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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1983-12 Hazelnut Newsletter - Volume 6 No. 4THE }1MEI1NCT Volume 6 Number 4 GARY VAN DUSEN, MAYOR December 1983 HOLIDAY GREETINGS FROM MAYOR GARY VAN DUSEN Our Diamond Jubilee Year is almost over, Council and Mayoral elections have been held, a budget year is ending, and winter months are upon us. Thus, in this Holiday Season, we end another year, but joyously prepare in many ways for a new and better Year of 1984. We, in your City government, are preparing for a much better 1984. We are doing this through a new, more carefully conceived and deliberated budget, changes in personnel to increase effectiveness and efficiency of City departments, goals to give better service, and establish- ment of ways and means to fund future City capital improvements. The City of Tukwila is unique. The population of 3,600 places it 76th in the State (similar to Goldendale and Poulsbo), but in asessed valuation it ranks with Bremerton (population 35,000). In retail sales volume, it is bigger than Bellingham (population 45,950) and Vancouver (population 42,950). It is estimated that our daytime workers and shoppers easily exeed 60,000. We are a City of immense potential, not only in 1984, but in the long-range plans of this State. The City Council and the Mayor's office are well aware of our potential and through careful planning, administrative and legislative cooperation, efficient budgeting, and control of expend- itures, the city of Tukwila will grow and prosper in a way in which all of us can be proud. As your Mayor, I want to personally extend to all of you the best of Holiday Wishes and a Prosperous, Happy 1984 Year. Mayor Gary L. Van Dusen The beautiful Christmas decorations in the City Hall have been supplied by Mario Segale, Inc. Every year about Thanksgiving time he sends Santa's helpers armed with trees and all of the trimings. In a few hours City Hall is transformed into a holiday decor for everyone, employees and visitors, to enjoy. MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU, MR. SEGALE, AND LOTS OF THANKS ALL WRAPPED IN HOLIDAY PAPER AND TIED WITH A GREAT BIG RED BOW!!! TO THE CITIZENS OF THE CITY OF TUKWILA Please keep a watchful eye out on people who may be sneaking into your parks to steal Christmas trees. If you suspect such thievery please call 852-2121. Lets keep our parks beautiful and our trees tall for our children and our childrens children. Thank you. FIRE FIGHTER OF 1983 During the City Council meeting of November 21st. Mayor Gary VanDusen presented a plaque to David W. Ewing for "Fire Fighter of 1983." Fire Fighter Ewing was selected for this award by other members of the depart- ment and received endorsement for the award by the fire department administration. Since employed by the City in the capacity of Fire Fighter, Ewing has been performing at an outstanding level. Completing work far outside his responsibility in addition to working numerous hours without pay, he has saved the City thousands of dollars in maintenance of fire department equipment. David joined the Tukwila Fire Department on July 21, 1980. GREETINGS FROM COUNCIL PRESIDENT The holiday decorations in stores and home, news- paper ads, TV specials, greeting cards proclaiming MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR all announce in their own way that Christmas is rapidly approaching and the year 1983 is drawing to a close. Just as surely, but with less fanfare, my term as Council President is also drawing to a close. I started the year as Council President with some definite aims and goals. My Number One goal was to establish a cohesive working relationship with the Council and Mayor. When the media and some citizens of Tukwila refer to the Council as "disruptive" and "fighting between themselves," I sensed that some of the Council Members tended to believe this, and any kind of a discussion was labeled "fighting" in their minds. I think our Council and Mayor have become a more closely -knit and congenial working group with more give and take than previously. I am delighted we are headed toward an increased har- monious relationship in City government. A change in the structure of the Council Committee system, I think, will go far in assisting the Council Members and Department Heads to more efficiently prepare for future legislation and deliberation of City