Update for Jan. 12
The Washington State Boundary Review Board will meet back at Cascade Middle School (11212 10th Ave S.W.) at 7 p.m. on Jan. 23 for deliberations on Burien's proposed annexation of unincorporated North Highline.

The board can come to a preliminary decision that evening, which would become official at their meeting in February.

The meeting is open to the public, however public testimony is no longer being accepted. It will be a chance to listen in on the board's decision-making process.

Anyone with questions can contact Lenora Blauman, Executive Secretary of the Review Board, at 206-296-6800.

If the board accepts Burien's application the city can move forward in putting annexation to a vote for the people of North Highline either in August or November.

If passed by the citizens, Burien has said annexation would occur in 2013.

Day 2, Jan. 10 - Decision on Burien's annexation of North Highline delayed until Jan. 23
After another three hour session of public testimony and rebuttal from the City of Burien, the Washington State Boundary Review Board voted to delay deliberations on their decision (whether to accept Burien's annexation of unincorporated North Highline) until Jan. 23.

An OK from the board would mean Burien can move forward in putting a vote to the people of North Highline, as they would ultimately decide their fate.

Deliberations will be open to the public and held at 7 p.m. at a undetermined location (an update on the specifics should come soon), and the board should come to a preliminary decision at that time.

While day one of the review was characterized by a majority speaking against annexation, day two saw a shift towards those speaking in favor. With a few exceptions, the nays came from Burienites and the yays from North Highline residents.

A full report from both days will be posted this week.

Day 1, Jan. 9
Testimony from the City of Burien, King County and a large turnout of private citizens (both for and against Burien’s proposed annexation of North Highline) spoke to the Washington State Boundary Review Board on Jan. 9 to help guide their decision on whether to give Burien’s plan the go ahead.

After nearly three hours of testimony the board decided to call it a night with plans to resume on Jan. 10, 7 p.m., at the Cascade Middle School cafeteria (11212 10th Ave S.W.).

The meeting will start with further testimony from the public on Jan. 10 and afterwards Burien officials will have a chance for rebuttal to answer any questions brought by the board.
In the first night those speaking against the annexation of North Highline were primarily Burien citizens citing concerns over Burien’s ability to afford annexation, the accuracy of findings in the Berk report (that found annexation financially neutral) and concern over the quality of social services in North Highline if annexation goes through (to name a few).

Those in favor spoke of better municipal structure and increased policing leading to a safer and more financially robust North Highline (again, to name a few).

A full report on the proceedings will come later this week.

At the conclusion of the Jan. 9 meeting, the Boundary Review Board asked Burien to come prepared on Jan. 10 to discuss the following (with more questions likely being sent to the city tomorrow morning):

- Explain structural deficit and debt that will be incurred through annexation
- What plans does Burien have to inform and educate the vastly multicultural makeup of North Highline prior to their vote on annexation?
- Regarding social services, what will remain from King County and what is Burien’s plan to maintain or improve current levels of service
- Information on the property tax burden Burienites will incur
- If possible, have a Berk employee come to the meeting to explain the financial models used in the Berk Report, including forecasts of property value growth
- Specific data on crime comparisons between Burien and North Highline

After Burien’s rebuttal, a boundary review member said the board “might have time to go into deliberations,” so it’s possible a decision will not be finalized tomorrow night either.

If the board passes Burien's proposal the city can move towards a vote for North Highline citizens, likely in August or November.