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Burien business advisory panel wins changes to chair terms and ex‑officio participation; council keeps removal authority
Summary
The Business and Economic Development Partnership approved bylaws revisions to allow ex‑officio members to participate in debate and recommended lengthening chair and vice‑chair terms to two years; the council accepted the committee’s recommendations but removed a proposed change that would let the panel remove members without a council vote.
The Burien City Council on Feb. 10 approved revisions to the Business and Economic Development Partnership (BDP) bylaws that clarify ex‑officio participation and extend leadership terms, while rejecting a proposal that would have allowed the panel to remove its own members without a council vote.
BDP Chair Eric Pabstin told the council his committee asked for three clarifications after reviewing its governing rules: allow ex‑officio (nonvoting) members to take part in debate, extend the chair and vice‑chair term from one year to two years so leadership can complete work and maintain continuity, and permit the panel to remove members who no longer meet membership requirements. Chair Pabstin said the changes were recommended to improve clarity and the quality of meetings.
City staff confirmed current municipal code requires council action to remove advisory‑board members. After discussion at the dais, councilmembers agreed to adopt the first two recommendations — codifying ex‑officio participation and two‑year leadership terms — but objected to delegating member removal authority to the BDP itself. Councilmember Romona Mata moved to strike the removal provision from the proposal; the amendment passed and the resulting bylaws changes were approved unanimously.
Councilmembers said the council should retain ultimate authority over appointments and removals, and council and staff praised the BDP for undertaking the review and presenting the recommendations for improved clarity and effectiveness.
