The Office of the King County Executive this week sent to the City of Burien a 30-day notice of intent to withdraw its offer of granting $1 million to KCRHA to support the city’s homelessness efforts, along with ownership of 35 pallet shelters.
The letter (full text below) indicates that the city has until Nov. 27, 2023 to identify a “suitable” location for a homeless encampment.
The source of the county’s $1 million offer is the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), which has strict guidelines for when funds are to be committed and spent.
As we previously reported, the county’s offer was first made on June 7, 2023, but the Burien City Council could never agree or move forward on accepting it.
“We appreciate the City’s work to find a suitable location,” the county said in the letter. “However, given that the source of funding is American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds that will expire and that it has been well over four months since the offer was provided in writing, I am writing to inform you that if the City of Burien has not identified a suitable location by November 27, 2023, we will choose to allocate this money to support homelessness response through a different process and withdraw the current offer. The new process will still allow Burien to potentially receive the funding, but is not a guarantee of funding, and we will share more details in the coming weeks.”
City Manager Adolfo Bailon also noted that while the letter was dated Oct. 27, 2023, he didn’t read it until Friday, Nov. 3. He said he plans to share and discuss this information at Monday night’s (Nov. 6) Burien City Council meeting.
Here’s text of the county’s full letter, followed by Bailon’s Nov. 3, 2023 email response to councilmembers:
October 27, 2023
Mayor Aragon and City Manager Bailon
Burien City Council
400 SW 152nd St., Suite 300
Burien, WA 98166Dear Honorable Mayor Sofia Aragon and City Manager Adolfo Bailon:
I write to provide an update to our offer of partnership related to shelter and pallets. As you know, we have been in conversation with the City for several months and confirmed our offer in writing on June 7, 2023. The offer would allocate $1 million to the KCRHA to support Burien residents who are experiencing homelessness within the City of Burien as well as transfer of ownership of up to 35 Pallet Shelters once a location for a sanctioned encampment is identified within the City.
We appreciate the City’s work to find a suitable location. However, given that the source of funding is American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds that will expire and that it has been well over four months since the offer was provided in writing, I am writing to inform you that if the City of Burien has not identified a suitable location by November 27, 2023, we will choose to allocate this money to support homelessness response through a different process and withdraw the current offer. The new process will still allow Burien to potentially receive the funding, but is not a guarantee of funding, and we will share more details in the coming weeks.
To the degree that any city land provided for a sanctioned encampment site is currently being used for parking, King County can accommodate up 100 parking spaces at our Metro Transit Park and Ride or garage and that offer will remain on the table.
Please let me know if you have any questions.Sincerely,
Shannon Braddock
Deputy King County Executive
From: Adolfo Bailon [email protected]
Date: November 3, 2023 at 1:04:58 PM PDT
To: DL – Council Members [email protected]
Cc: Emily Inlow-Hood [email protected], Garmon Newsom II [email protected]
Subject: Letter from King County to BurienHello Council,
The Office of the King County Executive has sent to Burien a 30-day notice of intent to withdraw its offer ($1 million to KCRHA to support Burien, and ownership of 35 pallet shelters). The letter indicates that the City of Burien has until November 27 to identify a “suitable” location.
The source of the $1 million offered by King County to Burien is the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The federal government has strict guidelines for when ARPA funds are to be committed and spent.
A brief excerpt from letter is below. The full letter is attached, for your review.
“…I am writing to inform you that if the City of Burien has not identified a suitable location by November 27, 2023, we will choose to allocate this money to support homelessness response through a different process and withdraw the current offer.”
I will plan to share news of this letter during the Manager’s Report on Monday, November 6.
Note: The letter was shared with me last week through email. I am sorry to share with you that the email from Shannon Braddock went unopened and become lost until today due to the more than 150 email messages that I have received since Sunday regarding the proposed encampment at Oasis Church. I have since reviewed all unopened email messages.
AB
Adolfo Bailon
City Manager
Do not overlook the council members responsible for jeopardizing these funds and contributing to the current predicament. Kevin Shilling, Jimmy Mata, Sophia Aragon, and Stephenie Mora are accountable for this chaotic situation. Their refusal to make use of the available funds has not only exacerbated the homeless crisis but has actively obstructed any progress, denying access to public facilities and criminalizing the homeless. Keep this in mind when you exercise your right to vote.