Burien council debates proposed rewrite of rules of order; public‑comment and agenda processes under review

City staff presented a substantial redraft of Burien’s council rules of order on Feb. 10 that would reorganize meeting agendas, clarify the clerk’s packet schedule, relocate public comment earlier in the agenda and remove the so‑called two‑touch requirement for consent‑agenda items.

City attorney and staff said the rework is chiefly organizational, intended to make existing practice clearer and to reflect the council’s prior requests: to make public comment earlier in meetings and to clarify the process for proclamations, presentations and proclamations. The draft also proposes a new place in the rules for an optional native land acknowledgment.

The most consequential proposed change drew questions: staff suggested removing the two‑touch requirement that currently requires a second council meeting for certain items before they can be voted out of committee or listed on the consent agenda. Staff said the rule was infrequently used and that removing it would reduce administrative duplication; councilmembers asked for time to study the implications before committing to the change.

Councilmembers asked for a pause to provide written comments and to coordinate proposed edits with the city attorney and manager. Deputy Mayor Sarah Moore and others flagged substantive changes — for example, a narrowed public comment scope in one draft paragraph — and asked staff to circulate a consolidated redline and accept email input before returning the ordinance for action.

Staff asked councilmembers to send suggested edits to the city attorney and city manager so staff can prepare a revised draft for a future meeting. No vote was taken.