Tuesday night’s preliminary general election returns have been released, and with around 24% of the ballots counted for area races, it looks like the early leaders are Dow Constantine with 57%53% voting against NP’s Proposition #1, and a big fat 77% “NO” against Burien’s Transportation Benefit District (sidewalks & bike paths) proposal.

Also, Initiative 1033 is failing, and R-71 is passing.

Here are the preliminary results culled from the King County Elections website:

KING COUNTY EXECUTIVE:

Ballots Cast/Registered Voters: 25,4261 / 1,079,842 • 23.55%

• Susan Hutchison: 104,622 • 42.76%
• Dow Constantine: 139,501 • 57.01%
• Write-in: 561 • 0.23%

Initiative Measure No. 1033:

• YES: 78,111 34.28%
• NO: 149,739 65.72%

Referendum Measure No. 71:

• APPROVED: 164,724 • 65.91%
• REJECTED: 85,188 • 34.09%

CITY OF NORMANDY PARK:

Ballots Cast/Registered Voters: 1,316 / 4,676 •28.14%

Council Position No. 2:

• Clarke Brant: 885 • 97.79%
• Write-in: 20 • 2.21%

Council Position No. 4:

• John L. Rankin: 840 • 95.56%
• Write-in: 39 • 4.44%

Council Position No. 6 short and full term:

• Marion Yoshino: 856 • 97.72%
• Write-in: 20 • 2.28%

Proposition No. 1:

• YES: 578 • 47.30%
• NO: 644 • 52.70%

CITY OF BURIEN:

Ballots Cast/Registered Voters: 4,254 / 16,617 • 25.60%

Council Position No. 1:

• Sue Blazak: 1,707 • 45.35%
• Jack Block, Jr.: 2,033 • 54.01%
• Write-in: 24 • 0.64%

Council Position No. 3

• Joan McGilton: 2,763 • 96.74%
• Write-in: 93 • 3.26%

Council Position No. 5

• Rose Clark: 2,758 • 96.47%
• Write-in: 101 • 3.53%

Council Position No. 7

• Brian Bennett: 2,894 • 98.07%
• Write-in: 57 • 1.93%

Ballots Cast/Registered Voters: 4,254 / 16,617 • 25.60%

Transportation Benefit District No. 1 Proposition No. 1

• YES: 958 • 23.50%
• NO: 3,118 • 76.50%

HIGHLINE SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 401:

Ballots Cast/Registered Voters: 13,664 / 57,961 • 23.57%

Director District No. 2:

• Angelica M. Alvarez: 9,041 • 98.37%
• Write-in: 150 • 1.63%

Director District No. 3:

• Susan Goding: 9,009 • 98.47%
• Write-in: 140 • 1.53%

KING COUNTY

Ballots Cast/Registered Voters: 254261 / 1079842 23.55%

Sheriff:

• Sue Rahr: 182,855 • 97.72%
• Write-in: 4,258 • 2.28%

Assessor unexpired 2-year term

• Graham Albertini: 40, 808 • 19.76%
• Gene Lux: 10,547 • 5.11%
• Lloyd Hara: 69,388 • 33.59%
• Bob Rosenberger: 60,143 • 29.12%
• Bob Blanchard: 24,919 • 12.06%
• Write-in: 742 • 0.36%

Proposition #1, aimed at creating a “Metropolitan Park District” in Normandy Park, is on the ballot for the Nov. 3rd general election, and, if passed, would take parks “off the chopping block” and create a revenue to continue funding the city’s parks.

Proponents of the Proposition are holding a rally on Sunday, Nov. 1st, and here are the details:

WHAT: Prop. #1 Park Rally

WHEN: Sunday, Nov. 1st, beginning at Noon

WHERE: Marvista Park

INFO: From their website:

“In response to revenue shortfalls for the year 2009, which have reduced available funds for Parks & Recreation spending, the Normandy Park City Council has adopted Resolution 817, placing Proposition 1 on the November 3, 2009 ballot. Proposition 1 asks voters to decide if a Metropolitan Park District should be formed for the purpose of operating and managing parks, natural areas aquatics and recreation programs.

