This includes restoring a storefront King County Sheriff’s deputy in White Center, as well as adding two nurses to the Nurse Family Partnership Program focused on the White Center/Burien and Tukwila/SeaTac areas.

Here’s the county’s press release in its entirety:

The growth of gang violence in South King County will be targeted by a coordinated King County response of suppression, intervention, and prevention funded with $1.4 million from the Criminal Justice Reserve, under a proposal by King County Executive Dow Constantine developed in collaboration with Metropolitan King County Councilmembers and criminal justice leaders.

“The problem is emerging quickly and our actions must be swift. We cannot and we will not tolerate the criminal activities of gangs in our communities,” said Executive Constantine. “In the long run we know we cannot arrest our way out of this problem, so this proposal balances gang suppression with investments in tried and true solutions that give youth an opportunity for a healthy start, an education, and employment – known factors that reduce crime and gang involvement.”

The Council established the Criminal Justice Reserve fund as part of the 2011 budget in order to respond to emergent needs related to public safety and ensure the smooth functioning of the criminal justice system.

“Indicators that are most common in South King County- like poverty, unemployment, dropping out of school and teen pregnancy – all help to create a common denominator of hopelessness that often leads to a life of crime and violence. If we intend to effectively address these issues, we must take a closer look at how investments are made,” said Council Budget Chair Julia Patterson, whose district includes South King County. “Addressing gang violence requires law enforcement and it requires prosecution, but intervention and prevention are key pieces of the puzzle, and the Executive’s proposal calls for all of these things simultaneously.”

“We specifically set aside these funds in the 2011 budget to allow us to tackle critical criminal justice needs as they occur,” said Councilmember Kathy Lambert, Vice-Chair of the Budget and Fiscal Management Committee. “Increasing our efforts to fight gang activities in light of recent increased violence is exactly the type of situation for which this reserve was intended. By prioritizing these critical programs, we can continue to make King County family-friendly and gang-unfriendly.”

“To protect our kids and communities, we need to invest in additional resources to combat the gang violence problem,” said Councilmember Bob Ferguson, Chair of the Council’s Law, Justice, Health and Human Services Committee. “Law enforcement needs the tools necessary to combat the ongoing gang war in our region, which include prevention and intervention services that help provide better futures for our youth and prevent them from becoming involved in gangs.”

In a letter sent today to the Council, the Executive proposed $1.4 million from the Criminal Justice Reserve for seven programs that address gang issues and can be implemented quickly, starting in October and lasting through the end of 2012:

1. Expand the Prosecutor’s anti-gang unit ($456,000) by supporting a team of three deputy prosecutors and a paralegal who would focus solely on gang-related cases. The Prosecutor’s Office recently lost federal funds that were focused on prosecuting gang members.

2. Provide equipment for the Sheriff’s gang unit ($30,000), including ballistic vests, binoculars, video equipment, training and software for video enhancement, and supplies used in serving search warrants and arrest warrants.

3. Restore the “storefront” deputy in White Center ($179,000), a position in the Sheriff’s Office that was cut in 2011 following the lack of voter approval for revenues to maintain criminal justice services. Restoring the position will return proactive law enforcement to the White Center neighborhood.

4. Continue funding for the Sheriff’s Latino education outreach program ($15,000), which reaches young Latino mothers and other family members on gang prevention and keeping young children safe from gang recruitment and activity. Funding will support Spanish-language radio and TV spots, translated materials, and community and event coordination in east, south, and west King County.

5. Add two nurses to the Nurse Family Partnership Program focused on the White Center/Burien and Tukwila/SeaTac areas ($312,500). Many women in South King County are eligible for services but don’t receive them. Nurses in this very successful Public Health program connect high-risk mothers with services to improve health outcomes, resulting in demonstrably lower rates of involvement of these young women in the criminal justice system.

6. Restore two case managers for the Back to School and Employment Training Program ($309,000), which provides education and employment training for youthful offenders in South King County. Grant funding for five case managers expired earlier this year.

