City of Burien

This week, staff wore pink in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and competed in our Wellness Committee's Fall Ping Pong Tournament. Congratulations to Zach Wenman (1st place) and Adam Zapata (2nd place)!

Thanks for joining us at this week’s City Chat with the Finance Department! From how the City’s budget is made and tracked to what the upcoming public safety levy is all about, you brought some great questions and let our staff nerd out about their passion for numbers and public service. 💖✨

For the fifth year in a row, the City of Burien will celebrate National Welcoming Week (September 12-21, 2025). We invite everyone to join in and celebrate our immigrant and refugee neighbors by attending Welcoming Burien in Town Square Park on Saturday, September 13 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. This annual free event features cultural performances and activities, games, arts and crafts, a resource fair, food, and more. The Burien City Council issued a proclamation declaring September 12-21, 2025 as Welcoming Week in Burien at their meeting on September 8. https://lnkd.in/gBWVsRPC

Today staff had their annual Hoop Shoot Tournament at Annex Park and represented their favorite sports teams for Jersey Day. Congratulations to our 2025 winner, Fern, and runners-up Stephen and Alex!

This Labor Day, we thank all of the City of Burien employees who work hard to serve our community every day. In observance of Labor Day, City of Burien facilities and services will be closed Monday, September 1. Recently, City staff held their annual Summer Picnic at Lake Burien School Memorial Park, and several employees were recognized for their longevity with the City.

Thank you to U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal for joining City of Burien and Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust staff, along with Trust for Public Land staff and Forest Stewards, as we highlighted the Green Burien Partnership's impact at Salmon Creek Ravine. In Burien’s own backyard, this 88-acre undeveloped environment preserves some of the natural fir and cedar forest that used to cover the area. It features a stream that flows year-round, a range of wildlife from bald eagles and red foxes to muskrats and ospreys, and even some remnants of the area's logging history if you know where to look. Without a coordinated effort to restore and care for our forests, we are at risk of losing many benefits of these forests and natural areas. The Green Burien Partnership brings the City of Burien together with community members and private and public agency partners to restore and care for Burien’s parks and urban forests. The Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust has partnered with the City of Burien to restore habitat at Salmon Creek Ravine through community partnerships and educational internships. The Greenway Trust and Dirt Corps helped launch Burien Green Teens, an award-winning high school internship program that invites Burien youth to learn about green careers in conservation while earning a stipend. While this program has grown since its pilot year in 2022, it has been paused this year due to the cancellation of federal funds that were supporting it. Healthy forested parks and green spaces have the power to strengthen neighborhoods, provide safe access to nature, and provide many benefits to the environment. Learn more about the Green Burien Partnership at burienwa.gov/GreenBurien. Group photo provided by the office of U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal.

Councilmember Alexandra Andrade was recognized by the Association of Washington Cities (AWC) for successfully completing their Certificate of Municipal Leadership training program. According to AWC, “a Certificate of Municipal Leadership is awarded to elected officials committed to learning and gaining the skills necessary to be successful on a city council.”

Applications are now open for Burien residents interested in participating on a committee in support of or against a proposed ballot measure to fund public safety initiatives in Burien. Both Pro and Con Committees will be tasked with drafting a position statement by August 12, 2025 that will appear in the King County Elections local voters’ pamphlet, in addition to submitting a rebuttal to the opposing committees’ statement by August 14, 2025. Residents interested in learning more about the levy proposal and applying for a committee can visit the City’s webpage at burienwa.gov/levy.

City Staff (🌈Manuel Hernandez Torres + Emma N.) attended the 2025 Southside Leadership Conference hosted by Seattle Southside Chamber of Commerce + Success Foundation. Our very own Lorraine Chachere was a speaker on the “How to Serve on Boards & Commissions” workshop! #CityOfBurien #StrongerTogether #SeattleSouthsideChamber #ProfessionalDevelopment

Managing Burien’s urban forest supports public safety by staying alert of potential hazards, supporting our current tree canopy, and informing the public of the positive effects trees have in our community. In 2024: 🌳 116 trees were pruned, keeping sidewalks safe. 🌳600+ trees were protected during development, keeping them structurally sound and less likely to fall over in a storm. 🌳 200+ trees were assessed for risk of falling over. Learn more about the Green Burien Partnership at burienwa.gov/GreenBurien.