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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-02 Hazelnut Newsletter - Volume 30 No. 1ri A City of Tukwila publication for our residential and business communities VOLUME 30, NUMBER 1 FEBRUARY 2009 Impacts of wild winter weather felt all around City Snow report for 2008 Severe weather conditions and record snow accumulations in De- cember 2008 brought hazardous driving conditions to travelers and holiday shoppers alike. Our recent winter's snow conditions were anything but normal for the Puget Sound region. The Tukwila Street Department lead the plowing and sanding op- erations on City streets during this snow event. The Street Depart- ment was assisted by Police, Parks, Water, Sewer and Surface Water Departments. Plowing and sand- ing operations continued around the clock with four plow/sander combinations, an additional plow only, and one sander only. The crews applied 853 tons of sand and 12 tons of rock salt. The City's priority during a snow and ice event is to keep the com- mercial business district, main ar- terials, school bus routes and fire routes open before moving into residential neighborhoods. There were times when the snow was falling faster than equipment and manpower were able keep up. Despite the record snow accumu- lations, no essential City services were interrupted and requests for Police and Fire aid were met. Landslide closes Interurban Avenue Early on the morning of January 8, 2009, a landslide composed of approximately 450 cubic yards of wet soil and vegetation fell from the hillside onto Interurban Avenue South north of Fort Dent Way. The landslide covered nearly all four travel lanes and caused the roadway to be closed for almost 24 hours while the mate- rial was cleared. No one was hurt by the landslide, but one vehicle was damaged when the barrier at the bottom of the hillside was pushed out into the street. The stability of the hillside has been studied by geotechnical engineers on sev- eral occasions and there is no recommended "cheap and easy" fix. Weathering of the exposed face and build-up of vegetation will continue, contributing to future slides. Stabilization of the face of the hillside by some engineered means would be very expensive and the site is situated primarily on private property. The current recommended approach is to inspect the hillside regularly, remove any build-up of loose material, and construct a containment wall near the toe of the hillside that will prevent slide material from falling on Interurban Avenue South below. City Council Actions: October 2008 —January 2009 October 2008 Appointed Steve Mullet to Tukwila's Arts Commission. Appointed Eugene DeMesa and Alma Villegas to Equity and Diversity Com- mission. Authorized purchase of automated ca- shiering system for City Hall. Authorized settlement agreement be- tween City and Union Pacific Railroad. Held a public hearing on Fire Master Plan. Authorized supplemental contracts with IBI Group for Tukwila Urban Cen- ter Transit Center Design Services & Andover Park West (Tukwila Pkwy to Strander Blvd) Update Design Report. Authorized Memorandum of Agree- ment with Pierce County for Fire Department's continued participation in Washington Task Force 1 of FEMA National Urban Search & Rescue Task Force System. November 2008 Held public hearing on ordinance to amend Comprehensive Plan's Capital Facilities Element to add "Fire" to list of uses funded by City, to reference Fire and Parks Master Plans, and to add Level -of -Service goals for both Fire and Parks services. Held public hearing on and approved ordinance renewing six-month morato- rium on electronic signage within City. Authorized Mayor to sign agreement with Perteet Engineering, Inc., for GIS Inventory Area 5 project. Held public hearing on proposed bien- nial 2009-10 Budget and 2009-2014 Capital Improvement Plan. Appointed Brooke Alford to Planning Commission. Held public hearing on and approved ordinance increasing regular property tax levy one percent from previous year, commencing January 1, 2009. Approved ordinance increasing sewer rates and resolution increasing water rates, commencing January 1, 2009. Authorized purchase and sale agree- ment with Boys & Girls Clubs of Thur- ston County, for acquisition of open space at 5800 South 152nd Street. Approved ordinance establishing level - of -service standards for parks and open space. Awarded contract for East Marginal Way Fiber Interconnect project to Den- nis R. Craig Construction, Inc. December 2008 Approved resolution adopting Public Works Land Use fee schedule. Approved resolution adopting new per- mit fee schedule. Adopted biennial 2009-10 Budget and the 2009-2014 Financial Planning Model and Capital Improvement Pro- gram. Awarded Recyclers of the Year to Red Dot Corporation and Starfire Sports. Reappointed Trisha Gilmore and Cyn- thia Chesak to Arts Commission. For up-to-date information about Council meetings, agendas, and activities, visit: http://www.cL tukwila. wa. us Reappointed Sharon Kidd and Steve miller, and appointed Dylan Flesch to Library Advisory Board. Reappointed Bonnie Mullet to Sister Cities Committee. Awarded contract for Tukwila Interna- tional Blvd Phase II and III Improve- ments to Gary Merlino Construction Company. Approved ordinance adopting 2008 Fire Master Plan with inclusion of Mayor's response specifying phased implementation, and establishing level - of -service goals for Fire services. Approved ordinance amending Capital Facilities Element of City's Compre- hensive Plan to add "Fire" to list of uses funded by General Fund, to ref- erence and incorporate 2008 Fire and Parks Master Plans, and to add level -of - service for Fire and Parks services. Approved ordinances establishing as- sessment of Fire and Parks impact fees on new residential, commercial, and industrial development in City. Requested Mayor provide annual schedule to review impact fees and ad- ditional sources of revenue, as well as taxes, and to provide Council with in- formation regarding cost of doing busi- ness in Tukwila. January 2009 Elected Joan Hernandez as Council President. Appointed Andrew Kim to Sister Cities Committee. Authorized resolution for Tukwila's participation in Cascade Agenda City Program. 