7. Continue funding for the Avanza project ($137,500), an education and employment training program for Latino youth at risk of dropping out of school or falling into the juvenile justice system. This program has been successful in engaging truant youth back into school and providing employment opportunities, and without the proposed funding it will shut down this fall when grant funds expire. Both this program and the Back to School and Employment Training program are managed through a partnership between King County Superior Court and the King County Work Training Program.

“I thank the Executive and members of the County Council for acting so quickly to our call for assistance. This comprehensive proposal to fund dedicated gang prosecutors is a rapid response to an escalating threat to public safety,” said Dan Satterberg, King County Prosecuting Attorney. “It will allow my office to build strong cases against the leaders of violent gangs and at the same time, fund programs for at-risk youth, so that we can offer them an alternative to the gang life.”

“The actions being taken by the Executive and the Council are a thoughtful approach to an ongoing problem, and we sincerely appreciate their working closely with the King County Sheriff’s Office,” said Sheriff Sue Rahr. “This will help our Deputies and Detectives do their jobs even better.”

“This is a well-rounded approach. Early childhood interventions, employment training and criminal justice resources will not only work to prevent violence but will also help many individuals become contributing community members,” said Councilmember Joe McDermott, who represents White Center.

“I was shocked and appalled by the shooting of 13 people in Kent recently. The incident started a gang war in South King County that is a very serious problem,” said Councilmember Reagan Dunn. “These resources are desperately needed to respond quickly and forcefully. This kind of violence will not be tolerated in our communities. I applaud the leadership of Prosecutor Satterberg for raising the issue and to my colleagues for acting decisively.”

“South King County has become a battleground for some gangs from other areas of the Puget Sound region,” said Councilmember Pete von Reichbauer. “We must present a unified front – urban, suburban and rural – to fight this growing problem.”

“Responding to the rising threat of gang violence is critical to protecting the safety of King County residents,” said Councilmember Larry Phillips. “This is the best use of the criminal justice reserve that the Council set aside for this type of emergency.”

“Gang violence affects our entire community, not just South King County,” said Council Vice Chair Jane Hague. “Programs like these give us the tools necessary to combat gang violence and provide positive opportunities for at-risk young people.”

Gang-related violence has increased over the past three years, according to the Prosecutor and Sheriff:

• In 2008 and 2009 combined, King County had 29 gang-related homicides and 200 reported gang-related shootings.
• As many as 10,000 gang members are estimated to live in the county, as part of an estimated 140 active criminal street gangs.
• Crime related to gang activity has increased 165 percent since 2005, with some of the growth occurring in South King County.

The Council’s Budget and Fiscal Management Committee will discuss the anti-gang funding proposal at its meeting tomorrow (Wednesday), with Council action possible in early September.

On Sunday (June 26th), King County Council candidate Diana Toledo released a letter calling upon Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn and County Executive Dow Constantine to “dissolve the Seattle Office of Arts & Culture and the 4Culture agencies and put that money into Arts programs in the Public Schools.”

As many of our Readers may recall, Toledo lost to Joe McDermott last Fall by a 68% to 31.5% margin in her bid for the county council district number 8 position. The B-Town Blog sponsored candidates forums in 2010 featuring Toledo vs McDermott, which you can read about (and listen to audio recordings of) here.

Toledo is running again for the same council seat, facing off against McDermott and Goodspaceguy. The primary election is set for Aug. 16th.

4Culture is a tax-exempt public development authority (PDA) cultural services agency for King County. The majority of its funding comes from a portion of lodging tax revenues collected in King County. Since 1990, 4Culture has channeled these resources back into the local economy to help develop a thriving cultural community that serves visitors, residents and businesses.

The Seattle Office of Arts & Culture is a division of the City of Seattle, and according to its website, “promotes the value of arts and culture in and of communities throughout Seattle. By fostering and investing in the creative contributions of our artist citizens to every facet of the community, we engage the creativity in every resident and build a healthy and vibrant Seattle.”

Here’s Toledo’s full letter:

Art Funding For Youth, Not Cultural Elites

I am calling upon Mayor McGinn and KC Executive Constantine to dissolve the Seattle Office of Arts & Culture and the 4Culture agencies and put that money into Arts programs in the Public Schools.

As a mother of three beautiful children I am concerned that our youth do not have the same access to Arts programs that we had growing up. During the early years of development is it crucial that our children are engaged in the creative processes that allow for the expression or originality, development of individuality, and the building of positive self esteem in a safe learning environment.

Currently, our children’s Principals do not receive a designated amount for Arts funding in K-12 King County Public Schools. Instead, each school Principal must sacrifice Math, English, or Technology programs in order to cover the cost of bringing Arts back to their school.

One way schools have found to work around this problem is by partnering with local community Arts programs; allowing use of the school classrooms and grounds to outside groups who offer Art related activities. Although some of these programs are very nice; the quality of programs, volunteer instructors, and classroom environment is not always consistent. And although most of these groups are funded by our tax dollars they are not bound by the same rules and regulations that a public school teacher is. Nor are these instructors required to receive the same certification, education, communication, and conflict resolution training that a public school teacher does. If our children’s school is lucky enough to have one of these programs teaching Arts onsite, the program and the instructor quality cannot be guaranteed. We must bring Arts back to the Public School curriculum!

Bring Art Teachers Back To Public Schools!
I believe that exposure to Arts at an early age helps build a bridge across racial, cultural and economical barriers. I believe providing Arts programs in our public schools allows and encourages children to interact with others, make new friends, break down stereotypes, and receive positive feedback from their peers in a safe environment. Sadly, we’ve seen Arts in Public Schools nearly eliminated over the past few years; even as millions upon millions of dollars in taxes go to fund elitist public art projects.

As cutbacks in our public schools result in teacher lay-offs and Art program eliminations, taxpayers are forced to fund the Office of Arts & Culture, the King County 4Culture Offices, and the City and County Government’s 1% for public arts programs.

Housed in the beautiful Seattle Municipal Tower; the Office of Arts & Culture share a floor with several other Executive Departments with duplicate management and administrative staff. Look down the street and you will find the King County 4Culture offices, offering many of the same services that the Seattle Office of Arts & Culture does. These prime real estate locations currently used by the Executive Offices could be made available to the private sector and would bring in even more money to help us get a handle on our out-of-control budget deficit.

It’s estimated that between the Office of Arts & Culture and King County 4Culture there is an approximately $20 million dollar yearly budget. Dissolving the agencies and putting those funds into public school Arts programs would eliminate the massive administrative staff fees and free up a larger amount of funding to make it to the children.

Although I love the Arts; I recognize it is not the responsibility of the government or the taxpayers to fund adults who choose the artist-lifestyle. Adult artists should be held to the same standard as accountants, bricklayers, or other working-class heroes; they must be able to compete in the marketplace based on providing a desired service. We must instead use our limited funds to educate and expose our youth to the Arts; and the public schools are the best place to do this.

As someone with strong ties to King County’s artist community I’ve often heard concerns and accusations of biased grant and funding systems, favoritism, quid pro-quos, and a climate that rewards waste and upside-down priorities in the Office of Arts & Culture and the King County 4Culture programs; this has many people saying that if nothing else, a major audit is needed.

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=hp#!/home.php?sk=group_216457208394487

I believe that funding of the Arts with the aim of increasing children’s creativity is appropriate; and that the best way to expose children to the Arts is to do so through the Public School system. We can no longer afford to fund the lifestyles of a few elites at the expense of our children’s education. It’s time to cut this waste and invest our tax dollars in our children.

ADDENDUM:
The Office of Arts & Culture recently released a letter citing several studies supporting our belief that “greater involvement in the arts in middle and high school associates with higher level of achievement and college attainment, volunteerism and political participation.” – James Catterall (download and read PDF of OOAC Letter)

The Office of Arts & Culture’s document supports my argument that we must return Arts to the Public Schools. However, I disagree that the money must first process through their office. I don’t believe that we should filter millions in tax payer money through the bureaucracy of the Office of Arts & Culture office so that we can eventually squeeze a few thousand dollars to the Public Schools. Let’s eliminate the middle man and get the money directly to the Public School Arts programs.

by Ralph Nichols

King County Executive Dow Constantine took a leisurely stroll through the Burien Farmers Market on a sunny Thursday afternoon (Aug. 5) – but only after spending 90 minutes discussing issues of local concern with City Council members.

Topping the list for both Constantine and the Burien representatives – Mayor Joan McGilton, Deputy Mayor Rose Clark, Council members Jack Block Jr. and Kathy Keene, and City Manager Mike Martin – was the cost of police services.

The County Council, facing a $60 million general fund budget deficit in 2011, has placed a 0.2-cent sales tax increase on the November ballot that, if approved, will generate an additional $40 million for sheriff’s deputies, prosecuting attorneys and the courts.

Without the extra revenue, Constantine said, the budget he presents to the County Council this fall will require the layoffs of “many dozens of deputies” and prosecutors and judges.

Cities that contract with the King County Sheriff’s Office for police services would continue to receive the direct services they pay for, but there would be noticeable cuts in law enforcement support services.

“I have approached the [police] guild,” Constantine said in response to a question, “and they have been to this point unwilling to reopen their contract.” He expressed the hope that the guild will be willing to renegotiate for the public good if the revenue shortfall continues.

If the sales tax increase is approved, King County cities will share 40 percent of that money, he added. Burien would get about $410,000 in 2011 and an estimated $950,000 in 2012.

“We take very seriously” public safety, which accounts for over half of the city’s general fund budget, Martin told Constantine. “We are extremely happy with our cops,” he said. McGilton remarked, “We are very, very happy” with the quality of police service Burien receives.

City police services, paid for by the city, are provided through Burien’s contract with the sheriff’s office, as they also are in Sea-Tac.

But, Martin continued, “Burien can’t afford the COLAs [cost-of-living adjustments] they have … [and] we love our cops.”

As an alternative, the city officials are beginning to talk with other cities – with “support among some” – about establishing a separate law enforcement authority that would police several cities within a sub-region, which would be similar to county fire districts.

Should a law enforcement authority eventually become a reality, “I would be willing to recommend to my council that we give every single cent of our property tax to that.”

Martin also said, “We love our District Court. The prosecutors and judges keep us well informed … they’re putting the right people in jail. They’re extremely efficient … they’re serving the community well. They’re really serving justice.”

Block suggested that Constantine might find a solution for maintaining county roads in Burien’s asphalt overlay program, funded in part by a $10 car tab fee, that is scheduled to begin in late summer with a resurfacing of Ambaum Blvd. SW from SW. 112th St. to SW 156th St.

Martin noted that transportation programs in Southwest King County, including roads, bus routes and the South Park Bridge, have been neglected over the years in what “sort of smacks as a social justice issue.”

And, Constantine replied, county government is “clearly serving lower profile constituents” in this area. He represented the Burien-North Highline-South Park area on the county council before his election as executive last year.

He suggested that circumstances, including the sudden commitment of funds for a new South Park Bridge, might have been different had he been elected executive two years earlier.

Martin reported “so far, so good” since Burien annexed a large part of North Highline on April 1. Several City Council members, acknowledging Seattle’s stated interest in annexing the remaining unincorporated North Highline, told him the city looks forward to annexing it.

“Let’s make this one [annexation] successful first,” Martin said.

Constantine praised Burien’s Transit-Oriented Development, which he said is creating a hub for bus service and eventually, perhaps, for Link Light Rail from Des Moines through Burien to downtown Seattle, and from Burien to the Eastside.

“A lot of people are talking about what you are doing here,” he added.

“Thank you, thank you, thank you for TOD,” McGilton told him. Because of a new TOD parking garage, which is expected to be built starting later this year, and if the county closes a deal with Galaxy Theaters, “that will bring us a 10-screen theater” at Town Square.

Revenue from a multiplex cinema could bring the city an additional $250,000 in revenue a year, Martin said.

Council members also outlined for Constantine plans for building on the Northeast Redevelopment Area north of Sea-Tac International Airport, including increased access with a full interchange on state Route 518 and relocating Burien’s “auto row” there.

And they updated him on a new and improved working relationship with the Port of Seattle after years of legal battles over construction of the third runway.

