Federal Way is inviting the public to say goodbye and share a piece of cake next week with two City Council members and former mayors who have a combined 28 years in their elected offices.

The reception for departing councilmen Jack Dovey and Mike Park is set for Dec. 6 at 6 p.m., at Federal Way City Hall, 33325 8th Ave. S.

Both men are small business owners, and both were originally appointed to fill vacancies on the council in 1995 before going on to win election to their seats. Dovey held the appointed mayor position in 2008 and 2009. …

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Federal Way city leaders have approved spending more money on a sand-sculpting competition.

The City Council voted 5-1 Tuesday night to spend another $25,000 from the city’s hotel-motel tax, or lodging tax. The council also approved moving $5,000 that was designated for a parade to the budget for the sand-sculpting competition.

Organizers said $5,000 wasn’t enough money to fund a parade in conjunction with the event.

The council’s action increases the total city money for this summer’s “Tour of Champions” competition to $53,000, including $23,0000 approved earlier this year. All of the money will come from the city’s …

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Sound Transit’s board decided today to study whether there are less costly options that could extend light rail to Federal Way sooner than projected.

Board members were sympathetic to concerns voiced by Federal Way leaders over Sound Transit’s projections that light rail to Federal Way will be delayed from 2023 until 2034 at the earliest.

“The good news for Federal Way is I think we’re going to get there,” said board member and Sumner Mayor Dave Enslow. “I’m not exactly sure when.”

Sound Transit officials aren’t even sure for now how long the new alternatives analysis study will take. The board decided to study transit alternatives – including light rail and bus service – all the way to the Tacoma Dome.

Studying alternatives to Federal Way – including elevated light rail along Interstate 5 instead of state Route 99 – could take a year, said Sound Transit planner David Beal.

Federal Way Mayor Skip Priest said he appreciated that the board heard the concerns of those who live in Federal Way and Northeast Tacoma. But Priest said he’ll be looking down the road for Sound Transit to take action, not just study.

“The devil is in the details,” Priest said.

Priest and Federal Way City Council members Jeanne Burbidge and Linda Kochmar politely but firmly voiced their concerns to the board today about Sound Transit’s projected delay in extending light rail to South 272nd Street, Federal Way’s northern boundary.

Priest described the delay as a “broken promise” to Federal Way’ workers while more well-to-do areas get light rail sooner.

“The rich get richer while the working class gets the shaft,” Priest said.

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Federal Way city leaders have said they strongly oppose Sound Transit’s projected delay in bringing light rail to Federal Way, setting up a showdown with the transit agency’s board Thursday.

The Federal Way City Council voiced its opposition Tuesday night by unanimously passing a resolution that included the possibility of legal action against Sound Transit.

The council urged Sound Transit to rethink its options to a delay, such as a less-expensive light rail route along Interstate 5 instead of State Route 99.

The seven council members also urged the transit agency to factor in ridership, population and socioeconomic profile to balance cuts among the five subareas of the regional system.

The resolution also left open the option of the city suing Sound Transit.

“The city is reviewing legal options to enforce” the 2008 ballot measure, the resolution said. That’s when voters approved a $17.9 billion mass transit measure that included bringing light rail to South 272nd Street.

City Attorney Pat Richardson said today she doesn’t know yet what the city’s legal alternatives are, but added filing a lawsuit is always a legal option.

The delay to Federal Way would put off and potentially jeopardize construction of light rail to Tacoma.

Tacoma City Council member Jake Fey said last week that Sound Transit should reconsider the goal of connecting light rail from Sea-Tac Airport to Tacoma. Fey is also a Sound Transit board member.

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Protecting children against online predators and objectionable online content will be some of the topics covered at the Internet Safety Night Monday night at Lakota Middle School in Federal Way.

A Federal Way police crime prevention officer and a detective specializing in crimes against children will be among the speakers.

The program, sponsored by the school and its PTA, is designed to help parents and is open to the public. The event will take place at 6:30 p.m. Monday in the Lakota commons at 1415 S.W. 314th St., Federal Way.

Topics to be covered include:
– The importance of …

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Federal Way City Council members voiced anger, dismay and disappointment Tuesday night that Sound Transit plans to postpone expanding light rail to Federal Way from 2023 to as late as 2040.

Council member Jim Ferrell erupted when a Sound Transit official said the planned extension from Highline Community College to South 272nd Street is the only proposed cut from Sound Transit projects to be finished by 2023.

“That’s absolutely incredible,” Ferrell said. “You left us with the impression that times are tough all over. Apparently, they’re only tough for South King County.”

David Beal, acting director of planning and development for Sound Transit, told the council the proposed delay of the Federal Way extension – estimated to cost $600 million – is due to falling revenue projections.

The Federal Way extension planned in 2008 required more money to be borrowed than in other areas of the three-county light rail system, Beal said.

The economic downtown since then compounded the problem, he said.

Sales tax collections for Sound Transit’s South King County subarea are projected to fall by 31 percent from 2009 to 2023. Each subarea is expected to pay the costs for its Sound Transit projects.

Sound Transit hasn’t been able to resolve the confluence of funding problems for bringing light rail to Federal Way, Beal said.

If light rail doesn’t arrive in Federal Way by 2034 at the earliest as Sound Transit projects, Tacoma will have an even longer wait, Federal Way Mayor Skip Priest said.

“If you’re in Tacoma, I don’t think you’ve been born yet if you’re going to see light rail,” Priest said. “If it is a dream here, it is a mirage in Tacoma.”

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Federal Way will have the city’s first community bike ride April 17.

The 8.2-mile ride is open to all cyclists.

Cycling enthusiasts and the police department’s bike squad are joining together for the event, promoting safe bicycling in the city.

Riders will meet at 10 a.m. April 17 at the Federal Way Community Center, 876 S. 333rd St. The route will include the BPA Trail and safe back roads and neighborhood streets, including a break at the Fred Meyer Shopping Center in Twin Lakes. Members of the police bike squad will help lead the ride.

Groups will be divided by …

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Recycle and they will come.

More than 1,100 people turned out for a “one-stop” recycling event sponsored by the City of Federal Way.

People dropped off more than 167,000 pounds of recyclable and reusable materials to the Twin Lakes Park & Ride March 19. That’s more than 75 metric tons of material, about the weight of five school buses, the city reported.

The city sponsors the free recycling events each spring and fall, accepting items not collected at the curb or banned from disposal.

People brought appliances, wood, mattresses, tires, electronics, Styrofoam blocks, used motor oil, antifreeze, batteries, and fluorescent …

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