City of Burien

The Burien City Council discussed the collaboration between police and human services, approved a request for proposals to seek out and hire the next city manager, approved a new recycling incentive program, adopted the 2022 Comprehensive Plan docket, and approved a reconstruction waiver for a single-family residence construction project.

The Burien City Council adopted the mid-biennium budget update. They also issued a proclamation in honor of people with disabilities as well proclamations to honor outgoing councilmembers Krystal Marx, Pedro Olguin, and Nancy Tosta. The City Council heard updates on major grants, discussed Kinect@Burien’s apprenticeship program donation, reviewed the tree memorial program, discussed updated tree regulations, clarified process for the approval of the DESC supportive housing project, and discussed councilmember salaries.

The Burien City Council discussed during a study session COVID-19 rent assistance, rental housing inspection program, 2022 proclamations and other observances, and the Affordable Housing Demonstration Program.

The Burien City Council hosted special meeting on the mid-biennium budget update. They adopted an increase to surface water management fees and property tax levy. They also discussed increasing the per capita rate for the Human Services Fund and changing the policy to re-evaluate the rate from every two years to every year. The City Council also discussed key areas of the budget with final adoption of the budget scheduled for December 6, 2021.

The Burien City Council issued a proclamation in honor of American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month and adopted a review process for Enhanced Services Facilities. They also discussed a process to hire the next city manager, the state legislative agenda, public art grant recipients, mid-biennium budget update, and city councilmember and city manager salaries.

The Burien City Council hosted a joint special meeting with the Business and Economic Development Partnership (BEDP), an advisory board made up of local business owners and community members who advise the City Council on topics related to economic development.

The Burien City Council adopted the City of Burien’s first Climate Action Plan, discussed their federal legislative agenda, and discussed the 2021–2022 mid-biennium budget update, including property tax levy and surface water management fees.

The Burien City Council discussed the insurance, Climate Action Plan, Boulevard Park Flooding Study, King County’s crisis response system, and appointments to regional boards and committees during a study session.

The Burien City Council continued discussions on the 2021-2022 mid-biennium budget update, adopted an ordinance making rental housing business license fees consistent with all other business license fees, and discussed a resolution to oppose subminimum wages in Burien.

The Burien City Council issued four proclamations, discussed a Native Land and People acknowledgment, reviewed work plans for the Parks and Recreation Board and Arts Commission, began mid-biennium budget discussions, discussed a redesigned utility tax relief program, discussed amendments to the Comprehensive Plan, and reviewed an amendment to the operating agreement between the City of Burien and King County Library System.

The City Council held a study session to discuss extension of Burien’s eviction moratorium, City bonds refinancing, a new fee study, community feedback gathered for the Ambaum and Boulevard Park Community Plans project, and a list of proclamations for 2022.

The City Council issued two proclamations, heard an update on new use-of-force policies from King County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO), announced an intention to extend Burien’s eviction moratorium through December 31, approved contracts to support new technology in council chambers and evaluation of the Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP), passed a resolution to support refugees, and approved a vaccine mandate for City of Burien employees.

The City Council issued a proclamation in support of Welcoming Week, discussed the annual crime report, heard an update on the Ambaum and Boulevard Park Community Plan, and discussed interim zoning changes for Ambaum Blvd SW, solid waste requirements for businesses, Burien’s rental housing policy, and a vaccine mandate for City of Burien staff.

Council discussed progress on building a shared public works and parks maintenance facility, selected candidates to interview for membership on the Arts Commission, approved joining the Welcoming Network, discussed the WRIA-9 salmon habitat plan, and more.

Council proclaimed July as Park and Recreation Month, approved re-financing of bonds, approved new investments in public safety, appointed new members to airport committees, discussed hazard pay for essential workers as well as eviction moratorium, and approved more time to develop an interlocal agreement for DESC Burien supportive housing development.

