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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1992-04 Hazelnut Newsletter - Volume 13 No. 2Some highlights... Police programs Page 2 Surface water Page 2 Tukwila parks Page 4 Recreation programs Page 5 Human Services Page 6 Recycling Reporter Page 7 Growth Management INSERT Meeting notices INSERT A City of Tukwila publication to our residential and business community VOLUME 13, NUMBER 2 APRIL 1992 Spring Clean-up returns! By popular demand, voiced often at the Vision Tukwila meetings, Spring Clean- up for residents is back! This year's event will be held Saturday May 2 through Sunday May 10. "Cleaner and Greener"— our goal is to educate citizens about recycling, waste reduction and yard waste disposal/ composting, while sprucing up our com- munity. The City of Tukwila will give residents free dump passes, but we en- courage citizens to recycle, rather than dump, most of their unwanted materials, and properly dispose of yard debris. Free disposal pass at City Hall Coupons will be available at City Hall only, from 8:30 to 5:00 M—F. Tukwila citizens may claim one coupon per house- hold, with proof of residence (i.e., driver's :,ense, recent utility bill). Take your non - recyclable items to the Bow Lake Transfer Station, South 188th and I-5, from May 2 through May 10. Recyclable items should be kept separate and placed (Continued on page 5) Citizens share their vision for Tukwila On Wednesday, April 1st, Vision Tukwila culminated in a community -wide meeting at the new Foster High School. The program, which featured tours of the new facility by proud members of the Foster student body, was the culmination of a two-month process of community input. Vision Tukwila was kicked off by Mayor Rants in January, with the goal of learning what issues and programs are important to YOU, the citizens of Tukwila. Through a series of meetings, the Mayor, City Council and City staff listened while you told us what we're doing right, what we could do differently, what projects the neighborhoods might be able to tackle themselves with a little help from the City, and what things might be incorporated into a work plan for the future. At the April 1 meeting your prioritized issues were presented and we discussed how the City Council and staff will use the comments and suggestions in their decision-making processes. It was a time to ask questions, to gain a better understanding of City administration, and to meet and greet other community members who share concerns about Tukwila's future. Vision Tukwila brought to light a total of 1,251 issues that will provide direction as we review policy, budget, and intergovernmental initiatives. A presentation of Vision Tukwila results will be made before the City Council in late April or early May, and a final report will be available to the public at that time. During Phase I of Vision Tukwila, citizens of each of the five areas of the City chose their top three priority issues. These top thirteen (there were a couple of duplicates) were then brought forward to the April 1 meeting to be ranked again, but with a City-wide focus. Listed below are the top issues, prioritized City-wide, in order of placement: 1. Maintain single-family residential neighborhoods. 2. Increase police patrol of residential areas. 3. Collaborative partnership between City, schools and businesses. 4. Reduce crime and increase safety along Highway 99. S. Balance the City budget - don't spread ourselves too thin. 6. No third runway at Sea -Tac Airport 7. New sewer system for Duwamish area (con- struct sewers for unsewered areas City-wide). 8. Continue free dump pass program. 9. Construct sidewalks on at least one side of residential streets. 10. Construct another east/west street in the Southcenter Business District to break up the "super block". 11. Construct a rail line from Seattle to Auburn/Puyallup through Tukwila. 12. Develop an Economic Development Plan for Tukwila. 13. Erect a bridge over the Duwamish at Gateway. (Continued on back page) New programs keep police busy Drug -Free Zones Through the encouragement of the Tukwila Police Crime Pre- vention Unit, the endorsement of the South Central School Board, and ,support by Mayor Rants and the City Council, the City of Tukwila now has designated "Drug Free Zones". In the spirit of the City's policy to promote a drug-free commu- nity, the City Council unanimously passed a new "Drug -Free Zone" ordinance on March 16th. This ordinance allows for: • all parks within the City, as well as all South Central School properties, to be designated "Drug -Free Zones". • enforcement within a designated 1,000 -foot buffer zone around each school property. • up to double the penalty of both fine and/or imprisonment for being in possession, delivery, or manufacture of drugs or drug paraphernalia. Special signs have been designed and will soon be located throughout the community. These signs will be a reminder to those who question the City's tough policy on drug violations. South End DWI Task Force The South End DWI Task Force was formed in August 1991. Its members include fourteen law enforcement agencies in South King County. The Tukwila Police Department is proud of the role it played in organizing the task force. During the eight months since its inception, 1,583 drivers have been stopped for violations and checked for sobriety. 