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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1994-02 Hazelnut Newsletter - Volume 15 No. 1A City of Tukwila publication for our residential and business community VOLUME 15, NUMBER 1 FEBRUARY 1994 Mayor outlines the State of the City in annual message 1993 was a good year for the City of Tukwila and its citizens. We saw the completion of the South 160th residential street improvement project, the installation of dual left turns at Strander Boulevard and Southcenter Parkway, the improve- ment of Duwamish Park, and the acquisition of the pond property south of the Target store. This parcel will someday serve as a major park and wildfowl conservation area. A unique feature of this project is the formation of a private non- profit group to oversee fund raising for the site development. 4 healthy business community .Jur retail business community concluded the year with continued strong sales. We welcomed Home Depot to the warehouse formerly occupied by the Frederick and Nelson distribution center. We learned of plans for the development of a West Coast flagship store for Sears in the old Frederick's space at the mall. Larry's Market opened their new facility, and we saw two new businesses backfill their old location. In short, our strong and enviable business climate continues to show vitality. Our long-standing cautious approach in financial forecasting revenues has kept expenditures in line with revenues. Our 1994 "to-do" list Let me briefly describe the major initiatives that the City will pursue in 1994: A citizens' task force for Highway 99 has been established and will begin working to develop recommendations for improvements to this important corridor. The Tukwila Tomorrow task force will finish reviewing the new Land Use Comprehensive Plan and zoning ordinance as required by the recent State -mandated Growth Man- agement Act. Their recommendations will go to the Planning Commission and City Council for further review and public input, with adoption anticipated late in the year. The result will be a series of comprehensive plans and a zoning ordinance that will guide us into the next century. We have established an Economic Development Advisory Board that will begin meeting this year to review current policies af- fecting the economic health of our city. The Board will make recommendations to the Mayor and Council in an effort to stabilize and enhance the economic health of the community. The Public Works Department will begin work on im- provements on 40th and 42nd Avenue South from East Marginal Way to South 154th. ▪ We will begin improvements to the South 180th/West Valley Highway intersection. This major traffic bottleneck will undergo bridge widening and the installation of dual left turns to ease back-ups and delays. ▪ The Police Department will institute a major citizen in- volvement program termed "community -oriented polic- ing". Look for future articles in the Hazelnut on this sub- ject. Because crime is a major area of concern to all of us, this initiative is vitally important to our community. Fire Station #53 located in Duwamish will be re -built. This structure is our oldest station and in need of immediate attention. We will pay for the new building through the proceeds of a limited obligation bond sale that will be used to finance this project, as well as the construction of a new community center. ▪ As stated, at long last we will begin construction of a modern community center. The facility will be built on City -owned property fronting the Duwamish River, adja- cent to 42nd Avenue South and South 124th. Design specification work will begin this spring, with a completion - of -construction date in early 1996. (Continued on back page) Tukwila Committee Tomorrow imagines changes for Highway 99 of the future Vision Tukwila participants — citizens actively voicing their views on community issues — listed Highway 99 as the fourth highest priority for City attention. (Single-family neighborhood matters ranked 1st and 2nd, and school/City/business collaboration ranked 3rd.) The Pacific Highway corridor and the land adjacent to it were the subject of five meetings during the months of November and December in 1993. The Tukwila Tomorrow Committee — the citizens committee updating Tukwila's Comprehensive Plan — has recommended the following ideas: + A strategic plan should be developed that suggests the necessary public and private actions to revitalize the area. + New uses around South 144th should be more typical neighbor- hood -oriented uses. + Public improvements should be