White Center Now: The blog about White Center

From WCN contributor Deanie Schwarz at last night’s North Highline Unincorporated Area Council meeting:

ANNEXATION
Last on the agenda, but top of many minds – NHUAC voted unanimously to immediately draft a letter to each Seattle City Council member reaffirming NHUAC’s previous position to support the annexation of Area Y to the city of Burien.

BURIEN CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
Mike Martin, Burien City Manager, usually updates NHUAC at its meetings. Annexation was one of his topics: Martin said that the Burien Council is obligated to honor the Memorandum of Understanding with Seattle and therefore will not be taking a position regarding any Boundary Review Board process that might be triggered if Seattle council members vote in the next month to keep the process going. However, he told NHUAC that there are still internal conversations being held within their city hall and that NHUAC and citizens of “Area Y” should not let Burien’s official silence belie the fact that “we are intensely interested.”

Other highlights: Martin recently returned from a trip to Washington, D.C. regarding the Block Grants for 2011. Martin says that he’s never, in 15 years of such trips to D.C., seen the state of confusion regarding the status of Block Grants, which he says have been put into “an 11th hour” jeopardy. These funds may impact work on Puget Sound Park, he notes. He will update the Council as the outcomes of those grant funds becomes known.

Martin also mentioned that Burien is currently in the midst of a Police Status study to evaluate whether the city will continue to contract with outside law enforcement agencies or begin a process to develop the city’s own police department. The study also includes data collection on the feasibility of a new police station, in the event a new department were to be founded.

KING COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
There were no solid or significant trends to observe over the past few months; however, the KCSO rep did note that auto thefts have gone down from 29 to 11 after a particularly active period a few months ago.

There also was a bit of good news regarding the staffing numbers for deputies in King County. The recent annexation in the Kirkland/Juanita area may allow for reallocation for some officers to the North Highline area, though such a determination is neither confirmed nor finalized.

KING COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM
The King County Library System (KCLS) Director, Bill Ptacek, and Jennifer Wiseman, Project Manager/Public Services, addressed the gathering with the most extensive presentation and discussion of the evening.

In 2004, King County voters approved a bond to fund library improvements throughout the entire county service area, as well as build new libraries. While Burien’s library was completed in 2009, funds were also allocated for a new White Center library from the same bond. Also, the housing development at Greenbridge in White Center also recently incorporated a new, though smaller, library.

A North Highline Library Needs Assessment Study is currently being conducted via phone; an online questionnaire went live on March 1 at www.kcls.org/survey. The survey is open to the entire public, does not require a King County Library user number and can be responded to in English or Spanish. The deadline for responses is March 30. The KCLS Board will be considering the results of the survey at its April meeting, when they determine whether to improve the existing libraries or build a new facility.

They also talked about a draft Library Service Area Analysis – you can read the 30-page report online here: The report contains the following Trends & Conclusions of KCLS (page 22):

Key Trends & Conclusions

Usage Trends

Use of the Greenbridge, White Center and Boulevard Park libraries is concentrated to patrons in the immediate neighborhood.
The Burien Library is a destination library that draws people from throughout the area, including South King County and Seattle.
All of the libraries in the area studied, excluding the Kent Library, exceed the System cost per circulated item.
The Southcenter, Burien, Des Moines and Kent libraries are the most effective based on cost per visitor.
The White Center Library draws the greatest number of patrons from Seattle.

Geographic Considerations

There is a high concentration of schools located near the White Center and Burien libraries compared to Boulevard Park Library.
There are three Seattle Public Library (SPL) branches within close proximity to the libraries in the “Highline/Des Moines/SeaTac” FAZ group.
In the event that the remaining unincorporated area is annexed to Seattle, the Seattle Public Library (SPL) has indicated a strong interest in maintaining library services at the Greenbridge Library.
␣ With limited public transportation routes, and only two points at which to cross underneath it, State Route 509 presents a geographical divide in the North Highline community.
␣ Five schools are located in the remaining unincorporated area of North Highline.

