The Burien City Council meeting on Monday, June 2, 2025, encompassed a range of pressing community issues, beginning with a proclamation for Gun Violence Awareness Month and the announcement of a related community event.
The council also revisited the contentious Ordinance 861, concerning religious organizations hosting temporary homeless encampments.
Significant public comment and council discussion centered on state-mandated zoning changes aimed at increasing housing density.
Council also unanimously approved moving forward with the initial steps of forming pro and con committees for an upcoming ballot initiative on public safety.
Gun Violence Awareness Month Proclamation
Councilmember Linda Akey read a proclamation recognizing June as Gun Violence Awareness Month. It was announced that there will be a Gun Violence Awareness event on Friday, June 6 at Town Square Park. This event will run from 4–5:30 p.m., and includes a giveaway of free firearm lockboxes.
Ordinance 861 Discussion
Deputy Mayor Sarah Moore brought up Ordinance 861, which pertains to religious groups hosting temporary homeless camps. This ordinance was voted on during the May 19 meeting. At the time, it was determined by City Manager Adolfo Bailon to have passed by a narrow majority, in a 3–2–2 vote, with Councilmember Hugo Garcia and Deputy Mayor Moore abstaining. However, official minutes from that meeting show that the vote failed. The ordinance needed at least four yes votes to pass.
Deputy Mayor Moore shared that City Manager Bailon had emailed all the councilmembers after that vote. In his email, according to Moore, Bailon suggested that the councilmembers who abstained from the vote were violating their oath of office to uphold state law. Moore defended her and all councilmembers’ right to abstain or vote no, as they see fit.
Without a city ordinance, Burien’s law will revert to state law on this issue. Moore added that an ordinance would benefit the city, but that when she read through this particular ordinance, she felt it was too limiting to the churches that would be providing homeless services.
Mayor Kevin Schilling stated that a councilmember should only abstain from voting if they have a conflict of interest on a particular issue. He expressed frustration with the decision that leaves Burien without an ordinance governing how religious institutions temporarily house the homeless.
Zoning Changes
The majority of Public Comments addressed proposed zoning changes that will affect much of the city. Some commenters expressed adamant disapproval, asking why anyone would want to increase the population of Burien. One shared that more residents could live in Burien without building new housing stock by utilizing a co-living model, where multiple renters inhabit a shared house. Another expressed concern for the preservation of Burien’s tree canopy with the expected increase in development.
Other speakers were in favor of zoning for increased density. They said the only way to reduce the cost of housing is to build more of it, and that the “NIMBYs” should be ignored. Another said she would like to see more community-village type of housing.
Councilmember Jimmy Matta reminded everyone that the zoning changes are being made to comply with state law. He said that while nobody likes change, it is necessary. Mayor Kevin Schilling said that three of our local state legislators sponsored the housing bills that are forcing density. They are Mia Gregerson, Emily Alvarado, and Joe Fitzgibbon. Schilling suggested that anyone with questions or concerns about housing bills 1110 and 1220 should email these representatives.
City Manager Adolfo Bailon shared that there is an updated webpage on the Burien Community Hub dedicated to sharing accurate information about these zoning changes.
Ballot Initiative On Public Safety
While city staff have not yet finalized the wording for a ballot initiative on public safety, the council gave unanimous approval for moving forward with the steps to create pro and con committees. Councilmember Jimmy Matta said public safety has been the longest-standing issue in Burien, and he is ready to let the voters speak for themselves on whether they want to spend money on solutions.
In a video interview recorded on Oct. 10, 2024, Mayor Schilling said that the money would be “almost entirely” used to fund a local police force, so Burien would no longer need to contract with King County for police services:
““Next year we are also going to have on the ballot a public safety levy, which is going to be almost entirely around the argument of creating our own police force,” Schilling said in the video. “I think Burien voters are going to be okay from this situation. They’re going to say, ‘Yeah, I’ll pay one-tenth of a percent of increase to sales tax in order to have my own police department.’ I think that’s going to be something they’d say yes to.”
