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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1990-02 Hazelnut Newsletter - Volume 11 No. 1THE HAZELNUT FEBRUARY 1990 A Quarterly Publication of the City of Tukwila Volume 11, Number 1 MAYOR'S 1990 STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS The City of Tukwila enters 1990 fac- ing opportunities for continued growth as well as continued progress. Our growth potential is represented by the upcoming Cascade View annexation vote and the prospective addition of 2,100 more citizens to our city. Cascade View appears to be a vibrant community, and if approved by the voters, will broaden our now diverse spec- trum of interested and involved residents. I must note, however, that the addition of Cascade View to our boundaries will bring requirements for additional staffing, poten- tial changes in our existing organizational structure, and a possible reordering of capi- tal and fiscal long-term priorities. With the impacts of the Fire District No.1, Foster, Riverton and Thorndyke annexations not yet one year old, we are still assessing, analyzing, and reacting to the demands created by this heretofore unprecedented expansion.I am proud to state that the City of Tukwila has met its initial obligations in providing service to these new residents. Our new citizens have learned that we are a responsive and effec- tive organization. As a result, hundreds of requests for assistance have been tendered to City Hall. Many of these inquiries re- ceived and processed concerned zoning violations and hazardous conditions that demanded immediate attention. We owe acknowledgment and a vote of gratitude to the fine work the Tukwila City employees have demonstrated in meeting this chal- lenge. As we are all aware, however, there is much yet to do. Neglected infrastructure inherited from King County, continued increases in our traffic volumes, and aggressive develop- ment on both a local and regional basis, translate to the need for careful planning and the initiation of major capital improve- ments. (continued on back page) Newly elected Council President Joan Hernandez welcomes Tukwila's three new Councilmembers: Allan Ekberg, Steve Lawrence, and John "Wally" Rants. City Council Greets Three New Members Some new faces are brightening the City Council this year. Joan Hernandez has been elected Council president, and three newly elected Councilmembers began their terms this past January. Allan Ekberg is a lifetime resident of the Tukwila area. After graduating from Foster High School in 1977, Allan earned a business degree before beginning work at Boeing's Commercial Airplane Division. Allan and his wife Trish Camozzi Ekberg are proud parents of a new daughter, Karlin Marie. Active in the 1989 Riverton an- nexation effort and the pre -annexation zoning task force meetings, Allan's goals are to represent all of Tukwila, and to maintain and improve the high quality of life that Tukwila citizens currently enjoy. Steve Lawrence is a resident of the Foster neighborhood, where he lives with his wife Eileen and their two daughters. As a school teacher, Steve is active in educa- tion, and is now teaching at Seahurst Ele- mentary School. Steve was active in the annexation and pre -annexation zoning task force meetings for the Foster area. Inter- ested in keeping Tukwila a good place to live, raise a family, and safely walk or jog, Steve also puts a priority on cleaning up the crime on Highway 99 and making that a more desirable part of our City. Wally Rants developed and directed the Highline School District's award-win- ning Tyee music programs for many years. Now retired from teaching, Wally is still busy. He helps his wife SaraJane with her floral business in Tacoma, and Wally also likes to spend time on his boat. His goal in joining the City Council was to ensure the City governs wisely and makes the best use of its money to deliver excellent services to its citizens. He is also working now to balance the City's natural growth with the need to preserve the nature of the undevel- oped pieces in Tukwila. Tu Here's Your kwlla Clty Coun Joan 1 krr andez, ;I Cougcil President ,.. Jtc Duffin Allan Ekberg Dennis Robertson Steve Lawrence . Clarence Moriwaki . John "Wally" Rants cil ,246-0260 244 4280 ...241-6904 ,242-6373 243-4266 433-8539 244-0588 Council Seeks Comments On Sensitive Areas Ordinance The recent flooding was a reminder that natural systems, such as soils on slop- ing property and watercourses, are limited in the amount of water they can handle. Development of property has over the years reduced the amount of land that can absorb the water or forced the water into under - capacity underground drainage pipes or above ground channels. Wetlands that normally function to absorb some storm water have been removed or the effective- ness reduced by development. Tukwila property owners face a bill for 15 million dollars for correcting existing surface wa- ter problems. To help prevent that bill from increasing, a Sensitive Areas Ordinance, known