concentrated in the commercial area between South 139th and South 154th Streets. + People should know and recognize the intersection of 144th and Pacific Highway as an important community gathering place. + Metro should be encouraged to locate transit facilities, including Park & Ride and/or rail around the SR -518 intersection. + Signs should be reduced and minimized to meet Tukwila code. The Committee has completed a great deal of work on the Com- prehensive Plan, and will finish up its review in April. Land use designations for most of the City are complete. Facility standards and financing methods have been recommended. The Tukwila Tomorrow meeting schedule shows the remaining work to be covered. Interested community members have the opportunity to meet with the Committee and discuss changes to the City's land use map that may not have already been made. Please call Moira Carr Bradshaw at 431-3651 if you need details or would like copies of committee reports. One vision of the future... Looking north on Highway 99 at South 144th Street • $boassee 41044 PLANNING COMM./BOARD OF ARCH. REVIEW Council Chambers, Tukwila City Hall — 7:00 p.m. March 24th Foster Library Applicant: King County Library System Description: Construction of new 5,250 -sq. foot library Site Address: NW corner of intersection at S. 144th Street and 42nd Avenue S. Best Design Review Applicant: Howard Turner Description: Convert existing building into 87,255 sq. ft. retail/commercial building on a 3.2 -acre site. Site Address: 223 Andover Park West, at NE corner of Strander Blvd./Andover Pk. W. intersection. = April 28th Tukwila Driving Range Applicant: Calvin Jordan Description: Develop 60 -station golf driving range on approx. 400,000 sq. ft. of existing pasture. Site Address: One-half mile south of the Southcenter Park- way/S. 180th Street intersection. CITY COUNCIL QUASIJUDICIAL HEARINGS o Council Chambers, Tukwila City Hall — 7:00 p.m. February 28th Southgate Trailer Park Applicant: Edward Parks Description: Amend Comprehensive Plan designation from Medium -density Residential (R-2 zoning) to Commercial (C-2 zoning). Site Address: 14004 Pacific Highway South (existing Southgate Trailer Park) Becker Trucking Applicant: Pac-Tech Engineering, Inc. Description: Appeal of Conditional Use Permit approved by Planning Commission for parking/storage of employee vehicles, trucks, and trailers. Site Address: SW corner of S 128th/E Marginal intersection TUKWILA TOMORROW Draft Comprehensive Plan Committee Meetings held on Thursdays at 6:00 p.m., Minolta Bldg., (next to City Hall), Suite 100, 6300 Southcenter Blvd. Upcoming areas of discussion: Feb. 17 Property Owner Report/Community Resources Feb. 24 Annexation Area, Land Use for area s. of 180th March 3 Urban Center March 10 Manufacturing/Industrial Center, Responsibri ity/Leadership April 14, 21, 28 Review City of Tukwila Draft Comprehen- sive Plan/Shoreline Master Plan For further information on any of the above agenda items, call the Dept. of Community Development at 431-3670 2 THE HAZELNUT Draft capital facilities plan predicts Me City's future financial health The Tukwila Tomorrow Committee is currently reviewing the Draft Capital Facilities Plan as part of their Comprehensive Plan update process. This report analyzes all of the City's existing facilities' deficiencies and future requirements. Included are streets, Parks and Recreation buildings, and all utilities. The elements being reviewed include future capital needs, impacts of projected growth, levels of service standards, and our ability to finance these requirements. This process is part of the City's Comprehensive Plan that is required under the State's Growth Management Act (GMA). Signs of good financial health Tukwila has an excellent and consistent tax base. This allows for a predictable long-range financial planning process. We have: ❖ The sixth largest sales tax base in the State. ❖ Assessed property valuation of $2.5 billion. ❖ Virtually no general government bonded debt (although $6 million is planned for a Community Center). ❖ Over $5 million per year allocated for general government capital projects. ❖ Level of Service standards (preliminary) which meet or exceed most jurisdictions. ❖ Significant continued economic growth occurring even during a slight recession. :• Over 10 years without a budget shortfall. Enough money to get the job done The Capital work plan for the six-year period 1994-1999 is fully funded. Sources of funds include sales tax, grants, developer fees, and other miscellaneous sources. The Water and Sewer Utilities' existing capital needs can be