HomeMy WebLinkAbout1991-11 Hazelnut Newsletter - Volume 12 No. 4NOVEMBER 1991
THE HAZELNUT
A Quarterly Publication of the City, of Tukwila
Volume I2, Number 4
Future of Tukwila libraries to be decided
Library services in Tukwila are at a cross-
roads. The City currently contracts for
services with the King County Library
System (KCLS). In 1990, KCLS imple-
mented a change in its contract rates to
bring them into alignment with the rate
paid by those that have annexed to KCLS.
The change in the contract rate is based
on property taxes, severely impacting
Tukwila because of its extensive com-
mercial base. The costs for providing
library services to our community has
risen from $100,000in 1990 to $565,000
in 1991, and to a projected $1.2 million in
1994. This motivated the City and its
Library Advisory Board to look at the
various options available for providing
library service. The reality is that Tukwila
will be paying over a million dollars per
year for libraries and we need to decide
the best way to spend those dollars.
Three alternatives for Tukwila's library
services have been identified: 1) the City
continues to contract with KCLS, 2) the
City annexes to KCLS, or 3) the City
develops an independent library system.
Outlines of the different options follow;
more details are available at the Tukwila
and Foster libraries as well as at City Hall.
Some highlights...
City Library Issue Page 1
Preliminary Budget Page 2
Growth Management Page 3
Vision Tukwila Page 3
Council Work Plan Page 4
Dike Project Page S
Burning Issues Page 6
Police Holiday Tips Page 7
Council Vacancy Page 8
THE OPTIONS:
Continue to contract with KCLS7
The City would continue to contract
with KCLS and maintain some local
control through contractnegotiation and
an active library advisory board. Con-
tract costs will rise to $1.2 million by
1994. Funding has come out of the
City's general fund in the past, opening
the question of additional taxes or re-
ductions in other services to cover this
cost. The current level of service would
be maintained and there are a few options
for expansion of those services, though
Tukwila citizens have access to all
branches and materials in the large library
system. This option maintains the status
quo.
Annexation to the KCLS?
If the citizens vote for this option, the
City would annex to the KCLS and
funding would come from the King
County property tax. Tukwila as a whole
would still be paying $1.2 million by
1994 for library services through a direct
library tax to each property holder in the
City. The City would not be directly
responsible for funding library services.
The current level of service will be
maintained, and there are a few options
for expansion of those services, though
Tukwila citizens have access to all
branches and materials in the largelibrary
system. With this option, Tukwila will
have minimal control over the local li-
braries, though KCLS would like to see
the local library advisory board main-
tained. Another option is to annex with
an interlocal agreement in order to secure
desired changes to the local libraries.
(continued on page 5)
A final note from
Mayor VanDusen
The publication of the Hazelnut has al-
ways been the most effective means of
communication we have to the citizens of
Tukwila. This edition gives me one final
opportunityto address you asyourMayor.
I will keep it short as I only want to thank
you, the citizens of Tukwila, for your
many years of support in electing me as a
councilman and ultimately your Mayor.
The past twenty years seem to have gone
by so quickly, as I look back on all the
events that have taken place during my
tenure. In the myriad of crises, events,
debates and political interaction with
which I have been involved, I want you to
know I have always attempted to make
decisions that were in the best interest of
the community as a whole.
I now leave City service because of the
vote of the electorate, the final determin-
ers of any city's future. Again, I thank you
for all your support and only ask that you
continue to participate in your City to the
best of your ability. The future of Tukwila
ultimately rests with its citizens and the
degree to which each person participates
in the issues andproblemsour community
faces. I wish you all well and may God
bless each and every one of you.
— Gary L. VanDusen, Mayor
You're invited to a farewell reception for
Mayor Gary VanDusen
to be held Thursday, December 12
from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.
in the Council Chambers
at Tukwila City Hall,
6200 Southcenter Boulevard.
Join us at this informal gathering to
wish Gary the best for the future.
Preliminary budget for 1992 faces challenge of fewer revenues
Mayor Gary VanDusen has presented
1992's preliminary budget to the City
Council for consideration. It is a balanced
budget that presented challenges which
the City has not faced in its recent history.
The conditions that have contributed to
these challenges are becoming familiar.
Sales tax revenues — which traditionally
have supported increases in basic service
delivery, new initiatives and respectable
ending fund balances — will not support
even the expected inflationary costs of
continuing the existing service levels.
Although the slowdown in the economy
has had its effect, it is important to note
that sales tax receipts are running over
5% higher than in 1990. Unfortunately,
revenues must now grow at a rate of over
7% to keep pace with the inflationary
effects of our labor-intensive service de-
livery system. The primary factor for the
pressure on revenues has not been the
economy but, instead, our tremendous
growth. This is not a transitory condition;
it is a factor that will drive future budgets
and that will require us to engage in care-
ful analysis of our service levels if the City
is to continue to provide a balanced pro-
gram of general and capital fund activities.
The following is a synopsis of the develop-
ment of the primary funds:
General Fund
Overall, General Fund expenditures will
increase by 11% ($2,084,000) in 1992.
Salaries and benefits — along with fixed
costs items such as jail fees, emergency
communications costs, library services,
insurance, and the King County Public
Health agreement — represent over half of
this increase over our 1991 budget. In
order to absorb this impact, it was neces-
sary to cap and in some cases reduce
expenditures in discretionary areas (sup-
plies, travel, capital purchases, professional
services). Additionally, the Mayor directed
that Cityforego the third year contribution
to the strategic contingency fund (popu-
larly known as the "rainy day" fund).
The General Fund budget contains no
staffing increases. Inclusion of additional
positions in the preliminary budget would
have required reducing existing programs
or staffing to accommodate the fiscal im-
pacts. In summary, 1992 General Fund
departmental budgets will allow con-
tinuing the existing levels of service to our
community, without sacrificing quality or
responsiveness. Flexibility and program
expansion or enhancement will be ex-
tremely limited, however.
Utility/Street Funds
The Utility (Water, Surface Water/Sewer)
Funds remain in satisfactory condition. In
recognition of the needs created by as-
sumption of the deteriorated infrastructure
in the annexation areas, the Mayor ap-
proved several major equipmentpurchases
associated with those annexation areas.
Also, a Crew Leader to the Surface Water
Division has been added, completing the
staffing of this recently initiated utility.
Capital Improvement Program
The impacts of annexation and the other
factors which affect the City's operation
and maintenance functions extend to the
Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). Unfor-
tunately, all of the projects having merit
cannot be funded, nor accomplished as
fast as would be preferred. Although the
CIP is balanced for 1992, the remaining
five years of the CIP period (1993-1997)
will require additional review.
Service Levels/Priorities
The City of Tukwila is now realizing the
limits of its ability to continue expansion
of City services and providing for an ag-
gressive capital program as demonstrated
in recent budget review sessions. Before
the City increases taxes or imposes other
charges on our community, a systematic
review of all current policies and service
levels is needed. Some issues requiring
analysis and public review include:
V Library Services
✓ Police, Fire, Recreation, Public Works
and other basic expectations/service
levels
V Capital funding policies, such as un-
dergrounding
V Liability insurance, health services,
jail, and other "fixed cost" services
V Facilities needs — a long-term strategy
V Funding for "Rainy Day" Reserve
This proposed budget is intended to sus-
tain a level of service in 1992 that Tukwila
citizens have come to expect. The Mayor
has asked the City Council to join the
Administration in a work program for
1992 that addresses the service level and
fiscal issues facing Tukwila. Continued
revenue limitations demand that a num-
ber of broad long-standing policy issues be
updated, revised or re -stated as the City
moves into the future.
1992 Budget Public Hearing
Monday, December 2nd
7:00 p.m., City Hall
$20,000,000 -
$15,000,000 -
$10,000,000
$5,000,000 -
so
$7,512,000
General Fund Expenditures —1987 to 1992
$8,819,000
$11,032,000
$13,736,000
$15,671,000
4 4
$17,399,000
1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992
2 THE HAZELNUT
Growth Management Act requires City
and its citizens to look to the future
As a citizen here, have you noticed any of these changes?
or Increased population
or Sprawling development
or Increased traffic congestion
or Threatened forest and agricultural lands, and wetlands and wildlife
habitat areas
or Flooding and landslides in historically dry and stable areas
In response to the above concerns, the Washington State legislature passed the
Growth Management Act (GMA). All cities and counties must create or amend their
Comprehensive Land Use Plans to meet newly adopted state goals to preserve open
space, protect the environment, relieve traffic congestion, coordinate development
and infrastructure improvements, and restore housing affordability.
The state goals emphasize: consistency of capital and transportation plans with land
use plans; coordination among neighboring jurisdictions; conservation of important
timber, agriculture and mineral resource lands; protection of sensitive lands; and
early and continuous public participation in the process.
For the first time, a twenty-year capital financial plan must be produced to provide
resources for the construction of infrastructure and capital projects to meet the
projected needs in the areas of anticipated growth in population and employment.
What Tukwila is doing
Tukwila's Comprehensive Land Use Plan was adopted in 1978, when the City was
more than half its current land size and three times smaller in population. The state
has mandated the adoption of a new plan by July 1993 .
The GMA legislation encourages a "from -the -bottom-up" approach to achieving the
state goals. This means that members of the Tukwila community must assess their
own goals for the City and meld them with the general goals of the state, surrounding
jurisdictions and King County.
To foster coordination between local jurisdictions, County and City officials are
collaborating to develop policies that will serve as a framework for all jurisdictions
within the County. Local ratification of these framework policies is targeted for July
1992.
To begin the local process of review and amendment, Tukwila's Department of
Community Development (DC D) has inventoried all land uses within its corporate
limits and estimated potential growth in housing units based on the land inventory.
Additional collection of background information and data continues.
The creation of a plan is a multi-year collaboration of residents and property owners.
This is the first in a series Hazelnut articles discussing the comprehensive planning
process. Future articles will explain how you can become directly involved in this
process. Extensive notice will be given to encourage involvement of community
members from all neighborhoods in preparing the plan. (See accompanying Vision
Tukwila article at right.)
NOVEMBER 1991
Vision Tukwila calls for the
Involvement of everyone
The September issue of the Hazelnut in-
troduced to you the Vision Tukwilapro jest.
Some of you have called to get further
information and to ask when the com-
munity meetings will actually begin. In
Januaryyou will receive the first in a series
of notices of upcoming meetings in your
area. The meetings will be scheduled
throughout January, February and March
of 1992.
The purpose of the Vision Tukwila project
is to include all Tukwila citizens in the
planning process for the City. Your par-
ticipation in the neighborhood meetings
will result in:
a. bringing your most important issues to
the attention of the City officials;
b. the integration of those issues into the
City's plans, both short-term and long-
range;
c. the creation of action groups to advise
the City on specific issues and projects;
d. the foundation for a City-wide plan-
ning process for the future of Tukwila.
As a citizen living, working, andplayingin
this community, you have the best knowl-
edge of the needs and concerns of your
neighborhood. Your concerns are the
City's call to action.
Between now and January, we will be
making the final arrangements for this
project. If you have ideas, suggestions, or
would like to help organize your neigh-
borhood, please call Lora Fowler, Project
Coordinator, at 431-3670.
We need your advice —
We want your help...
How do you picture Tukwila's
future?
vision
Tukwila
3
Council President summarizes accomplishments
The year is almost over, and I am pleased
to take this final opportunity to provide an
update on your City Council's activities.
Back in January, the Council decided to
concentrate on completing a few high-
priority issues that affected the quality of
life in our city. We set schedules and
created a Council "work plan" to ensure
that we completed the most important
projects. Well, the Council has been very
busy, and I am very happy to say that we
completed most of what we scheduled in
our "work plan".
First, we concentrated on finishing work
on numerous ordinances (laws) that had
been started in previous years. The list
included the Sensitive Areas Ordinance,
Land Altering Ordinance, new Housing
Standards, new Multi -Family Housing
Standards, and a Recycling Ordinance. I
am proud to report we have completed
the Sensitive Areas Ordinance, Land Al-
teringOrdinance, new HousingStandards,
and the Recycling Ordinance. The Multi -
Family Standards are still being considered
by the Planning Commission, but we
expect them to be completed in 1992.
