July 2011

At the SeaTac City Council meeting on June 28th, City Engineer Susan Sanderson revealed the latest plans for the 10-Year Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP).

Among the projects coming up in 2012 is the construction of a sidewalk along both sides of South 164th Street that would stretch from 34th Avenue South to Military Road South. This would help to make it safer for children in that area who go to the neighboring schools, such as McMicken Heights on South 166th Street.

Paired with this, though still unapproved, is a rough plan to add sidewalks on 166th and 168th as well, covering more of the local school area. If approved, the plans would be drawn up in 2012, and it would be constructed in 2013.

However, some concerns were raised over the proximity of this proposed project to the South 166th Street project.

It might appear as if SeaTac were favoring certain neighborhoods over others, Councilman Ralph Shape suggested. Councilman Tony Anderson responded by pointing out that "It's not about the neighborhood issues, it's about getting sidewalks around our schools so that the kids aren't walking into ditches."

The King County Library System (KCLS) board voted June 28 to delay a decision on consolidating the White Center and Boulevard Park libraries. Both are located within Burien's city limits.

There was no announcement on how long they will delay their decision, or when they will reconsider it.

Local lawmakers officials have asked the library board to wait until the issue of White Center annexation is resolved. Burien council members are considering whether to attempt to annex the remainder of North Highline. Seattle has backed off, for now, on pursuing annexation.

"We're not done with this yet," White Center Library Guild president Rachael Levine declared. "We're going to continue our coalition so that people won't forget about it until we get the library expansions that we voted on."

Levine presented the board an informal petition with over 1,800 signatures she and others have been collecting since early June. White Center community members also told the board why they felt the location of the White Center library is crucial to them and their children.

As veteran Pacific Northwesterners know, the true sunny summer season here is very short-it usually starts soon after the Independence Day holiday and gives way to fall showers by September.

Highline recreation departments and arts organizations are taking full advantage of this short window of opportunity by presenting a ton of outdoor concerts, movies and plays in local parks for the next two months.

Not only is Burien offering its usual concert series at Lake Burien School Park but also the city has added another concert venue in newly annexed North Burien. Lunchtime concerts are also set for Tuesdays at Town Square Park.

Music concerts are also on tap in Normandy Park, Des Moines, SeaTac and Tukwila, including-- not one but two-- Neil Diamond tribute performances.

Outdoor movies will be start in August when dusk starts arriving a little earlier.

For a dash of culture, Shakespeare plays will performed at parks in Burien, Des Moines and SeaTac.
And best of all, the family entertainment is free.

Below is a list of outdoor summer events in the parks. Be sure to check our Times/News Calendar section for updates:

Music

Press release:

South King Fire & Rescue, which serves Des Moines and Federal Way, wants to ask residents to do their part this summer in keeping our communities free from fire, after fire responses soared over the weekend.

Most of the fires have been small in nature, originating in beauty bark, grass or other natural vegetation and can be easily prevented with a little caution. Dry conditions over the weekend, combined with human carelessness caused nearly 20 small fires throughout the district since Friday. Damages have been minimal and in most cases, firefighters have been able to easily extinguish them with a bucket or two of water.

Generally, landscape bark fires are started by discarded cigarettes. Cigarettes continue to smolder, sometimes for hours, after being thrown away. If they are left in dry bark, they can easily start a smoldering fire.

Please use extra caution this summer and keep the following in mind:

Call 9-1-1 immediately If the fire won't go out, there are flames, it has spread to a fence or building, or if you don't feel safe.

Press release:

Between July 15 and August 7, law enforcement officers throughout King County will be part of a statewide effort in search of speeding drivers.

Driving faster than posted speed limits may not seem like a big deal, but more than 40 percent of fatal crashes in Washington involve a speeding driver.

That's why the King County Target Zero Task Force is coordinating extra speed patrols throughout local communities.

"Speeding is a major contributing factor in fatal and serious injury crashes in Washington, and therefore, is a priority of Target Zero," said Lowell Porter, Director of the Traffic Safety Commission. "Well publicized and highly visible speed enforcement is a proven combination that reduces fatal crashes. Obeying speed limits is something everyone can do to support highway safety in Washington."

In addition to being dangerous, speeding is expensive. The average speeding ticket in Washington is $156, but as your speed increases, so does the fine. In fact, a speeding ticket in Washington could easily cost more than $411.

The City of Burien is conducting a test today (Wednesday, July 6) of the Burien Alert emergency notification system. Residents and businesses with land telephone lines can expect to receive a call from the automated system indicating the call is a test. People who have "opted in" their cell phones and other electronic devices should also receive a call.

Anyone can opt in by going to the City website at www.burienwa/gov. Look for "Burien Alert" on the home page.

Why do smokers think that their butts are NOT LITTER??? Photo was taken on Father's Day on the street in front of Sal's Deli after an awesome breakfast.

Rick Cosgrave
Burien

(Editor's Note: The following letter was sent to King County Councilman Larry Phillips, concerning a proposal to charge motorists $20 per vehicle to maintain Metro Transit bus service. A copy of the letter was sent to the Times/News.)

This penalty fee will actually injure low-income people. My city, Burien, adopted such a fee -- over the 75 percent negative vote of the people (remind you of a stadium or two?).

I have only one vehicle and I work at home, while a new American family in my neighborhood has 4 cars -- every adult works. So, they not only pay 4 times more in absolute dollars than I do -- the proportional penalty is dramatically more.

And to add penalty to penalty, car tab fees are not deductible on federal income taxes -- only the RTA excise tax is. So, these same neighbors pay still more in overall tax burden and get less value. So, why, you might offer, do they have 4 cars for work -- well, perhaps because the mass transit system doesn't support them well, i.e., pizza delivery, house cleaner, newspaper delivery, road flagger.

(Editor's Note: The following letter was sent to Port of Seattle commissioners with a copy to the Times/News.)

Regarding some points on the Noise Study Draft.

A major problem with the study appears to be that subjects of the study are almost totally different from the noise and sleep problems brought up by the public. For example, the 2 a.m. flight has been brought up repeatedly by residents at other presentations but ignored by staff.

The "hush house" has been brought up repeatedly by staff but only rarely by residents and generally in response to staff and appears to be grossly overpriced. The picture suggests an opening would be pointed at (Des Moines Mayor) Bob Sheckler's house and downtown Des Moines.

The hush house evaluation document shows two locations "A" and "B" which would probably require relocation of the fuel tanks and "A" would require extensive fill as the location is on the golf course well below the first runway.

A coyote fence is on the west edge of the runway. This should be replaced with an airport fence to direct airport on the ground sound upwards where no known population exists.

(Editor's Note: King County Councilwoman Julia Patterson represents parts of Kent, Renton, Tukwila, SeaTac and Des Moines.)

On June 16 the Regional Transit Committee, a committee composed of elected leaders from across King County, unanimously voted to approve a new vision for our Metro Transit bus system by adopting a the Strategic Plan for Public Transportation 2011-2021.

The plan is the first of its kind in the nation, guiding where and how Metro delivers transit service to you and other King County residents for the next decade.

Transit service is important to everyone in King County, whether you take the bus or not - it keeps our economy moving by getting people to their jobs and helps manage congestion by getting people out of their cars. That is why I want to let you know more about the plan and why it's important to you.

This plan is based on three core values:

Productivity - moving the most people with our transit system in the most efficient and cost-effective way.
Social Equity -- prioritizing transit service to make sure those who need transit the most - those who depend on it - receive it.