City of Burien

Burien’s Severe Weather Shelter will be open February 9–13.

The City of Burien and Burien Arts Commission is seeking a Black artist or artist group who will work with the Burien community to create a visual art piece that honors the Black Lives Matter movement.

The City of Burien and Discover Burien are hosting their 14th annual Empty Bowls event to raise money for the White Center Food Bank and Highline Area Food Bank.

Burien City Council issued a proclamation on January 4, 2021 declaring January Human Trafficking Awareness Month in Burien.

Want to serve your community and help shape local laws and policy? Do you have expertise to share? Consider applying for one of the 25 open positions.

The City of Burien and Discover Burien are announcing the launch of two new resources to support local restaurants and retail businesses.

The Peter Western Bridge will open to vehicle and pedestrian traffic on December 21, 2020 at noon.

The City of Burien is proud to announce a series of holiday inspired events to celebrate the season in the second annual “It’s a Wonderful Burien.” Winter lights will illuminate Burien’s Town Square Park every night in December, encouraging people to visit downtown Burien for restaurant take-out, shopping, and seasonal experiences hosted by the City of Burien and community partners.

The City of Burien will host an online community forum to discuss the draft results of the city’s first Housing Action Plan. Please join us to learn more about the city’s housing needs, and proposed strategies and actions to build more housing for all of Burien’s residents.

Carolyn Hope has been hired as the City of Burien’s new Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services Director, effective Feb. 3, 2020.

On January 6, 2020, the community is invited to a reception and swearing-in ceremony for newly elected council members Sofia Aragon, Cydney Moore, and Kevin Schilling. The reception will be followed by the selection of mayor and deputy mayor.

The City has explored an option to extend the time period for tenants to operate out of the Annex building past the January 31, 2020 deadline. After a consultation regarding the insurance and liability issues surrounding the significant safety risks that are present, enabling tenants to stay in the building past January 31, 2020 is not an option the City can entertain.

NEWS RELEASE: The City of Burien is closing the Burien Community Center Annex because initial inspections have found significant concerns with the structural integrity of the building.

On December 16, 2019, the community is invited to a reception honoring the service and dedication of Burien Deputy Mayor Austin Bell and Councilmembers Bob Edgar and Lucy Krakowiak.

On November 27, 2019, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a decision in favor of the City of Burien in Burien’s lawsuit against the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) arising from the FAA’s change of a flight path over Burien without environmental review.

The City of Burien is changing the permit center hours to 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. starting January 2, 2020.

NEWS RELEASE: Based on rising construction costs and decreasing revenues in the hotel sector, Hotel Concepts has decided not to move forward with developing a hotel in Burien at this time.

NEWS RELEASE: The City of Burien is proud to announce a new series of events titled “It’s a Wonderful Burien.” Winter lights will illuminate Burien’s Town Square Park every night in December, inspiring people to come to downtown Burien for unique dining, shopping, and seasonal experiences hosted by the City of Burien and community partners.

The Department of Commerce will be hosting a public meeting to provide a preliminary report on study of impacts of SeaTac Airport.

City staff are monitoring work being done at property located on 1300 SW 136th St., owned by Westmark Emerald Pointe LLC.

NEWS RELEASE: On October 7, 2019, the Burien City Council passed policies designed to protect renters and improve renter-landlord relationships. Ordinance 716 goes into effect October 15, 2019.

The Town Square Fountain will be closed for maintenance September 30 and October 1.

NEWS RELEASE: The Burien City Council approved on Burien’s first rental housing inspection program. The Council also approved the hiring of a rental housing inspection coordinator, who will manage the program and work with residents who need assistance with rental housing issues.

The City’s temporary sign regulations have been updated. The City’s permanent sign rules were not changed. A 90-day grace period was given to businesses to comply with the new regulations. Code enforcement on the new rules is allowed to begin on September 9, 2019.

Susan McLain Selected to be New Community Development Director; Lorraine Chachere Selected to be New Economic Development Specialist

Burien’s Town Square Fountain has reopened to the public after repairs to the electrical system were completed. The fountain will remain open until October.

NEWS RELEASE: The Burien City Council unanimously passed an ordinance on January 7, 2019 to ban carryout plastic bags in restaurants and retail establishments. The ordinance and ban will take effect on January 1, 2020, giving Burien businesses time to use their current stock of plastic bags.

To assess the effectiveness of beach restoration projects in restoring former forage fish spawning habitat, Coastal Geology will be using a drone to conduct monitoring work at Seahurst Park August 28–30.

Hamilton Construction Company has been awarded through a competitive bid process the contract to construct the new Peter Western Bridge. Construction will begin end of August and be completed by the end of 2020

The City of Burien is updating its Hazard Mitigation Plan, a plan to reduce harm from potential hazards such as landslides and earthquakes. The community is invited to provide feedback about what hazards you see in Burien.

The Burien City Council is discussing a potential law that would require all food service products in the City of Burien to be made of compostable materials due to concerns about the effects of plastics on the natural environment. The Burien Business and Economic Development Partnership (BEDP) invites Burien businesses to a roundtable discussion on the draft legislation.

