The Burien City Council decided to postpone further consideration of annexing North Highline until early January, after its newly elected members are sworn into office.

The council has been considering declaring North Highline a "potential annexation area." The designation wouldn't obligate Burien to annex North Highline. It's a signal to other cities that Burien wants to study annexation of the area to its north. However becoming a potential annexation area is a necessary step in the annexation process.

Council members decided Dec. 19 to take up the issue again in early January. The council wants more community involvement before deciding whether to designate the North Highline unincorporated area as a potential annexation area.

Last month's general election changed the makeup of the Burien City Council and that will affect the city's future course of action on whether or not to offer annexation to North Highline.

The mayor of Burien, who is selected by the City Council from among council members, is Noel Gibb. But he was defeated in the November election by Sue Blazak, who got 4,270 votes to Gibb's 3,632.

Another incumbent council member, Stephen Lamphear, also was defeated in his re-election bid. Rose Clark will be taking his place. She received 4,365 votes to Lamphear's 3,558.

Meanwhile council incumbents Joan McGilton, who serves as deputy mayor, won 4,265 votes to 3,408 for Steve Denmark.

Sally Nelson also won re-election beating Bob Sheen 4,667 to 3,046.

The fall campaign revealed a lot of Burienites think the annexation issue is moving forward too quickly, said Scott Greenberg, the city's community development director. City officials and staff have been studying it for about two years. The new council members want to get the public more involved in the annexation discussion, he said.

Ultimately a vote of North Highline residents will decide whether North Highline joins Burien or Seattle.