54,000 48-page magazines and 27,000 newsletters delivered to Burien mailboxes. 1,290,000 webpage interactions. 52 hours of conversations at our Burien Farmers Market table. 111 hours of meaningful engagement initiatives led by our Community Connectors in Spanish, Vietnamese, and Amharic.
This is just a sample of some of the actions we’ve taken so far this year to make sure we stay accountable, transparent, and connected to those we are called to serve – our Burien community.
One thing we’ve learned from all of this is that nothing can replace real, in person conversations with another human being. Some of these lessons were hard learned as we collectively spent so much time isolated and talking through screens not too long ago. As we continue to grow and scale up our outreach, we continue to look for impactful ways to create those meaningful interactions.
That’s exactly why I supported our team in launching our brand new “City Chat” event series this year. Originally titled “Coffee Chat,” these events have since taken us everywhere from eating ice cream with Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services staff at Lake Burien Memorial Park and talking about healthy food options with the Economic Development Division at Boulevard Park Library to snacking on popcorn while learning about the City budget with the Finance Department.
These events bring together community members with burning questions and staff with knowledgeable answers in one room complete with snacks, resources, and interactive presentations. Hearing thoughtful questions posed to our police and fire chiefs, as well as staff from departments like community development and public works, has given us better insight into what the community is most curious about.
We’re using that feedback to continue improving our outreach, and one thing we’ve heard loud and clear is that you want these opportunities to engage with staff to continue. With one more City Chat left this year, we’ve already announced this series will be back for 2026. Who do you want to hear from next (and, importantly – what kind of snack should they bring)?
Thanks for chatting with us,
Adolfo Bailon
Burien City Manager
