June 2012

Summarizing a June 18 report to the Burien City Council on the city’s controversial CARES animal control program, City Manager Mike Martin said Burien is saving $100,000-$300,000 a year with CARES.

“Never in my career, have I seen something going so right characterized as going so wrong,” Martin declared.

He said being part of King County’s regional service would cost Burien over $340,000 a year. Burien collects $60,000-$70,000 a year in pet license fees and adds about $50,000 from the general fund for the CARES service, according to Martin.

Martin dubbed the CARES program as a grass roots “Burienesque operation.” He noted the city transferred animal control from a public agency—King County, to a private group.

CARES is a group of volunteers led by The Mark Restaurant co-owner Debra George that was awarded Burien’s contract to handle animal control services.

After a speaker said CARES does not have nonprofit status with the Internal Revenue Service, George said the group’s tax-exempt status is pending.

press release
Let it Rain Spikes in Seattle, Washington

EVP VOLLEYBALL TOUR NEXT STOP:
The 2012 EVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour sponsored by Sparkling ICE is heading to Alki Beach in Seattle, Washington and we want you to join us.

DATE:
Saturday, June 23 from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
@Alki Beach Park, 1702 Alki Avenue Southwest Seattle, WA 98116

EVENT DETAILS:
Adult Volleyball players will enjoy a day playing with other teams from Seattle and interact with EVP tour players. The day features EVP-level competition, special events, challenges, and much more, including:
•Opportunities to meet pro players
•Free volleyball action
•Chances to win EVP prizes

Learn more about the day at www.evptour.com

REGISTRATION INFORMATION:
The EVP Tour sponsored by Sparkling ICE invites all volleyball team captains to register by logging on to: www.evptour.com. Pro teams must register by June 22nd.

The Nordic Heritage Museum will host its second annual celebration of the world of the Moomins on Tuesday, July 31.

Moomins (Muumi in Finnish and Mumintroll in Swedish) are the lovable story book characters created by Finnish author Tove Jansson.

Kids are invited to celebrate all things Moomin by listening to Moomin stories, dance to Moomin music, watch classic Moomin cartoons, and make Moomin crafts.

The events are ongoing and attendees are welcome to drop in anytime between 10 a.m. and noon.

This event is appropriate for all ages and free to Museum members. Cost is $3 per person for non-members.

Nordic Heritage Museum is located at 3014 NW 67th St.

Information from the City of Burien

June 21, 6 pm
3:14 Bakery, 9602 16th Ave. S.W. in White Center

Annexation of North Highline
The Burien City Council on April 2 adopted a resolution that requests King County to place on the Nov. 6, 2012, General Election ballot a proposition concerning annexation of the North Highline Area "Y" annexation area. Residents of the proposed annexation area would vote on whether to become part of the City of Burien. The proposed annexation area includes the unincorporated remainder of North Highline, which takes in White Center, Top Hat, Beverly Park, Glendale, and portions of Boulevard Park, Riverton Heights and Shorewood. Burien annexed the southern section of North Highline in 2010.

At its Oct. 3 meeting, the Council approved an "intent to annex" resolution that set in motion the formal annexation process. The annexation proposal went before Washington State Boundary Review Board for King County, which conducted a public hearing Jan. 9 and 10 before voting to accept the proposal on Feb. 16. If approved by voters, the annexation could take effect in spring 2013.

There's still time to sign up and be part of this year's Jack Thompson Sports Camps which begin June 29 and extend until July 2. Those 3 days will feature 5 sports including football, basketball, soccer, tennis and volleyball. The event is open to participants ages 6 through 14 and is being held on the Evergreen Campus at 830 s.w. 116th Street.

While the cost is $20 to participate, scholarships are available. The event is staged from 9am to Noon and from 1 to 4 pm each day.

For more information, call Pat Thompson at 206.349.8106

Jack Thompson is a an alumni of Evergreen and a former NFL quarterback.