2 THE HAZELNUT COUNCIL CORNER New Years News from the Council President by Joan Hernandez, Council President Your City Council offers sincere wishes of good health and happiness for you and your family in this new year. Although there may be challenges along the way, we hope we can all work together to make Tukwila a better place to live both for today and in the future. Tukwila law requires that "members of the City Council shall elect from their number a Council President" at the first Regular Meeting of each year. At the January 5 Regular Meeting, it was my privilege to be elected Council President for 2009. Wonder exactly what a Council President does? Tukwila's Municipal Code stipulates that "in the absence of the Mayor, the Council President shall become the Mayor Pro Tempore and perform the duties of the Mayor except that the Council President shall not have the power to ap- point or remove any officer or to veto any ordinance." Other responsibilities include presiding at each "Committee of the Whole" meeting (held the second and fourth Mondays of each month) and appointing Committee chairs and mem- bers to the four standing committees of the Council. I was pleased to make these Council Committee assignments: TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE De'Sean Quinn, Chair 1st & 3rd Mondays @ 5:OOPnn Dennis Robertson Verna Griffin FINANCE & SAFETY COMMITTEE 1st & 3rd Tuesdays @ 5:OOPnn Pam Linder, Chair Joe Duffie De'Sean Quinn COMMUNITY AFFAIRS & PARKS 2nd & 4th Mondays @ 5:OOPM UTILITIES COMMITTEE 2nd & 4th Tuesdays @ 5:OOPM Council Message Line 206-431-3652 Meeting Agenda Info Line 206-431-3656 Verna Griffin, Chair Joe Duffie Kathy Hougardy Kathy Hougardy, Chair Pam Linder Dennis Robertson At the beginning of the Committee of the Whole Council meeting on January 12, Girl Scout Troop #470 members led the Council and audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. I have recommended that we continue this as a tradition throughout the year. We extend an invitation to all Tukwila residents, non-profit organizations and businesses who wish to volunteer to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance at a fu- ture Committee of the Whole meeting. After introductions and leading the Pledge, guests are welcome to excuse them- selves or stay for the remainder of the meeting, or address the meeting under Citizen's Comments. It's an opportunity for us to get acquainted with more people in our commu- nity, and for an organization to gain some public recognition. During Citizen's Comments, community residents, organi- zations or businesses can bring any interests or concerns to the Council's attention. If you or someone you know would like to participate, please contact me or Kimberly Matej, Leg- islative Analyst, at 206-433-1834, to arrange a date when we can put you on our Council Agenda. We look forward to more people attending our City Council meetings and taking an active involvement in local government affairs. Tukwila's Shoreline Master Program Update The Tukwila Planning Commission continues its work reviewing the draft Shoreline Master Program. Please visit the City's web site at www ci.tukwila. wa.us for a strikeout/underline draft version of the Shoreline Master Program, or to find out the status of the Planning Commission's actions. Once the Plan- ning Commission completes its review, their recommended Shoreline Master Program will be submitted to the City Council for its review and approval. The Council will hold public meetings and a public hearing to hear from affected property owners and interested parties. The Council's Community Affairs and Parks Committee will review the document first, followed by the Committee of the Whole. Meeting dates will be posted on the City's web site. If you have questions, or would like to be placed on the mailing list to receive information about the Shoreline Master Program, please contact Carol Lumb at 206-431-3661 or clumb@ci.tukwila.wa.us. 1 FEBRUARY2009 3 Be involved in building Tukwila's future Tukwila adopts Walk & Roll Plan The easy part is done — now comes the hard part of funding and building trails, bike facilities and sidewalks. The Walk and Roll Plan was adopted by the City Council on January 20, 2009. Money allocated by the City Council will be used to determine construction options (including design and cost) for the following sidewalk and bike projects. The work of actually putting paint on pavement, moving existing or planned sidewalks, or pouring asphalt or concrete may take some time but the selection of the streets is complete. Bike lanes are proposed on the following streets: + Tukwila International Boulevard ♦ 42nd/40th/East Marginal Way S. + Macadam Road S./51st Avenue S./53rd Avenue S. + Andover Park East + South 144th Street + Boeing Access Road + South 112th Street + South 130th Street + South 135th Street + South 140th Street + South 144th Street + South 160th Street + Baker Boulevard + Minkler Boulevard + South 180th Street The following street segments were chosen for proposed sidewalk construction because