City staff told the Burien City Council on June 2 that state law requires the city to consider forming both a pro committee and a con committee for any city‑sponsored ballot question. Adolfo, a staff presenter, said the council had reached "a decision making part of the process" and that the committees would be made up of city residents to support or oppose a proposed public safety initiative.

Casey, a staff member working with elections and King County, described the action as an early procedural step: "This is our first step and a formal action, and we don't have any valid language because we haven't created that. We're waiting... we're working on some drafts, but... so just giving us the go ahead to start, setting up the forms for the pro and con committee." Staff emphasized that creating recruitment infrastructure now would avoid losing weeks later because of King County elections deadlines.

A council member moved to create two temporary committees and to authorize staff to open recruitment; another council member seconded the motion. The motion was moved, seconded and approved unanimously. The council did not yet receive final ballot language; staff said bond counsel and King County Elections are assisting and that legal language is expected for council review on either June 16 or June 30.

Deputy Mayor Sarah Moore asked whether recruitment would occur before or after final language is posted, saying many potential applicants tell staff they want to read ballot language before committing. Staff and the city manager said recruitment materials and forms would be prepared now and recruitment could be posted promptly after the language is finalized so the process does not lose time.

Why this matters: creating pro and con committees is a required administrative step for a city‑led ballot measure; starting recruitment infrastructure earlier than the final ballot language is an effort to meet county deadlines and to ensure public participation in both supporting and opposing committees.

The council’s action authorizes staff to proceed with forms and outreach but does not finalize levy or bond language, funding amounts, or a ballot date. Those technical items will return to council for approval.