I. 2007 Legislative Policy Statement
Purpose
The 2007 Legislative Policy Statement provides overall direction for the City of Burien’s positions on legislation and on the activities of other governmental entities with which the City interacts. The purpose of this Policy Statement is to guide the City in addressing regional, state or federal legislative policy issues with positions that are in the best interest of Burien.
The City will use this Policy Statement to maximize our ability to advocate for Burien’s interests and to obtain funding to enable the City to provide quality public services to our residents, businesses and visitors.
Understanding Burien’s Origins
Burien, located in southwest King County, incorporated as the 269th city in the state of Washington on February 28, 1993. Burien is among the top thirty (30) cities in population in Washington State, with 31,080 residents.
The successful vote for incorporation, on March 10, 1992, came about because of three critical issues: (1) local control of land use and zoning; (2) improving the commercial tax base through economic development initiatives, and (3) opposition to the then-proposed third runway at Sea-Tac International Airport. As the City has progressed, these issues have remained at the forefront of City government activities.
Local control of land use and zoning began with the City Council’s adoption of the City’s first comprehensive plan, which focused on land use policies to protect the quality of Burien’s residential neighborhoods and provided incentives for new development and housing to revitalize the downtown. Also, since the expansion of Sea-Tac Airport was approved by the state and federal permit agencies, Burien has continued to advocate for mitigation of the airport’s impacts on Burien’s neighborhoods that border the third runway.
The Need for Revitalization
Burien’s ability to serve its residents with high quality public safety, parks, and transportation services requires constant efforts to improve the tax base, by securing new economic growth as well as revitalizing existing commercial areas and converting airport-impacted residential properties to new commercial uses.
In 2004, after court rulings allowed the Sea-Tac third runway construction to proceed, the City agreed to participate in the Highline Forum, which includes Burien, its neighboring cities, the Port of Seattle and the Highline School District. The Forum works to address airport noise and land use impacts around Sea-Tac Airport. The focus of this effort concerns the redevelopment of Port properties and the transition of private properties into airport-compatible commercial uses in the Northeast Redevelopment Area (NERA).
Ongoing Enhancements
Each year since 1999, the City Council has adopted a six-year financial plan and capital improvement program, which address the need to improve our transportation and surface water management infrastructure, our parks and recreation system, and commercial areas such as downtown Burien and 1st Avenue South. In 2000, the City Council adopted a downtown master plan and an award-winning Town Square plan. The City expects to break ground on this $138 million private-public partnership in late 2006. The Town Square will surround a one-acre park with 41,000 square feet of new retail space, 400 condominiums, and a new City Hall/Regional Library.
Several major transportation projects have been completed, including 4th Avenue SW in 2000 and the SW 152nd Street reconstruction in Downtown Burien in 2002-2003. In 2006 the City received a national award for the Maplewild Earthquake Repair Project, completed in 2005 along with the Sylvester Road SW Reconstruction. In 2006, construction began on the 1st Avenue South Phase I project, and the City worked with Metro Transit on planning a new Burien Transit Center. In 2007, construction is expected to begin on the Transit Center, and the City will continue to pursue a Sound Transit parking garage facility to serve Burien’s “urban center,” a designation approved in June 2005.
Other capital improvements include significant efforts to build up the City parks system. The City has acquired over 70 acres of park properties since 1999. Two major park improvements occurred in 2005, with the Seahurst Park beach restoration project and the dedication of Eagle Landing Park, a 7-acre habitat preserve on Puget Sound. Two new neighborhood parks were designed and began construction in 2006, to serve the under-served North Ambaum and east Burien areas. Parks, playfields and playtoys have been rehabilitated throughout the City, and many enhancement projects are continuing to improve recreational facilities in Burien.
Looking to the Future
The City has achieved these accomplishments through careful financial planning of local funding sources and active advocacy for regional, state and federal grants. The City has also developed extensive partnerships with other local agencies and non-profits serving Burien, and with private sector partners to revitalize its commercial areas.
The City Council has consistently supported education ballot measures to revitalize the Highline School District. The Council has also actively supported the Fire and Library Districts serving the City, to assure funding for essential services that define the community’s safety, education and quality. The City has a growing, diverse population, and the Council is committed to help address the human service needs of the community through funding (1% of General Fund) and partnerships with the Highline School District and other agencies.