as SAO, was drafted last year. In November 1989, the Planning Commission held public hearings on the SAO but postponed making their recom- mendation to the City Council. An advi- sory committee of residential and business citizens was appointed by the Mayor and City Council in December to recommend development practices and procedures that will reflect the community's desire for safe, effective standards for development of steep slopes, wetlands and other water resources. The Planning Commission wants to see the committee's recommendation before re- suming deliberations on an SAO. The high degree of concern about the scarcity of these water and visual resources and hazards associated with improper de- velopment led the City Council to adopt a moratorium on development in these areas until May 12, 1990, when the ordinance is expected to be finalized and adopted. They have also established a waiver process for those who feel this moratorium creates an undue hardship, poses a hazard to life or property, or was improperly applied. Any remodel or addition to single family resi- dences on 12,000 square foot lots or smaller is not affected by the moratorium. The moratorium is in effect until May 12, 1990. The advisory committee is now re- ceiving additional information from engi- neering and hydrology professionals re- garding regulations in the draft SAO. The City Council has yet to hold public hearings or make any decisions on SAO regulations. This will occur after the Plan- ning Commission reviews the advisory Tukwila Introduces Surface Water Utility Starting January 1, the City of Tukwila officially initiated a Surface Water Utility. All property owners within the City of Tukwila have been billed for surface water utility charges. This includes private busi- nesses, single-family lots, the City itself (for streets, parks, etc.), State highways, and King County for its road surface. The revenue will pay for the operations and maintenance of the City-wide storm and surface water management system and for construction of capital facilities. The first billing (half year) for the 1990 billing year was sent to property own- ers in February and the second half-year billing will be sent in August. Each will be due sixty (60) days from the billing date before 8% interest will be charged. All property owners in the Riverton/Foster/ Thorndyke and Fire District #1 areas previ- ously were billed by King County for sur- face water charges prior to annexation. Low income elderly and/or handi- capped persons may quality for a reduced rate if certain qualifications are met. The utility was formed in 1989 with an effective date of January 1, 1990 for im- plementation. A Citizen's Advisory Com- mittee was appointed by the Mayor to assist in the formation of the Utility and will continue to participate in developing a system of credits for mitigative measures that may be taken by property owners to reduce their cost for this utility. Most of the surrounding cities — Kent, Renton, Au- burn, Bellevue, Seattle — have surface water utilities in place. The billing rate categories are based on the percentage of impervious surface area. This includes rooftops, asphalt or concrete paving, driveways, parking lots, walkways, patio areas, storage areas, com- pacted surfaces, or other surfaces which similarly affect natural infiltration or run- off patterns. If you have questions, please call one of the following phone numbers: Billing questions: 433-1835 Rate Category designation, technical, etc. 433-0179 The rate categories are shown at right. committee's draft SAO and forwards a recommendation for consideration by the Council. Tentatively the SAO is scheduled for adoption before the moratorium expires May 12. Between now and then, several workshops and public hearings will be held to explain the SAO and to give opportunity to express suggestions and opinions. It is the City's goal to notify every property owner, resident and business about the SAO. If you did not receive the bro- chure that was mailed last year on the sensitive areas issue, then please contact the Department of Community Develop- ment at 433-1849 to add your name and address to the mailing list. Questions about the existing draft SAO or moratorium can be asked of the Depart- ment of Community Development at 433- 1849. Cascade View Modified by B R B The Cascade View Annexation has taken two steps forward with the Boundary Review Board (BRB) approval of an an- nexation area slightly smaller than origi- nally petitioned, and the City's endorse- ment of the modifications. The area being deleted lies in the north- west corner of the proposed annexation area. Residents argued to the BRB that emergency medical response would take longer than what they presently enjoy if annexed into Tukwila. The BRB decision to delete this por- tion leaves a substantial residential area and would bring both sides of Pacific Highway South into the jurisdiction of the Tukwila Police. This was an essential action for co- ordinated law enforcement along "the Strip". It is anticipated that the annexation proposal will be presented to Cascade View residents in a regular election on May 22, 1990. ANNUAL SERVICE CATEGORY CHARGEIACRE 1) Natural . .. $37.20 2) 0%. 