Burien residents soon will have a number of opportunities to comment on the potential annexation of all, part, or none of the North Highline unincorporated area.

A community engagement plan approved by the Burien council on April 3 calls for community meetings on May 31, June 3 and June 7 to give city residents the chance to speak out on annexation.

“We hope that the Burien community will take advantage of the conversations to learn more about the annexation issue and the choices we face,” said Mayor Joan McGilton.

“It is important for Burien residents and businesses to let us know how they feel about the annexation so that the city council knows what the community's interest are on this important issue.”

On Wednesday, May 31, the 7-8:30 p.m. meeting will be at Burien City Hall, 415 S.W. 150th St.

The Hazel Valley Elementary cafeteria at 402 S.W. 132nd St., is the location of the Saturday, June 3, meeting from 10:30 a.m. to noon.

On Wednesday, June 7, the final Burien meeting from 7 to 8:30 pm will be in the Sylvester Middle School cafeteria at 16222 Sylvester Rd. S.W.

The community engagement plan also includes citywide mailings, distribution of flyers at community events, and speaking engagements before service clubs and neighborhood organizations.

For more information on community involvement regarding the potential annexation, go to the city of Burien website at www.ci.burien.wa.us.

King County has also scheduled a series of annexation open houses and workshops in the North Highline community:

Saturday, May 13, 9-10:30 a.m., Evergreen High School cafeteria, 830 S.W. 116th St.

Tuesday, May 16, 7-8:30 p.m., Southern Heights Elementary multi-purpose room, 11249 14th Ave. S.

Tuesday, May 23, 7-8:30 p.m., Hilltop Elementary cafeteria, 12250 24th Ave. S.

A White Center Town Hall and Education Forum has been set up for April 19 by the White Center Community Development Association in partnership with KCTS Television.

McGilton will be one of the speakers and the meeting will feature a screening of a new KCTS Connects documentary on the White Center area.

The 6:30-8 p.m. forum will be at White Center Heights Elementary.

KCTS will record the forum and broadcast it on KCTS Connects Thursday, April 27, at 8 p.m., and again Sunday, April 30, at 5 a.m. and noon.

Currently, the annexation is being studied jointly by Burien, King County and Seattle under a Memorandum of Understanding between the jurisdictions.

Seattle also is interested in annexing all or part of North Highline.

The agreement commits Burien and Seattle to work together, share information and create a plan with input from the North Highline community that best serves residents.

A joint recommendation for potential annexation boundaries is to be made by July, followed by a public vote by residents in the annexation areas by November 2007.

Annexation of the North Highline unincorporated area would take place no later than March 2009.