The Burien City Council issued a proclamation honoring Native American Heritage Month. They also discussed the mid-biennium budget update, held a public hearing on revenues and expenditures, and discussed efforts to address homelessness and enforce Ordinance 827.
Proclamation Honors Native American Heritage Month
The City Council issued a proclamation to mark November as Native American Heritage Month. The proclamation recognizes the Coast Salish Peoples of the Puget Sound as well as Native peoples from more than 100 different sovereign Native Nations, Corporations, Villages, and other Indigenous communities who have migrated to Burien and made it their home.
Public Hearing and Discussion of Mid-biennium Budget Continues
The City Council held a public hearing on revenues and expenditures in the mid-biennium budget and continued discussions of the entire mid-biennium budget update. The 2024 property tax levy and updated surface water management service charges were approved to be placed on the consent agenda of the next regular meeting.
Council Reports
During their Council Reports portion of the meeting, Deputy Mayor Kevin Schilling, Councilmember Stephanie Mora, Councilmember Sarah Moore, and Councilmember Cydney Moore shared their perspectives on two meetings hosted by community members on the topic of a proposed tiny home village in Boulevard Park and tent encampment on the property of Oasis Home Church.
City Manager Report
The City Manager shared during his report that the Public Works Department is addressing flooding from heavy rains during the weekend. He also welcomed Liz Wonder, recently hired as the new sustainability manager.
He shared his perspective on the two community meetings that occurred on November 5 on the proposed tiny home village and sanctioned tent encampment. He followed up with updates on enforcement of Ordinance 827, stating that the City’s goal is to not criminalize homelessness and that progress is being made on the encampment on Ambaum Boulevard SW. He also announced that a contract with Discover Burien had been signed to provide homeless outreach services. City Council engaged in discussion on this topic.
He shared an update on the temporary tent village (“Sunnydale Village”) proposed by the nonprofit Burien Community Support Coalition at Oasis Home Church. He shared information about when the City became aware of the plans to create the tent village and communication with the nonprofit about permitting and public notice requirements.
City Council discussed his update on the offer of $1 million plus 35 Pallet homes from King County. He shared that King County had sent a letter on October 27, 2023 announcing that the offered funding is from American Rescue Plan Act funding and that council must select a location by November 27. This gives the City one month to find a location.
He also shared that the City will receive $20,000 from Washington State Office of Public Defense to enhance public defense services including interpreter services and social workers to help attorneys better serve their clients.
He praised the efforts of Burien Police Department deputies who seized more than 40 pounds of fentanyl during a traffic stop, marking it as the King County Sheriff Office’s largest-ever individual fentanyl powder bust.
He shared that the King County Executive had reached out to inform that the EMS Levy Taskforce current Medic One/Emergency Medical Services levy will expire in 2025 and that there is a request for the mayor or other city councilmember serve on the EMS Advisory Taskforce.
Consent Agenda
The City Council approved on their consent agenda the following: