SeaTac – From crime-ridden strip to safe city

The city of SeaTac is holding a 20th birthday celebration March 1 at SeaTac City Hall, 4800 S. 188th St., from 5- 8 p.m. with informational displays, tours, entertainment and refreshments. A ceremony will be held at 6:30 p.m.

Sheila Lengle from the Times/News asked three people involved with the incorporation efforts and subsequent governing of the city to provide their insights.

Betty Brennan was one of the original organizers of the SeaTac Community Council along with her husband, Joe, who served on the city council until his death in October 2008. Frank Hansen was a city council member from 1990 to 2005. Julia Patterson served two terms on the SeaTac council before going on to the state Legislature and then the King County Council where she is a current member.

1. How were you involved with SeaTac’s incorporation efforts?

Betty Brennan: We were part of the original organizers of the SeaTac Community Council. As members, we were two of the six people from the Council invited to Bill Bowlin’s house to decide whether to incorporate the city, annex to an adjoining city or do nothing and leave our future for others to decide. Joe was chairman of the board of fire commissioners and Betty was secretary/treasurer of the SeaTac Community Council and Highline Community Council.

We knocked on thousands of doors to get petitions signed, held media interviews, participated in informational meetings in homes and schools, etc. We organized and held numerous garage sales targeted to raise funds to fight to keep our community from being overtaken by Des Moines or Tukwila. We recruited workers for telephone banks, to host meetings, put up yard signs and, most importantly, to get the future citizens of the city of SeaTac to donate items to sell at the garage sales.

Frank Hansen: When I heard of the incorporation effort, I thought what a great idea and donated financially and doorbelled.

Julia Patterson: I was a member of the original group of citizens who formed an incorporation committee, and campaigned successfully to create the city of SeaTac in 1989. The group was comprised of average people possessing a wide spectrum of political views and backgrounds. We came together motivated by a common desire to improve the quality of our neighborhoods and community. We met by taking turns hosting each other in our living rooms and the old Angle Lake School.

2. What inspired you to become part of SeaTac’s leadership?

Brennan: We had been involved in community activities since the early 1960s in a wide variety of capacities– District 24 firefighter, EMT, commissioner and chairman; Madrona Community Schools, PTA leadership at Madrona Elementary, Chinook Junior High and Tyee High School, Golden Acorn award from Chinook Junior High, and community councils. We knew the strength of the community and the people. We saw the need for leadership of a city and believed that we could be part of it.

With the large tax base in SeaTac, King County was putting back less than half the taxes they were taking from the SeaTac area. We felt the money should stay in the community. The only way for that to happen was to incorporate.

Hansen: When I saw the great possibilities of being a city and what could be accomplished I became anxious to help make things happen.

Patterson: At that time, I was a stay at home mom, raising three small children. I was dismayed by what was happening to my community. There was rampant drug dealing and prostitution on Hwy. 99. King County, the local government for the area, didn’t seem to be responding in any discernable way.

Our parks were ignored, there was no sidewalk program, senior and youth programs were virtually non-existent, crime was highly visible on 99, and in order to find an elected representative to listen to our concerns, we had to travel to the courthouse in downtown Seattle. The Port of Seattle was more or less doing whatever it pleased in our community and we felt that no one was holding them accountable.

I wanted to be a part of the solution that preserved the quality of the community I grew up in, for the sake of my children and others.

3. Back in 1990, what did you envision for SeaTac’s future?

Brennan: We envisioned a financially viable, “neighborhood” city with parks, recreational facilities, schools, and restaurants surrounding the hotels, local industry and the international airport.

We did not envision a large shopping area due to the proximity of nearby malls.

Our vision was simple– we planted a shade tree knowing we would never stop long enough to enjoy the shade. There was much to do, SeaTac had and has an exciting future.

Hansen: Cleaning up the crime on International Boulevard, establishing parks and trails and having our own fire and police services is how I envisioned SeaTac.

Patterson: My vision was for a safe, family friendly city.

A strong police presence resulting in a reduction in the growing crime problem, control over the Port of Seattle’s development and expansion plans, walkable neighborhoods with trails and sidewalks, park and recreation opportunities for our seniors and youth, and a government that was close and responsive – these were the services that I believed could be significantly improved upon.

When I ran for city council, these were the things people talked to me about when I doorbelled.

4. As a council member, is there an accomplishment you are especially proud of?

Brennan:

Recreation Director

Joe pushed hard for the hiring of not only the position of parks manager but also for an experienced recreational director responsible to create large recreational facilities of all types. As a result of his foresight, SeaTac has outstanding recreational programs and facilities for the enjoyment of all residents and the larger community.