The second set of tasks we took on are
more subjective and harder to define,
involving very controversial or costly issues
for the City. The easiest of these was a
review of the City -funded Residential
Street Improvement Program started years
ago in old Tukwila. Should it continue as
in the past, or be modified to reduce the
cost to the City? We decided to continue
to fund it, because the undergrounding of
power lines is an important improvement
that beautifies our residential areas, and
building sidewalks encourages citizens to
safely walk, meet, and talk to our neigh-
bors. We are currentlyworking on how to
fund this program in our "Six -Year Capital
Improvement Program" and the 1992
Budget.
The library issue is the hardest to decide
and we are still working on it. We expect
a report from the City Library Board in
November and will be discussing it in
December. This issue has several compo -
4
nents, but the biggest problem is that the
King County Library Board, with whom
the City contracts for library services, has
dramatically raised its rates to the City.
Therewill be public hearings and meetings
on the library issue in the upcoming
months, and we hope that you will all
participate.
The Council has also worked on and
completed many other items of business,
including renaming several fragmentary
streets into a single Macadam Road South,
amending the Adult Entertainment Ordi-
nance to help in its enforcement, passing
a referendum and initiative process for
citizen use, approving amendments to the
undergrounding requirements for single-
family homes, closing the Washington
Department of Transportation dumpsite
on Pacific Highway South, and creating a
new multi-year budget planning process.
The Council is currently concentrating its
efforts on the 1992 budget that must be
passed before the year's end. I realize that
you may have read many comments in the
newspapers implying that we have a cri-
sis, are out of money, or won't be able to
take on all of the projects we have planned
for the future. The only thing that is true
is the last point–we won't be able to build
everything we want to. But that is not a
crisis; it just means that we have reached
the pointwherewe can spend more money
than we bring in. Our City finances are
still very healthy, and we have the funds
to do many things that other cities can
only dream about. The only thing differ-
ent is that the Council will have to make
hard decisions and prioritize the City's
dreams (something we all do – as citizens
– every day in our personal lives).
I close by saying that I am very proud of
the Council's accomplishments in 1991.
The Council decided at the beginning of
the year to set goals and create a "work
plan", ensuring that we would do the job
that you, the citizens, elected us to do.
Well, we did. And I think you should be
proud of us, too!
— Dennis Robertson
Human Services update
Requests for human service proposals
were received by the Mayor's Office and
were reviewed by an ad-hoc committee
in October. The twenty-eight applica-
tions for funding totalled $482,853,
representing a 56% increase over 1990.
Requests were made for:
9 victim assistance programs
+ emergency services programs
+ youth and family counseling
+ health care
9 transportation
9 programs for seniors
9 information and referral
+ employment
9 education
Ratings and recommendations were
made on the basis of a knowledge of
Tukwila's needs, sensitivity and accessi-
bility, collaboration, track record, costs
and likelihood of success. Funding rec-
ommendations have been made to the
Mayor's Office and will be forwarded to
the City Council for further discussion.
New contracts for human services are
expected to begin in early 1992.
In other news, calls for human service
information and referral have steadily
grown in number since April 1991, and
are expected to increase with the public's
awareness of these services. The major-
ity of calls have focused on financial
assistance, help in finding affordable
housing, assistance for seniors and men-
tal health related assistance. Human
service information/referral brochures
will soon be making their appearance in
key locations throughout the City.
Several education and training sessions
have been held for City staff, who learned
about human service issues including
domestic/sexual violence and child
abuse, and providing information and
referral.
Residents interested in learning more
about available human serviceswill have
an opportunity to attend an open house
scheduled early next year to meet the
contracted human service providers.
THE HAZELNUT
Green River diking project interrupts trail use
Why was the river trail covered over by dirt fill material? Will the running path and bike
trail be replaced? What happened to several large trees along the trail? These and other
questions have been asked following the start of a new dike project where the recreation
trail was located along the Green River between Strander Boulevard and S. 180th Street.