20% impervious 80.80 3) 21 50% impervious ...........148.20 4) 51 - to 70% impervious >'.......221 00 5) 71 - 85% impervious ...`........ 266.40 6) 86 - 100% impervious` ;........310 60 7) Single-family residential ...$30/parcel Construction at the Foster Fire Station Two Fire Stations Get New Look Major construction is underway at the main fire station a 444 Andover Park East and the Foster fire station across from Fos- ter High School. The headquarters station will have an addition to house the fire prevention bu- reau, and substantial renovation to meet new earthquake, fire and handicapped ac- cess code requirements. There will be some aesthetic improvements as well, including a glass entry way to accommodate visitors and walk-in clients more efficiently. The Foster station has been a volunteer station providing minimal living conditions and dormitory space. Tukwila now staffs this station with four fire fighters per day and an aerial ladder truck. The remodeling project will give fire fighters a more com- fortable and efficient place to work, and the community will have a more visually pleas- ing structure. Construction on both fire sta- tions should be completed in May. Reservoir Construction Hits Halfway Mark Construction of the two million gallon concrete water reservoir at the end of 57th Avenue South has reached the halfway point. The reservoir will protect Tukwila's emergency water needs and reduce peak - demand surcharges on water purchased from the Seattle system. The finished structure will stand 27 feet high and measure 166 feet across. The next major phase is construction of the tank roof. After the tank roof is placed, the entire structure will be pre- stressed. Workers will bind the structure around its middle with steel cables and City Offers Special Council Retreat Challenges Members Utility Rate Reductions Certain citizens of Tukwila who qual- ify are eligible for reduced rates for water, sewer and METRO as well as the new Storm and Surface Water Utility rates. To be eligible, you must meet the cri- teria listed below: 1) 62 years of age or older or (if married) the spouse is 62 years of age or older; OR you are totally and permanently disabled. 2) For Water, Sewer and METRO charges, the eligible person must be a renter or permanent resident. For Surface Wa- ter, only single-family owners or pur- chasers who live on the property are eligible. 3) Disposable incomefrom all sources must be less than $14,000 per year ifsingle or married. The City requires a notarized applica- tion to be filed with its Finance Depart- ment. Applications are available at Tukwila City Hall, 6200 Southcenter Boulevard, or call 433-1835 if you have any questions. Be A Census Take r The U.S. government 'is looking for qual fled popple to take the 1990 Gen us of Population and Housing. The labs offer #iexible hours and .last from two to eigEt..! weeks Youfwill work close to your_ home checking mau g addresses, leaving or sicking up questionnaires. or doing the on the spot interviews ::with people in' their homes Data entry positions are also avail- able; Formore information, call the Bureau of the Census at 442-6540 apply tension to the vertical steel reinforce- ments inside the concrete walls. A pump station will be built to deliver the water back into the existing system both in the valley and on the hill. City residents will benefit three ways from this $3 million project: • Greater water pressure to homes on the hill • Increased fire flow capacities (higher volumes at a greater pressure) • Lower overall costs for the City's water supply. The Tukwila water utility purchases water from the City of Seattle. The current rates include a "demand" charge in addition to the regular rates for water actually used. Our need for water is often high when The City Council recently retreated to a quiet spot to set our goals, objectives, and priorities for the coming year. We'd like to share our discussion outcomes with you in order to hear your reactions. Encouraging preservation of our wooded hillsides, streams and parks rated a high priority in our discussions, as did pre- serving residential neighborhoods. Main- taining the appearance of our City by en- forcing existing city codes was another top concern. Human and social services scored high as a new priority, and it was unani- mously agreed that we should concentrate on improving what we have before pro- ceeding with more annexations beyond Cascade View, which is pending. During the retreat weekend we also talked about issues such as more vigorous enforcement of dog control ordinances; whether the City can continue to fund free residential streets; whether to take over and maintain the County's Fort Dent and South Central Pool as City facilities; resolution of the increasingly expensive library costs; and the City's funding policies for human