220 of these drivers were arrested for drunk driving. The task force and the media coverage it has received is making a difference. Changing attitudes about drinking and driving are making our streets safer, but too many children and adults are injured and killed every year by drunk drivers. Sgt. Larry Richardson of the Tukwila Police Department is the South End DWI Task Force Coordinator for 1992. Valley ESU On March 17th, the valley cities of Tukwila, Auburn and Renton signed a formal interlocal agreement combining the three cities' Police Department Emergency Services Units (more commonly known as SWAT teams). For years, each city has maintained a SWAT team to react to extraordinary police confrontations. SWAT incidents typically involve barricaded armed subjects, hostage situations, and execution of high risk narcotic search warrants. Consolidation of these teams provides for increased numbers of team members, improved training opportunities, and more efficient use of government funds. The Valley ESU team and Kent Police ESU team will support and supplement each other in mutual aid situations. Tukwila's Lt. Craig Westby is the Unit Commander of Valley ESU for 1992. 2 Gilliam Creek erosion control project between 42nd Avenue S and South 154th Street Meet your surface water utility The Surface Water Utility manages storm water and drainage runoff. The utility's staff members are the maintenance crews and engineers in the Public Works Department. Together, they maintain, operate, design, and construct Tukwila's drainage facilities; these include ditches, pipes, detention and retention devices, the Green River levee and other infrastructure that controls surface and storm waters. Answering your questions We receive lots of calls; Rae (433-1860) in Maintenance receives calls for immediate help for problems such as flooding ditches, overflowing creeks, erosion, or plugged catch basins. Kelcie, Arline, and Carol (433-0179) in Engineering receive calls fr problems that require more extensive work requiring planning, design and construction work. Billings are handled in the Finance Department by Ginger (433-1349). Tukwila's surface water billing rates are generally lower than other agencies. Our single-family parcel charge is $30 per year compared to $85 for King County, $72 for Bellevue, $42 for Issaquah and Auburn, and $32 for Seattle. Commercial and other parcels are charged based on their percentage of impervi- ous surface area (roofs, driveways, parking lots, etc.) that reduce the amount of water absorbed. Where the money goes About half of the $980,000 in service charges collected annually is used for maintenance. Surface Water maintenance crew members John Howatt, Jay Mounts, Dave MacKenzie, Dave Lawrence, Juan Prieto, and Jon Grenfell clean and repair almost 4 miles of ditches, clean 500 catch basins and manholes, and inspect almost 10 miles (50,000 feet) of pipe during the year. The other half of the funds is used for capital improvements: new pipe, replacement pipe, erosion control, detention facilities that will hold storm water and release it at a slower rate to prevent overflowing of pipe and ditches. New state and federal regula- tions require water quality control measures to remove pollt,' ants such as oils from the storm water before it enters creek, ponds, or the river. Included in construction budgeted for 1992 are projects in Cascade View, between West Valley Highway and the railroad tracks, in Allentown, the Green River Levee, and Gilliam Creek. THE HAZELNUT 1' 1 Helping you to know what's going on... Notices of Upcoming Meetings Tukwila wants higher standard of design for apartments Better apartment quality has long been a City priority. The Planning Commission has recently completed a review of new and revised regulations to improve apartment design. Copies of these draft regulations are available for public review through the Tukwila Planning Division by calling (206) 431-3670 or by visiting our offices at 6300 South - center Blvd., Suite 100. You are invited: • To an informal information open house on Thursday, April 30th from 7 to 9 p.m. Planning staff will be there to answer your questions on the proposed regulations. • To a public hearing on Weds., May bth at 8 p.m. Tell the Planning Commission your ideas about im- proving apartment quality. Both meetings will be held in the Council Chambers at Tukwila City Hall, 6200 Southcenter Boulevard. Please contact Vernon Umetsu (431-3684) if you have any questions. Written comments should be sent to the Tukwila Planning Commission c/o Vernon Umetsu, Tukwila Planning Division at the above address. INCREASE IN WATER RATES Public Hearing — in Council Chambers, City Hall Monday April 27, 1992 — 700 p.m. The City is proposing to increase the rate per 100 cubic feet of water by 15% for the summer (May 15 -Sept. 15) and 5% for the remainder of the year. This is the third of a three-year graduated rate increase to pay for bonding costs of the water reservoir. Public comment and participation is encouraged. For more information, call 433-1838 or 433-1861 REDEVELOPMENT OF BOEING FACILITIES Public Meeting— in Council Chambery City Hall Wednesday May 20, 1992 — 7:30 p.m. The Boeing Company proposes redevelopment of approxi- mately 650 acres of industrial and manufacturing land alonga 4.5 mile section of East Marginal Way. The primary goal of this proposal