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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-02 Hazelnut Newsletter - Volume 26 No. 1THE HAZELNUT A City of Tukwila publication for our residential and business communities VOLUME 26, NUMBER 1 FEBRUARY 2005 It's time to rediscover Tukwila Library If you haven't gone to the library lately, you're missing some great opportunities. Tukwila is extremely fortunate in having a choice of three different library experiences. Most people are aware of the Foster Library located at 42nd & 144th by Foster High School, and the Library Connection @ Southcenter (be- tween Penneys and Mervyns) is getting a lot of activity. But many citizens don't know that in the residential neighborhood — on 59th Street, tucked behind the Fire Station — is Tukwila Library. Located in Old City Hall, Tukwila Library is an oasis of calm and serenity. The King County Library System recently invested a lot of mon- ey and effort to improve the interior of the building. The rede- signed open space plan features bright and welcoming colors, design and lighting for increased patron comfort. Along with the imaginative new children's envi- ronment, special family programs include "Baby and Me" for new parents and caregivers with very young children, and A.P.P.L.E. Parenting skill courses. The re- stored adults' section offers a new and inviting Choice Reads book display for adults — with up-to- the-minute popular books includ- ing current titles, genre, literary fiction and classics — as well as books on tape and a good refer- ence section. The facility offers several computers or easy chairs, depending on your needs. Park- ing is easy and — except for right after school — it's generally a very relaxed and old-fashioned library experience. WINTER STORY TIMES at Tukwila Library Tuesdays, 10:30AM January 25—February 15 March 1-29 April 19—May 10 Join us for stories, songs, games, finger plays,flannelboard stories, creative dramatics and crafts. TUKWILA LIBRARY 14475 - 59th Avenue South 206-244-5140 Mondays IO:OOAM-S:OOPM Tuesdays 2:OOPM-8:OOPM Wednesdays 1O:OOAM-S:OOPM Thursdays 2:OOPM-8:OOPM Saturdays IO:OOAM-2:OOPM It's a convenient place to pick up all your reserved library materials: Books Magazines Books on tape and CD 0 Videos DVDs Music CDs eBooks The Tukwila Library is a branch of the King County Library System. It is housed in a building built in 1920 that is now on the National Register of Historic Sites for the Com- munity Interest. Behind the Tukwila Library is the charming Hazelnut Park, the setting for many of the Library's Summer Programs. The Library provides access to all the services offered by the King County Library System. Come visit this cozy, unique library! Tukwila City Council Actions: October -December 2004 OCTOBER Confirmed the appointment of Kevin Fuhrer as City's new Finance Director. Held public hearing on amendments to Comprehensive Plan. Approved ordinance amending City's land altering & grading requirements. Approved contract with Sargent Engi- neers for study of possible types, size, and locations of replacement of Boeing Access Road Bridge (over RR tracks). Approved ordinance vacating portion of Maule Ave. between S 143rd St. and S 143rd Place. Owner will donate to City similar -sized parcel along Interur- ban Ave. S, to facilitate improvements scheduled for Interurban in 2005. Affirmed increase in City's utility tax from 4% to 5%. Affirmed increase from 4% to 5% in fee associated with Seattle City Light franchise. Approved recommendation to Sound Transit that light rail station be named Tukwila/International Blvd. station. Approved ordinance establishing new regulation regarding Surface Water Management, including updates to meet new federal & state requirements. Approved ordinance regulating use of motorized foot scooters and Segways, and prohibiting pocket bikes on streets, sidewalks, and trails. NOVEMBER Approved resolution committing to ini- tiate annexation process for unincorpo- rated island of land after Tukwila Valley South annexation. Approved contract supplement for more detailed analysis of potential financing strategies and their implications rela- tive to Tukwila Urban Center Plan with ECONorthwest. Approved ordinance establishing pro- cess for attaching tax liens and recover- ing costs to recoup abatement costs. Approved new Interlocal Agreement with King County Rural Library District requiring increased services for next two years at Tukwila Library. After that period level of services will be at sole discretion of KCLS. Approved 2004-05 Commute Trip Re- duction (CTR) Implementation contract for support services with King County to provide technical assistance and re- view of employer programs. Approved contract with ClearPath for technical help with Tukwila Village proj- ect and other real estate assistance. Approved ordinance adopting code of ethics for City employees, former em- ployees, and City officials. Approved resolution authorizing Mayor to negotiate agreement with Wig Prop- erties, LLC for use of City -owned Tuk- wila Pond property, to enhance pond wetlands as mitigation for filling-in of poor -quality wetlands on its property. Approved resolution rejecting all bids submitted for Allentown/Foster Point Water & Sewer Improvement project since the low bid was $998,000 over budget. The project will be revised and re -advertised in early 2005. Approved lease agreement for portion of Duwamish Riverbend Hill property as a construction staging area for Link Light Rail project with Sound Transit. Approved contract supplement for addi- tional roadway design and sewer plans for Southcenter Pkwy Extension project with David Evans & Associates, Inc. Approved ordinances amending City's Comprehensive Plan, to comply with requirements of Growth Management Act, and to define emergency situations under which plan may be amended. Approved resolution adopting new sal- ary schedule for employees not repre- sented by a union. Approved