District 2, between 509 and 4^th Ave SW; District 3, between 4^th Ave SW and 16^th Ave SW; District 4, west of 16^th Ave SW.  Application for the election must be postmarked by April 5, 2010.

Candidate Filing Statements and additional information about the NHUAC are available on our website: www.northhighlineuac.org or by contacting Ron Johnson, (206) 767-3053.

The council represents residents and business/property owners of the North Highline Unincorporated Area in their dealings with King County and surrounding cities.  Some of the issues of concern include zoning/rezoning, parks, human services, surface water management, land use, transportation/ roads/ Metro issues, drug houses, public safety and projects to improve the quality or delivery of county services.

The council is comprised of 13 members representing the communities of Beverly Park, Boulevard Park, Glendale, Riverton Heights, Salmon Creek, Shorewood, South Park, Top Hat and White Center.  The area is divided into four legislative districts with two representatives from each district.  The five remaining council members serve as at-large representatives of the community.

The North Highline Council meets on the first Thursday of each month at the North Highline Fire District Office, 1243 SW 112^th Street.

Here is a map of the districts.

Here is an application for the open position to be selected April 1.

Here is an application for the May Election.

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 organizers of Sunday’s Cove to Clover 5K fundraiser race for the Highline Area Food Bank (which serves portions of North Highline) want our Readers to know that there’s a “Last Gasp” registration and packet pickup this Saturday, March 13th from 5pm – 8pm at Mick Kelly’s Irish Pub in Burien.

This “last gasp” is intended for already-registered runners to get their shiny new race numbers, timing chop and t-shirt (if you registered early enough that is…), as well as for new runners to register and save the $5 race day fee increase.

That’s right – if you haven’t registered, don’t worry – you can do so at this event, and according to their website:

Don’t expect to get a shirt until after our post-race t-shirt order goes in but you can still avoid the $5 race day fee increase.

We don’t order gobs of extra shirts to insure we give every dollar we can to the food bank at the end of the day.

You will walk out with a race # and a timing chip.

The race is Sunday, starting at 1pm sharp at the Normandy Park Community Club (map here), then winding up through Burien ending at Mick Kelly’s. This is a great cause that will help numerous hungry neighbors; for more info on both the race and how/where to register, click here.

Also, don’t forget the Cove to Clover Pub Crawl this Friday night, beginning at 6pm at Mick Kelly’s in downtown Burien. For a $10 donation you’ll get a keepsake bib and a passport, which you then must get stamped at five of 13 area bars, restaurants, coffeeshops and others participating. You do NOT need to drink alcohol, although many will; for those we strongly advise using cabs or a designated driver.

More info on the Pub Crawl is here.

Here are the “Last Gasp” details:

WHAT: Cove to Clover “Last Gasp” Registration & Packet Pickup

WHEN: Saturday, March 13th from 5pm – 8pm

WHERE: Mick Kelly’s Irish Pub, located at 435 SW 152nd Street • Burien • 206.246.2473.

INFO: From their website:

Registered?
Come on in and get your shiny new race number, timing chip and shirt (if you registered early enough).

You’ll be stylin in the morning when you board the shuttle at Mick’s in the morning already sporting your number and cool snake shirt

Not Registered?
Don’t expect to get a shirt until after our post-race t-shirt order goes in but you can still avoid the $5 race day fee increase. We don’t order gobs of extra shirts to insure we give every dollar we can to the food bank at the end of the day. You will walk out with a race # and a timing chip.

Avoid the race day rush!

by Ralph Nichols

Burien City Council members agreed on Monday night (March 8th) to consider a resolution expressing to residents of northern North Highline (aka White Center) the city’s interest in eventually annexing this unincorporated area.

The formal resolution will include wording that declares “the Burien City Council intends to advance annexation in [north North Highline] as soon as reasonably possible after successfully completing the annexation [of south North Highline].”

This is the initial draft wording for the “Now therefore” conclusion of the proposed resolution that City Manager Mike Martin and council members agreed on during Monday night’s discussion of Burien’s possible annexation of the remaining North Highline unincorporated area.

Only Councilwoman Lucy Krakowiak, who also opposed the annexation of south North Highline, demurred.

Burien council members will consider the resolution, which will be drafted by Martin, at their March 22 meeting.

Voters of south North Highline approved in August annexation by Burien. The annexation of that area becomes effective on April 1.

In the meantime, the city of Seattle has expressed renewed interest in annexing the north North Highline unincorporated area.

The proposed resolution is a response, in part, to requests by some north North Highline residents for a display of interest by Burien in their unincorporated area, to assure residents there that they have an alternative to annexation by Seattle.

Additional details will follow.

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)

A memorial will be held Wednesday night, Jan. 27th at Mick Kelly’s Irish Pub (located at 435 SW 152nd Street in Burien) for Cherisse Luxa, 62, founder of Burien’s “Drinking Liberally” group and community activist, who passed away from stomach cancer in December.

The memorial begins at 7pm on Jan. 27th, and attendees are invited to bring photos and/or stories to share about her.

Known as one of the area’s most spirited Democrats, Cherisse was a well-respected organizer who had a hand in many local causes, including the attempted 2007 save of Burien’s Lora Lake Apartments.

Also, if you know of a home for Cherisse’s much-loved cats Howard and Harris (who are four years old and prefer to be adopted together), please contact Liz Giba at 206-605-3824 as soon as possible.

Here’s a flier with more info:

by Ralph Nichols

Finally, it’s official – Burien will annex unincorporated southern North Highline on April 1. City Council members voted 6-1 at their Jan. 11th meeting to establish the effective date.

Their action came after a delay of almost two months in setting an effective date, which occurred when the city learned in late November of an eleventh-hour maneuver by former King County Executive Kurt Triplett to sell Puget Sound Park in the unincorporated annexation area to the King County Library System.

New county Executive Dow Constantine announced on Jan. 6 that King County will not sell the five-acre park at 1st Ave. S. and SW 126th St. and, instead, will cede it to Burien as part of annexation.

Councilwoman Lucy Krakowiak cast the lone no vote against setting a formal annexation date. Krakowiak has continued to oppose annexation even after residents of southern North Highline voted by a large margin on Aug. 18 to become part of Burien.

City Manager Mike Martin told council members before the vote, “This is the long-awaited resolution … I’m very pleased to bring it to you.”

He said setting an effective date “was not a matter of pulling it out of thin air.” Rather, annexation on April 1 “allows the maximum amount of revenue to be provided to the City from King County while allowing time for technical work needed to make the annexation effective.”

That work includes conducting a population census of the annexation area, contacting businesses there, and working out transition details with the state Department of Transportation.

During public comment, Burien resident Ed Dacy urged council members to use their influence to discourage any move by the King County Library System to close the White Center and Boulevard Park libraries – both of which are in the annexation area – and consolidate them in a new facility.

The library system earlier hoped to acquire Puget Sound Park as a location for a consolidated library – although the library board, on which Krakowiak also serves as a member, has not voted to close the two community libraries that soon will be within the City of Burien.

A 2004 bond issue passed by King County voters included funding for replacement or remodeling of both the White Center and Boulevard Park libraries. That money remains untouched in the library system’s capital budget.

The future of these library sites will be discussed by members of the King County Library System’s Planning Committee at 12 noon this Thursday, Jan. 14, in the second floor meeting room of the Burien Library. The committee will take comments from the public during the meeting.