is to replace aging manufacturing production facilities over the 1992-2002 period. A Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) has been prepared, which concentrates on overall issues such as traffic/transportation, and shoreline access. The DEIS is accompanied by the Boeing Company's proposal, which contains design guidelines and commitments for roads, landscaping, transit, and access to the river. AGENDA ITEMS OF THE TUKWILA PLANNING COMMISSION Public Hearings— in Council Chambers, City Hall Thursday April 23, 1992 — 8:00 p.m. Relocation of Tallow Tanks Baker Commodities (formerly Seattle Rendering) is asking for an Unclassified Use Permit to relocate nine tallow tanks from their Port of Seattle site to Tukwila, on the east bank of the Duwamish River, across from Foster Golf Links. New Sewage Pump Station The Municipality of Metropolitan Seattle (METRO) is asking for a Conditional Use Permit and design review approval for the construction of a 7,915 square foot sewage pump station, on the east side of Interurban Avenue between the Foster Golf Course and the City Maintenance Shops building. The City encourages persons wishing to comment on the above items to do so, either by written statement or by appearing at this public hearing. For more information, call the Department of Community Development at 431-3670. 1. 1 1 CHOOSING OUR CITY'S FUTURE Where do we go and how do we get there? TUKWILA'S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN What Is A Comprehensive Plan? Imagine you own thousands of acres and have many sources of income. You are responsible for how your properties are used and maintained. You must decide if uses should remain as is or be encouraged to change to a different use. You must continually monitor your income and operational expenses and decide if tradeoffs should be made to make improvements to your estate. In other words, you must create a comprehensive plan. In the real world a city must adopt a comprehensive plan through a public process. This process involves many individuals and many private property owners. The City of Tukwila is 8 square miles, or 5,120 acres, of primarily developed property in the middle of a large metropolitan area. It encompasses two Federal interstate highways, a river and roads of statewide significance - land and facilities that you as a member of the community have invested in and which are maintained for your use and enjoyment. Approximately 4.5 million dollars will be spent on new Tukwila roads, parks, etc., each year over the next five years. Private investment in 1991 totalled 44.5 million. In conclusion, the public and private investment in Tukwila is significant and the comprehensive plan is what guides it. Getting started Updating the Comprehensive Plan is a collaboration of those who live, work and have an interest in what happens in Tukwila. Many other people who live and/or work outside the City rely on Tukwila - what's here and how its operated. The State's new growth management law recognizes that plan- ning plays an increasingly important role in the quality of people's lives, and that what we do in Tukwila needs to be coordinated withwhat Renton, Seattle, SeaTac, King County and others in the Puget Sound region do. Therefore, you can collectively decide with the other community members several fundamental questions: ■ What should be preserved? ■ What should be improved? ■ How do we pay for what we want/need? The Vision Tukwila process highlighted ideas or goals, such as preserving single-family neighborhoods, increasing police patrols, and improving the Highway 99 corridor. THE GROWTH MANAGEMENT ACT What do You Think About Managing Growth? The Growth Management Acts of 1990 and 1991 require the King County Council to adopt county -wide growth management policies by July 1, 1992. To do so, elected officials from King County, the City of Seattle and the Suburban Cities Association have joined together to form the Growth Management Planning Council (GMPC), which is preparing draft growth management planning policies to recommend to the County Council. Following adoption by the County, the policies will be submitted to all King County cities, including Tukwila, for ratification. The policies, if ratified, will serve as a framework for our comprehen- sive plan update. The policies will address many of the most important issuer facing King County in coming years, including strategies to lowe. traffic congestion, protect the environment, coordinate economic development, and increase the availability of affordable housing. Citizens are encouraged to attend one of the following public events to review and comment on the draft policies. The public workshop will be open -house style, providing an informal setting for residents to review the draft policies and discuss them with planning staff and members of the GMPC. Both written and verbal comments will be recorded and provided to the GMPC for consideration. The public hearings will offer an opportunity to provide formal comment. Public Workshop May 5, 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. Renton High School Cafeteria 400 S. 2nd Street, Renton Public Hearings May 15, 5:00 to 9:00 p.m., and May 16, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Puget Power Auditorium 10608 NE 4th Avenue, Bellevue Those unable to attend meetings can send written comments to: Growth