In 2010, the City will face a $400,000 deficit, unless new revenue sources are identified. Cuts to be considered will reduce the level of services provided in public safety, parks and recreation, and maintenance of streets, storm drainage and public facilities.

Metropolitan Park District
Proposition 1 would create a Metropolitan Park District, which would have boundaries coterminous with the boundaries of Normandy Park. The Park District would be governed by the City Council serving as the Ex-officio Board of Directors. The Normandy Park Metropolitan Park District would have authority to levy property taxes to enhance and maintain the Normandy Park Parks and Open Space System as well as provide aquatics, cultural and recreation programs.”

For more info, go to www.peopleforparks.info.

Here’s the language from the Voter’s Pamphlet:

City of Normandy Park
Simple Majority (RCW 35.61.040)

Proposition No. 1
Metropolitan Park District

The Normandy Park City Council passed Resolution No. 817 in order to allow voters to decide whether to create a Normandy Park Metropolitan Park District with boundaries coterminous with the boundaries of the City as now or hereafter established and to be governed by the Normandy Park City Council as the ex officio board of commissioners to support parks, aquatics, and recreation programs. Shall the Normandy Park Metropolitan Park District be so created and governed?

FOR THE FORMATION OF A METROPOLITAN PARK DISTRICT TO BE GOVERNED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF NORMANDY PARK AS THE EX OFFICIO BOARD OF THE METROPOLITAN PARK DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS

AGAINST THE FORMATION OF A METROPOLITAN PARK DISTRICT

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

If approved by the voters, this proposition would create a metropolitan park district to manage, control, improve, maintain, and acquire parks, parkways, boulevards, and recreational facilities, and to provide recreation programs. All property in the City of Normandy Park would be in the metropolitan park district.

The City of Normandy Park currently owns five destination parks, one neighborhood park, one low-intensity nature preserve, and twelve mini-parks. Most City parkland consists of passive parks and open space, but approximately eighteen acres are developed for active recreation. The City also owns and operates a recreation center and provides recreational programs. All expenses for these facilities and activities are currently paid from the general tax revenues of the City. In recent budget years, rising costs of providing other City services has limited the City’s ability to adequately fund parks and recreation.

If this proposition passes, acquiring, improving, maintaining and operating parks and park and recreation programs would become the responsibility of the separate metropolitan parks district. The Normandy Park City Council would act as the metropolitan park district’s board of commissioners but the district would acquire, improve, maintain and operate its facilities and programs separately from the City. To pay the cost of doing so, the metropolitan park district would have the authority to levy a general property tax of up to 75 cents for each one thousand dollars of assessed valuation. All revenues generated by this tax would be used to acquire, improve, maintain and operate parks and park and recreation programs.

Statement For Normandy Park residents live in a distinctly unique community intertwined with wonderful parks and green spaces that enhance our quality of life. The current economic climate presents our City with an approximate $400,000 budget shortfall. Our City’s situation is similar to many other municipalities. We must make tough choices by reducing services, including maintaining parks facilities and infrastructure. Approval of Proposition 1 will allow us to keep our parks open as well as improve, maintain and expand our City’s park system, NOW! • Improve hiking/walking trails throughout the City, remove invasive ivy, and enhance salmon and wild life habitat. • Increase capacity and improve safety for existing play fields, outdoor sport courts, maintenance and operation of existing recreation facilities. • Support continued community and arts events, youth, adult and senior recreational programs. • Maintenance and operations of and improvements to the Mt Rainier Pool. If approved, the estimated cost to a homeowner of a property with an assessed value of $500,000 about $225 per year, or 45 cents per $1,000 of assessed value. The Park District levy would be subject to the 1% cap for any future increases. Please support Proposition 1. Keep the “Park” in Normandy Park! Rebuttal of Statement Against Proposition #1 is providing residents with fiscally responsible choices: PROTECT EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE, PAST INVESTMENTS, PROPERTY VALUES • Keep Open Mount Rainier Pool, ball fields • Fix and Complete existing or approved infrastructure improvements: Marvista, City Hall, Brittany, Nist Parks, Walker Preserve • Take Care of existing, but degraded parks, forests, streams, beaches, green spaces • Finish trails for seamless walking/running/biking. Please invest in our children’s neighborhood! Dedicate funds to keep the “Park” in Normandy Park!!! STATEMENT PREPARED BY: Linda Peterson Hughes, Walter Hunt, Earnest Thompson