ordinances levying 2005 property taxes of $10,800,000, and authorizing a less -than -1% increase in total property tax collections. Approved contract with KPG, Inc., for Interurban Ave. S engineering design services (S 143th St. to Ft. Dent Way). DECEMBER Awarded contract to Buckley Nursery Company, Inc., for planting of Norway maple and incense cedar trees along Tukwila International Blvd. Awarded contract to install 2 mid -block crosswalks with in -pavement flashing lights to Totem Electric of Tacoma. Approved amendment to Yakima Jail Interlocal Agreement, clarifying re- sponsibilities and reducing daily fee for unused beds. Approved additional contract work with Mirai Associates for Tukwila Ur- ban Center Transportation Plan. Adopted changes to Sensitive Areas Regulations to comply with new State requirements. Approved ordinance amending 2004 Budget, to account for grants received and other unanticipated changes. Approved resolution adopting 2005- 2010 Financial Planning Model and Capital Improvement Plan. Approved ordinance adopting the 2005 budget. Approved Interlocal Agreement be- tween City of Kent and 13 cities, for payment and supervision of lobbyist services for sales tax sourcing issue. Approved ordinance eliminating admis- sions tax on golf course fees. For up-to-date information about Council meetings/agendas/activities, visit our website: http://www. ci. tukwila. wa. us 2 THE HAZELNUT 11.1"F COUNCIL CORNER Accessible Council wants to hear your thoughts by Pamela Linder, Council President - 2005 I'm happy to be serving as your Council President for 2005. This is my tenth year on the Council and I'm proud to rep- resent you. I'm reminded when I attend regional meetings that Tukwila is unique in many positive ways. One of these ways is that our Council for many years has "shared" the role of President by rotating. That allows each member to serve and have the opportunity to work more closely with City staff and Administration, be the coordinator for the Council, and act as chief cheerleader. Another thing that sets us apart is how accessible your Coun- cil is. If it's not convenient or not "your style" to attend our weekly meetings at City Hall, I encourage you to stop by and talk to us when you see any of us out and about in the neighborhood. In 2005 we will be able to finish several projects that have been in the works for a number of years: the Allentown/ Foster Point sewer project and the Cascade View Drainage project. These projects are part of our Neighborhood Revi- talization. The goal is to make our residents proud of their neighborhoods and to have them want to stay in our City. We hope to be starting the Macadam Winter Garden this year also. The garden is designed as a four -season strolling garden with a focus on winter interest. This is just another example of one of the ways we are trying to increase City pride. You may have ideas that you think would encourage city pride. I would love to hear them. You can call me at home or e-mail me. Contact your Tukwila City Council: Council Message Line - 206-431-3652 Agenda Info Line - 206-431-3656 Council Email Address: Tukcounc@ci.tukwila.wa.us Reviewing our accomplishments of 2004 by Jim Haggerton, Council President - 2004 The old saying - if you stay busy, time passes quickly - certainly fits the City Council year of 2004. This is my last Council President 2004 article for the Hazelnut, and I'd like to start by wish- ing Councilmember Pamela Linder much success during 2005 in her term as Council President. The year 2004 was challenging in many ways. It presented an extremely heavy workload for the Council, Mayor and all City staff, combined with a reduced revenue stream for properly address- ing all of the Council priorities. Every effort was made to control expenses within the City, but the mini -recession continued to adversely affect our sales tax receipts as well as our normal level of new construction, from which we receive sales tax. However, we were able to accomplish the following, seemingly impossible to some at the beginning of the year. We revisited and made many changes to the Tukwila Comprehensive Plan and the Tukwila Sensitive Areas Or- dinance. Many of the changes were caused by mandates from outside the City and were required to be complet- ed by December. These two may not sound like much on the surface, but the staff spent hours of their time preparing work for the Council to review in the form of binders several inches thick. The Council then attended many meet- ings this past year until 11:00PM work- ing through these issues along with our normal business. One meeting lasted until midnight. We approved the permit for Sound Transit, which allows them to begin construction of the Tukwila light rail link including a station located at Tuk- wila International and Southcenter Boulevards. We're working to complete the final northern portions of Tukwila International Blvd., and planting trees in the completed Phase One section. We have held most of the public meet- ings leading to the beginning of con- struction that will resolve much of the underground water problem through- out the Cascade View Neighborhood. That neighborhood has also responded very well to the new Cascade View Park on South 144th Street. We worked hard throughout the year with the King County Library System to keep the Tukwila Library open, and have signed a new two-year interlocal agreement keeping that library open. I know we look forward to accomplish- ing as much again this year. FEBRUARY 2005 3 Announcing City Light refunds Seattle and Tukwila customers who paid electricity bills for the period January 1, 2000 to November 13, 2003 may be eligible for a refund in 2005 as a result of a lawsuit. The Washington State Supreme Court ruled streetlighting costs should not have been included in City Light rates. The City of Seattlefs general fund should have paid for streetlighting, the court said. Current residential customers who