Minutes of the 34th District Democrats
Meeting of 13 September 2006.
107. Chair Ivan Weiss called the meeting to order at 7:03pm.
107.1 Seattle Deputy Mayor Tim Ceis led the members in the flag salute.
107.2 The membership approved the minutes of the August meeting and the Treasurer's Report, both as published in the September newsletter and online at www.34dems.org .
108. Chair Weiss' Report.
108.1 The King County Council has voted unanimously to put creation of the Vashon Public Utility District on the November ballot (this measure was unanimously endorsed by the 34th District at our August meeting).
108.2 This Saturday is the White Center Community Development Association dinner-auction. So far 13 members of the 34th District will be attending.
108.3 The Outreach Committee is working with Volunteer Chore Services to help clean the house and yard of an elderly woman in Burien on Saturday. We need members to volunteer and help with this great outreach event.
109. First Vice-Chair Tanya Aguilar's Report.
109.1 The Latino Vote Project is a major effort by the State Democratic Party to identify and reach out to potential Latino voters, describing issues in Spanish, told by those who know the culture. The Latino demographic is the fastest growing in Washington State. In general, Latinos vote Democratic, but if we stop the outreach Republicans will make inroads. The Latino Vote Project is only funded thru the end of election 2006 in November.
110. Chair Weiss introduced member Joseph Bogaard to talk about the "Save our Wild Salmon" program.
110.1 Bogaard stated that the federal government allows dams on the Columbia and Snake rivers to kill up to of 90 percent of all of out-migrating salmon. With so few sockeye returning in the past decade, fisheries biologists have a very limited gene pool to work with. Even the most efficient hatchery programs can't work magic when downriver dams and reservoirs kill 90 percent of the salmon. Scientists have said that the surest way to recover Idaho's salmon is to remove four high-cost, low-value dams on the lower Snake River in Eastern Washington. These dams are a drain on taxpayers, and are the biggest killer of our sockeye salmon.
110.2 Bogaard distributed a resolution to lower these dams and improve salmon runs. But a vote on the resolution would require us to suspend the rules. Chair Weiss stated we will put the resolution in the newsletter and discuss it at the October meeting.
110.3 See also www.wildsalmon.org
111. Chair Weiss recognized elected officials present tonight: Burien City Councilmember and Deputy Mayor Jack Block, State Representative Joe McDermott, King County Councilmember and President Larry Phillips, State Representative Eileen Cody, Seattle City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, and King County Councilmember Dow Constantine.
Program - Annexation of North Highline
112. Chair Weiss introduced the topic by stating that if you talk to 50 different people about the annexation of this neighborhood, you'll get 50 different positions and answers. We will hear from representatives of King County, the City of Seattle, the City of Burien and the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council.
113. Sarah Jepsen of King County spoke first.
113.1 She described the annexation initiative, then the process of annexation, and finally the N. Highline area specifically.
113.2 About 200,000 people live in unincorporated areas of King County. There are ten major unincorporated urban areas. The County is encouraging these areas to incorporate or be annexed by 2012 for these reasons:
113.3 First, financial management - the County can't continue financially to provide services. Second, the land use vision as prescribed in the State's Growth Management Act encourages dense urban areas to be part of cities. And finally, Cities have the taxing ability to provide services to urban areas much better than counties, which provide regional services and services to largely rural areas.
113.4 King County runs a $20 million deficit to provide local services. The deficit is the cost of the services greater than the taxes collected from these areas. Of this $20 million deficit, $7.6 million is in N. Highline. To make up this deficit, the County takes funds intended to provide regional services and uses them to provide local services.
113.5 Under the State Growth Management Act, the role of Counties is to provide rural and regional services. Regional services include transit, water and wastewater, superior and district courts, and so forth. Cities are directed to provide local services, including police, parks, recreation, fire and emergency medical, streets.
113.6 Of the 10 unincorporated urban areas, 9 have already been designated as a potential annexation area - PAA - by a nearby City. The only area not so designated is N. Highline.
113.7 There are several different annexation methods and procedures. Because of the size of the population of this area, the method used will be an election. The ballot issue will be "will you join Burien", or "will you join Seattle", not a choice between "Burien or Seattle". The County would like to see the PAA designation to occur this year, a vote happen in 2007, and completion of the annexation in 2009.
114. Deputy Mayor Tim Ceis and Kenny Pittman presented Seattle's case.
114.1 Why is this an issue? The County getting out of the local government business - the new reality is that county is evolving to become a regional government.