In order to prevent flooding of the central business district near Southcenter, the Army
Corps of Engineers calculated that the existing dike and roadway areas had to be raised
from one to five feet in various locations. This raised dike will provide flood protection
to our area for many years to come. As the entire valley floor continues to be developed,
the amount of water runoff flowing directly into the river has increased, thus increasing
the chance for flooding during extreme rain storm conditions. With the dike fill material
in place, the Corps will replace the recreation trail.
The cinder trail between Strander Boulevard and South 180th Street will be recon-
structed and the asphalt paving will be done as weather allows. Several large Norway
maple trees have been relocated and numerous new trees will be planted.
To further enhance the trail, two new picnic/rest areas will be developed next spring.
One area will be developed two blocks north of Costco, and the other will be near where
the railroad tracks cross the trail south of Strander Boulevard. A new 12 -station fitness/
exercise course will be added to replace the old equipment removed during construction.
Bicentennial Park has also had a dike built within the park area. New grass and walking
paths will be built as soon as weather allows. A new children's play structure will be
located south of the existing log cabin.
Questions? Contact the Parks and Recreation administrative office at 433-1843.
New K-9 unit joins police force
Chief of Police Ron Waldner and the Tuk-
wila Police Department are pleased to an-
nounce the formation of our new K-9 team.
Officer Steve Gurr and Police Dog "Mar-
kos" are currently undergoing certification
training in the Tri -Cities. The team is
scheduled to be working in the City by the
end of November.
Markos is a 19 -month old, 95 pound,
longhair German Shepherd that was im-
ported from Germanyby our trainer specifi-
cally for the Tukwila Police Department.
Markos comes from a long line of profes-
sional police working dogs.
In addition to tracking and officer protection, Markos is also trained in narcotics
detection. This will be the first time that the Police Department has employed a cross -
trained narcotics patrol dog.
Our last K-9, Dano, was retired with the promotion of handler Carl Ueland.
The Tukwila Police Department is looking forward to putting Steve and Markos on
patrol, to better serve the citizens of the City of Tukwila.
NOVEMBER 1991
How do YOU feel about these
library options?
Come to a PUBLIC HEARING
on Monday, December 2nd
at 7:00 p.m.
In Council Chambers at
Tukwila City Hall,
6200 Southcenter Blvd.
Tukwila libraries
(continued from page 1)
Develop an independent library
system?
lithe citizens vote for this option, Tukwila
would leave KCLS and develop its own
library system; the cities of Renton and
Enumclaw have done so. This would give
Tukwila the flexibility to offer the services,
hours, and facilities that would best fit the
City's library needs, although it could not
duplicate the full range of services that
KCLS can offer. The City would maintain
local control and, after initial start up
costs, this alternative could operate at
around $600,000 to $900,000 per year.
There are still some "unknowns" with
this option and a feasibility study would
need to be completed.
Those are the options available to Tukwila
voters. Where do we go from here?
Which alternative do you feel will give us
the most for our money? How much are
you willing to pay for library services?
The Library Advisory Board has gathered
data around each alternative, but what is
missing is a clear direction from you, the
citizen, as to what you want.
The City Council will be holding a public
hearing on this issue on Monday, De-
cember 2nd at 7:00 p.m. Based on the
data already gathered and on the citizen
input, the library board will make a rec-
ommendation to Council and they will
make their decision by mid-December.
The time to act is nowl Come share your
views at the December 2nd hearing. If
you can't come, please callTrishCamozzi-
Ekberg, Tukwila Library Advisory Board
Chairperson, at 924-3283 (days) or 241-
6904 (evenings).
5
Residents need to observe
outdoor burning regulations
Did you know that you need a burn
permit to have an outdoor yard waste
fire? The Puget Sound Air Pollution
Control Agency (PSAPCA) is the regula-
tory agency that decides whether air
quality is clean enough to allow outdoor
burning or the use of wood stoves.
General terms and conditions of qualify-
ing for a residential (single-family resi-
dence) burn permit are as follows:
• Burn from 10:00 a.m. until sunset.
• Only natural vegetation may be
burned, such as leaves, clippings,
prunings, and other yard and garden-
ing refuse.
• No trash, rubber, asphalt, plastic,
treated wood or petroleum products
may be burned.
• Persons shall monitor the fire at all
times and have a charged garden hose
nearby.
• No burning within 50' of any fence
and/or structure. This portion is of-
ten a major limiting factor.
• BURN BARRELS ARE PROHIBITED.
This is partly due to their poor burning
efficiency.
• There may be only one fire at a time
not exceeding 3'x4' on the permittee's
property only, with the permit on
hand.
(Full terms and conditions may be ob-
tained on the burn permit application.)
The FIre Marshal currently allows per-
mits for 7 days only, and they may be
revoked at any time. If there is a wood
stove burn ban, outdoor fires are banned
also.
There is no fee for this permit and may
be obtained at any one of the City's four
fire stations:
444 Andover Park East 575-4404
5900 S. 147 Street 242-4666
12026 - 42nd Avenue S.—762-3330
4237 S. 144 Street 248-2045
6
Are you burning legally?
YES!
PSAPCA takes aim at smoking chimneys
The Puget Sound Air Pollution Control
Agency is targeting chimneys that pro-
duce excessive amounts of smoke.
Breathingwood smoke is a health hazard;
it contains a complex mixture of toxic
compounds, some of which are known to
cause cancer. Fine particles in wood
smoke travel deep into the lungs and can
cause structural and biochemical changes.
Carbon monoxide increases the incidence
of angina in persons with cardiac disease.
Other components such as formaldehyde
may cause lung cancer. Researchers ex-
press concern for the elderly and for per-
sons with asthma, emphysema and other
lung diseases. Even healthy people, es-
pecially those who are physically active
during air stagnation periods, are affected
by wood smoke.
Opacity is a visual measurement of smoke
density. It is expressed as a percentage,
representing the extent to which an object
viewed through smoke is obscured. The
limit for wood smoke is 20%. Except for
brief periods duringstart-upand refueling,
the generation of such smoke is subject to
enforcement action.
The PSAPCA implements a state -man-
dated, two stage wood stove curtailment
program.
In a Stage limpairment, uncertified wood
stoves, fireplaces and outdoor burning
are prohibited.
A Stage II impairment extends the ban to
all stoves, including pellet types.
Households with no other source of ad-
equate heat are exempt from local bans.
Fines for excessive smoke or violating
burning bans are $100 for the first offense
and $250 for a second offense. Violators
are given three options in lieu of paying
fines:
• Replace problematic wood stoves or
fireplaces with natural gas stoves, gas
logs, cleaner certified stoves, high of
flciency conventional furnaces or ap-
proved masonry heaters.
• Dispose of problematic wood stoves.
• Render problematic fireplaces inop-
erable.
Some retail outlets are offering discounts
on certified stoves, removing old "dirty"
stoves and ensuring that they end up at a
scrap dealer.
It is the responsibility of the wood burner
to be informed of air quality conditions
and burning restrictions. Most radio and
television stations report burn bans. You
can also call for a recorded message at
296-5100.
When you bum wood, remember to burn
only dry, seasoned wood. Provide a
generous air supply in order to burn at
high temperatures. Don't burn overnight.
The fires smolder, waste wood, produce
little heat and result in substantial quan-
tities of air pollution. Don't start a fire
when you intend to leave the house. As
with outdoor burning, never burn garbage
or treated wood.
Alternatives to using less fuel and reduc-
ing burning include insulating and
weather-stripping your home. Set your
thermostat back while you sleep or while
the home is unoccupied. Use individual
room heaters to direct the heat where you
need it.
Remember to have your chimney cleaned
on a regular basis.
THE HAZELNUT
Police offer holiday precaution lists
Holiday tips for home
• Don't display gifts where they may be seen through a window or doorway. Be extra
cautious about locking doors and windows when you go out, even for a few minutes.
• If you have house guests, let them know about your security precautions and make
sure they follow them.