The City of Burien looks forward to continuing to work to pursue all state, federal and local opportunities to enhance the quality of life for all of our residents, businesses and visitors.
II. FINANCING LOCAL GOVERNMENT
A. State and Federal Funding for Cities and Counties
The Association of Washington Cities (AWC) published a “State of the Cities” report in 2005 that supports “the need to enhance the fiscal health of cities and towns.” Voter-approved initiatives I-695 and I-747 caused Burien to lose nearly $700,000 annually, or about 5% of budgeted general fund revenue. Other initiatives have capped property tax levy authority and further hampered cities’ ability to keep up with the rising costs of providing services. We believe the City of Burien should have maximum flexibility to address the local services required by our community, and that it should have a major voice in the nature, scope and funding of local programs and services. Along with AWC, Burien supports financing mechanisms that will enhance local revenue options.
B. Gambling
The State should not restrict local communities’ regulation of gambling through existing taxing authority, zoning and land use regulations. Burien, with a number of other cities, remains concerned about the continuing proliferation of enhanced card rooms, or mini-casinos. As stated by AWC policy, “Cities understand and accept the State’s exclusive authority to license and regulate gambling, but we do not believe that this preemption extends to local planning and zoning authority.” Burien maintains its position that the Legislature should affirm cities’ zoning authority over gambling establishments. The City also remains opposed to any attempts to lower the maximum tax rate that a local jurisdiction may impose on gross receipts of gambling activities.
Burien supports legislative action to enable cities to recruit and retain new business through additional funding mechanisms and programs. The City should be provided tools to pursue economic revitalization, particularly to offset the loss of tax base resulting from the airport noise and buy-out impacts. The City continues to consider the expansion of funding mechanisms (e.g. tax increment financing, tax abatement, outright grants for public infrastructure or redevelopment or providing other incentives), as a high priority.
As one of the few states without a tax-increment financing mechanism, Washington remains at a disadvantage when competing for economic development projects. Enacting such tools would provide the City the ability to eliminate the problems of housing blight, marginal neighborhood commercial uses and underdevelopment of parcels adjacent to the airport. Some of these tools would also help with the redevelopment of downtown Burien.
D. Airport Activities Funding
Burien advocates funding mechanisms that allow the City to receive a percentage of revenues from airport-related activities, such as car rentals, hotel/motel taxes or airport parking. Burien and other airport-affected communities should not be restricted in their use of these revenues.
Federal
Our local fire and police need funding assistance to meet the continuing demands for homeland security efforts, as well as to prepare for other types of emergencies. We continue to advocate funding for such programs as Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) and Local Law Enforcement Block Grants, and urge that the funding target communities with low-income populations and high crime problems such as gangs, commercial crime and drug activities.
State
The State needs to allocate funds to cities and counties when the Legislature enacts new laws that increase criminal penalties requiring additional jail time or that require additional police, court, or jail services.
Burien also continues to advocate state budget support for fines and fees allocated to cities to meet our public safety and criminal justice needs. We also support legislative efforts to consider options that will assist in funding expanded or new jails to relieve overcrowding. However, we also advocate reducing the reliance on jails through providing sufficient funding for local governments to initiate and expand programs, such as after-school programs for disadvantaged children, which are critical to divert youth from the juvenile justice system and from future entry into the adult justice system.
Quality educational offerings encourage community vibrancy. Voters in recent years have approved bond issues to build new schools and to improve existing schools in Burien. The success of those improvements depends on a partnership of funding from the community, the Federal government, the Port of Seattle and the State. This financing package is critical to the future of our schools. The City urges continued legislative support for the State’s share of the funding for the agreement approved in 2001 by the Port, FAA, the State and Highline School District. This partnership, and the success of the first Highline School District bond measure, led to approval of a second bond measure in 2005, which will replace all elementary schools by 2010. The City also supports enhancing funding for pre-school and before- and after-school programs, and special language training for non-English-speaking residents.
Burien has made major strides in its effort to revitalize downtown since incorporation, and this remains a very high priority for the City. The City Council in 2000 adopted a downtown master plan and developed an award-winning Town Square plan. The City in 2002 purchased property downtown to begin implementing the Town Square plan, and in 2003 the City selected a private developer. The City and the developer reached an agreement for the project in 2005.