There will be no “Kids and Cops” Initiative on the Burien ballot this November.

Without a formal vote, Burien City Council members decided June 18 to not move forward on the proposal.

As introduced by City Manager Mike Martin the six-year initiative would have funded a surge in Burien police officers and provide grants to some Burien elementary schools.

The initiative would have been funded by an increase in utility taxes and would have needed voter approval.

The city council’s decision came after three influential school leaders roasted the proposal at a June 5 Highline School Board meeting.

The three leaders said the initiative would make it harder to pass school district levies and bonds because Burien voters would think they already had voted on funding the schools.

They also noted the school board is elected to decide funding priorities. Providing direct funding at the discretion of school principals would circumvent the process, they argued.

Press release:

A $14,150 grant from the Alaska Airlines Pilots Charitable Fund (AAPCF) to Dynamic Partners and Children’s Therapy Center will help provide therapy for thousands of children with disabilities in South King County.

Last year, Dynamic Partners, a consortium of organizations that collaborate to help children with special needs reach their full potential, served 2,300 kids in Washington State’s South King and Pierce Counties.

Dynamic Partners is expanding its ability to serve children by opening a third location in Burien. That location, already under renovation, will allow the organization to double the number of kids it can serve within the next five years.

The AAPCF grant has purchased four pieces of therapy equipment for the still-under-construction Burien site at the old Prudential Northwest Realty location.

An adjustable recumbent bicycle and elliptical machine designed to fit kids will be used in the fitness center for both individual physical therapy sessions and the fitness center program.

Press release:
If you think that the Primary Election is coming earlier than normal, you’re right.
Starting in 2012, our Primary Election is taking place on the first Tuesday in August – this year it’s Aug. 7. For the past few years, it had been held on the third Tuesday in August.
There are other key dates related to the upcoming Primary and our initiative process that are worth knowing:

Saturday, June 23, is the deadline to mail Primary Election ballots to military and overseas voters. This also includes ballots issued electronically (by email)

Friday, July 6, is the last day to bring in petitions for Initiatives to the People with the Secretary of State. At this point, we anticipate two measures that could be submitted: I-1185 (Tim Eyman’s initiative to preserve the requirement that two-thirds of the members in each legislative chamber vote “yes” to raise taxes or fees) and I-1240 (authorizing the creation of charter schools in Washington)

Executive Director for the West Seattle region for Seattle Public Schools, Aurora Lora has taken a new job in Dallas, Texas. Her last day on the job in Seattle is July 6. Lora shared the news in a letter to colleagues she wrote and posted today, June, 21.

"It is with mixed emotions that I announce I have accepted a position as Assistant Superintendent for the Dallas Independent School District. In my new position, I will be supervising four executive directors, 45 principals, and will be responsible for overseeing the education of 35,000 students. My last day with the District will be July 6.

This was not an easy decision for me because I have truly loved my experience working with the principals, assistant principals, schools, families and community members of the West Seattle region. I have learned so much in the past two years from my work as an executive director and will genuinely miss the individuals that I have had the pleasure of working with during my time in Seattle.

Press release:

The Hyde Shuttle began operating a combined route in the cities of SeaTac and Tukwila June 4. The Hyde Shuttle provides free rides to seniors (55 years of age or older) and to people with disabilities.
It is a cooperative venture between Senior Services (an agency promoting the well-being of older adults) and King County Metro.

The awarding of the route follows several weeks of discussion between the two cities and Senior Services. Available resources from Senior Services and Metro, coupled with a demonstrated need for increased accessible transportation in SeaTac and Tukwila, along with some fortunate timing of the request, have combined to make this possible.

The Hyde Shuttle provides door to door transportation for qualified individuals to various local destinations including grocery stores, senior centers, medical appointments and other neighboring venues.

It will not, however, provide rides to the airport. The shuttle operates Monday – Friday, with general hours between 9 a.m.- 4 p.m.