• If you go away, get an automatic timer for your lights. Have a neighbor watch your
home for you and pick up newspapers and mail. Volunteer to do the same for your
neighbor.
• Arrange for a neighbor to accept packages if you're not home.
• Immediately after the holidays, mark new gifts with your driver's license number.
When You're Away from Home
• Lock your car and close the windows, even if you are only going to be gone for a few
minutes. Lock your packages in the trunk. If you must lock things in the back seat,
put them on the floor board and cover them with a blanket. Have your key in hand
when you return to your car.
• If someone demands your purse or wallet and shows, threatens or implies in any way
that they have a weapon, hand the purse or wallet over. If you resist, you may be
gambling with your life.
• If you are the victim of a robber/thief, be sure to report it to the police, with a
description and a direction and means of travel taken by the suspect, if possible.
• Even though you are rushed and thinking about a thousand things, stay alert to your
surroundings and the people around you.
• Shop before dark if possible. Park in a well -lighted area. Don't walk to your car alone
if it's parked in a dark area.
• Wait for public transportation or rides from friends in busy, well -lighted areas.
• Teach your children to go to a store clerk and ask for help if you become separated
while shopping. Teach your children never to go into the parking lot alone.
• Avoid carrying large amounts of cash. Don't carry it in your wallet; carry cash in a front
pocket. Pay for your purchases with a check or credit card when possible.
• Be extra careful with purses and wallets. Carry your purse tightly under your arm and
don't leave it unattended, even for a second! If you have a purse strap, put it over your
head. Those new waist bags ("fanny packs") are a good way to keep track of and hold
onto cash and credit cards.
Shopping Season is Pickpocket Season
• Be on the lookout for pickpockets, who prefer to
operate in crowded stores, loaded busses and busy
bus stops.
• Beware of strangers (including children) who bump,
shove, or get too close. Pickpockets often work in
teams of two or three; one may create a distraction
while another lifts wallets from pockets and purses.
Make a d(fference this holiday season! Think!
NOVEMBER 1991
TAKE A BITE OUT OF
CREME
New Facility Guide available
Want to know your way around the City
just a little better? The Tukwila Parks and
Recreation Department has recently pro-
duced a new City facilities guide. This
document provides a complete road map
of the City limits, locations of City parks,
golf course, trails, City Hall, libraries and
fire stations. In addition, other facilities
such as South Central Pool and local
schools are shown.
Copies of the facilities guide are available
at City Hall, Foster Golf Course and the
Community Center. A guide will be
mailed to citizens upon request; please
call the community center at 243-5198
between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Mon-
day through Friday, to request your copy.
Scare fest brings donations
The Tukwila Parks and Recreation De-
partment presented their annual Hallow-
een Haunted House and Carnival on Oc-
tober 28th and 29th. Many residents
took advantage of the fun and haunted
frolics for the price of a can of food or 5N.
The event brought in 515 cans of food and
collected $83.00. The food was donated
to the Church by the Side of the Road and
the Riverton Heights Methodist Church
food banks. The money will be given to
the Fire Department to supply holiday
food baskets for the needy.
Tukwila history book...
ready for gift giving!?
Whip out the wrapping paper — this could
be it! The City of Tukwila history book
has been a long time coming and a huge
undertaking. The book is currently at the
printer, and is scheduled to be available to
purchasers by December 9th. The book,
available in both soft- and hard cover, will
be over 300 pages and will have 160
pictures. When you see the final product,
we think you'll agree it was well worth
the wait.
If you have any questions, please contact
Sharon Dibble, production manager, at
431-3687.