services. We do our best to represent all our citizens, but we'll do even better if we hear from you directly. Are we on track? Do you have ideas about what we could do better? Come to a Council meeting, or call us at home. We'll look forward to hearing from you. supply is very low. The reservoir will allow the Tukwila utility to draw off water at times of low demand (and pay much lower rates) and store it for use when the need is greatest. The reservoir should be operational in September, 1990. Reservoir Construction Site "HORNDYKE STUDENT PL Steve Pool, Brendan Kerin and Tom Kilburg at DA.R.E. program. Officials Honor Students at D.A.R.E. Program Celebration D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) is a cooperative effort of the Police Department, the school district and the community to educate young children about the dangers of drugs and peer pres- sure. On January 31, 1990, more than 125 fifth grade students graduated from an in- tensive 17 -week curriculum. Among other things, students learned how to identify peer pressure, eight ways to say "no", how to handle stress, consequences of using and not using, and how to build self-esteem. Trained D.A.R.E. police officers visited all fifth grade classes for one hour during each week. The graduation took place at Thorndyke Elementary School where stu- dents from Tukwila and Cascade View Elementary Schools also attended for a first-ever combined school ceremony. Many officials from the school district, Police and Fire Departments, City Council, City administration and school board at- tended to make the graduation extra spe- cial. Special guests were Mr. Steve Pool from KOMO News and Seattle Police Officer Mark Sigfrinius, who was shot in the line of duty by a drug suspect last May. They gave special messages to the gradu- ates. All second, third, fourth and eighth grade students were exposed to the D.A.R.E. curriculum in the South Central School District. It is hopeful that the new high school D.A.R.E. Program will be released this year from Los Angeles. Now that the D.A.R.E. curriculum is finished in school, it is important to remem- ber that drug education must continue at home and in the community. For more information about the D.A.R.E. program, contact Officers Tom Kilburg or Brendan Kerin at 433-1808. Citizen Tip Nabs Apartment Burglar On January 22nd at approximately 10:52 a.m., a neighbor in the 5700 block of South 152nd Street observed a pair of legs hanging out of an apartment window and then disappearing inside. The neighbor contacted the apartment office and in- structed the manager to call 911. The neighbor returned to the scene to continue to watch the suspect until the police arrived. Motorcycle Officer Degroot and Patrol- man Lincoln were the first to arrive and they took the suspect into custody just as he was exiting the front door of the apartment carrying a microwave oven and pillowcase filled with numerous items. The suspect admitted having done previous burglaries but most were from carports, garages and storage sheds. He also admitted "casing" the area a couple of days earlier. If you see an unfamiliar sub- ject and/or vehicle in your neighborhood - they might be "casing" the area or getting ready to do a burglary. DON'T HESI- TATE TO CALL 911. BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR. Students Learn to Stop, Drop and Roll January marked another successful year for Firebusters, a state-wide fire prevention education program. Grade school teachers distributed 1,300 Firebuster answer sheets that were provided by the Fire Department and program sponsors Northwest Burn Foundation, KIRO news, Unigard Insur- ance Group and Skipper's Restaurants. Each night for five nights the 5 o'clock new program on KIRO told the Do's and Don'ts of fire safety and provided the answers to the questions on the answer sheets that were distributed. The grade school teach- ers also supplemented the education pro- gram with class discussions and encour- agement. Remember, it's never too late to be a Firebuster. • Have a home fire drill. • Call 911 from a safe place. • Know how to Stop, Drop and Roll. • Practice: Stay low in smoke and crawl. • Give your smoke detector new batteries. The Tukwila Fire Prevention office is available to help with your fire prevention needs. Our non -emergency phone number is 575-4404. Residents Fight Crime From Their Homes Eight neighborhoods have joined Block Watch in the City of Tukwila between October 1989 and January 31, 1990. Block Watch is a program that trains area resi- dents how to be more aware of possible illegal activities in their neighborhoods, and how to report that information to the police. The Police Department is mailing out 275 Block Watch UPDATE newsletters every month to residents. The newsletter discusses specific crime problems in each neighborhood, and what residents there can do to help police reduce the problem. If you are interested in starting a Block Watch program in your neighborhood, or reviving an old Block Watch program, call the Tukwila