qualify for the refund will automatically receive a credit on their electric bill in early 2005. The amount of the credit will vary based on the amount of electricity consumed and length of time as a customer. Many residential refunds will range from $30 to $60. If you were a customer during this time but no longer have an account, you will have one year to make a refund claim. City Light will issue refund checks only for claims of $5 or more. Commercial customer credits and refunds will be issued after residential credits have been made. For more information or to apply for a refund online, go to: www.seattle.gov/light/accounts/streetlightrefund/ Tukwila updates the City's Comprehensive Plan In December 2004, the Tukwila City Council concluded a year-long process of updating the Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Code. The update ensures that both documents are consistent with changes in Washington State planning law, and reflect amendments requested by members of the public. Throughout the year, Tukwila staff met approximately 30 times with the public, Planning Commission and City Council, in meetings, hearings and open houses to gather input on the proposed revisions. The amendments include: • Revised policies and codes to better identify and protect environmentally sensi- tive wetlands, steep slopes, wildlife habitats and watercourses through the use of updated scientific information ("best available science"), and consideration of anadromous fish such as salmon. • Revised the vision and policies for future development in the Tukwila Valley South (TVS) area, located generally between South 180th Street and South 204th Street, to encourage an urban, multi -use district rather than agricultural and industrial. • Changed the zoning on one lot near South 126th Street between Tukwila In- ternational Boulevard and 34th Avenue S., from single-family to commercial. • Updated policies for redevelopment in the Tukwila Urban Center to expand opportunities for housing, allow greater flexibility in meeting parking needs, and supplement a market-driven approach with a combination of guidelines, regulations and incentives. • Made other technical revisions to transportation, capital facilities, economic development, plan maintenance and housing chapters. Book it! Seattle Southside Visitor Center Open House Seattle Southside Visitor Services (SSVS) is holding an open house in its new lo- cation. SSVS, a tourism and marketing program offered jointly by the cities of Tukwila, SeaTac and Kent, is responsi- ble for competitively marketing the area as an ideal travel destination for tourists who wish to explore the Northwest. SSVS invites you to its open house on Wednesday, February 2, at 4:OOPM. Come take a tour of the new center, mingle with colleagues and enjoy some refreshments. Located at 14220 Inter- urban Avenue South (across from Gal- liano's Cucina), Seattle Southside Visitor Center now has I-5 signage, street -front access, enough parking for RVs, and a spacious office to accommodate visitors and residents alike. In honor of our open house, SSVS re- quests the donation of your favorite children's book to benefit Commu- nity Health Centers of King County (CHCKC). Established in response to community needs, CHCKC provides complete primary care, including dental care, to those in need. Tukwila Sister City Annual Spaghetti Dinner and Silent Auction FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25 5:00 to 8:0OPM Tukwila Community Center 12424 - 42nd Avenue S. Adults - $10 Children (age 10 & under) $5 All proceeds go toward student travel funds for the Spring 2005 trip to Ikawa, Japan For tickets, contact: Kathy Znak/206-242-3138 Lucy Lauterbach/206-433-1834 4 THE HAZELNUT CODE ENFORCEMENT Tukwila's new parking ordinance: What you need to know Beginning in March 2005, vehicles on residential property may park ONLY on an approved parking surface. Cars, boats, RVs and other vehicles will no longer be allowed to park on lawns or bare earth in residential neighborhoods. Vehicles can only be parked on gravel, concrete, asphalt or similar approved durable surfaces. Implementing reasonable limits on the location and/or number of vehicles parking on residential property will improve the appearance of our neighbor- hoods, increase property values, and reinforce Tukwila's commitment to COM- MUNITY PRIDE! If you have questions or concerns regarding the new ordinance, or would like someone from Code Enforcement to meet you in person at the site, please call us at 206-431-3682 or get in touch with us via tukcode@ci.tukwila.wa.us. A copy of the ordinance is also available on the City's website. Family Literacy Centers will provide important reading skills The Tukwila Children's Foundation's dream of Family Literacy Centers in this com- munity has become a reality. In a collaborative effort with the Tukwila Community Schools Collaboration, the Foundation received generous grants and donations from United Way of King County, The Bezos Family Foundation, The Marguerite Casey Foundation, the Family Literacy Centers, Inc. Foundation, and the law firm of Garvey Schubert Barer. This financial and in-kind support — combined with the support of its board members, organizations working in Tukwila, and individual community members — enables the Foundation to hire a part-time director to run the program. Two UW Masters of Social Work students each will be working 16 hours a week to organize the centers and help the director to oversee the sites. Family Literacy Centers will open in five different locations: the Mountain View Apartments, the Samara Apartments, Showalter Middle School, Thorndyke Elemen- tary School, and the Tukwila Library. Two additional locations are presently being confirmed, so that every neighborhood in Tukwila will have access to a Family Literacy Center within walking distance. Each center will offer two -45 minute personal tutoring sessions per week, and students will be expected