This was the 34th city visited by Constantine in his tour of all 39 King County cities and its small towns and unincorporated area since taking office. He earlier visited Des Moines, Normandy Park, SeaTac and Tukwila.

[Photo of Dow Constantine taken by Michael Brunk during his tour of Des Moines in July.]

King County Executive Dow Constantine will meet with Burien City Council members on Thursday, Aug. 5, to discuss “topics of mutual interest,” his office has announced.

The meeting will begin at 2 p.m. in the Miller Creek Conference Room on the third floor of the Burien City Hall/Library building.

It is not known whether this meeting is open to the public. However, if four or more council members are in attendance, then the gathering will be a public meeting.

Natasha Jones, Constantine’s deputy communications director, told The B-Town Blog this visit is part of his tour of all 39 King County cities as well as its unincorporated areas – something he pledged to do upon taking office last November.

Constantine wants “to get a sense of their priorities,” Jones said, and “to get a look at projects around the city.”

It is his final stop in the Highline area. He visited Des Moines and Normandy Park in July, and before that toured SeaTac and Tukwila.

The Burien visit would come later, Constantine said while in Des Moines, because he already knows this city fairly well. It is in King County Council District 8, which he represented before his election as executive.

He was also in Burien on two occasions last winter meeting with local officials on specific city-county issues.

Recently, King County Executive Dow Constantine spoke about his

He challenged the Council and the public to:

• invest… in a 21st century transportation infrastructure,
• protect… our health and the most vulnerable in our communities,
• maintain… excellence in public safety and justice for all,
• and partner… with our cities and regional governments, [and] business and labor leaders, to focus on creating jobs and opportunity.

Next, referring to his draft of the first-ever King County Strategic Plan, he cited four elements of his reform:

1. Service excellence
2. A quality workforce
3. Wise financial stewardship
4. A robust public engagement

And now, a public Opinionnaire® Survey through SocialCapitalReview.org has been issued about his “Blueprint for Reform,” where citizens are being asked to take a survey online here.

According to a press release from SocialCapitalReview.org:

One of the under-reported items of the Executive’s “blueprint for reform” is the element for “robust public engagement”. We focus on this element of reform at our new Social Capital Review blog and are highlighting a special online survey to gage the public’s reaction to specific quotations from his speech.

The special Opinionnaire® survey was created by the Forum Foundation “in the spirit of public service to the citizens of King County”. It is based on the same tools used by the Countywide Community Forums — an existing public engagement program from the King County Auditor’s Office that has been used since 2008 for critical feedback from anyone who lives or works in the county.

Registration of King County Citizen Councilors is at CommunityForums.org.

So, if you could spare a few minutes, and like to have your opinion heard, we encourage you to take the survey by clicking here.

On Wednesday (Feb. 17th), King County Executive Dow Constantine announced that he will vow to continue pursuing federal funding for replacement of the county’s South Park Bridge.

Constantine will need to do this because the latest round of federal stimulus money grants does NOT include any for this bridge, which is now scheduled to be closed down at the end of June.

According to Publicola:

“The latest round of TIGER (federal stimulus money) grants … includes $30 million in funding for the $200 million Mercer project … they skipped over a request from King County to replace the deteriorating South Park Bridge, which links South Park and White Center to the Duwamish industrial area and downtown Seattle across the Duwamish River.”

“I am very disappointed for the people of King County that our application for federal stimulus funding to replace the South Park Bridge was not approved,” Constantine said in a statement.

Constantine also added:

“While the bridge competed against a lot of other worthy projects, replacing this key transportation link is imperative to the economic health of affordable, diverse neighborhoods and the hundreds of industrial businesses that depend on direct vehicular access to State Route 99 and Interstate 5. It may not be a glamorous or high-profile project, but it’s one that is vitally important to our economy and our society.”

“I am determined to pursue funding for this project through future TIGER grant cycles, the jobs bill, other federal appropriations, and the state Legislature. I thank Senator Patty Murray and the Washington delegation for their unwavering support of federal funding for this project. It’s my hope that their hard work will keep the South Park Bridge near the top of the list in future funding cycles.”

