Shoreline Council to Vote on Aurora Square Renewal and Marriage Equality Tonight

The Shoreline City Council will be voting on three resolutions at tonight's meeting at 7 p.m. at City Hall, the first meeting since Aug. 13 when the Council took a break for summer recess.

The Council may vote to approve Resolution No. 333 which would establish a Community Renewal Area (CRA) for Aurora Square Area on Westminster Way.

Aurora Square has been in decline for some time according to the city, more than four decades after Sears first opened there as an anchor tenant.

Some businesses there are doing fine such as the popular Central Market and others, but there are several buildings that have been vacant for years. 

The city under the leadership of economic development director Dan Eernissee believes by creating a community renewal area it can assist the multiple property owners of Aurora Square in creating a more vibrant space to do business.

At its Aug. 13 meeting, several Councilmembers indicated support for this proposal.

The Council is expected to support Resolution No. 332 Supporting Approval of the Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) Levy on the November 6 General Election Ballot.

The AFIS program is used by the King County Sheriff's Office, including Shoreline, which contracts with the county for police services.

The technology was used to quickly identify and arrest a Shoreline rape suspect who assaulted a 12-year-old girl who lived down the street last December.

Also on the agenda is gay marriage in the form of Resolution No. 331, Supporting Marriage Equality and Approval of Referendum 74.

Mayor Keith McGlashan, who is openly gay, and the Council have already expressed support for gay marriage this year and is expected to do so again in anticipation of the Nov. 6 ballot.