114.2 Why would Seattle want to annex? Wouldn't Seattle lose money? Yes, but there are 39 neighborhoods in Seattle - similar to N. Highline - and most of them "lose money" too. Seattle has an industrial core and downtown core which support neighborhoods. Seattle could provide twice as many cops, more firefighters, four on each engine. Plus better parks, learning centers for kids, parks activities, a higher level of maintenance for parks. N. Highline fits with other neighborhoods already in Seattle. Why do we have a city limit at Roxbury? It makes no sense - N. highline fits with adjoining Seattle neighborhoods.
115. Deputy Mayor Jack Block and City Manager David Cline presented a case for annexation by Burien.
115.1 North Highline and Burien are all one area.
115.2 In Seattle per capita taxes are $1400 a year; in Burien they are $500 per capita. Burien is an efficient and effective deliverer of services.
115.3 City Manager David Cline emphasized that this is a cooperative process with City of Seattle and King County. Burien has council meetings every Monday night - plus five meetings in N. highline. They've used an interactive listening process in an attempt to determine what's good for the community. People like their neighborhoods, and both Burien and North Highline have lots of things in common - cops, firefighters, school district, water and wastewater ... and Burien city hall is close by.
116. Russ Kay represented the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council.
116.1 The Council has 13 members - 8 from districts (voting precincts). Russ described how the Council is elected. The Council helped manage a study of incorporation which the County funded. The incorporation study looked at tons of information. The study showed that upon incorporation, the new City of North Highline would be $6.7 million a year in the hole for operations and would immediately ave a 3 million capital shortfall.
116.2 Consultants also did some work regarding the annexation. They surveyed 1500 people. The results are online at http://www.northhighlineuac.org/ . The bottom line: 47% of those surveyed wanted to stay unincorporated, 20% preferred Burien, 17% preferred Seattle and 3% preferred incorporation.
116.3 The Council itself chose Burien. Why? As Cline and Block said - N. Highline looks like Burien - large lots. Seattle is about density. North Highline wants to keep same service providers - they would have to pay 3 or 4 times more for sewer, more for water in Seattle. Forty businesses signed petition for annexation by Burien.
116.4 The Council is upset that it was not included in the Memorandum of Understanding on Annexation signed by King County, Burien and Seattle - they were not brought to the table.
117. Q&A.
117.1 Barbara Schaad-Lamphere asked about School district boundary contiguity with City of Seattle - she wants to keep school districts whole so as not to disrupt schools. Ceis answered: Burien and Seattle agree that district boundaries don't change and state law doesn't require it during annexation.
117.2 Kathy King: Burien does not levy a B&O tax for businesses with gross receipts less than $100,000. How can we protect all the small businesses in the area? Answer: Seattle has a $50,000 exemption with a proposal to raise to it to $75,000.. Cline also noted that Burien's B&O tax rate is 25% of Seattle's tax rate
117.3 Don Webb: What if both cities vote for a PAA? Is it first come, first serve? Jepsen stated: this is unclear. The County will not take sides or support one city or the other during annexation of a contested area.
117.4 Cherisse Luxa: Burien and North Highline share police and fire services. If Seattle annexes, Burien's taxes go up to pay for police and fire.
117.5 Ceis addressed the issue of zoning and density: 70% of Seattle is zoned Single Family Residential and that won't change. Ceis asked the members about the Delridge neighborhood of Seattle - is it residential and is it improving? The members overwhelmingly answered "Yes". Cities don't turn a profit. Ceis also stated that the providers of water and wastewater in North Highline will stay the same - the Southwest Suburban District.
118. Rob Johnson of the Transportation Choices Coalition spoke to the Transit Now initiative which will be on the King County ballot in November. The measure increases the sales tax by one tenth of one per cent - about $25 per person per year, and improves bus service in a variety of ways. See web sites at: www.peoplefortransitnow.com and www.transportationchoices.org.
Old Business
119. There was no old business.
New Business
120. The membership considered a resolution asking for a vote on the Alaskan Way Tunnel. A few people spoke about the poor wording of the resolution. Bill Schrier moved and Greg Doss seconded that consideration of this resolution be tabled. The membership, on a show of hands, overwhelmingly agreed to do so.
121. Chris Arkills asked for membership support of Transit Now. He moved and it was seconded to suspend the rules to allow for an endorsement. The suspension of the rules passed with one dissenting vote. Arkills then moved and it was seconded to endorse Transit Now. The endorsement passed with one dissenting vote.