to read with parents or guardians every evening for 20 minutes. The heart of the program is a series of 72 phonics -based storybooks, se- quentially developed and values -oriented. Carefully correlated with these are adult reading books, writing activity books, an interactive CD-ROM, a simple placement screen, skills assessment, recording and reporting tools used on the FLC website, and readers built around high frequency words. In addition, for those students who need it, the Centers use a specialized program which diagnoses specific read- ing problems and automatically places students in learning and practice materials to help them overcome the deficiency. If you are interested in joining a core group of volunteers to help with this project and/or becoming a member of the Tukwila Children's Foundation, please contact Verna Seal Griffin, President, Tukwila Children's Foundation, PO Box 88537, Tuk- wila, WA 98138, or call 206-901-9251, or email to info@tukwilachildrensfoundation.org Pet Licenses Online Pet owners can now renew or ob- tain a new pet license online by credit card. There is a $1.49 convenience fee charged per transaction. Please check it out at http://payments.metrokc.gov/ petlicenses/ Another opportunity for CPR and First Aid training Tukwila's Fire Department is hosting a First Aid and CPR course on Thursday, March 24. The complete CPR/First Aid course lasts all day, from 9:OOam to 5:OOpm. The only cost to participants is for ma- terials and certification cards; the com- bined CPR/First Aid course costs $15 per student (First Aid attendees will also receive a book for this fee). For those who attend only the CPR portion of the training, the cost is $10 (class time for those attending CPR portion only will be 12:30pm to 5:OOpm). Payments will be accepted on the day of training prior to class so students are requested to ar- rive 15-20 minutes early. The courses are available to individual citizens who live or work in Tukwila. You can reserve a space by calling the Tukwila Fire Department at 206-575- 4404, between the hours of 8:OOam and 6:OOpm, or by stopping by Depart- ment headquarters at 444 Andover Park East. The course will take place at Department Headquarters in the South Training Room (parking on the south side of the Fire Station). Openings are reserved on a first-come, first-served basis. Class size is limited; those who register are expected to at- tend. Please call to cancel if you are un- able to attend so that we can fill your slot from our waiting list. Large groups — private or business — can make ar- rangements with the instructors for on - department -sponsored courses. CPR saves lives. Sign up for a course soon! FEBRUARY 2005 5 Dr. Seuss Family Night Wednesday, March 2 6:00-7.•30PM Come help us celebrate Dr. Seuss's Birthday at our first ever Tukwila School District Family Night! There will be entertainment, arts and craft activities, food, fun and games, and much, much more! Festivities begin at 6:00PM. For more information, please contact Katie Hendrickson at 206-901-7736. Location: Tukwila Community Center For grades K-5 Cost: FREE! Teen Flashlight Egg Hunt Friday, March 25 7::45-8:1 SPM Don't miss out on this annual `eggstrav- aganza' — hunting with flashlights for prizes hidden in eggs. Prizes will in- clude gift certificates to favorite restau- rants, movie tickets, CD's candy, and more! Bring a flashlight, something to collect prizes in, and $3 to participate in this `eggstraspecial' event! Arrive at the Tukwila Community Center's pic- nic shelter at 7:45PM to participate. For grades 6-10 only Fee: $3 (Student ID required, no exceptions) Easter Egg Scramble and Hunt Saturday, March 26 Build up your strength for this `eggcit- ing' annual hunt by joining the Easter Bunny for breakfast. A professional photographer will be available to take pictures of your child with the Easter Bunny (additional fee). After breakfast we'll have our traditional mad dash for candy and treats, and maybe even the prize-winning egg! Ages: 1-10 years Location: Tukwila Community Center Time: Breakfast — 8:00-9:45AM Easter Egg Hunt—10:OOAM SHARP! Fee: Breakfast: $5.00 Egg hunt only: FREE! TUKWILA PARKS & RECREATION DEPARTMENT PARKS • RECREATION • GOLF • AQUATICS Local citizens and businesses make holiday miracles possible Each year the Tukwila Community Center coordinates a Holiday Giving Program in which local children and families are "adopted" for the holidays. These families receive gifts, meals, and a lot of hope through this program. We would like to thank and recognize the following businesses and organizations for their generosity in helping make this program possible: * Advent Print Resources * City of Tukwila Fire Department, * Dept. of Community Development, and Public Works Department * Claim Jumper Restaurant * Experience Hendrix * Fatigue Technology * Foster High School ASB * Golden Nugget Casino * Grainger Industrial Supply * Group Health Cooperative * Insurance Professionals of South King County * Larson Juhl Custom Frames * Mahrt and Associates, PLLC * Pacific Metal Company * Regence Blue Shield * Riverside Casino * RTS Packaging * Seattle Mailing Bureau * Silver Dollar Casino * Sound Community Bank * Therapeutic Associates * Tukwila Parks, Golf, Aquatics and Recreation Staff * West Seattle Dental Clinic In addition to these businesses and or- ganizations, we would like to thank the following community members who also helped make it all possible through the spirit of giving: * Anne Nogaki * Bill and Glenda Super * Bob Hendrickson * Justin and Kirstin May * The Adanti Family * The Holmgren Family Because of your generous contributions, we were able to help over 100 local children have a wonderful Christmas! Special thanks to 2005 Youth & Teen Basketball sponsors Each year over 300 kids participate in the Tukwila Parks & Recreation Department's annual Youth & Teen Basketball League. Sponsorship support from our business community allows us to keep the