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Home My WebLink About2000-11 Hazelnut Newsletter - Volume 21 No. 6A City of Tukwila publication for our residential and business community VOLUME 21, NUMBER 6 NOVEMBER 2000 You are welcome I to attend a m 1 Public Hearing il on the 2001 budget to be held Monday, 1 November 27, 2000 ' I at 7:OOPM, inI I Council Chambers l at Tukwila City For more information, I please call 206-433-1838 2001 TOTAL PROPOSED BUDGET General Fund $35,216,092 Capital & Gen Gov't Funds 39,947,571 Enterprise Funds (water, sewer, surface water, golf) 21,895,606 Internal Service and Reserve Funds 8,700,423 Debt Service Funds 1,590,528 TOTAL $107,350,220 2001 GENERAL FUND OPERATING BUDGET BY DEPARTMENT Administration $ 7,143,847 Council, Mayor, Personnel, Finance, Community Development, Attorney, Human Services, Municipal Court, etc. Parks and Recreation 2,415,514 Police 9,564,276 Fire 6,994,377 Public Works 4,607,089 Engineering, Facility Maintenance, Street Maintenance Other Fund balance & transfers .. 4,490,989 TOTAL $35,216,092 City's 2001 balanced Preliminary Budget and Capital Plan presented to Council As Mayor, I have presented the Preliminary 2001 Budget to the Tukwila City Council. Also, I have submitted a companion document, The 2001-2006 Financial Planning Model and Capital Improvement Plan. The Planning Model projects the revenues and expenditures, including capital, over a six-year period. This document then becomes the basis for our 2001 Preliminary Budget Proposal. For the third year we are able to present a proposed budget that does not require significant shifts of funding from Capital to Operations & Maintenance. This budget proposal reflects what I believe are necessary adjustments in the recognition of the continual growth and complexity of our service demands. We believe the current revenue, coupled with our long-standing fiscal policies, will allow the City to continue excellent service delivery and meet the challenges of the future — including transportation issues, growth, Tukwila Village, and the Allentown/Duwamish water and sewer improvements. In this proposal I am recommending the addition of five new positions (shown below) along with several organizational changes throughout the budget. Most of these are paid for by additional new revenues and expenditure reductions. Steve Mullet, Mayor of Tukwila POSITION COMMENT Assistant Training Officer - Fire This position is necessary due to new training requirements. Economic Development Coordinator - Mayor's Office This position was approved, but not formally budgeted. Necessary to maintain economic growth effort. Facilities Maintenance Technician - Public Works This will be a second technical operations person in building maintenance, and is necessary to support the increased number of City buildings. Administrative Clerk - DCD This position replaces extra labor used to provide filing and records control for all of DCD Crew Leader added - Public Works Half of this new position was added to the Street Fund and half added to the Surface Water Fund. This is part of an expanded City-wide effort for vegetation and litter control. See back page for Summary of Proposed 6 -year Financial Planning Model and Capital Plan Significant Items in the 2001 Budget • Tukwila Village Phase I will be under construction, including Neighborhood Resource Center on Highway 99. • Continued effort regarding commuter rail and light rail alignments. Business owners will receive license renewals A112000 business licenses expire on December 31st. Business license renewal forms will be mailed at the beginning of December to all currently licensed businesses in the City. By law, all businesses operating within the City (including home occupations) must renew their licenses annually no later than January 31st of each year. Penalty fees will go into effect on February 1, 2001, for businesses that have not submitted their renewal form and fee to the City Clerk's office. Businesses new to Tukwila in 2001 are required to acquire a license prior to opening. Additional licenses are required for live music/entertainment, tow trucks, amusement devices, solicitors/peddlers, or adult entertainment. Application forms are avail- able from the City Clerk's office during regular business hours, 8:30 to 5:00, Monday thru Friday. Or if it's more convenient for you, business license applications are available for downloading from the City's website at http://www.ci.tukwila.wa.us. If you have ques- tions regarding licensing procedures, call 206-433-1800. Number of Employees License Fee O to 5 $ 50 6 to 100 $100 101 and above $200 Tukwila tourism site highlights City's entertainment, retail and hospitality services Tukwila recently debuted its new website, http:// www.thinktukwila.com, as part of a $250,000 marketing campaign launched in the spring of 1999 by the City's full- time tourism and marketing coordinator Katherine Kertzman. Tukwila's website targets three types of visitors: meeting planners looking for a place to hold small and medium-sized conferences, business travelers, and weekend "leisure travel- ers" seeking a vacation destination in the greater Seattle area. The website features exciting things to see and do in Tukwila like the Museum of Flight, Regal 12 Cinemas, Southcenter Mall, Rainforest Cafe, the eight -acre Family Fun Center amusement park, and other restaurants and shopping. "Rain Check" program It's Raining. It's Pouring. It's Free. The idea is simple: if it rains — even a little — during a winter weekend stay in Tukwila, guests receive a complimentary night's stay during their next visit to Tukwila. A Tukwila "Rain Check" gift bag containing helpful gifts and coupons is available to visitors. The Rain Check Program runs November 1 through March 31. To learn more about this program or about Tukwila's marketing efforts, call 206-575-2489, 1-877-TUKWILA, or look us up on the web at http://www.thinktukwila.com. 2 Mayor Mullet with award recipient Warren Wing (on right) Tukwila's treasure is its citizens Tukwila is fortunate to have many citizens who contribute to our community. And certain people go beyond the everyday efforts and good works to truly make Tukwila a better city to live in. On October 2, the City Council