The Department of Commerce’s Sea-Tac Airport Impact Study project team is an open house on July 24 to gain public input on plans to study and inventory environmental, social, and economic impacts of the Sea-Tac Airport on the surrounding communities.

As repair work for the Town Square Fountain progresses, unforeseen issues have occurred. At this time, we cannot commit to an open date. To help Burien’s youngest residents have fun and cool off during this summer’s hottest days, sprinklers will be turned on at Lake Burien Memorial Park Mondays and Fridays, 2–4 p.m. when temperature rises above 75 degrees.

S 144th Way is being re-aligned between Des Moines Memorial Drive and the cold storage warehouses. Construction begins July 15 and will continue until the end of the year.

A 4.6 magnitude earthquake struck at Three Lakes, Washington and shook much of our region. As of now, no significant impacts or damages have been reported within King County.

The possession and discharging of all fireworks is banned in the City of Burien. To report a fireworks violation, please call 911.

On Thursday, June 27, the City of Burien invites you to join a discussion about a shared community vision for Burien’s Urban Center at an open house at Angelo’s of Burien.

The City of Burien is updating the Storm Drainage Master Plan, which was last published in 2012. The plan will guide where the City focuses its efforts to reduce urban flooding and protect water quality in Miller Creek, Salmon Creek, and Puget Sound.

An algal toxin was found in a water quality sample collected from Lake Burien on May 31. Public Health recommends that people and pets do not swim in the lake, drink lake water, or engage in other water-contact activities.

NEWS RELEASE: Chris Craig has been selected to lead economic development for the City of Burien.

The City of Burien is hosting a follow up community meeting on June 20 on proposed rental housing policies and a rental inspection program. City of Burien staff will present a summary of the proposed policies and ask for community feedback. The proposed policies will reflect revisions based on feedback received during previous community meetings.

Response from City Manager Wilson to residents expressing concerns about how the City is serving those living unsheltered in our community, and about tents and camping in Burien parks and the effect this has on the health and safety of our parks.

The Town Square Fountain will have a delayed opening due to sustained substantial water damage in the control vault and the fountain’s electrical system. Parks Department staff are working quickly to secure repair services and seek replacement of electrical components.

On May 6, 2019, the City of Burien announced a new approach to addressing unauthorized use of Burien parks and facilities. In an effort to make everyone feel welcome and safe in Burien parks, City staff and Burien Police will be taking a compassionate, collaborative, and legal approach to prevent camping and encampments, that complies with the Martin v Boise decision.

Burien is holding a #TreeSelfie photo contest, where one lucky individual will win $25 if they correctly identify a tree in their neighborhood and let us know!

With Earth Day just around the corner, there are many opportunities to help protect Burien’s environment.

NEWS RELEASE: Charles “Chip” Davis, Burien Community Development Director, has announced his retirement after 40+ years of public service. His last day will be May 31, 2019.

The City of Burien is accepting applications for three open positions on the Planning Commission.

Apply for Position on Sea-Tac Stakeholder Advisory Round Table

What will Burien's downtown and urban center be like 5, 10, or 20 years from now? Tell us what you think by taking a survey.

Come to an open house to learn about updates to the City’s code for temporary signs such as A-boards, banners, campaign signs, etc.

Come to a workshop to help establish a vision for Burien’s mixed use, regional urban center with housing, employment, transportation options, and services.

The community is invited to share their vision of how safe, quality, habitable, and affordable housing looks like in Burien, and how potential tenant protections could affect both renters and landlords in Burien.

NEWS RELEASE: King County District Court and the City of Burien are collaborating to implement a “community court” in Burien. Scheduled to launch February 25, 2019, the alternative, problem-solving court will differ from traditional courts by seeking to identify and address the underlying challenges of court participants that may contribute to further criminal activity.

Starting this January, the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will be removing creosote-treated logs that have washed up on the beach at Seahurst Park.

Apply for one of the 20 open citizen advisory board positions.

The City of Burien is evaluating the City website and we want to hear from you!

NEWS RELEASE: On December 3, 2018 the Burien City Council selected Hotel Concepts as the buyer and developer of a City-owned parcel. The winning proposal includes a 140-guest room hotel and approximately 100 units of multifamily development.

Due to scheduled facility maintenance and the holidays, the Burien Community Center will be closed December 17–21.

Council discussed hotel developer, business licensing and B&O tax code updates, budget, zoning code amendments, and Comprehensive Plan amendments.

Learn more about housing policies that support Burien as a safe, healthy, and affordable community of opportunity for people of all income levels.

Do you know someone who has improved the quality of life in Burien? Do you know of a program or organization that has helped others in the community? Nominate them for the Burien City Council’s Citizen of the Year!

Statement from City Manager Brian J. Wilson regarding Fox Cove Apartments.

To help protect the environment, the City of Burien is partnering with Seattle City Light to consider installing two electric vehicle chargers in a public parking lot.

The City of Burien is conducting a comprehensive business survey to better serve our businesses and ensure their success.

Council discussed amendments to the Recology CleanScapes contract, state and federal legislative priorities, LEAD and Community Court programs, 2019–2020 Preliminary Budget, and appointments to the National League of Cities and Sound Cities Association. The discussion of options to enhance public safety was postponed.