Demographic Trends
␣ Growth trends during the past decade are inconsistent with growth projections for the “Highline/Des Moines/SeaTac” FAZ group.
␣ FAZ growth projections of 3.7% to 16.6% in the North Highline area are less significant than King County projections of 19.5% by the year 2020.
␣ The Boulevard Park, White Center and SeaTac FAZs are very similar socio-economically.
␣ The “Highline/Des Moines/SeaTac” FAZ group is considerably more diverse than King County.
␣ There is a significant percentage of population with limited access to vehicles in the area studied.
␣ A significant proportion of the population in the area studied is unemployed.

Library Distribution Conclusions
␣ After accounting for potential growth in the area, the square feet per 1,000 of population in the northern portion of the “Highline/Des Moines/SeaTac” FAZ group is notably higher than the System average, while it is significantly below the System average in the southern portion of the FAZ group.
␣ Determination of the distribution of library facilities and their respective service areas should be made with consideration to topography challenges (including natural and manmade barriers).

Ptacek explained to the gathering, including some members of the White Center Library Guild who together voiced their various concerns regarding the potential combining of the Boulevard Park and White Center libraries, that the goal of the KCLS is to have an equitable distribution of library resources available to the greatest numbers of users.

The KCLS Library Service Area Analysis Policy is described below, taken from their Public Services Manual PDF for the same, dated 2/10:

PURPOSE

The King County Library System (KCLS) maintains and operates library facilities in a prudent and fiscally sound manner and is continually looking for ways to meet public needs while effectively managing public resources. This policy outlines the process for analyzing the distribution of library resources within a particular area to ensure that public resources are applied for the best possible public benefit.

STATEMENT OF POLICY
Declining funding, population shifts, building obsolescence or other reasons may require the Board of Trustees to consider closing and consolidating library facilities. When considering action to alter the distribution of library services, the following will occur:
· The Library Director will keep the Board of Trustees informed of situations that may warrant an analysis of the library service area.
· KCLS staff will conduct a Library Service Area Analysis on an as needed basis, or as part of a regularly scheduled community study.
· Citizen input will be considered through one or more public meetings and/or other methods of collecting input in advance of a final decision by the Board of Trustees.
· Public notice of no less than thirty (30) calendar days will be given prior to a final decision by the Board of Trustees.

Goals

The Library Service Area Analysis process is used to:
· Measure how effectively a redistribution of library resources would meet community need.
· Assess the best configuration of staff and resources to enable the library cluster to provide more programs and services to the community.
· Determine whether operational efficiencies may be gained by consolidating two smaller libraries into a single, comparably sized or larger facility.
· Investigate how the current allocation of library resources compares to the rest of the Library System to ensure an equitable distribution across King County.

Metrics

During a Library Service Area Analysis, the following data will be collected and analyzed (if available):
· Library usage, including traffic, circulation and computer usage
· Library operational and staffing costs
· Socio-economic demographics
· Per capita measures
· Cross-use with other library jurisdictions
· Address of patrons frequenting the facility or facilities
· Size or scale of service in cluster model
· Local transportation routes, especially transit
· Area traffic patterns
· Population centers and growth forecasts
· Proximity to schools and daycares
· Proximity to senior living facilities
· Development in the area, including types of zoning
· City documentation (from similar area studies)
· Local area needs assessments (conducted by other agencies or jurisdictions)

Desired Outcomes

Based on the results of a Library Service Area Analysis, KCLS staff may recommend redistribution of library resources. Such recommendations will be made after considering the extent to which an alteration achieves the following outcomes:
· Results in increased offerings of library programs and services
· Results in increased library use
· More effectively meets community need for library resources
· Provides the community with more sustainable, lower-cost facilities
· Creates operational efficiencies
· Minimizes duplication between two library institutions in the same geographic area
· Optimizes the regional provision of library services
· Positions KCLS for new service opportunities and a greater role in building community
· Provides equitable distribution of library resources across the Library System

DEFINITIONS (if applicable) ·
Redistribution of Library Resources: May include closing or consolidating a library, adding a facility, developing services outside the facility, or reducing the size of or expanding a library.

NHUAC meets on the first Thursday of the month, 7 pm, North Highline Fire District HQ.

This Thursday, the elected community council whose members represent White Center and other parts of the remaining unincorporated area will gather for their monthly meeting, and you’re invited – to come listen and/or comment. As always, the NHUAC meeting is at 7 pm at the North Highline Fire District headquarters, 1243 SW 112th. The agenda is on the NHUAC website here, with guests including Jennifer Wiseman from the King County Library System, as well as regular participants such as Burien City Manager Mike Martin and King County Sheriff’s Office Capt. Joseph Hodgson.

