People cut new trails through the issue of North Highline annexation during a recent public forum discussion over whether the unincorporated community should join Burien or Seattle.

Could Burien afford to devote money to improvements in the White Center business district in addition to its current investment in Burien Town Square?

Would Burien be less inclined to invest in White Center's business district for fear of competition for Burien's main shopping area?

If North Highline voters approved annexation to Burien, would there be some power-sharing agreement to enable North Highline residents to have a say in Burien city government until the next regularly scheduled municipal election of Burien city officials?

These and other questions were posed during the April 19 event at White Center Heights Elementary School.

It was sponsored by the White Center Community Development Association and television station KCTS, which taped the event. About 100 people attended.

Saving Burien's downtown is one of the city's "core values," said David Cline, Burien city manager.

"Economic development drives the community," Cline said. "Having a vibrant Town Square and a vibrant White Center would be great."

Regarding power sharing if voters approved annexation to Burien, Cline said perhaps North Highline residents could serve on advisory committees during the interim before the next regularly scheduled round of municipal elections.

While North Highline residents get to vote on annexation, a man in the audience wondered if Burien residents have a say in whether or not the population of their city doubles by annexing North Highline.

Burien residents' voices will be expressed through elected Burien city officials, who will decide on their behalf where the new Burien city limits are located, Cline said.

The Burien City Council will draw the annexation line prior to the vote by North Highline residents, he added.

Representing Seattle was Kenny Pittmann from the city's Office of Policy and Management, who listed numerous programs and services the city offers as an enticement to join Seattle.

The bigger city either provides services itself or contracts with nonprofit organizations to do it. Health clinics, child care and many other programs are paid for through Seattle's voter-approved Families and Education levy.

Seattle also has programs to help first-time home buyers, he said.

Pittmann touted Seattle's district council system for the way it represents the city's neighborhoods. He told about the city's neighborhood matching fund and the civic improvements it spawns.

Cline countered that Burien has after-school programs, teen health clinics, new bicycle paths and lots of affordable housing.

Cline and Pittmann even tried to outdo each other over how long their respective cities have been studying the annexation issue.

At that point, moderator Enrique Cerna said Cline and Pittmann sounded like a couple of college recruiters.

An audience member wondered if North Highline joins Seattle, would the city look to White Center and Boulevard Park as places to build affordable housing?

Pittman replied that Seattle disperses affordable housing throughout the city.

White Center, Boulevard Park, North Shorewood, Top Hat, Beverly Park, Southern Heights and other unincorporated neighborhoods are under pressure to decide their future governance.

After studying the pros and cons, the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council decided to recommend against North Highline forming a city unto itself.

Now the choice is between joining Seattle or Burien.

The procedure for a city to annex another area begins with the city declaring the area it is eyeing as a "potential annexation area." That sets in motion studies and comparisons to help the city decide whether to annex the new area. A city can scrap the idea if it doesn't pencil out.

King County has 10 unincorporated areas it hopes will be annexed by adjoining cities.

There are 200,000 people living in unincorporated urban King County and all but North Highline have been named as potential annexation areas, said Elissa Benson from the King County Office of Management and Budget.

She too was a panelist at the town hall meeting.

The schedule is for North Highline residents to vote on annexation no later than November 2007, Benson said. The annexation process is supposed to be completed by March 2009.

"Services will undoubtedly improve over time as part of a city," she added.

Burien Mayor Joan McGilton said Burien officials approached Seattle and King County to discuss how the three governments ought to proceed with the annexation process after making a realization.

"We didn't listen to the community enough," she said.

King County Councilman Dow Constantine told the crowd, at the end of the process, no portion of North Highline will be left behind and unincorporated.

"Make it as inclusive as possible," he said. "It's not a process only for the well-connected or the well-informed."

Tim St. Clair can be contacted at tstclair@robinsonnews.com or 206-932-0300.