Significant steps have occurred in the effort to develop the Town Square in 2006, but to continue our progress on this project, and to complete the other downtown revitalization projects listed below, we will need a variety of public-private partnerships, grants, and other resources from local, state and federal agencies. The City’s key projects include:
· Town Square development, to provide a sense of place and identity for Burien, where a variety of community celebrations, entertainment and special events can occur. It will connect SW 152nd Street (Burien’s “Main Street”) with cultural and public uses, transit, offices, and the more intensive mixed-use residential development envisioned around Town Square.
· Enhancing the Downtown Burien Transit Center, improving the flow of traffic through and around the center, and adding mixed use development at the site. Burien will use federal, state and regional funding, including Sound Transit support, to enable King County to include structured parking at the City’s transit hub as part of a Transit Oriented Development project.
· Improving the City’s gateways, with initial emphasis on those leading into the downtown.
· Development of a hotel/conference center, expanding employment opportunities downtown.
· Implementation of the downtown master plan, including the Town Square, a small theater, lecture hall facility, and historical museum in the central downtown.
B. Northeast Redevelopment Area (NERA)
A recent study identified ways in which the City of Burien, the Port of Seattle, and the neighboring cities of SeaTac and Des Moines may restore the economic vitality of properties impacted by aviation operations in the vicinity of Sea-Tac International Airport. In Burien, the City has approved Comprehensive Plan amendments and completed zoning and design guidelines covering 162 acres of property most affected by the airport. The City intends to continue to work with the Port of Seattle (POS) and other developers and landowners to consider all workable redevelopment strategies. While private redevelopment is a preference, public redevelopment tools are also needed to “kick-start” the initial phases. This may include re-examining the idea of an enterprise zone, buy-out by the Port, an urban renewal agency, or private development. The goal is to assemble all the properties – whether residential or commercial – in order to prepare the property for redevelopment. This land assembly could be tied closely to a development strategy on the west side of the airport, including restoring Miller Creek habitat with an open space concept, coupled with the restoration of Des Moines Memorial Drive as a Boulevard. The City will continue to advocate for mitigation of the third runway, not only with economic development, and noise mitigation for all residential properties, but to assist with other community goals such as parks, trails, and other public projects that create quality improvements and amenities in the neighborhood adjacent to the airport.
The impacts of Sea-Tac Airport in Burien include continuous environmental pollution to drainage basins, air and noise pollution, impacts on school facilities, eroded neighborhoods, and a weakened economic base. Burien supports requirements that the sponsors of new or expanded essential public facilities (EPF) fully mitigate the environmental, social, educational, and economic impacts on the jurisdiction in which the EPF is located, as well as on affected neighboring jurisdictions. We support legislation that ensures mitigation of impacts to surrounding communities affected by the siting of essential facilities such as the airport, and that encourages local participation in processes to protect and restore the economic vibrancy of the community.
After permits were issued for the construction of the third runway, the City in 2004 re-emphasized working with its neighboring cities, the Port of Seattle and the Highline School District, to negotiate and resolve the impacts from the third runway. The creation of the Highline Forum has brought together all of these partners to better serve the region, and we urge the Port to continue to play an active regional role with its surrounding cities.
The City of Burien also urges the Port of Seattle to remain diligent in its oversight during construction, so that the highest standards of safety are upheld and that traffic congestion due to trucks and other construction equipment is mitigated. The City supports efforts which will ensure that public safety and environmental standards are upheld and enforced.
D. The Southwest King County Economic Development Initiative
This Initiative is a cooperative effort among King County, the Port of Seattle, the cities of Burien, Des Moines, Normandy Park, SeaTac and Tukwila, and unincorporated North Highline, to enhance investment and employment opportunities in Southwest King County. These opportunities include the full range of industrial, office, and retail development and redevelopment improvements, with a premium placed on attracting and retaining businesses best suited to the area. Collaboration on economic development planning produces efficiencies and enables the cities, Port and County to achieve more than each could accomplish acting separately. The Initiative has begun a start-up effort for small business assistance, and has completed a land-inventory, marketing and infrastructure study, with the support of an Economic Development Assistance grant.
E. North Highline Annexation
Since 2004, Burien has studied the possible annexation of the North Highline unincorporated area, analyzing three alternatives – Burien annexes all of North Highline; Seattle annexes all of North Highline; and Burien and Seattle each annex part of North Highline. Several studies found a negative impact of “no annexation” to be about $3 million annually, to maintain our community’s current levels of service in police, fire and general government services. We need to retain the effective public safety response in Burien that we currently have.
