Budget Adopted, Proclamation Honoring People with Disabilities, Compost Procurement Policy, Vegetation Code, 2023 Proclamations, Farming and Livestock Rules
The Burien City Council placed on consent agenda for the next business meeting/adopted the 2023-2024 budget. They also issued a proclamation honoring people with disabilities, adopted a new policy related to compost procurement, discussed list of proclamations they would like to support in 2023, discussed updates to Burien’s code related to vegetation, and discussed existing rules and regulations related farming and owning livestock.
Proclamation Honors People Living with Disabilities
The City Council issued a proclamation marking International Day of Persons with Disabilities, honoring people living with disabilities.
2023-2024 Budget Adopted
After holding their third and final public hearing on the budget, the Burien City Council adopted the 2023-2024 budget and updated financial policies.
The City Council increased amount of budget for the Human Services Fund by increasing the funding formula from $6.72 per capita to $8.50 per capita. They also directed staff to enter an agreement with Highline Heritage Museum to perform services for $20,000 annually.
Development of the biennial budget was guided by strategic plan discussions and the City’s financial policies. It maintains the City’s current financially sound position, balanced with use of funding from the City Manager’s Reserve.
The budget includes funding from the American Rescue Plan Act to help the community recover from the pandemic and other federal, state, and county grant sources to support important programs and services.
The City Council continued discussions of ways to address a long-term structural deficit, forecasted to begin in 2025 if no new revenues or expenditure reductions are identified.
Ordinance Adopted to Support Locally-Produced Compost
Earlier this year, the state legislature passed a law that requires cities to use locally-produced compost and educate their communities about the benefits of using local compost. The City Council placed on the consent agenda of their next meeting adoption of an ordinance related to compost procurement as directed by the new state legislation.
Vegetation Code Updated
The City Council placed on consent agenda of their next meeting an update that more clearly defines nuisance vegetation in the Burien Municipal Code. The current code made it difficult to clearly define “unlawful vegetation”, making enforcement more difficult. The update provides clear language and guidance for the enforcement of unlawful vegetation. It also updates the code to exclude City-owned property, critical areas, and stormwater facilities from the definition.
Plan for 2023 Proclamations Discussed
The City Council placed on consent agenda a list of proclamations they would like to support in 2023. They added three new proclamations: 30th anniversary of incorporation (February), Filipino Heritage Month (October), and Pollinator Month (June).
Regulations Governing Farming and Livestock Ownership in Burien Discussed
The City Council discussed existing regulations related to farming and owning livestock. They directed staff to bring back the item for discussion at a future meeting.
City Council Agrees to Draft Letter of Support for St. Anne Hospital Workers
The City Council directed staff to draft a letter of support for members of SEIU 1199, representing workers at St. Anne Hospital in Burien, in support of their efforts to renegotiate their contract with Common Spirit.