Statement Against The new Parks District isn’t about parks, it’s about revenue. It’s about creating another taxing district “pocket” for the City, with the revenue being controlled by the same elected officials and administration, and for the same purposes. It’s really all about creating a larger tax base for city government. Unfortunately, that’s not the whole story. The current administration wants more city staff and facilities. A new city hall, a new rec center, a new maintenance facility and commensurate additional staff have all been under discussion at the city, and all can be at least partially funded by this new Parks District levy. Complicating this is the apparent inability of our administration to appreciate the dangerous state of the economy, with plummeting revenues and skyrocketing personnel cost, and a state and county government which will be continually pushing large portions of their deepening budget shortfalls down onto us, making our financial situation even more precarious. This is a time for fiscal restraint, not expansion. A “Yes” vote without an individual commitment from the voter to vigilantly work to restrain city spending will result in much higher taxes and an unmanageable deficit in our immediate future. Tread carefully. Rebuttal Of Statement For No rebuttal submitted. STATEMENT PREPARED BY: John Rankin

Complete Text of Resolution

CITY OF NORMANDY PARK RESOLUTION NO. 817

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF NORMANDY PARK, WASHINGTON, PROVIDING FOR THE SUBMISSION OF A PROPOSITION TO THE QUALIFIED VOTERS OF THE CITY OF NORMANDY PARK AT THE NOVEMBER 3, 2009 GENERAL ELECTION, FOR THEIR APPROVAL OR REJECTION, PROVIDING FOR AUTHORITY TO CREATE A METROPOLITAN PARK DISTRICT PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 35.61 RCW TO BE GOVERNED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORMANDY PARK SERVING AS THE EX OFFICIO BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF SAID METROPOLITAN PARK DISTRICT; AND PROVIDING FOR OTHER MATTERS PROPERLY RELATED THERETO.

WHEREAS, the city of Normandy Park is an Optional Municipal Code City, located in King County, Washington, duly organized and existing pursuant to the laws of the state of Washington; and,

WHEREAS, Chapter 35.61 RCW authorizes a city to create a metropolitan park district wholly within its boundaries; and

WHEREAS, the City’s General Fund is facing a shortfall in excess of $0.40 million for calendar year 2010; and

WHEREAS, across-the-board reductions in expenditures paid from the General Fund could require a 15% or larger cut in individual departments or services; and

WHEREAS, Parks and Recreation services and programs are substantially funded by the General Fund. Additional funding is received in the form of gifts and user charges; and

WHEREAS, the City Council has taken steps to increase user fees and charges for Parks and Recreation facilities; and

WHEREAS, the City’s General Fund cannot support ongoing operation, maintenance and repair required for Mt. Rainier Pool; and

WHEREAS, in order to minimize the impact of cuts in services to people using Normandy Park Parks and Recreation facilities and services the City Council has directed City staff to prepare a proposition to be placed on the November 2009 ballot authorizing the creation of a metropolitan park district pursuant to Chapter 35.61 RCW; and

WHEREAS, a metropolitan park district has additional and independent authority to tax property to raise funds restricted to parks and recreation purposes provided for in Chapter 35.61 RCW; and

WHEREAS, Normandy Park Parks and Recreation are an essential element to the livability, public health, safety and welfare of Normandy Park residents; and,

WHEREAS, the City of Normandy Park does not have available sufficient moneys to sustain and maintain the facilities and services of Parks and Recreation departments of the City; and,

WHEREAS, in order to provide and maintain the Parks and Recreation facilities and services an additional source of funding is necessary; and,

WHEREAS, it is necessary that the funds needed for such expenditure be raised by an additional regular taxes levied in accordance with the law.

NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORMANDY PARK, WASHINGTON DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:

Section 1. Election.  Pursuant to RCW 35.61.020, the Normandy Park City Council hereby calls for submission of a proposition to the qualified electors of the City asking whether the Normandy Park Metropolitan Park District shall be created.  The Director of the King County Records, Elections and Licensing Services Division, as ex officio supervisor of elections in King County, is hereby requested to call the election in the City of Normandy Park on November 3, 2009 in conjunction with the general election to be held on that date.

Section 2. Ballot Proposition. The proposition to be submitted to the electorate of the City of Normandy Park shall read substantially as follows:

CITY OF NORMANDY PARK

PROPOSITION NO. 1

METROPOLITAN PARK DISTRICT

The Normandy Park City Council passed Resolution No. 817 in order to allow voters to decide whether to create a Normandy Park Metropolitan Park District with boundaries coterminous with the boundaries of the City as now or hereafter established and to be governed by the Normandy Park City Council as the ex officio board of commissioners to support parks, aquatics, and recreation programs.  Shall the Normandy Park Metropolitan Park District be so created and governed?

[ ] For the formation of a metropolitan park district to be governed by the City Council of Normandy Park as the ex officio Board of the metropolitan park district commissioners.

[ ] Against the formation of a metropolitan park district.

Section 3. Boundaries of the Normandy Park Metropolitan Park District. The boundaries of the Normandy Park Metropolitan Park District shall encompass the City of Normandy Park, as fully described in Attachment A, attached hereto and incorporated by reference.

Section 4. Effective Date. This Resolution shall be in full force and take effect immediately.

PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORMANDY PARK, WASHINGTON, THIS 14^th DAY OF JULY, 2009; AND SIGNED IN AUTHENTICATION OF ITS PASSAGE THIS 14 ^th DAY OF JULY, 2009.

The Normandy Park City Council, in a unanimous vote, adopted Resolution 819, Opposing Tim Eyman’s Initiative 1033.

City Manager Doug Schulze explained how I-1033 will reduce future revenues for the City.

Schulze reported that revenue shortfalls in 2009, required over $400,000 in cuts and additional cuts of $500,000 are needed for 2010 without I-1033. The City’s annual operating budget is $4.3 m.

I-1033 is intended to reduce property taxes, a regressive tax, which means the amount paid increases as the value of property (wealth) increases. As a result, I-1033 shifts the tax burden to progressive taxes (sales), which are paid equally by everyone regardless of income or wealth.

Based on the projected $500,000 annual impact to the City, the benefit of I-1033 is projected to be $180 for the owner of a $600,000 home in Normandy Park.

However, the owner of a $6.0 m commercial property would see an estimated $1,200 annual benefit.

And according to our sister site The B-Town Blog, the neighboring City of Burien also voted to oppose I-1033.

The Planning Association of Washington, The Washington State Department of Commerce and The Washington Cities Insurance Authority are sponsoring “A Short Course on Local Planning” at the City of Normanday Park’s Council Chambers on Thursday, Sept. 24th from 6:30pm-9:30pm.

Here are the details:

WHAT: “A Short Course on Local Planning”

WHEN: Thursday, Sept. 24th from 6:30pm to 9:30pm

WHERE: City of Normandy Park Council Chambers – City Hall 801 SW 174th Street, Normandy Park, WA 98166

AGENDA:

• WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS: Anne Fritzel 6:40 – 7:40
• THE LEGAL BASIS OF PLANNING IN WASHINGTON STATE: Phil Olbrechts; The statutory basis of planning in Washington State, Constitutional issues in land use planning, the Open Public Meetings Act, the Appearance of Fairness Doctrine, conflicts of interest, quasi-judicial and legislative functions of the planning commission, ex parte communications and how to deal with them, the conduct of meetings, the uses (and misuses) of email, and recent case law affecting land use planning.
• 7:40 – 7:55 BREAK
• 7:55 – 8:00: ANNOUNCEMENTS: Anne Fritzel 8:00 – 8:30
• COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING BASICS: Roger Wagoner; An overview of the basic components of a comprehensive plan, including the goals of the plan, the basic elements which need to be addressed, the concepts of consistency and concurrency, and suggestions for involving citizens in the planning process.
• 8:30 – 9:00 PLAN IMPLEMENTATION AND THE ROLE OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION: Michael Booth; The tools and techniques available for implementing the comprehensive plan, discussion of the role of the planning commission, how to develop good working relationships among the planning commission, elected officials, and planning staff, and suggestions for holding effective meetings and hearings.
• 9:00 – 9:30 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS: Everyone