Providing urban services within North Highline will require more financial resources than the revenues generated there, whether the area is annexed or continues to be served by the County. The remaining $2.5 million in the County’s $10 million annexation incentive fund, along with the State sales tax credit program for annexations, will help fund urban services in the North Highline area – but will fall short of bridging our funding gap. The special economic circumstances of the North Highline area require additional County financial participation if the transition of the area to a city is to be a success.
The City will continue to actively participate with the County, the City of Seattle, other concerned entities, and North Highline citizens in a thoughtful review of Burien’s northern boundary.
IV. PUBLIC WORKS AND TRANSPORTATION
_____________________________________________________________________
The City seeks to minimize the risk to private property and residents from flooding hazards and protect the quality of surface and ground water systems and functions. To this end, the City will:
¨ Participate in Watershed Resource Inventory Area 9 (WRIA 9) to address the long-term watershed planning and conservation of the aquatic ecosystems of the Green River, Duwamish River and Central Puget Sound Watersheds. The City supports adequate state and federal funding for restoration projects that will protect salmon habitat.
¨ Seek to conclude an agreement with King County’s Department of Natural Resources and the County Executive’s office regarding the transfer of local and regional surface water facilities to the City of Burien.
¨ Develop and implement a Miller/Salmon Creek Basin Plan that will improve water quality and fish habitat as required by the recent federal endangered species designation.
In partnership with King County, the City of SeaTac, City of Normandy Park, the Port of Seattle, and the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), the preparation of an inter-jurisdictional basin plan for Miller and Salmon Creeks began in 2002. Oversight of the process and data to be incorporated into the plan must occur in order to ensure the success of this interjurisdictional effort. Adoption of the plan by the City has been delayed pending resolution of issues related to the implementation of the Phase II National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit. In particular, revised detention requirements are being closely scrutinized by the city to insure a balanced approach to the encouragement of development, and the commitment to improved environment, a primary goal of the Miller Creek Basin Plan. The Phase II permit (for cities under 100,000) is expected to become effective during the final months of 2006. The basin plan is expected to be presented to elected bodies for their review and adoption in late 2006 or early 2007, to be followed by a capital planning element to agree on funding for first phase implementation.
Despite the delay in the adoption of the Miller/Walker Creek Basin Plan, in 2005 the City of Burien purchased the 21 acre (Hoffman) property containing the wetland headwaters of Walker Creek. Also, in 2005, the City purchased 2.58 acres (Mah and Grange Properties) for surface water management and control of peak flooding in Miller Creek. In addition, the City, in conjunction with the 1st Avenue South project, will be expanding the capacity of the Ambaum Region Detention Pond from approximately 2 to 10 acre-feet and adding water quality facilities..…
B. Utilities and Special Purpose Districts
Burien’s Comprehensive Plan sets a goal to “provide the most cost-effective and efficient water and sewer service to residents within Burien’s urban growth boundary.” Consolidation of utility services into a municipal utility system may improve development coordination and may allow for reductions in the cost of utility overhead, capital expense, and long-term growth in customer water or sewer rates. Burien continues to coordinate with utilities and special purpose districts to ensure cooperative planning, as required by the Growth Management Act, and consistency with the City’s Comprehensive Plan and adopted countywide policies.
The City will seek to establish franchise agreements with Special Purpose Districts that will establish an improved framework for ensuring greater coordination and cooperation, improved customer service, competitive rates, and mutual aid during emergencies. If the City determines that it cannot establish these relationships, the ability of a local jurisdiction to assume the operation of water and sewer services within its borders should be maintained as a policy option. Likewise, if the City determines it needs to assess “franchise or contract fees,” as other municipalities assess their sewer and water utilities, the City supports this as a local option that the AWC and state Legislature should support.
Burien supports inter-jurisdictional basin planning to improve water quality, reduce flooding, and enhance fish and other natural habitat. Burien and its neighboring cities have agreed to work with King County, the Port of Seattle and the state to ensure that each jurisdiction bears its proportionate share of responsibility, and that accountability is achieved for this and other environmental concerns of mutual interest. As directed by their respective city councils, the cities will cooperate in federal/state/regional grant applications based on plan priorities.
Our 2007-2012 Transportation Improvement Program calls for the construction of $16 million in needed transportation improvements, of which $6.1 million in grants is required. These grants and state loan programs are crucial to the successful completion of planned improvements to our main downtown streets and sidewalks and to enhance and preserve our infrastructure.