met by current revenue sources and cash on hand. The Surface Water Utility is more of an unknown; the long-term needs are still being determined. The Golf Course is in sound financial health, and we expect it to remain self-supporting in the foreseeable future. More information concerning this draft report can be obtained by contacting Moira Bradshaw in the Department of Community Department at 431-3651. INFOLINE The Seattle Times has provided two free infolines. You can call 464-2000 on a touch-tone telephone, then enter 4407. This will give you the Crime of the Week — South King County. Enter 4415 and it will give you Tukwila Police Crime Prevention Unit information. The Seattle Times Infoline is a free 24-hour service if you are calling from within the local Seattle calling area. Council Corner by Steve Mullet, Council President yJe wetcowe two wew iwe►sbewt Dorothy De Rodas (left) and Joyce Craft (right) are Tukwila's newest Councilmembers. Two new City Council members were elected in last November's elections. Joyce Craft joined the Council in November, and Dorothy De Rodas began her term in January. Joyce Craft began as a member of the Planning Com- mission, in response to being frustrated with govern- ment and wanting to get people more involved in it. She works as a cost accountant, and lives in the Foster neighborhood with her husband Les and daughter Camille. Now serving on the Finance & Safety and Utilities committees, Joyce says she looks forward to making City government as open and accessible as possible. Her phone number is 242-9508, and she looks forward to hearing from concerned citizens. Dorothy De Rodas will be familiar to any readers of the Duwamish Bulletin, which she has written and edited for several years. With a background in music and education, and a master's degree in Spanish (she is bilingual), she recently volunteered her time to edit the Block Watch Newsletter for the Tukwila Police De- partment. Though she is officially retired, Dorothy never sits still for long. Citizens who have something to say to the City can call her at 767-3549; she'll be glad to listen to, talk to, and — most of all — represent you. I welcome your participation and extend an invitation to any citizen who would like to attend a Council meeting; they are held on Monday evenings at 7:00 PM in Tukwila City Hall. If you want to know what will be discussed, you can listen to a recording of the upcoming Council agenda by calling 431-3656. FEBRUARY 1994 3 A center for downtown Tukwila? A real "downtown" Tukwila! That is the focus of planning being done by the Tukwila Tomorrow committee and mem- bers of the Community Development, Public Works and Parks & Recreation Departments, for a City urban center. Downtown Tukwila has historically been a resource for the entire region, with Southcenter Mall, its many furniture outlets, discount stores, and basically just good shopping. What is not as widely known is that downtown Tukwila provides office space for such important employers as Boeing, Larry's Markets and Fatigue Technology, among many others. Downtown Tukwila also provides space for a variety of start- up businesses, distribution warehouses, and a healthy hotel market. It houses doctors, dentists, lawyers, accountants, software developers and financial managers. In short, downtown Tukwila has everything a "real" City has. Glimpse of the future Planners envision a "Tukwila tomorrow" that potentially offers even more: Tukwila Pond as our central park, a pedestrian and transit -friendly Strander Boulevard, and access to a wide variety of transit services, including commuter rail, bus ser- vice, Dial -a -Ride service, airport shuttles, maybe a "Shoppers Shuttle" or trolley. More trails are planned, more sidewalks, and special features like gateways, public plazas, and public art. The goal is to ensure downtown Tukwila's long-term eco- nomic health and competitiveness in the region. Moreover, the opportunity exists today to plan for a downtown that provides a focal point and source of identity for the entire community. The policy plan for the urban center will be presented to the Tukwila Tomorrow Committee on March 3, 1994. To find out more, please contact the Department of Community Development at 431-3670. 