The City of SeaTac will be hosting an Open House from 5pm to 8pm on Monday, Dec. 7th to showcase new plans for downtown development.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Open house to see what the future holds for the city’s downtown, with city leaders including the City Manager and representatives from the Departments of Public Works and Planning. Consultants from KPG (engineers/architects), Heartland, LLC (analysis/project management/development), and Seth Harry & Associates (architect/urban design)

WHEN: Monday, December 7, 2009, 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

WHERE: Holiday Inn Conference Center, located at 17338 International Blvd., SeaTac, Wash. 98188

INFO: From a press release:

Help shape the future of your community.

This is your chance to review maps and renderings of the planned downtown and experience the vision for the future of the City of SeaTac.

Talk to city leaders and development experts.

Learn where the project is headed and share your thoughts.

Sound Transit’s Link Light Rail Station will be opening December 19, 2009 at International Blvd. and S. 176th Street is located at the entrance to the envisioned SeaTac Downtown/City Center.

Families are welcome. Refreshments will be available. Free parking will be provided.

For additional information please contact the City of SeaTac at 206-973-4820.

Incorporated in February 1990, the City of SeaTac is located approximately midway between the cities of Seattle and Tacoma. The City of SeaTac is 10 square miles in area and has a population of 25,230. The City of SeaTac is a vibrant community, economically strong, environmentally sensitive, and people-oriented. The City boundaries surround the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, (approximately 3 square miles in area) which is owned and operated by the Port of Seattle.

For more information contact Jeff Robinson, Economic Development Manager, at (206) 973-4812.

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The Port of Seattle Tuesday announced Tuesday that Sea-Tac Airport won first place for the Best “Green” Concessions Practice award among airports in North America.

The “green” in the award is referring of course the ecological elements that the food vendors at the airport use.

The honor was announced during the 2009 Airports Council International – North America Concessions Conference in Indianapolis, at which roughly 200 representatives of North American airport concessions industry were in attendance.

Sea-Tac was also awarded second place for Best Convenience Retail Program.

“We are thrilled to be recognized by our airport peers for our integrated recycling, composting and food bank program,” said Mark Reis, the airport’s Managing Director. “The airport concessionaires and staff have worked tirelessly to divert recyclable and compostable materials from landfills and thereby reducing waste, feeding the needy and helping lead our region and the airport industry to a sustainable future.”

According to a Port press release, during 2008, airport concessionaires recycled more than 1,200 tons of material – an amount equivalent to the weight of six Boeing 747 aircraft. During the same period, they avoided disposal costs and generated revenue through rebates on recyclables which totaled $160,000. Sea-Tac concessionaires made waste reduction and recycling a priority by recycling cardboard, used cooking oil, food waste and coffee grounds. Since 2001, Sea-Tac concessionaires diverted thousands of tons of recyclable material from landfills through recycling, composting, and food bank donation programs. Concessionaires donated food that served 8,000 meals to needy families in 2008.

Sea-Tac’s recycling programs are even estimated to have prevented the release of Greenhouse Gas emissions equivalent to removing 819 passenger cars from the road annually; conserved an amount of energy equivalent to the annual energy consumption of 83 households (USEPA Waste Reduction Model), and saved 3,700 cubic yards of landfill space.

The purpose of the Airport Concessions Contest is to inspire creativity in the industry and to recognize innovative and outstanding airport concessions. These awards help to demonstrate the growing importance of concessions to the total airport experience. This year’s contest received more than 160 nominations from airports of all sizes throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Here are the results of the categories involving Sea-Tac Airport:

• Best “Green” Concession Practice or Concept 
1st Place: Seattle-Tacoma International Airport 
2nd Place: C-Pier Expansion, Vancouver International Airport
3rd Place: Concourse D, Portland International Airport
Honorable Mention: Enroute Spa, Indianapolis International Airport
• Best Convenience Retail Program – Large Airport 
1st Place: Atrium, Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport
2nd Place: Seattle Tacoma International Airport

Entries for this year’s contest were judged by an independent panel comprised of high-level professionals with no vested interest in concession operations, or the outcome of any one airport. In addition to the independent panel, one representative from the previous year’s overall winner was also involved in the judging process.