business. One of my goals is the revision of the Council Policy in time for next year's president to implement the new committee structure. One of my aims that was accomplisv ' was to give the citizens of Tukwila the opportunity to a on whether or not they wanted to keep our present Mayor/Council form of government or change to a Council/Manager form of government. Since the City was incorporated the citizens had not had the opportunity to express their desire as to the form of government they desired. It was right and proper that this election was held during the year of Tukwila's 75th anniversary. Another aim was to enhance the image of the City in the eyes of the business community, the neighboring cities and the Puget Sound counties. Since we do not have a local publication to put us on the map, personal attendance at meetings where you can represent Tukwila, workshops and seminars, Chamber of Commerce business meetings and socials have all helped improve the Tukwila image. I feel the City of Tukwila is entering a new era of increased professionalism. It is exciting to be a partici- pant in this era of City government. Only by being actively involved will you feel that this City is really yours. I invite all citizens to come to City Council meetings each Monday night, make your ideas and wishes known to your City officials, let it be known that you are interested in serving on Boards, Commissions, and committees. BECOME INVOLVED -- TRY IT --- YOU'LL LIKE IT!!! Council President Mabel J. Harris MAKE YOUR'S A SAFE HOLIDAY Christmas tree lights and other decorations set the theme for the holidays. Here are some very important points to remember when using them. o Use only lights that have been tested for safety. Identify these by the UL label from Underwriters Laboratories. o Check each set of lights for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, loose connections. Discard any of this equipment that you deem unsafe. o Check labels of lights to be used outdoors to see that they are suitable for outdoor use. Never use indoor lights outside. Fasten outdoor lights securely to trees, walls or other firm support to protect them from wind damage. o Use no more than three sets of lights per single extension. Read manufacturer's instructions carefully and do not use more than the recommended number of lights in one circuit. o Always turn off Tights on tree and other decorations when you retire or leave your home. A short circuit in any of this equipment could cause a fire. o Never use electric lights on a metallic tree. Damaged insulation in lighting on a metallic tree could cause the entire tree to be charged with electricity. To avoid this danger, use colored spotlights above or beside a metal tree, never fastened onto it. o Keep children away from light sets and electrical decorations. All lights present the problem of shock and casualty hazards for curious kids. Paper — The opening of Christmas presents is always a special time during the holdiays. Take special precautions when disposing of the wrappings. o Always dispose of wrappings immediately atter opening. o Place trash in a metal container. DON'T burn wrap- pings in the fireplace, they may ignite suddenly, and cause a flash fire. Trees — Artificial trees (plastic) should bear the UL label. Some unlabeled plastic trees burn with extreme vigor. Do not rely on chemical coatings or sprays to make your live evergreen flame -resistant. Follow the safety rules below when shopping for a natural tree. A fresh tree 'II stay green longer and be less of a fire hazard than a tree. To checkforfreshness, remember; o Check for color and scent. A fresh tree is deep green in color and has a strong scent of pine. o Be sure that the needles do not readily fall from the tree. o The trunk butt of a fresh tree should be sticky with sap. Fires — Your fireplace is a source of warmth and heat. Before starting your fire, be sure to remove all paper decorations and boughs from the immediate area. BE SURE THE FLUE IS OPEN. NEVER set up your Christmas tree near the fireplace, this is a potential fire hazard. Use a screen to enclose the front of your fireplace to confine live embers and sparks to the fire box. Trimmings — The trimming of your Christmas tree is a very important part of your holiday festivities. Keep the safety of your family in mind when selecting trimmings, and decorating your tree. When choosing the finishing touches