Burien City Council members reviewed designs of possible public art for Town Square at an April 23 study session.

A proposed "centerpiece" work, which would be located in the public plaza at Town Square, resembles a tilted, upside-down auger. It symbolically recalls Gunther's Observation Tower that was built in the Gregory Heights neighborhood in the 1930s.

The Burien Arts Commission also recommended other public art designs and proposed locations for their placement in Town Square.

Council members did not vote at that time on which art works to accept.

In other business, lawmakers were introduced to Karen Ferreira, the city's new emergency preparedness coordinator.

Ferreira is serving as emergency preparedness coordinator for several cities in Southwest King County in addition to Burien, including Tukwila, SeaTac, Normandy Park and Des Moines.

She brings to her new regional position over 15 years' experience in Pierce County where she was instrumental in developing that county's emergency plan.

"Pierce County is seen as the model for emergency planning," said Assistant City Manager David Cline. "Karen has brought a lot of depth and experience here today."

Ferreira has started working with the cities' fire and police chiefs to develop a joint emergency plan.

"Burien does have a good plan in place that I can start with," Ferreira told council members.

Councilman Jack Block Jr. said he would like Ferreira to put an emphasis on preparing for marine emergencies.

With Burien, Normandy Park and Des Moines participating, the regional plan will include 14 miles of Puget Sound shoreline that is vulnerable to disasters such as oil spills.

"We made a strong commitment to our community to protect our marine environment so it's very important to us," Block said.

In addition, lawmakers told Ferreira they wants the city's service stations to be prepared to pump gasoline during power outages.

In the aftermath of last December's storm, which left local residents and businesses without power for days, only one gas station in Burien was open.

Requiring generators at all stations is one option for solving the problem.