Management Planning Council, 414 Olive Way, Suite 211, Seattle, 98101. For more information, call 296-1612. Thoughts )n Working Together by Sarah Skoglund, General Manager, Southwest King County Chamber of Commerce The Southwest King County Chamber of Commerce represents the communities of Tukwila, SeaTac and Burien. In my work with many different people and organizations. I sense a new mood in the area, a sense that we can accomplish so much more for the citizens and busi- nesses of Tukwila if we work together, if we communicate, and if we work as a team to accomplish mutual goals. One example of this team approach is the City's "Vision Tukwila" program. With the dedication and guidance of Mayor John "Wally" Rants, Vision Tukwila pro- -ram provides a unique opportunity for ,ne community to come together to dis- cuss important issues and determine the future of our City. Both business people and residents are encouraged to attend the meetings and, so far, the response and participation has been excellent. The South Central School District's "Cit- ies in Schools" program is another ex- ample. Supported by the Chamber and sponsored by businesses, this program enables the District to provide the neces- sary human services to our kids when they need it most and at a place where they can access these services. This group is guided by a Board of Directors com- prised of business people, school district representatives, human services providers, and representatives of the Chamber. The reality of today is that if we as citizens, business people, elected officials and or- ganizations will communicate and work with one another, we can make our com- iunity a better place for all of us. Work- ing together works. Please stop by the Chamber office be- tween 9:00 am and 5:00 pm, or call 244- 3160 if you would like to know more about getting involved in your community. APRIL 1992 Status of current water supply Due to the continuing below -normal pre- cipitation and low snowpack, Tukwila is in a water shortage "voluntary reductions" stage along with all local water districts who receive their supply from the Seattle Water Department. Based on forecast weather conditions, it is important to manage the potential short- age we face this year by consuming water wisely. If you have any questions, please contact Pat Brodin at 433-0179 or Ted Freemire at 433-1861. Work begins on Tukwila tree ordinance During the Vision Tukwila neighbor- hood meetings, resi- dents expressed concern about maintain- ing the quality of life in Tukwila. At the same time, rapid urban growth has trans- formed many areas of the community. The challenge facing the City is to find ways to allow for economic growth with- out losing those characteristics which add quality to the community. One of Tukwila's valued characteristics is its wooded areas. To help balance new development with the desire to maintain trees in the community, the City is work- ing on a new law, a tree ordinance. Under this ordinance, certain types of tree -clear- ing activities would need to be reviewed by the City before construction can begin. In addition, development projects would need to give more consideration to the way trees are used on the site. The Department of Community Develop- ment has started work on the first draft of the ordinance, which will be available for review in May or June; a public hearing on the draft will be held in June or July. The City would like to hear your com- ments on the draft. Ifyouwould like to be notified when the draft is ready, or when the public hearing date has been sched- uled, please call the Department of Com- munity Development at 431-3654. F• r7111 Z; k.4A hir iiii Council Corner by Allan Ekberg, Council President We on the City Council have been listen- ing to you at Vision Tukwila meetings, and have been very happy with the enthu- siasm and participation shown by so many citizens. In the coming months we'll keep working on how to address the issues you've raised there. Recent Council issues include: starting up the free dump pass program for residents again; setting up a new Human Services Advisory Board; reducing citizens' taxes after a successful vote by citizens to join the King County Library system; donating $50,000 to investigate the third runway at Sea -Tac; and passing an ordinance to set up Drug -Free Zones around all the schools and parks in the City. In March the Council met with the City's Planning Commission to talk about the requirements for the State's Growth Man- agement law. This month we met with the South Central School Board to talk about some of the issues that affect both of our agencies. We hope to continue to meet with — and get more familiar with — the groups that are a part of our City. YOU can influence the City Council on issues in several ways: 0 Citizen comments are welcome at ev- ery Council meeting, held Mondays at City Hall at 7:00 p.m. i► Council agendas are mailed to libraries, and are available at City Hall. 1 The City Council is working on a tele- phone line you can call to find out about meeting agendas and other City hap- penings. We'll also look toward holding more Vision Tukwila style "town meet- ings" in the future. By joining with other citizens, you can use the referendum and initiative pro- cess to pursue any issue on which you feel the Council is not being responsive. 