Seattle annexation? City Council president questioned at 34th District Democrats
(9:39 AM UPDATE: Added link to full text of “lose-lose” handout mentioned below)
We routinely cover the 34th District Democrats‘ meetings, since they are this area’s largest political group and you never know what news might break when that many local leaders and activists gather. Wednesday night, 
news broke out again; outside The Hall at Fauntleroy, the group’s usual meeting spot, a cluster of people holding NO SEATTLE ANNEXATION signs stood greeting people as they arrived. It was dark and rainy and our photo didn’t turn out well, but the main point of their presence was to make themselves known to Seattle City Council President Richard Conlin, who heads the committee that will decide soon whether to send Seattle annexation to the North Highline ballot. Conlin was at the meeting to talk about the council’s priorities, but was questioned about annexation by both Ivan Weiss of Vashon and Liz Giba of White Center. In the video above, Weiss is concluding his question off-camera – he had begun by listing the range of potential costs of annexation to the Seattle budget – and Giba is seen asking hers, about the future of the White Center and Boulevard Park county library branches, on-camera. Conlin repeatedly said he thinks North Highline should have the right to choose, which seemed to signal he will advocate strongly for going ahead with an election this fall, and also offered that he believes White Center is part of the Seattle community, so should be able to vote on whether to actually become part of Seattle. Meantime, the Seattle-annexation opponents were handing out a flyer headed “Seattle Annexation of North Highline: A Lose-Lose Resolution,” with one side devoted to why they believe it’s a bad idea for Seattle and the other to why they believe it would have negative effects on North Highline – they’ve promised to get us an electronic copy so we can share it with you here.
ADDED 9:39 AM: Here’s the complete flyer.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
March 10th, 2011 at 2:45 pm
I applaud Mr. Conlins response to Liz and Ivan. He made it abudantly clear this is about giving North Highline a vote. Personally, I’m in favor of a Seattle annexation. That being said, I would never be so presumptious as to try and take away a communities vote. Without question, that is the agenda that is being pushed by some. What is wrong with having an informed vote of the people? If they are so confident as to the fact that the citizens will say no to an annexation by Seattle why are they pushing so hard for Seattle not to put in on the ballot? Good for you Mr. Conlin, thank you for the oppourtunity to decide. To others that are pushing to close the door of annexation by Seattle before a vote of the people, I say… stay away from my vote!!
March 10th, 2011 at 8:50 pm
George, I think you misunderstand my position. I am not opposed to North Highline getting to vote on annexation to Seattle. The law requires that residents of the annexation area must vote. I don’t oppose North Highline residents voting on annexation to Burien; why would I oppose them voting on annexation to Seattle?
I am opposed to Seattle putting annexation on the ballot for North Highline AT THIS TIME. Seattle is in a fiscal crunch right now, and the report that the City Council saw estimated that in the best case scenario, annexing North Highline would cost Seattle $5 million up front, and $1.8 million a year thereafter. That’s the best case scenario. In the worst case scenario, Seattle would be paying out $16.5 million a year to provide services to North Highline. Seattle doesn’t have the money, sorry.
at this moment Conlin represents Seattle and not North Highline. He has a fiscal responsibility to the residents and the taxpayers of Seattle. Whose library hours might be cut further? Whose potholes might go unrepaired? Which neighborhood might lose a beat cop? Whose parks might have to close?
Where is that money coming from? Even Council member Jean Godden, heretofore a strong proponent of annexation, asked: “Is this magic money?”
Eventually North Highline will vote. It’s the law, and it’s a good law. Seattle is not in a good position to annex you right now. It is not fiscally responsible FOR SEATTLE RESIDENTS for the Council to put this on the ballot, and Conlin didn’t provide any good answers.
I hope this clarifies my position.
March 11th, 2011 at 3:15 pm
Liz and pals- voicing your opinion shouldn’t take away other peoples right to do the same thing; by voting.
Respect the process, keep your hands off the vote!
-AJ
March 11th, 2011 at 8:47 pm
AJ, I don’t think you are getting what I said. There will be a vote. The law says there must be one. It doesn’t have to be now, is all I’m saying. Seattle doesn’t have the money right now to deliver services to North Highline without depriving some other neighborhood. Two years from now, that might not be the case.
“The process” does not require that the vote be now. Liz and “pals” aren’t trying to stop any vote. They can’t. If Seattle doesn’t put annexation on the ballot in 2011, Burien will in 2012. If annexation to Burien is voted down then, Seattle — if it has the money — will be back in 2013.
March 12th, 2011 at 11:01 am
Ivan, don’t you live on Vashon?
March 12th, 2011 at 3:37 pm
Yeah, I live on Vashon. So what? For your information, I am the immediate past two-term chairman of the 34th District Democrats, and as such, I have been involved in this issue from all sides for the past six years. Moreover, I do a lot of shopping in White Center and know the whole North Highline area, and a whole lot of people in it, very well.
