After over an hour of heated public comment Burien Council Members took the resolution expressing their intention to annex the northern part of North Highline off of the table.
The resolution was supposed to be a response to Seattle announcing a vote for north North Highline residents to become a part of Seattle. Several residents had come to the Burien Council asking if they would have a choice between becoming a part of Burien or Seattle.

Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn withdrew his recommendation to move forward with a vote this fall when Seattle Staff presentation showed annexation would cost the City over $12.5 million more than the revenue it would produce, as well as $8.7 million in one time costs.
McGinn and the Seattle City Council decided to delay plans for annexation until at least 2011.

Burien Councilmember Gordon Shaw said given Seattle’s recent announcement the urgency for this motion was lost. The motion was removed, with Council consensus, by its maker, Councilmember Lucy Krakowiak.

During the public comment portion of the meeting there were impassioned pleas from both sides. Before the meeting petitions with 2,800 signatures against the annexation of the rest of North Highline were given to the City Council.

Burien Business and Economic Development Partnership (BEDP) asked the Burien City Council to move slowly on any consideration of annexing additional land into the City.
BEDP Annexation Subcommittee Chair Doug Moreland told the Council the Partnership had grave concerns with the City moving forward with the resolution. He said the annexation presented major financial challenges for the City.
“There is no compelling economic reason for annexation,” Moreland said.

The BEDP presented the Council with a list of milestones they want the City to meet before considering any further annexation.
The milestones included the successful incorporation of the area of North Highline that will become Burien on April 1 (known as area X), completion of the Town Center Project, a new vision statement and meeting full performance funding for basic public services in area X.
At the March 8 City Council meeting there was a consensus among the Councilmembers annexation of north North Highline would only be pursued after the successful integration of area X. Krakowiak was the only Councilmember who said she could not support the motion because she did not believe Burien could afford it.

BEDP also asked for a public vote by the residents of Burien endorsing the Council’s consideration of additional annexation options.
Many residents were angry with the Council for considering further annexation without any community input.

“There has been a serious breach of trust between the Council and the Citizens of Burien regarding annexation,” Burien resident Horace Parker said. Parker said he was upset there was no advisory vote on something they believe could possibly bankrupt the City.

Bob Ewing, a member of the BEDP Annexation Subcommittee, said citizens should vote on any plans for annexation before the Council moves forward.
“Any plan to double the population of Burien should be put to the citizens of Burien and White Center,” Ewing said.
Mark Ufkes, president of the White Center Homeowners Association said he wants to be annexed by Seattle because he feels they will be able to fund public services when Burien cannot.

Gill Loring, a North Highline resident, said he just wants the opportunity to become a part of the City.
“We don’t expect you to come rescue us,” Loring said. “You can’t afford it.” But, Loring said they are not the spawn of Satan, and would like the choice to become a part of Burien.

North Highline Council President Greg Duff asked the Council to pass the resolution, asking the Council to let area Y know they have a choice.
“Burien needs all of North Highline to make the City Complete,” Duff said.

During the Council discussion on the resolution Shaw said peoples opposition to annexation was premature.
“I think it is way too early in the process to say it is a bad idea when we don’t know what the idea is yet,” Shaw said.
Councilmember Brian Bennett expressed his belief that if the rest of North Highline became a part of Seattle they have no representation in the City. Bennett said he wants the people to have a choice.