Burien City Council members said last week they do not support annexing the entire North Highline unincorporated area.

The lawmakers' views were aired during a special meeting last week on the potential impacts that an annexation would have on Burien.

None of the council members said they support annexing the entire unincorporated area, which includes White Center and Boulevard Park, and portions of the industrial area near South Park.

Some expressed a preference for preserving neighborhoods along Burien's current northern borders.

"I feel a full annexation is not appropriate at this time," said Deputy Mayor Jack Block Jr. "I don't think we are ready for it."

Most council members also said they would not support an advisory vote on annexation by Burien residents.

"I was elected to make the tough choices," said Councilwoman Sally Nelson. "I do not doubt the ability of citizens to make a decision but I really believe in representative government."

During the regular council meeting that followed, interim City Manager David Cline said, "We did get some clear direction that with the different possibilities in front of you, there seems to be a general support right now for not looking further into full annexation for various reasons: size, money, staffing, community....

"I also heard that council is willing to make this decision as representatives of the community and that you are very available to the community to weigh that input."

Council members asked city staff specifically to look at the impact on fire and police services and what the "no annexation" scenario would mean for Burien residents.

Community Development Director Scott Greenberg told lawmakers that if Burien decides to do nothing, North Highline could incorporate, stay unincorporated or annex to Seattle.

The two latter choices would have the most impact on the city he said.

"As a fire district, we rely heavily on mutual aid; we are not self-sufficient," said Burien-Normandy Park Fire Chief Mike Marrs.

Through a mutual aid agreement, Burien now pays the North Highline Fire District $1 million to provide first response services in north Burien, said Marrs.

"In a no annexation scenario, the good news is that we get that $1 million back," he said. "The bad news is we would not have as nearly an effective way of providing service to north Burien as we have through that contract.

"With no annexation, it is up for question whether Seattle will provide that same type of coverage through a contract."

Seattle, Marrs said, may not be willing to contract with Burien for the same price the city now pays North Highline since Seattle's staffing costs are substantially higher than North Highline's. Seattle officials have already said the Seattle Fire Department would take over coverage of North Highline, displacing the North Highline department.

Without that coverage, Burien would be forced to build a fire station in north Burien to provide adequate response time there, he continued.

"What we are struggling with is what are the costs to build a new station in the north end."

If the city looses the North Highline stations and has to replace them, Marrs said for every fire - commercial or residential - Burien would have to deplete all three stations to go to one call.

Surrounding cities "could not provide timely services for Burien," he said.

Councilwoman Sue Blazak observed that if Burien were to partially annex the area and keep the two stations in the north end, Burien couldn't afford to man both stations as services have been paid through taxes paid by the entire north Highline area.

"That is correct," Marrs answered. "When some of the people at the public forums have said, 'Why don't you just draw the lines around the fire stations so you get them and by default they stay open?' that's just not the reality. Just because the stations are annexed into your city doesn't mean that you can afford to keep them open."

Burien Police Chief Scott Kimerer outlined the impacts of annexation scenarios on police services.

Currently, King County Sheriff's deputies in North Highline are responsible for approximately 20 percent of Burien police activity.

If Burien could no longer depend on this crossover relationship, the city would need to decide how it could maintain that same level of service, said Kimerer.

Councilwoman Lucy Krakowiak asked what the relationship was between Burien and SeaTac, and if there was a possibility of shared servicing between the cities.

"SeaTac pays for a higher level of service than Burien," Kimerer answered. "In order for them to want to help here, you can enter into a contract agreement, but Burien would still have to have their service levels comparable first."

He also said that cities are very protective of their police services because that service is the biggest portion of a city's budget.

"In order to increase just one person for 24 hours, seven days a week, that equates to six officers, not just one," Kimerer said.

Six to seven new officers would cost the city an additional $1 million; 10 officers would cost $1.3 million.

Carrie Wood can be reached via wseditor@robinsonnews.com