Thursday (February 3rd), 7 pm, North Highline Fire District HQ, it’s the next meeting of your North Highline Unincorporated Area Council. Here’s the agenda:

February 3, 2011

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. Mike Martin, Burien City Manager
7:20 p.m. KCSO Capt Joseph Hodgson – Crime Stats
7:30 p.m. Jeanne Johnson, ECOSS – Powerful Neighborhoods Program
7:40 p.m. Dan Perzynsky, King County Parks

7:50 p.m. John Starbard, Director King County DDES
8:15 p.m. Treasurers Report
8:20 p.m. Corresponding Secretary 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. Unfinished Business

8:40 p.m. New Business
Community Meetings
Elections

From the WCN inbox:

The North Highline Unincorporated Area Council, King County Government, Public Safety & Code Enforcement Committee will be having a meeting on Thursday January 27th 6:30pm @ the White Center Library meeting room…

This meeting is open to the public.

Here’s what that committee is all about.

As always, the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council meets the first Thursday of the month, and that means this Thursday, 7 pm. From the official agenda, received via e-mail:

*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 Capt Joseph Hodgson – Crime Stats*

*7:25 p.m. Lucy Auster & Emery Bayley – Brownsfield Update*

**

*7:45 p.m. Paul Reitenbach, King County Comprehensive Plan *

*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 *

* 3. Public Safety*

* 4. Housing and Human Services *

* 5. Public Outreach*

* 6. Transportation*

* 7. Steve Cox Memorial*

*8:20 p.m. Unfinished Business** *

* Priority List*

*8:45 p.m. New Business*

* North Highline Housing Assessment *

* UAC President’s Meeting with Executive Constantine*

The meeting’s at the usual location – North Highline Fire District HQ, 1243 SW 112th (map).

Here’s the agenda for next Thursday’s special meeting of the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council:

7:00 p.m. Call to order

Flag salute

Roll call

Approval of agenda

7:05 p.m. Bong StoDomingo – King County UAC budget report

7:15 p.m. Treasurers Report – Ron

7:20 p.m. NHUAC Budget

7:50 p.m. Discussion & Approval of 3 Letters

8:00 p.m. Adjournment

The meeting’s at the usual location, North Highline Fire District HQ, 1243 SW 112th.

One loose end from Thursday night’s North Highline Unincorporated Area Council meeting, which wasn’t finalized by the time we published our story: NHUAC’s Pat Price confirms that Liz Giba was elected to the council – on which she has served before – by a vote of 6 to 3. She is representing District 3.

Here’s the roundup from tonight’s North Highline Unincorporated Area Council meeting (held as always at North Highline Fire District HQ):

UNINCORPORATED AREA COUNCILS’ FUTURE: Will county budget cuts and a study of combining UACs into one countywide body mean the end of NHUAC? This was addressed, somewhat, by Lauren Smith, who is the liaison for unincorporated areas from KC Executive Dow Constantine‘s office – her bottom line, too soon to tell what the cuts (first reported here 2 weeks ago) are going to lead to, or even what they were intended to lead to. She said “there is some money left in the budget” even after the cuts to funding for the councils. She says their office was “surprised” by the action, which was initiated by the County Council as a change to Constantine’s budget proposal, and “concerned,” and that they have a “sense of urgency” about a plan of action “moving forward” despite all the “uncertainty.” She says her team is in an “information-gathering phase to find out exactly what is in the budget” – which isn’t as easy a job as you’d think, she explains. They’ll also be trying to find out what council concerns led to the cuts. (She points out that newly elected KC Councilmember Joe McDermott, who’s here, was not on the council when they decided on those cuts.) “We cannot design a future for the UACs without working in partnership with you,” she said. “The value you give to this community is beyond measure.” She says KCE Constantine agrees that having a “local gathering point” like the UACs is vital. But: “What does the future look like? I don’t know. … There is nothing higher than this on my priority list.” She offered to answer questions but as council member Barbara Dobkin observed, “We don’t know what to ask, because you don’t know what to tell us.” Council member Ron Johnson suggested they’d keep meeting even without funding; he’s been a member since 1996, noting it’s an unpaid role. Smith said that’s what she’d heard from other UACs so far – that they would carry on whether they had funding or not. After she spoke, Johnson offered remarks of appreciation for the unincorporated-area liaison they’d been working with – since funding for his job has been cut.

