SeaTac lawmakers agreed April 27 that the city is interested in continuing to receive animal control services from King County for 21/2 more years.

However, they wrangled over how they would express that interest.

Following a 60-minute workshop, council members, with the exception of Deputy Mayor Gene Fisher, expressed their interest in sticking with county animal control services.

But newly elected Councilman Rick Forschler said he was unsure of the validity in taking an informal poll of lawmakers at the end of a workshop.

At the end of the regular council meeting, Forschler made a formal motion that SeaTac convey its interest to the county. Fisher and Councilman Ralph Shape said the council routinely expresses its consensus without taking a formal vote.

Forschler's motion was defeated 5-2 with only newly elected Councilwoman Pam Fernald joining Forschler.

Then, Shape requested the council informally express its consensus again, which the lawmakers did.

King County has announced it will get out of the business of supplying animal control officers, shelters and licensing to cities on June 30.
However, the county offered to continue to provide animal services on a regional basis for 6 months or 2 1/2 years to allow cities to find an alternative.

The county would be split into four regions. SeaTac would be in a region with Burien, Tukwila, Kent, Vashon Island White Center and Skyway. One officer would patrol the area five days a week with a shelter in Kent. The county would continue to administer licensing.

SeaTac would have to pay an extra $62,000 per year for the enhanced patrolling it has now.

SeaTac program manager Soraya Lowry, along with consultants Nancy McKenney and Kurt Meacham, briefed the council on a sub regional approach.

Some south county cities could band together to jointly provide animal services. They said the sub regional approach has worked well with SCORE, a seven-city partnership that is building a regional jail in Des Moines.

But it would take 6 months to 5 years to get ready, according to staff.

The sheltering issue is also unique to south county as there is no Humane Society or similar nonprofit group operating south of Bellevue, according to the report. The Kent shelter also only has about five years of usefulness left.

According to cost estimates, if three or more neighboring cities team up, it would cost less that the county's regional service.

However, Police Chief James Graddon said Kent and Tukwila are leaning toward joining the county while Burien has decided to act on its
own.

"What Burien is doing, is in direct contrast to what you said was possible," Councilman Tony Anderson declared to those presenting the report.

Graddon replied that Burien officials feel the city's population is large enough to raise revenues through licensing. Also, Burien may have a possible shelter location.

Council members indicated they would explore options with neighboring cities during the next few years.

SeaTac still has to find out the final costs and terms with the county before an agreement is negotiated.