WELCOME TO THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING/STUDY SESSION

Regular Council Meetings are held the first and third Mondays of each month at 7 p.m. Please see how you can make comments below. A formal citizens’ comments period is provided at Regular Council Meetings.

Study Session Meetings are held the second and fourth Mondays of each month at 7 p.m. The fourth Monday meetings are canceled in June, July and August due to the summer meeting schedule. Formal citizens’ comments are not taken at Study Sessions but citizens may raise their hands and make informal comments when recognized by the Mayor.

Council Committee Meetings are scheduled for discussion of specific items with date and time to be determined. The meetings are held in the Council Chambers, 415 SW 150th Street.

Council meetings, which fall on a Monday holiday, are canceled. Subjects for Council consideration are listed on the Council agenda. Business Meetings are televised; Business Meetings and Study Sessions are recorded and formal minutes prepared. City Council meetings are open to the public and citizens are encouraged to attend. Citizens' comments are received at regular business meetings and during public hearings. The City Council agenda is available from City Hall late Friday afternoon prior to the Monday Council Meeting. Agendas will also be posted at City Hall, the public library and on the City’s web site, www.ci.burien.wa.us.

CITIZEN COMMENTS AND PUBLIC HEARING TESTIMONY

(BLUE AND PINK SIGNUP SHEETS)

Beginning in February 2003, Business Meetings, including citizens’ comments and public hearing testimony, will be televised live on Cable Channel 21. If you wish to make Citizens' Comments, please sign up on the blue sheet provided for Citizens Comments. When you speak, come to the front, give your name and address for the record (please spell your name the first time), and state your views. Speak loudly and clearly so that your remarks will be audible on the recorder.

In all cases where citizens are making comments whether it be during a citizens’ comment period, at a public hearing, or on an informal basis at a study session, citizens are asked to address issues and not individual councilmembers or staff. Personal, impertinent, or slanderous remarks, or persons who become boisterous, threatening, or personally abusive while addressing the Council may be requested to leave the meeting.

This is not a discussion period; however, we will try to answer questions and will follow-up individually to provide more information if requested. To allow time for everyone to speak who wants to, individuals are requested to limit their comments to three minutes and groups to five minutes.

Public Hearings are held for the purpose of receiving citizens’ comments on a specific topic or issue. Citizens' Comments on other issues or topics may be presented to the City Council under Citizens’ Comments. If you feel strongly about a public issue or a local concern, the Council encourages you to share your information and thoughts with them at these times.

If you wish to testify during a Public Hearing, please sign up on the pink sheet provided. When you speak, come to the podium at the front, give your name and address for the record (please spell your name the first time), and state your views. Speak loudly and clearly so that your remarks will be audible on the recorder. This is also not a question and answer period nor a time for discussion and debate. To allow time for everyone to speak who wants to, individuals are requested to limit their comments to three minutes and groups to five minutes.

Discussion on the topic will follow the receipt of testimony and after the Mayor closes the public hearing. The discussion period will begin with a statement regarding the issue and questions that came up during the public hearing will be answered at this time if possible. If not, staff will contact citizens at a later time.

Council meetings are public meetings and there may be reporters present. The press has asked us to let you know your remarks may be quoted in the newspaper. If you would prefer to give written comments, please submit your comments on the sheet provided specifically for the public hearing, or citizens' comments and deposit the sheet in the appropriate box marked either “Public Hearing Written Comments,” or “Citizens Written Comments”.

Thank you for your participation and for your interest in our community.