participation costs low and continue to provide scholarships to kids who may not otherwise be able to play. We would like to thank and recognize the following businesses and organizations for their generosity: * Airport Valley Vinyl Tops & Upholstery * Bahn Lao Thai Restaurant * Cascade e -Commerce Solutions, Inc. * Cingular Wireless * Computer Sonics * Cort Furniture Rental * Dave's Diner * Land O'Frost Foods * Larry's Market * Park & Fly * Northwest Emergency Training * Schneider Homes * Southcenter Chiropractic * Sykart Indoor Racing Center * The Andover Company Corporate * Real Estate * Tri -Land Corporation * Tukwila Children's Foundation * Tukwila Firefighter's Union #2088 * Tukwila Self -Storage * Watermark Credit Union * Western Cascade Truck Tanks 6 THE HAZELNUT CaII for Entertainers Are you an entertainer, or have you seen local entertainment that you really liked and would recommend? The Tukwila Parks and Recreation Department is seeking entertainers for 2005 special events. Performance opportunities are: 4th of July Fort Dent Park Monday, July 4 4:00-10:00PM Tukwila Days Tukwila Community Center Saturday, July 9 10:00AM-3:00PM (Family Stage & Kids Stage) Music in the Park Cascade View Community Park Wednesdays, July 13—August 10 6:30-7:30PM Applicants must submit the following: • Demo CD • 8"x10" glossy photo • 3-5 sentence description of band, to be used for promotional material Please mail or deliver your materials by 5:00PM on February 7, 2005 to: Tukwila Parks and Recreation Attn: Tracy Gallaway 12424 - 42nd Avenue South Tukwila, WA 98168 Selected entertainers will be contacted by February 25, 2005. FEBRUARY 2005 Senior Adult Programs participant becomes U.S. citizen On December 9, Tukwila resident Esma Kapetanovic was sworn in as a U.S. citizen at the new Homeland Security Office on Tukwila International Boulevard. It was a very special day for this woman who moved here from Bosnia on January 22, 1998 to be with her daughter Yasminka Kujundzic, a Tukwila School Board member, and also a very special day for her friends and the staff at Tukwila Community Center. Esma began participating in the Tukwila Trailers hik- ing program about seven years ago, and everyone fell in love with her. Before coming into the program she had been working on her English in the ESL program at Showalter Middle School, but her English was very broken. The seniors, staff and Esma herself had trying tines wiui cominunicanon, but her contagious smile and love for people caused everyone to want to make her feel at home and help her with her English. he Tukwila senior hiking group nd the Senior Programs staff urprised Esma on December 9 y showing up at the swearing - ceremony and presenting her with a photo album of her days Liking with the group. Esma vas so excited it brought her to 'ars. 'his was a special day for Esma )r reaching her goal to become citizen but a very special day for the Senior Program Staff because it is not com- monplace for elder immigrants to reach out to us for friendship and support. Veterans Day observed at Senior Center On Wednesday, November 20, the Senior Adult Program Staff honored the veterans of our community with a free lunch and program. "The Little Band" provided entertainment. The Little Band is a group of brass and woodwind members who practice at the Tukwila Community Center. The group, formed in 1987, is part of the Musicians Emeritus com- munity outreach program. Tukwila resident Audrey Davis led the flag salute for the ceremony. Big thanks go out to all of our veter- ans! 7 Coping With Disaster Everyone is affected by disaster, wheth- er they experience it firsthand or only see it in the media or hear the stories of others. Going through a disaster can cause extreme stress in people, which needs to be addressed and dealt with so they can live healthy, productive lives. Some symptoms of disaster -related stress: • Difficulty sleeping • Low threshold of frustration • Reluctance to leave home • Limited attention span • Depression, sadness • Mood swings • Headaches or stomach problems • Difficulty concentrating • Feelings of hopelessness Ways to ease disaster related stress: • Discuss your feelings with some- one. • Take steps to promote your physical and mental health by eating well, exercising, relaxing, resting and meditating. • Maintain a normal routine and try to limit demanding responsibilities. • Seek help from professional coun- selors who deal with post -disaster stress. • Do not hold yourself responsible for the disaster or get frustrated be- cause you cannot help directly with the rescue work. • Participate in memorials. • Take advantage of existing support groups like friends, family and reli- gious institutions. • Do positive actions like restocking or creating a disaster supplies kit and updating or creating a family disaster plan. For more information, please see "Are You Ready? An In-depth Guide to Citi- zen Preparedness," available through the FEMA Website: http://training.fema.gov/emiweb/IS/ is22.asp Tsunami safety in Washington Recent events in Asia have brought tsunamis to the public's notice. Any area near the ocean can experience tsunamis. Bay entrances, tidal flats, and coastal rivers are also vulnerable to tsunamis. Washington residents living near coastal areas need to know how to be safe from tsunamis. Here are some safety tips: • Pay attention to official warnings. If authorities tell you to evacuate, evacuate immediately and follow established tsunami evacuation routes. • If you feel an earthquake while at the beach, drop, cover and hold until the shaking stops. Then immediately head for higher ground and move inland. Move on foot if necessary — roads may be damaged or there may be debris. • Do not wait and watch for the waves — they can move faster than you can run. • If you don't have time to evacuate, go to an upper level of a building, climb a sturdy tree, or find something to use as a raft. • After an earthquake, wait until officials