Possible sites for homeless encampment, discussion of ordinances on camping on public property & more on agenda for Monday night’s Burien City Council

On the agenda for Monday night’s (July 17, 2023) regular Burien City Council meeting: presentation of potential options for homeless services, including reviews of possible locations, and a discussion of municipal ordinances in other cities regarding camping on public property.

Below is a list of the four potential properties being considered for an encampment site:

1. Former Lora Lake Apartment site in Northeast Redevelopment Area (NERA; owned by Port of Seattle.
2. City Lot on SW 150th Street (leased to Burien Toyota).
3. Beverly Park School (closed, and located 30 feet outside of city limits).
4. Lot at S. 136th Street and 3rd Ave S. (near Kennedy High, owned by Seattle City Light).

As for reviewing other anti-camping ordinances, council will hear about ones in Sacramento, CA; Portland, OR; Bellevue, WA; SeaTac, WA; Auburn, WA; and Kent, WA.

“Each of the ordinances prohibits camping on public property except when there is no available shelter space,” the packet says. “Some ordinances prohibit camping from some time in the evening until the following morning. Some prohibit camping in or near certain locations specified or defined in the ordinance.”

As of July 13, 2023, King County has not offered its comments concerning its willingness to enforce one or more of the ordinances that the Burien City Council will consider, the city said.

The meeting will start at 7 p.m., and can be viewed in person at Burien City Hall, on Comcast TV channel 21, virtually via Zoom, or via livestream here.

Download the full agenda/packet here.

PRESENTATIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS:

• a)  Presentation of Potential Options for Homeless Services Adolfo Bailon, City Manager. Memo to Council – Potential Options for Homeless Services 07.17.23 Potential Options for Homeless Services Presentation
• b)  Presentation of Municipal Ordinances regarding Dwelling on Public Property Adolfo Bailon, City Manager. Memo to Council – Dwelling on Public Property 07.17.23

CITY MANAGER’S REPORT

PUBLIC COMMENT
Notice to all participants: Pursuant to RCW 42.17A.555, campaigning for any ballot measure or candidate in City Hall and/or during any portion of the Council Meeting – including the public comment period – is prohibited.

BUSINESS AGENDA:

• a) Discussion of Next Steps regarding Presentations: City Council Discussion
• b) City Council Planning Calendar: Adolfo Bailon, City Manager