SR 509 Completion Project, ARPA, Rental Assistance and Eviction Moratorium, Solid Waste Management Requirements for Businesses
The Burien City Council heard an update on the SR 509 Completion Project, discussed options for investing federal stimulus funding to aid Burien’s pandemic recovery, heard an update on distribution of rental assistance, and took action on solid waste management requirements for businesses.
SR 509 Completion Project Proceeds
Washington Department of Transportation staff presented an overview of the State Route 509 Completion Project. Stage 2 of the project will construct roundabouts at the intersections of 160th St and 188th St and SR 509, with noise walls constructed to mitigate impact. The new section of SR 509 (between S 188th Street and I-5) will be tolled; all existing sections of the SR 509 highway will remain untolled. There will be one toll point (no tollbooth) on the SR 509 expressway located between I-5 and SR 99.
Discussions Continue on Ways to Invest American Rescue Plan Funding
After listening to community and City staff feedback on how to spend the City of Burien's allocation of American Rescue Plan federal stimulus funding, the City Council discussed their investment priorities.
During a discussion at their May 23, 2022 meeting, the City Council selected four categories of investments. After that meeting, the councilmembers ranked their interest in the priorities through a survey. In their Monday night discussion, they continued discussion on the categories and how much funding should be allocated to each category.
They will potentially discuss the topic again in July, with an investment plan tentatively scheduled to be voted on in August.
City Council Hears Update on Status of Distribution of Rental Assistance Funding
City of Burien and King County staff provided an update on the emergency assistance that had been provided to help community members needing help paying rent as a result of the pandemic.
The City Council had previously requested staff provide an update on the current status of rent assistance distribution to aid in their decision-making about whether to keep Burien’s eviction moratorium.
New Solid Waste Management Requirements for Businesses Will Enhance Cleanliness in Burien Business Districts
The City Council placed on the consent agenda of the next regular business meeting approval of an ordinance that would update solid waste management requirements for businesses. The new requirements include:
- Mandatory solid waste collection services for businesses citywide
- Require garbage and recycling collection services for all businesses citywide
- Require compostable collection services for food service businesses only
- Allow sharing of collection service between adjacent businesses
- Allow 12 months before mandate begins
- Mandatory solid waste container locks for downtown businesses
- Mandate solid waste container locks for businesses in the downtown
- Require Recology-provided locks on Recology containers
- Allow six months before mandate begins
The Business and Economic Development Partnership studied solid waste requirements and made recommendations to the City Council.
Staff noted that there are currently not sufficient City resources to actively enforce the mandatory solid waste collection services and mandatory lock requirements. Additional funding may be requested during the 2023–2024 budget process.
In addition to the requirements for new solid waste requirements for businesses, the City Council expressed support for a pilot project to place street waste containers that accept recycling and compostable waste near food service businesses, in support of Burien’s new compostable serviceware law that goes into effect July 1, 2022. They also expressed support for increasing the budget in Discover Burien’s contract to double service levels for litter pickup and emptying street waste containers in downtown Burien. Funding for both of these new services will be requested in the 2023–2024 budget and implemented once funded.