During the Aug. 17 Burien City Council meeting, council members debated whether to spend $1.5 million on a temporary senior center.
If approved, the city would use the money to update the heat, ventilation and air conditioning system (HVAC) at the old Burien library, which would house the center.
However, moving forward with the proposal will require shuffling $425,000 from the city's general fund and Parks & Recreation budget, as well as $75,000 from the Capital Projects Reserve Fund -- money which was originally intended for the design and build of a new senior center facility.
Adding to the weight of the discussion was Burien's shrinking sales tax revenue and whether it's wise to spend money on a temporary facility that won't provide any space for additional programs.
Among the most vocal opponents to the measure was Councilman Gordon Shaw, who called such a use of this money "foolish" given that the library is only intended to house the senior center for three to five years.
"Rather than spending the money today, we should put it in the bank so one day we can afford the community center that we all hope to build," said Shaw.
Most of Shaw's colleagues saw things differently. Councilwoman Sally Nelson considered remodeling the old library as an "important investment" and took issue with Shaw characterizing the facility as only being useful for a few years.
"I'm looking forward to the improvements that will be there and think it's something we can celebrate," said Nelson.
Councilwoman Rose Clark captured the difficult nature of the vote. After stating that she would be a reluctant 'yes' vote she changed her position due to concerns with declining tax revenue. The council approved the proposal 4-2.
The council also continued discussing locations for the new fire stations. The Burien/ Normandy Park Fire District is moving ahead smoothly with a new station near its current location on Normandy Road.
Meanwhile, the city's municipal parking lot (immediately east of the AT&T building, between Southwest 150t and Southwest 151 streets) is on the list of two to three properties being considered for a location in downtown Burien.
The sticking point continues to be the impact of the proposed station on downtown parking, a commodity already in short supply.
City Manager Mike Martin presented a plan to replace the parking that would include purchasing the lot immediately east of the Post Office from Urban Partners, and transforming an empty lot owned by the city that's on the corner of Southwest 152 Street and 6 Avenue Southwest.
Council members agreed in principle that the fire station should take precedence, yet they were reluctant to approve the fire district's proposal in its present form.
Their main concern was devoting the lot on 152nd to parking when a recent study funded by the city suggested that 152nd be devoted to businesses and any future parking be located on 151st or 153rd.
Mayor Joan McGilton tried removing the issue of parking from the discussion to move things forward. In the end, however, the council asked Martin and the fire district to return in September with a more structured proposal.
The council also selected Chestine Edgar to write the Con statements for the ballot measure that would establish a $25 license fee for two years. Revenue from the license fee would be used to fund sidewalk improvements in North Burien, as part of the city's Pedestrian & Bicycle Facilities Plan. The council already appointed Joe Fitzgibbon, Gloria Gould-Wessen and Tara Grumm to the Pro committee.