4 To divide or not to divide? Assistance with land division i..j available from the City Have you been considering dividing up your property into new lots, or changing your lot lines? Before you pay for a survey, hire an engineer or consultant — or lose another night's sleep — the City can help you figure out what will be involved. Boundary Line Adjustment Changing your lot line locations (a "boundary line adjust- ment") requires approval from the City. A boundary line adjustment is usually easy to do. You can submit a hand -drawn site plan (versus a more expensive survey); site improvements — such as roads, utilities or fire hydrants — are usually not required. Most boundary line adjustments do not require much more outlay than the $200 application fee. Short Plats Dividing up your property into new lots (a "short plat") involves much more. You must prepare documents, such as surveys, engineer- ingdraw- ings or legal docu- ments, which can be costly. Site improvements are usually required. Because of this, a short plat can be a confusing process, especially if you haven't done it before. 0 But most of the lot line adjustments and short plats approved by the City are prepared by ordinary citizens. In the past two years alone, the City has helped over 30 residents to short plat their properties or complete boundary line adjustments. Help with preparing a site plan Before any work is started, a property owner will usually have one or two meetings with the City. At these meetings, the City and property owner work together to develop a draft site plan which meets City codes. The City provides the property owner with all of the information needed to do a boundary line adjustment or short plat. With this information, the property owner can then draw up the boundary line adjustment, or pass the information on to the short plat surveyor. If you have been considering a short plat or boundary 11. adjustment, the City can help. For more information, or to set up an appointment to review your future plans, please call Ann Siegenthaler in the Department of Community Development at 431-3670. THE HAZELNUT Keel lkis slime! !gid y tint easy Meleriewce, EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS Behold the miracle of television... we are more able than ever to witness the wide spectrum of natural disasters that have afflicted various regions of our country in the past few years. And we've also seen how various victims have survived the catastrophes, many because they were ready for just such an event. EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS. What does the term mean and what can you expect in case of a disaster? The City and other agencies that may be involved in coordinating rescue and relief efforts will likely be overwhelmed in any significant major disaster. In a major disaster such as a severe earthquake, you can expect to be on your own for at least 72 hours. Emergency preparedness consists of the steps that YOU must take to ensure that you and your family can survive for that initial 72 -hour period. To increase your chances for survival, you must take steps to be prepared. You must be prepared to engage in self-reliance in the early stages of any emergency. Stop by any of Tukwila's four fire stations or City Hall to pick up a copy of "The Disaster Gamble", a handy brochure that will provide you with a sound plan for survival. You increase you chances for surviving a major natural disaster with thorough preparation. DON'T WAIT UNTIL DISASTER STRIKES! 11.11{ 1'111pIjMI:ti Since 1840, Washington State has had over 1,000 earthquakes strong enough to be felt. Most of the major earthquakes have struck the Puget Sound region, the most recent and most severe being the earthquakes of 1938, 1949 and 1965. These quakes caused deaths as well as millions of dollars in damage. Most recently, the Los Angeles and San Francisco quakes fully demonstrated our vulnerability to this type of disaster. With earthquakes occurring every 15 to 20 years in the Puget Sound area, scientists say we're due for one very soon. 1^lk4t wetly aMe eaktkgkakes 4w) what cak they bol Earthquakes are the earth's crust's way of relieving built-up stress. They are fractures beneath the earth's surface caused by volcanic forces or underground rock breaking and shifting. While a quake can cause the earth to move a few feet, this movement is not dangerous in itself. Rather, the danger lies in encountering falling objects and debris or collapsing structures. Quakes can also trigger other hazards like landslides, fires, dam failures, gas leaks, toxic material spills, and huge ocean waves. Unfortunately, there are currently no techniques for precisely predicting earthquakes. SM/lI{T PLANNING 1 iIIE KEY $evoke aw fatkoake — Aspect oto how ✓ Secure water heater, refrigerator, glass cabinets, tall and heavy furniture to wall studs. ✓ Move heavy items to lower, securely fastened shelves. ✓ Install clips, latches and other locking