Police Crime Prevention Unit at 433-1808 and they will set up a meeting and provide all the necessary training. "Third Tuesday" Concerts Offer Variety The City of Tukwila Arts Commission's Third Tuesday, formerly Music in the Chamber, has had a very successful series this year featuring such musical artists as the Northwoods Wind Quintet, pianist Geisa Dutra and violinist Chun Leung To. The concerts are held the third Tuesday of each month (September through May) at 7:00 p.m. in the Chambers at Tukwila City Hall, 6200 Southcenter Boulevard. Please join us at City Hall for the following artists: March 20 COLLIER & DEAN The Seattle Times says "...Polished, diverse collection of pop -oriented jazz..." Tom Collier is a professor at the University of Washington, a member of the South Central School Board and a resident of Tukwila. AprII 17 OLYMPIC MARIMBA DUO Music from around the world on vari- ous instruments including the marimba, vibraphone, xylophone and glocken- spiel. Collier & Dean perform March 20. May 15 SALIERI STRING QUARTET This quartet was one of the favorite performers from last season and we brought them back. The 1990-91 series is scheduled to begin on September 18, 1990. Lynn De- voir, staff for the Commission, welcomes your suggestions forthenextseason. Please call her at 243-5198. Tukwila Parks to Offer Day Camps The Tukwila Parks and Recreation Department will be offering a Spring Break Day Camp the week of April 2-6. Our program will consist of Regular Day Camp (9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.) and Extended Day Camp (7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.). Activities will include sports, field trips, arts and crafts, and lots of fun. Snacks are provided. Registration will begin March 5th. With Summer just around the corner, many parents are wondering what to do with their kids. Tukwila Parks will be offering an Extended Summer Day Camp program and will also be expanding the Playground Program. Activities will include field trips, spe- cial events, games and lots of fun. Fliers will be sent out to all of the schools in April and the program will also be featured in our Summer Brochure which will be out in May. For more information on any of these programs, call 243-5198. Afterschool Activities Are RAD! The City of Tukwila Parks and Recrea- tion Department started a new Youth pro- gram in January. The Radical Afterschool Daze Club is off to a great start. We offer a five day a week program from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. for kids K -6th grade. The program consists of a variety of activities such as games, arts and crafts, cooking, and field trips. The South Central school district bus schedule provides transportation from the schools to the Community Center. Program costs are very reasonable. For more infor- mation, call 243-5198. Zander to Manage Foster Golf Course Curt Zander is the new Golf Profes- sional Manager at the Foster Golf Links. Curt has been a golf professional since 1978 and brings a wide range of experience to our operation. The new 16th green and tee area is completed and should be ready for play by May 1, weather permitting. We plan on adding two new sand traps on the par 6 10th hole and redesigning and constructing new tees on 4, 7 and 15. Resident Cards, providing discounts on golf fees, are now available at City Hall. You must be a Tukwila resident and show proof of your current address to receive a card. Cards are valid through the rest of 1990. New cards must be picked up at City Hall each year. Foster Golf Links Fees Effective January 1, 1990 18 -hole $12,00 9 -hole ... 9.00>. 18 -hole 9 --hole ....7.00 18 -hole .•10.00 9 -hole .. 7.00 18 -hole ... 7.00 9 -hole .... 6.00 Sr/JrWeekdays Sr/Jr Weekdays Resident Resident ................................................. ................... ............................. ............................. .............. Resident Sr/JrWeekdays Resident Sr/Jr Weekdays Tukwila Easter Egg Hunt set for April 14 Children ages 2 thru 6th grade are in- vited to the Tukwila Parks and Recreation Departments Annual Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 14th at 10:00a.m. The hunt will be held at Neudorf Football Field. Prizes and candy will be given away. Watch for our special flier in March. 