The evening will be Moderated by Anne Fritzel, AICP Senior Planner Growth Management Services Department of Commerce (PO Box 42525 906 Columbia St SW Olympia, WA 98504 (360) 725-3064) anne.fritzel@commerce.wa.gov; www.commerce.wa.gov/growth

PRESENTERS:

• Phil A. Olbrechts, Attorney at Law Ogden Murphy Wallace 1601 Fifth Avenue, Suite 2100 Seattle, WA 98101-1686 (206) 447-7000 polbrechts@omwlaw.com
• Roger Wagoner, AIA, FAICP Director of Community Design BHC Consultants 1601 Fifth Avenue, Suite 500 Seattle, WA 98101 206.505.3400 roger.wagoner@bhcconsultants.com; www.bhcconsultants.com
• Michael Booth, AICP Director of Environmental and Community Planning Perteet Inc. 2707 Colby Avenue, Suite 900 Everett, WA 98201 (425)252-7700 (800)615-9900; MBooth@perteet.com; www.perteet.com

REGISTRATION:

• Please go to www.wciapool.org and click “training schedule.”
• Click until you get to the month of the training, then click on the title of the training and click “sign up.”
• First time registering online? Click “First Time Online Registration” and complete the Participant Form and create a user name and password to use to register for future trainings.
• Registered before? Enter your personal user name and password
• If you have any questions about registration, please contact Member Services Assistant, Maria Orozco at mariao@wciapool.org and or 206-575-6046 ext. 241.
• For a schedule of Short Course trainings please visit: http://www.commerce.wa.gov/site/395/default.aspx

by Mark Neuman

We spoke recently with Ross Hunter, candidate for King County Executive.

Ross, a Medina Democrat, managed a political miracle, if you will, seven years ago.

The 48th District (Bellevue, Redmond and Kirkland) had not sent a Democrat to the House in over 100 years. Ross got himself elected.

“That was back when it wasn’t fashionable to be a Democrat on the east side. It was hard work. I raised and spent about a quarter of a million dollars. I knocked on eight thousand doors. I worked pretty hard.”

Was there a particular selling point?

“Sure. I’m competent. And I care about public education, the paramount duty of the state legislature.”

We asked Ross about one of his opponents for King County Executive, Susan Hutchison. In a recent direct mail piece Susan said she, if elected, would establish a transportation czar.

“Susan seems to be confused about the powers the King County Executive actually has.

“For her to come in and say she is going to have a czar that takes over the functions of the cities and the state is a fundamental misreading of what the King County Executive is actually allowed to do.

“The job of Executive is a complicated one with a lot of moving parts and a $5 billion budget.

“Unless we coordinate our transportation with our land use we are making the problem worse.”

Ross recently received the endorsement of the Seattle Times.

“Of course it makes you feel good that they (the Times) share your belief that you are competent to do the job.

“Next to the Seattle Times endorsement, I am most proud of the endorsement of the Eastside Business Alliance. This is a group of various chambers of commerce who know their business doesn’t succeed if they don’t have quality education for their kids, or if they don’t have roads.

“Our economy and quality of life depends on us making the wisest use of limited transportation dollars. We are one county, one region, and we should act like it.

“The solution to improving the business climate isn’t always to cut taxes. Making the system fairer and easier to comply with could have much more impact. More service, less overhead. Simplifying and regionalizing how King County does business with its businesses is one way the county can potentially save businesses thousands and thousands of dollars.

