Local News, Events, Politics, Crime, Business, Arts & more for Burien, WA
The City of Burien now has its own radio station, but instead of broadcasting “Top 40 Cocktail Music” with DJ Mikey, or “EZ Red Tape Listenin’” with DJ HerHonor, they’re playing recorded information on city events and programs, emergency information and city-related public service announcements.
Kind of like what you see on the city’s TV channel (21) only without pictures.
You can listen to the broadcasts on one of those old-fangled radio thingys tuned to 540 AM…
Here are notes from Monday night’s (June 15th) Burien City Council meeting (PDF agenda here, streaming video link here):
CITY RECEIVES CIVIC AWARD:
Presented by Luis Navarro, Board President U.S. Mexico Chamber of Commerce Pacific Northwest Chapter, the City of Burien received a Civic Award for their efforts in…
Crime – including a high level of gang activity – is an ongoing concern in the Highline area, along with the rest of King County, especially at a time when multi-million-dollar budget deficits have forced staff reductions in the sheriff’s and prosecutor’s offices.
And not surprisingly, all five major candidates for King County executive told the King County Police Chief’s Association on Thursday that public safety is the primary responsibility of county government. They spoke at a forum at the Criminal Justice Training Center in Burien…
The next Annexation Open House will be Tuesday, June 16th from 6pm to 7:15pm at Southern Heights Elementary School, located at 11249 14th Ave South…
The King County Police Chief’s Association is hosting a County Executive Candidate’s Forum tomorrow (Thursday, June 11th), from 10am to 11am at the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Center located at 19010 First Avenue South in Burien.
The candidates running for King County Executive are invited to the forum, which is open to the public and press, and according to Burien Police Chief Scott Kimerer, so far here’s who’s confirmed…
by Mark Neuman
I spoke Friday (June 5th) with Burien City Councilmember Rose Clark, who is running for re-election, Position No. 5.
As of press time (or in this electronic era, as of “hit send†time), Clark has no opposition in her bid for another four-year term on the council:
As of 1pm Friday, June 5th, only four people have filed for the four Burien city council positions open for election in November:
But wait – you too can file to run for City Council online as long as you’re a Burien resident and registered voter – the deadline is 4pm today (Fri. June 5th): http://your.kingcounty.gov/elections/candidatefiling/filingform.aspx
Sally Nelson, an original city councilmember since the city incorporated in 1993 announced that she will not run again for reelection.
In a statement, Nelson says she is “proud of the strong record of leadership she has provided at the local, regional and national level for advancing the many positive changes that have marked her service to Burien since she was first elected to position #7.”
She also said that she “remembers that the original interim city council met in a dingy, cold community center room for its first meetings and then moved to a rented space before acquiring the vacated bank building on SW 151st for its first official city hall…”
Burien attorney Brian Bennett has thrown his proverbial hat into the local election ring, announcing that he’s filed to run for the Burien City Council.
He has been endorsed by Councilmember Sally Nelson, who has chosen not to run for re-election.
Bennett joins former councilmember Jack Block Jr. as new hopefuls in this year’s race, which we’ll be covering extensively.
Bennett serves as chairman of the Burien Shoreline Advisory Committee, and has not indicated yet whether he will file for Nelson’s position…
Story and Photos by Michael Brunk
Wednesday afternoon (May 20th), Tai Oh of Burien (right, below) and Terry Torbet of Kent (left) stood on SW 148th near First Avenue South holding a large banner protesting City Manager Mike Martin’s recent DUI incident, as seen in these pictures by Michael Brunk:
The King County Council Monday announced that they’ve unanimously appointed Kurt Triplett as King County Executive, with members citing “his professionalism and knowledge of the issues.”
Triplett was unanimously approved by the council to serve in the role which he took on in early May in an interim capacity after Executive Ron Sims stepped down to join the Obama administration.
Triplett will serve until the results of the November general election for County Executive are certified…
Burien City Manager Mike Martin entered a plea of “Not Guilty” on Friday (May 15th) to a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol stemming from a minor traffic accident on April 19th. Martin appeared before King County District Court Judge Eileen Kato, who scheduled a pretrial hearing for June 23rd.
Martin, 55, refused to perform field sobriety tests or take a Breathalyzer test when he was arrested following the one-car accident in Burien. As a result, his driver’s license was suspended, as required by state law, when formal DUI charges were filed on May 6th.
On Monday (May 11th), the Burien City Council approved an amended contract for Martin on a 5-1 vote, which imposes strict “alcohol-related conditions†with which he must “comply fully†to retain his position as city manager.
In agreeing to the addition of alcohol-related conditions to his contract, Martin denied committing “any wrongful or criminal act,†but acknowledged “that the facts and circumstances of his arrest may constitute ‘cause’ to terminate his employment under the Original Agreement.â€Â
PREVIOUS COVERAGE:
Jack Block, Jr., former Deputy Mayor and Councilmember, on Friday (May 15th) announced his candidacy for Burien City Council, Position 7, currently held by Sally Nelson.
Last we saw Mr. Block was at the April 27th City Council meeting when he voiced his support for City Manager Mike Martin, who was recently charged with a DUI, resulting in Martin’s amended contract.
“I was proud of the investments we made in our community in Burien while I served on the City Council,†said Block in a statement. “But I have unfinished business, and want to ensure that Burien is looking after our working families and their futures…â€Â
On May 11th, the King County Council confirmed Burien’s annexation proposal for the August 18th primary ballot. Residents of unincorporated King County who live in the southern portion of the North Highline community will have a chance to decide if they want to join the city of Burien.