7
CITY DIRECTORY
TUKWI A CITY HALL
6200 Southcenter Boulevard
433-1800
Business hours: Monday — Friday
8:30 am to 5:00 pm
TUKWI A CITY COUNCIL
Dennis Robertson, President
Joe H. Duffle
Allan Ekberg
Joan Hernandez
Steve Lawrence
Clarence Moriwaki
John "Wa11y" Rants
CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS
7:00 p.m. in Council Chambers
Regular Meeting ..1 st/3rd Mondays
Workshops 2nd/4th Mondays
CITY OFFICES
Mayor
Gary L. VanDusen 433-1805
City Administrator
John McFarland 433-1832
Finance Department
Alan Doersche4 Director.433-1835
Fire Department
Tom Keefe, Chief 575-4404
Dept. of Community Development
Rick Beeler, Director 431-3680
Parks/Recreation Department
Don Williams, Director433-1843
Police Department
Ron Waldner, Chief 433-1808
Public Works Department
Ross Earnst, Director 433-0179
Dept. of Administrative Services
Viki Witschger, Director433-1831
City Clerk's Office fce 433-1800
Municipal Court 433-1840
Personnel 433-1831
City Job Line 433-1828
Emergency
Fine, Police, Aid Car 911
TUKWILA COMMUNITY CENTER
4101 South 131st Street
Recreation Division 243-5198
Senior Center & Services 433-1857
Human Services 241-7144
FOSTER GOLF LINKS
13500 Interurban Avenue South
Pro Shop 242-4221
Restaurant 241-5784
THE HAZELNUT Ls a community
newsletter published quarterly by the
City of Tukwila and written by C ty staff:
Editing/production: Stacia Norms
uaPrinted on recycled paper
Council position opens
Because of the election of current Council
member Wally Rants to the Mayor's of-
fice, there will be a vacancy on the City
Council in January. At that time the City
Council will appoint a someone to fill the
vacancy. The appointee will take office
immediately and serve until the next
regular elections in the fall of 1993.
The Council has an application form for
anyone interested in applying for the
Council position. To qualify for the posi-
tion, the candidate must be a registered
voter and must have lived in Tukwila
(including areas which were recently an-
nexed to Tukwila) for one year.
Applicants must be willing to work some
evening hours. Council meetings are held
each Monday night, and shorter com-
mittee meetings are held other evenings
after 5:00. Special meetings may be held
mid -week when the work load demands.
Application forms are available at City
Hall or by calling 433-1800; all applica-
tions must be submitted by 5:00 p.m.,
January 3rd. The 1992 City Council will
review the applications and interview fi-
nalists to choose the new member.
Consider applying if you are sincerely
interested in serving the citizens and the
City. It's not easy, but it's very rewarding.
FINAL ELECTION RESULTS
COUNCIL Dennis Robertson 1,732
POSITION #1 Gary Van Dusen 1,550
COUNCIL Steve Mullet 1,717
POSITION#2 Elizabeth Springer 1,542
COUNCIL Joan Hernandez 1,796
POSITION #3 Joseph Egan 1,484
MAYOR'S Wally Rants 1,744
POSITION Charles Simpson 1,635
1992 OPEN HOUSE
Thursday, January 16th
from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.
at Tukwila City Hall,
6200 Southcenter Blvd.
Please Join us for coffee and snacks,
and meet and talk to the new
Mayor and C/ty Council members.
New year means new licenses
Attention, Tukwila business owners!
Your current business licenses expire on
December 31, 1991.
All businesses currently licensed in the
City will be receiving business license
renewal forms in mid-December 1991.
The Tukwila Municipal Code requires all
business enterprises renew their licenses
annually no laterthanJanuary 3lstof
each year. Penalty fees go into effect on
February 1, 1992, for all business that
have not submitted their renewal form
and fee to the City Clerk's Office.
Fees for the 1992 license are as follows:
NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES FEE
0-5 $ 50
6-100 100
101 & above 200
The Tukwila Municipal Code requires
that all businesses operating within the
City obtain a license. New enterprises
must obtain a license prior to their
openirigdate ofbusiness Application
forms are available at the City Clerk's
Office during regular business hours. If
you have questions regarding business
licensing procedures, call 433-1800.
Remember — to avoid a penaltyfee,
renew by January 31, 1992.
THE HAZELNUT
City of Tukwila
6200 Southcenter Boulevard
Tukwila, Washington 98188
BULK RATE
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
TUKWI A, WA
PERMIT NO. 12698
To help us correct addresses or eliminate duplicates, call 433-1800.