Chapter 2.50
BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS
Sections:
2.50.040 Duties and responsibilities.
2.50.010 Creation.
(1) Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Arts Advisory Board (“PRCA”). The Burien city council created the Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Arts Advisory Board to provide advice to Burien city council on parks, recreation, and cultural arts related programs such as the use and acquisition of land for parks, trails, and facilities; the care for trees and vegetation on parks property; the creation and objectives for recreation and cultural programs; obtaining or purchasing artwork for municipal installation; reviewing arts and culture services requests; making funding allocation recommendations; and working with local schools and arts organization for Burien’s benefit.
(2) Business and Economic Development Partnership (“BEDP”). The Burien city council created the Burien business and economic development partnership to provide advice to the city council on Burien’s economic development through the analysis, consideration, improvement, and review of economic development components of Burien’s comprehensive plan, and to make recommendations to the city council on economic development programs and priorities.
(3) Human Services Commission. The Burien city council created the human services commission to provide advice to the city council on human services issues in Burien and human services funding allocations by reviewing human services requests and making funding allocation recommendations; to review the performance of Burien-funded human services agencies and programs, and to make recommendations on how human services can be more effectively, cost-efficiently, or better provided in Burien.
(4) Planning Commission. The planning commission was created to advise and make recommendations to the Burien city council on Burien’s future growth through analysis, review, and recommendations regarding Burien’s comprehensive plan and related land use documents. [Ord. 867 § 1, 2025; Ord. 863 § 1, 2025; Ord. 766 § 2, 2021]
2.50.020 Membership.
(1) The Number of Members.
(a) Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Arts Advisory Board shall consist of 11 voting members; 13 for the first two years, and 11 afterwards.
(b) BEDP shall consist of 14 appointed members, 11 voting members, and three nonvoting ex-officio members, one of whom shall be the city manager.
(c) Human services commission shall consist of seven voting members.
(d) Planning commission shall consist of seven voting members.
(2) Composition.
(a) Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Arts Advisory Board. Members must be Burien residents.
(b) BEDP. To the extent possible, members must be Burien business owners, managers, and employees; commercial property owners; chambers of commerce and merchants’ associations; residents; employment and job training services; educators; and other stakeholders. In addition, if appointed, representatives from Discover Burien, the Seattle Southside Chamber, and the King County Labor Council shall be nonvoting ex officio members.
(c) Human Services Commission. At least five appointed members must be Burien residents, and the other two members shall be community stakeholders.
(d) Planning Commission. Members must be Burien residents.
(3) Appointment and Terms. The city council shall appoint all board and commission members for four-year terms from April 1st to March 31st, or until a member’s successor is duly appointed and confirmed.
(4) Board and Commission Handbook. Every board and commission member is expected to be familiar with and comply with the Board and Commission Handbook. The Board and Commission Handbook is a code of conduct that each board and commission member must sign before being appointed. Each board and commission member is expected to comply with the Board and Commission Handbook after a council amendment whether they have signed an amended copy or not.
(5) Recommendations and Advice. All board and commission recommendations involving an expense to Burien shall contain project funding source options and financial records detailing the projected expenses related to the project or program.
(6) Limitations and Eligibility. Board and commission members may not serve more than two consecutive full terms. After a two-year absence, members may be reappointed subject to the membership requirements stated above. City of Burien employees are not eligible to be appointed on any of the boards or commissions.
(7) Alternate Members. The city council may appoint up to two alternate members to each board or commission to serve in the absence of regular members. The alternates’ membership terms shall be two years.
(8) Chair and Vice-Chair. The board and commission members shall elect from among its members a chair who shall preside at all meetings and a vice-chair who shall preside if the chair is absent.
(9) Removal.
(a) All board and commission members serve at the city council’s pleasure and have no right or possessory interest in their board or commission membership.
(b) Any board and commission member may be removed by a majority vote of the city council. The city council’s decision shall be final and there shall be no right of appeal. The council may convey the removal directly or through the city manager.