City of Burien staff will present information and answer questions at two upcoming informational open houses, the next one scheduled for Tuesday, May 19th.
Here are the details..
The Burien City Council imposed on Monday (May 11th) strict “alcohol-related conditions†with which City Manager Mike Martin must “comply fully†if he is to retain that position. Martin is scheduled to be arraigned in King County District Court Friday on a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol.
The conditions are included in an amendment to Martin’s contract (download and view PDF here), which was approved without discussion with a 6-1 vote by city lawmakers. Councilwoman Lucy Krakowiak, who publicly called for Martin’s ouster following his arrest for allegedly driving under the influence, cast the dissenting vote. She also cast the lone vote against Martin when the council hired him as city manager in January 2007.
Here’s a portion of the amended contract…
On April 21st we first reported that the city of Burien was proposing August 18th as the day for the vote on its annexation of the North Highline area, and Monday (May 11th) it was made official by a King County Council confirmation vote.
Burien’s annexation attempts have been going on for several years, and this will give residents of the proposed “Area X” (seen in the map above in yellow) a chance to decide whether they want to officially become Burienites or not…
The city of Burien will be making the big move to its new digs this coming weekend, with plans to open its new city hall on Tuesday, May 19th.
This will be the first phase opening of the Burien Town Square project.
City Hall will be closed Monday, May 18th and will then reopen on Tuesday, May 19th.
The new Urban Partners condominium and retail building will welcome its first occupants in late spring. The King County Regional Library and Town Square Park also will be opening around the same time.
The Burien Town Square Grand Opening celebration will be held on Saturday, June 13. The ribbon-cutting ceremony will be at 10 a.m. followed by tours of the City Hall, library and City park. Urban Partners also will be conducting tours of the condominiums. The festivities will include live entertainment and refreshments.
The Citizens Against Sea-Tac Expansion (C.A.S.E.) is holding their monthly “Sea-Tac Expansion” Meeting on Wednesday, May 6th from 7pm to 9pm at the ERAC offices, located at 15675 Ambaum Blvd. SW (see map below).
The focus this week will be on complaints by residents over the third runway, the potential class-action lawsuit against the Port of Seattle, noise meter usage as well as a possible GPS landing system solution.
Here are the details…
Monday night’s (April 27th) City Council meeting was run under a “business as usual” approach, despite the recent news about Burien City Manager Mike Martin’s DUI arrest.
Many in the audience came expecting to hear Martin address the issue, perhaps even issue a public apology or letter of resignation. However, Martin didn’t say one word about his incident, (which happened Sunday, April 19th), and the only references to it were statements of support from four residents, which you can read below…
According to The Seattle Times, Burien City Manager Mike Martin was arrested for a DUI Sunday night (April 19th) after his vehicle left the road and struck a ceramic pot in a yard in the 12600 block of 14th Avenue South in Burien (Google street view below).
Apparently Martin was found outside his car, “leaning forward and swaying side to side,” according to King County Sheriff’s records. His breath allegedly smelled strongly of alcohol, his speech was slurred and he admitted to drinking a couple glasses of wine and two beers.
The article goes on to say that Martin refused to perform both field sobriety tests and Breathalyzer tests, and that he was arrested. Under Washington state law, refusing to take a breath test results in automatic suspension of a driver’s license for at least one year. Martin may challenge the suspension or seek approval for an alcohol-ignition device on his car.
According to the Times, this isn’t Martin’s first run-in with the law – he apparently previously resigned as Chief Administrative Officer for the city of Kent after a 2005 hit-and-run incident.
Martin has been city manager since November 2006, and his yearly salary is $135,180.
We’re working on getting comments from both Martin and other city officials, but the Times goes on to quote Mayor Joan McGilton as saying that his arrest will be discussed at the next city council meeting on Monday night, April 28th, which we will cover.
Read the full story here.
Burien’s St. Francis of Assisi Church is holding a slideshow presentation called “Is War the Answer to Terrorism? An Alternative Strategy: Non-Violent Solutions in Afghanistan” by Photographer Julia Bolz on Friday, May 8th from 7pm-9pm at their Unity Hall.
Here are the details…
Over 150 area residents turned out Sunday to hear lawyers discuss an upcoming class action lawsuit against the Port of Seattle over the third runway.
by Jack Mayne
Big 757s taking off and landing right over your house can jar nerves and rattle lifestyles, yet a lot of people have to live that way every day – and many are ready to fight on in court.
“I can’t sleep at night,†said one person at a meeting Sunday afternoon at the SeaTac Community Center. “It got better for a while, but then they opened the new runway and now I can’t hear people in the room,†said another person, “or what is on TV.†Still another said people had moved from his rental properties and others said the value of their property, already hammered by the faltering economy, have gone lower because of the November opening of the runway….
From city-subsidized jet packs to 3-D telepathic beaming of The B-Town Blog into everyone’s brains to dispensing free “art candy” in the shape of city councilmembers’ heads on every street corner, everyone seems to have a “vision” for the future of Burien.
Now, the City of Burien Business and Economic Development Partnership (BEDP) is actually inviting residents and businesses to submit their vision of Burien’s business community in 20 years. Ideas will be considered by the BEDP, the Burien Planning Commission and Burien City Council in updating the Economic Development portion of the City’s Comprehensive Plan.
Here are the details, straight from the city’s mouth…
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