give an all -clear message before going back to the beach. Waves can continue to arrive for several hours. • If you see an unexpected rise or fall of coastal waters, move inland and uphill immediately. • Have your disaster preparedness kit ready to grab and take with you in case of evacuation. Also, try to keep supplies in your car. • Be familiar with your area's evacuation routes — they lead inland or to higher ground. In some places there may be more than one direction available leading to safer areas. Know these routes ahead of time. For more information, please visit: http://emd.wa.gov/3-map/mit/eq-tsunami/tsunamibrochure.htm For free brochures about tsunami safety, visit the front desk in Tukwila City Hall. Be ready to help your community after a disaster Citizens need to be prepared to take care of themselves in times of emergency and disaster. First responders will not be able to get to everyone right away. One way citizens can be prepared to handle disasters is through a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). A CERT is a group of people — neighbors, co-workers, church group, etc. — that attends training together to learn to respond effectively to disasters. They learn such things as light search and rescue, emergency medical response, and fire sup- pression. They learn skills that enable them to help their communities with disaster response until professional responders can take over. Training includes seven class sessions, with the last session being a review and a disaster simulation where CERT members can put their new skills to use. Taking CERT training is fun and helps people gain confidence to assist their com- munity during disasters. The City of Kent offers CERT training, as well as some other agencies in King and Pierce Counties. All together, 41 programs are offered throughout the state. Individuals who don't have a team but want to learn more about disaster response can also take CERT training. Please visit the FEMA CERT site to learn more about the CERT program: http: //training. fema. gov/emiweb/CERT/ 8 THE HAZELNUT Don't pay to borrow your own money How would you like to pay a super -high price to borrow money that already belongs to you? Sounds ridiculous, right? But that's pretty much what happens to many folks at tax time in the crazy world of RALs, or Refund Anticipation Loans. You may be tempted by tax -time advertisements for "Fast Cash Refunds," "Express Money," or "Instant Refunds." These ads will offer to get you your refund in just a day or two, or even on the spot. Beware! Many of these "fast refunds" are re- ally LOANS... refund anticipation loans. When you get a RAL, you're borrowing against your own tax refund money. And RALs are often marketed to people who need money the most: low- and moderate -income workers. Don't pay triple -digit interest rates to borrow your own refund RALs are extremely expensive. Loan fees typically range from $30 to $90, which translates into Annual Percentage Rates (APRs) of about 60% to over 700%. All to get your tax refund just a few days earlier than you can for free from the IRS... if you paid those rates on all your borrowing, you'd go broke! You're lining someone else's pockets with YOUR hard-earned money! RALs can be hazardous to your financial health In addition to their high costs, RALs can be risky. Since a RAL is a loan from a bank working in conjunction with a tax preparer, it must be repaid even if the IRS denies or delays your refund, or your refund is smaller than expected. If you don't pay back the RAL, the lender will take actions to hurt your credit rating and may send your account to a debt collector. In addition, when you apply for a RAL, you are giving the lender the right to grab your tax refund to pay for old tax loan debts that the lender claims you owe. Save $$ and avoid RALs... use a free tax preparation site A great way to save money at tax time is to go to a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site. The United Way of King County, Internal Revenue Service, ACORN, Seattle Jobs Initiative, City of Seattle's Help for Working Families Program, and Seattle Jobs Initiative are sponsoring VITA sites across King County from January 15 to April 15. (See article on page 10) Taxes will be prepared by IRS trained and certified volunteers and electronically filed for a rapid refund. Multilingual tax preparers will be available at several sites to serve customers who do not speak English. Free tax preparation sites will be located in White Center, Burien, Kent, Federal Way, Renton, Rainier Beach, Beacon Hill, the Central District, Downtown Seattle, SeaTac Airport and Bellevue. For information about qualifying for the program, days and hours of operation, and what you'll need to bring with you, call toll free 1-800-755-5317. Maple Family honors Duwamish Tribal Longhouse project In public support of the Duwamish Tribal Longhouse and Cultural Cen- ter Project, there will be a historical presentation: March 19, 2005 1:00PM Tukwila Community Center 12424 - 42nd Avenue S. The presentors will be several members of the Maple Family whose ancestors were part of the original group of Duwamish River settlers in June 1851. The opening welome will be performed by the Duwamish Tribal childrens group, the Singing Feet. The Duwamish Tribe and the Ma- ple Family established their friend- ship long ago. In addition, there will also be a public showing of the Beulah Ma- ple Norman Paintings Collection, which depicts her impressions of early historical events of the local area. Beulah was a grand daugh- ter of Jacob Maple and was one of many Maple family members actually born on the 1851 Samuel Maple Oregon Territory Donation Land Claim which is now Boeing Field/King County Airport Admin- istration Building property. If you have any questions, please contact Louise Jones -Brown (the great-great-great-grandaughter of Jacob Maple) at 206-824-5825. FEBRUARY 2005 9 What's New(s) in Human Services