I've long thought that having a regional government be the governing authority for the Tacoma-Everett-Kirkland region would be the proper system to have: turn the cities into bouroughs and have a Puget Sound Metropolis Government (that encompasses Seattle).

This would politically solve many intractable problems that are being naturally caused by local tribes sparring. I think it's likely the proper solution to the urban/suburban donut problem we have in many regions in the US.