1 Call your elected officials to say what's important to you. Remember, repre- sentingyou is our job. And we do listen! 3 Tukwila parks readied for spring use Christensen Trail reopens People who use this popular Green River Trail will be pleased to know the major construction work has ended between Bicentennial Park and South 180th Street. Last November the Army Corps of Engi- neers began the work of raising the el- evation of the dike, upon which the trail is built. The dike provides flood protec- tion to the central business district around Southcenter. Because of winter weather, the asphalt trail could not be paved until the end of March. Tree planting, hydroseeding and under trail work has also been completed. Within Bicentennial Park the dike fill material has been relocated from its posi- tion of last November, closer to the top of the river slope. An attempt to save a very old cherry tree and a neighboring maple tree has been completed by providing a trail ramp between the trees. The relo- cation of the dike fill material will again provide a more open and usable park. In June, a new piece of childrens play equipment will be installed to replace the deteriorated equipment removed last winter. A paving machine can'tslow her down... The Green River Trail has been paved and joggers, walkers, bikers and skateboarders are enjoying it with the spring weather. The twills on top of the river levee. The levee was raised to provide flood protection from in- creased river flood flows. 4 Elegant new picnic shelter at Crystal Springs. Crystal Springs Park near completion Citizens waiting patiently this past winter have been rewarded with a beautiful new park addition. Last summer work began to develop a restroom and additional park- ing in the originally developed area; and in the new eight -acre site trails, play equipment, picnic tables and a picnic shelter were constructed. A unique stream feature has been added utilizing the natural spring water that flows from springs at the base of the upper hill. The water flows naturally into an old concrete tank and exits into a man-made, rock -lined stream that flows through the park. The old concrete tank is what remains from the Independent Water Company which called the cold, clear water "Crystal Springs". Later this year an informational sign will be placed ex- plaining the history of the site. From the new picnic shelter, views of the hills east of Renton can be enjoyed. The shelter has six large picnic tables and a barbecue. The site can be reserved for group use by stopping at the Community Center and paying a $10.00 rental fee. In addition to the park improvements, 158th St. and 51st Avenue have been widened, street lights installed and side- walks constructed. Storm water pipes and water lines have also been improved. In the future, 160th Street that fronts the park will also be improved. In June, a dedication ceremony will take place to officially open the park. In the meantime, enjoy all the park has to offer. Interurban Trail to extend to Tukwik As part of a parks and open space bon..y issue previously passed by voters in King County, our City will receive funding to complete this trail within Tukwila. The Interurban Trail begins in Pacific and con- tinues under the Puget Sound Power transmission lines northward until just south of 180th Street. At this point the bicycle and walking path will continue north into the County's Fort Dent Park. The transmission line corridor is the old location of the Interurban Railroad train tracks that connected Tacoma and Seattle earlier this century. Currently sur- vey and engi- neering work is underway regarding con- struction and routing. Work should begin later this year with a goal of completion of spring 1993. Foster Park progress Last fall work began on this four -acre site to complete final improvements to the park. Because of winter weather, progress was slow but will soon begin again with a goal to complete the work by early June. Improvements will include a youth base- ball and soccer field, trail, picnic shelter, parking, play equipment and restroom. A dedication will take place in June. Remember: SPRING CLEAN-UP DUMP COUPONS Good from May 2 to May 10 Available ono, at City Hall 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday - Friday THE HAZELNUT Recreation programs abound Ammer Day Camp returns Think summer!! Tukwila's Parks and Recreation Department will be offering an action -packed Summer Day Camp, open to boys and girls in grades 1 thru 6. For the parents with children ages 4-6 years, we will be offering the "4 -to -6 Summer Kicks" Day Camp. This camp, limited to 20 children per week, will feature fun stuff such as arts and crafts, music, games, field trips, nap/quiet time, and nutritious snacks. Sign up now before these camps fill. Reg- istration will be accepted at the Tukwila Community Center located at 4101 S. 131st. For information call 243-5198. Local Artists and Crafters Wanted The Tukwila Arts Commission is looking for local talent to participate in the First Annual Tukwila Arts and Crafts Fair July 1, 1992, in conjunction with the annual Tukwila Days Community Festival. ThiG outdoor fair will feature works for sale by local artists and crafters. So sharpen your scissors, tune up the sewing machine, or drag out that spinning wheel and start producing your unique product! Applica- tion deadline is June 1, 1992. For an application form or further information, please contact Lynn Devoir, Tukwila Arts Commission (433-1800) or Betty Gully (244-9613) or Kathy Stetson (243-7504). Seniors get driving assistance The American Association of Retired Persons has developed a classroom re- fresher course for drivers age 50 and older, called "55 Alive/Mature Driving". The course reviews the rules of the road, accident prevention, and overcoming the effects of aging on driving performance. For information about the courses, spon- sored by the City of Tukwila, call Sheri McConnaughey or Lori Guilfoyle at the Tukwila Senior Center — 243-5198. 