“I will also keep working with the King County Council to explore funding options that can provide a local match to federal funding opportunities for this and other unfunded projects around the county.”

“Under the Road Services Division budget adopted by the Council last fall, the bridge is scheduled to be closed at the end of June, and eventually removed.”

And not to be out-disappointed, Councilmember Jan Drago released the following statement Wed. afternoon:

“I was disappointed to learn that the South Park Bridge project did not receive any federal stimulus grant money. While I am glad to see that the hard work and coordination at all levels of government did reap some rewards by way of $30 million in federal dollars for the Mercer Street project—a critical regional connection that will bring much needed jobs and economic stimulus to our area—we have scores of other infrastructure projects in King County and throughout the Puget Sound region that lack funding.

“I look forward to working with the King County Executive, my fellow Councilmembers, the city of Seattle and our state and federal leaders on solutions for the South Park Bridge project that will protect the safety of all drivers, and provide freight capacity for the Duwamish area.”

King County Councilmember Drago represents the communities of West Seattle, North Highline, Vashon and Maury islands, Burien, Normandy Park, SoDo, International District/Chinatown, Pioneer Square, West Beacon Hill, and portions of SeaTac, Tukwila and West Hill.

by Ralph Nichols

King County Executive Dow Constantine re-affirmed in a talk in SeaTac on Friday (Jan. 8th) his commitment to creating a new spirit of cooperation with other local governments.

Constantine, who took office in late November, declared, “We are going to improve our relationship … between King County and the 39 cities in King County.”

This new relationship with the cities “will be one of partnership,” he said.

Constantine added that the county also has an opportunity to work with businesses to prepare and “provide leadership for the economic recovery that is to come.”

He spoke at a membership meeting of the Southwest King County Chamber of Commerce at the Cedarbrook Lodge.

“This region is the economic engine of the state,” he continued, noting that 30 percent of Washington’s population, 40 percent of its non-farm workforce and 50 percent of its economic activity is in King County.

These are primary reasons why “King County needs to reform the way it works with business … needs to reform the way it works with the cities.”

Reforms need to include county staff doing “the leg work” to find those regulations that affect individual businesses, so owners and managers can focus on running their businesses.

“We need to find ways to incubate new local businesses,” and then work to keep them here “rather than seeing them move elsewhere,” he said.

“Permitting in King County now is daunting,” Constantine said, and the county needs to establish “one-stop shopping” for business licenses and building permits, and to work with the state to simplify business tax codes.

County government also needs to be more efficient, he said.

“I’m very hopeful about our future as a region,” Constantine continued. “It’s clear that the economy in fits and starts is starting to come around. We need to make sure that living wage jobs are available to everyone.”

He added that “visitor taxes,” which helped build Safeco Field, Qwest Field and other public facilities, “need to go to help bring more visitors to King County.”

by Ralph Nichols

King County will cede previously contested Puget Sound Park to Burien when the city annexes much of the North Highline unincorporated area, county Executive Dow Constantine and Mayor Joan McGilton announced Wednesday (Jan. 6).

The joint announcement ends a seven-week impasse between the city and county over the fate of the five-acre park at 1st Ave. S and SW 126th St, and clears the way for Burien to proceed with the final annexation process.

McGilton said annexation probably will take effect on April 1. The city council is expected to vote on that date at their Jan. 11 meeting.

Residents in the southern half of the North Highline unincorporated area voted by a sizeable margin last August to be annexed by Burien. The merger includes transfer of county property in the annexation area to Burien, which the city now will maintain, including streets and parks.

But city officials learned on Nov. 20 that former county Executive Kurt Triplett, in one of his final actions before leaving office, offered to sell Puget Sound Park to the King County Library System.

The library system, which was interested in building a new facility at that site and consolidating the White Center and Boulevard Park libraries there, signed a letter of intent to purchase the land for $600,000.

Burien lawmakers, however, were adamant that the park rightfully should go to the city as part of annexation. On Nov. 23, they postponed a vote to approve March 2 as the effective date and delayed annexation until this issue was resolved.

Constantine, who as a county councilman represented Burien, North Highline and West Seattle, inherited the conflict when he took office on Nov. 24. Before taking office, he asked Triplett not to proceed with the sale, and Triplett complied.