COUNCILMEMBER McDERMOTT: After a break that followed Smith’s appearance (during which McDermott mingled with some of the NHUAC meeting-attendee regulars), he took the podium to address the NHUAC for the first time in his new role – “eight days!” he noted – and he also talked about his familiarity with UACs’ work, and said that they fill such different roles for their communities, and consolidating them “into one voice” did not seem to be an idea that makes sense, so he said he’s spoken to Executive Constantine about that.

KING COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE: Capt. J.J. Hodgson said that the area had 18 residential burglaries over the past month, “down slightly” … commercial burglaries at 9, “slightly up” … 13 auto thefts, 1 robbery, 14 assaults, all down … 6 vehicle prowls, a new stat so no comparison this time (though he notes it “tends to be a very underreported crime,” and urges that anyone who is a victim of any crime be encouraged to “at least make a phone call to report it,” because that helps KCSO know where to allot its resources). … Regarding ongoing Club Evo concerns, a temporary injunction is in place, he says, to keep it closed until they seek a business license. If they did seek a license – which they haven’t done so far, he says – then there would be a court hearing. Council member Douglas Harrell noted that Evo had shown “defiance” in the face of enforcement action before, but the captain noted that was regarding administrative action from agencies, not a court order like this. … The captain was asked about budget-cut effects; he mentioned the number of cuts far outstrips the number of actual layoffs they are currently facing (18) because of currently open positions. One big effect – the property-crime investigation unit has been “severely cut back,” he noted, and patrol deputies will be asked to do a lot of that followup. Council member Patrick Mosley asked about the storefront; “The storefront will still be there … CSO (Vary) Jackson will still be manning the facility … but as of right now, we do not have a deputy to put there,” Capt. Hodgson said, while adding it’s “a high priority to get someone back in there” if the money were available. … When crime concerns were being discussed, council member Heidi Johnson noted the online-crime-reporting form that’s now available on the KCSO site – and Capt. Hodgson said it’s so new, he isn’t even sure it’s been announced yet. (Find that form here.) … One attendee asked about an incident on 4th SW near Greenbridge this morning, and the captain hadn’t heard about it, but invited the attendee to e-mail him so he can look into it.

KING COUNTY HOUSING AUTHORITY MEETING: This is related to the council’s recent discussions about whether some of the developments are keeping the promise of bringing in “market-rate” housing as well as low-income housing, toward the issue of addressing economic diversity in White Center as well as ethnic diversity. Council member Dobkin reported on a recent meeting with Housing Authority leadership – saying there’s a triangle of land the county took over on 4th that doesn’t have a definite plan right now. She said an attempt to get exact numbers on units currently in Greenbridge didn’t yield much information – the reply was “fuzzy.” But she was assured that the land in Greenbridge “set aside for market-rate homes will remain (that way)” though there are “no plans” right now to build it. Are there subsidies for the currently empty storefronts? she asked – and was told that until market-rate housing is built, they’re not expected to fill that space – so “it’s a Catch-22.” Council member Pat Price talked about the inconsistent building pattern at Seola Gardens (the former Park Lake II) and “there’s a house over here … then one over there …” She said their next meeting is in February, and that she had straightened out the KCHA on the issue of why meeting notices weren’t getting sent to the NHUAC.

BURIEN UPDATE: Jenn Ramirez-Robson filled in for city manager Mike Martin. First up: What’s up with the trees with “big white X’s on Ambaum”? 112th to 156th, they’re doing sidewalk work, and looking at spots where trees have pushed up the sidewalks and even damaged the streets and storm-drain system. She says those trees will be “replaced … in the spring … with more suitable trees.” The ones that are being taken out are called “London Plain.” Meantime, she says that on 128th, storm-drain pipes are being replaced, with work under way right now between 1st and 4th, and “they’ll just keep moving east.” It’s all preparation for the “overlay program” next spring and summer – street pavement. “Our city is going to look vastly different and much improved by this time next year,” she said; look for a “ramp(ed) up communication” regarding road projects, including that one. … She also said that Burien was “caught off guard” by the budget action involving Unincorporated Area Councils, especially since they consider NHUAC “an invaluable partner to the work we do.” She also made sure everyone had heard the news that Jerry Robison – who has served as lawyer for the NHUAC and moderated its recent campaign forum – is about to be appointed to an opening on the Burien City Council. (That drew applause.)