Now that I am a “private citizen” again, and not the face of the organization, I get to speak my opinion.
My opinion is that as part of Seattle, North Highline would be last in line for services, and at the bottom of the totem pole in influence, no matter what Seattle annexation adherents are telling you. As part of Burien, North Highline could pretty much write its own ticket.
The numbers don’t lie, George. Believe me, you don’t want Seattle’s problems.
March 12th, 2011 at 3:56 pm
An uninformed vote is a sham! My interaction with Mr. Conlin was geared to getting out information about the dismal library service North Highline can expect if we were annexed by Seattle.
Although this was not the first time Mr. Conlin has heard the concern that the White Center and Boulevard Park Libraries would close if Seattle annexed us, he clearly did not want to discuss that reality. However, the reality caanot be ignored – the loss of these libraries would be devastating to North Highline.
In addition to providing library services, the Boulevard Park Library provides meeting space for a community that does not have many public spaces. The white Center Library serves 10,000 users a month – many of them students who use the computers and internet for their studies. Computer and internet access are particularly important in communities such as ours where many households cannot afford them. Education is a long recognized tool for escaping poverty. In today’s world, it is impossible to have a well-rounded education without computer access.
Seattle’s annexation plan offers us only the very small (2,300 square foot)Greenbridge Library. It is woefully inadequate for our needs and represents a dramatc drop in library services. If you think there is any possibility that Seattle would actually build a library in North Highline, remember that South Park had to wait nearly 100 years before Seattle built their library.
Our children deserve better – we all do. For starters, we deserve an informed vote!
March 12th, 2011 at 6:29 pm
Boulevard Park Library is in Burien, the only agency that has a decision to keep it open will be King County. Also, Liz a good portion of South Park is still King County. You could ask them about why they didn’t step up to the plate and open a library down there for the last hundred years as well. Ohhh wait, it’s because they can’t afford to fund the area, even then!! In my mind I have all the information I need for an informed vote. Our two most vital services, police and fire are in danger. I want my family safe, first and foremost. With Seattle those services will be enhanced, not dying a slow death. I guess a librarian could show up at my front door if I call 911. We all have what we consider an, “inside resource” from what I understand Ivan Burien has no intentions of moving forward with any annexation and would have done so to begin with had it made any sense for them
Go Seattle!!
March 12th, 2011 at 6:40 pm
BTW, Ivan, I applaud your service with the 34th district democrats. However, in my mind every level of government is in a fiscal crunch right now. There is a total difference between adjusting the way you operate to accomadate that crunch, such as with Seattle, and having a total break down of basic service to an area, such as North Highline.
March 12th, 2011 at 8:55 pm
Well that’s fine, George, but those are not your only choices.
If (1) Seattle decides not to put annexation on the ballot, or (2) if Seattle does put annexation on the ballot and the voters vote no, then (3) Burien would put annexation on the ballot, and the voters could choose between Burien yes and Burien no.
You, I, and King County all agree that this area will have to be annexed to one neighboring city or another. I have given you several reasons why I think the voters should hold out for Burien. I think that if you were to ask the residents of the southern part of North Highline who voted to go to Burien, they would tell you they are pretty glad they did, and why.
March 13th, 2011 at 11:55 am
Ivan that wasnt a land slide victory vote for the last annexation. You seem certain that Burien would come annex the northern half. Do you have commitments and studies complete? I’ve heard Burien say interest but never intent. Seattle is making all the right signs for an intent to put annexation on the ballot. I welcome it and say we vote. This area can’t wait much longer.
March 14th, 2011 at 2:12 am
Actually, it can. And it should. The numbers in the Seattle study should raise red flags for every North Highline resident whose mind isn’t already made up.
I’ll say it again: If annexed to Seattle, North Highline would be 5 percent of the population, LAST in line for services, and LAST in line in influence. Residents would be paying taxes for every other Seattle neighborhood’s projects, and for the needs of downtown Seattle. Is that what people want?
Unless you think there’s something in it for you personally, you should oppose annexing to Seattle and hold out for a better deal from Burien.
March 14th, 2011 at 11:31 am
Small goverment got us a $200,000 FIre Chiefwith a $300,000 plus buy out. Goverment is about the people in office big or small. All the Seattle City Council members have responded to my emails. I feel they’ve heard me.
March 14th, 2011 at 6:07 pm
Both the White Center and Boulevard Park libraries are in the City of Burien. [Burien drew the line that way.]
The City of Seattle would have no say on whether those libraries stay or go. The King County Library Board along with the KC Council and the City of Burien would be the controling authorities.
