Burien City Council appoints members to multiple advisory bodies, adopts grid selection process

Deputy Mayor Sarah Moore and the Burien City Council appointed new members to several advisory bodies Monday, filling seats on the Business and Economic Development Partnership, the Burien Airport Committee, the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts Advisory Board, the Human Services Commission and the Planning Commission, and adopting a grid-based selection process for future advisory appointments.

The council’s appointments followed a series of candidate interviews in which applicants repeatedly emphasized downtown economic development and hotel attraction, community outreach and equity for historically underserved residents, and concerns about airport noise, air emissions and insulation for nearby homes. During the meeting the council also voted to use a visual grid to record and compare councilmembers’ preferences when more applicants apply than open seats.

The appointments were the meeting’s most consequential actions. Council members moved and voted on slates after interviews and brief discussion about candidate qualifications, community representation and selection process fairness. Council members cited a desire for diversity of experience among advisory members and for transparency in future selections as reasons to adopt the grid approach.

Business and economic development interviews and appointments Kim Davis, Bruce Bright, Jonathan Richards, Torrance Dixon and Tracy Codd were appointed to the Business and Economic Development Partnership (BEDP) after interviews in which most applicants said attracting an overnight hotel and activating downtown were priorities. The new BEDP members emphasized communication with existing businesses and outreach to historically underserved residents. Applicant Kim Davis, who identified herself as the CEO and managing broker of Davis Group Real Estate, said economic development requires “improvements in infrastructure, education, health care, technology, and job creation.” The motion to appoint the five candidates passed 4–1.

Airport committee interviews and appointments The council appointed Alejandra Cordova Perez, Jeff Harbaugh and Luis Tracy to the Burien Airport Committee after a separate interview block focused on airport expansion, noise mitigation and community impacts. Alejandra Cordova Perez, who works in local education, told the council she would prioritize “sustainability development, making sure that we’re using eco-friendly initiatives, [and] noise reduction programs” and stressed outreach to low-income neighborhoods that are often affected by airport operations. Appointees and other airport candidates pressed the council to press the Port of Seattle for compensation or mitigation where expansion increases noise and air pollution. The slate passed unanimously.

Human Services Commission selection Catherine (Angela) Wyco and two other applicants were interviewed for one Human Services Commission seat. After discussion and a re-vote among council members, the council appointed Katherine Weichel to the Human Services Commission. Candidates described experience in shelter services, case management and homelessness diversion work; the successful appointee was selected on a 4–1 vote.

Parks, recreation and cultural arts appointments The council appointed Andrew McMasters, Rafael Gallardo and Amy Robinson to the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts Advisory Board. Interviewed applicants emphasized activating public spaces with cultural events, improving public-art programming and expanding outreach to underrepresented groups. Council members said public art and park activation can increase economic activity and neighborhood safety. The motion to appoint the three candidates passed, with one council member opposed.

Planning Commission appointment The council appointed Hayden Campbell to fill a one-year vacancy on the Planning Commission (term through 2026-03-31). Campbell, a transit planner who said he has worked on development review and comprehensive-plan projects, told the council he would focus on accommodating growth, integrating transit and maintaining capital-facility planning. The appointment was unanimous.

Selection process change: grid to visualize preferences Council members moved to adopt a grid system to visualize each member’s nominations and preferences when the number of applicants exceeds available seats. The motion to use the grid passed unanimously; council members said the approach would increase transparency and make it easier for each member to state whom they support.

Votes at a glance - Excuse Mayor Kevin Schilling: motion passed (unanimous). - Excuse Council Member Stephanie Mora: motion passed (unanimous). - Appoint Kim Davis, Bruce Bright, Jonathan Richards, Torrance Dixon and Tracy Codd to the Business and Economic Development Partnership: passed 4–1 (in favor: Hugo Garcia, Linda Akey, Sarah Moore, Jimmy Mata; opposed: Alex Andrade). - Adopt grid system for advisory appointments: passed unanimously. - Appoint Alejandra Cordova Perez, Jeff Harbaugh and Luis Tracy to the Burien Airport Committee: passed unanimously. - Appoint Katherine Weichel to the Human Services Commission: passed 4–1. - Appoint Andrew McMasters, Rafael Gallardo and Amy Robinson to the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts Advisory Board: passed (vote recorded with a single dissenting councilmember). - Appoint Hayden Campbell to the Planning Commission to fill the remainder of a one‑year term (expires 2026-03-31): passed unanimously.

What candidates emphasized - Downtown and hotel development: multiple BEDP applicants said a boutique or larger hotel and cleaner, activated downtown corridors would help attract visitors and development. - Equity, outreach and small-business support: applicants across boards described outreach, multilingual communications and coordination with Discover Burien and local business groups to support historically underserved residents and small businesses. - Airport impacts: airport committee applicants focused on noise-reduction programs, insulation eligibility, community health data and opportunities to get Port of Seattle commitments for mitigation or local economic contracts. - Parks and arts activation: arts and parks candidates stressed activating parks with performance and public-art programs to increase foot traffic and neighborhood safety.

What the council directed next Council members asked staff to use the agreed grid process for remaining advisory appointments where applicants outnumber openings, and to schedule follow-up interviews for candidates who were unable to attend this meeting. Council members also signaled interest in using the airport committee process and any potential SAMP appeal work as leverage to press the Port of Seattle for mitigation funding or community benefits, but made no binding commitments during the meeting.

Ending note Council members thanked all applicants for volunteering; several applicants said they would continue to serve the community through other means if not appointed. The council adjourned after completing the slate of interviews and votes.