The Burien City Council addressed a range of community issues at its Monday, Aug. 5, 2024 meeting.

From honoring local heroes to grappling with the challenges of rising energy costs, councilmembers tackled a diverse agenda.

The meeting also highlighted the importance of nonprofits in the community and the impact of climate change on the region.

Proclamation For National Nonprofit Day

Council read a proclamation recognizing August 17th as National Nonprofit Day. The proclamation was accepted by the Nonprofit Association of Washington (NAWA). According to the proclamation, there are more than 25,000 nonprofit organizations in the state, employing more than 235,000 people. In addition to creating jobs, nonprofits contribute to thriving communities. Burien’s Human Services department distributed more than half a million dollars to nonprofit programs in 2023 and 2024, all with the aim of bettering the lives of Burien residents.

Proclamation Honoring Annie Phillips

Several members of the family were present to receive this proclamation, recognizing the work and achievements of the life of Annie Phillips. Councilmembers spoke with warmth and even tears as they remembered her work and advocacy in the community. Phillips was an actress and also worked for the Department of Ecology. In addition, she was a tireless advocate for climate justice, women’s rights, ending homelessness, and electoral reform. She received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the 34th Legislative District Democrats.

Seattle City Light Presentation

Dawn Lindell, General Manager and CEO of Seattle City Light (SCL) led a presentation and answered Council questions about electric power production and service in our area. Lindell said SCL services about a half a million total customers, including both commercial and residential customers. The commercial customers make up only a tenth of the customer base, yet use far more power than the residential users. In total about 9.8 million megawatt hours (MWh) are consumed.

Approximately 48% of this power comes from hydroelectric and 41% comes from Bonneville which is a combination of nuclear and hydro. About 2% comes from wind and biomass production, and the remaining 9% is purchased off the marketplace during shortages. Back in 2005, Seattle City Light was the first power company to go completely carbon neutral, in both generation and operations.

Power usage dipped in 2020 when everyone stayed home and many businesses were temporarily closed due to COVID-19, but electrical usage has been peaking dramatically since the economic recovery from the pandemic. Part of the reason for the dramatic rise in use is the electrification of buildings and transportation. SCL is working with Metro KC to convert all their buses to electric by 2030, for example. In addition to higher demand, the price of electricity is increasing due to rises in labor costs and other inputs. Replacing old direct buried cables is a looming 2.1 billion dollar project.

Copper Wire Thefts from Streetlights

In Burien, miles of copper wiring have been stolen from streetlights. After replacement, the copper wiring was stolen again within days. SCL is working on a solution to this issue, but in the meantime this kind of theft slows down their operations and increases the cost to everyone. It was mentioned that residents use the Find It, Fix It app to report street lights that are out, so SCL can service them sooner.

In 2001 there was a massive spike in the price of power during the Western Energy Crisis, caused by Enron’s market manipulations. At that time, prices jumped to just under $400/MWh. After that spike, prices remained steady and low, averaging around $38, for almost 20 years, with only mild weather spikes. In 2019 there was a huge spike due to the British Pipeline rupture, with prices jumping to $1000. Then, over the last four years, there have been near constant large spikes during cold and heat snaps brought on by climate change. During the last four years, prices have averaged at $80/MWh.

There is relief for lower income residents, however, and the aid program has expanded to include families earning up to 80% of the area median income. For information on how to apply for assistance with your electric bill if you are a Seattle City Light customer, follow this link.

Public Comments

One commenter pointed out the importance of taking climate change into account with all new development. She said homes will need to be sanctuaries from heat, cold, and smoke, and should utilize tools like heat pumps and good insulation. In addition, she spoke about the importance of increasing and preserving the tree canopy as we develop the city, in order to avoid creating urban heat islands.

An organizer of the Burien Solar Punk Festival described the upcoming event, which takes place this Saturday August 10th. The full schedule and location information can be found here; it includes a music festival, pop-up farmers market, job fair, and a movie. The festival focuses on technology, art, and culture bringing us into a green future.

Council Notes

It was mentioned by multiple councilmembers that they are enjoying getting to know each other as they work together and attend events and meetings alongside one another. Mayor Kevin Schilling pointed out that this council “disagrees well”, an important skill for any governing body. He said it shows how much everyone cares about Burien, despite occasional differences.