for the tree, purchase tinsel or artificial icicles of a non-leaded mat- erial. Leaded materials may be hazardous if eaten by children or pets. If youngsters are a part of your family, take special care to: o Avoid any decorations that tend to break easily, or have sharp edges. o Keep tree trimmings that are small, or have removable parts, out of the reach of your child. These pieces may be swallowed. • Don't purchase ornaments that resemble candy or foods. A small child may try to eat them. Plan Ahead — An emergency could strike your home at any time. Here are a few simple rules to follow to help your family through a crisis. o Keep fire department, police, ambulance, doctor, and other emergency service numbers posted on or near your telephone. o Keep a UL Listed multi-purpose fire extinguisher in your kitchen when preparing holiday meals — and know how to use it. o Many fire departments are now offering first aid classes for their communities. At least one member of the family should be familiar with simple first aid procedures. 0 000 00000 0000000 000000000 00000000000 0 000 OPEN HOUSE–TUKWILACOMMUNITYCENTER The City of Tukwila Parks and Recreation Department will be holding an Open House on Wednesday, January 11 from 7-9 pm at the Tukwila Community Center, 4101 So 131st. The Open House is to celebrate the center's 5th birthday. The public is invited to come by, meet the staff and see demonstrations of Aerobic Dancercise, Dog Obedience, and Children's Dance. Also open for you enjoyment will be the Co-Tuk Boutique. This boutique features arts and crafts items for sale by some of the members of our senior citizens program. The staff would like to thank every one for their support and participation over the past 5 years. Please join us for cake and coffee as we begin another year of successful programming. THANK YOU -- FROM WENDY, MORGAN The campaign for City Council is ov, lut exhaustion and exhileration are with me as 1983 comes to a close. During the past six months, I have met some wonderful people who will remain my friends for life. I know all of the streets by name and number, can locate homes of many people by mention of their names, and know the config- urations of our many multi -family dwellings. Campaigning is an excellent way to become familiar with our town. I will be a more effective member of our city Council because of our hard work. There were approxi- mately forty people who acitvely worked with us, led by Leo Sowinski who ably planned our strategy, and monitored our progress. We had twenty-five contributors who gave much money which was used for signs, printing, and mailings. My election was a team effort, and I regard my term as an extension of partnership between the citizens of Tukwila and myself as one of the seven City Council members. I moved to Tukwila in 1977 from West Seattle where I had resided for three years, having lived in Auburn and Kent too. My family, the Morgans, settled in the Rainier Valley, had a street named for them, and my Greatgrand- mother, Minnie Morgan owned property where Nordstroms- Southcenter now stands. Her son lived on the property, running a nursery and hauling malt for the local brewery. Other cousins raised in the Foster -Tukwila area included Bill, who was Vice Principal of Foster High School for many years, Sylvia Morgan Van Woerdon, who now lives in Federal Way, and Henry, Jr. who lives in Maple Valley. The first nine years of my career was spent working as a high school English teacher and counselor at Auburn High School. Then I went to Highline Community College to teach and work in the counseling center, with some time as the first Women's Coordinator. The next year I began fulltime service to assist widowed people in Wash- ington, called Widowed Information and Consultation Service. Working with Diane Hudelson-Bingham, we built an idea for helping people into a nonprofit social service which is now a United Way affiliate of Family Services of King County. In 1978 I was hired to be the first Coordinator of Women's Programs for King County government, the position I now hold. I manage contracts for services to victims of sexual and domestic violence, and staff a citizen board of eleven members, appointed by King County Council and King County Executive. In my spare time, I have served on a number of citizen boards -- Women + Business, Northwest Conference for the Widowed, Seattle Mental Health