1 THE HAZELNUT Published by the City of Tukwila 6200 Southcenter Boulevard Tukwila, Washington 98188 POSTAL PATRON LOCAL BULK RATE U.S. POSTAGE PAID TUKWILA, WA PERMIT NO. 12698 CAR -RT SORT MAYOR'S ADDRESS (continued from page 1) Among the more important activities anticipated for 1990 is the initiation of a series of long-range planning studies in- volving our emerging public facilities needs, such as a new community center, and the possible relocation or expansion of City Hall. Changes in the assessment formula by the King County Library System will re- quire that we take a hard look at how these services are provided. In recognition of the more than doubling of our 1988 population and the prospects of adding more citizens with the addition of Cascade View, a human services planning effort is now underway. The objective of this study is the develop- ment of a comprehensive human services referral and delivery system for the resi- dents of our City. This will allow for a more effective means of matching and in some cases providing services to our citizens in need, In terms of capital improvements to our infrastructure, 1990 will see comple- tion of the North Hill reservoir project. This will allow for much needed water pressure improvements to the Tukwila Hill residen- tial area, and avoidance of costly peak demand surcharges by the City of Seattle Water Department from where we pur- chase most of our water. Institution of a Surface Water Utility will aid in controlling the destructive forces such as were evidenced during the recent 100 year storm encountered in early Janu- ary. From a fiscal standpoint, we continue to maintain a strong position. Our com- bined sales tax and property tax receipts will result in revenues exceeding $12 mil- lion. Careful control of expenses will con- tinue to be a necessity to ensure continued fiscal solvency, however. As in the past, I have taken a conservative fiscal approach in construction of the budget. I have been more deliberate this year due to the signifi- cance and number of unknown factors and demands that are associated with our rapid expansion. Additionally, a strategic contin- gency fund has been established that will be built up over the period of the next three to five years. The purpose of this fund is to assist in weathering significant future downturns in the financial health of the economy and its impacts on our financial wellbeing. I believe that 1990 will require contin- ued vigilance by our elected officials in regard to efforts to erode the authority of local jurisdictions to deal with local prob- lems. Legislative efforts at the S tate level to mandate requirements without providing appropriate revenue sources, or to direct actions that have traditionally been the pur- view of local jurisdictions, persist. This year it appears that the County will also attempt to consolidate additional authority over the cities and towns within its borders. The Mayor and Council must be cog- nizant of these efforts and deliberate in their resistance to incursions into local af- fairs by outside jurisdictions.The need for local representation in regional activities remains a critical requirement for Tukwila. Our location, economic vitality and traditional position of leadership within the suburban communities, demands our par- ticipation in regional planning and policy making forums. The Puget Sound Council of Governments, Metro Council, Economic Development Commission, and a host of transportation, water quality, and drainage planning groups will necessitate staff and especially elected official participation. Without it, we cannot expect that our inter- ests will be heard or addressed. The strength of the City of Tukwila has many sources. One is our citizenry and their commitment to the community. Another is the unique mix of commercial activity and the economic base it provides. Last, but not least, is an effective and responsive govern- ment which relies on the active interest and participation by both corporate and private citizens. These strengths are rooted in the long range thinking of our policy makers many years ago. It most likely began in the 1940's when Charlie Baker realized the potential for Tukwila and began to lay out ambitious goals for its development. As Mayor during the fifties, he guided the evolution of the first comprehensive plan by the City's Planning Commission to trans- form the town from a mere crossroads to a "Crossroads of Commerce". The sixties evidenced a period of annexation and the building of a strong economic base that would ensure long range prosperity. The seventies saw a political maturing and the past decade allowed us to accomplish a number of projects to meet our growing demand for service. The coming decade of the nineties should be the fruition of all things that are positive about Tukwila. We have achieved a good balance be- tween business and residents. A new and stronger partnership must be achieved with these and other potentially competitive ele- ments within the City. This is the challenge for the policy makers today and through the remainder of the twentieth century. I ask everyone to make an investment in our future. Consider the things that have made Tukwila an exceptional and envied community within the County and State. Be open to new ideas and suggestions. Analyze the facts and debate their merits openly and in the context of what is best for all our citizens. If I may ask anything of you, I urge your continued assistance in the ongoing evolution of our community and the forging of its future. Participation in and support of your government, school systems and community activities is vital in this effort. May 1990 bring us peace, pros- perity and a greater sense of confidence in our future. — Gary L. VanDusen, Mayor