1992 Tukwila Days Get ready to "Take off with Tukwila". We'll have some exciting events this year, and the tentative schedule looks like this! Sat July 11 Community Festival/Parade Kids Day Sun, July 12 Golf Tournament Wed, July 15 Senior Picnic Shakespeare in the Park Thu, July 16 Family Swim FrC July 17 P -nut Butter Fr Jam Concert Sat, July 18 D.A.RE. Dash Perhaps you or someone you know al- ways wanted to join a parade! We need music, horses, scout troops, clowns, old things, new things, crazy things for the Tukwila Days Parade on July 11. We need YOU! Please call Lora Fowler, Pa- rade Coordinator, at 431-3670. For more information about this year's celebration, give us a call at 243-5198. Public Works Department continues effort to improve streets onstructlon on the new traffic signal was completed at Klickitat and 53rd Ave. The new signal with a protected permissive left turn was activated on March 3. Magnetic loops in the pavement measure the traffic and control the signal operation. APRIL 1992 The nice weather allowed construction to progress rapidly on SouthcenterBlvd. at the 1405 off ramp. The offramp ramp is being revised to allow left turns so traffic can go west on SouthcenterBlvd A sidewalk is being added on the north side for pedestrians, and street trees are being planted Spring Clean-up returns (Continued from page 1) in the recycling area at the entry to the transfer station. Yard Debris Drop -Off This year's clean-up will also highlight disposal of yard waste with a weekend yard debris drop-off and woody waste chipping. Tukwila residents may bring compostable yard debris to the: Allentown Pea Patch 42nd Avenue S. & S. 124th Street (by the Duwamish River) Saturday, May 9 & Sunday, May 10 10AMto4PM SeaTac Disposal will transport these materi- als to the Cedar Grove composting facility. Acceptable Yard Waste— Organic mate- rial ready to be placed into a compost pile to decompose. Includes leaves, grass clippings, and soft non -woody cuttings from plants or shrubs. Does not include blackberries or ivy with woody stalks, thorny vines, juniper, rocks, dirt, etc. Woody Waste Chipping City of Tukwila staff will chip woody waste for residents at the Pea Patch. Acceptable Wood— Non-compostable tree cuttings or cuttings from large shrubs up to 6" in diameter. Does not include any type of lumber or building materials, blackberry or ivy vines, etc. Master Recycler/Composter Volunteer King County Master Recycler/ Composters will also be on hand at the Allentown Pea Patch to demonstrate preparation of "hot pile" composting, and answer recycling/composting questions. Saturday, May 9 only! 12 NOON to 2 PM Helpful Hints Loads brought in should be easy to unload; keep branches/cuttings, etc., as untangled as possible. 1 Separate yard waste, refuse and woody materials to be chipped as much as possible when they are hauled together. 1 Assist with unloading your vehicle. 5 What's New(s) in Human Services Human Services Update Through the Human Services Office, the City has provided information and refer- ral to residents on a multitude of human service issues and questions. Since 1991, over 175 calls have been logged through the Human Services of- fice. The calls to the Human Service Office vary, from residents seeking finan- cial assistance with rent and utilities, to non-residents seeking information on se- nior services for their older parents that live in Tukwila. Other areas where infor- mation is repeatedly requested is trans- portation options, emergency housing or shelter, counseling services, food banks and legal assistance. Documenting this information is proving helpful in under- standing what human service needs exist within the City. School District offers Childfind Do you have questions about your child's development? Does your child have diffi- culty moving, talking, learning, behaving or hearing? On May 15, the South Cen- tral Schools will be conducting their Childfind search to locate preschool chil- dren who have special needs and may be eligible for special education services. The primary purpose of the search is to identify and assess children aged birth to six years, but any child under age 21 with a special need may be referred. Each child is assessed in five developmental skill areas. Interpreters are available to assist parents who do not speak English. Childfind is free, and anyone can refer a child they care about. Call 248-7590. Wanted: Carpenter or handyperson to de- sign and build approximately 25 display units for Tukwila Human Services brochures. For details of project and bidding requirements, call Karen Wright at the Office of Human Services, 241-7144. Mayor John W. Rants and some Tukwila seniors pose next to the new van. Transpor- tation continues to be a need in Tukwila. Tukwila