Board members for the Seahurst Environmental Learning Center (SELC) appeared before the Burien city council Oct. 26 to request a guarantee for a two-year bridge loan of $175,000.

The city of Burien has a long history with the SELC, and at least one council member - Rose Clark -has served on its board in the past.

Since 2002, Burien has relinquished use of the caretaker's cottage at Seahurst Park, which has helped the learning center to educate more than 10,000 students and adults in South King County about the Puget Sound ecosystem.

However, for the past several years the cottage has been unfit for use.

The projected cost of remodeling the cottage is $1.3 million and over the last several years the SELC has raised close to $1 million. Once completed, the cottage will be ready for classrooms, office space and environmental displays.

Phase one of the project involves completing the building's exterior, which is expected to be done by December 1. The project is currently within budget - a fact project manager Cheri Hendricks attributes to having a "collaborative" contractor whose approach has helped minimize construction costs.

To continue qualifying for grants, prevent a cost increase and keep the project moving forward, the SELC must secure a guarantor and sign loan papers by Dec. 1.

Normally the city's decision to extend public credit would hinge on the existence of a clear benefit to the public.

That question is normally a no-brainer in the case of a learning center such as SELC. As such, council members were highly supportive of SELC's request.

But the pending nature of multiple requests for funds left everyone on the council seeming a little skittish.

For example, City Manager Mike Martin emphasized that his main concern was the possible financial risk of "somewhere between zero and $175,000." And Mayor Joan McGilton referred to the funding requests as "several monkeys up in the air."

And of course, keeping the monkeys company is Initiative 1033, the 800-pound gorilla that council

Nevertheless, SELC board members remained bullish on their chances of being rewarded the necessary grants to continue with phase two of the project, which involves remodeling the interior of the cottage.

The city council wrapped up their discussion by asking the SELC to submit a formal letter with a more concrete proposal.