Previously, Sea-Tac Airport won the Richard A. Griesbach Award of Excellence in 2007 recognizing the Best Food and Beverage Program in North America. That year, three additional awards were won by Sea-Tac and its merchants: 1st place, Best Specialty Retail Program, 2nd place, Best New Food and Beverage Concept [Waji’s], and 2nd place, Best New Consumer Services Concept [butter LONDON].

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You can now get free wi-fi at Sea-Tac Airport, courtesy of Google, which announced Tuesday that it is now sponsoring free wireless access at 47 airports around the US.

Sea-Tac’s free offer (along with Burbank Airport), are considered “indefinite,” while the others are scheduled to expire Jan. 15, 2010.

According to the Google Free Wi-Fi website:

When you’re traveling this holiday season, you can enjoy free WiFi at 47 participating airports and on every Virgin America flight. Just bring a WiFi-enabled laptop or mobile device and stay connected to family and friends for free while you travel now through January 15, 2010.

The promotion, in cooperation with three wireless carriers, is clearly a marketing effort to use free Wi-Fi to boost the Google brand.

Just be careful when logging on though – many hackers have set up “Free Wi-Fi” networks in public places, so make sure you’re actually hopping on board the Google one.

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Hey we know times are tough, so when you find a good thing you stick with it, but this is ridiculous – the King County Sheriff’s Department says a man robbed the same Wells Fargo Bank twice!

The bank is located inside the Safeway Store at 4011 South 164th in SeaTac.

The robber first struck about 5:50pm on June 17th. He presented the teller with a robbery note, then fled with the cash. No weapon was seen.

Tuesday of this week (Aug. 25th) the same bad guy struck again just after 5pm. He again used a note, was given the cash and walked out. No weapon was seen.

No one saw a getaway car after either robbery.

The robber is a Hispanic male in his 30, between 5’8” to 5’11” tall with black hair. He wore dark sunglasses and a tan zip-up jacket in both robberies. He wore a white baseball cap in the most recent incident.

Here are his pics from the surveillance camera – recognize him?

If anyone recognizes this suspect they are asked to call the King County Sheriff’s Office at (206) 296-3311 (24 hours) or 911 immediately.

The tellers there are getting tired of seeing him.

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The Port of Seattle Monday announced that an estimated 3,000 jobs will be restored when the airport “Consolidated Rental Car Facility” parking garage construction begins again.

The Port of Seattle, the City of SeaTac, Turner Construction and representatives from the Washington State Building & Construction Trades Council and King County Labor Council will officially re-start the construction at a press conference and media photo opportunity on Wednesday, July 22nd at 10:30am.

Construction on the $419 million, 23-acre site will generate more than 3,000 local, family-wage jobs and nearly $2 million in tax revenue for the City of SeaTac over the life of the project. At least 1,000 jobs are expected to be created by the end of 2009. The facility is scheduled to open in spring of 2012.

The Sea-Tac Airport Consolidated Rental Car Facility will support all airport-related rental car operations at one convenient location. It is designed to meet the current and future demands of the traveling public. The facility will be a five-story structure that will greatly improve the size, space, and efficiency of rental car operations that are currently spread out from the main terminal garage and multiple off-site locations. In addition, the facility will open up two floors of public parking, more than 3,200 spaces, in the main terminal garage.

The project was temporarily suspended in December 2008 due to the meltdown in the global credit market. The Port of Seattle Commission approved the successful sale of $317 million in revenue bonds in late June in order to re-start the project.

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by Ralph Nichols

Federal and state funding from earmarks and other targeted appropriations is critical for continued economic growth in Southwest King County, officials from three Highline cities said Friday (July 10th).

Burien Councilwoman Sally Nelson, representing Mayor Joan McGilton, along with SeaTac Mayor Ralph Shape and Tukwila Mayor Jim Haggerton delivered annual reports on the economic state of their cities at the Southwest King County Chamber of Commerce monthly membership luncheon at the Red Lion Hotel in SeaTac.

Burien Councilmember Sally Nelson spoke on behalf of Burien Mayor McGilton.

“Earmarks have gotten a bad rap but the needs of local government depend on federal and state funding,” said Nelson. Yet, she recalled, Congressman Jim McDermott, D-Seattle, said at last month’s dedication of the King County Regional Library/Burien City Hall that the new building “is an example of earmarks at work.”