passed a resolution establishing recognition for such people, called the "Treasures of Tukwila" award. The award will be given annually to a citizen who has made a substantial contribution to improving civic life, and whose contribution affects a meaningful segment of the community in a positive and lasting manner. Warren Wing was designated the first award recipient. He was recognized for his work in documenting the community's history with the old Interurban railway, and sharing that information with many groups and organizations, as well as writing books about it. He has also been a one-man welcome wagon in his area, being the first person to greet new residents with a warm hello and the gift of a Tukwila history book. Warren was recognized at the October 2nd City Council meeting with a glass plaque and his name being first on the permanent plaque to be displayed at the Community Center. Next year's award recipient will be chosen by the end of June. Your nominations for the Treasure of Tukwila 2001 award can be forwarded to the Mayor's office, City Council mem- bers, or Volunteer Coordinator. Until then, congratulations to Warren Wing for his outstanding contributions to the City! Department of Community Development now has information available online For those of you who rely on the internet, the City has another department online. Visit our website at: http://www.ci.tukwila.wa.us w TUKWILA w and click on the Department of Community Development link. Answers to frequently asked questions regarding build- ing permits are there for your reference, as well as planning applications and the Zoning and Sign Codes. Want to know what developments might happen in the City? Click on the Pending Development button. If you have suggestions or desired additions to our web page content, please contact Moira Carr Bradshaw at mbradshaw@ci.tukwila.wa.us, or call 206-431-3651. THE HAZELNUT COUNCIL CORNER By Joe Duffle, Council President Your wish is our to-do list It's been a busy year at City Hall and some of our projects are starting to take shape after much time, energy and dis- cussion. One is the role of redevelop- ment on Tukwila International Boule- vard. To ensure the highway keeps im- proving, the City is considering just what the mix of office, retail, parking and possibly senior housing will be at South 144th & Tukwila International Boulevard. Another issue is about how Sound Transit will serve Tukwila. And the everyday business of the City goes on. Our surface water crew is busy cleaning storm drains to make sure the first heavy rains this season will drain properly. Community Development is dealing with changes of warehouse and industrial land uses into new Internet and computer businesses. Community policing is bringing officers closer to the people on their beat. Volunteer patrol members are reporting on and getting rid of junk cars in our neighborhoods. We pride ourselves in being open to you, the citizens. We encourage your calls, visits and attendance at City gath- erings — from neighborhood policing to Monday night City Council meetings. We don't just say call us anytime — we mean it. Our best chance of knowing what citizens think is by talking to you at community events and meetings. As we review the 2001 budget, we know that fixing roads, enforcing code complaints, issuing permits, controlling flooding, and encouraging vitality in our changing business districts all need to be balanced, with a careful eye on control- ling the cost of government. We'll do our part, and hope that you'll do yours by letting us know when we're doing well and when we're off base. Keep talking to us... we're listening! Council Message Line 206-431-3652 Agenda Info Line 206-431-3656 NOVEMBER 2000 3 Cultural enrichment continues with an autumn 2000 Ikawa visit Tukwila families and friends recently hosted guests from our Sister City of Ikawa, Japan on their eighth visit to our city. The 49 -person delegation, which arrived on October 5, in- cluded 29 students from Ikawa Junior High School as well as City and school officials. The delegation was led by Mayor Kiyofumi Nakataki, who first traveled to Tukwila as a 27 -year old representative from Ikawa in 1978. Some guests stayed with members of the Tukwila delegation that visited Ikawa in May. Since 1978, the two cities have participated in a total of 15 exchange visits, involving hundreds of citizens from each community. Activities included a day at Foster High and Sho- walter Middle Schools, a tour of City Hall, all- American root beer floats, a pep rally, and a high- school football game. Though different than the European football (soccer) widely played in Japan, visitors seemed to appreciate the school spirit and camaraderie experienced at that game. Other events included a special concert by the Rainier Symphony, an evening at Family Fun Center, and a reception and banquet at the Museum of Flight. Activities with host families proved to be as varied as the number of hosts themselves. Ikawans were treated to tours of Southcenter Mall, Costco, the Pike Place Market, Ballard Locks, Snoqualmie Falls, Lake Washington floating bridges, and many other local attrac- tions. Many of our visitors honed their English language skills, while host families learned a little Japanese. All found the universal language of hand signals and pantomime to be effective. The visit began on Thursday night, with eager anticipation on the part of the host families. It ended, all too quickly, on Monday morning, amidst a sea of farewells and tears. The value of getting to know someone of another culture equally experienced by host families and guests alike. The beginning of lifelong friendships. You won't want to miss the opportunity to be a part of the next visit. Specials thanks to Southcenter Mall, Family Fun Center, the Museum of Flight, and members of the Tukwila Sister Cities committee for this most memorable visit. 