Earlier last year, Constantine twice wrote letters supporting Burien’s claim to Puget Sound Park if the city annexed part of the North Highline area (read our coverage here and here).

“A deal’s a deal, and it was the city’s understanding of the annexation process that it would receive six parks from the County, including Puget Sound Park,” Constantine said in the joint announcement.

“After detailed discussions, I agree that transfer of the park to the city is the right thing to do and should occur as part of that larger annexation.”

McGilton told The B-Town Blog, “I am very pleased that King County understood what Burien was saying, that we needed to be a part of the process in order to acquire Puget Sound Park.

“We are very happy that our new King County executive listened to the concerns of Burien and ultimately agreed that this was the best possible outcome for the city of Burien, for our soon-to-be new residents in North Highline, and for King County as a whole.

She added, “This part of our community has been underserved by parks. We look forward to bringing Puget Sound Park up to Burien standards for the residents who use this facility.”

In the joint statement, McGilton noted the transfer of the park, which still needs to be approved by the King County Council, “sets the right tone for this new era in King County government. I thank the County Executive for his leadership to reach a fair agreement on the parks transfer.”

City lawmakers had made it clear they considered the attempt by King County to sell the park, which was in the works before Constantine took office, a breach of trust. City Manager Mike Martin declared at that time that annexation would not happen until Burien got Puget Sound Park as part of the deal.

The city council also delayed adopting budget amendments for 2010 that account for additional revenue and expenses due to annexation until the park issue was resolved.

Late Thursday (Dec. 3rd), the King County Council announced that its Advisory Committee has chosen four finalists seeking to fill the King County Council seat vacated by Dow Constantine upon his election as King County Executive.

Despite the fact that four of the 11 candidates were from the Burien area (Dr. Arun Jhaveri, Lucy Krakowiak; Kathleen Quong-Vermeire, and Shawn McEvoy), and that two members of the selection committee were also local (Joan McGilton and Doug Osterman), the committee recommended these two non-Burienites who intend to run for the seat in the November 2010 general election:

• Rep. Zack Hudgins—State Representative from the 11th District
• Sen. Joe McDermott—State Senator from the 34th District

The committee also recommended two others who intend to serve in a caretaker capacity until the general election in November 2010:

• Jan Drago—A member of the Seattle City Council who is leaving the Council this year
• Rep. Sharon Nelson—State Representative from the 34th District

All four candidates recommended by the Committee will be interviewed on Monday, Dec. 7th at a 9:30am meeting of the Council’s Committee-of-the-Whole in the council chambers of the King County Courthouse.

The advisory committee was chaired by former Seattle Deputy Mayor and Municipal Court Judge Anne Levinson and Mark Okazaki, Executive Director of Neighborhood House, a human service agency with facilities in High Point and Greenbridge. They were joined on the 12-member advisory committee by community leaders and elected officials who live or work in Council District 8:

• Aileen Balahadia, Executive Director of the White Center Community Development Association,
• Steve Daschle, Executive Director of Southwest Youth and Family Services,
• Tom Dean, Executive Director of the Vashon/Maury Island Land Trust,
• David Johnson, CEO of NAVOS, a mental health care facility that provides housing,
• Joan McGilton, Mayor of Burien
• Patti Mullen, CEO, West Seattle Chamber of Commerce
• Behnaz Nelson, co-chair of the King County Coalition of Unions
• Kathy Nyland, chair of the Georgetown Merchants Association and chair of the City Neighborhood Association
• Doug Osterman, Normandy Park City Councilmember
• Chris Porter, business owner and a nurse practitioner who is active on park and recreation issues.

Co-Chairs Levinson and Okazaki said the committee represented a diversity of perspectives and experiences and took to heart the charge from the Council to forward a slate of candidates who would best serve the needs of the County and District 8.

“We had a remarkable pool of applicants and appreciated the number of people willing to step forward to serve. The finalists each bring experience and understanding of the complex array of issues facing the County. Each would hit the ground running and be a very effective addition to the Council,” said Levinson and Okazaki.