of their proximity to schools, and/or the higher volume of traffic or vehicle speed limits. + S. 130th Street (between TIB and Macadam Road S.) + S. 141st Street (between TIB and 42nd Avenue S.) + S. 142nd Street (between TIB and 37th Avenue S.) + S. 140th Street (between Tukwila International Boulevard (TIB) and 46th Avenue S.) + S. 144th Street, south half (between TIB and 51st Avenue S.) + S. 146th Street (between TIB and 47th Avenue S.) + S. 148th Street (between TIB and 46th Avenue S.) + 51st Avenue S. (between S. 144th Street and SR 518) + 53rd Avenue S. (between S. 144th Street and Interurban Avenue S.) + Macadam Road S. (between S. 150th Street and S. 144th Street) ♦ Klickitat Drive (between 53rd Avenue S. and SR 518) Another exciting element of the Plan is expanding unpaved paths within neighborhoods. We request your involvement in deciding where and how these paths are constructed. Unused public right-of-way exists that could be cleared of blackberries and used for trails and walking paths for neigh- borhood residents, employees and/or school children. Maps of the individual neighborhoods and potential path locations are available by contacting Moira Bradshaw at mbradshaw@ci.tukwila.wa.us or Jaimie Reavis at jreavis@ci. tukwila.wa.us, or by calling 206-431-3670. Also, if you have a scouting group, school site council, business group, service organization or recreation association who would like to be involved in building a trail that expands access to or recre- ation around your facility, please give us a call or email. Volunteers needed for Tukwila Pond Wetland The Tukwila Pond wetland buffer en- hancement project, highlighted in pre- vious issues of the Hazelnut, is mov- ing ahead with another work party — scheduled for Saturday, February 28, starting at 9:OOArvl — to plant and mulch native trees and shrubs in the buffer along Andover Park West. The project will improve the habitat for birds, small mammals and frogs along the recently restored wetland located south of Strander on the southeast side of Tukwila Pond. Funded in part by a "WaterWorks" grant from King Coun- ty's Department of Natural Resources and Parks, the project will enhance Buffer work party public access, and is one part of an overall plan to improve water quality, wildlife habitat, and public enjoyment at Tukwila Pond. Work party warriers: Girl Scouts of Western Washington Service Unit 3S after planting and mulching 100 native trees and shrubs in fall of 2008 If you would like to help with planting, dress for the weather and bring work gloves. The City will provide shovels and rakes, but you are welcome to bring your own tools as well. We will meet at the site just south of the Burger King on Andover Park West. For more information, please contact Shannon Fisher in the Department of Parks and Recreation at 206-768-2822, or Sandra Whiting in the Department of Commu- nity Development 206-431-3663. 1 4 THE HAZELNUT Draft Tukwila Urban Center Plan nears completion The draft Tukwila Urban Center plan for the Southcenter area is just about ready for review! The draft Plan strives to bolster the urban center's market position as the primary regional shopping and employment center for King County by providing even greater opportuni- ties for attracting and retaining businesses; improving auto- mobile and transit access to and within the area; creating more housing opportunities within walking distance of the Sounder commuter rail station; improving walkability; and improving access to public open spaces like Tukwila Pond. The draft Urban Center Plan has been in development since 2003, with participation by the Tukwila business com- munity and residents at seven public workshops and four joint City Council and Planning Commission worksessions. Since 2005, the City has been refining the draft plan by "test- ing" its standards and guidelines on rede- velopment projects; meeting with local and regional develop- ers to ask the ques- tion, "Does this plan work?"; and implementing some of the key concepts of the draft Plan, such as funding the design of a pedestrian bridge across the Green River to make it easier for employees, shoppers and visitors to walk from the rail station to the Southcenter area. Public review of the draft Tukwila Urban Center Plan is an- ticipated to kick-off in March 2009 with an informational open house followed by Planning Commission review and a public hearing. Want to learn more? Information on the planning process and summaries of past public workshops' comments can be found on the City's website - soon to be added are the draft plan and a public review schedule. Questions or comments? Please contact Nora Gierloff, Deputy Director of Commu- nity Development, at ngierloff@ci. tukwila. wa.us, or Lynn Miran- da, Senior Planner at lmir and a@ ci. tukwila. wa.us. You can also give them a call at 206-431-3670. Why You Shouldn't Top Your Trees! It won't work. Topping (cutting tree limbs off at the top) won't work to keep trees small. After a deciduous tree is topped, its growth rate increases (unless it is so damaged that it dies), in an attempt to replace its missing leaf area. It needs all of its leaves so that it can manufacture food for the trunk and roots. It won't slow down until it reaches about the same size it was before it was topped. It takes a few years before your tree returns to near its original size. It's expensive. A topped tree must be re -done every few years and eventually removed when it dies or the owner gives up. Each time a branch is cut, numerous long, skin- ny young shoots ("suckers") grow rapidly back to replace it. They must be cut and recut, but they always regrow the next