Monday night’s (July 22, 2024) Burien City Council meeting covered just a few items, from financial relief for residents to community infrastructure and long-term planning.
Key topics included a utility tax rebate program, public concerns about pedestrian safety and sidewalk encroachment, and a brief overview of the city’s forthcoming Comprehensive Plan, a blueprint for Burien’s future development and growth.
Utility Tax Rebate
During his report, City Manager Adolfo Bailon shared that the city is now accepting applications for the Utility Tax Relief Program. Utility taxes have increased to meet the rising expenses of running a city, and this program is intended to help lower-income residents with the utility tax. The application period lasts through Dec. 2, 2024, with rebates sent out in February to those who qualify. Applicants must live in Burien and meet income qualifications. Rebates apply to utilities including water, sewer, garbage, electricity, cable, and cell service. Follow the above link for more information.
Public Comments
Commenters mentioned the increasing creep of restaurant seating on city sidewalks along SW 152nd Street. Between seating areas and cars parked over the edge of the curb, there is often very little room for people walking on the sidewalk. The walking path needs to accommodate a wheelchair, and in a few areas it falls short. It was asked that businesses who repeatedly take up too much of the sidewalk pay penalties if they continue their encroachment after receiving one or two warnings.
It was also mentioned that if the council is pursuing a “Treatment First” approach to dealing with homelessness, as they seem to be doing, they need to also consider what the second step is after treatment. The commenter said that once people have undergone treatment, they will still be in need of a home, and without the resources it generally takes to get an apartment. Transitional housing will be required for these individuals once they overcome their addictions.
Another topic was the lack of pedestrian safety along Military Road. They said this street is a popular bus route, so people are walking along it and waiting for buses without the refuge from traffic that a sidewalk provides.
Comprehensive Plan Update
Council heard an introduction to the new Comprehensive Plan for the city. This is something that the Planning Commission has been working hard on, and includes zoning amendments to increase density throughout the city. Burien has a regional responsibility to create the opportunity for growth through zoning changes. The city must increase housing and jobs to reach specific growth targets by the year 2044.
The Comp Plan and zoning changes will be discussed in detail during several of the next council meetings. There will be a public hearing on the issue in September, and if everything goes according to the schedule, the council will have a final vote on October 7th. In addition to the zoning changes, the Transportation Master Plan will be updated, and includes improvements to walkability and bikeability.
Mayor Kevin Schilling, who expressed gratitude and excitement about the contents of Comp Plan, said that updating the city’s Comprehensive Plan is the most important thing the council does, in addition to passing a budget.
Video
Watch full video of the meeting here.
Did any of the campers who hampered the passage of pedestrians on sidewalks ever get a fine levied against them? There were disabled individuals bringing up the same complaint and concerns about tents and nothing was done then, but now they go after businesses. Double standard I say.