After recently proposing a cooperative effort with Seattle and King County on the possible annexation of North Highline, the Burien City Council brought that plan closer to reality March 6.

In January, Burien lawmakers directed staff to pursue cooperation with cities adjacent to North Highline by bringing all parties together to find workable solutions regarding annexation.

According to the staff memorandum, March 2009 has been set as the target date for North Highline to cease existing as unincorporated area and be incorporated into an existing city.

During last week’s meeting, Burien Community Development Director Scott Greenberg presented council members with a draft agreement of the proposed cooperative plan. Following a discussion, the council unanimously directed Interim City Manager David Cline to sign the memorandum as the next step in moving it forward.

Prior to that action, Greenberg told lawmakers that solutions stemming from cooperation among the various jurisdictions “should designate logical and achievable potential annexation boundaries” and ensure the complete annexation of North Highline to another city.

“There won’t be any parts [of North Highline] left out of the annexation equation or any overlaps, such as there currently are between Tukwila and Seattle in the northeast corner of the area,” said Greenberg.

He noted that the memorandum designates common criteria for Burien, Seattle and King County to agree to use in annexation decisions.

These include the preservation of natural neighborhoods and physical boundaries; logical service areas; prevention of abnormally irregular boundaries; and political, financial and social implications.

Elected officials, including King County Executive Ron Sims, Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels and King County Councilman Dow Constantine, are scheduled to meet on Thursday, March 16, to discuss and perhaps sign the memorandum.

Cline will sign the memorandum on behalf of Burien.

“I think that we will provide a good statement to our partners that we are ready to discuss this and we are ready to work on this,” said Greenberg.

However, he wasn’t sure if King County or Seattle will be ready to sign at that meeting.

Greenberg also told council members that, beginning in May, Burien will work in the community until North Highline is designated as a potential annexation area by Burien or Seattle, or by both cities.

Community involvement will begin in North Highline starting in April, and start soon thereafter in Burien, Greenberg continued.

Lisa Benson, who represented King County before the city council, said at least four community meetings will be held at neighborhood schools to include the entire unincorporated area.

The same meeting will be held in every community to receive input on the same issues, Benson said.

Greenberg anticipates that this process can lead to a potential annexation designation by fall.