¨ SR 509/SR 518 Interchange
Burien will continue to work with WSDOT, the Port of Seattle and King County to implement the SR518 Corridor Study, which calls for the construction of a south to east freeway-to-freeway interconnection at the SR509/SR518 Interchange. This interchange is one of the highest traffic accident locations on the limited access freeway system in the state, with an average of 30 vehicle accidents every year. In addition, the SR509/SR518 intersection is the main entrance to Burien and serves as a symbol that defines Burien in the eyes of freeway users. There is a need to improve its safety, and its aesthetic impact on our city.
Through the efforts of Senator Murray, Senator Cantwell, Representative Smith and Representative McDermott, and our state legislative delegation, Burien has received $10.6 million of federal and state funding to begin the environmental, preliminary design and design phases for the project, as well as the construction of Phase 1 safety improvements. Another estimated $35 million is needed to complete the construction of the southbound SR509 to eastbound SR518 flyover. The City of Burien will strongly advocate to County and State officials that the SR509/SR518 Interchange Project be included in the Regional Transportation Investment District ballot proposal.
¨ 1st Avenue South, Phase 2
Construction for Phase I, from SW 148th to SW 163rd, began in 2006 and is now estimated at $23 million, including utility conversion. To date, $4.2 million in State funds have been secured for Phase 2 (SW 140th Street to SW 146th Street). Burien will pursue additional federal funding assistance for Phase 2.
The City will pursue ongoing coordination between King County Metro Transit, Sound Transit and the City, to provide east-west connectivity between Burien and the regional transportation system, including the SeaTac light rail station, the Longacres commuter rail station, the Renton Transit Center and eastside employment centers.
In addition, King County and the City of Burien have advocated and will continue to advocate that Sound Transit include in its ST2 proposal up to $12.5 million for the construction of a 500-space parking garage at the Burien Transit Center.
The City will also continue to coordinate with King County Metro to update its service plans in order to ensure maximum transit ridership.
F. Highline Aquifer
The Highline Aquifer is the City of Burien’s source of emergency drinking water. If the water districts serving Burien were to experience reductions in their water supply, the aquifer may be drawn upon to meet a portion of local needs. It is imperative that the aquifer be free of contaminants. To this end, the City has expressed support for the findings and recommendations of the South King County Groundwater Management Planning Committee (SKCGMPC), of which it is a member. Recommendations include emphasis on public education as to the proper use of pesticides and herbicides, and the impact of storm water runoff. Identification and decommissioning of wells (as appropriate) and water conservation are also strongly encouraged. We will coordinate with affected jurisdictions and agencies to ensure protection of the Highline Aquifer.
G. Infrastructure Financing
Burien and other cities need adequate funding mechanisms to meet the infrastructure requirements of the Growth Management Act and to ensure economic growth. Burien encourages the business community and other stakeholders to support financing solutions for streets, sewer and water systems, storm water facilities and other infrastructure. The City will continue to urge the Legislature to further examine the multi-billion dollar deficits identified in previous studies, and to provide cities with funding solutions for their infrastructure-financing deficits.
V. PARKS, RECREATION AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES
________________________________________________________________________
The City of Burien “Parks, Recreation and Open Space (PROS) Plan” identifies the need to acquire 140 acres of neighborhood parks and playgrounds and community parks and open space, effectively doubling the current inventory of park space.
Updated in 2006, the PROS Plan identified the need for the development of additional soccer fields and neighborhood parks, and the renovatation of three (3) existing athletic fields. Teams currently overload existing fields and play on unimproved gravel surfaces. Burien citizens are forced to travel great distances to participate in sports leagues that have facilities. The City needs to find and develop 11 new acres of suitably flat land for soccer fields and a similar amount for softball and baseball fields.
The passage of local revenue-reducing initiatives in recent years put a critical strain on the City’s ability to fund parks acquisition, improvements, and maintenance. It is imperative to obtain resources from federal, state and local government agencies, along with private sources such as foundations, to acquire, develop and renovate enough parks and fields to meet the City’s needs.
We also support cooperative agreements with the school district for facility use as one way to increase playing field availability and maximize existing field use. Long-term leasing or purchase of surplus school facilities and grounds provide an important opportunity to enhance neighborhood parks and recreation opportunities. Development of play areas and other enhancements to active school properties can provide open space and active playground amenities that could not be accomplished without cooperative program arrangements.
