Burien's timeline for annexing the North Highline unincorporated area might slow down if the Seattle City Council doesn't speed up its negotiation process.

At a Burien City Council meeting last week, council members discussed a scheduled July 31 meeting of representatives from Burien, the office of Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels and King County Executive Ron Sims.

Scott Greenberg, Burien's community development director, said meeting participants will focus on three goals for annexation that Burien developed earlier this year as they attempt to determine if there is an alternative for annexation both cities and the can agree on.

However, some council members suggested Burien's actions and timeline is moving faster than Seattle's, and that the local process should slow down.

"It was evident that the Seattle City Council seems to think there will be no discussion on the annexing issue at the council level until an agreement on the 16th Avenue bridge is figured out," said Councilman Gordon Shaw.

The 16th Avenue bridge in South Park needs to be replaced at an estimated cost of $93 million and King County claims it has no money for the project.

Annexation of North Highline could include the bridge.

"That's not a big concern to Burien," said Greenberg. "We have never in any annexation studies assumed that we would annex the bridge.

"It's not connected to the rest of North Highline on dry land by the Duwamish River. It's mostly between King County and the city of Seattle."

Shaw suggested that the July 31 meeting be pushed back until sometime in August while Seattle catches up.

Burien is "going in ready to play the game and the other guy waiting to see if he has 52 cards in the deck," Shaw said.

"The time frame of us moving forward on this is too fast," said Councilmember Jack Block Jr. "Take a step back and bring it up in a year on another comprehensive plan."

The Seattle City Council has just become re-involved in the issue, said Greenberg.

"They have not been involved or engaged in this issue as much as the Burien City Council or the (Seattle) mayor's office," Greenberg said.

"The mayor's office is trying to get them caught up."

"Burien has taken a leadership position on this issue," said Councilwoman Rose Clark. "The Seattle timeline from their end of it is slipping."

The three goals Burien will present to Seattle and King County are maintaining a fiscally sound long-range plan for operations and capital needs in North Highline, providing excellent police and fire services, and recognizing well established neighborhoods and maintaining the atmosphere of a small town.

"The goals were created by council and staff compiled them in a form that I support," said Councilwoman Lucy Krakowiak.

Holding the scheduled July 31 meeting, the city would be able to sit down with representatives of the Seattle mayor's office, and they could make a recommendation to the Seattle council based on the issues discussed with Burien, said Greenberg.

Pushing the meeting back could result in Nickels making a recommendation to the Seattle council without input from Burien, said Greenberg.

"We need to be bold," and it's a good approach on what is clear and achievable, Councilwoman Sally Nelson said.

Burien lawmakers finally agreed to proceed with the July 31 meeting, which will be private. It is not clear when information from that meeting will be made public.

Sara Loken can be reached via wseditor@robinsonnews.com