SeaTac Fire Department

Joe felt that a city-operated fire department was vastly preferable for the health and safety of the city residents. Without the change, District 24 commissioners would be responsible for the city’s fire fighting and safety needs but not necessarily accountable as they were not a part of the city, nor were they city residents.

With the fire department as part of the city, there was then the ability to channel more funding into the department to provide enhanced training for firefighters, new equipment and upgraded facilities thereby providing a higher level of service for all residents.

City Hall

Joe was extremely proud of his part in the creation of an exceptional city hall and his role in advocating for the large American flag flying out in front of the building.

Hansen: Ridding the city of drugs and prostitution, changing old U.S. 99 from the dubious title of “SeaTac Strip” to a beautiful boulevard and a park-like setting. Establishing a good solid working relationship with the Port of Seattle, which resulted in $200 million for our schools, and acquiring a beautiful city hall and the North SeaTac Park community and senior center.

Patterson: There were many accomplishments that the city council made in those early days. We built a beautiful new community center in North SeaTac Park. We contracted for police services, which increased police presence in our neighborhoods and on Hwy 99. We created the city’s highly successful parks and recreation department, as well as its first senior program.

We did these things without raising taxes and established a tradition of careful budgeting.

I am very proud to have been a founding member of the first city council, which got the city off to a great start.

5. If you’ve continued to be involved in public service briefly tell us how.

Brennan: Joe was involved on the city of SeaTac City Council from its inception until his death in October 2008. During that time, he served twice as mayor and twice as deputy mayor. Joe was the head of various committees but his favorites and primary focus were the Justice/Fire Department Committee and being the chair of the Hotel/Motel Committee.

Additionally, Joe worked with the Museum of Flight to provide financial support to the museum and initiated annual visits and expanded educational opportunities through museum programs for students in SeaTac schools.

Hansen: I am on the board of the Highline YMCA. We just opened our beautiful new $14 million facility on 188th. I am a trustee and board member of the Museum of Flight.

Patterson: I was elected twice to the SeaTac City Council, but then left to serve both in the state House of Representatives, as well as the state Senate.

I’m currently serving my third term on the King County Council– ironic, considering the fact that I first became interested in politics because I perceived that the county was ignoring my neighborhood prior to its incorporation.

6. Please tell a funny story pertaining to the incorporating or governing of SeaTac.

Brennan: SeaTac has the distinction of being one of the few, if not only, city to fund the incorporation effort with garage sales and donations.
The garage sales not only were the primary source of funding but additionally was the information outlet to the community to increase the awareness of all the local residents.

At a National Convention of Cities meeting held in Salt Lake City, UT, a helpful SeaTac City Council person was assisting Joe in his wheelchair down a long, sloped ramp at the convention center. As gravity took hold of the wheelchair, Joe and the chair started moving faster and faster despite the best efforts of the city council person. As the wind blew through his hair and holding on for dear life with the helpful council member running to keep up with Joe and the chair, the situation was quickly out of control as they headed for the glass doors at the bottom of the ramp. Disaster was averted at the last possible moment as she was able to turn the chair before hitting the doors and come to a breathless stop. Just like the formation of SeaTac, it was an exciting ride.

Once the new city hall was purchased the need for a flagpole was obvious. The question of the height of the flagpole and the size of the flag was a matter of much debate. Joe strongly felt the flag and flagpole should make a strong patriotic statement and be visible from the valley floor. How to determine the height then? They came up with the ingenious solution of tying a helium balloon to a measured string to send the balloon up to the proposed height with an observer in the valley to report when the balloon was visible.

Hansen: During my first term as mayor we had an aggressive program to eliminate drugs and prostitution, including “John” sting operations. One evening I was headed north on International Boulevard when I noticed a very attractive lady standing by the road. As I got closer, I realized it was one of our police officers, Katy Horgan. I waved at her and kept going. The next day at city hall, Officer Katy told me it was good I hadn’t stopped as Channel 5 was filming from across the street and that would have been hard to explain.

Patterson: At a class reunion I was having a nice conversation with a Tyee classmate who, like me, had not moved from the neighborhood. This was during the first city council campaign, and he told me was seeing these “Vote for Julia Patterson” signs popping up all over the place. He was certain that she must be someone from the outside, being supported by “big money” special interests. He told me she was probably coming into the city in order to give the Port whatever they wanted.
I quietly pulled out my wallet, showed him my driver’s license and said, “I guess you didn’t realize that my married name is now Patterson?”

Needless to say, one of those signs popped up in his yard the next day.