year making the job even more difficult. Topping also reduces the appraised value of your tree. A tree, like any landscape amenity, adds to the value of your property. Appraisers subtract hundreds of dollars from the value of a tree when it's been topped. It's dangerous. Topping is the most serious injury you can inflict upon your tree. Ironically, many people top their trees because they think it will make them safer, but topping cre- ates hazardous trees. Severe or repeat topping can open the tree to internal col- umns of rotting wood, eventually allowing the possibility of limbs or the entire tree to fail. Repeated removal of leaves (the tree's food source) starves the tree and makes it suscep- tible to secondary diseases. New limbs from the regrowth are weakly attached and break easily. The thick regrowth of suckers or sprouts resulting from topping make the tree top-heavy and more likely to catch the wind, increasing the chance of blowing down in a storm. For information on good pruning techniques or to find a qualified tree firm, please visit the Plant Amnesty website at wwwplantamnesty.org, or call them at 206-783-9813. (modified from an article by Cass Turnbull, Plant Amnesty) 1 FEBRUARY2009 5 Low-income assistance available for heating bills As Washington state recovers from the recent win- ter cold weather and storms, PSE customers having trouble paying their heating bills are reminded that almost $29 million in monetary assistance is available this year from two low-in- come programs administered by community service agencies. LIHEAP— The Federal government's Low Income Home Energy Assistance Pro- gram (LIHEAP) provides financial assistance to eligible low-income households — with incomes equal to or less than 125% of poverty guidelines — to help pay for their winter heating bills. Funding may also be available for emergency services such as heating system repairs/replacements for qualifying households. HELP — Puget Sound Energy's Home Energy Lifeline Program (HELP) provides additional bill -payment assistance (beyond the Federal LIHEAP program) to quali- fied PSE customers. Eligible customers can receive up to $750 per year in credits to lower their electricity or natural gas bills. Both HELP and LIHEAP are administered by nonprofit community service agen- cies. HELP funds are available to PSE customers year-round, while LIHEAP funds are available through June 30, 2009, or until the funding is exhausted. The amount of HELP aid given to a PSE electricity or natural gas customer varies according to household size, income, and energy usage. The program is open to residential customers with household earnings between 125% and 150% of the Federal poverty standard; for a family of four, the monthly income cap is $2,650. Depending on income and household size, a qualified low-income recipient could receive $750 from PSE's HELP and up to $1,000 in LIHEAP bill credits. WARM HOME FUND — PSE customers can also apply to the Salvation Army's Warm Home Fund for emergency, short-term utility bill assistance. This fund — through voluntary contributions by PSE employees, customers and shareholders — provided over $700,000 to assist nearly 4,000 families Contact your nearest Salvation Army district office for more information about the Warm Home Fund. The utility also encourages customers to sign up for the balanced payment plan, which averages bills across a 12 -month period. Call PSE at 1-888-225-5773. PSE's HELP recently requested and received a $4 8 million boost in funding ap- proved by the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission, which will provide nearly $14 7 million in 2009 to help low-income households in PSE's service area pay their natural gas and electricity bills. Additionally, in November 2008 the Federal government doubled the dollars ear- marked for LIHEAP. Community service agencies serving residents in PSE's 11 - county Washington state service area will receive a $14 million appropriation from LIHEAP this year, representing a 100% increase over the 2008 funding level. If you are interested in participating in any of these programs, need more informa- tion, or want to know if you are eligible, please contact. King County Multi -Service Center (for South King County) Toll-free phone number: 1-800-348-7144 You may be eligible for 2008 utility tax rebates In 2003 the City of Tukwila imposed a Utility Tax and added surcharge to Se- attle City Light customers as a contract fee. A policy has been established by the City to rebate the additional taxes and contract surcharge fees to low-in- come seniors (62 or older) or disabled residents who may be eligible for elec- tric and natural gas utility rebates. CRITERIA FOR ELIGIBILITY: • Must be at least 62 years of age, disabled. • Must have combined income o less than $31,150 or less than $27,250 if single. • Must be a Puget Sound Energy or Seattle City Light customer. REQUIRED INFORMATION (DUE BY JUNE 30, 2009): • Must complete one-page applica- tion at the Finance Department in Tukwila City Hall. • Must provide copy of their 2008 Income Tax Return. • Provide their Puget Sound En or Seattle City Light Account number. PAYMENT PROCESS: Those applicants determined to be eli gible will receive a rebate check from the City based on the actual taxes and surcharges paid for 2008. For addition- al information, please call Lily Jue at 206-433-7190. 