By Tracy Record
White Center Now editor
Some differences Thursday night as the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council met for the first time since voters rejected annexation to Burien.
For one – Burien’s city manager Mike Martin wasn’t on the agenda; pre-vote, he had been a fixture for many months.
Someone who had been a previous fixture at meetings for some months did appear, unannounced, to start the meeting:
THOMAS BATES FROM THE U.S. ATTORNEY’S OFFICE: Bates was a figure at NHUAC meetings during the aftermath of “Operation Center of Attention“ – and he showed up tonight to reiterate the feds’ commitment to safety a year later, saying “We want everyone to know they can call me, call our office,” though the committee was happy to see him. He noted that guilty pleas continue to emerge (including one reported here last week). So far, he says 21 defendants have pleaded guilty or being convicted, and another trial is set for next week.
Bates invited questions, and was asked about the federal position on the marijuana-law change in our state; he pointed out the statement that was released saying the federal government “continues to evaluate” while reiterating that possession and distribution remains illegal under federal law, which cannot be changed by states. Overall, he said, if problems are noticed, talking to local law enforcement is still the best course of action if you have concerns about something.
CAPT. PATRICK BUTSCHLI, KING COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE: His appearance marked the first since the election of new Sheriff John Urquhart. He started by answering some questions he said he had received via e-mail – including one about the “14 deputies” staffing addition that was mentioned during the campaign. That involved filling vacant positions, not adding “additional deputies,” he clarified, much as he said they would like to. Most of the time, he said, the department carries about 20 vacancies – and they can’t start the process of filling a vacancy until the day the person who held the job departs. “It takes a year to (get) a deputy,” he said, including recruiting, training, and other parts of the process. Accelerating that process is what the campaign discussion was about, he clarified. As for how it’ll affect this area, they don’t know yet, he said, and they are waiting to find out from the new Sheriff about his plans for the agency – “no changes to the way you are staffed in this community … still two deputies 24/7 minimum,”he said, and during the day, usually more. He said he expected Deputy B.J. Myers to stay in the White Center storefront. Capt. Butschli also noted that Sheriff Urquhart spent a lot of time working in this area and feels warmly toward it – as well as understanding “the crime and disorder problems in this area” – so he expects the new sheriff will be a supporter of the area.
(In later questioning, the captain reiterated that it’s important to call for help if something happens – “PLEASE call,” he said. “You’ll be politely told if it’s not” (a police matter).
Regarding Club Evo, the club owner is still under injunction to prevent it from being put back into operation – and had to be “reminded of that,” as he put it, when a rave almost happened two weeks ago (as covered exclusively by WCN, here and here). “I think we’re still going to have a fight on our hands with Club Evo,” he warned – “the owners and operators are still paying taxes … and are going to try anything they can to legally get some income out of it.” The injunction has to do with sprinklers and no business permits, “and we’re going to continue to enforce that as we can … barring any legal maneuvering .. I think it’s going to be an ongoing tug of war.”
Regarding marijuana, he foresaw “some enforcement options if people are wandering the streets, lighting up.” He hoped that there will eventually be some clear law-enforcement guidelines. He reiterated what Bates had suggested – “I urge you all to continue to report that stuff. … You want to be the community that calls all the time. … If (sheriffs show up frequently) the people will move on to other areas.” .. “Our position has been to enforce what we know is still illegal, and to continue to agitate for clear guidelines on how to enforce the rest of it.”
(Speaking later, Deputy Myers said they weren’t made aware until the day before Thanksgiving [which is when we heard about it too, and published our first story] and it took a couple days over the holiday to get hold of anyone who could do something. Finally a copy of the injunction that prevented such events in the building was produced, and they spoke to the event organizers to make sure they knew about it – just an hour and a half or so before the event was scheduled to happen.)
Asked about crime trends, Capt. Butschli said the burglary problem continues to be “bad.” He said there’s a mini-trend of home invasions (though he didn’t mention it specifically, it appeared to include the Top Hat case). Deputy BJ Myers said there’s been some success this past month “catching burglars in the act.”
