At left, that’s North Highline Fire Chief Scott LaVielle, who briefed the group on his impending retirement in late February. He talked about the several steps taken to close the budget gaps that the fire district was faced with. He introduced North Highline Fire Commissioner Rob Spreier (with him in the photo), saying he will take over most of the high-level management work after he leaves. Other items:

CRIME: King County Sheriff’s Deputy Jeff Hancock told the NHUAC it’s been a rougher month than the area’s seen in a while: 1 rape; 1 aggravated assault on a 19 month old girl; 2 stabbings; 6 robberies, all mini-marts or gas stations in the area, and one person robbed at gunpoint after being pulled into a car outside a grocery store;13 vehicle thefts, 14 drug arrests, 29 warrant arrests.

CODE ENFORCEMENT: A complicated discussion that took a lot of time without many conclusions – commercial activities on an industrial-zoned property along Myers Way that has nearby residents wondering if King County codes were being followed; the agency represented at the meeting said that it didn’t have jurisdiction and offered the residents some suggestions on where else they might take their concerns.

NORTH HIGHLINE ANNEXATION DELAY: Burien City Manager Mike Martin and two Burien City Council members attended the meeting; Martin said the official annexation date has been delayed until April 1st because of the Puget Sound Park wrangling (see our report from earlier this week); he says several other things still need to happen for the annexation to be finalized. Regarding the park’s future, Martin told NHUAC, whatever happens to the park has to happen because the people of the city of Burien want it. If they want a library there, then that could happen, but he said a decision would not be forced on them. He also said he wanted to dispel the notion that Burien just wants the park in order to sell it.

REMEMBERING CHERISSE LUXA: In the public-comment period Liz Giba mentioned the community activist who lost her cancer fight last month would be remembered during a memorial gathering at Mick Kelly’s Irish Pub on January 27th, 7 pm, with a “semi-formal presentation” around 7:45.

The North Highline Unincorporated Area Council meets the first Thursday of each month, 7 pm, North Highline Fire District HQ.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent in Barbara’s name to: North Highline Fire District Aid Car Fund, 1243 Southwest 112th Street, Seattle, WA 98146. In her memory, Barbara asked to please spend time with a child that is close to you. That time spent and your love for that child will be with Barbara forever. A graveside service will be held at 1:30 PM on Monday, November 2nd at Riverton Crest Cemetery, 3400 S.140th, Tukwila 98168 with a reception following at Rainier Golf and Country Club, 11133 Des Moines Memorial Dr. S.

You can read Ms. Peters’ full obituary here. She was 72 years old.

To recap the concerns, from the document:

…the impact that a partial annexation would have on the NHFD’s ability to provide fire protection services to the residents in the remaining portions of the area, that include: Lack of fire protection facilities in the non-annexed area (NHFD Station 18 and NHFD Station 19 would be located in Burien after an annexation); financial impact of the required transfer of assets (cash, property or contracts for services) on the NHFD’s ability to provide fire protection services in the non-annexed area.

The document also laid out options based on three scenarios. Again, this is a direct transcription from the document, which we don’t have in electronic form:

1. Burien annexes its proposed annexation area that includes NHFD Station 18 and 19.

i. Contract with Seattle to provide direct fire protection services to the Boulevard Park area, including the sliver along the Duwamish River, which is north of S. 108th Street using SFD Station 26: South Park.

ii. NHFD and Seattle work to secure funding through King County Annexation Initiative Funds (the full $7.5 million) to construct a new NHFD station in White Center to provide services to the area north of SW 116th Street.

iii. NHFD enters into a transfer/lease-back agreement involving Station 18 with Seattle. Transfer of NHFD Station 18 to Seattle with NHFD leasing it for $1 year and assuming all responsibility for maintenance/insurance costs. Part of transfer price acknowledges reduced Seattle costs to provide services in Boulevard Park area.

2. Burien’s annexation proposal is revised to remove the North Shorewood area and includes the area generally south of SW 116th Street (includes only NHFD Station 19).

i. NHFD contracts with Seattle to provide direct fire protection services to the Boulevard Park area, including the sliver along the Duwamish River, which is north of S. 108th Street using SFD Station 26: South Park.

ii. NHFD continues to provide fire protection services to the White Center/North Shorewood area using NHFD Station 18.

iii. NHFD transfers Station 18 to Seattle and Seattle provides fire protection services to the White Center/North Shorewood area using Station 18.

iv. NHFD contracts with Seattle to provide fire protection services to the northern portion of the North Highline area (north of SW 116th Street/North Shorewood area and north of S. 108th Street/Boulevard Park area).