6 THE HAZELNUT News from Tukwila's Public Works Department Standby Power Upgrade The Standby Power Upgrade Project is currently underway to provide backup generators for City Hall and Fire Stations 52, 53 and 54. Ebenal General, Inc., has been contract- ed to purchase and install the four generators at a cost of $523,200.00. The generators have been designed to provide adequate power to keep these facilities fully functional dur- ing a power outage. Each generator is being placed in accor- dance with applicable City codes and electrical requirements and located in areas to minimize effects of exhaust, noise, and aesthetic conditions. The generators will be placed upon concrete pads with a fuel tank. The project should be com- pleted and ready to run by the end of March 2009. Tukwila International Boulevard Phase II & III construction The construction bid opening for Tukwila International Boulevard (TIB) Phase II and III (S 116th Street to S 139th Street) Project was held on November 13, 2008. Ten bids were submitted and the lowest bidder was Gary Merlino Construction Company, Inc., at $12,261,309.20. The City Council awarded the construction contract to the lowest bidder on December 15, 2008. The TIB Phase II & III project is being funded by Federal Highway Administration grants, State Transportation Improvement Board grant, State WS - DOT Nickel Package (gas tax), along with the City's surface water and general funds. The TIB Phase II & III project will upgrade the roadway to include curbs, gutters, sidewalks, new drainage, and landscaping to continue the improvements along Tukwila International Boulevard. City staff are now working on a construction management team, utility coordination and a pre -construction meeting. The construction start date is ex- pected to be sometime this March, and the project will be under construction for over two years. Utility rate increases for 2009 In order to keep pace with the City's water and sewer utility costs, a rate increase has been approved by the City Council for 2009. The expenses to operate and maintain the City's infrastructure have increased each year due to aging pipe, significant cost increases for materials, and Cascade Water Alliance wholesale water charges. Effective January 2009, the summer water rate for residential customers will increase from $3.38 per 1 CCF to $3.89. Flat residential sewer rates will increase from $10.12 to $11.64, and commercial rates from $17.71 to $20.37 per 750 cubic feet of water consumption. Monthly sewer bills also include the King County Metro sewage treatment charge which will increase from $27.95 to $31.90 per month. The King County Council also increased the sewer capacity charge in 2009. The current charge of $46.25 per month (set up as a payment plan for 15 years) will increase to $47.64 per month in 2009. The sewer capacity charge only affects new sewer hookups from January 1, 2009 through Decem- ber 31, 2009. Surface Water fees will not increase in 2009. The current rate for single family parcels will remain $71.00 per year. Southcenter Boulevard Improvements Sound Transit continues the improvements along Southcen- ter Boulevard (S 154th Street). The road construction started in early 2008 from Tukwila International Boulevard to 53rd Avenue S (I-5). Major elements of the road project — includ- ing curbs, gutters, sidewalks, two travel lanes, center me- dian, retaining walls and a regional storm drainage detention facility — have been substantially completed. Restoration is underway for street lighting, planting, final asphalt paving and other project elements with scheduled completion by July 2009, when the Tukwila International Boulevard Sta- tion is scheduled to open for Sound Transit Light Rail. 1 FEBRUARY2009 7 1 Holiday miracles were made possible by local citizens and businesses Each year the Tukwila Community Center — along with the Community Schools Collabration — 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 pro- gram. Tukwila Parks and Recreation thanks and recog- nizes the following businesses and organizations for their generosity in helping make this program possible: Advent Print Resources • All Covered Andover Terrace Garden Club Beta Sigma Phi/PGUfrom Kent City of Tukwila Community Development Dept. City of Tukwila Parks and Recreation Department City of Tukwila Public Works Department Claim Jumpers • Embassy Suites Fatigue Technology • Foster High School ASB Integra • Johnson Braud Design Group, Inc Insurance Professionals of South King County Macys Star Council Macys Operation and Logistics Department Pacific Metal • Riverton Park Methodist Church Sound Community Bank Southcenter Boarders Book Store Southgate Garden Club • Starfire Sports Thales Avionics • Tukwila Learning Center Preschool Tukwila Library Board • Tukwila Rotary Zee Medical In addition to these businesses and organizations, we thank the following community members who also helped make it all possible through the spirit of giving: Dave and Molly Graffe • The Bartley Family The Bundy Family • The Fontaine Family The Myklebust Family • The Rayner Family The Richardson -Caron Urban Family Because of your generous contributions we were able to help over 120 local children and families have a wonder- ful holiday. Thank you! Senior Adult Programs organize a Wii Bowling league and tournament In October of 2008, Tukwila Parks and Recreation Senior Adult Programmer Lani Chandler put together a Wii Bowling league that included teams from the cities of Au- burn, Bonny Lake, Burien, Des Moines, Enumclaw, Kent, Sea Tac, and Tukwila. Teams competed once a week for three months; the winner of the league was the "Gutter Girls" from Tukwila. On Wednesday, January 7, sixteen teams from the above -listed cities participated in an end -of -the -season Wii Bowling tourna- ment at the Great American Casino in Tukwila. This great event featured a welcome address by Tukwila's Mayor Jim Haggerton, five TV screens going at once, a luncheon buffet, door prizes, and lots of enthusiasm. The tournament ended with a tie, because seniors were forced to leave the event early due to heavy flooding in South King Coun- ty. The tied winners were "Split Happens" from Tukwila and the team "Wiisels Too" from SeaTac. 