“We can simplify the permitting process for builders and contractors. Instead of making a business owner waste time traveling throughout the county to revisit city permitting offices, King County can provide a regional office where businesses can manage their permits at one location.

“Many cities in King County are already doing this and there’s no reason we can’t provide such a service countywide.”

“I propose that King County provides a simple web service for businesses to apply for licenses and calculate and pay business taxes. One tax return, one tax bill.”

Regarding recent budget cuts Ross said “I think we probably need more prosecutors. It’s not a place I would have cut. I also wouldn’t have cut into the public defenders.

“There are normal times and there are special times. This is a special time, because of the unprecedented downturn in the economy.”

Ross said he expects voters of North Highline to approve annexation on August 18.

He supports annexation because with it “There will be somebody to answer residents’ phone calls.”

We’d like to offer a “may the best person win” welcome to Ross Hunter, candidate for King County Executive, our latest Advertiser.

We recently met up with him at a local farmers market for a get-to-know-you chat.

“I’m an agent for change,” said Ross, who is in his fourth term in the Washington State House of Representatives, and worked at Microsoft for 17 years.

“I have the skills to make things happen.”

We asked Ross to talk about former Executive Ron Sims, namely the thing Sims did best while in office, and that which he did not do so well.

“You’d have to include the council in on my answer,” Ross responded. “They really work together. I’d say that they put us on the map environmentally in a positive way.

“But over the years the executive and council showed a lack of attention to financial reality.”

We asked what experience not commonly known about him would suggest he is ready to run the state’s largest county.

“Not many people know this, but I spend time now and again helping Habitat for Humanity,” he said, referring to the group that helps build houses for those who otherwise might not be able to afford one.

“I like to frame. If I can swing a big hammer, I’m happy.”

A hint of the style of a Hunter Administration?

“No,” Ross said with a laugh. “It’s just how I build homes for those who need them!”

Primary Election day is August 18th. The two candidates with the most votes advance to the General Election in November.

For more information on the Ross Hunter campaign go to: www.RossHunter.com.

[Would you like to have a "Blogvertorial" story like this for your Business, along with an Ad on every page seen by over 15,000 interested Local Readers per month? Email us for more info, or check out our Advertise page!]

A Message from Chief Mike Marrs: Bond Update

On behalf of everyone at the Burien/Normandy Park Fire Department, I want to say thank you for supporting our November bond measure. This is the first in a series of communications to keep you updated on the progress we are making on the bond to replace our two fire stations for Burien and Normandy Park.

This was the first bond in the history of the fire department, and it passed by 66% even in this tough economy. Thanks to you, our firefighters and emergency personnel will have safe and healthy stations from which to serve you and your family.

Recently, we hired the architecture firm of Rice Fergus Miller to design the stations and go through the construction permitting process. Rice Fergus Miller has extensive experience designing and permitting other fire stations in King County and Washington. It was important to us that we hire a company with proven experience in working with emergency service providers.

We anticipate the design and permitting process to take just over a year. Once the designs are complete, we plan to unveil your new stations at a public meeting. We will heavily publicize the meeting and hope to see you there!

The next step is to sign a contract with a bond underwriter. Then the bonds are issued and King County will start collecting the taxes that you approved in November. The key here is timing. We have just three years to complete construction on the stations from the time that bonds are issued. We want to make sure that we are project-ready to build before we issue the bonds. Doing so maximizes our bond capacity and minimizes the impact to taxpayers in this tough economy.

No major project is without challenges, however. The biggest one we face is finding an appropriate site for the Burien station. We have identified property owned by the City of Burien, and hope that the City Council will agree to let us build there. We believe this is the most cost-effective and centrally located option for the new station. Talks are ongoing with city officials, and we will report back any progress we make in future updates.

Some good news is that we might have found a better site for the Normandy Road station. We are doing a feasibility study to confirm some details. The important thing is that we are working hard to be good stewards of your tax dollars; if we can save money and still provide the same level of emergency service, we will!

Again, thank you for your continued support of your fire fighters and emergency responders. Stay tuned for more updates as information becomes available.

