August 2011

At the July 26th SeaTac Council meeting, two divisive topics were discussed-- the possibility of switching to an elected mayor form of government in SeaTac and the continuation of the King County Veterans and Social Human Services Levy.

The council was asked to approve three agenda bills that would put the elected mayor form of government up for a vote.

They passed two of those bills -- one to allow committees to argue for and against, and another to allow the making and distribution of voters' pamphlets about the proposition. However, the lawmakers deferred a decision about placing the proposition up for vote until the next meeting.

The proposition has come up for the second time in the city's recent history because of a petition that calls for the issue to come up for a vote.

Councilman Ralph Shape asked that a decision to place the proposition on the November ballot be delayed so that he could investigate election irregularities left over from the previous vote in 2009.

With only one council race on the ballot, the August primary will not be the main electoral event in SeaTac this year.

That comes in November when residents vote on an elected mayor proposition that would change SeaTac's form of government. Currently, the seven elected council members select one of their colleagues to serve as mayor. The mayor presides over the council meetings and represents the city at ceremonial functions. A city manager supervises the staff and runs the daily operations of the city government.

Under the proposed change, a mayor would be selected by voters and serve as the chief executive of the city. The mayor could hire a city administrator to work with city staff.

Besides Position #3, three other council seats are up for grabs in the November election. Combined with the elected mayor vote, the outcome of the council elections could signal a big shift in the direction of SeaTac's government. Many of the council's most important decisions are now decided on a 4-3 vote.

The top two vote getters in the primary race will face each other in November's general election. Ballots must be mailed by Aug. 16. Terry Anderson is the incumbent in the race.

Brandi Carlile performed at the Woodland Park Zoo on Friday evening as part of the ZooTunes concert series.

She treated concert-goers to new songs and a very special guest - Wallingford resident, Dave Matthews.

The Berke Associates conultant report that concludes it is financially viable for Burien to annex White Center and the remaining unincorporated area has been released on the city of Burien’s website.

It is at http://www.burienwa.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=365.

While agreeing to wait until their Aug. 15 meeting to discuss annexation, Burien lawmakers Monday night, Aug. ,1 spent a long time discussing when they would have those further discussions.

The council members decided to add a special meeting on Aug. 22 at 7 p.m. in council chambers with annexation as the sole item on the agenda.

Council members will also discuss annexation at their next regular meeting on Aug. 15 at 7 p.m. in council chambers. The Berke consultants will give a presentation and answer council questions then.

Des Moines resident Faith Callahan inspired countless people during her 106-year lifetime and will continue to do so following her passing on July 7. There is no question that her longevity was impressive, but family and friends remember her more for the quality of life she lived than simply the quantity. In her later years, Callahan substituted outdoor activities with thrice-weekly visits to the Mt. Rainier Pool in Des Moines.

When the pool was recently in danger of being closed, Callahan actively and successfully lobbied for it to remain open. She even became one of the poster girls for the campaign.

"She was dedicated and a real pusher for people to do things, to get off their behinds and get out there," says her daughter, Blythe Stanton.

On the day she died, Callahan had already laid out her bathing suit in preparation for her scheduled swim.

"At her services (held at Callahan's church, Des Moines United Methodist, and Des Moines' Wesley Homes where Callahan resided since 1972,) we asked people to give one word that reminded them most of her," says Stanton. "Cheerful. Loving. Smiling. Friend. Supporter. Amazing. There was a whole list. Everyone had a story."

The 2011 Seattle Susan G. Komen "3-Day for the Cure" will take place September 16 - 18, 2011. Alki residents Desiree Holweger and her mother, Ruthie, set up a booth today at 2742 60th Av. SW, between Tully's and SW Stevens St. that will re-open tomorrow, Tuesday, at noon and remain open throughout the day, if it does not rain. They are raising money for "Team-Tracy", the group of 3-Dayer's led by cancer survivor and Alki resident Tracy Dart. At the booth they are selling baked goods and bead work.

This will be Desiree's second year walking for Team-Tracy. You may recognize Desiree as a Tully's barista on Alki and 60th St.

"Participating last year was a life-changer for me," enthused Desiree. "I got to meet a lot of cool people and I plan to be a 'lifer', someone who does the walk every year for life."

Check out the West Seattle Herald article on this coming Sunday's benefit for Ms. Dart here:

Two Burien City Council incumbents are being challenged in the August primary election. Parks Board member Ed Dacy and Planning Commission member Greg Duff are opposing incumbent Lucy Krakowiak.

Joey Martinez and Bob Edgar filed against incumbent Gordon Shaw. However, Edgar withdrew from the race but his name will still be on the ballot. The Times/News sent Edgar a copy of our questionnaire but he did not respond.

The top two vote getters from each primary race will go on to the November general election ballot. Appointed councilman Gerald Robison will face Debi Wagner in the general election. In the primary, ballots must be sent to King County Elections by Aug. 16. We asked the primary candidates the following two questions:

1. What are your qualifications for the office you are seeking and why should voters select you over your opponents?

2. Do you favor Burien annexing White Center and the remaining portion of unincorporated North Highline, and why or why not?

Burien City Council Position 2 Ed Dacy

By Marion Yoshino, Des Moines Economic Development Manager

A tremendous community-wide effort came to fruition on June 30th when the Des Moines City Council voted to enact zoning changes in the downtown "Marina District," that removed recognized hindrances to growth while creating flexibility and incentives to encourage healthy expansion and investment in the business district.

A draft proposal based upon ideas from many groups, stakeholder meetings, staff and individuals had included a hotly debated option to increase building heights from the current 35-foot maximum to a possible 65 or 75 feet in specified areas. In the final version, buildings on a portion of 7th Avenue South can rise to 45 feet, between S. 222nd St and S. 226th St. In addition three buildings can rise to 55 feet (approximately five stories), if the builder provides public benefit features such as public art, a rooftop garden, or other civic, design or streetscape contributions beyond the developer improvements that are required.

Sitting in that magnificent yellow 1933 Packard convertible car, passing familiar folks waving and hollering, "Hi, Earline," was one, great big, happy-face memory moment I will treasure.

And when you're blessed, as I was, with your amazing granddaughter (7 going on 8 years she said,) sitting beside Grandma in a hometown parade - that's very special.

Maraeana Den is her name. It's almost as pretty and unique as she is. I'm prejudiced. Still, she had that "Parade Wave" down pat in no time. Yep, she's a natural for parades I thought imagining her as a movie star, or cherished celebrity of smashing accomplishments.

Or maybe Maraeana's claim to fame will be raising her own children, one of life's most rewarding and demanding careers.

What will the world be in her lifetime? Will she remember this parade and moments of special smiles and fun shared? I believe she will and will smile a lot.

All that was missing was my grandson, Paul Walker Den (6 going on 7-years) seen sitting on nearby grass with his mom and dad, while yelling, "Grandma, I'm over here!"