The importance of the community to file complaints for suspicious criminal activity, problem properties and illegal liquor sales was the focus of the White Center and South Delridge Community Safety Coalition meeting Thursday, Aug. 27.

The Coalition meets once a month to “discuss local crime and nuisance issues and to organize community projects and to increase the safety and quality of life in out neighborhood,” according to the Safety Coalition brochure. The group consists of residents, police officers, social services and city and county staff.

Other than a slight rise in auto thefts, officer Adonis Topacio noted, “nothing stood out as far as crime goes.” In fact, burglaries have decreased to eight this month as compared to the 12 incidents of last month.

Topacio added that the best form of prevention is to watch out for your neighbors and report anything out of the ordinary or suspicious.

“You know your neighborhood better than anyone,” and are more aware of unusual cars or activity, explained Topacio.

Along the lines of noticing unusual activity, the State Liquor Control Board is also looking for help from the public in identifying places that are selling alcohol to minors or already inebriated individuals.

The Liquor Control Board is planning to track down these locations by running compliance checks with king county where a minor operative goes to various locations and attempts to buy both tobacco and alcohol.

If the public witnesses such incidents, they are recommended to file a complaint online (http://www.liq.wa.gov/violation/report.aspx) or through the board's enforcement customer service line (360-664-8798).

There are also efforts being made to patrol the White Center and Burien area during “after hours,” around 2 a.m. to 3 a.m.

After these discussions of crime and crime prevention, there was brief presentation on problem properties and the procedures for dealing with such properties.

Diane Davis of Seattle Department of Planning and Development (DPD) explained their role: “we enforce the housing and building maintenance code. ”This concerns housing rental provisions, unfit building provisions, enforcement of land use codes and vegetation ordinances.

Al Tijerina from King County Code Enforcement Officer gave a powerpoint presentation on the code enforcement process. Code enforcement is 100 percent complaint driven, explained Tijerina.

“Usually in a year we deal with 3,500 cases,” said Davis.

This is divided among a shrinking staff, now down to nine code enforcement officers. Life and safety cases take first priority, followed by junk, debris, expired building permits and other concerns.

Since DPD is not a law enforcement organization, they must have consent to enter someone’s property. “No one really appreciates a [code enforcement] officer on their property,” said Tijerina, and the owner can choose whether they want to comply.

Due to these protections, the number of cases each officer handles and the amount of mandatory notice, handling these cases is often a long process. “There is a lot of stuff that goes on that is pretty invisible to the public,” explained Davis.

The best way to file a complaint is online, since it is “efficient, quick and immediate,” said Tijerina. That can be done here: www.kingcounty.gov/permits/ce.aspx

However, if are unable to file online, DPD recommends calling the 24 hour complaint line (206-296-6680).