Comments on: County’s Stealth Attempts To Sell Puget Sound Park May Postpone Official Annexation

By: Rachel Levine

Rachel Levine — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 22:34:09 +0000

Some clarification needs to be made in regard to King County Library System
funding referred to in a previous blog:
Proposition 1, will be on King, Pierce and Snohomish County ballots in
February, 2010. This measure proposes to restore the KCLS property tax
levy rate to 50 cents per $1,000 of assessed value for collection in 2011.
In 2009, the constraints of I-747 resulted in a KCLS operating budget cut of
$1.9 million at a time that the demand or library services have greatly
increased. Proposition 1 would determine if the current level of library
service can be maintained, or if further cuts would be necessary.
The KCLS Library Replacement Bond measure, passed in September 2004,
provided funding for the library system’s 10 year capital budget. In the
“Strategic Planning Guidelines for Library Improvement Modifications”,
modifications in materials-handling at Boulevard Park were put on hold
pending annexation as was the plan to build a new library with upgraded
modifications at the current site of the White Center Library.
While there are a number of issues that need resolution as to the
intertwining of the sale of Puget Park, the possible re-siting of the White
Center Library, and the potential closure/combining of the Boulevard Park
Library, it is important for voters to recognize the difference between the
use of capital funds they voted on in 2004 and the need for operating funds
to maintain library services in 2010.
We need to insist that our King County Council and our King County Library
administrators are “straight-talking” with everyone and that no decisions be
made without full disclosure and opportunity for public response.

By: Rob

Rob — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 00:11:52 +0000

Excuuse me- Don’t we already have a new library in burien??? I think this is more evidence that Mr. Triplett is not nor ever has been worthy to be KC executive. Right now I don’t think he could be leceted Dog Catcher- oh wait he did away with animal control, so prove my point

By: mvray

mvray — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 00:48:18 +0000

King County should be called Seattle County. B/C they don’t give a rip about anything outside of Seattle.
Take for example KCs stealth effort to sell their land in Maple Valley to a developer for a sweet price until the rats were smoked out and would not allow the City of Maple Valley annex it even though it was totally surrounded by City of Maple Valley.
KCs latest stealth effort by Triplett is to impose a car tab tax without a vote on those in unincorporated KC.

By: Grover

Grover — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 11:13:42 +0000

We all love a great library system. We also love our parks. This park was not in danger of closing. The county is putting the pressure on the Unincorporated Areas to get annexed and then sells off the parks once the annexation has been voted on. It’s like selling someone a car and then taking the wheels off before you deliver the car. I live by this park and I want the open space. We have a new library in Burien and one in Greenbridge so we have enough libraries in the area. This is the largest open space in the area and we want to keep it open. I am glad we are being annexed to Burien but I am afraid I agree on Burien waiting for annexation to happen until this issue is resolved. The county will see by delaying annexation, they will have to continue providing services to the area and that will cost them more money.

By: Erik J

Erik J — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 17:45:31 +0000

So why is the King County Library System looking to spend a half million on property to add to an already built out system at the same time they are getting ready to hit up the taxpayers for a property tax increase? I am all for having a great library system, but I’d like to see some fiscal restraint instead of a tax increase!

By: George Hadley

George Hadley — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 17:37:54 +0000

I think the problem that Burien is concerned about is not that the Library might do useful things with the park but rather that the county is surreptiously selling property that it has already agreed would be transferred to Burien.

It is sort of as if after someone sold you a house (but before you took possession), they sold all the appliances (thus reducing the value of what you bought) and did it without letting you know.) You might even feel aggrieved also.

By: saywhat?

saywhat? — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 22:56:55 +0000

the city of burien and mr. duff are looking to stop a deal for LIBRARIES to buy a park that was at risk of closing, presumably build a library AND let the county use the revenue to keep other critical services open? that actually sounds like a pretty friggin’ great deal from where i sit. who are you people?

By: Leonard G.

Leonard G. — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 20:04:51 +0000

So what does the Library System want to do with the property?

By: Ian Gunsul

Ian Gunsul — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 05:01:47 +0000

Nice to see how now former King County Executive Kurt Triplett’s belief in government transparency played out in his final weeks in office. He really is/was a disciple of Ron Sims.