devices on cabi- net doors. ✓ Bolt down water heaters and all gas appliances. ✓ Remove or isolate flammable materials. ✓ Relocate beds away from large windows, if possible. ✓ Don't hang heavy items over beds. Dkkikq tke fa itk dee: 1. Stay calm. 2. If you are inside a building, stay there. ✓ Stand in a strong doorway. ✓ Dive under a sturdy table, desk or bed. ✓ Brace yourself in an inside corner, away from windows. ✓ Move to an inner wall or hallway. (A door frame or the structural frame or inner core of a building are its strongest points and least likely to collapse. They will also break the impact of a falling object. ✓ Choose shelter which will offer an air space if it collapses. If your "furniture -shelter" moves, stay under it and move with it around the room. ✓ Watch for falling objects (e.g. plaster, bricks, light fixtures). ✓ Stay away from tall bookcases, high shelves, china cabinets, and other furniture which might slide or topple. ✓ Stay away from windows, sliding and shower doors, mirrors and chimneys. (The trembling can shatter glass and topple masonry.) ✓ Grab anything handy (coat, blanket, newspapers, cardboard box, etc.) to shield your head and face from falling debris and splintering glass. 3. Do not rush outside. Stairways may be collapsed and exits packed with people. Power for elevators may go out, leaving you stranded. 4. If you are outside, stay there. Move away from high buildings, walls, power poles, fallen power lines, and lamp posts. If possible, move to an open area. If in an urban area, get under a car. 5. If you are driving, stop and stay inside your car until the shaking stops. However, don't stop on highway over- passes, bridges, near trees, power lines, or under over passes, or where buildings could topple onto you. 6. If you encounter fallen electrical wires, never assume they are dead. Live ones can kill. If on foot, make a wide path around the wires. If you're in a car with live wires fallen across it, remain where you are and wait until help comes. Your car is usually well -insulated and will protect you from the electricity. Alta tke eaktkgkaite: ✓ Use flashlights for light. Do not light matches, ciga- rettes, or turn on electrical switches as they could create sparks and cause an explosion. ✓ Wear heavy shoes to protect feet from broken glass. Keep head and face protected. 4/ Check for injured people and give first aid. Do not move the seriously hurt unless they are in further danger of injury. ✓ Check for fires and fire hazards. ✓ Turn off appliances. Check utility lines and appliances for damage. If gas leaks or utility line breakage i suspected, turn off gas and/or electricity at main valve or circuit breaker, open windows, leave house, report condition to authorities, and return when utility offi- cials say it is safe. ✓ If water leaks are suspected, shut off water at main valve. ✓ Listen to radio for advisories. ✓ Do not touch downed power lines or objects touched by downed wires. ✓ Clean up potentially harmful materials (household chemicals). ✓ Check to see that sewage lines are intact before flushing toilets. ✓ Check house, roof, chimney for damage. ✓ Do not use phone except for genuine emergencies. ✓ Do not go exploring. Other hazards (fires, floods, landslides) triggered by the earthquake may be occur- ring. ✓ Be prepared for after -shocks. ✓ Open closets and cupboards carefully. ✓ Practice good sanitation habits and keep fingers out mouths to prevent the possibility of infection. ✓ Cooperate with public safety officials. Be prepared to evacuate if necessary. ✓ Keep refrigerator and freezer closed as much as pos- sible. Book now for the new Foster library _ erhaps you have wondered about our new Foster Library. When will it open? What programs will it offer? What will it look like? Find answers to your questions at an upcoming public information meeting. Designs are being drawn up now for the new Foster Library at South 144th and 42nd Avenue South. Like Foster High School, the library will be an important focal point for the community. The new library will be 5,250 square feet in size, with parking for twenty-six cars. Other improve- ments planned for the site include landscaping, street trees and side- walks. At the public infor- mation meeting, draft drawings and plans of the pro- posed Foster Li brary will be on display. The library architect, Tukwila Library Board and the King County Library "-Tstem will also be there to answer questions and to listen to your suggestions on library's design. In addition to the upcoming public information meeting, the Tukwila Board of Architectural Review (BAR) will