Van arrives... so the citizens can ride in style! The Van -Go van dedicated to Tukwila residents has arrived. If you're a senior or if you have a disability and are in need of door-to-door transportation in South King County, you may be able to use the Tuk- wila Van -Go service. It can pick you up at your home and return you there once your errand is completed. Trips can be scheduled between the hours of 7:30- 5:30, Monday through Friday. Van -Go can be used for shopping, medical ap- pointments, rides to service agencies, vis- iting family or friends, personal business or recreation. Travel to Seattle is available on a limited schedule basis. Qualified riders can reserve a ride by calling 874-6818, from 9:00-3:00 Mon- day through Friday. It is suggested that you call early, as rides are reserved on a first-come, first-served basis. Reservations are accepted at least 24 hours in advance of your trip, and no more than seven days in advance. Your cost for a ride with your permit is only twenty-five cents. If you are not registered with Metro's Special Transportation Service Program, you must First register to receive a rider's permit. To obtain a registration applica- tion card or for information regarding income eligibility requirements, contact Metro at 553-3060 or the Tukwila Office of Human Services at 241-7144. Support for Women The Domestic Abuse Women's Networn (DAWN) is a program available to Tukwila citizens which provides a 24-hour crisis line, a safehome program, support groups for battered women, and legal clinics. In addition, theywill also have a confidential shelter opening in July of this year. DAWN is staffed by caring individuals like Johanna, who is the new Community Advocate for Tukwila. Especially inter- ested in meeting the specific needs of our City, she can provide ongoing advocacy and support, assistance in pursuing legal remedies, referrals to other service pro- viders, and community education pre- sentations to area organizations. If you are interested in scheduling a pre- sentation about domestic abuse for your organization, or if you have any ideas about how DAWN can work with you or your organization to better serve the Tukwila community, please contact th- DAWN advocacy program at 656-842,. If you or anyone you know needs help, call the advocacy program or the 24-hour help line at 656 -STOP. Better youth communication Interested in learning how to talk so kids will listen? About thirty Tukwila parents recently attended six weekly seminars to explore ways of improving relationships with their children. Sessions, which were free of charge and included child care and a textbook, were led by Deirdre Knowles and Gemma Utting of Renton Area Youth and Family Services. The group struggled to find ways to acknowledge the children's feelings, to engage their cooperation, to find alternatives to punishment that really work, to increase a child's autonomy, to find new ways to praise children, and to free them from playing roles. Renton Area Youth and Family Services (RAYS) is now offering a variety of sr vices in Tukwila. Other classes will incluL._ a repeat of "How to Talk so Kids will Listen" curriculum, and a sequel on "Sib- ling Rivalry". Call 271-5600 for informa- tion on any of RAYS programs or classes. 6 THE HAZELNUT Students ave fish for launch On March 27th and April 3rd, students from Thorndyke and Tukwila Elemen- tary Schools "planted" about 150 Coho salmon fry in both South- gate and Riverton Creeks. Local businesses provided locations along these urban creeks to plant the fish. Raising salmon fry from eggs and planting them in local streams was part of a science project carried out by the South Central School District., bringing together a part- nership of business, government and students, who proclaimed the project an overwhelming success. They learned about the environment and fisheries, and ey had fun! The fry were planted in Riverton Creek on Boeing property and in Southgate Creek on NorMed property. Parks/Recreation Director Don Williams and Garden Club President Geri Capps dig in. Tree planted at Ikawa Park On Wednesday April 8, 1992, the An- dover Terrace Garden Club planted a Japanese Weeping Serrulata Cherry tree in Ikawa Park to commemorate Arbor Day. The tree planting ceremony was attended by officials from most City de- nartments. ne City of Tukwila extends a hearty "thank you" to the Andover Terrace Garden Club, and looks forward to ex- periencing the beauty of our newest ad- dition to Ikawa Park. APRIL 1992 TUKWILA RE CYCLING REPOR TER What to do when you're tired out... What do you do with old tires? It's harder and harder to dispose properly of used tires since the supply of used tires currently far outstrips the demand. Some businesses will accept and recycle used tires for a charge. P.C. Casing Supply Charges: $1/auto tire (off rim) 21838 - 84th Avenue S. $3/auto tire (on rim) Kent 872-2255 $5/truck tire (of rim) Hours: Mon -Fri 7-4:30 $15/truck tire (on rim) Used Tire World 23018 Pacific Highway S. Des Moines 878-7889 Hours: Mon -Sat 9-6; Sun 10-5 They sell reconditioned tires and will take one old tire without charge in exchange for every tire purchased from them. King County transfer stations will accept up to four tires per passenger vehicle load for the standard $10.75 rate. These go directly to the landfill and are not re -used. Yard Debris Recycling