110 Parks, G7 and Recreation Happenings gimm. g Adopt -a -Family Giving Tree It's that time of year again! The Tukwila Community Center will once again be organizing a Holiday Giving Tree Pro- gram, and we need your help. If you know of a family or child in need, we'll be accepting referrals starting on No- vember 1. And as always, we need other generous people with big hearts to participate in this program. If you're a local business person or community member and would like to get involved in this ever -important program, contact Meredy at 206-768-2822 or stop by the Community Center after December 1 and you'll find our tree up with names of those who you could help. Any donation or new gift item would be greatly appreciated. Don't miss out on this opportu- nity to show community pride and get in the holiday spirit. Congratulations, softball champs! Congratulations to the 47 teams that participated in over 370 games in the Tukwila Parks and Recreation Adult Softball League. Special recognition goes out to the Champions: Women's Division: Mosquito Squad/Baden Sport Co -Ed Olympic Division: Northwest Computer Support Co -Ed Cascade Division: RM Construction Men's National Division: Downtown Harley Davidson Men's American Division: Classic 10 Men's Second Season: Pawsox 4 Holiday D'Lites 2000 The City of Tukwila Parks and Recreation Depart- ment will be sponsoring the eighth annual Holi- day D'lites contest, hon- oring the best holiday light displays throughout the community. There will be several cat- egories —private residences, apartments, mobile homes, businesses and youth. Enter today by calling 206-768-2822 and give us your name, address, and category. Contest winners will be an- nounced on Tuesday, December 19, 2000 at the American Legion Christ- mas/Lites, Bites and Bells Party at Tuk- wila Community Center at 7:OOPM. American Legion Christmas Party / Lites, Bites, And Bells Tuesday, December 19, 2000 Elvis visits Tukwila for its annual tree lighting ceremony and American Legion Christmas Party. Get into the holiday spirit this year with your friends and neighbors by attending the event at 7:OOPM at Tukwila Community Center, 12424 — 42nd Avenue South. Activities include music by ELVIS, refreshments, Holiday D'Lites awards and, of course, a visit from SANTA. Tukwila Parks and Recreation and the Tukwila American Legion Post #235 sponsor this event. Try the Fitness Facility at TCC Join us at the climate -controlled Fitness Facility at TCC and enjoy the benefits of a friendly staff, non -intimidating envi- ronment, no long-term agreements. We offer 18 weight -training machines, 5 treadmills, 4 stair climbers, 2 cycles, 2 rowers and over a ton of free weights. Bring this advertisement and picture ID to the Community Center for 1 FREE daily use of the Fitness Facility. Offer expires 11/30/00. Free use is limited to one per person. Hey, Teens! Come enjoy three days of snowy fun! Teens in grades 6-10 are invited to sign up now for a 3 -day trip to Ensign Ranch during their winter break - December 20, 21, and 22. Tukwila teens will join teens from SeaTac and Burien as we play games, sip cocoa, innertube, or enjoy spending the optional day on the slopes! The trip departs on Wednesday at 11:00AM and returns Friday at 4:00PM. Cost: $50 — includes innertubing, or $65 — includes one -day lift ticket Register now, limited space available! Call Meredy at 206-768-2822 for more information. Teen Late Night Friday, December 1 Enjoy open gym hoops, racquetball, music, movies, games, or just a place to hang out! At the Tukwila Community Center, 8- 11:30PM. $1 w/school ID, $2 w/out Teen Holiday Dance Friday, December 8th, 8:00-11:OOPM Semi -formal option for 6th -10th grad- ers. Grab a group of friends, dress up, and come have a ball with us. Refresh- ments and hors d'oeuvres served. $5.00 NOTE: We can always use parent chap- erones/volunteers at our dances and teen events. If you are interested, please call Meredy at 206-768-2822. Other Teen Trips: Thursday, November 9th (no school Friday!) — DANCE CRUISE aboard the Argosy Sightseer — $12 Friday, November 17th —EXPERIENCE MUSIC PROJECT — $14.00 Friday, December 15th— ENCHANTED VILLAGE Holiday of Lights - $8.00 Pre -registration required for all trips. For more information, call Meredy at 206-768-2822. THE HAZELNUT Sister City joins the Tukwila Wildlife Habitat Project The Mayor of Ikawa, Japan, Tukwila's Sister City, is helping Tukwila become Washington State's first Certified Commu- nity Wildlife Habitat city. Mayor Kiyofumi Nakataki re- cently applied to have his own backyard certified as a Wildlife Sanctuary. By applying for certification through Tukwila's Wildlife Habitat Program, Mayor Nakataki's back- yard will count as one of the several hundred that must be certified for Tukwila to achieve this distinctive honor. Tukwila Mayor Steve Mullet, City Council members and other Tukwila citizens have also certified their backyards through the Wildlife Program. Program packets can be purchased at Wild Birds Unlimited at 17310 Southcenter Parkway. For more information about this project, call Michelle Roedell at 206-244-6394. Tukwila Wildlife Habitat Committee seeks project volunteers Community -Based Organizations Liaison Are you an enthusiastic community -minded person? The Wildlife Habitat Committee seeks a volunteer to lead the effort to involve community organizations in our project — groups such as neighborhood clubs, churches, youth groups, PTA's, housing associations and others. This project in- volves outreach activities and contests. The groups will help our committee work toward project goals by competing for prizes and community recognition. Tukwila Wildlife Habitat Committee Historian/Librarian The Tukwila Wildlife Habitat Committee needs someone to organize files and resources and make the resource material available to both Tukwila libraries. This volunteer will also be responsible for gathering new information as it comes and adding it to the resource files. Backyard Wildlife Fair Volunteers The second annual Backyard Wildlife Fair in May needs help with research and other fair development activities. For more information about volunteering, call Michelle Roedell at 206-244-6394. NOVEMBER 2000 Tukwila Sign Program Update A number of changes were made to the City's Sign Code to reflect the needs of the residential and business community and commonly accepted marketing practices. Are you a homeowner? These items might be of interest to you. The following two types of signs do not require permits. A Selling a home? Now you may use the portable A -frame sign advertising an open house when an agent