City Council Continues Discussion and Holds Second Public Hearing on Budget

On November 7, 2022, the Burien City Council held the second of three scheduled public hearings on the 2023-2024 budget. Staff presented an overview of the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) and proposed an increase to the property tax levy and surface water management service charges.

Property Tax Levy

To help pay for the City’s general operations, such as parks and police services, a 1% increase in the Property Tax Levy is included in the 2023 preliminary budget. The increase will generate approximately $86,400 in additional revenue. A homeowner with property that has an estimated median assessed value of $546,400 will pay an additional $9.10 to the City.

The City Council placed approval of the one percent increase on the November 21, 2022 business agenda for final adoption.

Surface Water Management Service Charges

A 10.1% annual increase to the Surface Water Management (SWM) service charges was recommended. Surface water management service charges are paid by property owners and support investments to manage stormwater. The increase will help cover current and future costs and inflation.

The City Council placed approval of the increase on the November 21, 2022 business agenda for final adoption.

Capital Improvement Program

Staff presented the proposed Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for the 2023-2024 budget. Projects within the CIP are organized across a multi-year budget and fall under one of three categories: parks and general government, transportation, and surface water management. As projects may require more than one year to complete, the program’s project list is updated on an annual basis to make sure resources are available to fund ongoing and potential new projects.

Current revenue sources for capital projects are minimal and fluctuate from year-to-year. Key operating funds come from General, Street, and Surface Water Management funds. Additional revenue sources are restricted to specific projects or must first be applied to debt service. Other potential revenue sources continue to be explored.

Delaying maintenance and improvements to capital assets increases future maintenance costs, may shorten the asset’s life, and may reduce the public benefit provided by the asset.

Capital projects can include planning, design, construction, and major maintenance projects in response to a variety of needs such as replacing infrastructure that has reached its end-of-life, addressing lack of facilities or meeting a level-of-service need, or meeting community demand.

While certainty around estimated costs increase as a project advances from planning to design, additional factors may arise during the construction phase that impact the total cost.

Recently completed or nearly completed parks and general government capital projects:

• Moshier Park Field, Restroom, and Stormwater Improvement
• Burien Community Center Restroom Renovation
• Burien Community Center Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) System Replacement
• Lake Burien School Memorial Park Improvements
• Parks facilities restoration (including pathways, parking lots, landscaping)
• Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan (part of the Shape Your City combined planning effort)
• Burien Community Center and Moshier Facilities Maintenance Plan and Energy Audit
• Burien Community Center Seismic Retrofit Study
• Burien Community Center Generator Cost Estimate
• Hilltop Park Master Plan Community Engagement

Parks and general government capital projects currently underway:

• Public Works and Parks Maintenance Facility
• Eagle Landing Stair Removal
• Seahurst Park Slide Repair

Upcoming parks and general government capital projects:

• Parks facilities restoration (including fencing and pathway repairs, repair or removal of park buildings, and preservation work on the brick exterior of Burien Community Center)
• Manhattan School Park Playground Replacement
• Lakeview Park Acquisition
• Lakeview Park 5 to 12-year-old Playground Replacement
• Structural Design to Address Seismic Deficiencies at Burien Community Center
• Hilltop Park Preliminary Design
• Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Audit and Transition Plan for Parks and Facilities
• Master Plan for the Community Center Annex and Garden

Recently completed Public Works capital projects around transportation include the 2021 and 2022 Pavement Management Program and accessibility improvements. The Pavement Management Program is an ongoing project, as well as ADA barrier mitigation, and signal controller upgrades. Other transportation capital projects underway include:

• S 136^th St Sidewalk Improvements
• 4^th Ave Sidewalks (SW 156^th St to SW 160^th St)
• Projects in partnership with King County, such as H Line RapidRide and the Lake to Sound Trail
• 30^th Ave SW Slope Stabilization
• 4^th and 6^th Ave SW Intersections with SW 148^th St
• Transportation Master Plan (part of the Shape Your City combined planning effort)

Upcoming transportation capital projects:

• S 152^nd St and 8^th Ave SW Safety
• 21^st Ave SW Pedestrian Crossing
• Road Safety Action Plan

Recently completed stormwater capital projects include addressing flooding on Occidental Ave S under the Residential Drainage Improvement Program (RDIP) and a water quality project at King County Courthouse. Stormwater projects currently underway include:

• Miller Creek Enhancements
• S 140^th St and Des Moines Memorial Drive Trunkline
• 20^th Ave S Drainage Improvements
• Ongoing RDIP projects include:
  • 21^st Ave WA at SW 119^th St
  • Meritage Pond Erosion (S168th and 3^rd Ave S)
  • 25^th Ave SW and SW 164^th Pl
• Stormwater Management Action Plan