BIKE RACK IN DOWNTOWN WHITE CENTER: The council voted to send a letter supporting Proletariat Pizza‘s campaign to get a business-district bike rack.

STEVE COX MEMORIAL @ PARK: “A few lines underground” were the latest semi-holdup, according to a committee report by council member Heidi Johnson. Those lines will have to be moved a bit before the memorial can be installed, she reported. Council president Christine Waldman then read a letter that came in late in the day from a county staffer suggesting those lines might not be such a problem after all. NHUAC then voted to extend the contract with the memorial’s artist, which otherwise, Ron Johnson pointed out, would expire in the middle of this month.

WORK SESSION: Part of tonight’s meeting involved council members laying out their priorities. The full list will have to await the meeting minutes; categories that were discussed included Public Safety and Code Enforcement, Public Housing and Human Services/Public Health, Arts and Parks, Governance/Growth Management/Zoning, Natural Resources/Transportation/Pedestrian Safety/Metro/Public Outreach. The latter is a particular point of concern for NHUAC – wanting to make sure more people know about them and their role advocating for the community and discussing issues. (They’ve printed up pads of post-it notes with the logo and website, for starters, and are working on other materials.)

BUDGET: Since right now, the county budget includes no funding for the council or its expenses, members discussed what expenses for next year they could prepay with the reserves they have now – since no one can even tell them yet whether that reserve would carry over regardless of the budget cuts. They voted to pay some of the basics like insurance and White Center Jubilee Days tabling. County staff promised to procure information within a week on the carryover issue; if they need to make decisions before year’s end, they will have a special meeting on December 16th.

PUBLIC COMMENTS: Dick Thurnau from Friends of Hicks Lake pointed out that two years have elapsed since recommendations were made for how to spend $25,000 the county had allotted for lake improvements – an aerating and beautifying fountain, a parks caretaker, a “safe walking path around the lake” – but “nothing has been done or resolved.” He said he’d sent King County Parks division director Kevin Brown e-mail asking about the status – and after 3 weeks, no response, leaving him to wonder what to do to get attention for “this seemingly forgotten facility” (Executive’s Office rep Smith said later that she would make sure Brown responded to Thurnau’s note) … Gill Loring voiced concern about the UAC budgets (as discussed earlier in this story) and about board appointees vowing to serve their full terms.

ANNOUNCEMENTS: White Center Summit this Saturday at White Center Heights Elementary (more information on the White Center Community Development Association website), and NHUAC will have a table there … Also Saturday, the WC Library Guild’s holiday bazaar at the WC Library … And this is on Saturday too: The WC Jubilee Days fundraiser (“Festivus,” as mentioned here earlier this week) … The following Thursday, Dec. 9, the WC-South Delridge Community Safety Coalition meets at the WC DSHS office. … The North Highline Fire District has a holiday-donation food drive under way; pickup spots are listed on the NHUAC website. … Council member Price said that the NHFD board has agreed, finally, to have some evening meetings – the first one will be at 6 pm January 18th – after long scheduling its meetings in the morning.

NEW MEMBER: This is the last item on the agenda as of the time we’re publishing this story at 9:45 pm – the one candidate for an open position, former council member Liz Giba, answered questions, and then the council went into executive session, which means everybody else has to leave the room. Not knowing how long that would take, we left, and will amend this story when we get word of the results.

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

As we reported two weeks ago, next year’s county budget includes cuts and directives that raise questions about the future of King County’s Unincorporated Area Councils, including North Highline. They’re scheduled to talk with a county-government rep about the issue during this Thursday night’s meeting, 7 pm at North Highline Fire District HQ, 1243 SW 112th. Here’s the full agenda:

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 Capt. Joseph Hodgson
7:25 p.m. Mike Martin, Burien City Manager
7:30 p.m. Lauren Smith, King County Executive’s Office (UAC’s)
7:45 p.m. Break
7:55 p.m. Treasurers Report
8:00 p.m. Corresponding Secretary Report
8:05 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
8:10 p.m. Work Study Session
1. Priority’s
2. Budget
8:35 p.m Unfinished Business
Pat – proposed Bylaw change for Election Date
8:40 p.m. New Business
8:45 p.m. Open Council Position
1. Questions for Candidate
2. Executive Session
3. Vote
8:55 p.m. Adjournment