Community invited to open house to learn more about the Green Cities Partnership Program, a collaboration between Forterra, city governments, community organizations, and city residents to support care for trees in forested parks, natural areas, neighborhoods, and other spaces throughout the region.

The City of Burien is conducting a periodic review of its Shoreline Master Program as required every eight years by the Washington State Shoreline Management Act.

Despite trends that show crime is going down, recent events have shown that City, County, and regional leaders need to come together to address the unacceptable violence that is harming our community. The City of Burien is taking immediate steps to protect our community while at the same time investing in long-term solutions.

NEWS RELEASE: The City of Burien is seeking proposals from hotel developers for the construction of a hotel on City-owned land in downtown Burien.

NEWS RELEASE: The City of Burien Business and Economic Development Partnership (BEDP) is hosting a business roundtable to get feedback from Burien businesses about a potential ban on single use plastic bags in favor of paper bags or reusable bags.

The City of Burien received notice from Verizon Wireless that they are withdrawing their application for installation of a small cellular network in the area of Lake Burien

NEWS RELEASE: The City of Burien is installing a new wayfinding system that directs both residents and visitors to downtown shopping, services, and amenities.

The community is invited to learn about the budget and tell us what programs and services matter most to you. Attend a community meeting where you can get a quick course in how a city budget is prepared and then provide your feedback on what matters most to you.

NEWS RELEASE: The City of Burien has hired Cathy Schrock to serve as the City’s Administrative Services Director. Her first day was August 20, 2018.

The Family Fun Run has been canceled.

Slurry seal work is scheduled to begin Tuesday morning, August 21, with road closures beginning at 7 a.m. Actual work begins at 8 a.m.

At 2 p.m. on July 23, City of Burien Mayor Jimmy Matta will hold a press conference regarding the verbal and physical assault that occurred against him this weekend.

The City of Burien is requesting proposals from qualified professional consulting firms who can assist the City in drafting a subarea plan for the Burien Regional Growth Center.

Major road work begins on Des Moines Memorial Drive on Wednesday, July 18 at 7 a.m. There will be lane restrictions and short duration road closures at various times of the day.

City Manager Brian J. Wilson selected Eric Christensen to be Burien’s next Finance Director. His first day was June 25.

The community is invited to a public meeting to discuss the City of Burien’s recommendations for the future of the Eagle Landing Park Stairway.

The City of Burien will be out this summer applying slurry seal and asphalt overlay in three areas of Burien: Chelsea Park area, north Seahurst area, and a small section of Des Moines Memorial Drive S.

NEWS RELEASE: As the July 4th holiday rapidly approaches, the City of Burien urges residents to comply with Burien’s ban on fireworks within city limits. The Burien Police Department has scheduled extra officers who will specifically be assigned to enforce violations of the fireworks ordinance.

NEWS RELEASE: The City of Burien is conducting a survey to find out what residents think about our city and city services. The City of Burien does this survey every other year in order to help make decisions on issues that are important to the community.

NEWS RELEASE: Captain Jessica Sullivan has been selected to be the Burien Police Department’s next Captain. Her first day will be June 16, 2018.

Welcome to the new City of Burien website! We are pleased to offer a new and improved online experience for residents, businesses, and visitors to our community. We will be continuing to enhance, add on, and roll out new features over the next year.

A public hearing will be held at the City Council meeting on Monday, May 21, 2018 regarding the proposed 2019–2024 Six-Year Transportation Improvement Program (TIP).

8th Ave S will be closed to traffic between S 148th St and S 150th St May 7–10. Closure hours are 9:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. This will allow the contractor to set girders and prepare for deck work for the new SR 518 off-ramp bridge. Please plan to use alternate routes during the street closures.

NEWS RELEASE: Captain Theodore Boe Selected to be Burien’s Next Police Chief City Manager Brian Wilson Selects Theodore Boe to be Burien’s Next Police Chief after Robust Community Engagement Process

NEWS RELEASE: The City of Burien, in partnership with The Maverick Apartments and Merrill Gardens Senior Living at Burien, are currently presenting the works of Kathleen Skeels and Roxanne G. Fawcett until the end of June 2018.

NEWS RELEASE: The City of Burien is inviting the community to a town hall discussion on how to engage youth and enhance community safety.

Community invited to meet, ask questions, and provide comments about Burien Police Chief candidates

NEWS RELEASE: On March 28, 2018, two young women lost their lives in a shooting at the 13700 block of Ambaum Blvd SW. The King County Sheriff’s Office issued a press release earlier today detailing the status of the investigation.

NEWS RELEASE: Public meetings and an online survey provide opportunities for public engagement.

NEWS RELEASE: On March 5, 2018, the Burien City Council selected the nonprofit organization Para los Niños as the 2018 Citizen of the Year. The Council received 14 submissions, the most nominations the City has ever received for the award.

Burien’s having a birthday! Join us in celebrating Burien’s 25th anniversary of incorporation.

The King County Assessor's Office announced the new property tax rates for King County. What does this mean for Burien?