“We can’t do this alone,” agreed Shape. Local governments depend on funding by the federal government, he added. Haggerton noted that state law limits cities and counties to property tax revenue increases of 1 percent per year except on new development, and that much of this money goes for fire and police services and health care.

Focusing on current economic development in Burien, Nelson said the city’s Town Square “never would have happened without a changed (SW) 152nd Street – the redesign and rebuilding of Burien’s “main street” that preceded construction of new condominiums and street-level retail space in addition to the library/city hall through a public-private partnership.

SeaTac Mayor Ralph Shape

For sustained economic recovery and development to happen, strong partnerships are needed, Nelson continued. Local economic development depends on “strong transportation systems, strong water and wastewater systems … managed and paid for by local government, but this will not happen without strong support by state and federal government.”

Planning and opportunity are meeting in SeaTac, which Shape described as “a transportation-centric city.” New development is taking place on the west side of Tukwila International Boulevard across from the light rail station, and will include both commercial space and multi-family housing. Planned at South 176th Street across International Boulevard from the light rail airport station is “a vibrant mix of restaurants, shops, entertainment and residential” developments, which will be easily accessible to light rail and air passengers as well as city residents.

Shape said updated zoning laws that encourage higher population densities in these areas along with easier permitting are encouraging these developments as well as other businesses to relocate to SeaTac. In addition, good fiscal management is helping SeaTac weather the current economic storm, he added. These projects have been in the planning stage for years, and “now is the time to implement them.”

Tukwila Mayor Jim Haggerton

Haggerton observed that while Tukwila is a small city with a population of only 18,000, it provides 42,000 jobs. And Westfield Southcenter Mall, which generates many of these jobs, is planning to develop the north side of the mall – with improved pedestrian access – in the wake of the recent expansion on the mall’s south side.

After five years, the Tukwila South project – a new non-central business district development on the current Segale property south of South 180th Street – is moving forward, he said. And a developer has been selected for the Tukwila Village project along Tukwila International Boulevard, which is expected to revitalize that area with new retail and housing.

Reminding chamber members that light rail service between Tukwila International Boulevard at Southcenter Boulevard and downtown Seattle begins this coming Saturday, July 18th, King County Councilwoman Julia Patterson (SeaTac) said this will usher in “extraordinary opportunities for economic development in South King County.”

In addition, it “will provide the opportunity for us to get out of our cars and go into Seattle (by light rail) to work, to go to a play, to go to a Mariners’ game. This is an exciting, exciting event … and the biggest investment in infrastructure, except for what the Port has done at the airport, in South King County.

Patterson, who also serves on the Sound Transit board, added that the grand opening for light rail service from Tukwila on to Sea-Tac International Airport will take place in December.

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During the City of SeaTac’s recent annual City Council retreat, both the Mayor and City Council received a mid–year update of the city’s economic status and the news is encouraging.

“While not immune to the wider economic downturn, the City’s fiscal position is strong even though some important revenues sources have declined,” said Mayor Ralph Shape. “Despite the bad news of the national economy and the challenges facing many municipalities in our region and around the country, the benefits of fiscal prudence and careful planning over many years are helping the City of SeaTac weather the storm.”

The City was able to trim nearly a million dollars of general fund expenses this year without reducing services to residents or businesses. The City has also identified investments that can be delayed, as needed, until revenue levels return to normal.

“Even better news may be on the horizon,” said Craig Ward, SeaTac’s City Manager. “Years of a strategic investments, low taxes, and careful grooming of our economic opportunities have positioned us well to maintain our budgets and recover more quickly from this downturn than many other cities.”

Recent investments in public facilities, roads and parks have developed an infrastructure that will support more private sector investments, as the City still sees taking place new airport–oriented developments, light rail stations, and residential neighborhoods.

The City of SeaTac was incorporated in Feb. 1990, and is 10 square miles in area and has a population of 25,230. SeaTac is a vibrant community, economically strong, environmentally sensitive, and people-oriented. The City boundaries surround the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, (approximately 3 square miles in area) which is owned and operated by the Port of Seattle.