Good of the order:
122. Dow Constantine stated he will be introducing a measure to create a ferry district to help cover water transit. This district will be funded via property tax.
123. A visitor announced that she represented www.purpletablecloth.org which offers postcards related to issues. A display was in the back of the hall.
124. Elaine Russell remember members that when they vote - via absentee or at the polls, to be sure to designate a party on the ballot in order for the vote to count for partisan races.
125. Alan Munro saw a really vicious commercial about Gerry Alexander. The commercial used Justice Alexander's emotion support of another justice arrested on a DUI to imply that Alexander was soft on crime. That's very misleading. The money to create this commercial is an unethical way to get around the new rule limiting contributions on behalf of the judges. Alexander's opponent has no judicial experience
126. Tom Rasmussen told the members that next Wednesday September 20th at noon in City Council chambers the Seattle City Council will hold a discussion of a study about conditions of senior centers in Seattle. The good news is that the West Seattle Senior Center is in better condition than most.
127. Marcie Stone of Washington Public Campaigns stated she has information and brochures about the group. It is a nonprofit, non-partisan group looking to institute state financing of campaigns. The have a fund-raiser on Sept. 27th at the Central Cinema in the Seattle Central District. Contact her for more info.
128. Tanya Aguilar reminded members of the volunteer chore services Outreach event this weekend. Contact Steve Karbowski.
129. Also this weekend is a major festival in the Latino community. It is Mexican independence day from Spain. A day of patriotism for Latinos in US. Festivities all weekend at Seattle Center. The 11th District Democrats are sponsoring festivities and parade in South Park.
130. Chair Weiss adjourned the meeting at 9:07PM
Respectfully submitted, Bill Schrier,
Secretary
Informal Notes and Photos
Click any photo to enlarge it.
Joseph Bogaard
Save our Wild Salmon
Presenters Face the 34th District membership
Kenny Pittman and Deputy Mayor Tim Ceis of Seattle
Burien Deputy Mayor Jack Block and City Manager Doug Cline
Sarah Jepson, King County
Russ Kay, North Highline Unincorporated Area Council
Asking Annexation Questions
Member Ann Martin asks a Question and gets a laugh
Agenda
Meeting of Wednesday September 13th
The Hall at Fauntleroy
9131 California Avenue S.W.,
West Seattle, Washington
34TH DISTRICT DEMOCRATS
"All The Democracy You Can Handle"
• 6:30 PM - Social - drinks provided, please bring potluck food to share
• 7:00 PM - Call to order, flag salute, approval of agenda, minutes, treasurer's report.
• 7:05 PM - Chairman's report: Brief remarks about trip to 15th District, Garden Party. Pass hat for Villanueva campaign and WCCDA dinner. Review chore services event, Sat. 9/16 9AM-1PM. (See Calendar for more information on these events).
• 7:10 PM - Speaker, Joseph Bogaard, Save Our Wild Salmon
• 7:20 PM - Joseph Bogaard, Q and A
Program: North Highline Annexation
More details and web links for more information about annexation are below on this page. Note: All North Highline speakers are tentative pending confirmation.
• Speaker, Elissa Benson, King County
• 7:35 PM - Speakers, Tim Ceis and Kenny Pittman, City of Seattle
• 7:45 PM - Speaker, Scott Greenberg, City of Burien
• 7:55 PM - Speaker, Russ Kay, North Highline Unincorporated Area Council
• 8:05 PM - Q and A for all presenters
Business meeting
• 8:35 PM - PCO appointments, old business, new business, good of the order
• New business: Resolution on the Alaskan Way Tunnel (see text below on this page) Public Advisory Vote
9:00 PM - Adjourn
Program Information:
We will hear from experts from North Highline, Burien and Seattle regarding this issue. We will not be taking any vote or position on this issue.
North Highline is an unincorporated urban area of approximately 32,000 bordered by Seattle, Burien, SeaTac and Tukwila. The study area includes White Center, Boulevard Park, Beverly Park, Salmon Creek, North Shorewood, Top Hat and the South Park Industrial Area with a total population of about 31,000
North Highline is the only remaining unincorporated urban area that has not been designated by a city for potential annexation, however, both the cities of Burien and Seattle have expressed an interest in inviting residents from all or part of North Highline to join their cities.
Annexation is a complex issue with significant financial implications to either Burien or Seattle if either were to annex all or parts of North Highline.