In the meantime, feel free to contact me with any questions at (206) 242-2040 ext. 101 or by email at: mikemarrs@burienfire.org.

In King County, Countywide Community Forums are a network of small group meetings where people throughout the county can discuss current issues and provide feedback to King County officials.

Two to four times a year, registered citizen councilors meet in homes, libraries and other locations to learn more about an issue that matters to them, discuss it with the group and complete a detailed survey on their views.

The next round of forums will be held in February on the topic:

“Citizen Priorities for County Government:
Budget and Strategic Options.”

For more information on Countywide Community Forums, please go to this website.

Where and when are the forums?
Forums are organized by fellow Citizen Councilors at homes, workplace or libraries 2-4 times a year during a one-month participation window set by the Auditor.  When notified of an upcoming round of forums, you will be able to select the time and place that works best for you on the Countywide Community Forums’ website:

www.CommunityForums.org

If you prefer, the Volunteer Coordinators will help you choose the most convenient forum over the phone.

Here some more info from their website:

Do you want to get more involved?
If you would like to be more involved in Countywide Community Forums, you can volunteer to be a Community Forums Host/Convener. Conveners find a convenient meeting place and conduct a forum session.  You can organize your own group or volunteer to convene a group of citizens who have already registered.  Please register as a convener or contact us to let us know that you are interested.

There are also opportunities to get involved as an outreach volunteer.  Outreach volunteers help spread the word about the community forums to their community or organization.  In particular, we are looking for outreach volunteers in South King County.

Contact us by email or by calling (206) 296-1633.

What to expect at a forum?
At each forum meeting, 4-12 participants:

• Watch a short video and/or review a brief written summary of the key facts and different perspectives on the issue under discussion.
• Take two minutes each to state their views on the topic, uninterrupted by other members of the group.
• Participate in an open group discussion.
• Complete an “Opinionnaire®”: a confidential survey tool that asks specific questions about the current topic and the forums process.

To attend this meeting, you must click here to Sign up/Sign in!

The League of Women Voters of King County South and the Renton AAUW are co-sponsoring a “Pro and Con Forum” on the three state ballot issues and the seven King County Charter Amendments up for decision on Tues. Nov. 4th.

This is a great chance to ask questions and hear the arguments:

WHEN: Thursday, Oct. 23rd, 7-9pm

WHERE: Normandy Park Congregational Church, 19247 1st Ave So, Normandy Park (map below)

View Larger Map

By Chief Mike Marrs
Burien-Normandy Park Fire Department

With all the hoopla over the Presidential candidates, I wanted to gently remind the communities of Burien and Normandy Park that your fire department has a bond on the general election ballot Nov. 4th (download PDF here).

This is the first facilities bond in the 80-year history of your fire department. It would replace our two existing fire stations with two new facilities.

The current fire stations have mold from bad ventilation, and cracks from past earthquakes in the walls and foundations. Neither station has adequate decontamination facilities for firefighters that face hazardous materials on emergency calls. Sleeping quarters are cramped and inappropriate for male and female firefighters that work 24-hour shifts, as well. In addition, our firefighters have been in the crossfire of gang activity, and faced an armed intruder at the Normandy Road Station.

We have been good stewards of your tax dollars, with a long history of clean financial audits from the State. And, now is no different. We’re not going to build the Taj Mahal in these tough economic times. We will build two new facilities to replace the two we have that are past their usable lives.

Both new stations will include decontamination facilities for our firefighters, secure entries and exits, as well as appropriate accommodations to reflect a mixed-gender squad. The Normandy Road Station will have a modest training facility attached to it. The new Headquarters will have an emergency operations center to help coordinate relief efforts in case of large-scale disasters.

The total cost to build the new stations will be $25 millon collected over 20 years. This boils down to approximately $9 per month for the owner of a $300,000 home. We know times are hard right now for many families in our community. Ultimately, the bond decision is yours to make.

Just please remember to mark and mail your ballots by November 4th or go to the polls.

We appreciate your involvement!

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Here at the Normandy Park Blog we open our doors to all voices, so if you'd like to submit your opinion, please email us!]