3. Burien’s annexation is NOT approved by the voters and the contract between Burien-Normandy Park and NHFD expires 2011.

i. NHFD contracts with Seattle to provide fire protection services (similar to Tacoma/Fife model). Seattle level of services provided, NHFD would continue to exist for purposes of community involvement, levying taxes and monitoring contract provisions.

ii. NHFD/Seattle enter into an “enhanced” mutual-aid type agreement where Seattle provides automatic back-up on fire response calls in the Boulevard Park area through SFD Station 26 and in the White Center area through SFD Stations 11 and 37.

Those stations are in West Seattle — station 11 is in Highland Park at 16th/Holden, station 37 is at 35th/Othello (but soon moving a few blocks south when its new building is constructed).

Other discussion points included NHFD Chief Scott LaVielle asking for the levels of response that Seattle typically provides for each type of fire call, and for some other data including how many employees the Seattle Fire Department has (answer: 1,000, all but 50 of them uniformed).

It was asked whether the current Seattle Fire Department training center on Myers Way could become a fire station — short answer, no. The Seattle reps also were asked whether they oppose the proposed Myers Way jail site near the training center — short answer on that, the Fire Department is “not involved” in those discussions.

Both sides wrapped up the amicable half-hour by saying they’d like to have more meetings, and also that Seattle reps should meet with the unions to make similar presentations.

First: NHFD will move to monthly meetings starting next month – so the next meetings are at 8 am October 22, November 19, December 18.

Finances: Chief Scott LaVielle says the department’s investments have lost $22,000 in value and could lose as much as $50,000 because of what’s going on in the stock market.

Training: The trench-rescue training mentioned at the last meeting was “great,” and volunteer training starts October 7th for five recruits who have passed their pre-employment physicals and received their fire-suppression gear.

Senator Murray coming to White Center: The chief says groundbreaking for the Greenbridge Educare Learning Center on October 6th (10 am, by White Center Elementary) will feature Sen. Patty Murray as a special guest; he’ll be there too.

Steve Cox Memorial fundraiser: The chief says the date for this is set for November 14th. We’ll let you know when we have more details.

Give Burns the Boot: This event at Boulevard Park Place will start with a pancake breakfast 8:30-11 am on October 4th.

Fireworks: NHFD has sent the letter discussed at last meeting, expressing support for a potential future opportunity for citizens of unincorporated areas like White Center to vote on whether to ban fireworks in their respective areas.

Tomorrow’s meeting: As previously reported, the commissioners meet with Seattle representatives tomorrow morning at 8 am to talk about annexation-issues. The chief described this today as a “fact-finding meeting” – all about “logistics,” an “open exchange of information.” It’s open to the public, by the way. One other annexation note was on today’s agenda – the commissioners received a letter from King County Executive Ron Sims, “requesting all interested parties negotiate annexation boundaries and offering the county’s facilitation/mediation services.”

Last note: As mentioned in our report on the last meeting, NHFD lowered its flags to half staff on September 11th in memory of those killed on 9/11/01. The printed agenda for today’s meeting noted that on this year’s anniversary, “an anonymous citizen dropped off a bouquet of flowers at Station 18.”

TRAINING/EQUIPMENT: Chief Scott LaVielle noted the department’s involved with trench-rescue training today. Also, a $100,000 FEMA grant is being sought for equipment including bulletproof vests, thermal-imaging cameras, smoke-removal gear. The district says FEMA’s asked for direct-deposit info so they’re considering it a good sign!

PERSONNEL: These notes are from the printed agenda: “A firefighter who injured himself on the job in August has been released to full duty. A firefighter injured himself on duty and will be out until September 10 (unless surgery is required). A Lieutenant injured himself off duty and will be off until the end of November. A firefighter is on disability for surgery and scheduled to return (this week).”

VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT: Also from the printed agenda: “Five people passed the oral boards … Physicals are scheduled for this week. Gear fitting is scheduled for next week. Volunteer Academy begins October 4 (9-week course).”

9/11 FLAGS: This Thursday is, of course, the 7th anniversary of the terrorist attacks; North Highline plans to fly its flags at half-staff that day in honor of the victims, and Chief LaVielle also suggests that members of the public fly their flags on Thursday as well.

UPCOMING EVENTS: The “Give Burns the Boot” Drive tentatively plans a pancake breakfast at Boulevard Park Place, 9:30-11 am on October 4th. The day after that, the Washington State Fallen Firefighters’ Memorial Service is scheduled (10/5) at the state Capitol Rotunda in Olympia. The White Center Eagles’ Medic 1 Dinner is set for 5-9 pm October 17th, and (as has been mentioned here before) the White Center Food Bank’s fundraising Dinner/Auction is set for October 18.

The executive session that commenced less than an hour after the public session began was to deal with “personnel issues.” Next meeting (as mentioned above), 8 am 9/23, with the annexation-related meeting 8 am 9/24, both at NHFD HQ (1243 SW 112th; map; also, from the NHFD site, here’s a map showing their service area).