8 THE HAZELNUT Yfr!11001 '•I.JYS I'.11lLI1-tt`1]14J]i Excellence New K9 Police team On November 30, Tukwila Officer Jamie Sturgill and his K9 partner Gino began their first night of patrol as a K9 team in the city. Officer Sturgill is a six-year Tukwila Police veteran and was selected ear- lier in the year as the Department's eighth K9 handler since the program started in Tukwila. This coveted po- sition requires the City's very best of- ficers. Officer Sturgill is given much responsibility and must make the right decision each time he deploys Gino to track a suspect or search an area. It also requires sacrifice and commitment — not only from Officer Sturgill — but from his family as they add a member to their household. Gino turned two on New Years Eve. He is a sable -in -color German Shepard imported from Germany. The Department purchased Gino from a kennel owned by an Everett police officer and K9 trainer in Snohomish County. On November 28, Officer Sturgill and Gino successfully completed the ap- proved 400 -hour Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission K9 course, passing with high marks and accolades from the instructor. At the January 5 Regular Meeting, Assistant Chief Mike Villa introduced the K9 team to the City Council. Prior to that, Mayor Haggerton and Council members got to know Gino up close as he trotted through the chambers with Officer Sturgill keeping him close on lead. Officer Sturgill expressed his appreciation to city staff, council, and wife and two children who were present. Tukwila Police now have two K9 teams that work Monday through Sun- day during evening hours. The teams work in partnership with other K9 teams within the valley, so they are available to respond outside the city if needed and likewise Tukwila can call upon other K9 teams. A 2009 calendar showcasing these valley cities' K9 teams can be purchased by contacting Officers Devries at 206-433-1808. Proceeds from the calen- dars help to support retired police K9s. The Tukwila Police Department invites you to attend FREE Crime Prevention Training in March. For full details, contact Chris Partman, Community Policing Coordinator, at 206 431-2197. Forensic artist is one of law enforcement's best tools Have you ever tried to provide a detailed de- scription of a person to someone? Most peo- ple provide vague information that could truly be associated with a vast number of people. It takes specific skills to recall descriptive infor- mation accurately. Detective Jeff Early, a detective with the Ma- jor Crimes Unit of the Tukwila Police Depart- ment, is an expert at helping people recall and describe the people that they see. Jeff has worked for the City more than 20 years, and he has been the Department's Forensic Com- posite Artist for nine years. Forensic composite art is the ability to draw sketches of criminal suspects from witness and victim descriptions, who answer the artist's specific focused questions that facilitate an amazing recall of detail. Usually the sketches are of peoples faces, but it also works for ob- jects such as hats or clothing with distinctive logos. It has been and is still one of the most useful law enforcement tools for successfully identifying and apprehending suspects. It is estimated that there are less than 100 officers in Washington State with Forensic Composite Artist training. Detective Early is among these rare few. With over 160 hours forensic art training, he has completed more than sixty composite sketches over the years, including sketches for several other police agencies around the state. Detective Early's skills as a Forensic Composite Artist have led to the capture of many crimi- nals. His expert skills in this field are a source of pride for the Tukwila Police Department. Detective Early's composite sketch resulted in the apprehension of this suspect. 1 FEBRUARY2009 9 City -funded programs for Tukwila citizens With support from the Mayor's Office and the Tukwila City Council, the Tukwila Human Services Advisory Board recom- mended 36 (including seven new) human service programs for 2009-2010, providing assistance to Tukwila residents in need. Among these programs: Tukwila Children's Foundation — providing Tukwila chil- dren with scholarships and other funding to meet educa- tional, recreational, social and health needs and providing a wider safety net for low-income children in our community. Domestic Abuse Women's Network — supporting women and children impacted by domestic violence through legal advocacy, peer support group, and youth programs that fo- cus on violence education. YWCA Children's Domestic Violence Services — provid- ing ten weeks of homebased education and advocacy -based counseling for children and their non -abusive caregivers. Consejo Counseling and Referral Service — offering cul- turally/linguistically appropriate community and legal advo- cacy services to non- and limited -English proficient Latina survivors of domestic violence in South King County. Health Point Natural Medicine Program — targeting un- insured/underinsured families with difficulty accessing pri- mary medical care services through traditional private provid- er systems, to provide medical care on a sliding fee scale. Sound Mental Health — serving vulnerable homeless single adults — mentally ill and/or chemically dependent and/or with severe disabilities — by engaging them in