Special Council Meeting to Discuss Short and Long-term Investments in Homelessness Services
The Burien City Council held a special meeting to continue discussion of services for people living in tents in a City-owned lot in downtown Burien.
The City Attorney presented an overview of ordinances that other cities have adopted to address camping and open drug use; he also presented information on State v. Blake and Martin v. Boise court decisions.
After lengthy discussion on available options to find alternatives for the current location of the encampment and services that could be offered, the City Council voted to direct the City Manager to advertise the lot as available for lease and to bring back information about how to possibly designate it an official park.
They voted to table discussion of Charles Schaefer, Planning Commission Chair, on his role in directing people to move to the City-owned lot where a small encampment has developed.