White Center Now: The blog about White Center

White Center Chamber of Commerce president Mark Ufkes says more than 50 local business reps have confirmed they’ll be at Tuesday’s White Center Chamber lunch at the Salvation Army – honoring White Center’s 2010 heroes. According to the advance announcement, two of them saved a life just last week with quick CPR work; a week earlier, a local church gave a potentially life-saving gift by opening its doors to homeless people during the November 22-23 wintry weather. There will also be news of a community Christmas tree to be decked this weekend! The luncheon’s at noon at the Salvation Army Community Center, 9050 16th SW.

A multitude of signs like that one heralded every step along the way at Saturday’s White Center Community Summit, presented by White Center Community Development Association on the grounds of White Center Heights Elementary and Educare Early Learning Center. Information was available in a variety of formats, in a variety of areas, regarding a variety of subjects – from housing to education to health to jobs, and more. WCCDA’s Sean Healy gave us a quick overview:

He explained that instead of a day full of dialogue this year, the summit was set up as a chance to help community members plug into resources – in a variety of ways. While we visited at midafternoon, that was happening in rooms big and small around the campus, both with informational tables and classroom workshops. And no matter who you stopped to talk to, you could find out something new:

Jenni from Habitat for Humanity, for example, told us about a new program – not building homes, for which Habitat is famous, but helping existing homeowners with renovations. A multitude of other groups had presence at the event too, including North Highline Unincorporated Area Council, whose Pat Price is in our photo below, with North Highline resident Gill Loring:

You can catch a few more scenes from the summit via photos tweeted by WCCDA while it was under way.

Three big events today in White Center: The WC Community Summit is happening at WC Heights Elementary all day, 9:30 pm-4 pm, including food, workshops, and a chance to learn about resources you can draw on for a better life and more cohesive community … WC Jubilee Days will benefit from the “Festivus” dinner/auction/dance tonight at the White Center Eagles, starting at 5 pm … And 11-3 pm at White Center Library, the Library Guild’s presenting a holiday bazaar (more here).

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.

That’s video from the King County Courthouse this afternoon, as two 34th District state legislators were sworn in by King County Superior Court Judge Mary Yu — State Sen. Sharon Nelson and State Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon, who was elected to the position left vacant by Nelson when she ran (unopposed) for the Senate. They will join longtime State Representative Eileen Cody in Olympia, representing the area that includes White Center as well as West Seattle, Vashon and Maury Islands, and part of Burien (among a few other areas). Here’s what they had to say after the ceremony:

The ceremony drew dozens in the County Council chambers – among them, newly elected County Councilmember Joe McDermott (whose departure from the State Senate cleared the way for Sen. Nelson to move up) and County Executive Dow Constantine.

An update on this morning’s lockdown at local schools during a search for a possible gun on campus. King County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. John Urquhart just sent word that it was determined to be a hoax, and a student was arrested:

A series of hoax calls to the Sheriff’s Office 9-1-1 center about a gun seen in the school put Evergreen High School and the adjacent Cascade Middle School into lockdown mode this morning. The schools are at SW 116th St. and 8th Ave SW in White Center.

The first call came in at 9:33 AM. The voice on the phone said there was an AK-47 in a locker at the school, and “We need help quickly”. A total of five calls with variations on that theme came in.

The school was placed in lockdown and about 20 deputies and detectives arrived to block off access and search both schools. A K-9 dog that can sniff-out weapons was brought in to check lockers. Nothing was found.

The lockdown was lifted about 10:30 AM.

Detectives were able to track the cell phone to a student in the school. He was called out of his class and arrested. His cell phone was seized. The student is 15 years old.

The boy was booked into the Youth Center on a threats charge.

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

According to this KIRO TV report, officers checking for a possible gun on campus have led to a lockdown at Evergreen High School and Cascade Middle School. No report of anyone being hurt; we are checking with King County Sheriff’s Office to find out more about the incident. AFTERNOON UPDATE: KIRO reports the searches didn’t turn up on anything.

If you remember “Seinfeld” – or maybe even if you don’t – you know about the spoofy holiday “Festivus, for the rest of us.” This Saturday in White Center, you can join in a Festivus celebration for real – an auction, dinner, and dance, 5 pm at White Center Eagles, 10452 15th SW. See the official flyer on Facebook, where you can RSVP through the page for White Center Jubilee Days, which benefits from this Saturday’s celebration.

Just posted in the forums for our partner site West Seattle Blog – a new Ultimate Frisbee pickup game, Wednesdays at 6 pm, Steve Cox Memorial Park. Check out the notice (and RSVP info) here.

Coming up one week from Saturday!

As of this afternoon, Joe McDermott is the newest member of the King County Council, representing District 8, which includes White Center, West Seattle (and a few other swaths of the city), and Vashon/Maury Islands. In the county-provided photo above, he was sworn in by Clerk of the Council Anne Noris, hours after the November 2nd election results were certified. The official news release announcing his swearing-in quotes Councilmember McDermott as saying, ““I am honored the voters of the 8th Council District chose me to serve them in a position that has a long legacy of strong, effective leadership … We must work together to provide meaningful and efficient government services with an eye to the future. We cannot let today’s economic crisis keep us from meeting our commitments in regional planning, environmental stewardship and public safety.” McDermott spent the past decade in the State Legislature, in the State Senate since 2007, following seven years in the State House. On the nine-member County Council, he succeeds Jan Drago, appointed early this year after the November 2009 election moved Dow Constantine up to County Executive; this election was for the remaining year of Constantine’s unexpired term, so the position will be back on the ballot in November 2011. Final certified results of this election are here; McDermott had 68 percent of the vote, Diana Toledo 32 percent. They were the top two finishers from a field of four in the August primary.

Though we haven’t had any new snow in the past 24-plus hours, everyone’s still in snow/ice mode for one more day, because of the way-below-freezing temperatures. Metro’s again on snow routing. Schools are closed (Highline and the private schools we’ve heard from). Stay safe! The weather’s expected to “warm up” – back to the more-normal highs in the 40s – sometime Thanksgiving Day. P.S. If you are in an area served by Seattle trash pickup and have Wednesday collection – it’s postponed again today, as it was on Tuesday; put out double next week for no extra charge.

From Audrey at White Center Food Bank:

Because of the weather, we could use a few volunteers for the 9:30-12:30 and 12:30-3:30 shifts handing out food to clients. I don’t know how many clients will brave the weather but I want to make sure we can give them their holiday food if they do.

Highline Public Schools are now CLOSED for Tuesday. Also, Metro will be on snow routes again, but is already warning that they will not be able to run all routes – so if you can possibly stay home, do so.

EVENING UPDATE: Metro buses remain on snow routes. Trouble on many roads. Bridges, freeways all bollixed up all over. 1st Avenue South Bridge is having trouble. Sea-Tac is on a ground stop. We are covering more extensively on partner site West Seattle Blog – but will do our best to post any White Center specifics here too.

Even though the roads are bare and dry now, Metro is taking no chances, and it’ll start the day Monday with snow routing in all areas. What happens from there? Depends on what happens with the weather. A chance of snow’s in the forecast, More to come.

This time around, you can get all the details on the White Center Art Walk by going straight to its official website – here’s the list of eight participating businesses (including Dubsea Coffee, celebrating its 1st birthday! plus live music at Full Tilt Ice Cream). The Art Walk is 6-9 pm tonight.

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.