review the design of the new library at a future public hearing. Both meetings will be held in the Council Chambers at Tukwila City Hall, 6200 Southcenter Boulevard, and are scheduled as follows: Sketch of how new library mzght look from South 149th Street. Public Information Meeting Tuesday, February 15, 1994 6:30 to 7:30 PM P.A.R Public Hearing Thursday, March 24, 1994 7:00 PM If you have any comments on the new Foster Library design or questions about the upcoming meetings, call Ann Siegenthaler in the Department of Community Development at 431-3670. Library Happenings Winter Preschool Storytime 10:30 AM Thurs. through March 31 No registration required ,school storytimes include a collec- tion of stories, puppets, fingerplays, songs, etc. The program is about 30 minutes for preschoolers, ages 3 and up. African Art "Show and Do" Weds., February 23 - 4:00 PM Ages 6-12, adults welcome to stay and help -Registration required (244-5140) Melinda Pleshe will share weavings, masks, carved wooden combs, dolls, beadwork and dyed batiks. Then you can paint your own West African Senufo cloth using traditional animal and geo- metric designs. Some possibly good tax news for working families Did you earn less than $23,050 in your household and have a child living with you for more than 6 months in 1993? If so, you may qualify for the Earned In- come Credit (EIC). This credit, which may be up to $2,364, is subtracted from the amount of tax you owe. Even if you owe no tax, you may still get money back. You can get more information by calling the Internal Revenue Service Tax Forms/ Publications number at 1-800-829-3676 and asking for the free publication #596, "Earned Income Credit". One-on-one tax help is available free at Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) sites. To find a location near you, call the IRS toll-free at 1-800-829-1040. Tax help for seniors Senior citizens in Tukwila can get free assistance with their taxes every Tues- day and Thursday during the month of February. Assistance will be provided at the Senior Program in the Tukwila Community Center. Call 243-5198 to set up an appointment. Make a skills bank "deposit" Do you have a skill that you could share with a fellow Tukwila resident... bud- geting, aerobics, minor car repair, cook- ing, legal/medical advice, crafts, mentoring/tutoring, sewing, etc.? We hope to increase community involve- ment by building a "skills bank" to help Tukwila residents work together and share their knowledge. We are seeking people interested in volunteering their time to share their particular skill. Your level of involve- ment may range from a one -time -only session, to regularly scheduled sessions. For more information, or to share your ideas, call Patty Benjamin at 439-0337 or Karen Wright at 241-7199. FEBRUARY 1994 5 Pk4t s 1ew(%) its au Seavicet 1993 was a busy year for human services As 1993 closed, the Office of Human Services looked back at what was a busy year. The Office received over 600 requests for information and referral on a broad range of issues such as senior services, energy assistance, housing, legal concerns, etc. Hundreds of Tukwila households were assisted through the organizations that the City helped fund. Services that were provided included homecare, home -delivered meals, health care, assistance for victims, counsel- ing, English as a Second Language, housing assistance and information and referral. A more complete description of the Office of Human Services activities for 1993 will be available soon in an annual report New human service providers for 1994 Under the 1994 Tukwila Human Services Program, several new programs will be receiving support in assisting Tukwila residents this year. These programs are: Des Moines Food Bank—This food bank, located within the City of Des Moines, has been assisting many Tukwila families each year. Funds will be used to help purchase food not received as in-kind donations. South Park Food Bank — South Park also assists Tukwila residents with food, baby necessities and information and referral. Funds will help support personnel. Highline Hospital Primary Care Clinic— This program will offer comprehensive general health care services as a more appropriate alternative to residents seeking non -emergency care through the hospital's emergency room. King County Sexual Assault Resource Center, Renton Area Youth Services, Ruth Dykeman Children's Center— These agencies are working together to offer education and group support around the issue of child sexual abuse. They will be working closely with the South Central School District. Senior