As noted here earlier today, questions have been going around regarding the new King County Budget and its effect on Unincorporated Area Councils, including the North Highline UAC, which represents White Center and other surrounding communities. Since KC Executive Dow Constantine never did get to the full answer during his KUOW appearance this morning, we pursued it this afternoon. Here’s what actually happened: A budget amendment proposed by and approved by the County Council – not initiated by the KCE – cuts funding for two county positions that supported the six Unincorporated Area Councils. So now, the county has to figure out what to do next.

County Council spokesperson Al Sanders reiterates, “The budget DID NOT disband the UACs. It did call for a study to investigate the possibility of combining the 6 UACs into one committee and to present those findings to the Council.” (Page 16 of the full budget document appears a little more vehement in this directive.)

KCE spokesperson Frank Abe tells WCN, “We will be working with the UAC’s on a new strategy for urban and rural unincorporated areas to make sure that residents continue to have access to county government and customer service that meets their needs. Those are primary goals of our countywide strategic plan, and for this administration. We will keep you posted as that work develops.”

The next NHUAC meeting would be Thursday, December 2nd; we’ll see if this turns up on the agenda then.

Just discovered that KC Executive Dow Constantine is live on KUOW Radio right now (94.9 FM or listen online at kuow.org if you are not near a radio) and was asked a question about the fate of the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council (and other UACs) in the newly adopted county budget. He didn’t have a complete answer but promised to get one before the show is over – that would be 11 am – we’re listening.

Now that the mega-document proposing possible Duwamish River cleanup strategies is out, the Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition is making the rounds of community groups, including North Highline Unincorporated Area Council last night. BJ Cummings brought a presentation including background on the river, the pollution, and what’s being proposed, plus how you can have a say. Her emphasis is on the need for everyone to comment on the cleanup proposals – all of which have one big flaw, in DRCC’s view: They don’t outline what will be done to stem the current flow of pollutants into the river; they only address pollution that’s there now. You are invited to upcoming workshops and meetings to explain the report – here’s the announcement DRCC’s been sending around:

The Duwamish River Superfund Cleanup “Alternatives” have been released this month for public comment and review.

View or download the 8-page EPA Fact Sheet of the Draft Duwamish River Cleanup Alternatives (Feasibility Study). If you’d like to peruse the whole cleanup document, please start with the 42-page Executive Summary!

DRCC/TAG Technical Advisors have completed a preliminary assessment of the study, which is available by clicking here to view on our web site. A summary is below:

* None of the cleanup alternatives protect human health
* Environmental Justice analysis needed
* Telling people not to fish is not a substitute for cleanup
* Alternatives present tough choices

YOUR voice is needed to help protect Human Health and the Environment
The community is invited to help develop alternatives that protect human health and the environment at these upcoming interactive workshops. Workshops include an overview of the proposed cleanup alternatives and a roundtable discussion and activities with your Duwamish valley neighbors.

Attend one of these workshops to make your voice heard!

Monday, November 8, 2010, 11:30-2:30pm – Brownbag Lunch
Youngstown Cultural Arts Center: 4408 Delridge Way SW ~ Coffee and dessert provided! Please RSVP to: contact@duwamishcleanup. org

Tuesday, November 9, 2010, 5:30-7:00pm: Prior to SPNA monthly meeting.
South Park Neighborhood Association: 8201 10th Ave South ~ Food Provided!
Please RSVP to: contact@duwamishcleanup. org

Monday, November 15, 2010, 5:30-7:00pm: Prior to GCC monthly meeting. Coliman Restaurant, Georgetown: 6932 Carleton Ave S @E. Marginal Way S. ~ Food Provided!

Please RSVP to: contact@duwamishcleanup.org

(Meantime, more news still to come from last night’s NHUAC meeting.)

Two big events tonight in White Center: The North Highline Unincorporated Area Council meets at 7 pm at the North Highline Fire District HQ – here’s the agenda, as mentioned here on WCN earlier in the week – and an ice-cream social at Full Tilt Ice Cream, complete with live music! Details and RSVP info here.