The committee’s criteria for evaluation of candidates included:

• Knowledge of the functions of King County government;
• Knowledge of the issues and challenges facing King County government;
• Knowledge of the issues affecting the constituents of Council District 8;
• A demonstrated ability to develop a responsible budget;
• A demonstrated ability to respond to public concerns; and
• Demonstrated leadership skills.

The County Council has final authority for making the appointment, and is expected to take action by Monday, Dec. 14th, the last Council meeting of 2009.

by Ralph Nichols

A letter written on April 3 by then-King County Councilman Dow Constantine – this one sent to Ron Sims, who was still county executive at the time – affirms Constantine’s apparent support for preserving Puget Sound Park.

Constantine, now the new King County Executive, informed Sims that he could not “support the Sustainable Communities and Affordable Housing proposal until Puget Sound Park is removed from further consideration” for conversion to housing.

Located at 1st Ave. S and SW 126th St., the park is in the unincorporated area of North Highline that is to be annexed by Burien early next year.

“I was dismayed to see this parcel listed along with several other non-park properties being prepared for conversion to housing use,” Constantine wrote Sims.

“I have previously stated in writing that I would not support any conversion proposal for any portion of this park that did not have the support of both the North Highline community and the city of Burien, which is pursuing the annexation of the surrounding neighborhood.

“As the city of Burien has registered its formal opposition and the community appears adamantly opposed to selling all or part of the park, it should be removed from the proposed ordinance.

“Parks have immense value to their surrounding communities, and replacement of this park property in this immediate neighborhood would be difficult at best,” he continued. “Replacement at a site elsewhere in King County is, of course, wholly inadequate….

“I do not feel that the conversion of public parks to housing sites is appropriate … and, if this legislation is introduced, I will take immediate action to amend it to protect this neighborhood park.”

Before becoming county executive, Constantine represented Burien, North Highline and West Seattle on the county council.

On April 13, Puget Sound Park was removed from consideration as a project site for the Sustainable Communities and Affordable Housing program. 

Noting he was “pleased to learn” of this action, Constantine added, “our public parks – both active and passive – are valuable assets to their surrounding neighborhoods and King County that must be preserved and enhanced whenever possible.”

When the King County Council adopted the Sustainable Communities and Affordable Housing ordinance on Sept. 14, Puget Sound Park was not included as one of the properties for conversion.

Nevertheless, Constantine’s immediate predecessor, former county Executive Kurt Triplett, attempted to negotiate a backroom deal for the sale of Puget Sound Park to the King County Library System (read our previous coverage here).

Burien city officials learned about Triplett’s attempt to sell Puget Sound Park just days before the city council was scheduled to set March 2 as the formal date for annexing much of the North Highline unincorporated area – and just days before Triplett left office.

The city council subsequently put the setting of an effective date for annexation on hold – and city Manager Mike Martin declared in the wake of that revelation that annexation won’t happen until Burien gets this park as part of the deal.

In his monthly report to the King County Library System board of trustees prior to their regular meeting on Nov. 24, library system director Bill Ptacek said, “As reported earlier this year, the County reached out to KCLS with an offer to sell various parks to KCLS so that they could be maintained and kept open.

“One of the parks, Puget Sound Park, is in the area that recently voted to annex to Burien. The Park … would be a good location for a new Library in the area. KCLS has agreed (in principal) to purchase the developable portion of that property. The County still hopes to turn over the Park portion to the City of Burien if and when it completes the annexation process in March 2010.”

One unconfirmed rumor suggests that if the library system took ownership of the park, it might consolidate the White Center and Boulevard Park libraries in a new facility at that location.

Frank Abe, Constantine’s director of communications, told The B-Town Blog earlier this week that before taking office, Constantine asked Triplett not to take action on selling Puget Sound Park.

One of Constantine’s first actions as executive will be to sit down with all parties to discuss the future of the park to “figure out what’s best – especially for the people of Burien,” Abe said.

Here are links to download and read PDFs of Constantine’s letters regarding Puget Sound Park:

• Jan. 28 letter to North Highline Unincorporated Area Council
• April 2 letter to Ron Sims