Seattle City Council member Nick Licata is floating a resolution that would give Burien the go-ahead to explore adopting White Center and several surrounding neighborhoods without waiting for Seattle approval.

WHEREAS, this resolution is not intended to block or obstruct the City of Burien from pursuing annexation of that portion of the North Highline Area designated by Burien as a Potential Annexation Area, should the City of Burien decide to do so at any time; and

This olive branch comes after council president Richard Conlin delayed Seattle annexation—and, by proxy, Burien annexation—at a March 18 committee meeting. I cover Conlin's dithering in this week's issue of the paper:

If approved, Seattle would finally, after 10 years of deliberation, make a decision. If not, Burien would have a chance to adopt the neighborhoods. But council president Richard Conlin screwed White Center: Instead of voting on annexation, Conlin proposed delaying the vote until next February.

A gentleman's agreement between Burien and Seattle gave our city first dibs on White Center until January 2012. But Conlin's delay tactic breaks that agreement, which has put Burien in a bad spot. "We're pretty confused by the mixed message," city manager Mike Martin recently said.