or seller is present at the house being advertised for sale. Portable A -frame signs are otherwise prohibited in the City. A There are standards regarding the allowable size of political signs and length of posting. You may have single -faced signs up to 32 square feet and double-faced signs up to 64 square feet. You may keep political signs displayed for up to 10 days following a primary and, if successful in a primary, until 10 days after the final election. You may not, however, affix political signs to a utility pole or other City -owned property. Businesses, take note A Freeway interchange businesses, such as restaurants, lodg- ing and service stations, may now have a second freestand- ing sign that is oriented to passing motorists on adjacent freeways. A Businesses no longer need permits if a window sign is less than 25% of the window's area. Any sign larger will require a permanent sign permit. A Having a grand opening? Through a temporary sign permit, for 7 days you may have festive decorations such as pen- nants, banners, streamers, balloons, and searchlights. A Have a special sale you want to advertise? You may have a total of two temporary signs at one time. The combined sign area of these temporary signs may not exceed 64 square feet. Temporary sign permits are required and are allowed up to 30 days every quarter of the calendar year. Reminder The City's Sign Amortization Program requires all non -conform- ing signs to be brought into compliance by December 31, 2001. Now would be a good time to review your compliance with the City's Sign Code in order to plan how you can modify your signage for the future. If you have more questions regarding the City's Sign Code or wish to obtain a permit, call Assistant Planner Art Pederson at 206-431-3684. Permanent and temporary sign permit applica- tions as well as the sign code itself and handouts on pertinent sections are now available at http://www.ci.tukwila.wa.us. 5 VOLUNTEER! TUKWILA CITIZENS CREATING COMMUNITY A little rain doesn't stop Boeing volunteers Rain soaked 45 Boeing volunteers dur- ing the City of Tukwila's Park Depart- ment spruce -up on September 30. Having volunteered to weed at the Tuk- wila Community Center and pick up trash on the Duwamish Green River Trail, the volunteers showed up willing to work despite a fairly consistent drizzle and a power outage in the City. These hardy folks worked about two hours and left with wet clothes, muddy feet, and the Park Department's gratitude. Boeing volunteers included Michael Adams, Pearlie Bailey, Brenda Bankhead, Arati Baruah, Ilima Brainard, Tom Brainard, Brooke Brito, Derrick Brito, Savannah Brito, Maggie Buckwitz, John Doughty, Rick Fowler, Robin Frantz, Rick Gilchrist, Gil Henry, Gil Henry, MaryEllen Henry, Barbara Holbrook, Larry Holbrook, Virginia Hopkins, E. Wayne Hounsell, Evan Korn, John Korn, Pam Korn, Susan McKay, Nancy Myers, Megan Osborn, Louise Pasche, Susan Patterson, Donald Phanlo, Bob Pirog, Chuck Pyle, Phyllis Pyle, Judi Qualy- White, Bonnie Rhoden, Emily Slack, Mark Slack, Sheri Smith-Brito, Elisabeth Thomas, Michael Thomas, Elizabeth Vanderhill, Ashley Vigen, Kevin Vigen, Sandy Vigen, Paul Wehrie, and Russell White. Traffic Safety Program draws praise The Police Department reports that 24 abandoned vehicles have been removed from Tukwila streets in the past two months. Contributing to this accom- plishment were the volunteers in the Police Department's newly formed Vol- unteer Traffic Safety Program. The Program, initiated this past June, uses volunteers to tag abandoned ve- hicles, monitor handicapped parking slots, and operate the speed awareness trailer. Current volunteers reaping praise include Les Beck, William Darnell, Rebecca Harlan, Ken Hunt, Ron Johnston, Alice "A.J." Jones, Bob McManus, and Roy Steinauer. Recruitment for this program is under- way. Interested persons should call Volunteer Coordinator Roberta Nelson at 206-433-7182. New residents offered 'Welcome' packets The City of Tukwila now has a welcome packet available for all new residents. The packet includes a telephone direc- tory, web site addresses, and other in- formation about the City, Tukwila School District, Chamber of Commerce, reli- gious organizations and more. The welcome packets are available at City Hall, Community Resource Cen- ter, Neighborhood Resource Center, and through the City's neighborhood asso- ciations: Duwamish Improvement Club, Foster Community Club, and Foster Point Neighborhood Action Commit- tee. The information also is posted on the City's web site (http:// www.ci.tukwila.wa.us) with links to relevant sites The welcome packets were produced by the All -City Volunteer Committee. For more information, contact Roberta Nelson, City of Tukwila Volunteer Co- ordinator, at 206-433-7182 or email rnelson@ci.tukwila.wa.us. United Way's "Day of Caring 2000" draws volunteers to Tukwila Six groups of volunteers came to Tukwila for United Way's Day of Caring 2000. Two of the groups did projects for the City of Tukwila, while the other four helped independent organizations within the community. United Way's Day of Caring is an annual statewide event in which companies give their employees time to volunteer their help to non-profit agencies. Last year more than 6,000 volunteers participated in King County. United Way's Day of Caring 2000 marks the second year that the City of Tukwila has participated. Volunteering for City -sponsored projects this year were the Austin and Boeing companies. The Austin Company sent 13 volunteers, who worked for four hours on September 15 spreading beauty bark and painting benches and tables for the City's Parks Department. On September 16, nine Boeing Company volunteers took over the painting. Among the Austin Company volunteers were Adam Iwaszuk, David Jones, Karl Koning, Rodney Oliver, Grace Robinson, Bill Schlatterbeck, Harold Smyth, Tami Tedrow, Mary Todd, Charlie Vail, Linda Vandenberg, Harry Williams, and Roger Wolfe. Boeing volunteers were Kathleen Ellsworth, Karlyne Iwata, Tim Perkes, Bob Pirog, Peggy Sullivan, and the Rientstra's: Melinda, Pam and William. Community organizations who benefited from United Way volunteer efforts included Apple Parenting, Riverton Park United Methodist Church, and the Way Back Inn. 6 THE HAZELNUT 