City Government

Press release:

On September 29th, of last year, a suspect accosted and attempted to abduct a 10-year-old child at the Albertson’s at South 128th Street and 1st Avenue South in Burien.

Albertson’s employees, becoming aware of a commotion, intervened and successfully rescued the child and after a struggle, detained the suspect pending the arrival of the police.

On May 20, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. Burien Police Chief Scott Kimerer will honor the employee’s with the King County Sheriff’s Office Meritorious Service Award. The Meritorious Service Award is the Sheriff’s Office 7th highest award conferred on an individual or group who demonstrate extremely meritorious dedication.

Please join Chief Kimerer and the Burien City Council when they acknowledge these very deserving citizens.

Burien City Hall 400 SW 152nd Street
Multipurpose Room

Press release:

My name is Debi Wagner and I’m running for Burien City Council Position #3. I would like to tell you a little about who I am and why I’m running.

I believe it’s time to reform Burien city government, make it accountable, transparent and responsive. Citizens need to be heard. This isn’t happening with the current council majority.

Public safety needs to be a top priority along with jump starting our local economy. Burien’s businesses need to be revitalized and new ones need to be recruited.

Environmental protection and Town Square need to be an important part of Burien’s planning. With years of experience in financial management and environmental issues, I have the knowledge and skills to guide Burien during these critical economic times.

News release:

Motorists might want to avoid 1st Avenue South between 140th and 146th Streets this week as grinding and asphalt work will be taking place. Traffic could be congested especially during peak travel times (mid-day/lunch hour).

Access to driveways will be limited and may require using the next available access.

Please plan for extra travel time or consider alternative routes to destinations along 1st Avenue South.

The project is nearing completion with the final layer of asphalt coating to be applied within the next few weeks, weather permitting.

On May 22nd from 2:30-4:30 p.m., members of the Highline Forum will meet at Burien’s City Hall Council Chambers, 400 S.W. 152nd St. The public is invited to make comments at the start of the meeting. The city of Burien is hosting the meeting and the theme is education with a larger focus around regional partnerships.

The Highline Forum includes the southwest King County communities of Des Moines, Burien, Normandy Park, SeaTac, Tukwila and Federal Way and the Highline School District, Highline Community College and Port of Seattle.

City of SeaTac press release:

The SeaTac City Council received a proposed petition from an independent group known as the SeaTac Committee for Good Jobs, in order to collect signatures for an initiative entitled “Setting Minimum Employment Standards for Hospitality and Transportation Workers.”

Committee representatives are in the process of seeking the required 1,541 signatures, which is 15% of the registered voters from the November, 2011 City elections.
While the City will follow through on the initiative process as required by State Law and City Code, the Initiative was filed by the independent group.

It has come to the attention of the City of SeaTac that members of the public may attend upcoming Council Meetings to comment on the proposed initiative. While the City understands that members of the public may have strong opinions on either side of this issue, it is imperative that City facilities not be used to either promote or oppose any current or proposed ballot measure.

Burien Mayor Brian Bennett has announced he will not run for re-election.

He has endorsed Burien Planning Commissioner Joey Martinez to replace him.
Bennett told our news partner, the Burien Daily, “Joey is a strong candidate and I believe he will make a great city council member for the residents of Burien.”

Bennett told the Highline Times he has “too much going on” with his family and work.

Although he says he has been approached about running for the state Legislature or county council, he has no plans at this time to seek another public office.

He said he doesn’t want to sacrifice the time away from his three and five-year old children. Although he says he will still be involved with the community, he noted he is not much of a meeting person.

“I need a break,” Bennett said. “I want to concentrate on kids, soccer practice and my day job.”

Bennett’s day job is as a business and technology attorney for F5Networks, a Seattle-based global technology company.

A Lake Burien resident, Bennett comes from a family that has lived in the Burien area for four generations.

By Matt Wendland

Burien City Council Candidate Marlene Allbright is being investigated by Washington State’s Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) after allegedly violating Washington State law by failing to file a financial statement and a declaration of candidacy.

According to State law RCW 42.17A, each candidate is required to register with the PDC within two weeks of a public announcement of candidacy.

For the full story, go to:
http://buriendaily.com/pdc-burien-city-council-candidate-marlene-allbrig...

Press release:

A multi-year effort spearheaded by the City of Des Moines Arts Commission to bring an outdoor gallery of sculptures to the downtown Des Moines Marina District is nearing completion. On May 17, five sculptures by Washington State artists are slated for installation at sites along Marine View Drive S and in the Marina.

Among the local artists represented, Des Moines resident George C. Scott will have one of his sculptures, a cast glass in powder-coated steel piece called “Tide Pool,” installed at Marine View Drive and S 216th Street. Another sculpture created by students in the Highline School District’s Puget Sound Skills Center welding program, will be situated at Marine View Drive and S 227th Street.

Other sculptors who will have their work included in the Arts on Poverty Bay downtown sculpture gallery include Gretchen Daiber of Leavenworth, Leo Osborne of Guemes Island, and Lin McJunkin of Conway, WA.

There will be a formal opening celebration of the Art on Poverty Bay sculpture project on Saturday, June 1, at 1 PM in the Des Moines Marina, on the Promenade to the northwest of the Harbormaster’s Office.

More than 10 tons of trash and recycled materials were picked up during this year’s Burien Clean Sweep event on April 20.

Discover Burien Event Manager Debra George reported 3.3 tons of garbage and 7.17 tons of recycled materials was gathered for a total of 10.47 tons.

She also reported on previous year’s totals:

2012 5.54 Tons + 942 Lbs Monitors + 389 Lbs of Mixed Electronic
2011 8.2 Tons
2010 5.9 Tons
2009 8.15 Tons
2008 7.61 Tons
2007 8.66 Tons
2006 6.75 Tons
2005 10.82 Tons
2004 9.88 Tons
2003 12.06 Tons
2002 7.72 Tons
2001 9.82 Tons
2000 13.72 Tons
1999 9.73 Tons

Press release:

The SeaTac City Council voted at its last meeting to appoint seven members and two alternates to serve on the newly formed Community Building Committee. The committee will serve in an advisory capacity to the SeaTac City Council, and is charged with:

· Researching best practices of other jurisdictions and vetting those ideas within the community.
· Fostering communication and building trust with all City departments and within the community.
· Acting as a sounding board for projects and programs under development by the City.
· Seeking innovative, community-based ideas through sustainable, two-way communication within the community.
· Participating in existing city, school and community meetings and events to bridge communication gaps and promote active participation and community engagement.