7 pm Thursday, North Highline Fire District HQ as always. Here’s the agenda:

**
*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. Mike Martin, Burien City Manager*

*7:20 p.m. KCSO Capt Joseph Hodgson – Crime Stats*

*7:30 p.m. Don Althauser, Managing Engineer King County DNRP/WLRD/SWS*

*7:50 p.m. BJ Cummings, Duwamish River Clean Up *

*8:10 p.m. Treasurers Report *

*8:15 p.m. Corresponding Secretary Report*

*8:20 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. Unfinished Business*
* *
*8:40 p.m. New Business*
* Discussion: Council Priorities **
____________________________________________________________________________________
*

(Top, moderator Jerry Robison, during the forum, with Joe McDermott and Diana Toledo; bottom, Joe Fitzgibbon and Mike Heavey right before it began)
It’ll take some time to write the full report since the candidates’ forum presented by the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council tonight ran almost two and a half hours, but here’s a really quick summary: NHUAC’s Barbara Dobkin told your editor here (covering on behalf of both White Center Now and West Seattle Blog) afterward that they’re “thrilled” they drew such a huge turnout for the forum – the room at the Greenbridge YWCA Education Center was packed. NHUAC’s Pat Price gave a short introduction, and longtime community leader Jerry Robison moderated the forum expertly. A collection of pre-prepared questions – NHUAC had solicited e-mailed inquiries – and “live” audience questions ranged across a wide variety of topics, from White Center annexation to abortion rights. The first audience question came from the White Center/West Seattle entrepreneur who ran in one of the spotlighted races:

Mac’s Triangle Pub owner Geoffrey “Mac” McElroy would have asked the last question too, but he yielded to a man who hadn’t asked anything yet. (He was the third-place finisher in the 34th District House #2 race.) Other questioners included people from White Center and West Seattle, including several who identified themselves as Greenbridge residents (the development itself was the topic of several questions). Moderator Robison sat at a desk between one containing the 34th District State House Position 2 candidates, Joe Fitzgibbon and Mike Heavey, and one containing the King County Council District 8 candidates, Joe McDermott and Diana Toledo. Though the state race was the closest in the primary between its “top two,” those two candidates clashed on virtually nothing, while the county candidates jabbed at each other several times, over items from factual errors to mischaracterizations.

We have the entirety of the forum on video which we will publish as soon as it’s uploaded, both here and on partner site WSB, and we’ll be writing a longer article with overall highlights, too. While Election Day is officially November 2nd, you should have your ballot by now, and that’s the deadline to send it in or drop it off if you haven’t done so already. More to come!

10:38 PM UPDATE: Here’s part 1 of the video:

11 PM: And part 2:

12:50 AM: Part 3:

Again, separate article to come.

One last reminder about the last major candidates’ forum before the November 2nd election – North Highline Unincorporated Area Council is presenting it, at Greenbridge YWCA, with both candidates in each of the two hot open-seat races – King County Council District 8 (Diana Toledo and Joe McDermott) and 34th District State House Position 2 (Mike Heavey and Joe Fitzgibbon) – expected to be part of it. Doors open at 6 pm, forum starts at 6:30 pm. If you have advance questions, NHUAC is inviting them – e-mail address is on their home page.

It’s just been brought to our attention that while we’ve mentioned this several times on partner site West Seattle Blog, we haven’t mentioned it here! In case you haven’t already heard – the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council is presenting the biggest candidates’ forum between now and Election Day, with both the State House Position 2 and King County Council District 8 races featured. **Doors open at 6 pm** (corrected) October 21st at the Greenbridge YWCA, you will hear from all four candidates in those races – House candidates Mike Heavey of West Seattle and Joe Fitzgibbon of Burien, and KC Council candidates Diana Toledo and State Sen. Joe McDermott, both West Seattleites.

The agenda’s out for next Thursday’s meeting of the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council, and it includes a guest for which councilmembers have some big questions: Stephen Norman, Executive Director of the King County Housing Authority. He’s expected to be asked about past, present and future housing-development plans. The full meeting agenda is here, and everyone’s welcome, 7 pm Thursday, October 7th, at North Highline Fire District headquarters.

Story and photos by Deanie Schwarz
Reporting for White Center Now

Thursday night’s North Highline Unincorporated Area Council meeting highlighted three relatively new public-safety-agency representatives reporting on their respective departments and appointments serving the North Highline community.