service, and working towards finding them permanent housing. YWCA of Seattle/King/Snohomish Counties — Emergen- cy Housing Program provides emergency shelter and case management services to homeless families with children. For information about these and other Tukwila human ser- vice programs, please call 206-433-7180 or 206-433-7181 Volunteers still needed for senior transport Senior Services' Volunteer Transportation Program is still seeking volunteer drivers to transport Tukwila seniors — at no charge — to medical appointments in Seattle, Tacoma, and on the Eastside. These drivers also serve as escorts, wait- ing with seniors at their appointments before driving them home. Using their own vehicles, volunteers get mileage and parking reimbursement, supplemental liability insurance, and flexible hours. Please call us at 206-448-5740 or 1-800-282- 5815, or apply online at www.seniorservices.org. Human Services Office Evie — 206-433-7180 Stacy — 206-433-7181 Crisis Clinic (24-hour line) 206-461-3222 Help with minor home repairs available Tukwila's Minor Home Repair program will once again be available for low- to moderate -income homeowners of all ages. In 2008, twenty-one Tukwila residents received over 200 hours of fully subsidized minor home repairs covering a wide range of needs — gutter and furnace cleaning, railing re- pair and installation, small carpentry repairs, toilet and sink repair, light fixture repair, broken windows and doors, caulk- ing and weather stripping, installation of grab bars and other modifications for individuals with disabilities, etc. Safety and health-related jobs are given priority. Over 90% of clients returning customer surveys indicated that their overall satisfaction with the quality of services re- ceived was excellent or good. The availability of this program allows limited -income hom- eowners to keep their homes in good repair, while providing support to keep people safe in their homes. Contractors are licensed and bonded and have had years of experience in small repair work. Funds are available through a grant from the federal Community Development Block Grant Program, awarded through a contract with King County. All repair requests are screened through the Tukwila Human Services office for eligibility review. Please call 206-433- 7180 to learn more about this program. Residents who have repairs too large for the Minor Home Repair program are encouraged to apply for no -interest loans through the King County Housing Repair program at 206- 263-9095. Loans are available for up to $25,000 and are paid back when the home is sold or title transferred, when the home is refinanced or is no longer used as a primary residence. Tukwila mobile home owners may be eligible for grants up to $5,000. ■1111 1MIOGRIPAINUO Renters with disabiA s are eligible for free home accessi- bility modification grants that allow the renter to live more easily in their rental unit. Types of repairs that are provided include wheelchair ramps, door widening, modifications for hearing impaired, grab bars, transfer lifts, roll in showers and plumbing and lighting fixtures designed for the special needs consumer. Maximum grants are $5,000 and tenants are screened by income eligibility. Call 206-263-9095. 10 THE HAZELNUT TUKWILA E -Cycle Washington is here! In 2006-2007, Washington State passed its E -waste law — landmark legislation controlling the recycling of electronic waste, with product manufacturers paying the costs and providing a 100% FREE, convenient and environmentally responsible way to recycle televisions, computers, monitors, and portable or laptop computers (but not computer peripherals such as keyboards, mice or printers). The E -Cycle Program is available to households, small busi- nesses, schools & school districts, small government agencies, special purpose districts, and nonprofits and charities. Why recycle electronics? Many electronics (especially TVs and computers) contain toxic materials such as lead, cadmium and mercury. Reusing and recycling electronics keeps these toxic materials out of our landfills and incinerators while also re- covering valuable resources. Collected electronic equipment will be taken apart and separated into ma- terials such as glass, plastic, metal and toxic chemicals. All recycling will fol- low performance standards set up by the Department of Ecology. Manufacturers, collectors, recyclers, retailers, local and state government and non-profit groups working together have established about 200 collection sites around the state, including sever- al in Tukwila. New state law mandates "product stewardship", making manu- facturers of products that contain toxic material responsible for taking them back, and making consumers respon- sible for bringing in these products for recycling, rather than throwing them away to end up in a landfill. Where can 1 recycle electronics? In Tukwila, the following sites partici- pate in Washington's E -Cycle program by accepting computers, monitors and televisions free of charge. Be sure to check with each business individually to learn specific details and applicable conditions. American Electronics Recycling 18435 Olympic Avenue S, Tukwila Online: www aercorprecycler. com Toll-free phone: 1-888-880-1254 Hours: 8:30Am-3: 00Pm Mon/Fri/Sat Goodwill Southcenter Store 1174 Andover Park West, Tukwila Phone: 206-575-4944 Hours: 9:00Am-9:00Pm Mon—Sat, 10.0041—7::00Pm Sun RE -PC 510 Andover Park West, Tukwila Online: www re pc. com/ Phone: 206-575-8737 Hours: 10.00Am-7::00Pm Mon—Sat For a complete list of E -Cycle Wash- ington collection sites, go online to www ecyclewashington.org, or check out the Department of Ecology online