Services of Seattle/King County - Volunteer Transportation Program — This program uses volunteer drivers to help low-income elderly in King County who are without other transportation options. They can assist people in getting to medical appointments. Senior Services of Seattle/King County - Community Outreach Program — Community outreach workers will be able to visit seniors in Tukwila to assess what kinds of services they need, then help connect seniors to those services. Washington Women's Employment and Education —This organization will be working with the South Central Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP) to provide a job readiness training program for up to 20 Tukwila women. Childcare may be available for some families. YWCA of Seattle/King County - Work Options Program — This program will provide individual employment counseling, skill/educational assessment, job search skills, etc., for Tukwila residents. A part-time employment specialist will work in Tukwila. If you have any questions about any of these programs, call the Office of Human Services at 241-7144. 6 VISTA update In a joint Human Services -Police effort, a VISTA (Volunteers In Service To America) volunteer is working with the community to reduce drug abuse and crime. We hope to accomplish this by increasing communica- tion, cooperation and personal involvement between all portions of the community. Since 60% of our residents are renters, most of our efforts are focused on the 100+ apartment complexes in Tukwila. Asking for direction We are surveying apartment managers and tenants to give them the opportunity to identify needs and concerns. The next step is to work with these residents, allowing them to be part of the problem -solving process. We will explore ways to bring services and programs on-site at the complexes and will encourage volunteerism. Apartment tenants and managers have started to identify the programs and servic that they would like to see on-site at their complexes. They have also started to come together and volunteer their time and en- ergy to make these programs happen. For example, some activities include holiday parties, family movie nights, aerobic classes, and English as a Second Language classes. We expect to see other programs develop over the next few months. If you would like more information about the VISTA project or would like to volunteer your talents, call Patty Benjamin at 439- 0337, or Karen Wright at 241-7199. Seeking advisory board members We are seeking to establish a VISTA advisory board comprised of one member each from a business, social service provider, public sector, tenant, and landlord. For more information, call Karen Wright at 241-7199. Tukwila Office of Human Services 241-7144 Crisis Clinic (24-hour line) 461-3222 THE HAZELNUT TUKWILA RECYCLING REPOR TER Compost demonstration garden opens at City's Allentown Pea Patch Even in the midst of the January blahs, we can look ahead to the spring gardening season with thoughts of flowers, green leaves, grass and... yard debris. What to do with it all? Come learn about home composting at Tukwila's newly -built Compost Demonstration Garden. Located at the south edge of the Allentown Pea Patch parking lot (comer of 42nd Avenue South and South 124th), the Compost Demonstration Garden can show Tukwila residents all about home composting. It is landscaped with local, drought -tolerant, low -main- tenance plantings, and features ex- amples of different composting methods and containers for home use. If you need a rest, there's even a bench made entirely of recycled plastic. The Demonstration Garden is de- signed to be both an attractive and educational spot. We expect to hold periodic composting there; it will be open to all for visits anytime. Our "grand opening" is planned for April 23, 1994. Watch this space for information! New compost facility awaits springtime visits from interested Tukwila gardeners. Tired of not feeding the bears? Tukwila offers a volunteer opportunity to nurture "wildlife" Our worm -bin worms need to be fed every two weeks at their new home at the Compost Dem- onstration Garden. It's easy. We'll provide the bucket... you provide the food scraps and wheels. This project is perfect for any youth groups, church organizations, other groups, clubs or individuals who wish to take on a community ',vice project in support of the environment. ror more information, please contact Rebecca Fox at 431-3683. Want more information about recycling in Tukwila? Call Rebecca Fox, Recycling Coordinator, at 431-3683. FEBRUARY 1994 Req Qk� Packaging peanuts got you in a