'No annexation' impacts police
Wed, 08/09/2006
Burien lawmakers were presented with information July 31 that highlights the worst-case scenario if the city annexes none of the North Highline Unincorporated Area.
The "'No Annexation' Impact Summary" was submitted by city staff in the wake of recent public opposition to any annexation of North Highline.
Earlier that day, Burien officials met with representatives from King County and Seattle to discuss possible solutions to the annexation issue.
No specific decisions were made in this meeting, but possible boundaries for annexation and their proposed locations were discussed.
Seattle made a strong statement for taking all of North Highline, Mayor Joan McGilton told the Burien council.
She said Seattle is interested in the fire station and the library located in the unincorporated area.
King County Executive Ron Sims wants to find a joint boundary by 2006 and submit it to a vote in 2007, said McGilton.
Burien Police Chief Scott Kimerer spoke to the council about the $2.2 million increase in funding the city police department will need should Burien chose to not annex.
Most of the increased cost would come from hiring additional officers to maintain the current level of police service in Burien, said Kimerer.
A key benefit of the city's contract for police services with the King County Sheriff's Office is that deputies in the North Highline area have a relationship with Burien officers.
Sixteen percent of dispatched calls are North Highline deputies responding to Burien, Kimerer said.
Should Seattle take all of North Highline, the police department would have to make up for the loss officers from the North Highline area.
"Seattle is very protective of their service, citizens pay for it and expect to get their service," said Kimerer. "No city will subsidize another city if they have not staffed up their own police."
Another factor is the cost of maintaining the building the police department is housed in, Kimerer said.
Burien pays 50 percent and the sheriff's office pays 50 percent. With the loss of the North Highline deputies, Burien would incur a greater financial burden to pay for the building.
Kimerer noted that the numbers provided to the council were based on 2005 police data.
If Burien were to annex just Salmon Creek and the Shorewood area, the city would face the same financial impact due to the loss of officers and the increase in population, he said.
Council members were also given information relating to Burien/Normandy Park Fire District 2, Water District 20, Southwest Suburban Sewer District and ValVue Sewer District.
If all of North Highline were annexed by Seattle, the numbers indicate that customers served by Water District 20 would see an annual rate increase of $236.
Because the size of the district would be reduced, the remaining customers would have to compensate for the loss.
The council has scheduled a public hearing on North Highline annexation for Tuesday, Aug. 22, at Burien City Hall.
Some council members asked city staff for more numbers relating to partial annexation.
"Let's look at other scenarios and give us those costs," said Councilwoman Sally Nelson.
In other business, lawmakers agreed to pay the Highline School District $50,000 to fund the School Resource Officer at Highline High School.
The school district is responsible for paying the other $60,000.