Institute, Profes- sional and Managerial Women's Network, Tukwila Board of Adjustment, Friends of the Tukwila Library, United Way Emergency Services Panel, United Way Management Assistance Program Committee, and Canyon Estates Condominium Association Board of Directors. In 1978 I was appointed by Governor Ray to the Board of Trustees of the Washington State School for the Blind in Vancouver, Washington. I served as Chair of the Board from 1980- 1982. Currently I am President of Washington Women in Municipal Government. I live in a condominium in Tukwila, have a Siamese cat and two parakeets. My hobbies include reading, swimming, writing, needlework, hiking, stamp collecting, and public speaking. In 1984 I hope to learn more about playing bridge, how to work my spinning wheel, how to play a cherry wood soprano recorder and become more active in my synagogue, Temple Beth Shalom in Seattle. LITTER BAGS AVAILABLE Department of Ecology automobile litter bags are available at City Hall or the Chamber of Commerce for your convenience. Please stop by if you are in need of some to carry in your car. MEET CHAR' - SIMPSON - NEWLY ELECTED TY COUNCILMAN Charlie Simpson was raised in the small town of Santa Fe, New Mexico. His family was active in church and local politics. It was there he first became aware of the need to pull diverse minority groups together, to create a working coalition from many single interest groups. Charlie graduated from New Mexico Military Institute in 1967 with a firm devotion to country and community service. He attended College of Santa Fe in Santa Fe, focusing on the liberal arts. In 1973 Charlie married and began employment at Boeing. He and his new family moved to Tukwila, where he began attending and serving in the Foster Tukwila Church, working with local youth sports groups, and taking an active interest in the schools. Charlie has three children in the South Central School District. He and his wife, Barbara, have been married for ten years. In keeping with lifelong values, Charlie believes in giving back time and energy to the community. In his words, "This is my home!" His special interests, he says, are youth programs and the people who work for and o'rith the City. He plans on encouraging the local Chamber of Commerce and other service organizations. He would like to work with the Police and Firefighter's guilds/unions to promote a cooperative arrangement style. He likes Tukwila's present mix of small town values, peoples' concern for each other and the big city conveniences and cultural life. He wants to work to preserve that small town feeling while encouraging orderly growth. Charlie sees his greatest strength as his ability to listen to all sides of an issue, and work to make a truly happy compromise. His leadership involves group decision- making and making sure everyone's involved in the final outcome. That is the way for everyone to move ahead. Charlie invites all to contact him if there is a position you would like him to be aware of or if you would like him to attend a local groupmeeting. His home phone number is 244-7127 or a message can be left at City Hall during the day. NEW EMPLOYEE MEET RICK BEELER, ASSOCIATE PLANNER Rick Beeler, a native of the Pacific Northwest, came to the Planning Department from private practice as a planning consultant and hearing examiner. His back- ground includes thirteen' years in municipal government on the eastside and in the private sector. Rick is an award winning watercolorist and enjoys photography, free- lance writing and antique cars. He is the feature editor of the new publication "NORTHWEST VINTAGE TIN" magazine. With his wife and three children he lives in Bellevue, where the family is very active in the First Baptist Church of Eastgate. FIRE FIGHTERS COMPLETE 10 YEARS OF SERVICE WITH CITY Lieutenant Gary Sacha and Fire Fighter Richard Brewster were presented their 10 year service pins by Mayor Gary VanDusen on November 21st. Lieutenant Sacha is in charge of the fire station covering the residential section of the City. He has taken on the responsibility of working with any new personnel in developing their fire fighting and emergency medical skills. Fire Fighter Richard Brewster has been active in the departments' hazardous materials program. Helping form the fire departments' response team and responding to numerous incidents, he has been called upon by other municipalities to evaluate their hazardous materials ca- pacity and present lectures. 