at 1800recycle.wa.gov or by calling 1- 800 -RECYCLE. What if my electronic equipment still works? You can donate to one of many groups and businesses focused on making used electronics available for reuse. If you have any old PCs or televisions, then think about reusing or selling the item first. But if the useful life is passed, please utilize this free service to help our environment and to make E -Cycle Washington a success! Energy Savings at Home The wild weather of late 2008 remind- ed us all that winters in western Wash- ington can be unpredictable and cold! To stay warm, your first reaction may be to raise the thermostat, but this can result in some pretty high heating bills. So before you touch the dial, check out these simple tips to help you take con- trol of your winter heating costs. • Have your heating system inspected by a qualified contractor for peak ef- ficiency operation. • Use a programmable thermostat that's specifically designed for your heating system. • Lower your thermostat to 68°F while you're awake; set it lower while you're asleep or away from home. • Use fireplace doors to cut down on warm air going up the chimney. Also, avoid using your fireplace dur- ing extremely cold weather because you lose more heat up the chimney than you gain from the fire. • If you use a window air condition- ing unit, remove it during the win- ter to reduce cold air drafts. If not possible, cover all sides of the unit to minimize warm air leakage. • Make sure vents, cold air returns or radiators are not covered by furni- ture, carpet or anything that may impede proper airflow. • Don't blow away a full house of heat! Keep warm air in and cold air out by closing and properly sealing windows and doors. Immediately repair broken and cracked windows —no matter how small the opening. • In winter, open window coverings to let daytime sunshine in, and close them at night to keep out the cold. • Turn off those silent energy users such as the stereo, VCR, computer, fax and scanner, or set them to au- tomatically turn off. For more information, contact Recycling Coordinator Rebecca Fox Phone: 206-431-3683 Email: rfox@ci.tukwila.wa.us 1 FEBRUARY2009 11 I 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://wwwci.tukwila.wa.us E-mail: tukwila@ci.tukwila.wa.us TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL Joe Duffle (beeper #) 206-994-7229 Joan Hernandez, Pres. 206-248-0260 Pamela Linder 206-439-2473 Dennis Robertson 206-242-6373 Verna Griffin 206-901-9251 Kathy Hougardy 206-244-5023 De'Sean Quinn 206-241-0225 Kimberly Mate), Analyst 206-433-1834 Council Message Line 206-431-3652 CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS 7:00PM in Council Chambers Regular Meetings 1st/3rd Mondays Work Meetings 2nd/4th Mondays Agenda Info Line 206-431-3656 CITY OFFICES Mayor's Office Jim Haggerton, Mayor 206-433-1805 Rhonda Berry, City Admin 206-433-1851 City Clerk's Office 206-433-1800 Economic Development 206-433-1832 Human Services 206-433-7180 Municipal Court 206-433-1840 Tourism/Marketing 206-575-2489 Community Development Dept. Jack Pace, Director 206-431-3670 Code Enforcement 206-431-3682 Finance Department Shawn Hunstock, Director 206-433-1835 Fire Department Nick Olivas, Chief 206-575-4404 Information Technology Department Mary Miotke, Director 206-433-7150 Parks/Recreation Department Bruce Fletcher, Director 206-767-2342 Personnel Department Viki Jessop, Director 206-433-1831 Personnel 206-433-1831 City Job Line 206-433-1828 Police Department David Haynes, Chief 206-433-1808 Public Works Department Jim Morrow, Director 206-433-0179 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 206-267-7427 THE HAZELNUT newsletter is published five times a year by the City of Tukwila, and written by City staff. Editing/production: Stacia Norris Tukwila's Sign Code Update — keeping our city lookin' good Tukwila is in the process of updating its current Sign Code, adopted in 1982, because it does not provide the tools and resources needed to adequately address the sig- nage issues of a large commercial center like Tukwila. In 2007, the City Council authorized staff to begin working on a new Sign Code and created the Sign Code Advisory Committee to provide an opportunity for public involvement. Comprised of business representatives, residents, a Plan- ning Commission member and two City Councilmembers, the Committee met six times to consider various issues. In October, they completed their review and made recommendations for the new sign regulations. The City anticipates adopting its new Sign Code by the end of summer 2009. There will be several opportunities for public comment and involvement. The Planning Commission will hold a hearing and send a draft to the City Council, who will then review that recommendation and hold its own hearing. Sign Code Moratorium During the process of updating the Sign Code regulations, Tukwila's Sign Code Advisory Committee provided initial recommendations that will limit the place- ment of some signs that are permitted under the current Sign Code. To ensure certain types of signs are not placed before expected adoption of the new Sign Code this summer, on October 6, 2008 the City Council passed an emergency six- month moratorium prohibiting the installation of the following sign types: • Animated and Electronic • Billboards • Freestanding signs taller than six feet • Freeway Interchange Signs For additional information about the Sign Code update process or the moratorium, visit www.ci.tukwila.wa.us/dcd/signcodereg.html or contact Brandon Miles, by phone at 206-431-3684, or by email at bmiles@ci.tukwila.wa.us. 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.