Human Services Office Evie — 206-433-7180 Stacy — 206-433-7181 Crisis Clinic (24-hour line) 206-461-3222 Keep more of what you work for - take advantage of Earned Income Tax Credit Get your taxes prepared for free! Working families and individuals may be eligible for an Earned Income Tax Credit up to $4,300. Between January 15 and April 15, visit one of the 12 Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites across King County to have your taxes electronically prepared by trained multilingual volunteers, and filed for a rapid refund... at no cost. Are you eligible? Working families and individuals can receive a larger refund with the Earned Income Tax Credit. You may be eligible if your 2004 adjusted gross income quali- fies: • Less than $11,490, no children: receive up to $390 • Less than $30,338, one child: receive up to $2,604 • Less than $34,458, two or more children: receive up to $4,300 Be sure to bring: • End -of -the -year tax forms from all income sources (W2s, 1099s, etc.) • Picture identification • Social security card/number(s) for you and your dependents VITA Site Locations: Bellevue, Beacon Hill, Central District, Rainier Beach, Downtown Seattle, White Center, Renton, Kent, Burien, SeaTac Airport, and Federal Way. For more information regarding the Earned Income Tax Credit or free tax prepara- tion service, call 1-800-755-5317. Information is also available in Spanish, Viet- namese, Cambodian, Samoan, Somali and Russian. You work hard for your money — now make it work for you. Ask about investing in your future when you visit a VITA Site. Sea -Tac Smiles helps make happy teeth Want to keep your kids cavity -free? Need a dentist? Sea -Tac Smiles can help. The Sea -Tac Smiles dental clinic serves chil- dren and families, regardless of income. They accept medical coupons as well as private dental insurance. They also offer a sliding fee scale to low-income families who qualify. Services include dental exams and cleanings, sealants and fluoride varnish, space maintainers, fillings and other restorations, emergency dental treatment, and family oral health education. Human Services offers new programs for 2005 Tukwila residents will be able to receive services from some agencies receiving funding in 2005. Community Health Centers Community Health Centers of King County offer both primary health ser- vices and dental care at affordable prices. Dental clinics are located in Kent, Federal Way and Auburn, and primary medical clinics are located in Renton, Kent, Federal Way, and Au- burn. Individuals/families are charged on a sliding fee scale according to family size and income. Licensed physicians, nurse practitioners or physician assis- tants provide services Kent Clinic 253-852-2866 for dental, call 253-796-4071 Renton Clinic 425-226-5536 Federal Way Clinic ..253-874-7634 for dental, call 253-874-7646 Hospitality House Hospitality House offers a shelter for homeless single women in South King County. Women may stay in the shelter for up to three months. They receive assistance in improving their skills, find- ing employment, etc. For referrals or screening, please call 206-242-1860 or 206-699-7029 (pager). Pregnancy Aid of South King County Pregnancy Aid offers free goods to low-income pregnant and parenting women. Available items include lay- ettes, baby cribs, car seats, maternity and children's clothing, infant food, etc. To reach them, call 206-878-3770. The Sea -Tac Smiles clinic is located at the Sea -Tac Occupational Skills Center, 18010 - 8th Avenue South in Burien, on bus route #132. Parking is available. To make an appointment, call 206-433-2242. 10 THE HAZELNUT TUKWILA Wilmar Corporation: New Tukwila Green Works member! The City of Tukwila Business Recycles Program is pleased to recognize the newest member of the Tukwila Green Works Program, Wilmar Corporation. The City of Tukwila Green Works program recognizes busi- nesses that: • Practice three or more waste prevention strategies, • Recycle at least 40% of their solid waste, and • Use three or more recycled content products. Wilmar, a professional tool distributor, not only met required goals, but exceeded them! They were able to "check off" more than 20 waste -reduction strategies they use, including contacting companies that send unwanted mail and asking to be removed from their mailing list. More than five re- cycled products are used onsite including paper towels and Reduce the flow of Junk Mail The winter holidays are over, but do you find that you're now receiving lots of new catalogs and other unwanted mail? The U.S. Postal Service delivers more than 90 billion pieces of direct mail every year. A significant portion of this is unwanted advertis- ing mail, or "junk" mail. Recycling junk mail is a good start, but actually reducing the amount of junk mail you receive saves landfill space and conserves natural resources. Here are some ways to cut down on junk mail: file folders. Finally, their recycling rate is almost double the Green Works goal- 77%! They avidly recycle office paper and cardboard. Great work, Wilmar Corporation! For more information about the City of Tukwila Green Works program for business recognition,contact Rebecca Fox at 206- 431-3683 or rfox@ci.tukwila.wa.us. Don't let your name become a commodity Every time you enter a contest, make a purchase or donation, join a buyer's club, order a product by mail, subscribe to a magazine, or return a product warranty card, your name and address can be placed on a mailing list a sold. To prevent this from happening, write "Please do not rent or sell my name" next to your name. Also consider not returning the warranty card for a new product — it's often not required for the warranty to be valid. Contact companies and organizations directly To stop receiving mail from specific sources, call the company or organization's customer service number (often a toll-free number). You can also make your request via email (from the company's website) or send