Burien City Council discussed plans for federal relief funding, approved DESC's application into the Affordable Housing Demonstration Program, discussed public safety in downtown Burien, discussed Juneteenth as an official holiday for city staff, approved a Teamsters contract, and approved an eviction moratorium extension.

Burien City Council issued two proclamations, gave three Burien community members a Citizen of the Year award, approved Black Lives Matter artist proposal, and approved minor budget items.

Burien City Council held a study session to discuss updates to a new land use study, climate action plan, police services, and hazard pay for frontline workers.

Burien City Council postponed a decision on whether to accept a supportive housing project into the Affordable Housing Demonstration Program. They also discussed transportation projects, 2021 property taxes, a new state drug possession law and investments in diversion programs, city equity efforts, and new business license code. They also selected this year’s recipients of the Burien Citizen of the Year Award.

Council issued four proclamations honoring Asian American and Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Older Americans Month, Peace Officers Memorial Day, and Affordable Housing Week, heard an update on King County’s efforts to change sheriff position from elected to appointed, discussed a plan for urban center streetscape design, discussed progress on the Rental Housing Inspection Program, and welcomed new employees.

Council postponed the start of the food truck pilot program, heard a summary of the state legislative session, discussed the selection process for community members to serve on an Independent Investigation Team for police-involved shootings, and discussed 2021 priorities.

Council issued three proclamations, continued discussion on the DESC supportive housing project, updated municipal code governing fireworks, junk vehicles, and business licenses, selected new advisory board members, discussed concerns about public safety, addressed concerns about food truck pilot program, and more.

Council issued two proclamations, delayed the effective date of the compostables ordinance, discussed DESC supportive housing project, selected new advisory board and commission members, delayed discussion of the food truck pilot program, and approved funding for a stormwater study to address localized flooding in the Boulevard Park neighborhood.

Staff directors and managers presented summaries of the current workload to inform future Council discussions on short-term priorities.

Burien City Council passed a food truck pilot program, discussed police services contract with King County Sheriff’s Office, heard an update on mobile vaccine program, selected applicants to interview for advisory boards and commissions, heard an update on Eagle Landing Stairs removal and new maintenance and operations facility, approved extension of Ambuam development moratorium, and discussed flooding in Boulevard Park.

Burien City Council acknowledged Women’s History Month, heard an updated on a proposed housing development in downtown Burien, approved a food truck pilot program, extended a moratorium on new development along the Ambaum Blvd Corridor, and approved extension of a parking program aimed at aiding economic development in downtown Burien.

Burien City Council approved pass through of state funding for the construction of the RapidRide H Line.

In a special meeting, Council passed an updated version of an ordinance requiring grocery workers be paid hazard pay during the pandemic.

Council passed a hazard pay ordinance for grocery workers, which will be discussed again during a special meeting on February 8, 2021. They also heard an update on a landslide in Seahurst Park and localized flooding in the Boulevard Park neighborhood, approved the 2021 work plan for the Business & Economic Development Partnership, and approved the Greensward Farms subdivision applcication. February was declared Black History Month in Burien.

Council discussed grocery worker hazard pay, utility tax relief program, the Miller and Walker Creek Stewardship Program, zoning code amendments on legacy storefronts and home occupations, and the 2021 Comprehensive Plan docket. Council discussed and placed several items on the consent agenda to be approved at the February 1, 2021 meeting. The Council often uses a “two-touch” process and by placing items on the consent agenda to be approved at the next regularly scheduled meeting.

Council elected a deputy mayor, issued a proclamation marking January as Human Trafficking Awareness Month in Burien, provided an update on COVID-19 in Burien, discussed updates to the utility tax relief program, discussed the process for establishing housing and employment growth targets, updated Burien's plastic bag ban, and discussed topics for the upcoming Council Retreat.

Council heard updates on planning for severe weather shelter in Burien and discussed the implementation of a new utility tax and low-income relief program, the launch of the Rental Housing Inspection program in January, addressing community concerns with Sea-Tac Airport operations, and new records retention policies for elected officials’ social media accounts.