BURIEN BUSINESS and ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP

(BEDP)

 

MEETING MINUTES

Date: December 10 , 2004

Time:  7:00 – 8:30 AM

 

 

 

Members Present:  David Elliott, Dean Parkins, Kevin Fitz, Doug Moreland,

Ryan Warnes, Bob Ewing, Nancy Damon, John Roberts, Harvey Aulgur, Debra George, Kris Jensen

 

Absentees:  Mark Minium

 

Excused Absentees:  Barbara Blackshear-Haley, Tom Gehl

 

Staff:  Gary Long, City Manager; Dick Loman, Economic Development Manager; Joline Wright, Economic Development Assistant; Scott Greenberg, Community Development Director

 

Guests:  Councilmember Lucy Krakowiak and Zev Siegel, Small Business Assistance Center

 

Call to Order:  Meeting opened at 7:00 a.m. by Chair Dean Parkins

 

Minutes:   The Discover Burien Open House date needs to be corrected to December 15.  Ryan Warnes mentioned that some of the comments made on important issues the Partnership is working on are not showing up in the minutes.  He suggests that anyone who feels their comments should be of record need to let Joline know.  Harvey Aulgur moved to approve the minutes as corrected; John Roberts seconded the motion.  Motion passed and minutes were approved.

 

Chair’s Report:  Dean Parkins

 

Dean distributed application forms to the members whose term is expiring.  Members who want to renew need to fill out forms and return to Monica Lusk.

 

City Manager’s Report:  Gary Long

 

The City has finished its Fourth Quarter Work Program. Some of the significant work items not planned in the 2004 work program were the closing of the Juanita Apartments and the Tim Eyman initiatives.  The Juanita Apartment action was the City’s “finest hour” from the point of view of taking care of the community and the team work with all of the agencies who serve Burien.  The Police Department, Fire Department and New Futures and other non-profit organizations worked together with the City to make this initiative successful.  The Juanita action also made other apartment owners aware that the City’s is willing to require landlords to be responsible and treat their tenants decently.

 

Gary said the ACC situation is now settled.  That too is a major event after ten years of litigation.

 

Town Square is moving forward. We are starting to see more newspaper articles relating to Town Square. Dick distributed a copy of a feature story which appeared in The Seattle Times on December 6th.

 

A ceremony officially kicking off the removal of the seawall at Seahurst Park was held December 7 at 3:00 p.m. at the Park.  In addition to City officials, representatives from the offices of Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, and Representative Jim McDermott and Adam Smith took part in the ceremony. 

 

Discover Burien Report – Debra George

 

Open House will be held at the Discover Burien Office on December 15 from 5 – 8 p.m.

 

Winterfest was a success; there were record sales for some businesses.

 

The Annual Dinner and Auction will be held on March 5 at the Burien Elks Club. Discover Burien is looking for items for the silent auction.

 

North Highline Annexation Study – Scott Greenberg

 

Scott Greenberg updated the Partnership on the North Highline Annexation Study.  He distributed the complete package which was presented to the City Council on November 22.

 

He highlighted the ongoing public outreach effort the City is undertaking:

 

Information on the website www.ci.burien.wa.us

 

N. Highline Unincorporated Area Council

Presentation on 11/4; Attended meeting 12/2; next meeting 1/6; Community Meeting 1/20

Fire, Sewer and Water Districts

Determining level of involvement

Planning Commission

            Presentations on 11/9 and 11/23; next meeting 12/14/04

Parks Board

            Will provide draft parks/recreation information when completed

BEDP

            Presentation on 11/12; next meeting 12/10

King County

            Met with County staff on 11/18 and 12/6

Seattle

            Continuing to provide information

 

Scott’s presentation also covered the Annexation Study Alternatives; Public Works-Preliminary Draft; Parks; Human Services; and Fire Services (see attached).

 

The next steps are:

12/13/01 – Presentation of review draft to the City Council. (This draft will be sent to the BEDP members)

Jan./Feb. 2005 – Continued discussions with community.

End of January, 2005 – Comments due on review draft.