North Highline Fire District Chief Marstrom comes to North Highline from a former Fire Chief position in the Pierce County city of Lakewood. His initial assessment of the budgeting decisions to be made in the next quarter was that the “status quo will no longer apply.”

Chief Marstrom will be reporting at the next North Highline Fire District Board meeting, rescheduled for Friday, September 17 at 10 AM in the Training Room of the Fire Station. (The regular meeting time is the second to last Tuesday of the month.) NHUAC councilmember Pat Price encouraged attendees to write directly to the Board to request that board meetings, currently held in the daytime, be rescheduled to evening hours to improve public access to “open” meetings. * Such requests can also be made by asking that the change be put on the Board’s agenda via the board’s secretary, or suggested during an open public-comment period at meetings; you can reach the secretary by phone at 243-0330 or e-mail at office@northhighlinefd.org.) “Evening meetings are easier for most people to get to,” Price said.

The council also heard from King County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. JJ Hodgson, who has recently taken Sgt. Buschley’s place at the West Precinct, so recently that he had not yet had business cards printed, but his e-mail contact is joseph.hodgson@kingcounty.gov. He also had not yet received an analysis of the Crime Stats to identify any trends, but he did mention a few of the more basic numbers available to him on such short notice. In brief, incidents for July and August, respectively: Auto Theft – 17, 15; Commercial Burglary – 2, 7; and, Residential Burglary – 14, 13.

There are currently two deputies assigned for coverage between Seattle and North Burien. Unless there is a special issue, Burien cars do not work in unincorporated areas. Concerns were voiced about ongoing traffic enforcement in the area around the school at 112th Ave SW and 10th Ave SW; Sgt. Hodgson didn’t have any easy answers.

Another KCSO position change noted was Sgt. Mattson is now the contact at the Precinct for drug houses and other drug-related matters, through the Special Emphasis Unit, replacing Sgt. Hancock, according to Hodgson.

Sgt. Chinnick, working the Gang Unit for the area since May, agreed with Councilmember Barbara Dobkin’s comment that “…with all the resources going to Club Evo … the community is being held hostage.” Club Evo was recently shut down by the Department of Revenue for unpaid taxes, but reopened last Friday, reportedly after the out-of-town owner leased the property to an employee who legally reopened the facility for the weekend. Club Evo still does not have a business or dance hall license as required by King County and Chinnick said he was told by the Department Director of DDS that they will put the matter on the front burner as they continue to investigate. The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office is working on the case too.

While the investigation continues, KCSO Emphasis Patrols are being deployed consistently against the ongoing “attractive nuisance” at the club. Funded by grants, the unit is limited yet resourceful in extracting KCSO personnel to apply to Club Evo on Friday and or Saturday nights. The owners and manager will either come into compliance, or they will close, according to Chinnick. KCSO’s purview is to systematically address the criminal problems associated with the facility. Deputies have recently used pepper spray and sirens to irritate and flat-out annoy the criminals to deter them from crime, as well as preventing people from getting hurt, he said, adding that the club manager was observed using pepper spray on his own clientele last weekend to control the crowd.

Also at the meeting: Burien City Manager Mike Martin announced that a “visioning” project for Burien will begin in earnest in January, to define its future community character and to determine the comprehensive plan for parks, streets and overall land use schemes. Budgeting for the process has been allocated for the master development plans for the next five to 15 years. Citing a recent survey conducted by the city of Burien for the North and older Burien areas, Martin said he was “trying to build a government based on the values of the people who live here.”

Dick Thurnau, Friends of Hicks Lake, was recognized by King County Councilmember Jan Drago‘s representative Linda Robson for countless volunteer hours given in service of his community, and was given a certificate of acknowledgment for his service.

Before closing, the Council voted to organize a Candidates’ Forum for sometime in the fall and will immediately begin contacting venues and coordinating candidates.

It was also noted that the Elections Committee will be convening to address how and whether to advertise for the open positions on the Council for District 3 and District 1. District 3 is the area between 4th Ave. SW and 16th Ave. SW and District 1 covers all of the area east of Highway #509.

Reminder that the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council meets tonight – 7 pm at the North Highline Fire District headquarters as always. You can see the agenda here.