B. Environmental Science Center
The City conducted a feasibility study for an educational facility to serve as an Environmental Science Center, to be a resource to the community colleges in the area as well as to the school district. The City is willing to provide a site in an existing park as a part of its partnership support for this center. The “Environmental Science Center” is now a private non-profit organization, which will lease the facility for the benefit of the educational agencies serving students throughout the south King County/Highline area. The non-profit group will develop the center, including the securing of funding for capital and operational needs. The foundation has secured $450,000 in grants, and the City has added the Center to its capital improvement program as the fiduciary agent for the project and as the owner of the proposed facility. A funding gap of $200,000 remains.
C. Park Maintenance and Development
King County, state and federal funds will be needed to develop and maintain projects in the Parks Comprehensive Master Plan. The adoption of the Master Plan in 2000 allowed the city to secure grants for several projects, including sports field renovation new playgrounds and property acquisition. The City urges King County to continue the Youth Sports Facility Grant program, and supports the state’s Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program (WWRP) and the federal Land Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). The City strongly urges increased funding levels for these grant programs in future state and federal budgets. The City further supports legislation relating to the Outdoor Recreation Account, which allocates funding for the acquisition and development of parks and trails. Finally, the City also strongly supports the allocation of funding by federal and state sources for efforts to enhance and restore salmon habitat, in particular the Governor’s Puget Sound Partnership initiative and the Salmon Recovery Funding Board.
D. Arts and Heritage/Des Moines Memorial Drive Restoration Project
Burien advocates continued King County and state funding for cultural facilities, education and special projects. The City also urges continued legislative support for historic preservation and cultural education, to help the community to understand and appreciate its past.
Burien is one of several jurisdictions involved in the redevelopment of historical Des Moines Memorial Drive (DMMD). Funding will be needed to carry out the Corridor Management Plan, which will guide the long-term development and restoration of the DMMD.
E. Children and Youth Enrichment
The Highline School District does not provide enrichment programs before and after school, or during the summer, on a consistent basis for children in all grades in Burien schools. Additionally, many youth are at home during non-school hours without the presence of an adult, and statistics show that these children are at a higher risk for lower academic achievement and juvenile delinquent behavior.
The City would like to expand its After School Program to serve more children in this situation, and would also like to expand its Summer Day Camp program for low-income children. Both curricula would include arts, sports, science, plus homework assistance during the school year. Funding programs in all four (4) Burien elementary schools would cost an additional $100,000 annually.
Burien has dedicated $50,000 in 2007 to enhance school readiness initiatives. City staff and the School District are exploring a model called “Ready for Kindergarten.” The City also supports the “Thrive By Five” educational partnership, enacted in 2006 by the Governor and the Gates Foundation to improve the quality of pre-school education in the state.
VI. INTERGOVERNMENTAL PRIORITIES
________________________________________________________________________
1. Local Authority and Unfunded Mandates: Since the characteristics of each community may be as different as they are similar, city officials should have maximum flexibility to address the varying needs and desires of their communities. Cities should have a major voice in the nature, scope and funding of local programs and services.
Burien opposes the imposition of new regulations or duties by the state and federal governments without new revenues to fund these activities. This is of particular concern in the areas of law enforcement and criminal justice.
Burien supports financing mechanisms that will enhance local revenue options. We appreciate the Legislature appropriating $3 million in 2003 and $2 million in 2004 for the 134 cities that lost the most sales tax equalization and MVET funding. In 2005, the legislature diverted $20 million in real estate excise tax from the Public Works Assistance Account to a new city-county assistance account, for distribution to those cities and counties characterized by low per capita sales tax receipts or low assessed valuations per capita. We continue to urge the State Legislature to adopt a permanent funding mechanism to replace lost funding sources and to ensure that local transportation projects, health services, criminal justice funding and essential city projects are not further jeopardized.
2. Energy and Telecommunications: Burien opposes regulations that diminish the City’s authority to regulate utility activities in the public right-of-way, to collect franchise fees and utility fees, or to require compliance with certain zoning requirements approved by the City Council. We are also opposed to de-regulation or further re-structuring in the electrical and telecommunications industries which may result in higher costs to our citizens. Further, the City of Burien supports federal and state legislation that will encourage competition in the cable industry so that citizens have the opportunity to choose a provider.