in a written request. Sign up for the Mail Preference Service A good way to remove your name from several national mailing lists at once is to sign up for the Direct Marketing Association's Mail Prefer- ence Service at http://www.dmaconsumers. org/offmailinglist.html. This website provides instructions on how to register online (with a $5 processing fee) or via U.S. Mail (a free service.) This service is only for national — not local — mail and only for residential — not busi- ness — addresses. It's good for five years. Get off lists for credit offers The major consumer credit bureaus have a toll-free, 24-hour number you can call to have your name removed from mail- ing lists used for credit offers: 1-888-5-OPTOUT (1-888-567- 8688). The recording will ask for your full name, address, telephone number and social security number (to confirm the identify of the caller making the request). When presented with options, press 1 to have your name removed for two years, or press 3 to have your name removed permanently. Want more information about recycling or composting in Tukwila? Contact Recycling Coordinator Rebecca Fox at 206-431-3683, or email rfox@ci.tukwila.wa.us FEBRUARY 2005 11 CITY DIRECTORY TUKWILA CITY HALL 6200 Southcenter Boulevard Hours: Monday—Friday, 8:30am-5:00pm Telephone: 206-433-1800 Fax number: 206-433-1833 TTY number:: 206-248-2933 Website: http: //www, ci. tukwila. wa. us E-mail: tukwila@ci.tukwila.wa.us TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL Joe H. Duffle (beeper #) 206-994-7229 Joan Hernandez 206-248-0260 Pam Carter 206-244-0558 Jim Haggerton 206-244-7846 Pamela Linder, Pres. 206-439-2473 Dennis Robertson 206-242-6373 Dave Fenton 206-246-4980 Lucy Lauterbach, Analyst 206-433-1834 Council Message Line 206-431-3652 CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS 7:OOPM in Council Chambers Regular Meetings 1st/3rd Mondays Work Meetings 2nd/4th Mondays Agenda Info Line 206-431-3656 CITY OFFICES Mayor Steve Mullet 206-433-1805 Municipal Court 206-433-1840 Human Services 206-433-7180 Finance Department Kevin Fuhrer, Director 206-433-1838 Tourism/Marketing 206-575-2489 Fire Department Nick Olivas, Chief 206-575-4404 Dept. of Community Development Steven Lancaster, Director206-431-3670 Code Enforcement 206-431-3682 Parks/Recreation Department Bruce Fletcher, Director 206-767-2342 Police Department Chief 206-433-1808 Public Works Department Jim Morrow, Director 206-433-0179 Dept. of Administrative Services Vkilessop, Director 206-433-1831 City Clerk's Office 206-433-1800 Personnel 206-433-1831 City Job Line 206-433-1828 Emergency Fire, Police 911 TUKWILA COMMUNITY CENTER 12424 - 42nd Avenue South Recreation Division 206-768-2822 Senior Center/Services 206-767-2323 TUKWILA CITY POOL 4414 S. 144th Street 206-267-2350 FOSTER GOLF LINKS 13500 Interurban Avenue South Pro Shop 206-242-4221 Restaurant 206-241-5784 THE HAZELNUT is a bimonthly newsletter published by the City of Tukwila and written by City staff. Editing/production: Stacia Norris Link light rail under construction in Tukwila In 2009, Tukwila citizens will enjoy fast, frequent and congestion -free rides into Seattle and back on Link light rail. The 30 -minute ride to downtown Seattle will include stops in Rainier Valley, the SODO industrial area, and at the big -league stadiums. The 14 -mile initial segment of Link light rail is now under construction along the entire route. Last November, Sound Transit began construction of the Tukwila segment of its Link light rail project. Frank Coluccio Construction Company began moving overhead utility lines (electrical, telephone and cable television) into underground vaults and ducts. This work clears the path for the overhead light rail trackway in Tukwila. Major construction of the trackway and the South 154th Station will begin later this spring and be completed by the end of 2007. Bids for this work were scheduled to be opened in late January. Sound Transit has already taken possession of the station location at the SE corner of Tukwila International Blvd. and Southcenter Blvd. Sound Transit and the City of Tukwila have agreed to improvements to Southcenter Boulevard between International Boulevard and 53rd Avenue S. Access to the sta- tion will be improved by such features as sidewalks, bike lanes, retaining walls, and a landscaped median. This agreement also includes an expanded park-and-ride lot on the north side of Southcenter Boulevard at the site currently occupied by Public Storage. A total of 600 parking stalls will be available for transit riders. If you want to know more For more information about the Link light rail project in Tukwila, please contact Sue Comis at 206-398-5143 or email to comiss@soundtransit.org; or contact Roger Pence at 206-398-5465 or email to pencer@soundtransit.org. Please also visit our new website at www.soundtransit.org. We also welcome the opportunity to meet with groups and organizations to discuss the design and construction of the Tukwila segment. Contact Sue and she will make the arrangements. Sound Transit's 24-hour Construction Hotline is 888-298-2395. Call toll-free to report problems or to hear recorded construction updates. Sound Transit, the Port of Seattle, and the City of SeaTac have agreed on a plan to extend Link light rail to the airport by 2009. For information about the airport ex- tension, please attend the Open House on Thursday, March 3, from 6:00 to 8:00PM, in City Council chambers at SeaTac City Hall, 4800 S. 188th Street. Sound Transit staff and consultants will show plans for extending the trackway to the airport, how it will be constructed, and ideas for naming the airport station. THE HAZELNUT City of Tukwila 6200 Southcenter Blvd. Tukwila, WA 98188 Postmaster: If named addressee has moved, deliver to current resident. PRESORT STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID SEATTLE, WA PERMIT NO. 12698 To help us correct addresses or eliminate duplicates, please call 206-433-1800.