Also, that private school next to the White Center Library is also in the City of Burien, and as such, should be renamed away from “West Seattle”.
March 14th, 2011 at 7:45 pm
Thanks for the clarification WC, sounds like Liz might be barking up the wrong tree.
March 14th, 2011 at 9:37 pm
Not sure how Liz could be so wrong. I wonder what else she could be wrong about? Might not be the rally cry you want to go with.
March 15th, 2011 at 9:21 am
I’m happy for you, George, that Seattle City Council members respond to your e-mails. I am glad for you that you feel that is a sufficient basis for choosing a government, and apparently all you need to know about it.
I suggest that for your further education, and for your personal peace of mind, you e-mail each of them one more time and ask each of them to tell you, yes or no, if they think the City of Seattle can afford to annex North Highline at this time, and therefore will be requesting a vote.
When the majority of them e-mail you back and tell you no, Seattle cannot afford to annex at this time — it just doesn’t have the money — and our primary responsibility is to our existing neighborhoods, and not to neighborhoods outside our city limits, we hope you’ll comment here and report on that, too.
March 15th, 2011 at 9:58 am
People need to educate themselves about facts, and the facts regarding the White Center and Blvd Park libraries are that these libraries are part of the King County Library System, so it does not matter that they sit in Burien. If they sat in the remaining unincorporated side we would be facing the same issue regarding their potentional closure with annexation to Seattle. Seattle has its own library system which includes the downtown library and all the libraries that are in the various neighborhoods of Seattle. These two systems operate separately and King County Library system is not in the business of providing library service for the city of Seattle, nor is Seattle in the business of providing these services for King County. Because the WC and Blvd Park libraries sit so close to the potential annexation line, the majority of users of these libraries, with a Seattle annexation, would actually be city of Seattle residents. If you had been paying attention and attending meetings of the library board about this important issue you may have a better understanding of the facts and that all King County homeowners have been paying a bond levy in their property taxes since 2004 for new improved libraries. The Burien library, which is also part of the King County Library system was paid for with this bond levy as well as the Renton, Mercer Island, Issaquah and other King County Libraries. Our libraries have been on hold because of the annexation issue. With a Seattle annexation the money that the residents of North Highline have paid toward the bond levy will be given to Seattle as a lump sum payment, and will be used to pay the rent and monthly fees as well as re-catalog the books at the Greenbridge Library. An agreement was worked out that this library would become part of the Seattle library system and this will be the only remaining library in our community. This is a 2300 sq foot library that certainly cannot meet the needs of the 10,000 per month users of the White Center Library. Additionally, Seattle is taking our money and using it to pay the rent on this facility because they do not have enough money to support this library. (you can read about Seattle’s intentions on pages 4, 11 and 12 of the Seattle Budget Analysis that was prepared for potential annexation) We did not pay these taxes so Seattle could take our money and use it in this way. Seattle has no intention of building any new libraries in this community. So Liz is absolutely correct. Education is important. Libraries are an important part of any community. The many students who use the the WC and Blvd park libraries will be left with limited access to libraries, and Mr. Conlin might as well be saying, “Let them eat cake”.
March 15th, 2011 at 10:38 am
I would also like to add that if the libraries sat in the potential Seattle annexation area, the only way these libraries would continue to operate is if Seattle purchased the facilities, as the buildings that house these two libraries are owned by the King County Library System. If Seattle’s plan is to take our bond levy money to pay rent on the Greenbridge Library (this is the one library that is housed in a rented space) do you really think they would purchase the other two facilities? They do not have the money.
March 16th, 2011 at 8:13 am
Thank you, Barbara, for all the library information – that is super helpful. Does anyone have the same type of information regarding schools and school districts? I’m curious as to what will happen there.
March 16th, 2011 at 10:24 am
Verde – my understanding is that the schools will remain under North Highline School District – you might want to write Richard Conlin and ask him as this information should be coming directly from the Seattle City Council –
March 17th, 2011 at 3:03 am
Seattle officials have stated that repeatedly and I’m pretty sure it’s in the documentation as well, that the schools would remain with Highline Public Schools – unless there was a move made to change the boundaries. I know both HPS and Seattle Public Schools are having budget troubles at the moment and I haven’t heard either say anything about wanting to change the status quo, but certainly if there is an election this fall, that will be a line of questioning.
March 18th, 2011 at 3:28 pm
I am a resident of North Shorewood. I like Burien and have been rooting for them in terms of their growth plans. Sadly, the recession seems to have come at a very inopportune time for Burien–just as the new downtown Burien area was about to get off its feet. People talk about Seattle not having the money to take on North Highline–but let’s get real–look at Burien–if anyone doesn’t have the money its Burien. Seattle is one of the biggest cities in the country. Its always going to land on its feet. I’m not sure that we can say that about Burien, unfortunately.