'Queen of Trash' heads litter pickup Donna West, Queen of Trash, led another clean-up of Tukwila Interna- tional Boulevard on September 23. The event, sponsored by the High- way 99 Action Committee, drew seven volunteers who picked up 320 pounds of litter. Among the volunteers were Ralph Hagler, Dwight and Nancy McLean, Dave Sabey, Richard Simpson, and Mike and Donna West. Since the inception of the Highway 99 clean- up, more than 7,160 pounds of trash have been collected. Volunteers serve more than 6,000 hours Volunteers participating in City -spon- sored projects turned in a remarkable 6,249 hours from January to Septem- ber of this year. More than 300 volunteers contributed to this total. The range of hours per volunteer extends from 2 hours for several vol- unteers working on park department clean-up projects to seven volunteers who each turned in more than 200 hours. The `magnificent seven' are Annette Gray, Rebecca Harlan, Alice `A.J.' Jones, Peter Okicich, Dottie Sangl, Roy Steinauer, and Janet Tolland. Neighborhood group joins Adopt -a -Trail program The Foster Point Neighborhood Ac- tion Committee cleaned -up the Du- wamish Green River Trail on August 21. The neighborhood association has adopted a section of the trail through the City's Adopt -a -Trail pro- gram and performs frequent trash pickups. Participating in the August event were Cory and Dixie Archer, Jordan Crybelsky, Lisa Miles, and Rene Ortiz. Highway 99 Action Committee sponsors community barbecue On Saturday August 19, the Highway 99 Action Committee held its annual barbecue in the parking lot of Larry's Market. Event chairperson Art Rosengren reported approximately 525 people (including many kids) participated. Many hours of volunteer help were provided by residents and businesses in the Tukwila neighborhood. Two tables were set up near the barbecue offering information and help regarding volunteer opportunities in Tukwila, and information about our Equity and Diversity Commission which is becoming very active in Tukwila. The Highway 99 Action Committee thanks and recognizes the following for their hard work and support: Shannon Mahaffey — Larry's Market store manager Ted Rutt — Tukwila Police Department Evergreen Food Services Everett Parr — True Value Hardware Dwight McLean — Past Chair of the Tukwila Barbecue Charlie Frame — Baker Commodities Dick Hinthome — Baker Commodities Mike And Donna West — Southtowne Auto Rebuild Father Jerry Mayovsky — St. Thomas Catholic Church Nancy Damon and Lynda Turner — Tukwila Chamber of Commerce Roberta Nelson — Tukwila's Volunteer Program The success of this years barbecue can best be summed up in the words Community and Camaraderie — people coming together for the enjoyment of all. Park Profile: Tukwila Park This is a new feature highlighting selected parks, to let our citizens know what's available in outdoor recreation. We start with the oldest park in Tukwila, appropriately named Tukwila Park; it's located at 15460 - 65th Avenue South. Tukwila Park was established in 1932 under Mayor John P. Walkup; in 1934 the WPA (Works Public Administration) improved the park by building a tennis court, four log cabins, outhouse, and large cook house. Three of the cabins burned down in the 1950's. Volunteer groups such as the Community Club and Boy Scouts maintained the park most of these years. Tukwila Park, minutes from Southcenter mall, contains some of the largest trees in the area. Nestled among these giants are hundreds of native flora and landscape plants. According to park maintenance worker Randy Engle, scores of rhododen- drons flower each spring while native perennials prepare for summer flowering. Fall brings the yellows to deep reds to the leaves of the big leaf maples. Tukwila Park has three full-size tennis courts and two small basketball courts. The park caters to large groups with two large barbecues next to five picnic tables, with a large play structure including horseshoe pits just a few feet away. For smaller groups there's a gazebo with a smaller barbecue and two tables. All throughout the park are tables to enjoy a little solitude from the sometimes hectic valley below. So take a walk up the path and explore the riches this urban park has to offer. Questions about parks, plants or reservations? Call Randy at 206-433-1869. NOVEMBER 2000 7 "When do 1 use 1 a„ Although it's a simple question, many have said, `I want to speak to the police or fire department, but I don't think I have an emergency. Who do I call?" Whenever in doubt, call 911. Most often this question is posed by someone needing to call the Police Department. Your 911 services are centralized at Valley Communication Center (Valley Com) located in Kent. Valley Com is jointly owned by the cities of Tukwila, Renton, Kent, Auburn and Federal Way. They provide emergency 911 response services for police, fire and emergency medical aid. Your call to 911 will be answered by a "Call Receiver" asking the nature of your emergency. To gather details as quickly as possible, the Call Receiver asks many questions, which are specifically utilized to obtain needed information so that the appropriate emergency response can be dispatched to your location quickly and safely. The Call Receiver will ask that you stay on the line. If you're excited, they will try to calm you. Your experience may involve a loved one, or be happening before your eyes, which makes it doubly important for the Call Receiver to be very deliberate and as detailed as possible. We don't see what you are seeing. Under traumatic circumstances, you may assume we understand the situation. The Call Receiver is entering your answers into a computer that has already identified the address you are calling from through the "E- 911" system. Often, at the same time, that information is being read by a Dispatcher on another computer and emergency workers are being alerted and sent to your location before you've completed your discussion with the Call Receiver. You can always reach your police or fire department through our published non -emergency numbers: Police Station Fire Headquarters 206-433-1808 206-433-1859 There is a dilemma in reaching a police officer. Our police officers are most often in their cars and in their assigned areas. For emergency and