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Jeffrey C. Sullivan, US Attorney for the Western District of Washington announced Friday (June 5th) that five people have been arrested in connection with a mortgage fraud scheme that allegedly cheated area banks and property sellers out of more than $18 million.

The five arrested include:

• HUMBERTO A. REYES-RODRIGUEZ, a/k/a Tony Reyes, 42, of Federal Way, Washington
• ALEXIS IKILIKYAN, a/k/a Haikanush Ikilikyan, 29, of Auburn, Washington
• WILLIAM S. POFF, 37, of Marshall, Michigan
• MICKI S. THOMPSON, 54, of Tacoma, Washington
• MARIO A. MARROQUIN, 38, of Kent, Washington

All have been indicted by a federal grand jury for Conspiracy to Commit Bank and Wire Fraud and Money Laundering. The conspirators obtained financing from banks and, in some cases, also from sellers who were convinced to extend private loans for a portion of the purchase price. These private loans, which were not disclosed to the banks, as well as a web of fictitious rental companies, allowed the conspirators to obtain loan proceeds far beyond the value of the assets securing those loans, and beyond their ability to pay.

“This complex investigation uncovered a group of real estate professionals who manipulated home sales for pure profit while some of the properties went into foreclosure and innocent private citizens were defrauded,” said Leigh Winchell, Special Agent in Charge of ICE’s Office of Investigations. ICE will continue to use its unique investigative authority to uncover illegal financial transactions in an effort to stop this type of fraudulent activity.”

According to the detailed indictment, both REYES-RODRIGUEZ and ALEXIS IKILIKYAN worked as both licensed real estate agents and mortgage loan originators. ALEXIS IKILIKYAN’s ex-husband, WILLIAM S. POFF was a licensed notary and worked as a loan originator.

MICKI S. THOMPSON was an employee of Great American Escrow who acted as the closing officer for many of the fraudulent sales. Between 2005 and 2008, the conspirators used straw buyers to purchase and resell properties, obtaining more than 80 loans totaling more than $18 million. The conspirators submitted a variety of false information to the banks such as employment, income, citizenship status, assets and liabilities. The conspirators also submitted false appraisals and created fictitious companies that were allegedly doing repair work on the properties. Money at closing would go to these entities that, in reality, had done no work on the property. Defendant MARIO A. MARROQUIN headed fictitious repair companies and acted as a straw buyer.

In this scheme, the conspirators did not just damage banks and financial institutions. Innocent sellers were harmed when they agreed to loan the buyer a portion of the purchase price, to be paid back over time. The sellers did not know that the conspirators had already obtained 100 percent financing from commercial lenders. When payments were not made and properties fell into foreclosure, and then were sold for less than the total of all loans secured by the property, the sellers holding private notes were left with nothing.

The indictment alleges there were fraudulent mortgage transactions in communities across the Puget Sound region:

• SeaTac
• Des Moines
• Tacoma
• Seattle
• Puyallup
• Spanaway
• Auburn
• Bellevue
• Renton
• Lakewood
• Fircrest
• Kent
• Pacific
• Issaquah

Those arrested in the Seattle area were scheduled to make their initial appearances in federal court Friday afternoon at 2:30pm.

The conspiracy and money laundering charges are punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine.

The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

The case is being investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Sarah Vogel and Darwin Roberts.

More information available here.

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BECU staffers Truyen, Angela, David (branch manager) Tina in front of their Neighborhood BECU location in Redondo.

Welcome Our Latest Advertiser: BECU (Boeing Employees Credit Union)!

BECU is the largest credit union in Washington with assets of $8.2 billion with over 540,000 members. It is one of the top five financial cooperatives in the United States. As a not-for-profit financial cooperative, BECU is owned by its members, and its earnings are returned to the members in the form of better interest rates and lower fees for services.

BECU “walks the walk and talks the talk” when it comes to giving back to the communities they serve. We interviewed the managers of the BECU offices in our coverage area to see if they’re ‘walking and talking’.

David Paice, Manager of Redondo BECU located at 25250 Pacific Highway South in Fred Meyer’s – right when you walk in the door! David was born to manage with BECU. He was 19 when he started there, and less that seven years later he was branch manager. He’s been with BECU for over nine years, and during this time he went to school and got his MBA. His thoughts on BECU:

“It’s a great place to work.BECU provides a great environment and culture for our employees and members. Finally we have a great involvement with our communities.”