It's the leafy, green season once again. To get you started on a neat and tidy yard, the City of Tukwila is offering a one-time yard debris drop-off and branch chipping at the Allentown Pea Patch on May 9 and 10. (Please see the article starting on page 1 for complete information.) We'd also like to remind Tukwila residents that City ordinance does not allow yard debris to be mixed with garbage or other recyclables. Ongoing proper disposal of yard debris is needed, either through home composting or by signing up for curbside yard debris collection. Yard debris (i.e. grass, leaves, small branches, brush and weeds) is one of the easiest items to recycle. Generally, it Is already separated from the rest of your garbage, so preparation for recycling requires no special planning. Just keep the leaves, grass clippings, brush and weeds separate from the rest of your garbage and recyclables. Put it in a separate can, a biodegradable paper bag, or tie it into a bundle that is manageable. No plastic bags, please! To sign up for curbside yard debris collection, contact your garbage hauler directly. Please note that there is a separate additional charge for this service; it is not part of the garbage/recycling rates. Nick Raffo Garbage Co., Inc. 439-7247 (Residents living west of Highway 99) SeaTac Disposal Co. 725-4200 (Residents living in all other neighborhoods) If you wish further information about composting and low-cost compost bins, please contact the: King County Solid Waste Division 296-4466 7 CITY DIRECTORY TUKWILA CITY HALL 6200 Southcenter Boulevard Phone: (206) 433-1800 Business hours: Monday — Friday, 8:30 am to 5:00 pm TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL Allan Ekberg President 241-6904 Joe H. Duffle 244-4280 Joan Hernandez 248-0260 Steve Lawrence 243-9266 Steve Mullet 241-6454 Dennis Robertson 242-6373 Charles Simpson 439-8857 CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS 7:00 p.m. in Council Chambers Regular Mtgs lst/3rd Mondays Work Mtgs 2nd/4th Mondays CITY OFFICES Mayor John 'Wally" Rants 433-1805 City Administrator John McFarland 433-1832 Finance Department Alan Doerschel, Director 433-1835 Fire Department Tom Keefe, Chief 575-4404 Dept. of Community Development Rick Beeler, Director 431-3680 Parks/Recreation Department Don Williams, Director 433-1843 Police Department Ron Waldner, Chief 433-1808 Public Works Department Ross Earnst, Director 433-0179 Dept. of Administrative Services Viki Witschger, Director433-1831 City Clerk's Office 433-1800 Municipal Court 433-1840 Personnel 433-1831 City Job Line 433-1828 Emergency Fire, Police, Aid Car 911 TUKWILA COMMUNITY CENTER 4101 South 131st Street Recreation Division 243-5198 Senior Center/Seivices433-1857 Human Services 241-7144 FOSTER GOLF LINKS 13500 Interurban Avenue South Pro Shop 242-4221 Restaurant 241-5784 THE HAZELNUT is a community newsletter published by the City of Tukwila and written by City staff. Editing/ production: Stacla Norris Is tel Printed on recycled paper Citizens share their Vision for Tukwila (Continued from page 1) A second list of issues, ranking 4th through 10th at the individual area meetings, was prioritized City-wide as well. These are: 1. More enforcement of the adult entertainment ordinance. 2. School sites should be used for a variety of community programs (this will be referred to the local school districts). 3. No increased use of Boeing Field in exchange for third runway at Sea -Tac. 4. Reduce speeds and traffic impact on 42nd Avenue. 5. Maintain emergency/fire/police response times. 6. Clean up rivers and streams/preserve fish habitat/enhance spawning. 7. Neighborhood beautification. 8. Speed up open space purchasing/add open space and greenbelts. 9. Revitalization of Highway 99 businesses. 10. Start aggressive tree growing program along banks of Duwamish. 11. Clean up Southgate Mobile Home Park 12. Need more limited -capacity public transportation in Tukwila. 13. Need a community newspaper or better coverage by existing papers. 14. Enforce no on -street parking of motor homes/boats. 15. Encourage development of rapid transit system 16. Limit parking to one side of all streets. 17. Maintain regional cooperation to deal with gridlock 18. Extensive improvement of West Valley/180th interchange. 19. Extension of Southcenter Parkway/15 connector. 20. Noise abatement for Burlington Northern. We have been especially pleased with the level of participation in this project. Your comments and concerns have been heard, in the truest sense of participatory govern- ment. All of the immediately resolvable issues are either resolved or in progress. Budget and policy issues will be forwarded to the City Council for consideration and action as part of the budget and fiscal planning process. As you have requested, we will continue this public forum on a three -times -yearly basis, with the next meeting scheduled sometime in September. If you have questions, would like to suggest topics, help organize meetings, or participate in yet -to -be -formed growth management committees, please contact the Mayor's Office at 433-1850. Thank you for participating and for investing time and effort in your City. THE HAZELNUT City of Tukwila 6200 Southcenter Boulevard Tukwila, Washington 98188 BULK RATE U.S. POSTAGE PAID TUKWILA, WA PERMIT NO. 12698 To help us correct addresses or eliminate duplicates, please call 433-1800. J