Council Member Moore was voted in as Deputy Mayor by the City Council. Moore came on the Council in 2022 and is heading the Burien Airport Commission to bring the SeaTac airport into compliance with contracts, laws, and regulations the Port has consistently violated. Moore is concerned mainly about the health impacts on the residents living just under the flight path.
City Manager Adolfo Bailon reported an increase in power shutdowns in Burien, which has negatively affected business, including inventory loss due to “cooling loss.” Bailon said they have tried to work closely with Seattle City Light’s representatives for this region with little success. The Council authorized the City Manager to send a letter to Seattle City Light leadership to resolve why Burien is experiencing this more than others and what will be done to stop this.
The City Manager also announced a new series named “Coffee with the City Manager.” These will be regular meetings where residents can meet with Mr. Bailon and other city staff to answer questions and provide information. The first will be on January 27, focusing on public safety.
The Co-Responders teams in Burien, launched in 2022, gave a presentation to the Council. Co-Responders typically address the following areas in Burien:
Funding for the Co-Response teams comes from King County Fire Department EMS Levy Funds, City of Burien ARPA allocations, Burien Police Department, and the King County Sheriff’s Office.
There was a public hearing on Ordinance No. 842, Creating BMC Chapter 19.90 – Interim Zoning for Religious Institutions. This 6-month temporary ordinance is intended to bridge to a permanent ordinance that allows and regulates religious organizations to set up tent camps, small shelters, and in-building housing. According to the agenda item summary, the “Community Development Department intends to propose permanent regulations for Temporary Encampments for action to City Council on or before May 5, 2025, unless otherwise directed by City Council.”
Testimony on this ordinance was given by a Burien resident near the Oasis Church temporary homeless encampment that existed one year ago. This mother, who spoke out often about the impact on her family, voiced concern, not with the ordinance, but how the Church did not fulfill its promises to the neighborhood and was not held accountable. She questioned if the city would enforce the ordinance or if this pattern would repeat itself in the future.
Another Burien resident testified, presenting her concerns about Ordinance 842’s lack of adherence to federal law. She argued that the interim ordinance does not align with federal law, citing the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA), which “protects religious institutions from unduly burdensome land use regulations.”
LINK to Agenda of January 13, 2025 Burien City Council Special Meeting.