3. Human Services: These services are largely the responsibility of King County, the State of Washington and the federal government. However, the human services programs provided by these entities continue to be reduced or eliminated. This results in large service gaps at the local level and increases the financial pressure on the City to fund services formerly funded by others. Domestic violence, emergency assistance and lack of affordable housing are major concerns in Burien. Cities do not have the funding capacity to meet these human services needs, and King County has reduced funding for human services programs in recent years.
Burien will work cooperatively with King County, the Highline School District, Highline Community College and other public or non-profit agencies to seek federal and state support for human service needs, including pre-school, out-of-school and English as a second language (ESL) programs.
4. Low- to Moderate-Income Housing: We support affordable housing policies and programs and related support programs that provide for affordable rental housing to be maintained in good quality repair. Programs emphasizing low-income and moderate-income home ownership need to be more available countywide. For communities such as Burien, which have an abundance of low-income, private rental housing, the state and federal governments should provide financial tools and incentives for cities to inspect these units to assure compliance with health and safety standards, and should provide financing to upgrade deficient or sub-standard housing.
5. Electronic Commerce Sales Tax: The State of Washington and its cities do not receive tax revenue for out-of-state catalog purchases and purchases made by their residents via the Internet and television. The City of Burien continues to urge the Legislature to adopt the Streamlined Sales Tax (SST) Agreement. The City concurs with the AWC position on mitigation for those adversely impacted by the proposed change to destination-based sourcing.
6. Qualified Good Faith Immunity: The Washington Supreme Court has expanded liability for cities and counties providing probation services and pretrial release supervision, through its decision on Hertog v. City of Seattle and King County. This decision increases the liability of cities and counties that provide probation services and/or pretrial release supervision of criminal suspects through their municipal and county district courts. We urge the Legislature to correct this Supreme Court decision by imposing qualified good faith immunity for the probation officials and municipal employers in this arena.
7. Shoreline Management/Endangered Species Act (ESA): Burien intends to continue to work to protect our five miles of Puget Sound shoreline. The City advocates the Department of Ecology having the ability to enforce compliance and use enforcement action when there is a violation of shoreline regulations.
Burien will also continue to participate in all appropriate forums regarding the ESA implementation process, and the City urges that the appropriate funding and mitigation accrue to those cities with salmon-bearing streams.
8. Transportation: Burien will continue to proactively represent the City’s transportation needs, either by serving on regional forums or presenting the City’s position or requests to regional and state entities.
Burien supports the Regional Transportation Investment District (RTID), and will continue to work with the RTID on a ballot measure that addresses Burien’s critical SR509/SR518 interchange issue.
9. U.S. Post Office Improvements: The Burien Post Office is strategically located in the downtown, an area undergoing revitalization and redevelopment. Burien asks that the Burien Post Office be placed as a priority on the federal construction projects list. Improvements are necessary for an attractive building to accommodate storage for inventory, provide adequate parking for carrier trucks and customers, and allow safe access for vehicles and pedestrians.
10. Immigration Reform: Burien has a diverse population, with the proportion of minorities being 26% of the population, including 11% Latino and 8% Asian or Pacific Islander (2000 Census). Spanish is the most common language other than English spoken in the City. Immigrants were the original foundation of our country and continually contribute to the local and national economy. However, the nation’s immigration system is in need of fair and safe reform. There are a growing number of undocumented immigrants and these increasing numbers put a strain on already scarce resources for education, health care and other essential government services. Burien urges the Congress to enact measures that will encourage legal immigration, protect immigrant workers with full labor and civil rights, ease backlogs in the family immigration system, and conduct immigration enforcement fairly.
Suburban customers of Seattle City Light have been served by Seattle City Light since its early years. Burien urges Seattle City Light to maintain fair and equitable electric rates for our citizens. We support implementing them through a continued partnership with Seattle City Light and neighboring suburban cities. Operating costs should be assessed the same for all Seattle City Light customers, regardless of geographic location. To ensure consistent policies and to establish a more cooperative working relationship with the utility, the City will continue to work to develop an oversight process with its neighboring cities and Seattle City Light.
The City of Burien is a Council/Manager government. In this form of government it may be appropriate for the City to appoint a representative that is not an elected official to a regional body. We urge regional organizations to amend their requirements for Council-Manager forms of government, to allow appointment of any city official that the elected body recommends as an appropriate representative.