If the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council was hoping for guidance from the public, it didn't get much at the "listening session" the council held last week at Evergreen High School.

Public testimony at the meeting showed there are still deep divisions over how North Highline ought to be governed. Nine people said they want to be annexed by Burien, eight preferred Seattle, and one wanted to split North Highline between the two cities. A half dozen other speakers wanted to keep North Highline unincorporated. More than 100 people attended the public meeting.

No one spoke in favor of forming North Highline into an independent city. Studies have shown North Highline's tax base is about $5 million short of having enough to pay the expense of incorporating and running its own city.

The Unincorporated Area Council made a preliminary recommendation that North Highline be annexed to Burien, but the council isn't scheduled to finalize its recommendation until Dec. 1. Members wanted to hear what North Highline residents had to say about governance of their community.

"Burien is the lesser of two evils," said Beverly Park resident Ron Adams.

"Don't even talk about the city of Seattle," he said. "We all know what goes on there. If I have to, I'll go to Burien. But not right now."

Several of those who support joining Seattle pointed to the big city's many social and human services, which Burien cannot match.

Bob Price said he doesn't care for Burien, but North Highline would constitute about half the residents of a combined city. With half of the votes in an expanded Burien, North Highline would get more attention from Burien city government than it would from the much bigger Seattle.

"It will be a two-way street," Price said.

Boulevard Park resident Butch Henderson gave voice to what he believes Burien city officials are thinking: "We really don't want to make this decision, but shucks, we gotta keep you out of Seattle."

"We'd be outsiders (in Burien) anyway," he told the crowd.

Businessman Savun Neang said many of his fellow White Center merchants fear Seattle's business and occupation tax, which is considerably higher than Burien's, he said.

Rick Weiler said Burien doesn't have enough infrastructure to support North Highline.

"We don't want to be like Seattle treats South Park," said Tanya Aguiler.

John Johnston recommended joining the bigger city too.

"I feel closer to Seattle," he said.

Mark Ufkes, a former member of the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council, accused the council of favoring annexation to Burien.

"People are limiting our options," he said. "We haven't even heard from Seattle."

Beverly Park resident Ray Helms noted that Burien is developing its town center without having to raise taxes, which he takes as a sign of solid government. Besides, he said, who knows how long Seattle will continue collecting the monorail tax?

Rosemary Thurston, on the other hand, reminded attendees that North Highline would bring an annual $5 million budget gap to whatever city annexes it.

"How's the city of Burien going to pay for that?" she asked.

Rachel Levine of Arbor Lake sensed inferiority feelings in the crowd.

"Don't ask what they (Burien and Seattle) can do for us," she said. "Think what we can bring to a city."

There are many more steps on the road to change local governance in White Center, Boulevard Park, Top Hat, Beverly Park, Hill Top, Arbor Lake, Salmon Creek and Shorewood.

Currently North Highline residents are represented at the local level by Dow Constantine of the King County Council and King County Executive Ron Sims. If North Highline voters decide to join either Seattle or Burien, residents would be represented by a city council and mayor.

The roads and parks in North Highline would be maintained by whichever city is selected.

If North Highline joins Burien, the area would continue to be patrolled by King County sheriff's deputies. If the area becomes part of Seattle, officers of the Seattle Police Department would patrol North Highline.

Similarly, fire protection and emergency medical response would remain as part of the local fire district if Burien takes over. North Highline fire stations would be manned by the Seattle Fire Department if the bigger city takes over.

The White Center and Boulevard Park libraries would remain part of the King County Library System if North Highline were part of Burien. Seattle has its own separate library system.

No matter which city might take over, there would be no change in districts for schools, water, sewer, hospitals, cemeteries or the Port of Seattle. King County also would continue providing health and human services.

After the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council makes its final recommendation Thursday, King County will begin negotiations with the selected city about specifics and when to hold a vote of North Highline registered voters.

North Highline residents also could petition either city to be annexed. To be valid, the petition would need enough signatures to equal 10 percent of the turnout in the last general election. Then the city council in the annexing city would vote on whether to accept the petition.

If accepted, North Highline voters would decide by simple majority whether to join that city or not. Neither Burien nor Seattle residents would participate in such a vote.

Tim St. Clair can be contacted at tstclair@robinsonnews.com or 932-0300.