efficiency reasons, our officers are reached by radio from the "911" center. If you call the Police business number and ask to speak to an on -duty police officer or to report a non- emergency police incident, you will be asked to call "911" so the officer assigned to the area of the incident can be dispatched. If you know the officer you've been working with, you can always leave a detailed message in his or her voice mail by simply calling our business number. So yes, "911" is for emergencies, but it's also used as the commu- nication link between citizens and their officers for non -emergency dispatching. Your Valley Com Call Receiver will sort it all out. 8 SEATTLE MIME THEATRE'S ANIMOTION AND LYRICAL JUGGLER THOMAS ARTHUR Both on one night - Saturday, January 2Z 2001 - 7:30PM Foster Performing Arts Center at Foster High School 4242 South 144th Street, Tukwila Admission: $5/person, 13 & under free* Hilarious and mesmerizing, Seattle Mime Theatre's AnimOtion is a fast -paced evening of theatre. Magical illusions and wacky characters stimulate the imaginations of all ages. Revealing glimpses into human nature; whimsi- cal commentary on ev- eryday routines; and mysterious, dreamlike narratives promise audi- ences a delightful escape. Thomas Arthur takes us to worlds of wonder and awe with spinning spheres, hoops, spirals and geometric shapes. Thomas taught himself to juggle at age eleven and has been performing for over twenty years. His style of lyrical juggling has evolved over years of col- laboration with composer Paul Ely Smith. Thomas creates intricately choreo- graphed flowing movement that is woven into rhythms and sounds of Paul's music. In performance, Thomas has worked venues throughout the US and Canada, and has appeared with the Brisbane Symphony Orchestra at the World's Fair in Australia. He has been an opening act for Arlo Guthrie, Sid Caesar, Paula Poundstone and a host of musical acts. You will not want to miss this! Brought to you by the Tukwila Arts Commission and the King County Performance Network. * Tickets sold at the door only, one half hour prior to performance. No advance ticket sales nor reserved seating. For questions, call Tukwila Parks & Recreation at 206-767-2342. THE HAZELNUT Public Works Department offers information about projects, flooding, utility rates Drainage projects The City's annual Small Drainage Pro- gram corrects isolated small drainage problems. This year's improved sites: • 47th Avenue S./S. 156th Street • S. 58th Street/59th Street alley • 37th Avenue S./S. 138th Street • 32nd Avenue S. • 56th Avenue S. • S. 147th Street • 15611 West Valley Highway • Andover Park E./Minkler Blvd. • 53rd Avenue S. The City will spend $700,000 on next year's program. Road improvements Ten pavement projects are currently underway: • 59th Avenue S./S. 149th Street • S. 180th St. (grinding at RR crossing) • 58th Avenue S. • Andover Park East • Minkler Boulevard • City Hall parking lot • City shops at Minkler • Green River Trail • Tukwila Park • Foster Park Work has begun on Interurban Avenue from S. 139th to S. 143rd Streets. Project elements include curbs, gutters, side- walks, storm drainage, street lighting, pavement overlay, and landscaping. Finally, the first phase of the redevelop- ment of Tukwila International Boule- vard (S. 138th to S. 152nd) is planned to begin in the spring. Curb, gutter, side- walk, street lighting, pavement overlay, and landscaping improvements are in- cluded in the project. Let's talk stormwater A chapter from Weather 101: Autumn's rain and wind covers the ground with water and fallen leaves. Remember, a little preventative outdoor maintenance can help protect you and your neighbors from water damage or traffic accidents caused by a drainage system blockage in the street or on your property. Cleaning the sidewalk in front of your home or business will also be a big help because it keeps the debris from getting into the drains and onto the streets. This saves us time and money. Want to help? Keep leave and tree debris out of street drains. Attention to keeping these ma- terials picked up and away from street drains, particularly after a heavy storm, will help prevent flooding around homes and in the street. If your drain is blocked at street level, try removing the blockage with a rake or broom. If the blockage is in the drain below the street surface, or in a creek, culvert or ditch, call 206-433-1860. Did you know? There are 74 individual locations where water from the City's surface water drainage system enters the Duwamish River. Each one is inspected and re- paired yearly. • Over 7,000 miles of streets are swept every year. • Over 100 miles of roadside area are mowed each year. • Over 34 miles of sewer lines are cleaned each year. Ever wonder how our water and sewer rates compare to other cities? Monthly rates are per 1,000 cubic feet. Water Rates Kent $12.40 Lakehaven 12.54 Tacoma 13.95 Auburn 15.12 Mercer Island 15.60 Puyallup 16.33 Redmond 17.98 Alderwood 20.47 North Bend 20.73 Olumpic Vew Water 22.95 Soos Creek 23.25 Bellevue 24.20 Tukwila 24.70 Seattle 25.50 Woodinville WD 27.70 Highline 29.00 King Co. WD #125 34.00 King Co. WD #119 37.75 Sewer Rates Midway Sewer District $17.00 Edmonds 21.97 Tukwila 24.50 Redmond 25.80 Lakehaven/Federal Way 26.48 Auburn 26.74 Alderwood Water District 26.78 Tacoma 30.04 Soos Creek 34.30 Mercer Island 39.72 Seattle 43.20 Val Vue Sewer District 47.45 North Bend 50.63 Figures taken from the Association of Washington Cities 2000 Tax & User Fee Survey 712-e Uukwr/a .71rls Commission presents /Iae leainier cSyr mpI ony 7AeI (aylc of GJrlsfmas csunc/a , December 3 of 3.•O0Pm 9osier,7l9FcScIool.7ierforminy.2rfs Center 4242 cSoulta 144/14cSlreel, 7udrw,/a Jic, e/s: $14; cSenior/cSluolenl - $9 9or more information, please ca11206-781-5618 Oar annual Zecem6er concerl6rinys fol rlay musical mayic to /ire wIolefamrly. 