Other uses for the public safety funds that have been mentioned include improving lighting and pedestrian safety, and adding more co-responders to the police force.
City Manager Bailon said staff are just about done crafting the language that will go on the ballot. This will be brought to the council at either the June 16 or June 30 meeting.
Video
Below is the full, raw video of this council meeting:
Re ZONING changes, – Where were you 3-4 years ago when Insley proposed this change? (Not just for Burien.) NOW, you’re suddenly concerned? Remember the names: Mia Gregerson, Emily Alvarado, and Joe Fitzgibbon. – if you don’t agree.
I love unelected city employee Bailon chastising an elected councilmember on their role in city government. It would be interesting to see the text of the email — anyone want to file a FOIA request?
P.S. Can we make sure Bailon’s false statement re: the bill’s passage is included in his performance evaluation 😉 ?
And then there’s Schilling, peddling the usual Trumpian lies/misstatements. He “expressed frustration with the decision that leaves Burien without an ordinance,” but as stated just above, “Without a city ordinance, Burien’s law will revert to state law on this issue.”
Finally, on forming a Burien police force, LOL no. Seems the Schilling/Bailon faction is still mad about not being able to give unlawful orders to the King County Sheriff and KCSO deputies, so they’ll waste untold amounts of money starting up and administering a local police force. Again, just no.
“‘Yeah, I’ll pay one-tenth of a percent of increase to sales tax in order to have my own police department.’ I think that’s going to be something they’d say yes to.”
Um, no, actually. I don’t want to pay more taxes for a police department that has less oversight; I rather like KCSO. You don’t want an independent police force, that’s how we get SPOG and rampant corruption, that does less for the people, and hurts more than saves.
I would, however, accept a tax increase for more sidewalks and bike lanes, traffic calming measures, and public housing for vulnerable community members, however.
False, absolutely false.. you see there will be many residents that disagree with your statements.
You claim that *you* know when you don’t. You list personal preferences and hypotheticals as your reasoning but nothing more, no real facts at all or insight.
If anyone wants to *know* more on this – research the facts instead of reading personal qaulms from window shoppers.
I’d definitely like to see a vote on this.
Burien can’t afford an independent police department. I vote no.
Burien certainly can’t continue down the path of increasing street disorder due to lack of enforcement, a safe City is prosperous and creates opportunities for citizens and businesses. We can afford it because we already spend on it out of the budget and the net returns are woth the investment.
I agree that council members should not abstain from a vote, especially when their stated reason for abstaining is that they don’t agree with the ordinance being voted on. If you do not agree with the ordinance, then vote ‘no’. Use your voice…isn’t that why you were elected?
Concerned over the zoning plan is not a NIMBY issue – the concern is a bad plan.
More housing is needed. But a landscape of 3,500 sq ft lots with up to 7 units in them is not a good solution. Those are apartment buildings, not residential housing. The planning department is pursuing their own agenda vs responding to the state requirement. This zoning plan goes far beyond what is required by the state and reeks of off book agendas by city staffers who do not live in Burien. We need a better plan.
Agreed. The consultants conducted their zoning and environmental review put into the plan before the state passed the bill requiring cities like Burien to allow at least two units per residential lot everywhere and at least four units within a quarter-mile of major transit stops.
The MFTE voluntarily reinforces the increase above and beyond what the state requires. More is not necessarily better. Saying “tell it to the legislators” does not sidestep that fact.
Those two are up for reelection and need to be shown the door as they continue to hold back Burien’s recovery momentum, enough of failed ideals and damage caused by them.
Maybe this has already been asked and answered but aren’t the rules of voting known? What is the source document that spells out the council rules? If Council members are limited in their ability to abstain, shouldn’t that be in some bylaws? Is there any basis in saying if they abstain they are violating their oath? I don’t know, until now I didn’t know this was an issue. My pet peeve – discussions and arguments that don’t lay down the basis of statements and opinions. Without knowing what the bylaws actually say and citing them how can this issue be discussed and resolved rationally? Please school up this neurodivergent.