jam? Help! These packaging peanuts are driving me nuts! Where can I get rid of them? Are they recyclable? Regain your sanity by calling one of the following companies that will take those pesky peanuts without charge: Mail Boxes, Etc. 645 Southcenter Shopping Center 241-0506, 241-0627 Mail Boxes, Etc. 330 S.W. 43rd, Renton 251-5443 You can also receive a list of places where you can drop off these packaging pellets by calling the Packaging Peanut Hotline at 1-800-828-2214. Does it "pay" to recycle? I've heard that some recyclables aren't worth a great deal of money right now because more are being collected than industrycan use. Why is it important for me to continue to recycle? With a dependable, steady stream of clean materials collected through recy- cling programs, industries are starting to use more recyclables in their products. And, technology is developing new products that can be made from recy- clables. This takes time and money. You can help assure there will be a market by asking for and purchasing recycled products. Ask in the stores in which you shop about the recycled products they carry and tell them you would like to see new products when- ever possible. You can get information on where to buy a wide variety of re- cycled products from the Clean Wash- ington Center and the King County Commission for Marketing Recycled Materials at 296-4439. So keep on recycling...it's worth it! 7 CITY DIRECTORY TUKWILA CITY HALL 6200 Southcenter Boulevard Phone: (206) 433-1800 Hours: Mon. thru Fri, 8::30Ay-5::00mw TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL Steve Mullet; President 241-6454 Joyce Craft 242-9508 Dorothy De Rodas 767-3549 Joe H. Duffle (beeper #) 994-7229 Allan Ekberg 241-6904 Joan Hernandez 248-0260 Dennis Robertson 242-6373 Lucy Lauterbach, Analyst433-1834 CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS 7:00 p.m. in Council Chambers Regular Mtgs 1st/3rd Mondays Work Mtgs 2nd/4th Mondays Agenda Information Line.... 431-3656 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 Earns£, 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/Services433-1857 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: Stacia Norris Printed on recycled/recyclable paper State of the City (continued from page 1) Our best work depends on your vital input You can readily see that just the highlights of what we have planned for this year represent an ambitious agenda. We are in a strong position to accomplish a great deal in 1994 with a strong staff, clear direction from the Council, and a healthy local economy. As always, the real strength of our communitylies with its people. Your participation in community activities, on boards, commissions and various ad hoc committees gives your government the vitality it requires to remain responsive to your needs. I urge you to stay involved. Attend Council meetings, drop by City Hall or give us a call with your questions or concerns. John W. Rants, Mayor Tukwila Parks and Recreation presents "Super Science Saturdays" Join us as Pacific Northwest Science Adventures introduces Science in a hands-on learning environment. Sessions will be instructed by "Super Scientist" Brian Hosey and supervision provided by Tukwila Parks and Recreation staff. These sessions are for youth ages 6 to 12. Pre -registration is required. Parents are welcome to attend. Class open only to registered participants and parent. All classes will be held at t?' Community Center on Saturdays, from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM. Cost for one class is $15.00. For more information, contact our office. Session 1: MARINE LIFE February 12th Hold on to live sea creatures, and try not to lose your lunch! Examine sea stars, sea cucumbers, sea urchins, and a few surprises, all take from Puget Sound (all creatures returned to their homes after the program). Also examine Scuba equipment and learn about its uses. Session 2: ASTRONOMY -CONSTELLATIONS Feb. 26th Receive a star chart and learn how to use it; create your own constellation and legend, make a tin can planetarium to take home. Session 3: MEASURING pH March 12th Natural indicators are used to test acids, bases, and unknowns in test tubes. You can even become a "Mad Scientist" and try mixing different chemicals together. Sign up for all three sessions and save! All 3 Sessions - $36.00 Glgia 1 THE HAZELNUT City of Tukwila 6200 Southcenter Blvd. Tukwila, WA 98188 POSTMASTER: If named addressee has moved, deliver to current resident. BULK RATE U.S. POSTAGE PAID TUKWILA, WA PERMIT NO. 12698 To help us correct addresses or eliminate duplicates, please call 433-1800.