On September 15, 1992, voters selected a seven-member interim city council and Dr. Arun Jhaveri was selected to serve as the City’s first mayor. The official incorporation was set for midnight on February 28, 1993.
Following are a few milestones in Burien’s 30-year history. For more community history, visit the Highline Heritage Museum.
1993
February 28, Incorporation Day
Donna Hanson hired as interim city manager and the City’s first employee
Fred Stouder hired as first non-interim city manager
First City staff team hired: City Clerk/HR Director – Jan Hubbard, Finance Director – Linda Gorton, Community Development Director – Greg Dohrn, Secretary – Adriene Buckley
1995

Groundbreaking and dedication of Lake Burien School Memorial Park
1997
City assumes ownership of local King County parks properties
First Comprehensive Plan adopted
1998

Annexation of Manhattan neighborhood
Parks and Recreation Advisory Board formed
Arts Commission formed
Gary Long hired as city manager
2000
Downtown Town Square Task Force begins meeting to plan a Town Square
First annual outdoor concert series held at Lake Burien Memorial School Park
2001
Burien Skate Park opens
2002
Work begins on SW 152nd St improvement project
Discover Burien launches
2003
Broadcasting of Burien City Council meetings begins
2004

City Council begins study of possible annexation of North Highline area
Conceptual site plan for 20-acre Town Square development approved
2005

Work completed on removal of south seawall and beach restoration at Seahurst Park
Dedication ceremony held for Burien’s Eagle Landing Park
2006
Dedication ceremony held for Mathison Park, first park development east of 1st Ave S.
Groundbreaking of Town Square Park
City Hall moves to new temporary location on Ambaum Boulevard SW
Mike Martin hired as city manager, replacing David Cline who served as interim city manager
2007

Jacob Ambaum Park opens on Ambaum Boulevard SW
Demolition of former Gottschalk store marks beginning of construction of Burien Town Square
Burien Farmers Market launches
B-Town Blog launches
2008
City initiates new economic development initiative to build on the “cluster” of medical service providers in Burien
City adopts biennial budget process
2009

New City Hall and Library opens
Town Square Park opens
Groundbreaking of South Correctional Entity Regional Jail (SCORE)
Burien Interim Art Space has year-long run
Work completed on phase one of 1st Ave S improvement project
2010

Public Works maintenance crews brought in-house
Community Center opens in newly remodeled former library
Annexation of North Highline and Boulevard Park neighborhoods
2011
SCORE Regional Jail opens
City Council develops, adopts “Vision for Burien”
Metro King County Sound Transit parking garage opens downtown
Work begins on phase two of 1st Ave S improvement project
2012

Community Animal Resource and Education Society (C.A.R.E.S.) opens in Burien
2013

Phase two of 1st Ave S improvement project completed
Work begins on Seahurst Shoreline Restoration Project, north seawall removal
Burien becomes a “Safe Place City”
Arbor Day Foundation desginates Burien as a “Tree City USA”
2014
Seahurst Restoration Project concludes and receives Livable Communities Award for “Overall Excellence in Protecting Natural Resource Area”
Kamuron Gurol hired as city manager
King County Metro Transit launches RapidRide F Line
2015

NERA Stormwater Facility and Miller Creek Greenway Project Phase One concludes
King Country Metro Transit launches shuttle in Burien
Ground breaks on Merrill Garden developments to complete Town Square
Burien Magazine launches
2016
Burien Airport Committee formed
2017
City Council adopts immigration status ordinance
Cold storage facility opens in NERA
Town Square complete with construction of Maverick Apartments and Merrill Garden complex
Brian J. Wilson hired as city manager
2018

City celebrates 25th anniversary of incorporation
Ted Boe hired as police chief
City Council creates Human Services Commission and hires first human services manager
StormFest, a stormwater science learning event hosted by Highline area cities for Highline Public Schools students, launched
Green Burien Partnership forms
2019

Plastic bag ban adopted
40% tree canopy goal adopted
Renter protections adopted
Alternative public safety programs, including Burien LEAD, launch
Affordable Housing Demonstration Program launched
2020

Burien community, businesses, and local governments work together to make it through COVID-19 pandemic
Lake to Sound trail (Segment C) for walking and biking begins construction
Urban Center Plan adopted
City hosts community conversations about public safety and policing
Burien Annex building demolished
Rebuilt Peter Western bridge opens
2021

Burien’s first Climate Action Plan adopted
City sells downtown parking lot to developer for Kinect@Burien development
City Council adopts Native Land and Peoples Acknowledgment
City Council adopts suite of policies aimed at pandemic recovery
2022

Plan adopted to use federal pandemic recovery funding
Tree regulations adopted
Burien receives official Creative District designation from Washington State Arts Commission
Adolfo Bailon hired as city manager, replacing Carolyn Hope who served as interim city manager
2023

City celebrates its 30th anniversary of incorporation
King County Metro Transit launches H Line RapidRide
Burien Independence Day parade turns 100
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