(c) The city council may remove board and commission members if they have absences totaling 25 percent or more of the regularly scheduled meetings for the calendar year or three consecutive unexcused absences.
(d) The city council may remove board and commission members if a council majority finds that a member has violated the Board and Commission Handbook code of conduct.
(e) Board and commission members may also be removed at the recommendation of the majority of a board or commission if the city council chooses to follow the recommendation.
(10) Vacancies. Vacancies occurring before the expiration of the term shall be filled for the unexpired term in the same manner as for appointments as provided in this chapter.
(11) Compensation. No commission member shall receive any compensation for his or her services from the city of Burien, a Burien resident, a person with an interest in a matter before the board or commission, or anyone else. [Ord. 867 § 2, 2025; Ord. 863 § 1, 2025; Ord. 766 § 2, 2021]
2.50.030 Meetings.
(1) Types of Meetings. The boards and commissions shall hold such regular and special meetings as necessary to complete its responsibilities. Board and commission majorities shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business and a majority vote of members present shall be sufficient to carry any motion.
(2) Code of Conduct. The boards and commissions may adopt bylaws, subject to the city council’s approval. Those bylaws and the board and commission members remain subject to the Board and Commission Handbook.
(3) Rules of Order. Roberts Rules of Order, 12th Edition, shall be used to guide meeting conduct.
(4) Minutes. The recording secretary shall prepare minutes for all meetings, which shall contain an account of all the board or commission’s official actions, and which will constitute the board or commission’s official record.
(5) Schedule. Each January, under RCW 42.30.075, the board or commission will announce its regularly scheduled meetings to be provided to the public. [Ord. 863 § 1, 2025; Ord. 766 § 2, 2021]
2.50.040 Duties and responsibilities.
The board or commission shall be an advisory body to the city council responsible for:
(1) Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Arts Advisory Board. Providing advice on parks, recreation, and cultural arts-related programs such as the use and acquisition of land for parks, trails, and facilities; the care for trees and vegetation on parks property; the creation and objectives for recreation and cultural programs; the obtaining or purchasing artwork for municipal installation; review arts and culture services requests and making funding allocation recommendations; and work with local schools and arts organization for Burien’s benefit.
(2) BEDP. Providing advice on Burien’s economic growth and development including making recommendations annually for changes to the Burien comprehensive plan to promote and enhance economic development, on economic development programs and priorities, or other duties as assigned by the city council.
(3) Human Services Commission. Providing advice and recommendations related to human services issues including identifying and assessing the human services needs in the city; recommending priorities and approaches to address human services needs within the city; reviewing human services funding requests submitted to Burien; making funding allocation recommendations; reviewing the performance of human services agencies/programs that Burien funds; and other duties as assigned by the city council.
(4) Planning Commission. Providing advice and recommendations for Burien’s future growth including review and recommendations relating to the city of Burien’s comprehensive land use plan; tasks under Chapter 17.50 BMC regarding residential condominium binding site plan review process; under BMC 17.65.040, possible public hearings related to subdivisions; recommendations regarding the affordable housing demonstration program under BMC 19.18.020; conducting study sessions and public hearings and makes recommendations under BMC 19.65.080 and 19.65.095; and relating to changes to the official zoning map and zoning code; or such other and future duties as assigned by the city council.
(5) Yearly Report. Each board or commission shall submit to the city council once each year a report of accomplishments for the previous year and work-plan recommendations for the upcoming year. [Ord. 863 § 1, 2025; Ord. 766 § 2, 2021]
2.50.050 City staff support.
Administrative staff support shall be provided by a city manager designee. Staff shall be responsible for the agenda packets, written record of the proceedings, and such other reasonable support as necessary to enable the board or commission to conduct business and carry out its duties and responsibilities. [Ord. 863 § 1, 2025; Ord. 766 § 2, 2021]