James Bond Agent 007
12-13-2006, 01:45 AM
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/295597_city12.html
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
City Council to pursue annexing North Highline
By ANGELA GALLOWAY
P-I REPORTER
The Seattle City Council approved a contentious proposal Monday to pursue annexing White Center and other neighborhoods south of the city -- but only after a testy debate sprinkled with allegations of fear-driven political motives.
In its final meeting of the year, the council agreed to designate the six-square-mile North Highline community a "potential annexation area." The proposal was within a package of amendments to the city's long-term land-use and transportation plan that the council approved 6-3.
The council also unanimously approved changes to Seattle's commercial code, including a measure that reduces the number of parking spots that developers must provide in commercial buildings and business districts.
Now part of unincorporated King County, North Highline is home to more than 32,000 and is bordered by Seattle to the north, Burien to the south and SeaTac and Tukwila to the east.
It's among Washington's most ethnically diverse communities. It's also relatively impoverished. King County officials have pushed Seattle and Burien to consider annexation of the urban area they say would be better served by a municipality.
Like nearly all residential neighborhoods, it would cost more to serve North Highline than the area would generate in taxes. Mayor Greg Nickels' office says annexation would cost $5 million a year, plus $6 million in transitional costs.
Burien's City Council, too, has identified North Highline as a potential annexation area. Officials from the two cities have already agreed to mediation over annexation matters.
North Highline voters will have the final say.
Meanwhile, numerous Seattle council members say they'd want more information on the costs of annexation -- and more financial backing from the Legislature -- before they'd support any further moves.
The designation "basically keeps us in the ballgame -- and it allows us to go down the Legislature with a straight face and ask for more money," council President Nick Licata said.
Nickels and Councilman Richard Conlin say they support the annexation because North Highline residents would be best served by the social programs and other services Seattle provides.
"The real question here is, what is the Seattle community?" Conlin said, in comments alluding to national immigration debates.
"Is it a gate that we shut when we think we have enough?
"What we have here is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. ... Let's vote our hopes and not our fears."
Councilwoman Jan Drago, who opposes annexation, took offense at Conlin making "personal remarks" about his colleagues.
"Consistently, this council has shown that it cares about people," she said. "But this is a decision about finances, and it's a decision about (budget) sustainability."
Drago also noted the city still hasn't made good on service promises made decades ago to residents of North Seattle when they agreed to annexation.
The council's "first obligation" should be to "the people that elected us," Drago said.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/dayart/20060523/northhighline.gif
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
City Council to pursue annexing North Highline
By ANGELA GALLOWAY
P-I REPORTER
The Seattle City Council approved a contentious proposal Monday to pursue annexing White Center and other neighborhoods south of the city -- but only after a testy debate sprinkled with allegations of fear-driven political motives.
In its final meeting of the year, the council agreed to designate the six-square-mile North Highline community a "potential annexation area." The proposal was within a package of amendments to the city's long-term land-use and transportation plan that the council approved 6-3.
The council also unanimously approved changes to Seattle's commercial code, including a measure that reduces the number of parking spots that developers must provide in commercial buildings and business districts.
Now part of unincorporated King County, North Highline is home to more than 32,000 and is bordered by Seattle to the north, Burien to the south and SeaTac and Tukwila to the east.
It's among Washington's most ethnically diverse communities. It's also relatively impoverished. King County officials have pushed Seattle and Burien to consider annexation of the urban area they say would be better served by a municipality.
Like nearly all residential neighborhoods, it would cost more to serve North Highline than the area would generate in taxes. Mayor Greg Nickels' office says annexation would cost $5 million a year, plus $6 million in transitional costs.
Burien's City Council, too, has identified North Highline as a potential annexation area. Officials from the two cities have already agreed to mediation over annexation matters.
North Highline voters will have the final say.
Meanwhile, numerous Seattle council members say they'd want more information on the costs of annexation -- and more financial backing from the Legislature -- before they'd support any further moves.
The designation "basically keeps us in the ballgame -- and it allows us to go down the Legislature with a straight face and ask for more money," council President Nick Licata said.
Nickels and Councilman Richard Conlin say they support the annexation because North Highline residents would be best served by the social programs and other services Seattle provides.
"The real question here is, what is the Seattle community?" Conlin said, in comments alluding to national immigration debates.
"Is it a gate that we shut when we think we have enough?
"What we have here is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. ... Let's vote our hopes and not our fears."
Councilwoman Jan Drago, who opposes annexation, took offense at Conlin making "personal remarks" about his colleagues.
"Consistently, this council has shown that it cares about people," she said. "But this is a decision about finances, and it's a decision about (budget) sustainability."
Drago also noted the city still hasn't made good on service promises made decades ago to residents of North Seattle when they agreed to annexation.
The council's "first obligation" should be to "the people that elected us," Drago said.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/dayart/20060523/northhighline.gif