And speaking of involvement, in addition to managing the Redondo branch, David has thrown himself into volunteering in the communities he serves. He’s most particuarly interested in education and the issues of children. A board member for the Des Moines Legacy Foundation which raises funds for both the Senior Activity Center and youth at risks. It is a not for profit organization entering it’s 10th year in Des Moines.

He is also on the Highline Community College Foundation Board. David’s been on the board of the Highline Fund For Excellence which raises money and awareness of the Highline School District. Currently he is co-chair of this years’ Highline Fund For Excellence awards program on May 29th.

He joined the Des Moines Rotary Club two years ago, and is an active participant in their Poverty Bay Wine Festival. Monies raised from this event help children and students in the area.

David is a product of the Highline School District, and owes a lot of what he’s achieved in life to his association with HSD. A Tyee grad, and former Burien resident, David and his wife recently relocated to house four blocks from the house he grew up in. Not on purpose, they liked the house!

After we left David and his BECU Neighborhood Financial Center in Kent/Des Moines, we journied North to the BECU Tukwila Financial Center, at 12770 Gateway Drive.

Branch Manager Tricia Singer was glad to show us around the facility. In this BECU center, there’s 29 tellers, and 31 consulatants. The drive-thru accommodates six cars (see photo below).

Tricia’s been with BECU for 6 years, and a branch manager for over a year. When it comes to serving her community her “passion is the Tukwila Food Pantry, which serves Tukwila, and parts of Burien and SeaTac.” She grew up on food bank food, so she understands its importance to a community. She’s on the board and volunteers with her 13-year old daughter. She’s also recruited several tellers and bankers to volunteer.

Repeating David’s sentiments about BECU being such a great place to work, she added that at BECU it’s all about the members.

“When we say we’re here for the members, we are. With any decision made we ask ‘what is the benefit for our members?’” Tricia added.

Tricia serves on the Employee Involvement Committee which encompasses the Annual Member Scholarships for high school graduates and undergraduates that last year distributed over $1 million to 500 receipients who excelled in academics, leadership and displayed a passion for helping others. She also works on the annual Ebay Auction for Children’s Miracle Netork, which will be held June 1 – 11.

A graduate of Evergreen High School, Tricia is a lifelong resident of the unincorporated Highline area.

In the Burien area you can find BECU banking ATMs at Fred Meyer and Five Corners. You can see David and his staff at the Redondo Branch, or visit Tricia at the BECU Banking Center 12770 Gateway in Tukwila.

Membership is no longer limited to Boeing Company employees and their families. All Washington state residents are now eligible to join BECU. The minimum deposit required to join is $5.

So, click on their ad, visit a branch, and start your relationship with BECU today!

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Burien’s Highline Medical Center has been chosen as one of the “Top 10 Healing Hospitals” for 2008 by Baptist Healing Trust, a Christian foundation based in Nashville, Tennessee.

Highline was singled out as lucky number seven in the list. This year’s six-member selection panel reviewed hospitals coast-to-coast before making their decisions about the winners. Panel members consisted of Presidents & CEOs from hospitals and health systems across the nation.

The “Healing Hospital” recognition was created to honor hospitals and leaders that have made a special commitment to creating cultures that demonstrate compassion and quality. Each hospital honored in the list has “demonstrated extraordinary commitment to patient and employee-centered care,” according to the release.

They are also noted for embarking upon a journey of establishing a Healing Hospital environment.

In addition to Highline, this year’s recipients include:

• Baylor Medical Center in Dallas, Texas
• Griffin Hospital in Derby, Connecticut
• The 2006 Baldrige Award-recipient Sharp Healthcare in San Diego, California

“This is wonderful recognition and a real tribute to our staff and medical staff for all they do to support the Planetree philosophy of patient-centered care at Highline Medical Center. We are honored to receive this distinction alongside such well-respected hospitals from across the nation,” stated Mark Benedum, CEO of Highline Medical Center. “This recognition supports our mission of providing high quality, compassionate health care in a healing environment to our patients and the community.”

More information on Highline Medical Center available here.

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