By Jack Mayne The big news from Monday night’s (June 6) meeting was the discussion to give CARES a new and extended contract through 2017, or to return animal control to King County animal control. To loud cheers and applause, the Burien City Council made the decision early in a meeting that ended up going on for nearly four hours – well beyond the normal three hours. The Council – at the behest of some members – moved the CARES debate from the end of the meeting to near the beginning. The Council ended up going well past its normal 10 p.m. stopping time as it discussed potential future budget items. The Council voted 4 to 3 to extend the contract from its current expiration date of Aug. 31 to the end of 2017. Voting for the extension with certain specifics outlined in its motion was Councilmembers Stephen Armstrong, joined by motion sponsor Nancy Tosta, Austin Bell and Lauren Berkowitz (via telephone). Opposing the CARES contract extension were Mayor Lucy Krakowiak, Deputy Mayor Bob Edgar and Debi Wagner. Parade of CARES supporters Prior to the vote, there was an hour-plus of listening to a parade of local and area residents, most of whom supported CARES, again giving high praise to the local non-profit animal care agency as they had at earlier sessions on the subject. It was noted by several people that CARES is in Burien covering only the city limits, while the county agency must huge areas of the entire county. Others noted the much higher costs of King County and dismissed some people who suggested the county cost would be lower with rebates granted to members of their consortium. There were those who also cautioned that leaving CARES would effectively end the agency’s need for existence so that if a later decision to leave King County were taken, there would be no CARES left to return to. After the public comments, Councilmember Tosta moved and the Council approved a motion that the city staff negotiated a CARES contract “to not to exceed $240,000,” with quarterly reporting of services “rendered based on accurate recording of calls and responses.” The contract is to be for the first time directly overseen by the city’s economic development manager, Dan Trimble. A lower level policy analyst had administered the previous contract. CARES requirements The Council also specified that within three months the city is to finance a review of CARES to be conducted by an outside veterinarian to identify needed improvements, if any and then CARES “will make needed improvements by January 2017.” The animal control agency will also “develop an estimate for 2018 services and beyond.” The Council and city staff will continue to work with King County “for an estimate for 2018 no later than Nov. 2017,” said Tosta’s motion. “We have heard a tremendous amout of community support, that is part of my rationale,” but noted the Council has the responsibility to “provide what services we need and we cannot be without animal services,” Tosta said. “I strongly support continued services with CARES.” Armstrong said he “strongly supports” continuing the CARES contract and wished it could go further than the end of 2017 and if there are concerns, “let’s bring them out.” Councilmember Lauren Berkowitz, again speaking by telephone as she has since the birth of her child in January, said she supported CARES and lauded the support of Burien citizens and was willing to keep CARES until she gets the financial and other information she would need for a further extension. “CARES is significantly cheaper than RASKC (Regional Animal Service of King County),” she said, adding she did not like contracting out city services of private companies, but what she was basing her decision on to support the contract extension was short-term and any further extension past December 2017 or award to King County would require much more information, she said. Berkowitz said she was also concerned about losing a local shelter and wanted to know the cost of King County handling animal control and CARES keep its shelter in operation. Councilmember Bell said he supported retaining CARES. “Whatever it takes, let’s save CARES,” he said. Opposed CARES But the other three members opposed keeping the homegrown CARES. Councilmember Debi Wagner said she could not support giving more money to CARES. “I don’t know how the money they are getting now is being spent,” Wagner said, and “who is being paid what.” Deputy Mayor Bob Edgar said he is “still not pleased with the behind the scenes operating and bookkeeping that the city has been getting from CARES for the last five years” that makes it difficult to compare one year with another so he said he was not in favor of extending the contract. Mayor Krakowiak said she was basing her decision on her interactions with citizens and she has concerns, “so at this time, I am not prepared to support the motion.” CassidyCertificate Cassidy Huff honored as 2016 “Citizen of the Year” The Burien City Council at a special pre-meeting ceremony Monday night presented its 2016 “Citizen of the Year” to 13-year old Cassidy Huff, who had been unanimously chosen for the honor by a 7-0 vote. Mayor Lucy Krakowiak and Highline School District Superintendent Susan Enfield presented her with a proclamation: [youtube]https://youtu.be/AoBu3GZ01Co[/youtube] CassidyCouncil1Cassidy is a special needs student at Sylvester Middle School, as well as a regular columnist for The B-Town Blog (read her work here). She has undergone 36 surgeries, the latest on Mar. 22. Enfield said Cassidy has “fast become of my favorite people and a role model for me.” The superintendent said she had first met Cassidy two years ago at a presentation and then asked Enfield to mentor her. “It started with a lunch and over the years we have gotten to know each other pretty well” and the presentation to Cassidy is “one of the proudest days,” Enfield said, because she represents not just the best of the school district but of the community. “Cassidy I just could not be more proud of you and thank you for being a role model for all of us.” “You are the hero of your own story and you can do anything you set your mind to,” said Cassidy. She thanked the Council for “this incredible award and also like to thank my friends and family for encouraging me no matter what.”

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8 replies on “CARES approved until end of 2017 on split vote; Cassidy Huff honored”

  1. Cares gets over a Quarter million dollars to house cute little kitties and no Animal control!!!!Pardon the pun but someone screwed the POOCH!!

    1. Hey concerned I am a little concerned with your misreading of this article. Where does it state the amount it is just for kitten’s. I believe the amount is to be used for animal control by cares and not king county. By the statement “rendered based on accurate recording of calls and responses.”

  2. Since cares has been in this building they still do NOT have air conditioning. How is that. If it was a legit shelter they would.
    It is just the beginning of summer and we have broken a few records, so imagine how hot it is in the building. Fans just blowing warm air around ain’t going to cut it, especially on a chow chow, their fur coats are extremely thick.
    They can not just leave the front door open either. This is no different than leaving a dog in a car, IT is hotter in the building (or car)than it is outside.

    1. Well feral cat If your smart on hot day if your going to be home or at work you open your windows in the early morning hours 6:30-7:00am or asap making a good airflow that tends to keep your home or business a little cooler during the day. Caution if your going gone from your home or business all day or even short trips remember to close your windows before you leave.
      Here in Burien we don’t really get that many really hot days above 90 we do get a few but barley anything even really needing air conditioning. As long as your pets have fresh cold water to drink there normally fine not a problem.
      To point it out
      A car is typically a small compact area surrounded by metal and plastic. Typically parked in a open area with no shade.
      A house or building is typically a larger area surrounded by thick wood and other materials. Typically has some tress around it providing shade. Also has windows at different levels of the building and different ends of the building. That can provide a good airflow.

  3. cares is a shelter, and they should not be leaving windows or doors open at all. Just in case an animal escapes. They don’t have many windows either. So your suggestion does not work well with cares.
    Even I have AC for my garage, where I hold ferals prior and after surgery.
    Even if over 80 it is going to be 90 in that shelter which is to hot for the animals in that shelter. There are NO trees around cares either
    cares is calling themselves a shelter again a good shelter would have an ac period.

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