BURIEN BUSINESS and ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP
(BEDP)
MEETING MINUTES
Date: April 9, 2004
Time: 7:00 – 8:30 AM
Members Present: Doug Moreland, Kevin Fitz, David Elliott, Dean Parkins, Mark Minium, Tom Gehl, Debra George, Harvey Aulgur, Bob Ewing, Nancy Damon, Chad Campbell, John Roberts
Absentees: Kris Jensen
Excused Absentees: Ryan Warnes
Staff: Gary Long, City Manager; Dick Loman, Ecomonic Development Manager; Joline Wright, Economic Development Assistant; Jan Roegner, Community Relations & Human Resources Director/City Clerk; and Susan Wineke, Public Information Officer.
Guests: Barbara Blackshear-Haley, Director of Communication and Community Engagement, Highline School District 401; and Councilmember Lucy Krakowiak.
Minutes: Doug Moreland moved to approve the minutes; David Elliott seconded the motion. Motion passed and minutes were approved.
Chair’s Report:
Dean Parkins advised the Partnership is was time to elect a new Chair and Vice Chair and asked for nominations. Doug Moreland moved that nominations for Dean Parkins as Chair and Robert Ewing as Vice Chair be closed; David Elliott seconded. Motion passed and Dean Parkins, as Chair and Robert Ewing, as Vice Chair were approved by unanimous vote.
City Manager’s Report:
The Burien police chief gave his annual report to City Council showing a decline in crime for the third year in a row.
Gary met with Ryan Warnes, BBC Dodge, and Bruce Whitehead, Nissan, to discuss alarm issues and security. A discussion on a false alarm policy will be held at the City Council meeting on Monday, April 12.
The Town Square project is moving on with everyone working with the developer trying to crunch the numbers. The critical first decision will be street grid and types of uses. He reported that the June 1st deadline may not be met; there is still a lot of important detail to cover and it probably won’t work to push the people involved. There will be a Public Forum on April 15, at City Hall from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Gary is encouraging all boards and commissions, who where involved in prior downtown planning, to attend.
On the Business License Permit issue, Gary said work was being done to stabilize the software. As soon as that is working satisfactorily, the next phase is to give business customers access to basic permits and other permit information.
Gary reported he had met with Hal Hiemstra to review the status of the City’s federal requests. This included the $1 Million 509-518 project; concept design funding for the TOD; Senior Center acquisition; and searching for new funding for the Seahurst seawall. All of our Congressional delegation members have given us positive support, but in an election year funding in DC can become problematical.
The City is working on the airport issue and is discussing moving ahead with the request for a pilot project to buy out commercial properties in Northeast Burien coupled with property owners being involved in a land acquisition public-private partnership. The City is talking with Landpool Administators, a non-profit group, which organizes landowners. Will discuss this with the City Council and on the Federal level to see if this will work.
The Annexation Study for North Highline will go to Council on Monday, April 12.
Discover Burien Report – Debra George
Debra reminded everyone of the upcoming Clean Sweep on April 24. She said Burien is pretty clean, so she will be driving around finding the areas that still need some cleaning up. Notices have been sent out letting businesses know that any large items left in the alleys will be picked up. Mark Minium volunteered a fork lift for these larger items.
Other events coming up:
Blooming Plant Sale – April 16-17
Spring Stroll – Art Walk – May 1
LID Update – Dick Loman
Dick reported the goal for the LID is 60%. Today there are 22 property owners who have signed the LID totaling 20%. Steve Clark is continuing to work on the two Powell Properties (Safeway and Albertsons). When these two properties are signed this will bring the percentage up to a little under 40%. Dick thanked Harvey Aulgur, Mark Minium and Dean Anderson for signing the LID.
Burien’s Communications Program – Jan Roegner
Jan Roegner gave a report to the membership on the City’s communications program, which was a follow-up of her report that was distributed in the BEDP packet. Early in the City’s history the program started with a newsletter and press releases and now has expanded to include TV, the website, billboards, community meetings and a marketing brochure. She said the City actively sends out press releases every time something comes up and targets special publications.
Doug Moreland brought up the question “Burien has been targeted with bad publicity, how do we promote positive publications? Jan advised the City works very diligently to keep this from happening, and always follows up when incorrect information is published.
Debra George asked if the City had a news clipping service and Jan said the staff does this and all news clippings go to the City Council.
Dean Parkins reminded the membership that a sub-committee had been formed to work on marketing issues and branding of Burien.
Comment and Review of “Doing Business in Burien” Brochure – Dean Parkins
The revised material for the “Doing Business in Burien” was distributed in each member’s packet for review. A complete color version was passed around at the meeting, so each member could see what the final product will look like. One correction was to delete Water District #85. The Planning Commission will be reviewing this brochure on Tuesday, April 13. Their changes will be noted and presented to the Partnership at the next meeting.
Round the Table:
Kevin Fitz – Kevin’s dentist has been doing business in Burien for 10 years. His business has expanded and he needs to build a professional building. He found the property he would like to build on, which is south of the Nissan dealership. In checking with City Hall he finds that this property is zoned for residential and if he wants to build there he will have to go through a comp plan amendment and zoning ordinance amendment. This usually takes most of a year or longer. Kevin said this is a serious type of development and thinks the City is too rigid and this does not promote new development in Burien.
Gary Long advised that the Growth Management Act requires cities to establish an amendment process that happens on an annual basis. He does not know of any way to go around it. Gary said this will be explored with our Community Development Department. Generally, zoning code amendments are supposed to be thoughtfully considered to avoid spot zoning.
Nancy Damon – Adam Smith speaking at the luncheon today at the Doubletree Suites.
John Roberts – Has a couple of doctors looking for space in Burien for a clinic.
Chad Campbell – Chad thought the topics covered at today’s meeting were interesting, but he thought the Partnership should be doing more on the work program.
Harvey Aulgur – Harvey advised he has a tenant in one of his buildings who has been burglarized, but he has not had one response from the Police Department. The tenant can’t even get a call back. Harvey thinks there should be a policy when you have a false alarm you are required to have the alarm company check out the alarm system within seven days or pay a fine. Gary said he would get the information from Harvey after the meeting and find out why no response.
Debra George – Debra said if anyone is looking for property there are three buildings for sale in Old Burien.
Mark Minium – Mark said we all need to work together on the marketing of Burien. This includes the City of Burien, Discover Burien and the Chamber. We need everyone with the same logo, and working on the same plan.
Bob Ewing – Bob advised there are 14 talented and intelligent people on this committee and we need to work in these meetings. Should be looking at the commercial zoning now and again in December; we don’t need to be passive. Let’s make use of these meetings.
David Elliott – David agreed with Bob.
Doug Moreland – Doug said Kevin’s points are well taken. Need to be proactive and look at the commercial zoning now.
Adjourned: 8:30 am. Harvey Aulgur made the motion to adjourn the meeting, Tom Gehl seconded.
Next Meeting: April 23, 2004, 7:00 a.m.