In March 2006, the Cities of Burien and Seattle signed a Memorandum of Understanding with King County that allow all three jurisdictions to share information, coordinate public involvement efforts and work with affected communities to create a governance plan that best suits the communities.
Next Meetings:
• October 11th - Endorsements for November General Election
Resolution to the Seattle City Council - Let the Public Vote on the Alaskan Way Tunnel:
Whereas the Alaskan Way tunnel will have nine or more years of construction that will have a devastating effect on the maritime, and other industrial jobs; Whereas the Alaskan Way Tunnel could cost at least 1.5 billion dollars more than Rebuild and cost overruns could be 50% or more, which the citizens of Seattle and King County will be forced to pay; Whereas the Alaskan Way Tunnel would be built directly over the active Seattle fault; Whereas the Alaskan Way Tunnel will have a 7.00% Grade nearly a half mile long which will restrict freight trucks and force them onto I-5 and city streets, further grid-locking this corridor; Whereas according to the latest P-I poll, 70% want the right to vote on the Alaskan Way Tunnel; Be it resolved that the 34th District Democrats support the citizens of Seattle having a say up or down on the Alaskan Way Tunnel, via a public advisory vote.
Message From the Chair, September, 2006:
Boredom
If someone were to ask me which quality I thought least exemplified the 34th District Democrats, the answer would be easy: Boredom.
We have been so active, to such an extent, on so many fronts this year, that it's hard to keep up, even for our most active members.
In the past month alone, we have canvassed our precincts, manned phone banks, recruited new members, and performed our usual volunteer activities. But that's routine. In addition:
PCO and creative prodigy Dina Johnson, with help from her husband Blair and other 34th District Democrats, produced the spectacular "Uncaged Cabaret" at the Columbia City Theater in Rainier Valley, as a fundraiser for Rep. Jim McDermott's Legal Defense Fund. If you missed it, you missed quite a show. it was a great success, and we hope Dina will put on one like it someday soon.
We had a highly successful 34th District Democrats Garden Party and Auction at West Seattle Nursery, coordinated by PCO Maggie Larrick, at which we raised more than $8,000. Maggie has already volunteered to run the show again next year, which almost puts her in line for sainthood. She'll have to settle for a week in Barcelona, as she was high bidder on the auction's "flagship" item.
The very next morning, at the crack of dawn, seven of us headed over the mountains to canvass in our sister District, the 15th, for Senator Cantwell and Democratic State Senate candidate Tomas Villanueva. We got a warm reception from the Democrats in Grandview and Granger whose doors we banged. They were very happy to see Democratic Party activity in their communities. We hope it inspires them to be more active. We have planned phone banking into the 15th from a Seattle location and will be seeking volunteers for that activity.
Brian Earl, Tom Rasmussen, Matt Bergman, and I got to meet one of the nation's top Democratic hopefuls for the U.S. Senate, Jon Tester, who is running for the seat in Montana held by "Abramoff Republican" Conrad Burns. Tester attended a reception and fundraiser for him hosted by Strategies 360 in Seattle. Senators Maria Cantwell and Max Baucus (D-MT) and Rep. Jim McDermott attended, along with a nice crowd of Seattle-area Democrats and Montana transplants. We can help elect Jon to the Senate if we dig into our pockets and donate to his campaign at www.testerforsenate.com.
And there's more. As you read this, the absentee ballots have been mailed. It's everybody's job to ensure that everyone you know votes for the three incumbent State Supreme Court Justices, Gerry Alexander, Tom Chambers, and Susan Owens, all of whom are under attack by the right wing. These races will be decided in the primary, not in the general election!
To follow up on our endorsement of, and fundraising efforts for, 8th Congressional District Democratic candidate Darcy Burner, we are helping recruit canvassers, phone bankers, and office help for Saturday, September 9, which is the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's "Volunteer Day." We'll be going all out to make Darcy's campaign the top volunteer effort in the country. If you want to help (and you know you want to), please call Darcy's Bellevue office at (425)454-0402 of her Auburn office at (253)804-9172.
And did I mention, we have a meeting Wednesday, September 13, on a topic that a lot of you have been waiting for - North Highline annexation - that is vital to the future of many of our 34th District communities. This meeting will be informational purposes only, and there will be no resolutions attached to this topic.
We have tentatively scheduled presentations by staff members from King County, the cities of Seattle and Burien, and the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council. Please come early, as this discussion might be pretty involved.
See you Wednesday, September 13 for "all the democracy you can handle."
Ivan Weiss
Chairman, 34th District Democrats
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When they're sleeping, we're working."
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