March, 2005 – Final study issued; Council direction

Summer 2005 – PAA (Potential Annexation Area) decision

 

Dean Parkins asked Scott the question “Why has the annexation question come up?”  Scott replied that in the early 1990’s, in response to the Growth Management Act (GMA), King County and suburban cities such as Burien, began working together to guide jurisdictions on planning for future growth.  Countywide planning policies were developed which called for the elimination of unincorporated islands between cities.  The North Highline Area, which includes White Center and Boulevard Park, is one of the larger of these King County unincorporated urban areas. In 1999, King County, in conjunction with the North Highline Advisory Council, completed a governance study for the area. In 2001, King County and the City of Burien partnered on an annexation feasibility study focusing on the North Highline Area and designating five sub areas for further study.

 

In 2003, King County and its cities began discussing County costs and revenues for serving unincorporated urban areas, rural areas and regional services. One of the recommendations of the County’s Budget Advisory Task Force was for the unincorporated urban areas to annex to adjacent cities.  The City hired a consultant in April, 2003, to do a draft fiscal analysis for a potential Burien annexation of the five sub-areas within the North Highline unincorporated area. 

 

Results of the preliminary studies indicate that costs exceed revenues by about $2,500,000 whether or not Burien or Seattle annexes.

 

A question asked by Bob EwingBob Ewing was, “is there the option of Burien de-annexing the Burien area most needing police and fire services in the event that North Highline annexes to Seattle?” Gary replied that, although this was theoretically possible, he personally has no experience with a situation like that. This could possibly change the border of Burien to just north of 136th.

 

Scott reported that he will present all the summary pieces of the draft to the Council on Monday, December 13.  There will be no recommendation to the Council at that time; there is still more work to do with Seattle and King County.  There will be more presentations to BEDP, North Highline and King County to develop recommendations.  Next summer PAA (Potential Annexation Area) will be getting direction from Council.  Gary said he would be surprised if a decision either way was made by next summer.

 

Small Business Assistance Center – Zev Siegl

 

Zev Siegl attended the Partnership meeting to update members.  Zev reported that the Small Business Assistance Center has served over 100 businesses this year; 10-12 of these businesses are located in Burien.

 

The Partnership was told of a new SBAC pilot program, involving three businesses, including BBC DODGE here in Burien.  The SBAC has retained an expert to substantially improve search engine identification of the website at the participating businesses.  This process creates substantially more “hits” which in turn leads to more sales volume.

 

2005 Work Program – Gary Long

 

Gary reported that the BEDP work program goals and priorities will probably stay the same for 2005.

·        First Ave South – Project is on target for spring 2005 bid award – construction should be underway by summer.

·        Burien Entry Improvements – Have not gotten into this project yet.

·        Town Square –Puget Sound ESD Board will be meeting next week.  They are currently working on the due diligence for the Renton property.  If ESD leaves there could be an option for a 50-60,000 sq. ft. professional building on the parking lot site east of the ATT Building.

·        NERA – More work to be done.

·        Transit – Metro Hub design completion is scheduled for next year with the job out to bid by Thanksgiving – more staff review.

·        School District – There is still work to do – not achieving what needs to be done.  Need to be communicating what kind of relationship we what to have with the District.  David Cline working with group on a quarterly basis.  Meeting with school board/college president did not happen.

 

Bob Ewing asked a question related to the annexation, “What about developable land, the Partnership could take this and add to the work program.” 

 

Another question was asked “What is the Goals/Vision column on the work program?”  Joline will get a copy of the Goals/Vision sheet to each member.

 

Round the Table:

 

Nancy Damon – Holiday Bazaar today at the Marriott Hotel.  The Southcenter project has been approved.  This is going to be a huge project with an additional 16 screen theater added.

 

A comment on the annexation – “Burien is making good progress; everyone knows about Boulevard Park; this will take the air out of us.”

 

Dick Loman – Use of the The King County North Highline Economic Development Work Program will be a good starting point if there is a Burien annexation.

 

Doug Moreland – “Annexation is a very important issue, especially financially.  This will not just affect the City for 2-5 years; we are talking about an issue that will affect the City for several years20+ years.  Need to look at every aspect of this issue; this is a real challenge”.

 

Harvey Aulgur – “Talk to anyone about White Center, they have an unbelievable reputation.”

 

 

Adjourned:  8:30 am. 

 

 

Next Meeting:  January 7, 2004, 7:00 a.m.