9ealuretdare classical work 6y 97 -ozarl and Uc/ia400sXzy, as well as your favorite carol andsonys - anrdof course, /Ie .ea/nier cSympiony lrojday /rad lion, CS/eiyFi gide Jroyram features - (ozarl. J7layic .Mule Over/ore ✓c�as ous�zy: 9Cuicracizer cSefee/ons Jradlionalcarol anolsonys NOVEMBER 2000 9 ltihat s New(s) in Eh1I'flan Services Human Services Office 206-433-7180 206-433-7181 Crisis Clinic (24-hour line) 206-461-3222 Home repair loans available to Tukwila residents While getting ready for winter, you notice your gutters are broken and your roof needs repair. But you just replaced your water heater and your budget's pretty limited. What can you do? As a Tukwila low- to moderate -income homeowner, you are now eligible for a no - interest loan up to $20,000 for repair on your house. You must have owned and occupied your property for a minimum of one year; you must also be current on mortgage payments and real estate taxes. Tukwila resident Mary Kreidler has taken full advantage of the King County home repair program to keep her house well maintained. To homeowners who may be reluctant to assume a loan which becomes a lien against their house, Mary says: "As our homes age, our income decreases and our physical abilities become limited, we are indeed fortunate to have the assistance of the King County Housing Repair Program. Roofs develop leaks. Electrical wiring dries out, water pipes become clogged, steps become unstable, so repairs are a necessity. If you are eligible for Community Development Block Grant funds, these repairs can be made with no interest on the money borrowed. Not only is your home made more safe and comfortable for you, but also these repairs increase the value of your home when and if it is necessary to sell your home in the future. Working with the individuals at the King County Housing Repair program has been a pleasant experience and they have my heartfelt thanks." Need counseling services? Having difficulties at work, trouble with kids or a partner? Struggling with de- pression, anxiety or stress? Perhaps we can help. Catholic Community Services has been offering counseling services to ALL South King County residents for over 13 years. Our counselors provide individualized care because we know that everyone who comes to us has their own unique background and different needs. We focus on people's strengths, and strive to provide workable solutions and tools to address their problems. CCS is a licensed mental health facility with an experienced staff of trained counselors. We are able to take most insurances. For folks who have a lim- ited ability to pay for counseling, we have funds available to help with the fee. We are dedicated to providing quality care based on need rather than income. And remember, you don't have to be Catholic to obtain services. 10 Energy assistance available Internet now provides access to DSHS services You can now apply for Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) ben- efits at the click of a computer. Online application is available for the Burien, Renton and West Seattle offices. The website is http://www.onlinecso.dshs.wa.gov Information is available on the follow- ing types of assistance: • Cash • Foodstamps • Drug and alcohol treatment • Medical benefits • Child care services You can download DSHS forms and learn what kinds of information you will need in order to apply for benefits. A related link for Community Resources will give you information on employ- ment, career centers and questions that will give you an idea of whether you might be eligible for DSHS benefits. You still have to fill out an application, how- ever, these few questions will be helpful in deciding whether to apply or not. Utility rates are rising, outdoor temperatures dropping. Once again, the South King County Multi -Service Center's Low -Income Home Energy Assistance program is currently taking calls for appointments from eligible South King County households. Appointments will be made on a first-come, first -serve basis by telephone only (no walk-ins). A waiting list will be taken when all anticipated appointment times are filled, and will be used until all funds are depleted. Some time will be reserved each day for crisis appointments. Mail applications will be available for the homebound disabled. Group outreach appointments will be available for Tukwila residents. This program allows "one fuel benefit payment" per household per program year, usually paid directly to the fuel vendor. Benefit amounts are partially based either on the actual heat cost for the past 12 months at the current address or on an average annual heat cost for similar dwellings. Tukwila residents can call the Heat Line Monday thru Thursday, from 9:00 to 11:50Am and from 1:00 to 3:30PM, at 253-874-4328 or 1-800-422-1384. Applicants are required to have verifiable income information, current heating bill, proof of residence, and other documents that may be identified at the time the appointment is made. THE HAZELNUT TUKWILA RECYCLING REPORTER go an extra mile Let your old shoes Old cell phones offer lifelines to others through "Call to Protect" program The popularity of cellular phones has raised a number of issues, ranging from the safety concerns of chatting while driving to the proper etiquette of using them in restaurants and other public places. What to do with old cell phones is one more concern. With newer, sleeker models coming out every day, it is estimated that there are over 24 million inactive cell phones currently sitting in closets and drawers in the US today. Now there's an alternative to storing or trashing your old or broken cell phones. GTE Wireless has joined in the national "Call to Protect" program, which donates cell phones and airtime to potential domestic violence victims. GTE Wireless will accept all makes and models of wireless phones, along with any available batteries and chargers. Drop off your phone and accessories at the GTE Wireless location in Tukwila: GTE Wireless Collection Site 387 Strander Boulevard, Suite #1 — 206-575-4507 Hours: Mon Fri 9:00 m-8:00PM, Sat 9:00 t-6:00PM, Sun 12:00-5:OOPM All donations are tax deductible and paperwork will be provided for documentation upon request. The newer phones are refurbished and programmed to connect to dial several local shelters or 911, allowing victims to quickly call for help in threatening situations. Older or damaged phones will be sold, with proceeds used to support the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence and other domestic violence programs. So keep your cell phone out of the trash and put it into the hands of someone whose life might depend on