February 2007

You are already aware that the YMCA does things like provide youth sports, day camp, and child care. You may even know it can furnish a safe place for a teen in need of guidance.

Mr. Mayne's editorial in the Feb. 14 Highline Times was right on the mark. If these sports franchises are such great investments, why do the owners and investors need public money to support them?

A few years ago when Emerald Downs was built there was never any mention of going to the taxpayers for funds. The owners and investors put their own money at risk.

Mike Martin is a happy man.

"I'm thrilled to be here," the new Burien city manager said in a recent interview. "I'm so excited about what's going on in this community that I could do handsprings."

It felt "like the table is set" when he arrived. "There's so much that's going on here, so much thoughtful planning and visioning.

"What you folks have done in 13 years is phenomenal," he declared. "Things older cities wouldn't think about doing.

A standing-room-only crowd spilled into the foyer at The Hall at Fauntleroy in West Seattle for a recent "town hall meeting" about King County's response to the mid-December wind and ice storms.

Highline and West Seattle were hit harder than many other areas of the county, so council members met there to hear from county departments, utility representatives and 140 citizens about what worked and what didn't.

Convening as a Committee of the Whole, the meeting was chaired by Councilwoman Julia Patterson, D-SeaTac.

Officials devoted most of the meeting to reports

SeaTac lawmakers decided on Feb. 13 to join about 30 other cities in appealing a stormwater permit recently issued by the state Department of Ecology.

The Burien City Council voted to join the appeal process on Feb. 12.

SeaTac Public Works Director Dale Schroeder said the permit could force city staffers to regulate car washing by city residents.

The permit also could make the city responsible for water discharge violations by the Port of Seattle at Sea-Tac International Airport, according to Schroeder.

Updated results from King County Elections last week showed that 60 percent of SeaTac voters wanted the discharging of personal fireworks to remain illegal in the city.

Voters overwhelmingly rejected a new fireworks ordinance that was placed on the Feb. 6 ballot as a result of a petition drive.

As of Feb. 16, county election officials reported 976 votes (39.23 percent) in favor of the proposed ordinance and 1,512 votes against (60.77 percent).

Final results will be certified on Feb.

Burien City Council members voted unanimously on Feb.

Following a review of a new master plan for the Des Moines Marina, city council members asked staff on Feb.

The Times/News presents a weekly summary of actions on bills by Highline-area legislators.

For complete information, go to www.WashingtonVotes.org-a free, non-partisan Website with plain-English explanations of bills and a record of each legislator's votes-which is the source for this report.

Highline is represented by:

District 11-Sen. Margarita Prentice; Rep Zack Hudgins, Rep. Bob Hasagawa.

District 33-Sen. Karen Keiser; Rep. Shay Schual-Berke, Rep. Dave Upthegrove.

District 34-Sen. Erik Poulsen; Rep. Eileen Cody; Rep. Joe McDermott.

Seventeen Northwest wineries will offer tastings at this year's Poverty Bay Wine Festival.

The event is scheduled for Saturday, March 10, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday, March 11, from noon to 6 p.m., at the Des Moines Beach Park auditorium.

Guests will have the opportunity to try several wines from each winery and sample gourmet foods from local restaurants.

Each guest will receive a souvenir wine glass.

Live jazz will be sponsored by 98.9 Smooth Jazz KWJZ.

Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door.