"Area X" marks the spot.

That is what Burien City Manager Mike Martin told North Highline residents during a recent open house on the annexation project that would add nearly three square miles and 14,350 people from a southern swath of unincorporated North Highline to his city.

The meeting was held at Shorewood Elementary School and nearly 30 residents attended, most from unincorporated King County. Some had concerns, but few voiced objections to then plan.

"Area X" refers to the southern swath of unincorporated North Highline Burien wants to annex. "Area Y," Seattle is considering the northern portion of North Highline including White Center, for annexation.

"We sat down at the table in November and December with representatives from Seattle and King County, and Seattle agreed not to oppose our plan," said Martin, who added, "We are unclear on Seattle's intentions (on Area Y) but as long as we act within two years they cannot interfere.

"They also have two years to act on their area. After that, we would have the option to annex Area Y, but for Burien to today annex both areas would put too much pressure on our city's resources. This agreement puts a stop to the back and forth of the annexation process."

Martin speculates that Seattle will incorporate Area-Y "within five years" because the region is becoming financially burdensome for King County to maintain and tax incentives come into play for Seattle to incorporate.

"We hope to bring our proposal to the (King County) Boundary Review Board this month," said Martin.

"Rumors are going around that by the time we vote on this proposal, the land will have already been divided," said a North Highline resident with worry in her voice. Others seated around her nodded in agreement.

"There is no way to make this happen without your vote," Martin responded. "It would be political suicide to tell 14,000 residents what to do given something emotional as this. And legally this must come to a vote, and would pass with a simple majority."

One resident who said she lived in an Area-X neighborhood appeared angry and asked Martin why most attending did not reflect the affected area's demographic as she saw it.

"This is an extremely certain kind of population at this meeting," she said. "This is generally a little older and whiter group here and does not represent the area's diverse population. "

She was rewarded with a few gasps from the audience, young and old alike. However, Martin assured her that mailers notifying the public of this meeting went to most area residents.

He pointed out that some instructions on those mailers were also written in Spanish, that the Burien City Council has reached out to a new influx of Burmese refugees, and that some in the "Latino leadership are attending our council next week."

"We are very involved in outreach with immigrants and refugees," said Jennifer Ramirez Robson of the Burien city manager's office. "It doesn't occur to some of those who are not property owners to become involved, but we care about their communities and want renters to understand they will also benefit from annexation."

Other questions were raised about potential disruptions with postal service, sewer, and school boundaries once addresses are switched to Burien.

Martin reiterated that these services would not be affected by annexation.

Area police and fire protection will change, but Martin, as well as Burien Police Chief K. Scott Kimerer, and Burien/Normandy Park Fire Chief Mike Marrs, who were on hand, made reassurances.

They repeated that the transition would be "seamless" and the community would be "at least as safe if not safer with better municipal services" than what they receive now from the county.

"One of our philosophies is we want you (unincorporated residents) to have the same access to your government as folks in Burien have," said Burien Councilwoman Kathy Keene. "Right now if you want to go talk to your government you've got to go down to Seattle and talk to the King County Council.

"If you become a Burien resident and want to talk to the Burien Council you can wander down there, even park for free. You can meet us in the grocery stores. I usually shop at Safeway.

"By becoming part of Burien your voice will have power. You will have a say in governance. You don't really have that now."