it. For more information on the Call to Protect program, visit http:// www.donateaphone.com, or call Gayle Morrison, the Administrator of marketing Communications, at GTE Wireless - 425-895-7034. Thanks to King County Solid Waste for this information. `' s�--'Tukwila's past makes a great present 11KWiLA mmunrcy at the NOVEMBER 2000 "Tukwila - Community at the Crossroads," the City's own history book, offers hundreds of generously illus- trated pages covering the area's history— from the first Duwamish Valley settlers to our current position as a crossroads of commerce. This softcover book is available at a special reduced holiday price of S 10.86 including tax. To see (or buy) a copy, come to the City Clerk's office at Tukwila City Hall, 6200 Southcenter Boulevard, from 8:30 to 5:00, Monday through Friday. For more information, call 206-433-1800. Need new running shoes, but not sure what to do with the old ones? There are places to take your old tennis shoes to be reused and/or recycled. Nike's Reuse -a -Shoe pro- gram will put you in touch with a shoe store near you that will accept your old shoes for recycling. The soles are ground and used for gym floors, high performance running tracks, soccer fields and play- grounds. Currently the closest stores are located in Portland, Or- egon, but if they get enough calls they may start collecting shoes in Seattle. Tell Nike you need an outlet for your old shoes. For more information, call 1 -800 -344 -NIKE (6453), or visit their website at http://www.nikebiz.com/ environ/reuse.html. Bow Lake Transfer Station reopens The Bow Lake Transfer Station re- opened on October 8th after a six- week closure to replace the worn pit floor and to install a misting station to keep down dust. These improvements will result in better service for solid waste customers throughout King County, includ- ing Tukwila residents and busi- nesses. The recycling station re- mained open throughout the re- pairs. To assist area residents during Bow Lake's closure, a successful Special Recycling Event was held at Foster High School on September 23. Want more information about recycling or composting in Tukwila? Contact Recycling Coordinator Rebecca Fox at 206-431-3683, or email to rfox(2ci.tukwila.wa.us 11 CITY DIRECTORY TUKWILA CITY HALL 6200 Southcenter Boulevard Hours: Mon. thru Fri., 8:30AM-5:OOPM Telephone: 206-433-1800 Fax number: 206-433-1833 TTY number: 206-248-2933 Website: http://www.ci.tulcwila.wa.us Email: tukwila@ci.tukwila.wa.us TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL Pam Carter 206-244-0558 Joe H. Duffle (beeper #) 206-994-7229 Dave Fenton 206-246-4980 Jim Haggerton 206-244-7846 Joan Hernandez 206-248-0260 Pamela Linder 206-439-2473 Richard Simpson 206-243-7715 Lucy Lauterbach, Analyst 206-433-1834 Council Message Line 206-431-3652 CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS 7:OOPM in Council Chambers Regular Mtgs 1 st/3rd Mondays Work Mtgs 2nd/4th Mondays Agenda Info Line 206-431-3656 CITY OFFICES Mayor Steve Mullet 206-433-1805 City Administrator John McFarland 206-433-1832 Municipal Court 206-433-1840 Human Services Code Enforcement .. Finance Department Alan Doerschel, Dir. Tourism/Marketing Fire Department Tom Keefe, Chief 206-575-4404 Dept. of Community Development Steven Lancaster, Dir. 206-431-3680 Parks/Recreation Department Bruce Fletcher, Dir . 206-767-2342 Police Department Keith Haines, Chief 206-433-1808 Public Works Department Jim Morrow, Dir 206-433-0179 Dept. of Administrative Services VikiJessop, Dir 206-433-1831 City Clerk's Office 206-433-1800 Personnel 206-433-1831 City Job Line 206-433-1828 Emergency Fire, Police, Aid Car 911 TUKWILA COMMUNITY CENTER 12424 - 42nd Avenue South Recreation Division .... 206-768-2822 Senior Center/Services 206-768-2822 FOSTER GOLF LINKS 13500 Interurban Avenue South Pro Shop 206-242-4221 Restaurant 206-241-5784 206-433-7180 206-431-3682 • 206-433-1835 • 206-575-1633 THE HAZELNUT is a bimonthly newsletter published by the City of Tukwila and written by City staff. Editing/production: Stacia Norris Summary of 2001-2006 Proposed Financial Planning Model and Capital Plan Excluding the Enterprise Funds (see right), the General Government Rev- enue and Expenditure six-year projected totals are shown below. REVENUES Sales tax $109,122,000 Property tax 52,9300,000 Other revenues 68,165,000 Taxes, charges for services, grants, interest, transfers, etc. Capital grants and mitigations.... 66,143,000 Total 2001-2006 Revenues ....$301,360,000 EXPENDITURES Operations and Maintenance ... $204,808,000 CAPITAL: Residential streets 2,998,000 Parks and trails 4,214,000 Bridges* 17,760,000 Commercial streets* 42,308,000 General government 9,293,000 Debt service (bond payments) 10,950,000 Administration/Engineering 5,983,000 Ending balance projected 3,046,000 TOTAL EXPENDITURES $301,360,000 The majority ($42,797,000) of the Bridges and Commercial Streets expenditures are funded by grants and developer mitigations. ENTERPRISE FUNDS Totals for the Enterprise Funds for the 2001-2006 period are shown below: Water $ 5,279,000 Sewer 4,020,000 Surface water 8,582,000 Foster Golf Course 3,903,000 TOTAL $21,784,000 The capital programs for Enterprise Funds are funded by operating revenues and grants/developer contributions. SIGNIFICANT PROJECTS, ALL FUNDS, FOR 2001 • 150th (42nd to 46th) residential street • Completion of Cascade Park • Interurban Bridge widening • Codiga Farms side channel • Burlington Northern access • S. 180th Street Railroad grade separation • Begin construction of Tukwila International Boulevard • Construction of Phase II Allentown water and sewer improvements • Tukwila Village Phase 1 Further information Copies of the preliminary 2001 Budget and Proposed 2001-2006 Financial Planning Model and Capital Plan are available at the City Clerk's office at Tukwila City Hall, 6200 Southcenter Boulevard. For information concerning the details of either document, please call Finance Director Alan Doerschel at 206-433-1838. THE HAZELNUT City of Tukwila 6200 Southcenter Blvd. Tukwila, WA 98188 POSTMASTER: If named addressee has moved, deliver to current resident. BULK RATE U.S. POSTAGE PAID SEATTLE, WA PERMIT NO. 12698 To help us correct addresses or eliminate duplicates, please call 206-433-1800.