4+4+4+41-4+41-41414+-4&` /+/ J+4+/�J+/ J+/ J+/�J+/ J+` ZJ+% /+4,,+4.+4.+0..1. J+j /+/�J% /+/:J+� /+++4k7.1/ /+/ J+- . }* +/ /t .+/ J+4+. _+/ +/`J+/�+/ J THE RAZEIANtrf PUBLISHED QUARTERLY By the City of Tukwila 6200 Southcenter Boulevard Tukwila, Washington 98188 Written by City Employees Edited by Norma Booher Printed by Southcenter Printing BULK RATE U.S. POSTAGE PAID TUKWILA, WA. PERMIT NO. 12698 y/ / J+/sJ+%J+4+TJ+/ J+/ J+/ J+/zJ+/ J+ ikl.+/zJ+/ +-A/ It(4++- /+� ,41?:J+?V.%+/ J+/ +j /+/ J+/ -J+/ J+/ J+/ /v4+/ %+4+% /+/ J+)+/ '+/ /+/k k714f/ /+/z�+/ 1983 KENCO SLOW -BREAK CHAMPS This fall the Kenco Team won the Tukwila Parks and Recreation Department Slow -Break Basketball League. Kenco had won the League with a 11 - 1 season and went into the play-offs as the top favorite. During the League play it became evident that the final play-off game was going to be close. Team members of Kenco: Captain Ken Pearson, Demetrius Pye, Steve Shimkus, Elix Cook, Richard Brannon, Doug Steinberg, and Nick Reese. Final Standings Playoff Standings Kenco 11-1 1. Kenco A.W.B. 10-2 2. A.W.B. Stars 7-5 3. Interchange Interchange 7-5 4. Stars Swallow Tail 4-8 Satisfaction 2-10 Interstate Steel 1-11 CO-TUK BOUTIQUE Do you knit, carve, crochet, paint, build things, put things together? The Co-Tuk Boutique (a part of the Tukwila Senior Center) will display your items at the Comunity Center. The Boutique enters several fairs and craft shows each year. If you would like to participate, please call RON at 243-5198. If you are 55 years or older and live in Tukwila or the South Central School District you are eligible for membership. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED At the present time there is a vacancy on the Planning Commission and the Board of Adjustment. This is your chance to get involved in the function of the City. Please give consideration to our need forvolunteers. Call Mayor Gary L. Van Dusen, 433-1800, and offer your help. ATTENTION BUSINESSES Per Chapter 5 of the Tukwila Municipal Code, all businesses currently operating in the City of Tukwila must renew their business licenses in January. Renewal notices will be mailed out to each business in mid- December. The fee fora business license is based on the number of full time employees at the Tukwila location: 0 - 5 - $50 6 - 100 - $100 101 & above - $200 We would appreciate your prompt response in renewing your license as penalties take effect on February 1,1984. If you have any questions, please call the City Clerk's Office at 433-1800. CHRISTSENSEN TRAIL TO BE EXTENDED In November the City of Tukwila was informed it had been awarded an $82,000 grant to extend the Christensen Trail from South 180th to the City of Kent boundary. The 50% matching grant is from the Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation, utilizing State and federal funds for development of outddoor recreation facilities. The City is matching funds providing a total budget of $164,000. Christensen Trail, officially named Christensen Green- belt Park, will be extended from just north of South 180th Street under the bridge that crosses Green River, along west side of river crossing over the new wooden foot bridge then east to Interurban Avenue, and also west and south to the City's southern boundary. Park development will consist of paving an 8'foot wide black top path for jogging, walking and bicycling, tree planting, little receptacle installation and signing. Con- struction is planned for spring and it is hoped the extended trail will be open for public use in the summer. The City would like the community to recognize the contributions of two property owners who have kindly granted easements for the trail to cross their property. Mr. William Boeing, Jr. and Mr. David F. Bolger will allow the trail to be built on their properties which are located south of South 180th around the river's bend west of Interurban Avenue. Without their cooperation and the businesses located on these lands the trail may not have been possible. The City thanks everyone for their help and cooperation. Christensen Green.selt Phase 3 Site PlanHP-sen ( Ligr4 n S. IHO h IIsi. �� �:.s. iso !' •D DRIVE ;Pi' ♦ •nn 9r�*i:1;:''' ye I Ili\ ��� .\� , � e ♦ LJ- ✓/ Arn 411C cil W. U parking V: pC),p' s *-ale) /B; rece�,ra;les %. ••._-J‘ _e * _ 5, J shade �� _ ends fi chrLsten,sen I tr ze inilv[r.,!1'r�,,0of O tt ttr�,!