Casing typically involves knocking on doors and, if someone answers, making up an excuse to make it sound like they were legitimate. The captain said they definitely want to hear from citizens to whom that happens.
NHUAC member Jessica Stoneback asked what had brought out a significant KCSO presence near the Evergreen campus two nights earlier. The KCSO reps weren’t certain – surveillance, possibly.
METRO TRANSIT POLICE DEPUTY: Deputy Myers says there’s now a Transit Police deputy assigned primarily to the West Precinct – which includes Burien, White Center, etc. – and that he is spending a lot of time in White Center, especially 15th/Roxbury. “His presence out here is being felt a lot by us … it’s made a big difference,” said Myers.
COMPLAINT WITHDRAWN: President Dobkin noted that a complaint filed against NHUAC with the Public Disclosure Commission by a Burien resident accusing it of acting as a political action committee has been withdrawn, “and that’s good news for us.”
COUNCIL ANNOUNCEMENTS: NHUAC member Liz Giba says the North Highline Fire District Board of Commissioners, on which she also sits, will meet again on December 17 and talk about budget issues … Giba also clarified that NHUAC has long worked to have the new White Center Library built on the site where it is now … Speaking of libraries, the White Center Library Guild Holiday Bazaar is today, 11 am-3 pm with a magician performing at 2 pm … President Dobkin noted that the county is going to start having open houses for the new Community Service Areas, though none is planned in White Center – Renton is the closest …
DEALING WITH FINANCES: Since the county no longer funds unincorporated-area councils, NHUAC is funding what it does out of its own pocket. The county did invite grant applications related to the new “Community Service Areas” and NHUAC did get some grant money to continue its Public Safety Forums, but needs to decide how to financially handle regular meetings. “I think (the council) is more important than ever, since we are going to stay unincorporated, and stay unincorporated for a long time,” Dobkin observed, adding that NHUAC will maintain county connections such as those with County Councilmember Joe McDermott, who she says has assured them that he’ll continue to be responsive to concerns, issues, and inquiries.
OTHER NOTES ABOUT NHUAC’S FUTURE: Barbara Dobkin quipped that she didn’t particularly want to be “president for life” – but the council has to figure out how it will work going forward. It has a couple open seats, and another one as of now – she said Patrick Mosley is leaving the community and will no longer serve. They used to have community elections for NHUAC seats, but that costs money they no longer get – so they want to figure out how to open participation to other interested community members. They also want to keep their nonprofit certification, website and post-office box going – that means a near-term expense of close to $200 to cover the next six months or so. They intend to let their liability insurance lapse, though, since the county grant they applied for, to seek funding for continuing meetings, would have covered that, but was denied.
Council member Douglas Harrell wondered if quarterly meetings might be appropriate. “Given that we are a non-entity at this point, we can do whatever he want,” he observed, after wondering aloud whether Seattle might move to annex the area since the state sales-tax credit was only in effect for a couple years. Council member Giba didn’t think it likely. Dobkin also pointed out that the council actually is an entity – incorporated with the state.
Back to the money issue – Harrell (owner of Roxbury Lanes) thought they might consider a fundraiser at some point down the line. “I know a guy who owns a bowling alley,” he said, drawing laughter.
LIBRARY FUTURE: It was recapped that the King County Library System plan to build a new White Center Library has fallen into some turmoil – over where it would be sited. The committee’s position continues to be that it should be rebuilt “where it is.” NHUAC is hoping to have “a seat at the table” when the site is considered.
SIDE NOTE OF THE NIGHT: If you keep your registration info in your car, will that lead to burglary, with someone breaking into your car, seeing your address and heading there? Deputy Myers said that has not been a particular problem – but if you’re worried, register your car to a PO Box rather than your home address, as the law continues to require that you carry registration so you can produce it if pulled over.
